I thought this was a fun short story collection with fantastical elements. This didn't blow me away, but Naomi is obviously a great writer.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

I loved every single one of the stories in here! Each one draws you in quickly, and I believe would be enjoyable to read even if you aren't already a Naomi Novik fan.

Buried Deep and Other Stories is a solid collection from author Naomi Novik, spanning a multitude of fantasy and science fiction worlds. Most striking is her style which adapts to each story. I greatly enjoyed revisiting the Scholomance in “After Hours” and reading the original version of “Spinning Silver.” Another standout is the title story, “Buried Deep,” which revisits the myth of Ariadne, the Minotaur, and the labyrinth, but not as you’ve seen them before. “Seven” was an engaging meditation on the purpose of art and the artist’s life while “Dragons and Decorum” was a fanciful take on Pride and Prejudice. Highly recommended. Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

I have been a fan of Naomi Novik since I read Uprooted and Spinning Silver, but I haven't had a chance to pick up any of her other works until now and after reading this anthology, let me tell you... my TBR is neverending!! This anthology contains thirteen fun-filled short stories written at various points of Novik's career, ranging from the worlds of Spinning Silver, Scholomance, and Temeraire, to a fabulous Pride and Prejudice re-telling WITH DRAGONS (my personal favorite), some delightfully paranormal stories, plus a sneak peek into the world of "Abandon," her newest series and an immediate "want to read" for me. A couple of the stories were a little hit or miss for me, but overall the collection was engaging, wide-ranging in themes, and yet somehow still cohesive in tone and enjoyment level. I read this all in one sitting, but I think this would also be a great book to use as a palate cleanser between other novels - read a couple stories, put it down, pick it back up later, repeat. I recommend!

These are the first short stories I've read by Naomi Novik, and as a fan of her other work, they didn't disappoint. All collections tend to be a bit uneven, but there weren't any that stood out as particularly weak. I loved revisiting dragons in Vici, a humorous origin story of a kind, and in Dragons & Decorum, a send-up of Pride & Prejudice. Novik always shines in her fairy and folk tales. Buried Deep (a take on the minotaur and the Labyrith), Spinning Silver (an alternate version of what eventually became the novel), Seven, and Castle Coeurlieu were beautifully written and painfully poignant. The Long Way Round is a taste of her next series. It feels much more down to earth than most of the other stories in this volume, in spite of some magical elements, and while a bit slow has definitely whetted my appetite (my apologies for putting two water puns in a sentence about a tale of sea voyages). All in all, this was a delight to savor, and I'm looking forward to where Novik journeys next.

Thirteen stories! Some are set in universes Naomi Novik has already written in (Scholomance, Temeraire, or Spinning Silver) while others are tales written for various anthologies or to scratch a particular itch Novik had. The stories range from alternate world historical fiction with a retelling of Pride and Prejudice but this time with dragons to a fairy tale spun awry. There is an ecological sci-fi tale and a Sherlock Holme vignette. Then there is a retelling of sorts of the Age of Exploration but in a fantasy setting. Each tale has a bit of an introduction that helps to provide context. In all a very satisfying read.

Thanks Netgalley and DelRey for the chance to enjoy this title!

Of the millions of engaging, intriguing, and exciting stories dreamed up by there is one thing that always matters-the writing. A good story well-told is rare and precious. What Naomi Novik achieves with Buried Deep and Other Stories is a collection of tales that are written impeccably, even-perhaps most especially-when they tread familiar ground.

What strikes me most especially is how much I miss well-written stories. Naomi Novik is not just a good writer; she might be one of the best writers working today. When you open this book to the first page of writing, after the introductions, the reader is transported to a wonderous world deftly brought life by a talented author. It is a magical collection.

Everything about these short stories worked. It would not be an understatement to say this is because only a good writer makes it easy to read complex world-building and storytelling. In this book we were introduced to 13 different worlds with their own unique and intricate atmospheres in under 300 pages. To do this quickly, with economy of language, while also fully fleshing out unique characters is a treat for the reader's soul. Many of the stories are short and some may even be unfinished in the eyes of the author, but the reader never feels the ending. Instead, the author has captured moments in time, in her characters' lives and the reader gets the impression that the story will continue ahead without them.

For me, this is a great example of what Jasper Fforde captures in his writing about the BookWorld. You get a sense with Novik that the characters have lives and adventures beyond the page-and that is how it should be. While I do hope that in the future, we will get to revisit some of the worlds presented in this collection, I am also okay with knowing that the worlds exist in the fictional Great Library. That they are not confined to the Well and that now we know these characters will have adventures of their own with, or without, our knowledge.

This collection of short stories range from Austen/Temeraire crossovers to disturbing fairy tales set during the Black Plague. Novik's style of writing is sharp, intelligent and on occasion, sardonic and a little sarcastic. I enjoyed most of the stories, and as usual with my other story collection reviews, I'm going to be reviewing the stories that stood out the most to me.

After Hours

This story is set in the Scholomance universe and is about two students at the new and improved Scholomance post The Golden Enclaves, who are stuck together as roommates. Beata is a young Eastern European witch whose family traditions are essentially fairytale-like. (They grant wishes, cast hexes that are essentially lessons, and work magics that are very transactional and balanced.) Jayne is an enclaver, and manages to make herself extremely hard to get along with. The plot revolves around Beata making friends and Jayne very slowly learning how to be less terrible. This was an entertaining read, and I liked it a great deal.

Vici

A young, dissolute noble named Antony, who is drowning in debt finds himself punished by being sent out to slay a dragon. (The only upsides: The act will clear his debts, and the dragon has a hoard, so if he survives he'll be rich.) He is unexpectedly successful, and ends up accidentally adopting a baby dragon. (He found an egg in the dragon's den.) In caring for it, he becomes the first person to "tame" a dragon. (From a certain perspective. I however feel that Vici inadvertently teaches Antony responsibility.) This is a fun, fast paced story and Vici is absolutely charming. I enjoyed her interactions with Antony.

Dragons & Decorum

The second Temeraire story is an Austen/Temeraire crossover in which Elizabeth Bennet is the captain of a Longwing. This is something she and her family have been keeping secret because of the inherent scandal. (Longwings only accept women as captains. The military and general society pretends extremely hard that this is Not a Thing.) The story hits many of the same points of Pride and Prejudice with some new ones added on. The Austen-voice and turn of phrase is very good, and the overall story holds together extremely well. (Particularly funny moment: Darcy absolutely failing to understand Elizabeth's relationship to her dragon in the worst way possible.)

Spinning Silver

The short story version of Novik's reimagining of the fairytale Rumpelstiltskin is an engaging read. In Spinning Silver a young Jewish woman named Miryem, who starts collecting debts for her father, who is a moneylender, but not very good at it. (To the point the family is starving, because the people he lends money to won't pay him back.) Miryem is successful at debt collection and soon the family prospers, though both of her parents are concerned and also slightly guilty about the situation. Unfortunately, an unwise boast made by Miryem's grandfather draws the attention of the Staryk, frost fairies who love gold. I enjoyed this story a great deal, about as much as I liked the novel-length story. (Which of course is very different.)

Seven Years from Home

This story is a little hard to describe. It's about imperialism and genocide, and a lot of other complex things. Our Protagonist is an ambassador for a "Confederacy" that is overseeing a conflict between two societies: The Melidans who use gene-engineering and other biosciences to live a more or less pastoral or hunter/gatherer existence and the Esperigans, who tend toward the hard sciences and industrialization. The Confederacy is playing one side against the other but Our Protagonist throws herself whole-heartedly into supporting the Melidans, to disastrous affect for the Esperigans and the Confederacy's concerns. This is a thoughtful story that has some interesting twists and turns leading to an absolute trainwreck of an ending. (In a good way: Our Protagonist done messed up, is all I'm saying.)

Castle Coeurlieu

I will first say that this dark little story reminds me of Pan's Labyrinth. The story's plot is in no way similar to Pan's Labyrinth, but it still has the same dark fairytale feel. It's the time of the Black Plague, and our Protagonist is a twelve year old recently wedded wife of a nobleman, who is sent to the titular castle while the noble goes off to war. Isabeau makes friends with her "stepson" Jerome, who has been disabled by a child hood illness. They do various kid-like things together and Jerome tells stories about a mysterious tower no one is supposed to go into, because it's haunted. Or grants wishes in a terrifying way. Or both. This of course leads to Isabeau ending up going into the tower, after Jerome disappears inside. This is a creepy horror-fairytale with a lot of disturbing content. I recommend it for all of the above.

This is over all a really interesting collection of stories that I enjoyed reading. Novik is an amazing writer, though I have occasionally bounced off of some of her work. I enjoyed most of the stories in the book, but the stories listed above stood out the most to me.

This review is based off of a unpublished copy received from NetGalley.

I picked up this collection of short stories because I have loved Naomi Novik's last few books (I somehow never discovered her during Temeraire). This is a fantastic short story collection. Each new entry gets you fully involved and then leaves you wanting more at the end. There is, as promised, a story set at the Scholomance post trilogy (featuring new students and a cameo from one of the known characters). There is also a story set in the Temeraire universe, a short story that is a proto Spinning Silver, and several that are unconnected to any previous novels. If you have enjoyed any of Naomi Novik's previous books I say go pick up this collection as soon as it is available. If you are somehow unfamiliar with her then this is a reasonable entry point to her writing and I guarantee that you will immediately be looking for some of her other books. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

This collection of short storied by Naomi Novik was a delight. A few of the stories revisited previous works, such as the Scholomance series and Spinning Silver. Others, were wonderfully original with varied settings. The last story was a preview of the new world creating in her upcoming novel. She prefaced it by saying it all could change before the novel makes it to print, but I hope it doesn't, because I've already been sucked in!

So I absolutely adored this collection. The stories are great right out of the gate (that first one!); I really, really, really loved the Scholomance one (and would happily read a book of short stories or vignettes just from that world); and it wasn't really until the last third that I found a story I didn't jibe with: "Seven Years from Home." And looking back, really...there was only that one. It had interesting ideas, and I did like what Novik was saying with it, but the framing and the pacing of it just didn't work for me, and it kind of took the wind out of my sails for reading the next story in the collection. I almost felt that way about the last one, but then I got sucked in once I got a good feel for the world, and now I'm looking forward to reading the full-length book version of it.

I think anyone who likes fantasy short stories would enjoy this book, and even if you're not a big short story reader if you've read and enjoyed Novik's work before I think you'll find a lot to love here. This is a really, really great selection of entertaining, beautiful, and magical reads - and it makes me excited to read some of Novik's past work that I haven't gotten around to yet, along with Folly!

The worlds that Naomi Novik have brought to life are diverse and all are very interesting. I love getting a peek into the worlds that she's created in her stories they're all lovely short trips to very beloved places.

I would read Naomi Novik's grocery list. Each short story was captivating. As a Scholomance fan, I admit I requested it for this story and it didn't disappoint. The characters were fresh and exciting. Plus I am always here for Orion. But it was the original take on Spinning Silver that reminded me what a talent she is. I didn't think I could love it more than I did, but I think the short story is just as ethereal. I could wax and wane about all the stories on here, but I just insist...read it! Amazing!

I love all of Naomi Novik's writing and these stories were a tantalizing glimpse into some of my favorite worlds! Her one series that I've never gotten into is Temeraire, but the short stories included in this book finally piqued my interest.

It was so great to check in with the Scholomance and see what life is like after El's revolution.

A few stories didn't quite hit for me (Irene Adler, the teapot one) but I loved the more fantasy/mythological ones. Seeing the original version of Spinning Silver was very interesting from a writing POV since the plot was almost identical except for the very ending.

Loved the glimpse at her new world, can't wait to read more of that.

Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik, a lot of enjoyable short stories that I now want larger stories in the same universes. Novik is good at leaving you wanting more and more and more.

4*

I love Naomi Novik, especially the way that she weaves fairy tales and folklore.

Buried Deep and Other Stories brought a collection of glimpses into the befores and afters of her established works, as well as new twists on stories we thought we knew.

She's a master of her craft and this was enjoyable even if you've not read all of her work.

NetGalley has provided an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

<i>Buried Deep</i> is a collection of short stories, including companion stories for some of Novik’s best-loved works - <i>Spinning Silver, Scholomance</i> and <i>Temeraire</i>. I enjoyed the fan-fiction of Captain Elizabeth Bennet riding a dragon against Napoleon, and Mr. Darcy offering the comforts of Pemberly to her appreciative wing. Or what if Miryem hadn’t married the Staryk king? Other stories include a resourceful young woman caught by pirates, a fresh look at the Minotaur’s tale, Irene Adler reacting to Sherlock Holmes death at Reichenbach Falls.

The problem with most short stories is that there isn’t enough space to devote to interesting world building or character development , so the author repeatedly relies on horror or tragedy to nudge an emotion out of the reader. By leveraging past works, Novik doesn’t need to rely on cheap tricks.

My favorite story was “Seven Years Gone”, a futuristic homage to Laurence of Arabia. The world building is interesting for such a short story. If you ask a local to do something they don’t want to do, they’ll offer to do it in an inconvenient way. You need a guide? I’ll come for you before you have a chance to pack (or shower or eat) The proper response is to acknowledge mutual annoyance and go, ready or not, otherwise they will leave and not come back.

I've always enjoyed Naomi Novik's books, and while I haven't read all of them, I've read a number of them. Buried Deep and Other Stories is a great short story collection. It introduces some new figures, as well as provides insight and little extras into worlds readers have already visited. This anthology contains a wide range of subjects and themes, and I think anyone who already reads Naomi Novik's books will find something that speaks to them.

It's funny, my three favorite stories from the collection were the final three, Dragons and Decorum, Castle Coeurlieu, and The Long Way Round. Not that I didn't like the others, but these were the standouts for me. It always takes a lot of skill for an author to craft a short story that is impactful with few words. These three were the ones that did that for me and left me wanting more. While the stories themselves were "wrapped up," I can see the next part of these characters stories just peeking around the bend. I believe from the internet rumors I've seen that The Long Way Round is the lead in to a new series that Novik is working on.

This anthology also introduced me to characters and stories that I had not realized that Novik had written. I'm mainly familiar with her Scholomance series, and now I need a long weekend off with zero interruptions in order to catch up on the books and story lines I've not read before. I forget how much like reading fantasy stories until I'm immersed in them. Novik did a great job of blending reality with fiction, and creating grounded worlds that while fantastical are also relatable. I really recommend this anthology, even if you haven't read Novik before.

Please be advised I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, I'm a fan of Naomi Novik's writing, and was ecstatic to get an email telling me I'd been approved for this collection of story stories. I also already had pre-ordered it the moment I realized it was coming out, which is to say I am not an unbiased reader. I am someone coming into this primed to love it.

It delivered.

ARAMINTA, OR THE WRECK OF THE AMPHIDRAKE:
I love a Regency story, and this one played with and inverted tropes of the genre in a way that felt new.

AFTER HOURS:
I am a huge Scholomance fan, so the very first thing I did was find the Scholomance story. It's as magical as one would hope for from this world, giving us a peek into the school after the events of the trilogy, but also letting us see a whole different kind of witch. I loved the way this short story married Novik's wonderful Slavic fantasies with the Scholomance universe. I loved the curse. I loved the fairy tale logic of not taking too much, and the moral center of the story, and the cathartic end was perfection. 10/10 will read again.

VICI:
The only books of Novik's I have not read are the Temeraire books, so I came to this story not knowing the world it was set in, which was a bit like reading a fic fandom blind. And, I have to say, it stands alone as a hilarious, delightful story that made me love her dragons.

BURIED DEEP
This is a haunting story, and I am going to be haunted by it for a long time. What a splendid, wholly emotionally believable look at the Minotaur's story.

SPINNING SILVER:
This story is interesting in the way a seedling is interesting when you are familiar with the fully grown tree.

COMMONPLACES:
Much as with her Temeraire story, for me this was much like reading fandom blind as I've never been interested in Sherlock Holmes in any of his many iterations. Is it an excellent story? Yes. But it was not my favorite of the collection.

SEVEN:
Truly wonderful. As I was reading this, I thought how I needed to bring it to the attention of a book club of mine. Novik is just such a master, and I felt the conflict between the practicality and the artistic drive divorced from the world in a visceral way.

BLESSINGS:
The setup with competing fairy blessings was wonderful, but I admit I wanted more and would have read a whole book about Magda with this as the prologue.

LORD DUNSANY'S TEAPOT:
War stories are never my favorite, but I think the heartache and homesickness in this one will resonate with fans of the genre.

DRAGONS AND DECORUM
A Pride and Prejudice Temeraire AU, I was charmed by this one, but I did feel it was perhaps a little too long, but that might be because I haven't read the Temeraire books (though, of course, I have read P&P multiple times, as one does.) I do think this will be a huge delight for Temeraire readers.

CASTLE CORLIEU:
One of my favorites in the collection, the merging of arcane imagery and medieval fantasy and fairy tales was so artfully done I tore through it like a child gorging myself on sweets.

THE LONG WAY ROUND
This story is cruel because now I want the book it's working towards.