Summary:
This is a collection of thirteen short stories from the various worlds (Scholomance, Temeraire, Spinning Silver, and more!) of Naomi Novik’s books.

Final Thoughts:
I LOVE Naomi Novik’s writing and worlds so you can bet your butt I jumped on the chance to get access to this collection early. Not only do you get to visit some of the worlds that I have had a chance to visit before from new and exciting perspectives, but you ALSO get to read new little snippets of fascinating characters and worlds that are all brand new. The setting variety was fantastic; Regency, World War II, icy tundra, and the high seas (to name a few). My absolute favorite was “Dragons & Decorum” but I am horribly biased as it combines my love of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” with Naomi Novik’s awesome world from the Temeraire series. If you are a “Pride and Prejudice” fan, I recommend this book based on that short story alone. Read it, you won't be disappointed.

A brilliant anthology full of odd, little stories, some of which are set in the same worlds are her previous series - The Scholomance and Temeraire. Along with the original Spinning Silver tale, but I have to admit I prefer her version. Looking forward to reading more about her next fantasy series as that last story was an excellent sampler of the world.

Like all short stories, some of these I really enjoyed and some I didn't. I chose it because I love Naomi Novik and am eagerly awaiting her next work. This sample of short stories was great but only made me miss her longer form stuff. Highlights for me were the Scholomance story and Spinning Silver.

This is one of the best anthology books I have ever read. I am not usually a huge fan of this type of book as I would rather read an entire story than stop and start a bunch of short stories. However, I decided to make an exception because Naomi Novik has written some of my favorite books. The first couple of stories were my favorite. There was one that involved pirates and a goddess, another set during Roman times, and ancient Greece. I absolutely love those time periods and these short stories infused with fantasy were quick, fantastic reads. I just wanted them to be longer. There was another story set in the Scholomance world which showed what happened after the last book in the trilogy. There was also my favorite which was the short version of Spinning Silver. All of the stories included fantasy with excellent writing. My only complaint was that many of them ended abruptly and I just wanted to read more. Overall, I don't think you will find a better fantasy anthology.

Thank you to Del Ray/Random House for the ARC.

"Buried Deep and Other Stories" by Naomi Novik presents a delightful collection of 13 diverse short stories showcasing the author's storytelling prowess. With strong characterizations, vivid settings, and a touch of humor, Novik weaves engaging tales that will captivate both fans and newcomers alike. While some stories may stand out more than others, the overall quality and creativity make this anthology a solid 4-star read, offering a taste of Novik's exceptional writing in various themes and settings.

Naomi Novik is one of my favorite authors. I have read most of her books, except for the Temeraire series, which I hope to read someday (too many books, not enough time). I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but I make an exception for my favorite authors.

This is a delightful collection of 13 short stories by the master tale spinner, Naomi Novik. Each story stands alone, some with more of a bite than others. Each tale is accompanied by the author’s note giving us background on the tales, which I loved. A couple of the stories were previously published, and I had read them already. The stories are:

1. Araminta, or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake - A pirate story set during Regency times. Young lady Araminta is sent abroad to marry a young noble due to her un-womanlike behavior and gets more than she bargained for when pirates attack her ship.

2. After Hours (Scholomance) – A story that takes place shortly after the events of the Scholomance trilogy (a series that I loved). A young mushroom witch is sent to the Scholomance for her safety and finds it isn't as safe as she thought.

3. Vici (Temeraire, 2010) - (2008): Roman Empire and dragons! It is based on the Temeraire series and follows the life of a young Roman, Mark Antony, after he hatches a dragon’s egg.

4. Buried Deep (2019) – A retelling of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur. A child with the head of a bull and the body of a man is born to King Minos and his wife, Pasiphae, as a punishment for keeping a snow-white bull sent to him by Poseidon for sacrifice. The story is told from the POV of the Minotaur's sister.

5. Spinning Silver (2016) – An earlier and shorter version of the full-length novel loosely based on the tale of Rumpelstiltskin. A young Jewish girl outsmarts an elf-like Staryk. I have read the full-length story and loved it more.

6. Commonplaces – The author's version of Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes story from Irene's POV. Irene is married and lives peacefully with her solid husband. After reading about the death of Sherlock Holmes in the papers, Irene tries to find out if it is true.

7. Seven (2019) –A story about art and clay-shapers. An artist is charged with fixing a statue using a deathly white clay.

8. Blessings (2019) – A fairy story about fairy godmothers and their blessings. It somewhat reminds one of the Sleeping Beauty tale with a twist. Drunken fairies bless a child, but some blessings are worse than others.

9. Lord Dunsany's Teapot (2011) –A war story revolving around two soldiers and a magical teapot. Two soldiers find comfort in tea and believe in the teapot's protective powers. A somewhat depressing tale.

10. Seven Years From Home (2010) – A colonialism tale that takes place on an alien planet. The heroine is a female version of Lawrence of Arabia. I didn't connect to the tale and found it a bit dull.

11. Dragons & Decorum (~Temeraire?, 2017) – A retelling of Pride and Prejudice with Dragons! Elizabeth is a Captain, and a dragon is her companion in this version where England is at war with France (Bonaparte times). I love Pride and Prejudice and enjoyed this version.

12. Castle Coeurlieu (2016) – The story of a young bride in the Middle Ages during the Black Plague, including some fairy tales.

13. The Long Way Round – The sea-travel adventures of a brother and sister who set forward to find a new continent.

I enjoyed the collection, and although I liked most of the stories, there are four that are my favorites: Dragons & Decorum (I hope the author will make it a full-length novel), After Hours, Blessings, and Castle Coeurlieu. Some of the stories were open-ended, and the endings were too vague for my taste. Even though I loved the full-length novel "Spinning Silver", I thought including its short version was unnecessary and made for dull reading for those familiar with the tale.

In summary, all of these stories have four things in common: good writing, interesting storylines, strong heroines/solid characters, and vivid settings. The theme of destiny and free will runs through them like the red thread of fate. As the stories were uneven in their level, I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. Fans of the author will surely enjoy the tales. If you haven't read her work before, this collection will give you a taste of her writing.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

In a word: delightful. I loved the range of stories included in this collection and the introduction guiding me into each one. Getting to see one more story in the Scholomance was an amazing little epilogue! I really enjoyed the takes on different works (Pride and Prejudice + Dragons is something I would read a series of) and I think Novik's humor shone through in many of the stories. "The Long Way Round" was a standout for me- I adored the relationship between the siblings and the world she started to build in it. I can't wait to see what happens as she develops "Folly" further!

This was absolutely fabulous! Most of these stories had been previously published, but I’d only read two of them, despite being a huge Novik fan. It was wonderful to read such a well-curated collection. There were two stories I liked rather than loved, both due entirely to personal taste, and even so they were excellently written; I just didn’t love them as much as I loved all the rest.

The stories range hugely in tone and style, and each includes an author’s note with a little bit of context about the origin of the story. The worlds of Temeraire, the Scholomance, and Spinning Silver are all featured, as are familiar literary characters, including Sherlock Holmes and Elizabeth Bennet. There are a wide array of standalone stories, several of which I’d be delighted to read as expanded novel-length versions.

Most of these stories were originally published in themed anthologies, and it was very fun to see the different influences and genres Novik was playing with in each story. I was the most surprised by the stories that seemed to stray the farthest from Novik’s other work, including “Seven,” a mesmerizing story about an master clay-shaper, “Lord Dunsany’s Teapot,” a moving examination of war, and “Seven Years from Home,” an anthropological story that has strong hints of Ursula K. LeGuin’s Hainish cycle but with Novik’s own spin. I’m hard-pressed to limit my favorites; almost everything in this book was a winner for me. I can’t wait to buy my copy when it comes out.

Highlights:
- Araminta, or, The Wreck of the Ammphidrake
- Spinning Silver
- Seven
- Lord Dunsay’s Teapot
- Seven Years from Home

Huge thank you to Naomi Novik, Del Ray, and NetGalley for generously providing me with an ARC for review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC of Buried Deep and Other Stories.

Unfortunately, I really didn't love this. It was fine. There were a few stories that were 4 stars. And a few that I would give one or two. But I would consider the good majority to be pretty average. A lot of them were hard to get into and I found myself not retaining any information about most of the stories. To be fair, the only Naomi Novik book I had previously read was the first book in the Scholomance series. So, perhaps, I would like some of the stories more if I had that background information. However, from the peeks I got into some of the worlds, I don't think I would want to read a whole book about it. My other complaint is that I really just didn't understand how the stories had anything in common or what should link them in a story collection.

Ratings for each story
-Araminta, or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake: 3.5 Stars
-After Hours: 4.5 Stars. (Honestly, I really liked this one. I liked the main character Beata. I felt like I understood a lot about her and her background, which is impressive for a short story. The author excelled at creating a rivalry in a few pages and then cleared it up in a few more. It was fun to see Orion again. And I really liked the idea of the fern flower.
-Buried Deep- 1 star. I've read like 75% of the greek mythology retellings that exist. And this one was one of my all time least favorites.
-Vici- 3 Stars
-Spinning Silver- 4 Stars. This was fun. I love reading a badass female character. The Staryk's were unique and I thought this one was incredibly well written.
-Commonplace- 1 star. This one felt like it could have been deleted completely and it would have been fine. It was so short and it felt pretty pointless.
-Seven- 4 stars. I liked that the author managed to show character growth in a short story. Grovin and Kath were interesting, complex characters and the plot was unique.
-Blessings-3.. This one was like six pages. It was fine, I was leaning towards liking it. But, it was just too short to feel much.
-Lord Dunsany's Teapot- 2 stars. It was okay, but I didn't understand the ending. The whole thing felt so vague.
-Seven Years from Home- 3 stars. This one was also pretty confusing. It did have some cool elements. The science behind the wings and weapons was interesting.
- Dragons and Decorum- 4 Stars. This was good! I loved Wollstonecraft and Captain Elizabeth's relationship. This was another badass female character. My complaint with this one is that for a short story, it felt long. I think some of the information was unnecessary.
- Castle Coerlieu; 3 stars.
-The Long Way Round: 3 Stars. Also felt wordy.

Thank you again for the ARC and I do want to try reading more Naomi Novik but I just didn't connect with a lot of these. Overall, I gave it three stars.

I just finished Buried Deep my Naomi Novik and once again she has quickly and thoroughly dragged me into her incredible worlds. Short stories are not usually my favorite but this was very good. The two Temeraire stories were my favorite but the sneak peek into the world of her next book was also very intriguing. I would recommend!

Pretty good. I loved the scholomance trilogy and was a smidge disapointed by this but it was still good. Woulda liked if some were a bit more horrory or if one or two had a little bit of romance. Even though I was a little disapointed by this I will continue to read every good Naomi Novak writes.

A thrilling collection of thirteen short stories that span the worlds of the New York Times bestselling author of the Scholomance Trilogy, including a sneak peek at the land where her next novel will be set.

From the dragon-filled Temeraire series and the gothic, magical halls of the Scholomance trilogy to the fairy tale worlds of Spinning Silver and Uprooted, this stunning collection takes us from fairy tale to fantasy, myth to history, and mystery to science fiction as we travel through Naomi Novik’s most beloved stories.

In Buried Deep, we move from ancient Greece and Rome, through the Middle Ages and the Black Death, and into the modern era. We meet Mark Antony, Sherlock Holmes, and Elizabeth Bennet, in ways we have never seen them before. We visit exotic fantasy cities and alien civilizations among the stars.

Though the stories are vastly different, there is a unifying theme: the act of finding and seizing one’s destiny, and the lengths one will go to achieve that—be it turning pirate, captaining a fighting dragon, or shifting from marriage to seek your destiny with a sword.

And in the two tales original to this collection, we first reenter the remade Scholomance in the wake of El’s revolution and see what life is like for the new crop of students. Then, we get a glimpse at the world of Novik’s upcoming series, a deserted land, populated only by silent and enigmatic architectural behemoths whose secrets are yet to be unlocked.
This was a prettygood short story collection that will appeal to fantasy fans who enjoy the magical school trope. I don't usually click with short story collections, but this one was done well enough that I enjoyed it. Basically, these stories left me wanting more and now I want to check out Noviks full length books:)

I'm not the huge fan of anthologies but I'll read anything by Naomi Novik so.

Part of the allure of the Scholomance series lies in El's unique narrative voice. Despite her absence in this particular story, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it (especially the enchanting ghost mushrooms!). Beata's portrayal as an old-world witch, intertwined with curses and nature magic, resonated with me. The story successfully captured the essence and themes of the original trilogy. Rating: 5/5

This is my first foray into the Temeraire series. While I believe a deeper familiarity with the universe or Roman Empire references would enhance the experience, the glimpse provided piqued my interest. The series seems to portray dragons in a captivating manner: conversing, soaring through the skies, breathing fire, and brimming with personality. Rating: 3/5

I had almost forgotten that "Buried Deep" was the eponymous story. Rating: 2.5/5. However, I must admit that my favorite retelling of this myth is actually an oglaf comic.

"A power claimed and challenged and thrice carried out is true." This short story, later expanded into a full-length novel, deviates from the familiar narrative into an alternate ending. Rating: 4.5/5. "The real story isn't half as pretty as the one you've heard."

"Commonplaces" delves into Irene Adler from Sherlock Holmes, a character I am more acquainted with through BBC adaptations. While her initial actions intrigued me, the brevity of the story and lack of emotional connection to the characters left me unaffected. Rating: 2/5.

In the first text, "Seven (2019)," the intricate world-building details in the initial paragraphs were captivating and slightly eerie. The contrast between Kath's humble cup and the grandmaster's delicate pieces was thought-provoking, leaving a lingering sense of preference for the cup.

In the second text, "Blessings (2019)," the only downside was its brevity, leaving a desire for more. The humorous narrative of fairies getting intoxicated at a baby's party was entertaining and engaging, reminiscent of "Armor-ella" by Holly Lisle. The story earned a rating of 4.5/5.

Lastly, in "Lord Dunsany's Teapot (2011)," the setting of trench warfare during the World Wars was not appealing, resulting in a rating of 1.5/5.

Moving on to "Seven Years From Home (2010)," the fusion of old-timey writing style with futuristic elements was challenging to engage with, despite the intriguing alien planet and its bioengineering aspects. The narrative style hindered the overall experience, resulting in a rating of 2/5.

Dragons & Decorum (~Temeraire?, 2017) offers a delightful twist on Pride and Prejudice, where Elizabeth takes on the role of an officer in the Corps and commands her own dragon. The inclusion of dragons in the story adds a charming element that captivated me. I would rate it 3.5/5.

Castle Coeurlieu (2016) takes readers on a journey into the realm of fairytales, with intriguing tales nested within the main narrative. It beautifully combines elements of hubris, greed, and the inevitable presence of Death. The book manages to strike a balance between coziness and haunting, making it a captivating read. I would rate it 4.5/5.

The Long Way Round presents a simple yet compelling question: "Why not?" This fantasy novel excels in its world-building, offering readers a chance to explore eerie and mysterious unknowns. The story follows a brother and sister duo, one a sailor and the other a shipbuilder, as they embark on a daring adventure accompanied by a captivating sorcerer. I would rate it 4.5/5.

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for the arc!

Ms. Novik has been on a roll the last dozen years. No misfires.
This is a collection of short stories. A few new, most previously published.
One of the stories is set in her Scholomance universe (I have read them three times each), one is in her Temeraire universe. Both those stories are off the main line. All her stories are well worth reading. Spinning Silver was expanded to into a fantastic novel.
One of the new stories is a roadmap to her next series. In her notes she says the details of that universe may change but this is her current route to it.
Well worth the cost. I got the eArc gratis but will be purchasing the finished HC when it is published.

I know Novik is hugely praised, but I feel like this collection shows how much MORE she should be praised. I had the good fortune to read a few of these stories before this book, so many are new, and they show just how versatile and creative she is, it's a wonder.

And I do mean versatile: There's such a good mix of stories in here, covering so many genres and time periods, at one point, during Dragons & Decorum, a Pride & Prejudice meets Temeraire story, I forgot I was reading Naomi Novik, and thought, "man, Novik's impact because this author really took inspiration from her Temeraire series!" lol

If you aren't here for her dragon stories, she has a wonderful mix of fairytale retellings. Castle Coeurlieu> will haunt me for a while and I hope she revisits that some day, it felt like such a dream to read.

The only complaint I had about anything was that some of the stories were a few pages long when really, I could've used a whole extended universe for them, but that's not really a complaint and hopefully it would mean more short story content in the future.

I've loved all of Novik's books, and this one is no different. While I enjoyed some of the stories more than others, there weren't any that I disliked. Highly recommended to Novik fans in particular, as a few of the stories relate to her prior books, but any fantasy or short story fan will find something to enjoy in these well-written, compelling stories.

Araminta, or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake - Delightful regency era fantasy complete with genderbending fun. The practicality of the main character certainly reminds me of the best heroines of Heyer, who Novik mentions in the introduction. Novik's dry humor is a highlight.

After Hours - Loved the glimpse into a post-Scholomance series world. The self-contained story of dealing with a difficult roommate was compelling, but the appearance of a familiar character was probably my favorite part.

Vici - Fun alternate history that also acts as a prequel of sorts to the Temeraire series. A fast read with a young Antony who bonds with a dragon. Novik's dragons are always endearing, and Vici is no different.

Buried Deep - A retelling of the Minotaur story focused on Ariadne. Compelling though not a standout.

Spinning Silver - This one was more interesting as a comparison than anything else. It's fine as a stand-alone short story. I probably would have liked it more if I hadn't read and loved the novel. However, having read the novel, I can only read the short story as a rough draft. It is very interesting to compare it to what it turned into, so it is worth reading.

Commonplaces - I'm not a big Sherlock Holmes fan, so while I've heard of Irene Adler, I don't really care about her. The story was fine, but Sherlock Holmes fans would probably enjoy it more.

Seven - A lovely little tale about art - what it means, what makes something art, etc.

Blessings - The fairy godmothers were very entertaining, and the story was a lot of fun. It felt like it could use a bit more fleshing out with Magda, though. Or maybe I just wanted more!

Lord Dunsany's Teapot - Revolves around a teapot and its effect on two men during war. Interesting but not a favorite.

Seven Years from Home - Plays with perspective in an interesting way as the main character tells her own story as a response to what has already been widely disseminated about her. The descriptions of the alien planet were very evocative.

Dragons & Decorum - This story just makes me want dragons in all of classic literature. I loved the dragon, Wollstonecraft, and her love of Gothic literature and balls. A very fun retelling of Pride & Prejudice.

Castle Coeurlieu - A young girl is married to a much older man and is left by him at his castle as the plague threatens. Very creepy and suspenseful.

The Long Way Round - A brother, sister, and magical High Lord try to find a new sailing route. Intriguing world-building and a sweet relationship between the brother and sister. Looking forward to seeing if it later develops into a full length novel.

Absolutely enchanting! I want more Naomi Novik! I want more stories from Temeraire’s universe and more Spinning Silver. And more Uprooted! More is good!

So many thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray publishing for letting me read and advanced copy of Buried Deep and Other Stories. I love everything Naomi Novik has written and this is no exception. I'm not usually a big fan of anthologies but I loved that this was a mix of new worlds and worlds I've already visited. I can't wait to see the final version which will hopefully have maps and such.

Thanks to NetGalley for a ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

I'm a big fan of Novik's and I love her writing style and captivating storytelling. She is a gorgeous writer with a amazing way of building story and world and plot while keeping her characters deeply emotional and grounded in reality. Whether they are dragons, or magicans, or cursed her characters are compelling and feel true to both the worlds she builds and ours.

From the dragon-filled Temeraire series and the gothic magical halls of the Scholomance trilogy, through the realms next door to Spinning Silver and Uprooted, this stunning collection takes us from fairy tale to fantasy, myth to history, and mystery to science fiction as we travel through Naomi Novik’s most beloved stories.

Naomi Novik has a way of writing that just reads like bits of magic! I love her stuff, her stories are so entertaining and immersive.