I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC from Netgalley- and it's my very first time reading an ARC! I was beyond thrilled to get the opportunity to read a book from one of my favorite authors early, and it didn't disappoint.

Noami Novik has such a specific and finely-tuned writing style, and I think this collection of 13 short stories is a wonderful introduction for anyone who hasn't read her before. Most of the stories included have been previously published in other anthologies, but I am so glad she was able to bring them all together in this collection.

There is something here for just about everyone (assuming of course you enjoy fantasy in general). There is commentary on gender, retellings of classic folklore and fairytales, Regency era (but with dragons!), drunken fairies, pirates, and even one sci-fi tale included in the mix that reminded me quite a bit of The Left Hand of Darkness by LeGuin in the best way.

I was particularly blown away by the final story in the collection, The Long Way Round, which focuses on a brother-sister duo who attempt to figure out a way to sail to a never-before-visited continent. It is the longest story in the collection, and it managed to build such a rich and intriguing picture of the world these characters are inhabiting. I could read an entire novel based on that story!

I have read nearly every book Noami Novik has published and I can't thank her, NetGalley, and the publisher enough for allowing me the opportunity to read this book early. I eagerly await her next release!

I've always known Novik was a talented writer & creative, but this collection is the first to honor her broad range of genre experience. From a Temaire universe Pride & Prejudice retelling, to a sinister medieval fable, to a fantastical nautical travelogue, Novik's short stories allow her to exhibit originality and accentuate her skill at transforming prose to fit content. Each story has something to offer, but I especially enjoyed 1) "Araminta", the story of a gender-swapping pirate dodging an arrange marriage; 2) "Buried Deep", a truly excellent retelling of Ariadne & the Minotaur that has me jonesing for a full-length foray by Novik into mythology retellings; and 3) "Castle Coerlieu" aforementioned menacing medieval alt-history about a reality-bending tower. It was heartening to read her original short story version of "Spinning Silver", not only to see the bones of what would become a highly successful novel, but also because it gave me hope for one or more of these installments spinning out into a more ambitious narrative .

I very much enjoyed these stories. I really liked going back to both Scholomance and Temerare's world, although I definitely recommend having read the original books first. Especially Scholomance, as one of the highlights of the story was the contrast in how the world is now. I didn't find the early version of Spinning Silver as enjoyable as the others. The story was less complex, the characters less developed, the lore less vibrant. It was interesting to see the bones that the full book developed from, though.

The stand-alone stories were a delightful variety, hitting a wide range of genres and vibes. Some were on the sillier side (Araminta), some extremely poignant and (Buried Deep, Lord Dunsany's Teapot). Some were about people seeking out spectacular adventures, and some about people just trying to live their lives. The stories are mostly fantasy, but a few feel more sci-fi. The worlds are rich and interesting, and the thread of family (found and by blood) runs through them all.

As a fan of Naomi Novik I was very excited to read this collection of short stories, and it did not disappoint! Novik writes engaging fantasy novels and I enjoyed getting to dip back into some of her worlds through the short story collection, as well as be introduced into an upcoming new world. This book is great for long-time readers to get to experience some beloved worlds again, as well as new readers to get a taste of Novik's brilliant writing!

I really enjoyed this book. I love Naomi Novik's writing in general, and getting to enjoy her perspective through short stories was a welcome change of pace. I love that many of the stories take place in fantasy worlds, some of them new and some very familiar. I especially loved After Hours, Seven, and Spinning Silver.

First line: My house growing up was full of words; my mother read widely.

Summary: In this collection of thirteen stories, acclaimed fantasy author Naomi Novik, brings in several of her previously published short stories as well as two new ones. These stories range from historical to science fiction with appearances by Elizabeth Bennett and dragons. As well as revisiting some of her past works she introduces us to the new world which will be the setting of her upcoming fantasy novel.

My Thoughts: I really enjoy the work of Naomi Novik. She writes some outstanding fantasy novels with beautiful world building. My first look was in Uprooted and most recently with the Scholomance trilogy.

There were several stories in here which I really enjoyed and some that I skipped. I loved revisiting the world of the Scholomance after the events of the trilogy to see what life was like for the new students. I haven’t read her dragon series but I will definitely add it to my list after reading the dragon stories in this collection. I really enjoyed the short story that inspired her book, Spinning Silver. I think it was better as a short story than a full length novel. The one I skipped early on had a strong science fiction theme to it which did not hold my attention but there are many more stories to choose from making it easy to pass on the one.

This would be a good introduction to anyone who hasn’t read Novik’s work yet or someone who wants to expand on her work as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the ARC. It was a joy to read!

I’ve been a huge fan of Naomi Novik since her Uprooted days (though, I’ve admittedly been dragging my feet on on the last book in the Scholomance series because I’m not ready for it to be over yet). When I learned she was coming out with a book of short stories, I knew I couldn’t wait to pick it up. I was even more ecstatic when I learned the publisher granted my request for an ARC.

This book is comprised of thirteen short stories. Some of these tales will be familiar to Novik fans, though you need not have read any of her previous books to enjoy these stories. There’s a little bit of everything that will appeal to many types of readers: from Sherlock Holmes to Pride and Prejudice re-imaginings to worlds completely new. Each story is preceded by a little forward from Novik giving a bit of a backstory to the inspiration for each story (though Novik herself requests those forwards be taken with a grain of salt).

So…how to rate an anthology? Since this is the first time I’m rating a series of short stories, my plan is to rate each of the stories individually and then average the scores at the end.

Aramintha, or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake- What a great way to kick off an anthology. I loved this one! It’s a sort of swashbuckling pirate story - empowering with a dash of magic. Really loved the main character and the interesting use of magic. 5/5
After Hours - This book takes place in the aftermath of the Scholomance series and is vaguely spoiler-y. I’m a huge fan of the series (though I haven’t finished the last book yet) and enjoyed the familiar setting. 5/5
Vici - This was a funny, wry take on the origins of dragon taming. Set in Roman Times, the main character was unlikeable in a good way (think Kuzco in The Emperor’s New Groove). 4/5
Buried Deep - A mythology retelling. I admit, after reading Circe a couple years ago, I was a bit mythologied-out but I enjoyed this fresh take on Ariadne’s story. Unfortunately it didn’t really draw me in like the other stories did. 3/5
Spinning Silver - If you’re familiar with Novik’s novel version, you’ll already know this is a reimagining of the tale of Rumpelstiltskin. This book is a shorter, alternate ending of Novik’s retelling (one that felt more true to the main character, in my opinion). 5/5
Commonplace - I struggled with this one. Not because it was poorly written but because I’m not at all familiar with Sherlock Holmes. I think if I’d been more familiar with the characters, I would have gotten more out of this story. 2/5
Seven - This story had such interesting world-building. I wish there was more of it because I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this world. The characters were less memorable but still enjoyable. I’d read a novel-length version of this. 4/5
Blessings - I really enjoyed how funny and charming this story was! It’s a fun and unusual take on drunk fairy godmothers bestowing gifts (perhaps accidentally) on a child and the aftermath. 5/5
Lord Dunsany’s Teapot - I admit, I skim read this one. It’s got a war-field setting which is not really my cup of tea (pun intended) and I didn’t feel very invested in the story or characters. Again, this is more due to my personal tastes than a reflection on Novik’s story-telling abilities. 1/5
Seven Years from Home - This one was really heavy. More sci-fi than fantasy, it covers hard topics like colonialism and politics in a sort of space opera setting. Reminded me a little of The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. 3.5/5
Dragons and Decorum - Hear me out: an abridged retelling of Pride and Prejudice…with dragons. Oh my goodness this was so much fun! 5/5
Castle Coeurlieu - I love fantasy stories that come with their own lore. This book reminded me, mildly, of a darker version of The Secret Garden. 4/5
The Long Way Round - I was excited to learn that this story is a rough-draft preview of Novik’s upcoming novel (tentatively entitled Folly). It was longer than the rest, following two characters in the trading business as they attempt to sail a dangerous and mostly unexplored path to the different continents of their world. My only complaint is that the ending feels incomplete - by that I mean it seems to stop mid-conversation. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to the full-length version.
Overall, I enjoyed most of the stories in this book! Novik’s prose is beautiful as always and I was impressed with her ability to write across various genres in a way that either paid tribute to the originals or built up entirely new worlds. A couple of the stories I had a hard time getting into but only because they either weren’t my preferred genre or I didn’t have the necessary background knowledge to fully enjoy them. That said, there were also several stories with fascinating world building and wonderful characters. This is a must read for any fantasy reader.

Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4 on Goodreads)
Review will be posted to my website on September 6th, 2024 (close to release date). The URL is below but will not work until the post is published.

Rating: 4.25 stars

This is a must read for Naomi Novik fans! But is also a great sampling of her work for new readers too.

As with every short story collection, I enjoyed some more than others. But I loved quite a few of the stories and worlds visited here.

I was happy to get a story in the Scholomance world (“After Hours”). I would read a million more of stories set there!
Spinning Silver is one of my favorite books so reading the original short story version was a special treat.

My other favorites were:
- “Seven”: A society of master potters who work with deadly clay
- “Seven Years from Home”: A sci-fi story exploring new worlds and the effects of colonization
- “Dragons & Decorum”: Pride & Prejudice with dragons!
- “The Long Way Around”: A sea-faring adventure that takes place in the world of Novik’s next novel. Which I am now so excited for!

In this anthology, Novik shows off her incredible world building and creativity. Her wit and humor really shine in “Dragons & Decorum” and “The Long Way Around”. This is a great collection by a talented author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC.

What can I say, I am obviously going to be in the minority here, but I was very disappointed in this collection. I never got hooked into reading it. I can honestly say that the only story I really enjoyed was the Scholomance chapter. Don't get me wrong, the Spinning Silver one was lovely.....but only if you hadn't read the book of the same title.

To be completely honest, I felt like I was shortchanged, I'm just glad I only paid with my time.

It was so fun to be reading stories written by Naomi Novik again. She has such a way with words! There were, of course, some stories that I enjoyed more than others but it was fun to return to some of the worlds that she writes extensively about in her other novels.

This collection of short stories will transport you to richly developed worlds to interact with the characters Novik is known for. Several stories are set in worlds familiar to readers of this author – Temeraire, Scholomance, and Spinning Silver. Don’t fret, these specific stories are enjoyable even with a vague recollection of them. Many others in this collection are in new times and places. As with most any collection, a few stories left this reader wondering as to their inclusion here. Most others, however, result in a far different frustration – clamoring for more.

Two stood out from the rest. “Seven” had the potential to completely gut this reader. Therefore, each word was read with trepidation. It took a very unexpected and far less painful turn. However, there is a strong desire to read more.

The first glimpse at the world of Abandon, found in “The Long Way Round” also took an unexpected turn. The consequences of it are yet to be discovered and the mysteries revealed so far leave one wanting more.

It should come as no surprise Novik has crafted a solid collection in Buried Deep and Other Stories.

DNFd at 10%

I don’t know man, as much as I love some short story collections and I saw this as a great way of getting introduced to Novik’s work. The first story was not captivating for me, so I moved onto the next one and then skipped around and nothing really felt up my alley. As much as I wanted to love this, this just didn’t hit.

Buried Deep and Other Stories is an enjoyable read. The book consists of short stories, including looks into the world of Novik’s other writing, retellings of mythology, and completely original stories. Reading this was a fun look back (or forward!) on the worlds I already know and love, and those set in worlds I have yet to experience make me excited to read more in the future. I found the mythology retellings to be really interesting rethinkings of classic stories. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys short stories, fantasy, or retellings.

Rating: 4 Stars

The risk you run with an anthology is that, inevitably, some stories are going to hit the mark, and some stories will flop. The goal, when I'm reading an anthology, is to like more stories than I dislike. This anthology passed that test.

I will say that I do have an affinity for Naomi Novik. I loveeeedddd A Deadly Education, and both Uprooted and Spinning Silver are in the top of my favorite standalone fantasy novels.

I really liked the range in this series of short stories. Some were high fantasy, like you would expect from a story set in the Scholomance. Others were retellings and reimaginings of popular stories, like the retelling of Pride and Prejudice involving dragons. Still others had just the faintest touch of magic, but kept my attention so thoroughly.

Ironically enough, my least favorite story in here was the title story. Nearly all of the other ones were captivating, exciting, and just fun. I'd say if you are already a fan of Novik's work, this is a great supplement to her writing, and if you aren't familiar, this gives a good introduction to her writing style.

Posted on Goodreads (August 31, 2024)

This collection of short stories made me feel as if I was transported to different worlds. You can tell that Novik really put her heart and soul into these stories, and I believe anyone can appreciate the range of places and people you meet throughout the stories. Having read some of Novik's other books, I think that the more of her stories you have read, the more you will enjoy this book because you get a small glimpse into some of the worlds she has created in her other books. I am so glad I received a copy through NetGalley to review, and can't wait for others to share this fun book experience.

Naomi Novik's collection of short stories in Buried Deep encompasses all of her storytelling skills! You have stories about pirates, magic, and dragons alongside spins on fairytales, Sherlock Holmes, Pride and Prejudice and Greek mythology! I've read other short story collections and usually find a few I didn't really enjoy but I loved every story in here, especially Novik's teaser for her next series. Her writing is so fluid and you just flow with the story right from the beginning as she succinctly sets the stage and creates instant depth to the characters you meet. I really felt that in the Irene Adler story, you just instantly understand everything going on and the feelings and personality of Adler. I haven't read the Temeraire series but reading Vici and seeing a kind of origin story of that had me adding it to my tbr list. I loved getting to see how the Scholomance was faring after the events of that series and it was fun seeing the magic again! And a story about a teapot almost brought me to tears, can't say that's ever happened before! All in all, Novik is one of my favorite authors and this collection just proves that I will love anything she writes, no matter the genre!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Where do I start? This book took me a ridiculously long time to read (NetGalley sending me reminders every week that it was on my shelf awaiting review... Thanks NetGalley... super helpful...). Each story took me at least a day to read, and some almost 3 days, as they all required me to get into the headspace of that tale's world. This is not a negative! It just is. Novik's writing is so very transportative that you get to go to a new world every day, but you might have to take your time learning the rules, reread to remind yourself where you are, and take your time navigating through.

Every single story was beautifully written. I don't know if I have a favorite - again, this is an annoyance of reading a collection of short stories: you want some stories to maybe not have taken you three days to read and you want to spend months in others that end too quickly. BUT, the writing is impeccable all the way through. I personally just don't like collections of short stories, and this one had a lot! So, it took me about a month to get through this (13 freaking stories and an average of 2 days to read each one. Could you speed read through it a lot faster? Yes, but I am convinced you wouldn't really be experiencing it if you did); each story is a mini-Naomi Novik book, so, all the attention and care that requires.

Now, a quick synopsis and impression from each story. These are not connected, so if you require a collection of short stories to have some unifying concept, go read something else. ALSO, 11 of them are not original, but published in other anthologies. This is fine, as they were all new to me, no shade, just... if the whole point of this was to introduce the two new stories... I wish she had just made those two the sole focus of this collection, with far fewer other stories, and made the two new stories longer. In my opinion, 13 is a bit much for one collection when they're all completely unconnected, but if you have a month to spare, it's a yes from me. Not enough for a full 5 stars, but rounding up to 5 because it's Naomi Novik and I'd read her rendition of the phone book.

Araminta, or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake: This was basically Pirates of the Caribbean where Elizabeth immediately becomes a pirate, which is totally fine by me, but it was not original... but it was fun.

After Hours: MORE!!! MORE!!!!! This is a continuation of the Scholomance story with a new crop of students in the improved school post El/Orion and it was perfect in every way except I wanted it to be three books long! Probably my favorite just because Scholomance is one of my favorite series of all time.

Vici: Latin for I conquered. I don't know what the point of this one was. This was a new tale from the Temeraire universe; I'm sad to say I've read none of this series, so I am probably missing context. The dragon was adorable. Antony was just as annoying as you would assume he would be.

Buried Deep: A really cool but long and boring Minotaur/Ariadne reimagining. Beautifully written but confusing. I do not know why the whole anthology is named for this story above any others.

Spinning Silver: This was a very interesting subversion of the Rumpelstiltskin story, where a shrewd young woman's success in business convinces the little men of the forest that she can turn silver to gold. This was a favorite. Probably should have named the anthology for this one...

Commonplaces: This was a Sherlock Holmes and Irene story that could have been super interesting but it was short and a bit convoluted. I think she tried to be a bit too Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in her writing and it confused the crap out of me at some spots. The story was told from Irene's perspective though and I absolutely loved the idea of that, just not so much the execution.

Seven: Loved this musical story about an expert sculptor and how the best things do not have to be the fanciest. I loved the personalities of this story: the quiet, practical sculptor and her surly but ultimately kind patron who ended up being a kind of stepdad to her kids. I wanted this one to be longer.

Blessings: A fun twist on Sleeping Beauty for anyone who has said "why does the damsel always have to get saved and married off to the prince?" Very short but sweet.

Lord Dunsany's Teapot: This one was super jarring and I don't even know how to explain it. It starts out talking about Lord Dunsany's Teapot taken from Dr. Lampshead's cabinet but then the story of the teapot had nothing to do with Lord Dunsany or Dr. Lampshead but two men named Russell and Edward, no relation to Dunsany or Lampshead. It was a very short story about the teapot and WWII... That's all I can say, I have no idea what the point was. The teapot was supposed to be a talisman but then the owner died anyway... I didn't get it. At all.

Seven Years from Home: This reminded me of Avatar or Interstellar. It had to do with colonization of distant worlds of "uncivilized" natives by the "civilized" colonizers and how the natives were more adept at surviving and pushed the colonizers out. The politics of it were such that I could have read a much much much longer story. The lack of background because you were thrust right into the story made it hard to follow sometimes. But I loved this one.

Dragons & Decorum: A Temeraire-esque reimagining of Pride and Prejudice. I absolutely LOVED that. Elizabeth Bennet as a captain of the Aerial Corps with her very own Gothic-literature-loving dragon. BUT, it was a bit cutesy. The romantic in me loved that, but the Naomi Novik lover in me was confused as to why she would bother being so precious when I know she's capable of fierce dialog and characterization, not just My Little Pony levels of cute.

Castle Coeurlieu: This one was so delightfully creepy!! A young girl comes to a castle with an inner tower said to be haunted and she ventures in and sees all sorts of weird stuff and survives the tower. Short and sweet, well told.

The Long Way Round: So this is the crux of the collection, the novella on which her new series is to be based. I will be interested in reading more of this. This is a story of a whip-smart and practical young woman sailor who, with her ethereal shipwright brother, wants to find a new way to sail around their world to avoid paying the crippling customs tax. Their land is overseen by a young sorcerer who insists on coming with them as he has staked his reputation on them finding a new way around the world. On their journey, they discover a whole new continent. The power of Naomi Novik is that there wasn't anything particularly explosively exciting about this story, but I would still read more of it because she characterizes so well, and set up some really interesting exploration. Maybe I won't be chomping at the bit to get my hands on the new Folly series, but I am intrigued.

Buried Deep and Other Stories is a captivating collection that showcases the author’s incredible range and imagination. Spanning from dragon-filled skies to enchanted forests and eerie, deserted lands, these thirteen stories are a testament to the author's mastery of fantasy and her ability to weave magic into every word.
Each story is a gem, offering a glimpse into the author's most beloved worlds, as well as a tantalizing peek into her upcoming work. Fans of the Temeraire series will be thrilled by the tale of Mark Antony and his dragon, while Scholomance readers will chuckle (and shudder) at the story of a mushroom witch navigating the perilous waters of dorm life. The reimagining of Pride & Prejudice with Elizabeth Bennet as a dragon captain is both clever and utterly charming, blending classic literature with Novik’s unique twist on fantasy.
What makes this collection particularly special is how it balances the familiar with the new. The author's talent for building richly detailed worlds is on full display, but she also ventures into fresh territory, as seen in the haunting first glimpse of Abandon, the setting for her next series. This story alone promises an epic journey that readers will eagerly anticipate.
The unifying theme of destiny and the lengths to which characters will go to fulfill—or escape—it gives the collection a thought-provoking depth. The author explores the human (and sometimes inhuman) desire to shape one’s fate, whether it’s through a high-stakes gamble with Death or the forging of an unbreakable bond with a dragon.
While some stories may resonate more strongly than others, Buried Deep and Other Stories is a treasure trove for any fan of fantasy, myth, and adventure. The author's storytelling is as enchanting as ever, making this collection a must-read for those who appreciate tales that transport them to worlds where magic and destiny intertwine.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Don’t have time to plow your way through a sweeping fantasy series right now? Naomi Novik’s newest story collection will scratch your itch for magic, dragons, romance, and more. Her writing is as beautiful and rich as ever and each tale will leave you wanting so much more. The good news is, a few of these shorts come straight from the worlds of her novels, including a glimpse at her upcoming epic fantasy trilogy. (recommendation will be sent to email subscribers of WordSmarts.com

I do enjoy many of Ms. Novik's books but unfortunately, this book was extremely difficult for me to get through. It took me a really long time - and I do mean a REALLY long time for me to finally get through the book.

This was a collection of I think 13 different short stories from Ms. Novik - some from her existing and established worlds, and some just brand new. I did enjoy some of them, and unfortunately did not like some of the others - but that is okay.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on Sep 17 2024.