This book is a delightful collection of fantasy stories that managed to keep me hooked from start to finish. Crawford's writing style is engaging and vivid, making it easy to get lost in the various fantastical worlds he creates. Each story is unique, filled with intriguing characters and imaginative plots. One thing I really appreciated was the pacing. Crawford knows how to build suspense and keep the reader guessing without dragging things out.
However, a few stories felt a bit rushed towards the end, which is why I couldn't give it a full 5 stars.
Overall, it is a fantastic read for anyone who loves fantasy. It's a fun and captivating collection that I'd definitely recommend.

I really enjoyed these mythic short stories! I received an ARC from NetGalley, and am glad I was able to snag this one. A few short stories inspired by folklore, by favorites were “The Heart of a Samurai” in the tradition of Japanese ghostly tales (with a cat), and “A Thief’s Work,” where we follow a female thief who joins the resistance to save her people from a sorcerer. These are short, easy reads, and the stories drop you right into the action.

I loved to read these tales. So cute. I loved every tale in this book and I'm sure I'll re-read this book several times. I recommend everyone to read this book too.

Surprisingly Good. I was given a chance to read an ARC and this was my very first. Appreciate the author's trust in my fair and honest review.
I love short stories and if it's about monsters then even better. The imagination and creativity in the different types of monsters that I came across through Scotts words was thrilling.
This was the first time I read anything from Scott Forbes Crawford but was impressed by how he was able to express so much in so little, from character building to intense storylines as well as how engaging and satisfying each plot was in this Beastly collection was.
The Asian inspiration is apparent and enjoyable. My favourites were "Half baked hero" and "Heart of a Samurai."
It was a Good Read!

I've been looking for more short story collections because I've been very into them recently, so I was very happy that I was accepted for this ARC because of the short stories and because they are based in a time period and country, I like to read from. This is a great collection that is a quick read, but I think it is worth your time. Each story is different but has a similar writing style that connects them to be a cohesive collection without feeling repetitive. “Heart of a Samurai,” “The Carving of a Warrior,” and “A Thief’s Work” are my favorites from the collection. Those three really shined with the world and characters that are within the short story. The pacing is quick and keeps you moving throughout the stories without feeling rushed, which is great for short stories. I recommend this collection if you are looking for a short story collection that is a quick and fun read.