Book Description: 

Amphibian Press brings you the worlds of four authors in this collection of dark fantasy tales.

“How to Curse a Kingdom” – Cameron J. Quinn
Pantheon outcast and god of war, Armon fears more rejection when he’s called home to marry the goddess of creation and balance. But Demtrie accepts him–even without the disguise necessary for his former lover. No sooner does he find happiness than he’s plagued by the phantom cries of a baby. And the truth may curse the kingdom where he once found solace.

“How to Curse A Kingdom” takes place within the Starsboro sector of the Starsedge Universe and follows Trent and Zurik’s ancestors.

“The Tempest” – V. S. Holmes
Before Nubon can lead her kingdom she must survive the trial to prove she’s worthy–navigate the sea with nothing but her name and the clothes on her back. And between Nubon and the title of warlord lie leviathans, frigid water, and seven other potential heirs willing to kill for the crown.

“The Tempest” takes place in the world of Reforged, 200 years before the events of Smoke and Rain. 

“Men of Distant Souls” – R. T. Donlon
Exhausted and drunk, Levi stumbles out of a bar and into another world–one locked in a generations-old battle. Faced with unimaginable power and the balance of good and evil, Levi must decide if he’ll run or take up the mantle for which his soul was made.

“Red and White” – Ariele Seiling
Red and White’s world is a cruel magical post-apocalypse where they only people they can trust are each other. When a mysterious dog begins to tail them, the sisters must decide whether trusting him will save their lives–or end them.

“Red and White” is one of several of Sieling’s fairytale retellings.

My Review:

Anthologies are hard to review/rate as normally there’s one or two good stories and the rest are so-so. Thankfully, these four stories break that mold.

How To Curse A Kingdom is about acceptance of yourself, your fate, and the hard decisions that need to be made.  Even if you’re a God.  As Pantheon discovered, when he saw the consequences of his actions/inactions.  There were some editing issues with the story but they weren’t distracting. 

The Tempest made me cringe, made my own fingernail hurt when Nubon tore hers to the quick.  I rooted for her as she struggled to survive on the harsh ocean with no food or water.  And I cheered for her when she stood up to claim her rightful place.  A very well-written, coming-of-age story. 

Men of Distant Souls is the story of Levi facing and accepting his destiny.  From a drunk to a hero.  And the bad choices that even hero’s have to make all for the sake of their souls.  In the end, I was left with questions.  Did he? 

Red and White is about two sisters who’ve only had each other for years after the nightlings took away their parents and life they knew.  I was on the fence whether this book deserved a 4 or 5 star rating until I read this story.  This one tore me up and I cried for the harshness of their lives.  I still had questions.  What was over the wall to the East? 

If you love dark fantasy, anthologies, stories where even with the right choice you still have heartache, then this book is for you.  I give it 5 stars.