Dee Arr's Reviews > Arcana

A Rhonda Parrish collection usually has a good lead-in story, and this book did not disappoint. “Finders and Keepers, Its and Not-Its” by J.G. Formato led the pack, an interesting tale on one path one might take when the world falls in on you. While I did not find that all the stories reached this level, there are enough tales that were engaging.

I was not familiar with the theme that was chosen, so I read the book as a collection of short stories. My favorites included “My Brother’s Keeper” by Beth Cato, a down home story involving magic and family. Sara Dobie Bauer’s “Anime Gamelle” had an ending I never would have guessed but was satisfying. The story I will remember for a while? “The Hermit” by Joseph Halden, a story of one woman struggling to find her way (and her niche) in a world that would rather she didn’t.

Most of the stories in the “Arcana” collection are short, so even if a story doesn’t fit your personal tastes, the next one is right around the corner. Worth checking out. Three-and-a-half stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Poise and Pen for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.