This author has an amazing imagination and a beautiful way with words. Loved these novellas. ( )

Well-written, intriguing short stories from a variety of storytelling places. I like the intersection with the illustrations before each story. I like that they are not necessarily resolved as happily as one might like. I like that they aren't necessarily happy. It does feel a little unpolished, like early work. ( )

teen fiction/supernatural romance. Dreadfully beautiful short stories; it's a shame the cover art is so ugly. ( )

Wow. Just wow. This is the payoff for joining Goodreads. I am not going to pull any quotes because I'd be quoting the whole thing. These three stories are told so well I just wanted them to keep going. And they are horrible stories about horrible things happening to people who just did not deserve that (as genuine fairytales most always are), and they are told perfectly. If you love stories, you will love this. Just put down whatever best seller thing you just grabbed off the shelf and go read this. Right now.

(I will add this as a caveat. Apparently, [a:T. Kingfisher|7367300|T. Kingfisher|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] was told [b:The Seventh Bride|23550710|The Seventh Bride|T. Kingfisher|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415817360s/23550710.jpg|43150534] was most definitely not YA and [a:Elizabeth Bear|108173|Elizabeth Bear|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1422586829p2/108173.jpg] was told the same about [b:Karen Memory|22238181|Karen Memory|Elizabeth Bear|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1416421976s/22238181.jpg|41186237]. If those books are not YA, neither is this. The third story in particular contains graphic abuse which is NOT neatly resolved in the end.) ( )

In this collection, Taylor gives us three stories centred around the theme of kissing. Trite as this starting point may sound, she uses her knowledge of mythology, magic, and human relationships to weave three tales which sound like the epic fairytales of old. We discover the complications of a curse (and the deals which cause such curses), the creation of faerykind (or Druj), and sympathize with the girl who chooses the goblin fruit for want of love. Taylor is clearly making a name for herself as one of the greatt mythic fiction writers of this age - I can't wait to read more of her work! ( )