Glimpses of Time and Magic: A Historical Fantasy Anthology ~ a Review

by MK French

What if aspects of history were actually due to magic? There are tragedies and Big Questions from history that we don’t always know how to answer. The nine stories in this collection take place in different locations and time periods. Pompeii; Roanoke, Virginia; London, England; or the great potato famine of Ireland all feature here.  All the proceeds from this set will be going to Feed My Starving Children.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

July 2020; 979-8639822728
ebook, print (344 pages); anthology

The collection opens with Michaela Baker’s “Maiden of Embers,” taking place in Pompeii. Because of that, the character names and anachronistic details really threw me out of the story. I had read a lot of Greek and Roman mythology as a kid, so seeing “Dinah, goddess of the Hunt” in the text was another detail that made me cringe. “Excal’byr” by James Quinlan Meservy also involves Pompeii in the beginning, but in comparison gets bonus points for actually using the correct Greek names for the gods and goddesses. Pompeii is a Roman city, so the Roman names of the pantheon would have been more accurate, though these gods and goddesses are interacting with the pantheons of other cultures in different realms, so I can let it slide. I don’t feel much of an attachment to the characters, though.

“Leap of Faith” by Ariel Paiement is more of a Regency-era romance with supernatural elements, two features that I enjoy separately and really like blended together here. “Misted Love” by Alicia Scarborough deals with a young woman in London a similar era hoping to be with her true love rather than the older man her father wants her to marry to settle his debts. Magic from the alley witch was used to try to escape, but they’re not the only ones that had consulted the witch. On the other side of the Atlantic in Joanna White’s “Heart of the Phoenix King,” Phoenixes and Atlateans were at odds, and the village of Roanoke was the site of great betrayal. Kandi J. Wyatt contributed “The Apprentice of Amadan Dubh” to the collection. This is the Great Famine story and is just as much a story about disillusionment and loss as it is about magic. I was really drawn to Paddy and his joy in learning and his family, feeling the same hurt he did as the story progressed.

Glimpses of Time and Magic is a fun collection of stories with various kinds of magic or supernatural elements at work. They don’t all take on the very famous aspects of history but incorporate other time periods. Fantasy and historical fantasy fans will enjoy this collection.

Buy Glimpses of Time and Magic at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up today! Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.