Like any short story collection, some offerings are stronger than others. I found a few of the stories too bleak, so focused on their uniquely awful situations that they didn't manage much development or meaning. But overall, the collection is an interesting read covering several different flavours of fantasy.

I found a lot of the stories really charming. A wide variety of fantasy beings populate the stories, with many takes on how they would interact with humans. I'll Gnaw Your Bones, the Manticore Said was my favourite for its touching take on which creatures are worthy of being considered people. The well-imagined details of each fantasy scenario match well with the literary style used throughout -- because, hey, if you're going to use a showy turn of phrase, why not use it to paint another world in bold strokes? I picked at this collection whenever I had just a few minutes to read, and it filled the gaps nicely. ( )