Title: Hearth Stories, Winter Solstice 2024, Book 3
Author: LM Zaerr, Alicia Adam’s, Coll Marshall, Sarah Connell, Michael M. Jones, A. Katherine Black, and Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Publisher: Hearth Stories
Publication Date: December 21, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Historical
Length: 44 pages
Source: I received a free copy from the publisher.
Rating: 4 Stars
Blurb:
Hearth Stories is a speculative fiction magazine focused on cozy fantasy stories. Each issue features a letter from the editor, author bios and interviews, and wonderful stories focused on family, home life, connection, and the natural world.
This issue features the following stories:
The Portal Makers of Thistleton Fair by LM Zaerr
Out of the Rain by Alicia Adams
Enough by Coll Marshall
The Hermit, the Inkeeper, and Clem by Sarah Connell
An Encounter in Spice and Thyme by Michael M. Jones
Dig and the Dragon by A. Katherine Black
The Lady of Shallot by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Content Warning: Serious illness.
Review:
A simple life is a happy life.
“Out of the Rain” explored the lives of an elderly couple who were no longer able to physically keep up with their farm work or housework. It can be difficult for people who have been independent for decades to admit they need some help now, and I enjoyed the way the narrator explored the many different emotions that can be stirred up in this stage of life. I also enjoyed the fact that this was a homage to a much older story. There’s something to be said for breathing new life in such things by updating them in various ways, and it’s something that makes me smile every time I come across it.
Halreth and his fellow villagers were under the influence of a dangerous spell that compelled them to chop down a forest in “Enough.” The parable here was easy to uncover and I did find myself wishing the author had trusted his readers a little more to understand what he was saying without repeated his points so many times, but I thought it was interesting to explore the protagonist’s reaction to the spell when compared to his many happy memories of visiting the forest when he needed new herbs to treat his sick or injured neighbours. To be fair, some readers may need the level of repetition that was included here, so don’t let my mixed emotions about it prevent you from trying it yourself.
The unique way “An Encounter in Spice and Thyme” was framed made me want to read a sequel to this piece. Most authors would have written it from the perspective of Melanie as she tried to help her sick grandmother rather than the point of view of the owner of the magic shop. While this did mean that the reader doesn’t get to know as many details about this illness and its treatment as we normally would, it also opened up the door to explore the conflicts and themes as Layla observed them and tried to figure out how much help she ought to offer to someone who was brand new to the world of using spells in baking and didn’t know where to begin.
Hearth Stories, Winter Solstice 2024 was overflowing with love and respect for the natural world.