A Fantasy Medley 3

This short anthology collects riveting fantastical stories from four of fantasy’s glowing stars. Kevin Hearne’s “Goddess at the Crossroads” is a delightful adventure in his Iron Druid world, featuring a rare trip into the past of series hero Atticus. In Laura Bickle’s “Ashes,” arson investigator Anya Kalinczyk embarks on a dangerous chase through a contemporary Detroit festival that hides magic and flaming danger amid the revelry. Aliette de Bodard’s “The Death of Aiguillon” steps into the alternate historical Paris of The House of Shattered Wings, dropping readers into the thick of a magical war. The engrossing collection closes with “One Hundred Ablutions,” a standalone story from Jacqueline Carey that finds three fantastical races competing for the resources and control of one small valley—and depicts the price of seizing power. For fans of fantasy, these stories offer something special and delicious, with a rare level of quality. (Jan.)