By turns deliriously romantic and richly melancholic, Guran’s second anthology (after Best New Paranormal Romance
) reprints 15 stories originally published in 2006 that explore the phantasmagoria of fantastic romance. Guran’s shift from “Paranormal Romance” to “Romantic Fantasy” means selections “do not necessarily deal with the establishment or continuance of a relationship,” signaling increased efforts to appeal to fantasy readers. Standouts include three seaside treats: M. Rickert’s breath-stealing ghost tale, “Journey into the Kingdom”; Sonya Taaffe’s hypnotic “The Depth Oracle”; and Sandra McDonald’s wistful story about a young mother’s yearnings concerning “The Mountains of Key West.” Also notable are Angela Boord’s bittersweet woodland fairy dream, “Evergreen”; Vera Nazarian’s bright delight, “The Story of Love”; and Delia Sherman’s gorgeous Parisian ode to the addictive charms of “La Fée Verte.” While these offerings from an impressive crew of fantasy heavyweights may not be jam-packed with happy-ever-afters, they explore the many worlds of fantastic romance with passion and panache. (Sept.)
