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'Tales of the Shadows' Review

Note: Per the author's request, I read the first nineteen chapters and the chapters "Earth" and "The Demon, the Conscious and Rage."

Who knew you could think so deeply about time? GardenOfProserpine's short story anthology Tales of the Shadows is a beautifully written collection that delves into emotional and deep conversations about time, leadership, friendship, and kindness. I loved how each story I read could stand on its own but meant so much more when you read them all together.

What I enjoyed:

-The emotions! Each chapter begs you to be feeling for what the characters are going through. If you've read Shadow Beings then you already know many of the losses and hurdles the characters endure, but reading short stories about all of those experiences certainly gives a new perspective to it all. I particularly appreciated how the author ended each chapter with the perspective of Audrey, really showing how much all the characters are growing and learning from one another.

-The philosophical questions were especially poignant. I loved how Shadow Beings played with philosophy and this anthology engages with similar themes about time, humanity, emotions, and existence. In some chapters, the collection goes even deeper than the novel was able to. The chapter "The Demon, the Conscious and Rage" is notably strong in that sense.

-The way this collection discusses origin stories was very neat. Not only does the anthology depict many of the origin stories for the characters, but it also sketches origin stories for the world of the Shadow Beings as well. I loved how similar to mythology in the real world, there are conflicting accounts of what occurred in the beginning.

What I thought could be better:

-Nothing major. I really did enjoy this anthology. While some parts felt slower than others, that's to be expected in an anthology. Some stories you'll like more and that's okay. I do recommend reading this collection not too long after you read Shadow Beings because that way you can remember more of what happened in the novel while you're reading this anthology.

Overall, Tales of the Shadows was an emotional journey that plays with many intriguing themes. Readers who loved Shadow Beings have a lot to gain by reading this addition to the Shadows' world. 

Reviewer: Darcy Hongyue