Air is the third in Rhonda Parrish’s Elemental Anthologies collection. I’ve read them completely out of order, of course. But at least I paid for them!
Air: Sylphs, Spirits and Swan Maidens
ed. by Rhonda Parrish
Whimsical, Inquisitive, Quick-Witted
Air is essential for life. The need for air is so important that breathing is instinctual. Yet Air is unstable and capricious, blowing gently as a summer breeze in one moment and blasting with the fury of a tornado in the next. No wonder that tricksters, fairies, and spirits belong to Air just as much as winged creatures. Elusive and ethereal, Air’s denizens are difficult to find and harder to capture.
Brave the ever-changing world of Air with these twenty-one stories and poems, featuring: Rose Strickman; Davian Aw; Mark Bruce; Alexandra Seidel; Damascus Mincemeyer; Cherry Potts; Ellen Huang; Giselle Leeb; Bronwynn Erskine; Kevin Cockle; Elizabeth R. McClellan; Chadwick Ginther; Christa Hogan; Rowena McGowan; Laura VanArendonk Baugh; Alyson Faye; Mara Malins; Sara C. Walker; Elise Forier Edie; Oliver Smith; and Sarah Van Goethem. (Goodreads)
my review
I always enjoy Rhonda Parrish’s anthologies. That said, I found some of her selections surprising. Did they really fit the theme of ‘air’? But most were spot on, and as you read through the book, you found more gems awaited. It certainly was not front end heavy.
There was also a good amount of poetry. This is not my strong point, and some I started, and skipped. Others drew me in as much as a prose piece would. And some of those were almost poetic.
I finished the book wanting to pick out a few for special praise, but here I am reviewing it after three other books and I can’t remember the details. Except for Laura VanArendonk Baugh. Not only does she write excellent stories, she keeps on writing them! So much so that I have one of her books on my Kindle. So it’s dangerous, reading Rhonda’s anthologies—you never know how many authors you’re going to add to your reading list!
Anthologies can be tricky that way! I’m like you about poetry, but it’s often worth a little effort.