Back of Book: 

A peculiar detective takes on a monastic murder mystery in a darkly funny fantasy short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Legends & Lattes series.

Nobody really liked Brother Gorm, but his untimely and abrupt descent from the abbey’s bell tower has the Order of Venerous the Petulant on edge. Desperate to settle the case before the bishop returns, the abbot enlists the highly unorthodox investigator Miss Gentle. As she clanks through the abbey in a full suit of armor, the cantankerous detective has no problem asking awkward questions—but will she get any answers?

Travis Baldree’s Miss Gentle and the Case of the Very Flat Monk is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Book Number: One 

Genre: Adult | Short Story | Fantasy | Mystery 

Review: 🌟🌟

A short mystery set in a remote abbey with a magical twist. 

When Brother Gorm falls off the abbey's bell tower, an investigation commences to figure out just what caused his death. That's when the abbot summons Miss Gentle, an elderly woman in a suit of armor, to crack the case. 

When I saw Sarah Beth Durst announce she was going to be a part of an Amazon Original Stories collection, I figured I'd give them a try. I didn't know that these were going to be cozy fantasy mysteries going into them, but they certainly are. 

Upon starting this story, I had a hard time picturing the world and keeping the characters straight. This made it really hard to care about the mystery going on or even to try to solve it. 

The only interesting tidbit about this story to me was Miss Gentle themself. They obviously have some strange secret that they are hiding, and it's unclear right away why they are even at the abbot. I did find some relief when I learned their backstory, but not enough for me to find this story satisfying. 

Overall, "Miss Gentle and the Case of the Very Flat Monk" is a short mystery in which I found myself quite bored from the start. I didn't care about any of the characters and found the worldbuilding to be subpar. There are a few fantastical elements that are interesting, but not enough to keep me engaged. 

Audiobook Note: I knew going into this one that Travis Baldree narrates his own books, but I still forgot this fact until I started listening to it. It was neat to finally listen to him narrate his own work as I’ve never done so prior to this. I can't say I'm a huge fan of his short stories, but he does a stellar job with character voices. I would have completely zoned out if it wasn't for the character voices that Baldree did. 

Back of Book: 

A book-loving witch finds magic and mystery in a whimsical short story about the transformative power of friendship and community by the New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop.

After a challenging divorce, Ashley joins a witchy book club in search of a new social life. But when members start being transformed one by one, Ashley and the remaining book club members must uncover the culprit behind these sinister spells. With time running out until she’s the next target, she turns to her grimoire for answers. Because what better way to catch a magical culprit than through stories?

Sarah Beth Durst’s The Wednesday Witches Book Club is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Book Number: Two 

Genre: Adult | Short Story | Fantasy | Mystery 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A quirky mystery surrounding a book club filled with witches that brings to life the love of reading in a unique way. 

Ashley has recently moved after divorcing her husband. Now, she is working on rebuilding her social circle, and that includes finding a new book club. Finding a good book club is hard enough, but finding one filled with witches like her is even harder. During Ashley's first meeting, one of the members is turned into a cat. Oddly enough, they weren't the first member. Now, the remaining members must solve the mystery of who is casting the spells before they are all turned into felines. 

This story is the reason I decided to check out this collection, and it certainly lived up to my expectations. For a short story, the plot is intriguing, the characters are enjoyable, and it was quite humorous. 

My original suspicions I had ended up being incorrect. There seems to be a bit of a theme surrounding the culprits, so I'm interested to see if it's intentional or not. I appreciate it when a mystery isn’t too obvious. 

The way that reading is talked about is quite magical. In this world, witches use a specific book to channel their magic and they discover new spells by reading other books. Therefore, it makes sense to have a book club not just to share stories, but to constantly be hunting for spells. 

Overall, "The Wednesday Witches Book Club" is a fun short story that showcases the love of reading in an interesting way. I found the magic system to be quite cool and I'm a huge fan of the quirky mystery. The ending is unexpected, and I found it to be quite entertaining. I am a big fan of Sarah Beth Durst's work, so I'm glad that her short story lived up to the hype. 

Back of Book: 

An eccentric detective turns to the fantastical to solve a cold case in a short story by the Hugo Award–winning author of The Tainted Cup.

On a long carriage journey with her assistant Din, brilliant investigator Ana Dolabra ponders a solution to an impossible crime that has remained unsolved for centuries. A lavish wedding for two noble scions of the Empire descended into chaos when the newlyweds were found murdered in their marriage bed. But Ana—an expert in ancient myths, awakened beasts, and magic—knows that nothing is impossible, only unimaginable.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Lion’s Tusk is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Book Number: Three

Genre: Adult | Short Story | Fantasy | Mystery 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟

A creepy mystery surrounding a murdered newlywed couple and a mysterious lion's tusk. 

Investigator Ana Dolabra tells her assistant, Din, about a crime that happens centuries ago that was never solved. Ana has her own theories about what has occurred, but only the sands of time will know the truth. 

This one has quite a different tone than the first two stories in this collection. This one has a gothic spooky feel that I wasn't expecting but was totally down for. 

I was actually quite fascinated by the truth behind the lion's tusk. No spoilers, but dang, it is so grotesque and disturbing. I truly wasn't expecting that, and I found myself very interested in learning more about this case after that detail was revealed. 

The way this story is told hooked me from the start. I love things that are written as someone telling a story to another person. This story perfectly captured that vibe, and I found myself feeling as thought I was the young Din who was grossed out by some of Ana's descriptions, yet still desperate to learn about everything she surmised about the case. 

I did learn that this short story stars characters from the "Anna and Din Mysteries" series. The first book is called "The Tainted Cup" and I may have to read it someday. This short story has me intrigued by the author's writing style, and I wouldn't mind trying one of their longer works. 

Overall, "The Lion's Tusk" is a darkly disturbing fantastical mystery. I found myself quite intrigued by the mystery, especially when the darker bits were thrown in. It really feels as though someone is telling the reader a story, which is a stylistic choice that I really adored. 

Audiobook Note: This story is narrated by Hannah Curtis. I thought that their voice was super pretty and that it really drew me in. They have this cadence to their voice that made me feel as though I needed to listen to what was being stated because what they are saying is important. Also, their accent is super nice on the ears. I would definitely listen to their work again. 

Back of Book: 

New rulers meddle with the whims of the old gods in a lush and twisty short story of devotion, intrigue, and murder by the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series.

At a remote mountain temple, an inquisitor arrives to question a priestess about a pair of murders. The keeper of the sacred garden, its bees, and its ever-changing hedge maze does have her secrets. But what will protecting them cost her as she uncovers layers of conspiracy on both sides?

Heather Fawcett’s A Labyrinth of Honeybees is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Book Number: Four

Genre: Adult | Short Story | Fantasy | Mystery 

Review: 🌟🌟

A new king meddles in the ways of ancient gods in the fantastical murder mystery. 

When the king's tax collectors are assissinated near the temple of an ancient goddess, the king sends his royal inquisitor to investigate. A priestess that works there is forced to show him around the grounds as the man searches for the killer and the king's missing daughter. 

I've never read anything by Heather Fawcett, but I've heard great thing about her "Emily Wilde" series. I was interested to check out her work, but I can't say I was a fan of this one. 

I struggled with this one mostly because it took me too long to figure out the lay of this fantasy world. I also didn't connect to any of the characters at all, so I found myself growing bored. 

I will say that the maze of the goddess was interesting. The goddess herself seems like an intriguing concept and I could see myself enjoying this setting immensely if it was a part of a full length novel. 

The mystery was rather predictable in this one. There were a few events that I found surprising, but nothing too crazy. 

Overall, I found "A Labyrinth of Honeybees" to be a rather underwhelming story. Beyond the setting, I didn't find any part of this story to be unique. The mystery is subpar and I literally didn't connect to a single character over the course of this story. 

Audiobook Note: This story is narrated by Esther Wane. Their voice is super soothing, as they have a cool British accent. I'm always down to listen to British narrators and this short story was no exception.

Back of Book: 

When egos clash during an assemblage of wizards, grandstanding displays of magic become a matter of murder in a witty and suspenseful short story by a New York Times bestselling author.

Curmudgeonly conjurer Shiverick joins a conclave of fellow wizards on the strangest beach in the world expecting the usual flashy outfits, hammy miracles, and predictable suspicions that his own powers are nil. After all, he’s never so much as cast a spell in public. When accusations of fraud end in a flamboyant murder, Shiverick must piece together the truth amid the chaos. An observant and logical thinker, it’s his time to shine.

Scott Lynch’s The Wizard Who Kept Himself Suspicious is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Book Number: Five 

Genre: Adult | Short Story | Fantasy | Mystery 

Review: ? 

Back of Book: 

This spellbinding short story from the award-winning author of The Reformatory reimagines the Wild West through the eyes of a young Black girl with a gift.

1871: Ten-year-old Lucy Freeman and her family flee threats in Kentucky for a new life in the post–Civil War frontier. Their refuge is Zipporah Ranch, a hidden settlement founded by Black women and children that thrives, if the folktales are true, on magic. But a mob of bounty hunters is bringing hell to paradise, and it’s Lucy’s own secret magical ability that may be the only defense.

Tananarive Due’s Battle of the Round House is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Book Number: Five

Genre: Adult | Short Story | Fantasy | Mystery 

Review: ? 

Back of Book: 

This spellbinding short story from the award-winning author of The Reformatory reimagines the Wild West through the eyes of a young Black girl with a gift.

1871: Ten-year-old Lucy Freeman and her family flee threats in Kentucky for a new life in the post–Civil War frontier. Their refuge is Zipporah Ranch, a hidden settlement founded by Black women and children that thrives, if the folktales are true, on magic. But a mob of bounty hunters is bringing hell to paradise, and it’s Lucy’s own secret magical ability that may be the only defense.

Tananarive Due’s Battle of the Round House is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Book Number: Seven (Last Book) 

Genre: Adult | Short Story | Fantasy | Mystery 

Review: ?