Book Review: Dragon Springs & Other Things by Raven Oak

I received an email from the author asking if I would read and review this fun collection of short stories. I’m really glad I did.

Although not all the stories appealed to my usual tastes, there were several that I absolutely loved.

The title story for the collection, Dragon Springs & Other Things was a cute story about a child who loves to create. This story resonated with me, both as a creator myself, but also as a mom of four boys. Children are, by their nature, brilliant creators. All children start out with nearly limitless potential and one of the hardest parts, I think, about raising them is not stifling that creativity. We must nurture it, encourage it, and celebrate it like it’s the most precious gift in the world because it is. This story helped remind me of that fact.

Two of the short stories gave a glimpse into the deadly and mysterious world of Sadai, where rigorously trained assassins, called Amaskans, fulfill a holy calling to enact justice in the name of their gods. These snapshots into a bigger, richer story left me wanting more from this intriguing world.

Peace Be With You, Friend, was probably my favorite in this collection. With lyrical prose and vivid imagery, this end-times tale was as captivating as it was bleak.

Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. If you are looking for something a bit different, this is a great choice.