Book Review: Clockwork Phoenix 2 edited by Mike Allen

Title: Clockwork Phoenix 2: More Tales of Beauty and Strangeness
Editor: Mike Allen
Published: Winnetka: Norilana Books, 2009
Rating: 5 of 5
Page Count: 292
Read For: received an ARC from Mike Allen / time_shark
Short Review: A collection of 15 stories of fantastical transformation, Clockwork Phoenix 2 walks the line between readability and art to build a collection which is haunting, inspiring, and glorious. As with most short story collections some stories are more successful than others, but as a whole these are all far above par. From a girl who was once a goddess's avatar to a lover made of glass to middle-aged Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the wildly different content disrupts the flow from one story to another, but be patient with the transitions and you'll be rewarded. Fantastical, beautiful, harrowing, and all of them vibrantly unique, the stories in Clockwork Phoenix 2 are a delight to read, and this collection is a resounding success. I recommend it.

Read the long review over at my LJ.

Clockwork Phoenix 2 comes out on July 1 2009, and is available for pre-order now (here on Amazon US, worldwide info here). I rarely crosspost my reviews (which means there are lots of other book reviews over here at juushika, if you're interested), but I'm excited about this one. I had the wonderful chance to read an advance copy and I think it's a great collection, so I'm spreading the word. I don't believe in reviewing books too long before their release dates (what's the point?), but this one is right around the corner. So go, put it on your TBR list, order it, and enjoy the review.