A couple of weeks ago, I read Enchanted Forests, a fantasy anthology that raised funds for the protection of the rainforest (my review). This time, I’ve read Children of War, a multigenre anthology to support the children of Ukraine. All proceeds of this anthology will be donated in perpetuity to the Voices of Children Foundation in Ukraine or another similar charity. This foundation is “a Ukrainian charity providing counselling and other forms of psychological support to war-trauma victims. The charity was established in 2015 and has been working with volunteer psychologists to bring art therapy and mobile psychologists to the most vulnerable in Ukrainian society, victims now of yet another armed conflict.”
Thank you again for gifting me with a free eCopy in exchange for an honest review!
Story 1: Through Vira’s Eyes – MJ Krause-Chivers
Genre: Literary fiction
Through Vira’s Eyes by MJ Krause-Chivers is the story of a five-year-old girl who is hiding in a shelter with her baby brothers, her mother, and many other people, and who has to flee together with another child. I was holding my breath the entire time I was reading (luckily for me, it was a short story 😉 ). It was so well written that I felt as if I was together with Vira, fleeing the bombs and ducking for bullets.
About the author: MJ Krause-Chivers seeks to heal hurting souls through both non-fiction and fiction. Her themes include mental health, coming of age, and difficult relationships. Her ongoing historical fiction series is set in Ukraine during the Russian Civil war. Part one, Katarina’s Dark Shadow, is already available. She also writes Christian non-fiction under the pen name Miranda J. Chivers.
Story 2: Not Dead, Just Sleeping – Darrah Steffen
Genre: Fantasy
Not Dead, Just Sleeping by Darrah Steffen tells the tale of Corryn, a young woman who has survived a gruesome war and who is now struggling with the effects thereof. Not only has she lost her hearing in one ear, she has also PTSD. This last one being beautifully rendered via the flashbacks told in 1st person (while the current timeline is told in 3rd person).
It’s a story filled with touching quotations that make the reader reflect, like:
“Our attackers looked just like me but caused so much destruction”.
Want to read more about the fantasy realm in which this story takes place? Check out Rise of the Dragon Queen, part one of the Legends of Ethota Series.
About the author: Darrah Steffen is a YA fantasy author. Her stories feature characters that will steal your heart and are often about good triumphing over evil. Her interests in history and paleontology are reflected in the unique cultures and animals she creates in her fantasy worlds.
Story 3: A Child of Minidoka – Joan T. Seko
Genre: Memoir
A Child of Minidoka by Joan T. Seko is the true account of the author’s experiences and the only story in this bundle that is not a work of fiction. It describes what happened to Japanese Americans when the Second World War started. I was shocked to say the least. This is a page in history that our Belgian educational system clearly “forgot” to mention. Reading this memoir was truly eye opening. I learned so much, from the Alien Land Law of 1913, to badges with “I am Chinese”, to camps for Japanese American Citizens. I would recommend everyone to read this short story!
About the author: Joan T. Seko is a Japanese-American historical fiction writer. She writes stories set in a broad time range, including the Victorian Age (e.g. Lady Dahlia’s Story), feudal Japan (e.g. When the Nightingale Sings), World War II (e.g. Casha),…
Story 4: Jonah – C. Borden
Genre: Fantasy
Jonah by C. Borden is a short story set in the realm of Mythnium, which is the world in which several of the author’s works take place. It tells the story of a young boy who loses his mother when the women of his town are captured and taken away. This might be a short story, but it is clear that the world building of Mythnium is superb. Want to know more? Check out the Short Stories from Mythnium Anthology or Echoes of Dragons, the first book in the Awakening Series.
About the author: C. Borden is a Christian Fiction and Fantasy author whose works illuminate the facets of faith and of human nature: the good, the evil, and everything in between.
Story 5: The Prince and the Flute Player – C. Phillip
Genre: Historical fantasy
The Prince and the Flute Player by C. Phillip is a magical tale inspired by a parable. Even though it’s fantasy, it was delightful to learn some elements of Indian history. Royalty, magical fruit, history, what’s not to love?
About the author: C. Phillip is a self-published author who writes historical fiction, murder mysteries, and fantasy books. Her work is characterized by romance, suspense, and strong female main characters. The Last Nautch Girl is her debut novel, her most recent release is Fated to Live.
Story 6: The Tarnished Key- Susan Stradiotto
Genre: Literary fantasy
The Tarnished Key by Susan Stradiotto is a short story told from the point of view of an abandoned child, the “I” in the story. It’s an emotive and scary tale that pulls readers right in, keeping them on the edge of their seat the entire time.
About the author: Susan Stradiotto writes YA and NA fantasy stories. Her favourite themes are relationships, family situations, coming of age, and finding oneself or one’s destiny. She’s the author of The Serpentine Throne Series and of The Caeteran Tales.
Story 7: A Mermaid’s Tears – J.C. Seal
Genre: Historical fantasy
A Mermaid’s Tears by J.C. Seal is a short story set in the world of the Angels and Demons Trilogy. It’s the diary of a mermaid-angel hybrid teenager who accidently ends up in a war in Ancient Egypt. I really loved this story and am curious to discover more about the world in which it is set and the delightfully sarcastic Verena. Her full story will be told in A Mermaid’s Tail, which will be published in Winter 2022.
About the author: J.C. Seal mixes fantasy, mythology, the paranormal, and romance in her works. As I already mentioned, she’s the author of the Angels and Demons Trilogy, which starts with Fallen Angels . She has also contributed short stories to various anthologies, like Coven Tales and Wicked Intentions.
Story 8: The Dragon’s Demise- Daan Katz
Genre: Fantasy
The Dragon’s Demise by Daan Katz is set in one of the worlds in the author’s fantasy universe. It’s the story of a boy experiencing severe trauma and the impact thereof on the rest of his life and his wish to fulfill his father’s last wish. I greatly appreciated the writing style and cannot wait to discover more of this author’s work. Make sure to check the trigger warnings at the start of the story!
About the author: Daan Katz is the author of several fantasy novels (e.g. Night’s Reign – review) and poetry collections (e.g. Night Song – review). His prose is elegant and his overarching theme is trauma, combined with healthy doses of magic and dragons. As a disabled author, Daan likes to write about disabled characters – and make them shine.
Story 9: The War Legacy- Nandita Pant Joshi
Genre: Literary fiction
The War Legacy by Nandita Pant Joshi is the author’s first published work and what a great debut it is! As of the beginning, I was pulled into the story that emphasizes the struggles of those who stay behind. Very well written!
About the author: Nandita Pant Joshi is a fiction author and poet. She writes strong female characters and messages of hope amidst the most adverse circumstances. She dreams of a world where people are known for their individuality rather than their race, color, caste, religion, gender and sexual orientation.
Story 10: A Vampire’s Heart- I. Vélez
Genre: Fantasy
A Vampire’s Heart by I. Vélez is the story of a vampire haunted by memories of the war and torn between his love and his duties. I was very much interested in the wordbuilding that was created in this short story. Would very much love to read more stories set in this world!
About the author: I Vélez is an author of steamy paranormal and fantasy romances. In her work, nothing is as it seems. She’s the author of the Last Days Series, which starts off with Tied to Darkness. This series is set in a world full of demons, witches, and Gods.
Story 11: The Curse of Blood: An Ancient Legends Prequel – Lauren Lee Merewether
Genre: Historical fiction
The Curse of Blood by Lauren Lee Merewether is a story set in Ancient Greece. It’s the tale of prince Inachus, preparing for War and the throne in a harsh world, while struggling with his mental health. I loved the way the author brought to life this ancient past in such a vivid manner that the story really moved me. Please make sure to check the trigger warnings at the start! More of Inachus’ story can be found in The Curse of Beauty, book one of the Ancient Legends Series.
About the author: Lauren Lee Merewether is an author of historical drama fiction. She loves to discover pieces of history that are forgotten by most of the world, which she then will use to weave her stories. You can be sure that her work is well-researched and moving! Her works include The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles and Egypt’s Golden Age Chronicles.
Story 12: Child of Destruction- Astrid V.J.
Genre: Fantasy
Child of Destruction by Astrid V.J. is a story about a child soldier. It’s in fact the backstory to one of the characters in Warring Lions. I really loved this short story. It was very well written, with an interesting main character, and shows an all-too-realistic glimpse into the harsh world of children in wartime, especially those forced to fight. This short story is set about 400 years after the events of Naiya’s Wish (review)
About the author: Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while will know that I’ve already read several tales by Astrid V.J., like The Destitute Countess (review). Astrid writes transformation fiction and focusses on retellings of lesser known fairytales (Elisabeth and Edvard’s World Series) and new fairytales set in a Fantasy/Space opera world (The Wishmaster Series and its accompanying tales called The Wordmage’s Tales).
Story 13: Through the Eyes of a Child – Pamela Floyd
Genre: Literary fiction
Through the Eyes of a Child by Pamela Floyd follows a young girl from Kyiv, experiencing the war with Russia. The writing is very down-to-earth, allowing the reader to easily see through Daniela’s eyes. I especially liked the following quotation:
“[…] ‘Ukraine and proud!’ They said it in silly voices, some with tears and others in whispers, but they all believed that together they were still here and they were still Ukraine.”
This short story is the author’s literary debut!
About the author: Pamela Floyd is an American author who is currently working on a book with an extremely diverse crew of characters. Not a lot is known about it yet, but make sure to follow her on Instagram to learn more soon!
Story 14: The Borrowed Life – Elena Shelest
Genre: Historical Fantasy
The Borrowed Life by Elena Shelest introduces the reader to ancients myths about Cossack warriors called kharakternyks. I’m starting to rapidly become a fan of the historical fantasy genre with stories like this! The setting is based on 17th century Ukraine, and all places and some of the events are taken from the country’s history. Very well written and interesting read.
About the author: Elena Shelest immigrated to the U.S.A. from Ukraine as a teenager. She has written several historical and contemporary fantasies, like The Seven Lives of Grace and Sweets Make Everything Better. Her work includes messages of hope and guaranteed happy endings.
Children of War
Children of War is an anthology that will touch your soul. Different genres, different authors, one message: let’s not forget the children affected by war and do what we can to support them. Four out of five gemstones!
Age Category: Adult
Trigger warnings: As expected in a book about war, there are multiple triggers in these stories, including, but not limited to, (sexual) violence, children who are suffering, PTSD, and death.
Do you want to discover more?
If my review inspired you to pick up the book, don’t hesitate to check it out at Goodreads or at the below online stores.
Amazon.nl: eBook edition
Similar to this
Do you love to read anthologies for charity? Then definitely check out the Enchanted Series! This fantasy series currently consists of two anthologies, with a third on its way. Part one, Enchanted Waters, helps Oceana to support their mission to protect the world’s oceans and promote sustainable fishing. All proceeds of part two, Enchanted Forests, go towards the protection of the rainforest by the Rainforest Foundation (check out my review here). Part three, Enchanted Flames, will be published in June 2023 and will support a charity dedicated to conservation relating to forest fires.