Written in the Stars: A Charity Anthology - Various Authors

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AUTHORS: Various

GENRE: Christmas, Anthology
RATING: 3.7 stars.

This anthology has 22 stories (23, if you count a bonus tale by a little ten-year-old budding writer). Each of the stories is set around Christmas but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all the stories are ‘Christmassy’. Some are joyful, some mournful, some hopeful, and some simply have Christmas in a background mention.

The genres in the stories are varied as well. I appreciate how the stories have been clubbed by genres. Thus we have

I. A Christmas Crime – ten crime-based stories.

II. Holly Jolly Christmas – five family/romance based stories.

III. It's a Christmas Miracle – seven fantasy-based stories. (Christmas miracle… get it?)

You could just read the stories as per your mood. The crime/thriller ones don't utilise Christmas in a happy way but are quite interesting. On the other hand, the holly-jolly ones are predictable but they make the best use of the festive sprit. Each section thus has its advantage.

As a multi-author anthology, it is but obvious that there will be some hits and some misses. But I am glad to say that the hits far outnumber the misses. Most of the stories were easily three stars and above for me. Here are my top favourites, each of which earned a 4.5+ stars:

🎄 You let me in - Keri Beevis - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (Would have given more if I could!) – The only story that made me gasp in shock! No spoilers. Just read this creepy story.

🎄 All They Want for Christmas - Valerie Keogh - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 – The only reason I docked off ½ a star is because I could see what was coming. But what an unusual take on the traditonal family Christmas story!

🎄 Coming Home - Angela Marsons - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 – It’s Angela Marsons, y’all! Should you be surprised? Yes, you should, Because this story is from the ‘Christmas Miracles’ section and not from the crimes one! It starts off innocently but soon goes into a very different angle. Loved how the perspective shifts were written.

🎄 A Little Christmas Wish - Stephen Edger - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 – I thought I knew where it was going. I didn’t quite hit it right! Amazing imagination.

🎄 A Christmas Wish - Gina Kirkham - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 – Made me cry! What a beautiful story to end the book with!

Author Tara Lyons lost her 1.5 year old daughter Sofia a couple of years ago to a brain AVM, a rare condition that doesn't manifest symptoms. In support of The Butterfly AVM Charity and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, she, along with several other authors and supported by Bloodhound books, brings to you this anthology. All net profits will be towards the two charities mentioned.

3.7 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each of the stories. Definitely and heartily recommended. You’ll be contributing to a good cause as well by opting for this anthology, but even without the cause, it is a collection worth reading as it explores so many different aspects of Christmas.

This anthology is also available on KU, but if you can, please opt to purchase it. I did.

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