Stories headed by a poem, all set in the Pacific Northwest, are collected into an anthology with a great cover, well-planned order, and an appealing theme. The idea of a carnival is taken in many different directions, from D.L. Gardner’s evocative Ferris Wheel to Liam Doyle’s strange Harbinger. Different voices tell coming-of-age, coming-of-mystery, and coming-of-trouble. Robed figures, no rules, too many rules… it’s a cool blend of ideas and faces, and a carnival of strange ideas, filled with fascinating reads. I read this one by opening pages at random, quickly drawn in whichever page I landed on. And I really enjoyed it.

Disclosure: My review is of other entries in this collection, not my own story. ( )