A Phoenix First Must Burn

A Pheonix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance and Hope edited by Patrice Caldwell is a must read. The anthology contains 16 engrossing short stories by some of the best authors of colour. From Elizabeth Acevedo's story exploring a slave revolt in 1522 to Ibi Zoboi's piece inspired by Carribean lore to Somaiya Daud's entrancing fantasy and Patrice Caldwell's vampires reimagined, there is something in this anthology for everyone. * The Scotsman * A treasure-house anthology of science fiction, fantasy and magic stories centred on black women. From a novice sorcerer who unleashes killer unicorns to a girl who can stop time, and another whose heart is slowing turning to ash, the collection is filled with beauty, fierceness and excitement. * The Guardian * Sixteen stories of Black girl magic, hope and resistance have been gathered together by Patrice Caldwell into this unique collection. The tales are from bestselling and award-winning authors who explore the Black female experience through fantasy, science-fiction and magic. Engaging stories centre around strong women and gender-nonconforming individuals, existing in worlds from the past, present and the future. Folk tales are retold and alternative realities are explored. The characters are witches, schoolgirls, sisters, rebels - highlighting the fact that heroines come in all shapes and sizes. Bravery links all the characters, though they are dealing with a variety of issues, such as betrayal, trauma, relationships and first love. Like any collection, some stories will appeal more than others, though all are of a high standard. Patrice Caldwell has done a marvellous job of editing this collection, including different writing styles across the genres. Some of the stories almost feel too short, like they are just the beginning or are extracted from a longer adventure. A Phoenix First Must Burn is a fantastic resource. A contributors' section ends the book, which guides the reader towards what to read next * Childrens Books Ireland *

Patrice Caldwell is a graduate of Wellesley College and the founder & fundraising chair of People of Color in Publishing - a grassroots organisation dedicated to supporting, empowering, and uplifting racially and ethnically marginalised members of the book publishing industry. Born and raised in Texas, Patrice was a children's book editor before shifting to being a literary agent at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. In 2018, she was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch honoree and featured on Bustle's inaugural "Lit List" as one of ten women changing the book world. Visit Patrice online at patricecaldwell.com, Twitter @whimsicallyours, and Instagram @whimsicalaquarian.