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Toil and Trouble
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
From good witches to bad witches to witches who are a bit of both, this is an anthology of diverse witchy tales from a diverse collection of feminist authors. TOIL & TROUBLE delves deep into the wide-ranging mythology of witchcraft from many cultures and feminist points of view to create modern and unique ideas about witchery that have yet to be explored. Scorn the witch. Fear the witch. Burn the witch. History is filled with stories of women accused of witchcraft, of fearsome girls with arcane knowledge. Toil & Trouble features fifteen stories of girls embracing their power, reclaiming their destinies and using their magic to create, to curse, to cure - and to kill. A young witch uses social media to connect with her astrology clients - and with a NASA-loving girl as cute as she is sceptical. A priestess of death investigates a ritualised murder. A bruja who cures lovesickness might need the remedy herself when she falls in love with an altar boy. A theatre production is turned upside down by a visiting churel. In Reconstruction-era Texas, a water witch uses her magic to survive the soldiers who have invaded her desert oasis. And in the near future, a group of girls accused of witchcraft must find their collective power in order to destroy their captors. This collection reveals a universal truth: there's nothing more powerful than a teenage girl who believes in herself.
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review
DebinHawaii
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Pickpick

#ScarathlonPhotoChallenge

Finally finished the last story in this YA anthology (Why They Watch US Burn) & thought I‘d review the book even though I counted each story separately. While not every story hit directly, overall this was a great collection that updated the #Legend & lore of witchcraft & featured diversity in authors & stories.

The last story (which was a favorite) gave me 371 #Scarathlon points for Team #SpookyGhostClub 👻🖤👻

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Ash.on.the.line
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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A fun filled day for #scarathlon I‘m behind on counting up points but have everything written down! Think I‘m getting what it seems everyone else is getting 🤧 so that might give me some free time for it. 😹 #BOOklovers

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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. There were three stories in the middle I didn‘t vibe well with, but all of the others were beautiful and a joy to read. The representation, from own-voices authors and LGBT+ romances made this such a lovely time.

Read my full review at: www.rainyreader.com/single-post/toil-and-trouble

22 likes2 comments
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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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This was really the best story they could‘ve ended on. The worldbuilding and the characters were masterfully crafted. It was empowering and emotional, and such a great end to the anthology.

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash #ACOSAMspookythonbingo #witchathon #31by31 #spookoween #readlikehellathon #trickortbr

TheSpineView Well done 2y
16 likes1 comment
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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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As an older sister, this one hit hard. The way Emery Lord dealt with an abusive relationship too was marvelously done. I‘m very sad the book will be over soon.

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash #ACOSAMspookythonbingo #witchathon #31by31 #spookoween #readlikehellathon #trickortbr

TheSpineView Excellent 2y
13 likes1 comment
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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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This one also broke my heart just a little. I have had a great time with all the casual representation, and then you add casual trans-ness in such a beautiful way?? There are some not-great stories in this book, but the more I read, the higher my rating gets.

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash #ACOSAMspookythonbingo #witchathon #31by31 #spookoween #readlikehellathon #trickortbr

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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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This wasn‘t my favorite of the ones I‘ve read today, but it was still good. I love an unreliable narrator!!

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash #ACOSAMspookythonbingo #witchathon #31by31 #spookoween #readlikehellathon #trickortbr

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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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This one broke my heart, but only a little bit. The more I read these good short stories, the worse the bad ones get.

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash #ACOSAMspookythonbingo #witchathon #31by31 #spookoween #readlikehellathon #trickortbr

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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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I‘ve literally only read Brenna Yovanoff in short story anthologies, and I‘ve loved her in both stories. It‘s her writing and her characters and the way she unspools the story in winding strips…

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash #ACOSAMspookythonbingo #witchathon #31by31 #spookoween #readlikehellathon #trickortbr

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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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I read The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina last year, and I didn‘t know it was a short story first! I was pleasantly surprised, and I love comparing what stayed and what changed to the full book. Zoraida Córdova, you have my whole heart.

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash

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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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I really liked the style of this short. Also, as I‘ve stated before, I‘m a huge supporter of women‘s wrongs, and so I really liked this story.

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash

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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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This is another one I didn‘t particularly like. The moral was kinda bleh, and the witch hunter thing was thrown in like an afterthought.

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash

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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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So far, my least favorite. There were too many characters for the length of the story, and the pacing was strange, to say the least. I liked the casual mention of mobility aids, but this felt like something I‘d read in middle school, not something geared towards young adults.

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash #ACOSAMspookythonbingo #witchathon #31by31 #spookoween #readlikehellathon #pointsathon

15 likes1 stack add
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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Some (LATE) morning reading! I really liked this story, and thus is my problem with anthologies: I WANT MORE!! Give me extended time with the characters and the world, please please please!!

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Agreed, some of these stories were so good, I really could have done with more. 2y
15 likes1 comment
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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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A real “good for her!” story with everything: wild magic, kitchen witches, and sapphics. I loved this little tale of defiance.

Tws: death of a parent, injury/injury detail, homophobia, fire/fire injury

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash

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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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I really enjoyed this one. The witch trials have always been a point of interest for me, and I liked that the story was interspersed with what happened according to Deliverance, and court testimonials.

Tws for: pregnancy, birth, death of a parent/death in general

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash

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MsRadioSilence
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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I liked the first story in this anthology! But only liked. It had sapphics and magic, but the ‘my mom‘s so old she calls them ‘tumblers‘ and ‘snack chats‘‘ will immediately take me out of anything I‘m reading.

The exploration of trauma, healing, and addiction is really good, tho.

#scarathlon #scarathlon22 #scarathlon2022 #teammonstermash

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Gissy
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Mehso-so

As expected in most of Short Story Collection, I liked some short stories more than the others but I found that the ends in these stories were rushed and inconclusive. Well, maybe I should say that I‘m not so fan of short stories in general but I keep trying them. 3⭐️But I like that cover ❤️

Gissy #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaOfBooks

#OriliusMagicalReadathon (I‘m late but I will continue this readathon until I finish my careers as “magician”😜)
Career-Mage Hunter
Class-Spells and Incantentions=read a book of short stories

#MarvellousMay @Andrew65

#MyNewYearWhoDis2022 @Monalysha @InMemoryofSharread

#2022ReadingGoals read more books received in swaps I received this book in 2020#ReadintheNewYear @Endowarrior21
2y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 2y
Endowarrior21 I am glad you enjoyed some of them. 2y
Gissy @Endowarrior21 yes, and I read it finally. I really wanted to read it! It will like to re-read some of the stories later. Thank you so much for this book! Love the cover😍 2y
43 likes1 stack add4 comments
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alysonimagines
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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I picked up this YA story collection for some witchy stories as a change of pace. As with most anthologies, I liked some stories more than others, but overall this was a fun and (to borrow a friend‘s term) fempowering read.🔸#octoberreads2021

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Scochrane26
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Pickpick

I think that any book of short stories will have a few that you don‘t like as much. That‘s how I feel about these stories. Enjoyed most of them. A good narrator but also wished they changed narrators some so every story didn‘t sound the same. YA, some serious subjects like DV & sexual assault (not detailed), & the power of women. 3.5/5 ⭐️

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GypsyKat
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Will y‘all just look, JUST LOOK at this freakin amazing pile of stuff that @kylienoele sent me for our Halloween swap! 😲 I cannot deal! Look at all the awesome books to read! The beautiful pashmina, the tea, the Buffy pin, the Halloween D&D dice! All of it so thoughtful and awesome! Love you, Kylie! 🖤🎃🖤🎃🖤🎃🖤🎃🖤🎃🖤🎃🖤🎃🖤🎃

LeahBergen Wonderful! 😍 4y
GypsyKat @LeahBergen It‘s so fun! ❤️🖤🎃 4y
Texreader Oh that‘s marvelous!!! 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Wow! 😃👍 4y
59 likes4 comments
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Pogue
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Audiobook and some crochet tonight.

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alisonrose
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
Mehso-so

(They FINALLY lifted the evac orders! Tho I‘ve been home since Monday bc I had no choice🤷🏻‍♀️). Overall this was a fun collection to read—I do love me some witchy shit. No surprise that my fave story was by Anna-Marie McLemore, and a few others were great too. There were a couple fails that I think could‘ve been cut, but the majority were middle of the road, not bad but not memorable either. I do appreciate the mix of representation, too. 3/5 ⭐️

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alisonrose
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Everything is still crappy here, so I‘m gonna read about witches all day and pretend Halloween will still be fun and that witchcraft is real and could put all the fires out. 😞 #nowreading

batsy 😞😞 4y
28 likes1 comment
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Kamisha
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Starting my #Readathon off with these three books I need to finish! It‘s been a super stressful past few days for me, and I‘m determined to not let any of that ruin my readathon fun today! So here‘s to a nice, relaxing day just for reading enjoyment and being surrounded by other lovely readers! ❤️🥳

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BeansPage
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Pickpick

It's always difficult to write reviews for anthologies but this one is very good almost all the way through. It has its ups and downs. I must say, the first story really had me going because it reminded me of back in California when the Santa Ana winds used to blow. It brought back good memories. All in all a very good compilation and I would recommend it.

#24B4Monday @Andrew65 @jb72
#TeamStoker @Clwojick

BeansPage @jb72 I believe you were the one telling me you were interested in this one. 5y
Linsy I loved this one too! 5y
Andrew65 Going well already by the look of it . 😊 5y
58 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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MallenNC
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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This book was in the Book Riot daily ebook deals today. I haven‘t read it but it fits today‘s #FallisBooked prompt. #witch

OriginalCyn620 👌🏻📚🧙🏻‍♀️🖤 5y
24 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BeansPage
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Catsandbooks
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Pickpick

4/5 ⭐️s Perfect witchy October read! While some stories were just OK, a lot of them were quite interesting and entertaining! Many of them I would love to have full sized novels of! Also enjoyed the LGBTQ characters and strong feminism in the stories.

19 likes1 stack add
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Catsandbooks
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Halfway through these witchy short stories 🔮 Some of them are quite interesting!

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BeansPage
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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I'm sorry but this is one of the coolest things I have ever seen and I wanted to share!

1pt for #TeamStoker
#Scarathlon

Bookwormjillk That it amazing. I‘m going to stare at it for an hour. 5y
BeansPage @Bookwormjillk IKR??? I love this so much! I want to try to make one myself 💚🖤💜 5y
BookwormAHN That is lovely 🖤 5y
See All 9 Comments
JulietReads Cool but ewww... lol 5y
Tex2Flo High time for Halloween to shift away from earth tones 👍 5y
Megara 👀 I love it! 5y
jb72 Very cool. I bought a small cauldron and I was thinking of doing something similar. 5y
Shvonne Cool. I want to try this 5y
Leftcoastzen Wow ! 5y
59 likes9 comments
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BookmarkTavern
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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#chillingphotochallenge #spell

Double, double, toil and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble. ✨

#TeamSlaughter #Scarathlon @Clwojick 1 point (2 total)

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BookishGirl06
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Gonna start my first story tonight 😊

87 likes7 stack adds
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IheartYA
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Panpan

One star. "Women and witchcraft" where? These stories lacked substance, heart, women, and witchcraft. Most of the writing was subpar, and some of the stories made no sense while others didn't even have a conclusion. I'm still scratching my head. I enjoyed 2 of the tales, maybe. If you're looking for a good anthology with creep factor, try Slasher Girls and Monster Boys.

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literarymermaid
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Pickpick

I couldn't resist this title. I'm not usually one for witch stories but these were intriguing. It had diverse uses of magic and types of witches. I enjoyed the collection more than I thought I would.

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GondorGirl
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Pickpick

This was the best anthology I've read in ages. It spanned so many types of women, and magics, and time periods! There was only one story that I didn't find fantastic (and it was still pretty good), and there were a few that will stay with me for a very long time. There's a lot of fun magical stories here... but there are also a lot of truly POWERFUL pieces. This is an anthology about strong women and the power we have when we stand together.

50 likes4 stack adds
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GondorGirl
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Well, we survived the most boring convention in the world and should be gone late tonight. The convention was so slow that I read half of this anthology while standing behind the counter of my booth. And so far all of the stories have been pretty good!

Chrissyreadit Why was it so boring? 5y
jmtrivera Slow con? 5y
GondorGirl @Chrissyreadit @jmtrivera The hours were long, and no one wa buying anything. Hardly anyone was even coming into the booth to look around. We won't be going back next year, that's for certain. 5y
jmtrivera @GondorGirl Boo. At least it's over! 5y
Chrissyreadit That stinks!!! 5y
70 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Story # 4 Deaths in the Sawtooths

I would have read an entire book set in this world! Mattie serves Lady Death, culling the secrets of the dead and laying their bones to rest. But not all who serve the death goddess are good, and Mattie must team up with an ex classmate and bully when souls of the living are stolen.

49 likes1 stack add
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MidnightBookGirl
Toil and Trouble | Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood
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Story # 3 - This was a pretty good short story. Choosing our own path despite what fate or destiny, family or society, wants for us. It's got great magic, but it's really about love and identity and standing up for who we are and what we love.

46 likes1 stack add