I wanted this book from the first minute I heard about it. It was just after I'd finished the last Wheel of Time book, and I was at that perfect balance of joy at the spectacular ending to the series, and sadness knowing it was the end of a 20 year reading saga. Then I heard: An anthology was coming out that had a WoT story, the story of just where Demandred had been hiding, and what he'd been doing. Duh. I pre-ordered it immediately.

But then I heard a little more about it. It was going to be an anthology of stories from a LOT of different fantasy authors I respected. Tad Williams, Patrick Rothfuss, Terry Brooks, Lev Grossman, Daniel Abraham, Kevin Hearne. It was like a greatest hits of my recent reading log.

I waited and tracked, as people got their copies across Facebook, and there mine was, an innocuous brown paper box on the stoop. Mine!

That's when I realized it was more than just snippets of goodness from many of the largest fantasy series, it had a purpose. This book was a number of authors helping a friend in his time of need. "Edited by Shawn Speakman" was more than just a byline, it is a tribute to his very existence, and the stories were a donation to help him pay for crippling out-of-pocket cancer care costs.

So, layer upon layer of good with this one. If you are a reader of fantasy, you'll find something in here you know. And, like me, I bet you'll find something new, too. Peter V Brett, Peter Orullian, Todd Lockwood, Michael J Sullivan and Shawn Speakman, I'm coming for your books!