It’s the release day for Sarah Avery’s revised edition of her 2015 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award winner Tales From Rugosa Coven! The original collection already had a well-earned reputation as an all-too-true depiction of coven life and an engaging work of contemporary fantasy; Sarah’s revisions have added new depth of character to the coven members as they negotiate the tangles of their magical and mundane lives. If you’re wondering about the changes, she’s added a fascinating afterword explaining “What I Changed, and Why,” and it’s a thoughtful analysis of her choices that is also a mediation on a writer’s obligations, to herself and to her audience. But read the novellas first, especially if you’re encountering them for the first time! They’re at once marvelous adventures and brilliant character studies, and I’m so happy that Candlemark has been able to bring them back into print.
I’ve shared a few reviews and comments elsewhere on the blog, but there are more:

“This is one of the most grounded-feeling urban fantasies I’ve ever read, with deeply developed characters whose real-life issues marvelously intertwine with the magic in their lives, featuring a strongly positive theme of a supportive, inclusive community.” — Trish Matson, The Skiffy & Fanty Show

“Tales From Rugosa Coven is comforting and strange, filled with humor and heartache, and the painful truth that those we love are our greatest sources of joy and pain. It is a reminder that the world — every world, seen and unseen — is manifest in its weirdness and wonderfulness. And that walking that weird and wonderful path is best done in the company of those we love, and who love us in turn.” — Rebecca Buchanan, author of The Maiden and the Marrow Witch: A Tale of Magic and Murder
 
“Steeped in Wiccan sensibilities, these stories are quiet, [and] character driven… The magical elements are subtly woven throughout, balancing the more mundane aspects, and the unbreakable bond between coven members adds emotional heft. There’s much to enjoy.” — Publishers Weekly

“Charming, engrossing, authentic, highly recommended.” — Jennifer Stevenson, A Green Man Review

I managed to miss Tales From Rugosa Coven when it first came out. When I read it for the first time last year, I was immediately captivated. I believed in these people — more than that, I recognized them, I understood their problems and their choices, and I loved their magic. I think you will, too.