Rating: 
Summary: Actually, four and a half stars
Review: "Book of Enchantments" is an enchanting book of short stories by Patricia C. Wrede. In it, there are stories about conceited Unicorns, the Frying Pan of Doom, a story written for Andre Norton's Witch World universe, and many other stories.There's a wide range of stories here, some with sadder overtones, some with satiric ones. My favorite story was "Utensile Strength," which featured the gang from Ms. Wrede's "Enchanted Forest Chronicles." Queen Cimorene is back, and back with a vengeance; she has to be one of my favorite characters in all fiction. I also enjoyed how the whole "competition" for the Frying Pan of Doom was set up -- and how it didn't quite come off as planned. That story was a five, as was the recipe for "Quick After-Battle Chocolate Cake." Most of the others were solid fours, which is why I'd give this book four and a half stars. Basically, if you like Ms. Wrede's work (including some of her adult novels, such as "Caught in Crystal"), you'll enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Actually, four and a half stars
Review: "Book of Enchantments" is an enchanting book of short stories by Patricia C. Wrede. In it, there are stories about conceited Unicorns, the Frying Pan of Doom, a story written for Andre Norton's Witch World universe, and many other stories. There's a wide range of stories here, some with sadder overtones, some with satiric ones. My favorite story was "Utensile Strength," which featured the gang from Ms. Wrede's "Enchanted Forest Chronicles." Queen Cimorene is back, and back with a vengeance; she has to be one of my favorite characters in all fiction. I also enjoyed how the whole "competition" for the Frying Pan of Doom was set up -- and how it didn't quite come off as planned. That story was a five, as was the recipe for "Quick After-Battle Chocolate Cake." Most of the others were solid fours, which is why I'd give this book four and a half stars. Basically, if you like Ms. Wrede's work (including some of her adult novels, such as "Caught in Crystal"), you'll enjoy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful collection of stories!
Review: 10 different stores in the real world or in the Enchanted Forest(or somewhere near there)all with magic or wonderful beings(some not so wonderful, others very). My favorite was Utensile Strength; I still havn't goten enough of Cimorene, Mendanbar, and Daystar and I'd love it if Ms Wrede would write more of their adventures!!
Rating:
Summary: Truly a book of enchantment
Review: As one who has never been a big fan of short stories, as well as one that has never read a Patricia Wrede book before in her life, it was some wonder when I found myself picking up this book at the library and reading the blurb, that promised "a black sword of cruel potency, a plumed serpent drawn from stone, a harp made of bone that sings of murder..." I was hooked. Each story is clearly and precisely written, and range from comedy to tragedy, from happily-ever-after fairytales to somewhat fractured traditional tales, and each one is a gem. Usually in anthologies there are a few clunkers, but here each one is original, witty and beautifully written. Whether you are a fan of Patricia Wrede's 'Enchanted Forest' books or not, this collection will delight any age group, and is essential to any fairytale lover. Many stories are excellent for reading aloud, and just as many are perfect for curling up under the covers with a torch late at night. This book has my highest recommendation. To describe each and every story would have me exceeding the word limit on this review, so here are summaries of a few of my favourites, in no particular order-
'The Princess, the Cat and the Unicorn' has all the trademarks of what I quickly became familiar with as Wrede's technique for twisting traditional fairytale stereotypes on their head. Princess Elyssa is the middle sister of three, but she isn't jealous of them, her stepmother isn't trying to kill her, and she is perfectly able to out on adventures of her own. The unicorn in this tale is a welcome relief (as well as a parady) to the myraid of stories out there with gushy, sickly-sweet unicorns out there. 'Earthwitch' is the darker tale of divided lovers who come together once more - the earthwitch Mariel and the lord Evan Rydingsword who comes to her for help against the troops devastating his land. The tension between them rises, but she agrees to help, calling on the earth itself for power. But the costs of such power is a great one, as the two will soon find out. 'The Lorelei' is the German version of the Greek Sirens and said to haunt the Rhine River, luring people to their deaths with her beautiful voice. When Janet and a busload of her mostly unpleasant classmates visit the river they are forced to stay there when their bus breaks down. All seems quiet, but then Janet notices: there seems to be a boy missing... 'Stronger than time' is a strange and beautiful story of lost love, and what would of happened if the prince had never come to awaken Sleeping Beauty. The elderly woodsman Arven, still pining over the death of his wife, is surprised one day by the arrival of a young stranger, desparate to get into the abandoned castle before morning. Fill of beautiful language and poignant storytelling, this one's one of my favourites. 'The Cruel Sisters' is my favourite overall, strange since it isn't actually a happy ending. Based on an old ballad, this story is lyrical, bittersweet, macabre, and beautifully told. With elements of tragedy, betrayal, mystery and horror, it includes a false lover, a harp of bone, a dress in a thorn bush... this one kept me thinking for a long time. Finally, 'Utensile Strength' is probably what will attract most fans to this anthology as it is set once more in Wrede's 'Enchanted Wood' theme, with all the familiar characters, including Mendanbar, Cimorene and Daystar, dealing with the formidable problem of: the Frying Pan of Doom. All in all, a great, varied collection - but make sure you read the authors notes at the end, as they feature all her inspiration and resources, whether they be from old ballets or Biblical stories - it's quite interesting. And of course, the famous recipe for the Quick After-Battle Triple Chocolate Cake!
Rating:
Summary: enchantment galore, Magic and miracles are present at all...
Review: Enchantments galore, and Miracles and Magic are always present! I love every bit of wording involved. It's a great book for fantasy lovers, as well as Sci-fi fanatics. Patricia C. Wrede should be commended for this fine work of literature.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've read!(try the recipe too)
Review: Even though this book doesn't have dragons in it ,I liked it anyway.My favorite story is the one about the Frying Pan of Doom,which involves many of the dragon's series characters.Read This Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: refreshing stories
Review: Every once in a while you have to read an anthology. So you can take a book in big gulps and then leave it for a while. All the stories were fun and exciting. And the recipe works out well. Each and every sory was enjoyable. If your a patricia read fan. Read this book. Especially if you don't have a lot of time on your hands.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantasy anthologies out there
Review: From the humorous to the ludicrous to the touching, Book of Enchantments takes the reader on a journey through the worlds of the barely known. Patricia Wrede has a beautiful writing style which makes the stories worth reading and is beautifully accented by her plotting skill. More then once I was moved to chuckle, and often I found myself gripped by her vivid imagery.
Rating: 
Summary: couldn't finish it
Review: I absolutly loved the Enchanted Forest Series, but I just couldn't get through this book. It is a collection of old faerie tales that Wrede rewote, the stories where not horribly written, they were just not attention holders. I usually like to read rewritten faerie tales, but I just couldn't get through these.
Rating:
Summary: couldn't finish it
Review: I absolutly loved the Enchanted Forest Series, but I just couldn't get through this book. It is a collection of old faerie tales that Wrede rewote, the stories where not horribly written, they were just not attention holders. I usually like to read rewritten faerie tales, but I just couldn't get through these.
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