Book Review: Into the Forest

Into the Forest: Tales of the Baba Yaga (Anthology)
by Lindy Ryan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While this is an interesting set of stories about Baba Yaga; it's not really all that great in the end. There are a few diamonds in the rough; but mostly a lot of chicken legs that just don't hold the house up in the end.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend it; unless you are obsessed with Baba Yaga stories; in which case this is a must read. Likely there are better compilations of stories out there that focus on Yaga (although they may not be translated into English...). I'd like to see a lot more of this type of cultural anthology put together; just with better material overall.
The afterword really sums it up. As a culture and people we’ve gotten soft. Baba Yaga is THE icon of feminism horror and yet we’ve downgraded her to a mere witch because it’s nicer or easier to take. Not unlike how Disney changed significant fairy tale plot points to be more amiable and ‘appropriate for children’. I still think we need to be more honest and thoughtful with what we teach and hold onto. The false idea of a Princess carried by a Prince into the sunset is a future mental health disorder waiting to happen (or in progress). As it sets an unreasonable expectation for how great life is. Whereas a witch that can or cannot chose to be wonderful or evil, pretty or ugly, and everything in-between is much more reflective of what humans are really like. Setting this expectation early on in children would probably save many a lot of grief in their teens and adult years. Let's face it no one is just a princess or just an evil witch. We're all the shades of grey in-between; just like Baba Yaga is.

Here are my notes on each of the stories within:

Dinner Plans with Baba Yaga, By Stephanie M. Wytovich
A short but sweet poem.
It’s definitely been too soon since watching Monster: the Dahmer Story on Netflix. I can’t handle eating children references right now; metaphors or not.
I am going to have to remind myself that the power of Baba Yaga is partially in her ability to strike fear in children; the fear of being eaten by her.

Last Tour into the Hungering Moonlight by Gwendolyn Kiste
Where might one find Baba Yaga amongst the suburbs, math homework, and Amazon deliveries. Kiste brings us the answer.

The Story of a House by Yi Izzy YuMM
This is a cute story about how a little chick is chosen to be the legs/bottom half of Baba Yaga’s famous house. It’s both a bit brutal and also a bit comforting. Our baby chick has to prove he’s the right one for the house and I love the open ending. Maybe one day I’ll find the house (not likely in Canada however, lol).

Of Moonlight and Moss by Sara Tantlinger
Best ending ever!!
I can't say anything else for fear of spoiling it all.

Wormwood by Lindz McLeodM
Crimes require punishment. To take something requires that you give something back in equal measure.
Very good and easy to understand portrays of Baba Yaga here. Really like this one.

Mama Yaga by Christina Sng
Love the use of Hansel and Gretel here. Many may not realize that the witch in it was traditionally a version of Baba Yaga.

Flood Zone by Donna Lynch
Love getting more into the (controversial) mythos that Baba Yaga eats children. Really well written and great plot movement.
Can you tell some time passed since I started this anthology? (lol) For now, I've doing better with the whole eating issue... for now. Cannibals are just one of my realistic fears that haunt me sometimes and I just don't think I will ever get past it.

The Peddler’s Promise by Catherine McCarthy
Oh young boys and their greed. I do appreciate, in a dark sort of way, that none of the girls in the village of fall prey to Baba Yaga’s tricks and false promises.

The Space Between the Trees by Jo Kaplan
The world is cruel. We must all snatch whatever opportunities we have, however unpleasant they may seem. Harsh outlook; but for a witches daughter probably a smart one.
This is one of my favourites so far. It's got a great moral or understanding to it and feels like a genuine portrayal of what Baba Yaga was once meant to stand for... that women will always fight harder to the top; and so sometimes you have to use what you have to your advantage. If the playing field were level and equal then this would not be necessary. I don't see that ideal coming into fruition in my lifetime.

Birds of a Feather by Monique Snyman
A slightly longer story than most of the short snippets in this anthology so far. I loved the use of the typical horror movie set-up and how those iconic events then lead to finding Baba Yaga, and (of course) vengeance.

Water Like Broken Glass by Carina Bissett
Decent queer representation which I'm pleasantly surprised by as the area of the world in which Baba Yaga originated remains (largely) intolerant even today. Sad but true that there are still some places that us queer folk cannot be open and safe from persecution by the law and government (never mind the people around us).
Not sure this one felt quite like a Yaga story to me; but it wasn’t bad by any means.

Herald the Knight by Mercedes M. Yardley
Baba Yaga has a lover. Sort of… well put together tale but also a bit weird. Didn't really feel like a Baba Yaga story in the sense of most of the others.

All Bitterness Burned Away by Jill Baguchinaky
Really like that Baba Yaga didn’t know the truth here but had to trust the children to tell her. Very clever.

A Trail of Feathers, A Trail of BloodM
While I am a (born as) woman who adores itty bitty babies. Yet the idea of having one is absolutely horrifying to me. The whole process is just icky… which I suppose makes me lucky as I’m infertile. Although it has been suggested to me that my revulsion for pregnancy and birthing in general could be my brains defensive mechanism to protect me from being upset about being infertile.
Regardless of the reason, because of my immediate dislike of birthing, it’s unfair for me to rate this story as it's primary topic, and outcome, is birthing a baby.

Baba Yaga Learns to Shave, Gets her Period, and Comes into Her Own by Jess Hageman
Seriously this title is longer than the story! It’s really more of a prose poem (if you will). In its essence it’s about how it's okay to be a woman. Not super impressed with this quick one.

Fair Trade by Jacqueline West
One of my fave stories so far!! It’s got all kinds of weirdness, some creepiness factors, and in general makes you think. I don’t want to give too much away as the genius is in the not knowing. Definitely an author I will need to look into more as this was such a well written story.

Stork Bites by EV Knight
Umm… just no. Sorry but I'm a NO to making abortion seem like a nightmare. I'm a NO to deals involving babies. Just a NO overall on this one.

Where the Horizon Meets the Sky by RJ Joseph
A wonderful reminder to be careful what you wish for. Just like with the Western Rumpelstiltskin, as with Baba Yaga, you must be very specific of what you want; erstwhile you get what you want in a way you hadn’t conceived of.

Baba Gaga in Repose by Heather Miller
This is one of those stories you might right for a grade school English class. From the first person ‘you’ perspective that is supposed to make the reader feel like they are the participant making decisions. Ultimately it ends up being overly descriptive and boring. Yes you might get an A on the assignment but you haven’t written much anyone really wants to read. I'm sad that the second last story is one of the weakest of the lot.

Shadow and Branch, Ghost Fruit Among the Lillabies by Saba Syed Razvi
Another very artsy prose that tells no story at all. It attempts to evoke a mood and feeling towards Baba Yaga but lacks substance. Not really not all that interesting. It's one pro is that it as super short.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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