Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Meandering: Stories of Past, Present and Future is a work of fiction in the short story collection subgenre. It features a variety of tales from science fiction to fantasy and speculative themes and was penned by author team Francis Mont and Vera Mont. The works are generally suitable to all audiences from YA upward and vary in their length and tone, but all the themes relate back to the core conditions of humanity, the choices we make when faced with unusual situations, and the power of emotion that drives us into action. From guardian angels and terrorism to jealousy, time travel, and middle age, there’s something for everyone in this fascinating anthology.

One of the features I really enjoyed about this anthology was how the stories not only focus on a particular story aspect but also that each has a unique emotional hook intrinsically tied into the human psyche. In terms of my personal tastes, I was most impressed with the conceptual and psychological twists of “Truth Can Hurt”, “Terror on Cherry Street” and “House Arrest”, which were gut-wrenching and nail-biting in the best possible way. The different styles of authors Francis Mont and Vera Mont gel together well to offer a confident narrative style, but their individual tales also offer variety and a shift of pace, tone, and focus that keeps the content interesting and makes it feel like a fresh voice every time you start a new adventure. Overall, I’d say Meandering is well worth your time if you’re a fan of varied and intriguing anthologies with fun concepts and deep emotion at their core.