Rakiya… The spring competition of who makes the best Rakiya – an alcoholic beverage. This was okay, a story of friendship. 3 stars
Mother and Daughter… A Roma lives with her daughter above a bakery. They live off anything they are given, or can steal. The mother believes she is doing everything for her daughter. This was just sad. 2 stars
Sozopol… A writers conference turns deadly. Really good twist. 4 stars
Three Women in Sofia… An American decides to attend classes in Bulgaria, and meets three women who taught him more than he could have expected. Really quite good. 4 stars
Lockdown… Two young girls are charged with a crime when entering Bulgaria during lockdown. This was a really good story. 5 stars
Overall, these stories are of a country of which I knew very little (as mentioned by the author), and he has, indeed, broadened my knowledge. The countryside sounds wonderful, and the people diverse. The author has incorporated attributes of human nature into these stories that are not necessarily unique to Bulgarians, but in a setting that is. He writes very well, and the stories are entertaining, if often sad.
Read the full review of all of the stories on Kat Loves Books.
