Sometimes, all the world needs is a little bright comfort.

Other times, what it needs is a pinch of darkness.

In these twenty-five stories and three poems, S.L. Dove Cooper presents a balance of both in a mixture of fantasy and science fiction. In this collection, woods are dark and nights are dangerous and full of wonder. Fairies can be benign forces of nature. Or they can be the most dangerous predators of all. Magic can be caught and spun into impossible quests. In the far future, the most terrifying thing of all may be the prospect of making new friends. Including:

* Four teens find themselves caught in a fairy tale some of them will never walk out of.

* When GalaQuest comes hurtling into Hedriar's life, so does one of her sisters. And Hedriar will have to choose where her help is most needed.

* A mermaid's curiosity sees both herself and a prince caught in a witch's trap.

* All throughout his adult life, Paad has not been allowed to watch the dragons hatch, but when a hatching goes wrong, he may be the only one who can save the day.

* Little Red Riding Hood's granddaughter has learned well from her family's mistakes, and isn't going to repeat them.

With humour and heart, the stories in this collection present a quiet, yet not always cosy, look at the fantastical and magical mundane.