Instead of Three Wishes

Instead of Three Wishes (2006) Megan Whalen Turner

This is an absolutely wonderful collection of fantasy short stories for the pre-teen set. Although some of the stories are dark, they are still fabulous, and far less dark than real life.

The story “A Plague of Leprechaun” had a feel reminiscent of Charles de Lint. Someone sights a leprechaun, and as soon as the news his the press, the town is inundated with people searching for the leprechaun and his pot of gold. A poor painter who comes into town to paint the countryside finds himself unable to paint because of this plague.

“Leroy Roachbane” was an absolutely wonderful story about a boy who’s “job” at home is to wake up and kill all the roaches so his mother can make breakfast. I wasn’t initially sure where this was going, but loved it.

“The Factory” is a very dark and somewhat depressing story, not necessarily for what happens in the story, but for the world in which the characters live.

“The Nightmare” was my least favorite story–I never got to like the main character, and felt like he never really learned his lesson.

“Aunt Charlotte and the NGA Portraits” was my second favorite story. It’s about a selkie and magic and art, but you don’t have to know anything about any of those to enjoy the story. (That is the advantage of having young characters–world building is easy as you discover the world together.)

“Instead of Three Wishes” is the title story, and my favorite story in the collection. A young woman unknowingly helps an elf, but when he tries to repay her, she doesn’t want repayment, so he has to figure out how to repay her.

The final story, “The Baker King” was just a fun tale.

If you have not read anything by Megan Whalen Turner, this collection is a fun introduction, although I have to admit it has almost nothing of the same feel as her story “The Thief.”
Rating: 8/10

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