Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 / 5 stars)
One day while tending to her bakery, Riley receives a request for a strange ingredient from the forest. Not one to turn down a customer, Riley ventures off to find this ingredient…but it’s not as easy as she imagines.
True Loaf is quite a short story reminiscent of Balkan Folklore. While I can’t say much without giving it away, I will say this: I initially intended to rate this story 3 stars. But after I read the author’s analysis of the story, I bumped my rating up to 4. The clear construction of the tale is reminiscent of many fairy tales, and it is clear a lot of thought went into it. The ultimate ending requires a bit of thought, all to make the story better, just like any folktale.
So I will say, if you read this short tale, take a moment to ponder what it means. A lot is hidden in these few pages, much more than meets the eye.
And if you run a bakery, be wary of the requests you might receive from strange men.
What’s it about?
A Short Story Inspired by Balkan Folklore
When a strange man puts in a strange request at the bakery where she works, Riley must go on a mini-adventure to find one unusual ingredient. Along the way, she realizes that things are not always what they seem.
E.S. Barrison 