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What Is Seasons of Glass and Iron About? (Spoiler-Free)

Amal El-Mohtar has collected her acclaimed and awarded works in a single publication. Her word prowess shines through in each short story. El-Mohtar writes in the introduction that she initially had no context for her short stories. However, once she saw them side by side, she realized the commonality was her love for women. I second this statement as each story depicts part of the feminine experience.

Is Seasons of Glass and Iron Worth Reading?

El-Mohtar has crafted a collection worthy of every woman to at least gloss through. While some titles might not be as impactful as others, there is bound to be at least one title that will have a lasting impression on every woman.

Themes and Topics in Seasons of Glass and Iron

Femininity: This entire collection is dripping with love for woman, both being one and appreciation for others.

Oppression: El-Mohtar discusses the oppression woman often experience. She also draws from her Lebanese descent as a Canadian as she references the desires to stomp out differences at the cost of acceptance.

Writing Style, Pacing, and Structure

I often struggle with anthologies because inexperienced authors often don’t deliver an impactful story within a limited word count. However, El-Mohtar is the exception to this rule. A glance at the Table of Contents reveals a wide range of formats. There is also a variety of lengths within this collection.

Somehow, El-Mohtar has impersonated the essence of fairy tales and writes stories that feel timeless. Removed from modern ties, these stories feel timeless; they create a connection to an endless line of people with shared experiences.

Who Will Enjoy Seasons of Glass and Iron?

As I noted above, every woman should at least open this collection and browse the selection.

The last time I felt this compelled to utter the word “divine feminine” (I have not conducted research on this term, so this is merely the word that sounds closest to the feeling experienced) was when I read works of Rupi Kaur or In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado. All these publications possess the same brutal honesty of the feminine experience.

Final Verdict: My Review of Seasons of Glass and Iron

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Review my rating scale here!

I will revisit this title many times. In particular, I see myself revisiting the namesake title, “Seasons of Glass and Iron,” and “Pockets.” I am sure my love for particular short stories will change as I evolve. I thank El-Mohtar for creating a collection worthy of endless encounters.

The only reason this novel doesn’t reach a five-star rating for me is that I wish more stories were memorable. However, I have DNF’ed every other anthology I have ever started. So, the fact that I even made it to the final page is worthy of praise.

Release Date for Seasons of Glass and Iron

Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar is expected to be published on March 24, 2026.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor, for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this novel for an honest review.