Dragon Spring & Other Things is a short story collection of fantasy, steampunk and speculative fiction stories by author Raven Oak.  Like all short story collections, there were stories that I liked better than others and stories that I wish I could see fleshed out as full books.  I really appreciated the stories that dove into some of the side characters from the author's Boahim series.  I loved being able to dive back into that world and reconnect with the characters. 

Some of my favorite stories from the collection are:
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Mirror Me: A very immersive and strong start to the collection.  A young detective has been passed a strange skill to see his face mirrored in other people and pick up on their feelings and emotions.  In his job, the mirror promotes empathy, but when the victim is the detective's own father, the Mirror must extend his empathy more than usual.

Water the Fire: What if what you believed was a curse was actually protecting you?  A cute and unexpected story of fire and water demons and how the things that frustrate us the most in life also have a purpose.

Alive: The tragic backstory of Ida from Amaskan's Blood.  A nice trip back into the Amaskan's world and see Ida in a new light.

The Ringers: A magical story of a village that is plagued by the Ringers, the undead who come to take away those who do not follow the rules of the magistrate.  Luckily, young Elise has studied her magic and is prepared to help the people of Dekwood come out from under the magistrate's spell. 

Peace Be With You: A sweet and touching story of the end of the world and it's last two living inhabitants, a starving dragon and a young girl.  I loved their conversations and interactions down to the very end. 
 

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Elle has lived in a locked house in the sky for as long as she can remember.  Her caretaker tells her that the rest of the world has been ravaged and overcome by demons.  Elle escapes and falls to the Earth, determined to regain her memories from before the house in the sky and regain her magic.  Elle finds help in a strange group, Adair, Leslie and Honeycutt, that all seem to have a connection to Elle.  Elle believes that she needs to find a castle in the sky with a vengeful god, however, she must figure out the secrets of her past before being able to fight.

Where the Lightning Goes is an exciting and unique fantasy.  I was hooked on the story from the moment of Elle escaping the house in the sky.  As Elle falls, she has no memory except for living in the house and no knowledge of the world she has landed on. She must accept things as they happen, as does the reader.  The pacing of the story moves quickly as Elle is faced with decisions.  I loved the journey into the painting to find Adair's heart as well as Leslie, the heart itself.  Through the characters, there is an overwhelming feeling of loss, but also one of hope.  I enjoyed watching as Adair taught Elle magic and the Impossible markets. Honeycutt's character was an amazing addition to the group and began to give some hints as to how the four might be connected.  I even appreciated the demon character and it's unexpected actions. Elle's final battle with the god was amazingly written and offered a satisfying and dramatic ending.