There’s a literary account I follow on X in which the person is from Bulgaria. Her posts are mostly author-related; however, she occasionally writes about Bulgaria and other countries in which she spends time. Her travels are interesting, and her writings are beautifully intriguing. When I was presented with the opportunity to read this collection of short stories, Rakiya: Stories of Bulgaria, by Ellis Shuman, I had to say yes.

I had never heard of Rakiya before, but I became quickly acquainted with the knowledge that it’s a type of alcohol, or fruit spirits. Rakiya is consistently present in this short story collection. It is either the main focus of the story, as in the story titled, Rakiya, or briefly mentioned as a modest character. This book contains an impressive 12 short stories. 

To be fair, I have yet to read a collection of stories in which I have loved every single story. Even collections written by some of my favorite, long-time authors. My most common critique is that a story was too short and left me wanting more. The story titled Volcano left me wanting more. The ending seemed abrupt, and I was left feeling confused. The remaining stories were excellent, each in their own way. Some stories had a moral lesson, as in Rakiya, The Bear addressed family relationships, and The Cave focused on the beauty of Bulgaria. My favorite story, Sozopol, is a suspenseful mystery set at a writer’s conference. I also loved Forgiveness, an emotional historical fiction that takes readers back to the Holocaust. The final story, The Train Stops in Plovdiv, concluded the collection beautifully. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to read and review Rakiya. Ellis Shuman is a talented storyteller who eloquently brought Bulgaria and its characters to life. Many of these stories are emotional and heartfelt. I appreciate learning about this beautiful country and its history. 

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