'The Colony of Cats' was among the best. The right length, some humor, and actually interesting enough to work. 'The Cottage and His Cat' was another cat-themed tale, although this one is nonsensical and another twist on get-rich with kings and luck. Animal themes continue with mixed results - The Crab and the Monkey was short and held interest picturing funny monkeys tricking naive crabs, but this one doesn't hold back a dark pinch at the end.

'The Gifts of the Magician' are just odd stories that don't know what they want to be. Of course an unappreciative bastard of a king, but what is with the servant warning of the magician that she then changes her mind about, and what of the horse's real identity? If so evil, why would the magician let him leave and then then grant him request later? Either way the story was strangely interesting.

My favorite may have been the quirky and mean-spirited 'The Hungry Animals - but it was too funny to pass up.