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marissab's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A perfect weird blend of surreal premises and real emotions
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
meemawreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
Ok maybe all it takes is some HEAVY BITCHING in the DMs about finishing books to find a good one (granted my problem is more with physical copies.)
THIS. BOOK. Y’ALL.
Remind me next time I’m in a slump that short stories will always bring me back. I love just a little 🤌🏻 sample of a world and I admire the skill it takes to draw readers in with fewer words. Kim Fu has it, babies. I am the kind of reader that appreciates being left just short of satisfied because I love being given enough wiggle room to think about the possibilities of a story days after I finish it. One in particular grabbed me that way: it’s about a woman who shows up at a funeral for an internet celebrity she went to college with but never met and lies about their relationship. Juicy, fascinating, concise, ugh I love it. There are others that get a little more uncanny, and one that (cw) includes domestic violence, they’re all different but they all quickly build their own crystal-clear worlds. Their being different is what also makes it hard to rate a collection so I probably just won’t. They’re all at least three taters and up, this is absolutely worth reading. So do it. For yer Meemaw.
THIS. BOOK. Y’ALL.
Remind me next time I’m in a slump that short stories will always bring me back. I love just a little 🤌🏻 sample of a world and I admire the skill it takes to draw readers in with fewer words. Kim Fu has it, babies. I am the kind of reader that appreciates being left just short of satisfied because I love being given enough wiggle room to think about the possibilities of a story days after I finish it. One in particular grabbed me that way: it’s about a woman who shows up at a funeral for an internet celebrity she went to college with but never met and lies about their relationship. Juicy, fascinating, concise, ugh I love it. There are others that get a little more uncanny, and one that (cw) includes domestic violence, they’re all different but they all quickly build their own crystal-clear worlds. Their being different is what also makes it hard to rate a collection so I probably just won’t. They’re all at least three taters and up, this is absolutely worth reading. So do it. For yer Meemaw.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
jayisreading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.75
I’m kind of struggling to figure out how much I enjoyed this one, because I did enjoy it— Just not as much as I thought I would. There were a few stories that really stood out to me while others felt a little lackluster, though I didn’t dislike any of them. I really enjoyed the elements of fantastical horror that was infused into most (if not all) of the stories to create this unsettling intimacy. It certainly helps that Fu’s prose is wonderful to highlight that these “lesser known monsters” are, indeed, not hidden from us but very much so living among and in us. I’d say it’s worth checking out this collection if you want something a little off the beaten path.
I might revisit this collection again in the near future. I think I might enjoy it more a second time around.
My favorites were “Pre-Simulation Consultation XF007867,” “Twenty Hours,” “In This Fantasy” (this may have been my favorite), “Scissors,” and “June Bugs.”
I should also note for the short story, “June Bugs,” this focuses on an incredibly toxic relationship that might be triggering for some. If you’re also not a fan of insects, you’ll probably want to skip this story because it will make your skin crawl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Body horror, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse
2treads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Mixed in with the seemingly otherworldly and futuristic world of some of these stories is the mundanity of human existence. The everyday patterns that mark our days and our relationships: hubris, jealousy, violence, uncertainty, and fear.
There is also a certain style that connects these stories as the reader moves from one to the next, a kind of anticipation for the unknown, for what approaches, and how it will be resolved or how it will stimulate the reader to think of a conclusion or resolution. But as I made my way through the collection, my interaction became almost robotic as the stories lost what intrigues me in the first 3.
There is also a certain style that connects these stories as the reader moves from one to the next, a kind of anticipation for the unknown, for what approaches, and how it will be resolved or how it will stimulate the reader to think of a conclusion or resolution. But as I made my way through the collection, my interaction became almost robotic as the stories lost what intrigues me in the first 3.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
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