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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I’m delighted to report that this debut story collection has the same deliciously something’s-not-quite-right-here feeling of Armfield’s novel Our Wives Under the Sea, which was one of my favorites from 2022. Armfield has a real gift with language—she’s so good at creating an unsettling mood, and her descriptions are sometimes unexpected but always strangely apt.
The night is wide, uncurving, like the Earth might be flat and walkable from end to distant end. (89)
These stories range in subject from a Catholic schoolgirl who becomes a mantis, to a woman who defiantly moves into a beach house belonging to the husband she is divorcing, to an all-female rock band whose shows somehow always lead to violence against area men, to a girl whose parents raise a wolf alongside her as a sister.
But there are common themes of transformation, queerness, power, and the sea, and I was left with a feeling that was equal parts thrilled and disgusted. The vibes aren’t too far off from State of Paradise by Laura van den Berg, or Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett, so if you’re into those, definitely check this one out.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
absolutely loved this and glad I read it after both Our Wives & Private Rites as a couple of these stories feel like they connect to her longer novels!
my faves were The Great Awake, Stop your women's ears with wax, and salt slow
my faves were The Great Awake, Stop your women's ears with wax, and salt slow
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Most of the stories in this collection were really fun to read. I loved the supernatural elements in The Great Awake and Cassandra After as well as Mantis and Formerly Feral for stories on puberty. A few of the stories in the collection weren't as interesting but I loved the majority of them.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Personal ranking :
1 Mantis
2 Formerly feral
3 Granite
4 Salt slow
5 The great awake
6 Cassandra after
7 The collectables
8 Stop your women's ears with wax
9 Smack
1 Mantis
2 Formerly feral
3 Granite
4 Salt slow
5 The great awake
6 Cassandra after
7 The collectables
8 Stop your women's ears with wax
9 Smack