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125 reviews for:
Common Bonds: An Aromantic Speculative Anthology
C.T. Callahan, B.R. Sanders, Claudie Arseneault, RoAnna Sylver
3.92 AVERAGE
125 reviews for:
Common Bonds: An Aromantic Speculative Anthology
C.T. Callahan, B.R. Sanders, Claudie Arseneault, RoAnna Sylver
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
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
The first two stories were a real slog for me--I couldn't get into the settings, unfamiliar enough that figuring out the scent-rules of one (a play on the common misspelling of 'aromantic' as 'aromatic', though it felt a bit strained in the short time it had to show it) and the social rules of the other distracted from getting into the stories themselves--but the next two, and most of the rest, I enjoyed. Some featured overtly ace/aro/aroace characters, while a few gave no clear indication of anyone being aro/ace, sometimes causing me to question why they were part of this anthology (there's no romance, but that doesn't mean it's aro or ace!).
I would recommend skipping the first two stories, or saving them for later to avoid reader discouragement early on.
Content concerns: a couple of stories included occasional swear words, and a couple included sex scenes or reference to sex (not overly-detailed, but might bother a sex-repelled reader); a few included alcohol or drunkenness
I would recommend skipping the first two stories, or saving them for later to avoid reader discouragement early on.
Content concerns: a couple of stories included occasional swear words, and a couple included sex scenes or reference to sex (not overly-detailed, but might bother a sex-repelled reader); a few included alcohol or drunkenness
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Anthologies are so hard to rate. That’s just the truth. That being said, I really loved Common Bonds. It was so refreshing to be able to read all these different pieces celebrating aromantic identities - and god, I love how varied this collection was.
I’m so happy to live at a time where books like this exist.
I’m so happy to live at a time where books like this exist.
I found some of the stories cute but they weren’t all hits for me. I also didn’t really relate to the relationships even tho I’m greyromantic which has me all types of confused about my romantic orientation but that’s totally completely not the fault of any of the authors
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This books is an anthology of arospec stories with speculative elements, including a few poems. It will hit you in the feels no matter if you are arospec yourself or not
Common Bonds is an anthology of stories (and a few poems) that center the aromantic experience.
And boy, when I tell y’all that this is one of the only anthologies that I have really enjoyed, I mean it. I struggle a lot with short stories, but I found myself constantly wanting to pick this one back up.
There was a great variety of genres and stories in here, all with different perspectives on being aromantic. Sure, there were a few that weren’t as enjoyable as the others, but I really enjoyed the majority of them.
Some Favorites (I forgot authors — I’m so sorry)
The Aromatic Lovers: 5/5 — Amazing start to the anthology; the genderqueerness and the world-building being done *like that* in only a few pages? Outstanding, no notes.
Fishing Over the Bones of the Dragon: 4.75/5 — This was so depressing but also so gorgeous?? I can’t believe I didn’t cry.
And boy, when I tell y’all that this is one of the only anthologies that I have really enjoyed, I mean it. I struggle a lot with short stories, but I found myself constantly wanting to pick this one back up.
There was a great variety of genres and stories in here, all with different perspectives on being aromantic. Sure, there were a few that weren’t as enjoyable as the others, but I really enjoyed the majority of them.
Some Favorites (I forgot authors — I’m so sorry)
The Aromatic Lovers: 5/5 — Amazing start to the anthology; the genderqueerness and the world-building being done *like that* in only a few pages? Outstanding, no notes.
Fishing Over the Bones of the Dragon: 4.75/5 — This was so depressing but also so gorgeous?? I can’t believe I didn’t cry.
A Full Deck: 4.75/5 — This was a fun story with aroace demon hunters; love a good twist on demons and magic.
💚Do you enjoy anthologies or short stories?
CW: violence; ableism; arophobia; abuse
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Fun stories but probably only really enjoyed about half. I'm glad this book exists, and enjoyed the types of relationships explored within it.
reflective
medium-paced
Was super excited for an aro-centered anthology (especially one that doesn't treat aromanticism as synonymous with asexuality), but most of these are just... not very good :-( I get the sense a lot of the authors might not have had much experience with original short stories -- there's a certain awkwardness to the pacing of quite a few included here, particularly regarding character/relationship development and worldbuilding, that would indicate as much.
Besides that and the Generic YA Style™ several share, there's not much tying them all together either; I think I can actually easier count the ones that explicitly or heavily implicitly describe at least one main character as aro than the ones that don't. Stories with protagonists that happens to be aro without that factoring into the actual plot are all well and good, as are ones that just center around platonic relationships/lack romance, but somehow I expected a little more from something literally titled "an aromantic anthology"?
Only actively liked a couple of pieces, feel pretty "meh" about the rest. The poems are fine but again don't really fit the expressed theme.
Besides that and the Generic YA Style™ several share, there's not much tying them all together either; I think I can actually easier count the ones that explicitly or heavily implicitly describe at least one main character as aro than the ones that don't. Stories with protagonists that happens to be aro without that factoring into the actual plot are all well and good, as are ones that just center around platonic relationships/lack romance, but somehow I expected a little more from something literally titled "an aromantic anthology"?
Only actively liked a couple of pieces, feel pretty "meh" about the rest. The poems are fine but again don't really fit the expressed theme.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Blood, Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Death, Sexual assault, Torture, Vomit, Dementia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I've been meaning to read this anthology for a while. 19 short stories and poems. Some of them have explicitly aromantic protagonists, others don't really mention the romantic orientation but focus on platonic relationships. Most of them are fantasy, although there's a couple that are more sci-fi.
As all anthologies, some stories hit me better than others, but I'd say that the average enjoyment was pretty high. I haven't read anything by any of the authors before, so it was an especially nice surprise. (I'm more familiar with the editors, but they didn't actually have their own works in the book sadly.)
Some of my favorites:
– Jennifer Lee Rossman: Cinder - Disabled Cinderella, fairytale retellings, princesses saving princesses, an app to find a magical prince to rescue you.
– A.Z. Louise: Dracanmōt Council of Human Study Report Compiled by Usander Greystart - An outsider studying human customs.
– Jeff Reynolds: Fishing Over the Bones of the Dragon - A story about family, kidnapping fae, and also about generational trauma tbh.
– Polenth Blake: Busy Little Bees: Cloned siblings! Love them. I would have loved to continue reading this one.
As all anthologies, some stories hit me better than others, but I'd say that the average enjoyment was pretty high. I haven't read anything by any of the authors before, so it was an especially nice surprise. (I'm more familiar with the editors, but they didn't actually have their own works in the book sadly.)
Some of my favorites:
– Jennifer Lee Rossman: Cinder - Disabled Cinderella, fairytale retellings, princesses saving princesses, an app to find a magical prince to rescue you.
– A.Z. Louise: Dracanmōt Council of Human Study Report Compiled by Usander Greystart - An outsider studying human customs.
– Jeff Reynolds: Fishing Over the Bones of the Dragon - A story about family, kidnapping fae, and also about generational trauma tbh.
– Polenth Blake: Busy Little Bees: Cloned siblings! Love them. I would have loved to continue reading this one.