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bugle's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
These stories are so satisfyingly weird and I'll be thinking about them for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Fatphobia
cran's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
God I love my local library and their dedication to introducing me to the weirdest, most delightful shit. Milks' stories remind me what I love about surreal, strange, sexy fiction.
"The Strands" was especially affecting for me, hitting home in a way I didn't expect with the way it portrays the anxiety of transitioning as a lesbian, and I love the experimental storytelling styles in "Twins" and "Kill Marguerite". I really didn't expect to find a writer with whom my love of messy lesbian sexuality and twins/duality as a horror theme would overlap so completely.
The only thing keeping me from ranking it 5 stars is, as expected with anthologies, not every story was a winner for me (though I'm sure they will be for someone). That and the fact that I'm sure I could never read all the way through more than once. Maybe once I get my anxiety medicated.
"The Strands" was especially affecting for me, hitting home in a way I didn't expect with the way it portrays the anxiety of transitioning as a lesbian, and I love the experimental storytelling styles in "Twins" and "Kill Marguerite". I really didn't expect to find a writer with whom my love of messy lesbian sexuality and twins/duality as a horror theme would overlap so completely.
The only thing keeping me from ranking it 5 stars is, as expected with anthologies, not every story was a winner for me (though I'm sure they will be for someone). That and the fact that I'm sure I could never read all the way through more than once. Maybe once I get my anxiety medicated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism and Violence
Minor: Incest, Toxic friendship, Fatphobia, and Emotional abuse
suzyreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
4.0
hahahahahaha ok what the fuck
(thanks to feminist press for the ARC)
showing the expansiveness of queer and trans stories in so many weird and interesting and upsetting ways. including through lots of VERY disturbing sex lol
particularly enjoyed the longer stories, and the ones that leaned into nostalgia and played w form using 90s cultural staples like BSC, Choose Your Own Adventure, and Seventeen’s Trauma-Rama column. there are also some stories in here that i uhhh truly hope to never think about again
favorites: The Strands, Kill Marguerite, Pleasantvale Twins #119: Abducted!, Germ Camp, Trauma-Rama: A Collaboration, Take Us to Your LDR, Patrick Gets Inspired
would recommend if you liked Sarahland or Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl
(thanks to feminist press for the ARC)
showing the expansiveness of queer and trans stories in so many weird and interesting and upsetting ways. including through lots of VERY disturbing sex lol
particularly enjoyed the longer stories, and the ones that leaned into nostalgia and played w form using 90s cultural staples like BSC, Choose Your Own Adventure, and Seventeen’s Trauma-Rama column. there are also some stories in here that i uhhh truly hope to never think about again
favorites: The Strands, Kill Marguerite, Pleasantvale Twins #119: Abducted!, Germ Camp, Trauma-Rama: A Collaboration, Take Us to Your LDR, Patrick Gets Inspired
would recommend if you liked Sarahland or Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gore, Medical content, Transphobia, and Vomit
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