Scan barcode
amanda_shortman's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? N/A
5.0
Changelings presents 13 stories from autistic trans masculine and non-binary voices. The anthology's tagline of "nothing about us without us" lies at the heart of this book. Far too often in today's society we hear too much about autistic and trans people from those who are neurotypical and cis, and not enough from those with the lived experience to know exactly what it feels like. Add in the intersectional nature of being both autistic and trans, and you'll begin to understand the important role this anthology plays in helping others to feel seen and less alone.
The stories themselves take you on a journey through a range of genres and topics. Whether you like sci fi and fantasy, contemporary pieces, or something with a darker edge, you'll find a story in here that you'll love. Trying to choose a favourite is too hard!
Expect to feel things when you read these stories. Whilst there is an overarching feeling of love and acceptance within these pages, the authors have not shied away from the grittier aspects of being an autistic trans person in today's world. There's sensory overload, gender dysphoria, homophobia and transphobia, controlling parents, abusive partners, and more.
All of the stories come with a list of content warnings, so you can be prepared for what is to come (and skip any which might be too painful for you to read). Even though I have not experienced some of these things (I am autistic and queer, but I am cis), I still felt everything deeply. The authors have really created some incredible stories that deserve to be read by both autistic trans people and those who'd like to understand their experiences more.
The stories themselves take you on a journey through a range of genres and topics. Whether you like sci fi and fantasy, contemporary pieces, or something with a darker edge, you'll find a story in here that you'll love. Trying to choose a favourite is too hard!
Expect to feel things when you read these stories. Whilst there is an overarching feeling of love and acceptance within these pages, the authors have not shied away from the grittier aspects of being an autistic trans person in today's world. There's sensory overload, gender dysphoria, homophobia and transphobia, controlling parents, abusive partners, and more.
All of the stories come with a list of content warnings, so you can be prepared for what is to come (and skip any which might be too painful for you to read). Even though I have not experienced some of these things (I am autistic and queer, but I am cis), I still felt everything deeply. The authors have really created some incredible stories that deserve to be read by both autistic trans people and those who'd like to understand their experiences more.
erinsbookshelves's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
telltalelakej's review against another edition
5.0
wow i can’t believe i’m officially a published author, that’s actually wild (unless you count the short story published in my local newspaper when i was like 10 which i do not 😔)
anyway, i may be biased but if you’re looking for a mixed-genre anthology about autistic trans people, then look no further! all the stories are amazing!
anyway, i may be biased but if you’re looking for a mixed-genre anthology about autistic trans people, then look no further! all the stories are amazing!
valereads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
anniekslibrary's review
4.0
I read this anthology in a day, and that's a testament of how good and engaging the stories are, because it usually takes me ages to finish an anthology, mainly because there are always stories that just don't work for me. In this anthology, I really enjoyed almost all of the stories, and I thought all of them were good. I especially loved the sci-fi stories, which just worked for me the best, but I'm really impressed with the variety in genres.
Being both trans and autistic myself, it's not easy to find stories that represent me, so I've been excited for this anthology since I first heard about it, and it exceeded my expectations. I absolutely flew through this, and had such a good time reading this.
I do have to say I wish transfem authors had been included, because as it is, this anthology is not a good representation of the full trans spectrum. I've seen the editors address this as well, but I did want to mention it.
Many thanks to the editors for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
You can read my short reviews of the individual stories below.
Laurie Doyle - The Door 4/5
This story's opening piqued my interest right away. The writing felt solid, engaging, and I liked the little bit of suspense. The metaphor of opening a door to realize something about your identity felt a little too "in your face" though, I could have done with a little more subtlety on that front.
Mary Buffaloe - Vanishing Names 4/5
I thought this was a very interesting, well written story. It took me a while to figure out where it was going, but I was still engaged all throughout. I ended up really loving August and Lily (and Linus!!).
Rafaella Rul - Fate Turns the Light On 5/5
This was my favourite story in the anthology so far, and it's exhibit 182828 of why I should read sci-fi more often. I loved the setting of this (a boarding school on a space station!), the writing, but most importantly, the main character. Dax stole my heart immediately, and I found him so relatable.
Briar Ripley Page - A Chrysalis For the Emperor 4/5
This story was off to a rocky start for me, because of the opening scene, but once it really got started, I thought it was really good. It was a hard story to read because of the ableism, but I really liked the way this was approached.
Ray Rhys Phillips - Don't Play With My Heart 4/5
I knew I was going to enjoy this when I read the author's note, which talks about gatekeeping in nerd spaces and gatekeeping when it comes to special interests, and how having a special interest is about the intensity, not how much you know about it. I thought the story did a great job of communicating this message, and it was also just really fun to read.
Jennifer Lee Rossman - The Doll in the Ripped Universe 5/5
Wow, this was amazing. The sci-fi stories in this anthology are really my favourites so far. This was so incredibly well written and well paced, and even though I quickly understood who the mysterious person was, that never diminished the story's impact. Truly beautiful.
Ryan Vale - On Belonging 4/5
A trans autistic magic boarding school story? THANK YOU! This was a great story, and one that I would love to read a full novel about.
Miles Nelson - Those That Came First 3/5
This story is undeniably well written, but having no prior knowledge about the existing world and characters, it didn't work for me. I didn't feel invested in the story, and didn't get a good grasp on the characters and world building.
Dorian Yosef Weber - Mizmor L'David 4/5
I'm honestly impressed with how well written every single story in this anthology has been so far, and this was no exception. It follows a Jewish main character, which adds some more inclusivity to the anthology and was interesting to read.
Riley Swan - The Ghost on Oxford Street 5/5
This was a beautiful story about queer history and accepting yourself as queer enough. It wae so heartbreaking, but so beautiful.
Alex Lakej - Hyacinths & Other Purple Plants 4/5
I always love an academic rivals to lovers story, and this was no different. It had so many cute moments, and I loved the focus on Greek mythology.
Andrew Joseph White - Who Were You, What Are You 3/5
I'd fully expected this to be my favourite in the anthology, but unfortunately it didn't really work for me. There was just so much bigotry, and where I feel like that's extremely balanced out in Andrew Joseph White's novels, I didn't feel the same way here.
Isa Boog - Wandering Stars 5/5
Another sci-fi story, and another favourite. I loved the writing, and I think it's super impressive to be able to take existing world building from a roleplaying game, with your own original character that's not exclusive to the story, and make the story inviting and accessible for new readers. I absolutely loved the focus on animals in this setting.
Being both trans and autistic myself, it's not easy to find stories that represent me, so I've been excited for this anthology since I first heard about it, and it exceeded my expectations. I absolutely flew through this, and had such a good time reading this.
I do have to say I wish transfem authors had been included, because as it is, this anthology is not a good representation of the full trans spectrum. I've seen the editors address this as well, but I did want to mention it.
Many thanks to the editors for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
You can read my short reviews of the individual stories below.
Laurie Doyle - The Door 4/5
This story's opening piqued my interest right away. The writing felt solid, engaging, and I liked the little bit of suspense. The metaphor of opening a door to realize something about your identity felt a little too "in your face" though, I could have done with a little more subtlety on that front.
Mary Buffaloe - Vanishing Names 4/5
I thought this was a very interesting, well written story. It took me a while to figure out where it was going, but I was still engaged all throughout. I ended up really loving August and Lily (and Linus!!).
Rafaella Rul - Fate Turns the Light On 5/5
This was my favourite story in the anthology so far, and it's exhibit 182828 of why I should read sci-fi more often. I loved the setting of this (a boarding school on a space station!), the writing, but most importantly, the main character. Dax stole my heart immediately, and I found him so relatable.
Briar Ripley Page - A Chrysalis For the Emperor 4/5
This story was off to a rocky start for me, because of the opening scene, but once it really got started, I thought it was really good. It was a hard story to read because of the ableism, but I really liked the way this was approached.
Ray Rhys Phillips - Don't Play With My Heart 4/5
I knew I was going to enjoy this when I read the author's note, which talks about gatekeeping in nerd spaces and gatekeeping when it comes to special interests, and how having a special interest is about the intensity, not how much you know about it. I thought the story did a great job of communicating this message, and it was also just really fun to read.
Jennifer Lee Rossman - The Doll in the Ripped Universe 5/5
Wow, this was amazing. The sci-fi stories in this anthology are really my favourites so far. This was so incredibly well written and well paced, and even though I quickly understood who the mysterious person was, that never diminished the story's impact. Truly beautiful.
Ryan Vale - On Belonging 4/5
A trans autistic magic boarding school story? THANK YOU! This was a great story, and one that I would love to read a full novel about.
Miles Nelson - Those That Came First 3/5
This story is undeniably well written, but having no prior knowledge about the existing world and characters, it didn't work for me. I didn't feel invested in the story, and didn't get a good grasp on the characters and world building.
Dorian Yosef Weber - Mizmor L'David 4/5
I'm honestly impressed with how well written every single story in this anthology has been so far, and this was no exception. It follows a Jewish main character, which adds some more inclusivity to the anthology and was interesting to read.
Riley Swan - The Ghost on Oxford Street 5/5
This was a beautiful story about queer history and accepting yourself as queer enough. It wae so heartbreaking, but so beautiful.
Alex Lakej - Hyacinths & Other Purple Plants 4/5
I always love an academic rivals to lovers story, and this was no different. It had so many cute moments, and I loved the focus on Greek mythology.
Andrew Joseph White - Who Were You, What Are You 3/5
I'd fully expected this to be my favourite in the anthology, but unfortunately it didn't really work for me. There was just so much bigotry, and where I feel like that's extremely balanced out in Andrew Joseph White's novels, I didn't feel the same way here.
Isa Boog - Wandering Stars 5/5
Another sci-fi story, and another favourite. I loved the writing, and I think it's super impressive to be able to take existing world building from a roleplaying game, with your own original character that's not exclusive to the story, and make the story inviting and accessible for new readers. I absolutely loved the focus on animals in this setting.
jakegreyxx's review against another edition
3.0
I received a digital ARC of this book to review. I've broken it down into individual stories for a more accurate review.
This is a collection of thirteen stories by authors who are both trans and autistic. The stories (mostly) feature characters who are trans and autistic, showing how the overlap of these things affects them.
The Door by Laurie Doyle
This was one of my favourites.
A door has mysteriously appeared in the character’s bedroom, but it’s locked and they can’t find a key to open it.
This story starts off strong and intriguing and runs with that intrigue the whole way through. I was invested. I needed to know what was happening.
Vanishing Names by Mary Buffaloe
This one was spooky and sweet.
A babysitter is hired to look after a kid they used to watch. But there’s something different about her. She doesn’t seem to get along with anyone else. She’d rather be outside, in the water and climbing trees, talking to snakes.
Fate Turns the Light On by Rafaella Rul
This one was a fun little sci-fi piece featuring a school in space and spaceships.
There’s an attack on the school and Dax has to fight through sensory overload from the alarms going off and the feeling of his new binder while trying to defend the school he’s called home for the last five years.
A Chrysalis for the Emperor by Briar Ripley Page
This was definitely another favourite for me. I absolutely loved it.
The bug analogy was very cool and clever, using differences and features typically attributed to insects to show this character’s differences with being trans and autistic.
Don’t Play With My Heart by Ray Rhys Phillips
Board games for a special interest, so he’s thrilled to get a job in a game cafe. There’s a wide variety of games for people to come in and play while they drink hot drinks.
And then an artist starts coming in, sitting to draw at the same time every time. One day, accompanied by his friend, the artist invites our main character, Skylar, to a game night.
(Skylar is a trans guy. This is a good reminder that trans people don’t necessarily have to change their name to something that stereotypically aligns with their gender. Society doesn’t get to decide who you are based on a combination of letters and sounds. Only you do.)
The Doll in the Ripped Universe by Jennifer Lee Rossman
This story is beautiful. It’s short and sweet and filled with feelings.
The main character meets his future self through a crack in time in his Aunt’s yard.
On Belonging by Ryan Vale
A secret boarding school for magical beings that you can only get to through a portal? Heck yeah.
Eli is excited to go to the same school his dad had gone to. Until he gets through the portal and finds himself immediately overwhelmed by the crowds and the noise. He just wants to go home. But maybe the right friends will make everything worth it and allow him to find ways to manage the things he finds difficult.
Those That Came First by Miles Nelson
This story felt out of place. When slipped in with the rest of the book, this one doesn’t feel like it belongs. It feels less like a short story, and more like a snippet from a novel we don’t have context for. While there is a slight explanation in the author’s note, it still feels off.
Those That Came First follows Bailey and his mentor, the Riftmaster, as they explore an abandoned city.
Mizmor L’David by Dorian Yosef Weber
This one contains a lot of very specific Jewish references you might need to look up to fully understand the story, but it was definitely a fun read.
The main character really just wants to look after the sheep and read.
The main character’s dad has died, and they’d promised to marry Ezra, but now Ezra has found someone else (with the same name). Ezra’s new partner invites the main character to their wedding. She seems lovely, but something is off about her…
The Ghost on Oxford Street by Riley Swan
Neopronoun rep!
Excuse me this was so cute and suddenly I was bawling.
Soul-crushing, gut-wrenching, uplifting. Just beautiful.
Time travelling and learning about Australia’s history with pride and the AIDS crisis.
Hyacinths & Other Purple Plants by Alex Lakej
Two very different characters, both autistic, discovering friendship and learning about each other’s special interests.
This was very sweet, and I really enjoyed reading this one.
I also think this was a very important story because it shows that not every autistic person is the same. There are different struggles, different ways of experiencing things, and different understandings. There’s a misconception that autistic people have a type, but in reality, there are so many variations.
Who Were You, What Are You by Andrew Joseph White
I expected more from this, honestly. I haven’t read his books yet (waiting desperately for Hell Followed With Us to be released in Australia later this month), but I’ve seen the hype they get. Given how much people love his books, I went into this expecting something brilliant, life-shattering, crawling into my soul… but it… wasn’t that great.
Following a main character who recently came out as trans, got outed for cheating on his boyfriend, and is now recovering from a violent attack from his ex, on a trip to dog-sit for Mamaw… with his ex-boyfriend’s best friend, who he’d been cheating with.
Wandering Stars by Isa Boog
Neopronoun rep, physical disability rep
Set in a future heavily affected by a climate disaster, Aster is out walking xyr dog when they find a seal. Aster, who has always wanted to zoology, knows seals are thought to be extinct, and contacts a friend for help.
I really liked the concept for this one. It’s always interesting to see what people do with a climate-affected future.
Note: This book was hard for me to read for a few reasons. I find digital reading to be quite difficult, and it tends to take me twice as long to read something digital. Short stories are also something I struggle with.
On top of these personal struggles, the copy I received was riddled with errors, so I was constantly having to reread sentences or paragraphs to make sense of them, and stopping to take down notes. Because of this, I did struggle to connect with the work as well as I might have done had it been properly edited prior to being sent out.
I am writing this review despite these struggles, and doing my best to navigate my thoughts separately to these issues.
This is a collection of thirteen stories by authors who are both trans and autistic. The stories (mostly) feature characters who are trans and autistic, showing how the overlap of these things affects them.
The Door by Laurie Doyle
This was one of my favourites.
A door has mysteriously appeared in the character’s bedroom, but it’s locked and they can’t find a key to open it.
This story starts off strong and intriguing and runs with that intrigue the whole way through. I was invested. I needed to know what was happening.
Vanishing Names by Mary Buffaloe
This one was spooky and sweet.
A babysitter is hired to look after a kid they used to watch. But there’s something different about her. She doesn’t seem to get along with anyone else. She’d rather be outside, in the water and climbing trees, talking to snakes.
Fate Turns the Light On by Rafaella Rul
This one was a fun little sci-fi piece featuring a school in space and spaceships.
There’s an attack on the school and Dax has to fight through sensory overload from the alarms going off and the feeling of his new binder while trying to defend the school he’s called home for the last five years.
A Chrysalis for the Emperor by Briar Ripley Page
This was definitely another favourite for me. I absolutely loved it.
The bug analogy was very cool and clever, using differences and features typically attributed to insects to show this character’s differences with being trans and autistic.
Don’t Play With My Heart by Ray Rhys Phillips
Board games for a special interest, so he’s thrilled to get a job in a game cafe. There’s a wide variety of games for people to come in and play while they drink hot drinks.
And then an artist starts coming in, sitting to draw at the same time every time. One day, accompanied by his friend, the artist invites our main character, Skylar, to a game night.
(Skylar is a trans guy. This is a good reminder that trans people don’t necessarily have to change their name to something that stereotypically aligns with their gender. Society doesn’t get to decide who you are based on a combination of letters and sounds. Only you do.)
The Doll in the Ripped Universe by Jennifer Lee Rossman
This story is beautiful. It’s short and sweet and filled with feelings.
The main character meets his future self through a crack in time in his Aunt’s yard.
On Belonging by Ryan Vale
A secret boarding school for magical beings that you can only get to through a portal? Heck yeah.
Eli is excited to go to the same school his dad had gone to. Until he gets through the portal and finds himself immediately overwhelmed by the crowds and the noise. He just wants to go home. But maybe the right friends will make everything worth it and allow him to find ways to manage the things he finds difficult.
Those That Came First by Miles Nelson
This story felt out of place. When slipped in with the rest of the book, this one doesn’t feel like it belongs. It feels less like a short story, and more like a snippet from a novel we don’t have context for. While there is a slight explanation in the author’s note, it still feels off.
Those That Came First follows Bailey and his mentor, the Riftmaster, as they explore an abandoned city.
Mizmor L’David by Dorian Yosef Weber
This one contains a lot of very specific Jewish references you might need to look up to fully understand the story, but it was definitely a fun read.
The main character really just wants to look after the sheep and read.
The main character’s dad has died, and they’d promised to marry Ezra, but now Ezra has found someone else (with the same name). Ezra’s new partner invites the main character to their wedding. She seems lovely, but something is off about her…
The Ghost on Oxford Street by Riley Swan
Neopronoun rep!
Excuse me this was so cute and suddenly I was bawling.
Soul-crushing, gut-wrenching, uplifting. Just beautiful.
Time travelling and learning about Australia’s history with pride and the AIDS crisis.
Hyacinths & Other Purple Plants by Alex Lakej
Two very different characters, both autistic, discovering friendship and learning about each other’s special interests.
This was very sweet, and I really enjoyed reading this one.
I also think this was a very important story because it shows that not every autistic person is the same. There are different struggles, different ways of experiencing things, and different understandings. There’s a misconception that autistic people have a type, but in reality, there are so many variations.
Who Were You, What Are You by Andrew Joseph White
I expected more from this, honestly. I haven’t read his books yet (waiting desperately for Hell Followed With Us to be released in Australia later this month), but I’ve seen the hype they get. Given how much people love his books, I went into this expecting something brilliant, life-shattering, crawling into my soul… but it… wasn’t that great.
Following a main character who recently came out as trans, got outed for cheating on his boyfriend, and is now recovering from a violent attack from his ex, on a trip to dog-sit for Mamaw… with his ex-boyfriend’s best friend, who he’d been cheating with.
Wandering Stars by Isa Boog
Neopronoun rep, physical disability rep
Set in a future heavily affected by a climate disaster, Aster is out walking xyr dog when they find a seal. Aster, who has always wanted to zoology, knows seals are thought to be extinct, and contacts a friend for help.
I really liked the concept for this one. It’s always interesting to see what people do with a climate-affected future.
Note: This book was hard for me to read for a few reasons. I find digital reading to be quite difficult, and it tends to take me twice as long to read something digital. Short stories are also something I struggle with.
On top of these personal struggles, the copy I received was riddled with errors, so I was constantly having to reread sentences or paragraphs to make sense of them, and stopping to take down notes. Because of this, I did struggle to connect with the work as well as I might have done had it been properly edited prior to being sent out.
I am writing this review despite these struggles, and doing my best to navigate my thoughts separately to these issues.
puttingwingsonwords's review
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Transphobia
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Dysphoria, Violence, and Vomit
chaoticbrainperson's review
4.0
ARC review : 4/5
Ryan Vale and Ocean Riley have put together an amazing line up of authors and stories. The stroies show a wide variety of topics, mostly situated in a fantasy/sci-fi genre.
In most of the stories, the characters have to battle between their true trans/autistic selves and the expectations of society and through the help of some form of allyship or another finally get to live out their true authentic self. The stories reflect on a wide variety of discrimination and societal exclusion.
As a cis-man I don't feel too comfortable commenting on the trans representation. As an autistic person I can say that the autism rep is very good and also covers large parts of the autism spectrum (both in terms of where on the specturm the characters fall and in terms of their "diagnostic" journey). It is truly refreshing seeing the autism being represented by actual autistic people and the anologies/description for things like stimming and autistic meltdowns are one of the best i've ever read.
All in all I can only recommend this, so do presave this and give it a read, when it comes out!
Ryan Vale and Ocean Riley have put together an amazing line up of authors and stories. The stroies show a wide variety of topics, mostly situated in a fantasy/sci-fi genre.
In most of the stories, the characters have to battle between their true trans/autistic selves and the expectations of society and through the help of some form of allyship or another finally get to live out their true authentic self. The stories reflect on a wide variety of discrimination and societal exclusion.
As a cis-man I don't feel too comfortable commenting on the trans representation. As an autistic person I can say that the autism rep is very good and also covers large parts of the autism spectrum (both in terms of where on the specturm the characters fall and in terms of their "diagnostic" journey). It is truly refreshing seeing the autism being represented by actual autistic people and the anologies/description for things like stimming and autistic meltdowns are one of the best i've ever read.
All in all I can only recommend this, so do presave this and give it a read, when it comes out!
More...