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dasrach's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
veganschnitzel's review against another edition
2.0
Maximal, effusive prose and cold, detached cynicism is a "not-for-me" combo. This author writes well and the more human stories ("The Last Clean, Bright Summer" and the title story) were engaging, but the long florid poetic passages about violence, sex, and their intersections that filled many of the stories here weren't really my cup of tea.
aceofknaves88's review against another edition
3.0
Not really sure what I just read...but I kinda dug it. While I don't really know what any of the stories MEANT, they were all pretty wild. Part horror, part erotica, all interesting.
exorcismemily's review against another edition
4.0
"Her screams cram up all the unused cracks of the night. Many hear them. No one cares."
Furnace was my introduction to Livia Llewellyn's work, and this collection of 14 stories is something special. Most (not all) of the stories in Furnace are erotic horror, and her writing is hauntingly beautiful. A lot of these stories seem like magical realism since the fantastical aspects are woven into the stories so well. I was first drawn in by the cover design, but I stuck around for the amazing content.
This collection is dreamlike, and I had to re-read sections of it to make sure I grasped everything - this is not a bad thing; I was happy to spend more time in these stories. If Livia ever writes poetry, I'll be first in line for her book. This collection is so fantastic as a whole, and I rated all the stories between 3.5 to 5⭐ (which is great). They are all grim and gorgeous.
My top 5 favorite stories were It Feels Better Biting Down, Wasp and Snake, Yours is the Right to Begin, Lord of the Hunt, and The Last, Clean, Bright Summer. It was hard to narrow down, but these are probably the ones that stuck with me the most. I can't stop thinking about The Last, Clean, Bright Summer and It Feels Better Biting Down. I don't want to say why so that I don't give anything away, but both stories clawed their way into my brain and made a home. I want more! There are so many brilliant stories here.
If you haven't read this one yet, I highly recommend it. I'm very happy that I read this one for the Ladies of Horror Fiction Readathon; it was the perfect pick. Livia is creative and talented; I can't wait to read more from her!
Furnace was my introduction to Livia Llewellyn's work, and this collection of 14 stories is something special. Most (not all) of the stories in Furnace are erotic horror, and her writing is hauntingly beautiful. A lot of these stories seem like magical realism since the fantastical aspects are woven into the stories so well. I was first drawn in by the cover design, but I stuck around for the amazing content.
This collection is dreamlike, and I had to re-read sections of it to make sure I grasped everything - this is not a bad thing; I was happy to spend more time in these stories. If Livia ever writes poetry, I'll be first in line for her book. This collection is so fantastic as a whole, and I rated all the stories between 3.5 to 5⭐ (which is great). They are all grim and gorgeous.
My top 5 favorite stories were It Feels Better Biting Down, Wasp and Snake, Yours is the Right to Begin, Lord of the Hunt, and The Last, Clean, Bright Summer. It was hard to narrow down, but these are probably the ones that stuck with me the most. I can't stop thinking about The Last, Clean, Bright Summer and It Feels Better Biting Down. I don't want to say why so that I don't give anything away, but both stories clawed their way into my brain and made a home. I want more! There are so many brilliant stories here.
If you haven't read this one yet, I highly recommend it. I'm very happy that I read this one for the Ladies of Horror Fiction Readathon; it was the perfect pick. Livia is creative and talented; I can't wait to read more from her!
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