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Reviews
Uncanny Magazine Issue 3: March/April 2015 by Michael Damian Thomas, Lynne M. Thomas, Michi Trota
rsarnelli's review
4.0
Oooh, this is good. I love stories like this one, that you have to kind of piece together as you go. Hodge's writing is beautiful, and the story is dark and haunting and lovely. Definitely worth a read.
quynh23's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
3.75
medini_l's review
4.0
This short story is available for free here.
A fairy tale inspired by Snow White, this short story showcases the beauty and magnificence of prose. This is [a:Rosamund Hodge|6474354|Rosamund Hodge|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1507134616p2/6474354.jpg] at her finest: an incredible potpourri of mythology, the supernatural and a woman-centric plot. I mean, who can resist that?
The story is told from the povs of three generations of queens, not in chronological order, skipping from one event to another in a seemingly random fashion. It took me a couple of re-reads to piece together the whole plot. In spite of that, I was left with a few questions in the end. IMO, the story would have been more effective if it was more organized and less jumbled… but oh well, I think this was an intentional thing done to add an aura of mystery and chaos.
Also, the title (The Lamps thereof are Fire and Flames): I have no clue of its relevance to the story! :(
Anyway, Rosamund Hodge: I just want to tell you, there are so many wonderful stories out there and I hope from the bottom of my heart that you re-tell them all, ‘coz your versions of them sing to me like the songs of angels.
I NEED MORE OF YOUR BOOKS
DON’T EVER STOP WRITING!!
A fairy tale inspired by Snow White, this short story showcases the beauty and magnificence of prose. This is [a:Rosamund Hodge|6474354|Rosamund Hodge|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1507134616p2/6474354.jpg] at her finest: an incredible potpourri of mythology, the supernatural and a woman-centric plot. I mean, who can resist that?
The story is told from the povs of three generations of queens, not in chronological order, skipping from one event to another in a seemingly random fashion. It took me a couple of re-reads to piece together the whole plot. In spite of that, I was left with a few questions in the end. IMO, the story would have been more effective if it was more organized and less jumbled… but oh well, I think this was an intentional thing done to add an aura of mystery and chaos.
Also, the title (The Lamps thereof are Fire and Flames): I have no clue of its relevance to the story! :(
Anyway, Rosamund Hodge: I just want to tell you, there are so many wonderful stories out there and I hope from the bottom of my heart that you re-tell them all, ‘coz your versions of them sing to me like the songs of angels.
elevetha's review
2.0
I'm not quite sure what to make of this short story. On the one hand, it improved as it went along, but not enough to save it for me. It was disordered and chaotic, with point of views jumping from person to person, seemingly unconnected. Even though the stories mostly all connected to one another at the end, I didn't follow it all very well and my enjoyment suffered from the disjointed writing.
I also didn't get the title of the story, as regards the story itself, at all.
I also didn't get the title of the story, as regards the story itself, at all.
macthekat's review
4.0
Listened to it in the airport and on the plane on my way to England which was oddly fitting. It is a very surreal story and I think I liked it
crunden's review
4.0
First, this cover is *everything*! I adore it!
I started with the poetry in this issue of Uncanny Magazine, and I really enjoyed both poems!
'Cloudbending' by Jennifer Crow was wonderful.
I loved this part especially. The whole poem just flows so well. Read it for yourself here.
'Deep Bitch' by C. S. E. Cooney was also very striking and had some great lines.
*chills* Read it for yourself here.
I started with the poetry in this issue of Uncanny Magazine, and I really enjoyed both poems!
'Cloudbending' by Jennifer Crow was wonderful.
If mortal hands could map the skies,
make clouds into countries
or sunsets into salvation,
what strange markets would open
I loved this part especially. The whole poem just flows so well. Read it for yourself here.
'Deep Bitch' by C. S. E. Cooney was also very striking and had some great lines.
She tuns her blunted head my way.
Nips me, rips me open slightly.
Her smile is all teeth.
*chills* Read it for yourself here.
libbystephenson's review
3.0
Fiction:
The Lamps Thereof Are Fire and Flames - Rosamund Hodge: 3.5
Translatio Corporis - Kat Howard: 3
Ivory Darts, Golden Arrows -Maria Dahvana Headley: 3
Those - Sofia Samatar: 3.5
When the Circus Lights Down - Sarah Pinsker: 3.5
Dr. Polingyouma's Machine - Emily Devenport: 3.5
In the House of the Seven Librarians - Ellen Klages: 3.5
Poetry:
You Are Two Point Three Meters from Your Destination - Fran Wilde: 4
Deep Bitch - C. S. E. Cooney: 2
Cloudbending - Jennifer Crow: 2.5
The Lamps Thereof Are Fire and Flames - Rosamund Hodge: 3.5
Translatio Corporis - Kat Howard: 3
Ivory Darts, Golden Arrows -Maria Dahvana Headley: 3
Those - Sofia Samatar: 3.5
When the Circus Lights Down - Sarah Pinsker: 3.5
Dr. Polingyouma's Machine - Emily Devenport: 3.5
In the House of the Seven Librarians - Ellen Klages: 3.5
Poetry:
You Are Two Point Three Meters from Your Destination - Fran Wilde: 4
Deep Bitch - C. S. E. Cooney: 2
Cloudbending - Jennifer Crow: 2.5
booksandbosox's review
3.0
I really loved the connections to religious relics and saints but I didn't fully understand how and where the city was forming. Very interesting, even if I didn't quite get it.
countdeworde's review
5.0
Gather around children. Listen well, as Mrs Hodge spins this yarn of lyrical beauty and tragedy.
Mirror, mirror on the wall,
tell me who's the saddest of them all?
If fairy tales teach one thing, it is that love is cruel.
Mirror, mirror on the wall,
tell me who's the saddest of them all?
If fairy tales teach one thing, it is that love is cruel.
vegancleopatra's review
1.0
This one was strange. I felt as though the opening sections made everything into their own vignettes and ultimately bringing them together did not really work for me. Also, the writing was overly complicated when it did not need to be. For example:
"Lirralei was a girl of storm–winds and thorns, the musk of the wild rose and the flight of the falcon."
I was left dissatisfied.
"Lirralei was a girl of storm–winds and thorns, the musk of the wild rose and the flight of the falcon."
I was left dissatisfied.
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