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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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:
No
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly I almost dnf’d this whole collection after the first story. That one needs a list of graphic triggers that I just didn’t have. The on screen killing of the dog made me want to skip it entirely, but I pushed through and it just didn’t have any point.
That being said, the rest of the stories were amazing. Dark and twisted and lonely, but beautiful. I learned a lot reading this collection as I often had to pause to look up words and cultural references that were outside my knowledge.
Girlie was definitely my favorite story, but I think Breastmilk, Masquerade Season, and Imagine Me Carrying You made me cry the most. I wish I could unread Manifest.
That being said, the rest of the stories were amazing. Dark and twisted and lonely, but beautiful. I learned a lot reading this collection as I often had to pause to look up words and cultural references that were outside my knowledge.
Girlie was definitely my favorite story, but I think Breastmilk, Masquerade Season, and Imagine Me Carrying You made me cry the most. I wish I could unread Manifest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Domestic abuse, Car accident
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
I really liked this short story anthology. It uses surrealism, the supernatural, and light body horror in some stories to elevate themes of loneliness, fate, generational trauma, tradition vs. modernity, survival, and the everyday horrors that people experience. And of course, the setting of Lagos begets and supports many of these themes. I’m looking forward to seeing more work from this author throughout her career.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
emotional
reflective
sad