mnerd63's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Some of these stories really were not my cup of tea, but some I enjoyed a lot! 

Best ones: 
Roja
The Sweet Trade 
And They Don’t Kiss at the End 
Burnt Umber 
New Year 
The End of the World As We Know It

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daisiesandbees's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5


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emordnilap's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful medium-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

lovely short story collection
favorite overall is Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake
also loved new year by Malinda Lo and seeing the origins of the characters from Last Night At The Telegraph Club, really reminded me of my own writing

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tahsintries's review against another edition

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4.0


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malloryfitz's review against another edition

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3.75


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flordemaga's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I’m not always one for short stories, but a friend bought me this book. He knew I’d like it. And I did! I like all the sapphics.

I’d have wanted some trans women. It seems trans women are so often forgotten or left out of narratives they should be a part of.

Technically, averaged out, it would be 3.13 stars. But I give this anthology 4 stars, because it’s ballsy, and I think well-edited too.

Here’s a breakdown…..

1. Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore - 4.25☆
The world building is very clear… you can just tell that the author really loved writing this.

2. The Sweet Trade by Natalie C. Parker - 5☆
I love pirates, and am therefore incapable of giving this any other rating.

3. And They Don't Kiss at the End by Nilah Magruder - 3.25☆
I liked it, but it felt both too long and too short.

4. Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee -  3.75☆
Too many details about boners for me to truly love, but the writing is lovely… I like how it sort of builds and un-builds expectations.

5. The Dresser and the Chambermaid by Robin Talley - 4.75☆
I love all the little details! I am a sucker for history, after all. And they’re sweet and intimate… just verty lovely.

6. New Year by Malinda Lo - 3☆
I can never get into stories set in the 40s or 50s, and the writing style / tense mix lost me, but I liked the main character.

7. Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler - 4☆
So heartfelt. It felt very real, like it could happen.

8. The Coven by Kate Scelsa - 2☆
Not my thing.

9. Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake - 4.25☆
Very good, but I think it’d be a better full book!

10. Willows by Scott Tracey - 1.25☆
I really don’t get this one and cannot get into it at all. I had to put the book down for a bit after this one.

11. The Girl with the Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe - 3.75☆
This one’s cute. I love the magic… but it feels rushed.

12. The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez - 1☆
I don’t like stories where an adult and teenager relationship is posed as okay. I know history, I just… don’t like it. I don’t think it helps anyone to pretend it’s fine.

13. Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger - 3☆
This feels more modern than I thought it would.

14. The End of the World As We Know It by Sara Farizan - 4.25☆
Very sweet. The perfect length for a story like this.

15. Three Witches by Tessa Gratton - 3.75☆
The extreme catholicism of it all.
I don’t like the ending though, but I just dislike poetry.

16. The Inferno and the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson - 2.75☆
Not my thing. I read a book on circuses recently… I didn’t like it either. (Magic, circuses, all related, in my head). I just can’t quite get into it. But I like the main character’s voice.

17. Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia - 3.5☆
The first sentence is so lovely. I don’t like the plot much, but the writing style is very careful, which I appreciate, and the world building feels solid.


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