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maplessence's review
5.0
I'm just going to pick a few things out of this issue & I have started with a short story by one of my favourite short story authors, [a:Alix E. Harrow|9823112|Alix E. Harrow|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1605188394p2/9823112.jpg]
Mr Death
Vivid & thoughtful, I just chewed this story up! About a Reaper (an escort) for the dead, who finds one case too hard to handle. I had tears in my eyes (but also a smile on my face) at the end. This story helps prove to me that Ms Harrow is far better suited to the short story format. 5★
Love, That Hungry Thing
by Cassandra Khaw. Beautifully written & oddly touching. 5★
Gray Skies, Red Wings, Blue Lips, Black Hearts
by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor. My favourite of the three stories I have read so far - but I have already given the other two stories 5★ What's a girl (ok ancient crone!) to do. Wolfmoor's writing & breadth of imagination took me so deep into their world. Breathtaking 5★(plus)
All I Want for Christmas
by Charles Payseur Am I ever on a good run with this magazine! This is (as the magazine) says flash fiction, so very short - it took me a minute to read. Not a word was wasted. Will Robby get his Christmas wish? You decide! 5★
The Niddah
by Elana Gomel
I appreciated how topical this story is, but this was a strange one. Very imaginative though - I didn't predict the twists & turns the plot took. 4.5★
The Ace of Knives
by Tonya Liburd
Canadian - yay! After a very ordinary beginning this became beautifully twisty. I'm surprised that in such a short short story how much I came to care for The Ace of Knives. 4.5★
Your Own Undoing
by P.H. Lee
Beautifully written but very strange & masochistic. 3.5★
So I think this is as far as I will take reading this magazine. I'm not feeling a strong pull to the other titles. Unusually for me, I'm going to round up rather than down & make my rating 5★
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
Mr Death
Vivid & thoughtful, I just chewed this story up! About a Reaper (an escort) for the dead, who finds one case too hard to handle. I had tears in my eyes (but also a smile on my face) at the end. This story helps prove to me that Ms Harrow is far better suited to the short story format. 5★
Love, That Hungry Thing
by Cassandra Khaw. Beautifully written & oddly touching. 5★
Gray Skies, Red Wings, Blue Lips, Black Hearts
by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor. My favourite of the three stories I have read so far - but I have already given the other two stories 5★ What's a girl (ok ancient crone!) to do. Wolfmoor's writing & breadth of imagination took me so deep into their world. Breathtaking 5★(plus)
All I Want for Christmas
by Charles Payseur Am I ever on a good run with this magazine! This is (as the magazine) says flash fiction, so very short - it took me a minute to read. Not a word was wasted. Will Robby get his Christmas wish? You decide! 5★
The Niddah
by Elana Gomel
The golden era of global health was shattered by COVID-19. There had been epidemics before, of course, but since they had all taken place in the Third World, they did not disturb the placid assumption of the developed countries that the Danse Macabre of ages past had been stopped for good.
I appreciated how topical this story is, but this was a strange one. Very imaginative though - I didn't predict the twists & turns the plot took. 4.5★
The Ace of Knives
by Tonya Liburd
Canadian - yay! After a very ordinary beginning this became beautifully twisty. I'm surprised that in such a short short story how much I came to care for The Ace of Knives. 4.5★
Your Own Undoing
by P.H. Lee
But I do know this: You stopped and looked at him. Then he met your eyes and your whole body shuddered.
Beautifully written but very strange & masochistic. 3.5★
So I think this is as far as I will take reading this magazine. I'm not feeling a strong pull to the other titles. Unusually for me, I'm going to round up rather than down & make my rating 5★
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
amandasupak's review
5.0
Mr. Death was a Hugo short story finalist in 2022
Our main character Sam is a junior reaper on his way to collect a young boy to help him cross the river of death into the great beyond. This one definitely had me crying at the end.
You can read it here: https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/mr-death/
Merged review:
Mr. Death was a Hugo short story finalist in 2022
Our main character Sam is a junior reaper on his way to collect a young boy to help him cross the river of death into the great beyond. This one definitely had me crying at the end.
You can read it here: https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/mr-death/
Our main character Sam is a junior reaper on his way to collect a young boy to help him cross the river of death into the great beyond. This one definitely had me crying at the end.
You can read it here: https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/mr-death/
Merged review:
Mr. Death was a Hugo short story finalist in 2022
Our main character Sam is a junior reaper on his way to collect a young boy to help him cross the river of death into the great beyond. This one definitely had me crying at the end.
You can read it here: https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/mr-death/
wisegirl's review
4.0
too cynical and vulgar at times but the ending got me
Merged review:
too cynical and vulgar at times but the ending got me
Merged review:
too cynical and vulgar at times but the ending got me
lethanibooks's review
5.0
5/5
Short Story Hugo Awards Nominee 2022.
What a beautiful story, I felt like someone was squeezing my heart from the first couple of paragraphs to the end. I can only say that this short story needs a short film please. I genuinely loved every single word ♥️
Merged review:
5/5
Short Story Hugo Awards Nominee 2022.
What a beautiful story, I felt like someone was squeezing my heart from the first couple of paragraphs to the end. I can only say that this short story needs a short film please. I genuinely loved every single word ♥️
Short Story Hugo Awards Nominee 2022.
What a beautiful story, I felt like someone was squeezing my heart from the first couple of paragraphs to the end. I can only say that this short story needs a short film please. I genuinely loved every single word ♥️
Merged review:
5/5
Short Story Hugo Awards Nominee 2022.
What a beautiful story, I felt like someone was squeezing my heart from the first couple of paragraphs to the end. I can only say that this short story needs a short film please. I genuinely loved every single word ♥️
sara_maia's review
5.0
I found this short story on Goodreads and since it is from Alix E. Harrow, I absolutely had to read it.
What a beautiful, heart-warming story about death and love! You know you read a good short story when you wish it became an actual "long-form" book. Can't wait to read more from Alix Harrow :)
What a beautiful, heart-warming story about death and love! You know you read a good short story when you wish it became an actual "long-form" book. Can't wait to read more from Alix Harrow :)
mollyfischfriedman's review
5.0
Need a good cry but also want something not depressing? Here you go.