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A review by r_j_setser
Bleached Reminders: A Gothic Anthology About Bones, Magic, and Grief by Effie Joe Stock, Effie Joe Stock
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This took me back to being 12 years old on my farm. The first story hit me so hard...I had expected the emotions associated with losing pets because of the premise of the anthology, but I wasn't fully prepared for how much I'd see myself in those opening pages.
Bleached Reminders is a treasure of a book. It could've just been a short story and a good one at that, but instead, the author has a unique skill-set to work outside the obvious and she setup a beautifully styled anthology that I feel was far more impactful than a singular short story would've been (even at only 66 pages). I saw myself in Sacrifice Rock, I was inspired by the poem (Bleached Reminders), and then I was pulled into the life of Espie and taken on an adventure that perfectly summed up the first two. I've read a few of Effie Joe Stock's writings now and I have to say, her talent for packing a punch in very few words astounds me. Her prose is exquisite and her poetry is powerful. I really loved reading this anthology!
As far as content goes: No cursing or romance. This is a gothic, autumnal collection so, as the blurb clearly states, there darker themes and magic contained within, but no gore or anything spooky.
Bleached Reminders is a treasure of a book. It could've just been a short story and a good one at that, but instead, the author has a unique skill-set to work outside the obvious and she setup a beautifully styled anthology that I feel was far more impactful than a singular short story would've been (even at only 66 pages). I saw myself in Sacrifice Rock, I was inspired by the poem (Bleached Reminders), and then I was pulled into the life of Espie and taken on an adventure that perfectly summed up the first two. I've read a few of Effie Joe Stock's writings now and I have to say, her talent for packing a punch in very few words astounds me. Her prose is exquisite and her poetry is powerful. I really loved reading this anthology!
As far as content goes: No cursing or romance. This is a gothic, autumnal collection so, as the blurb clearly states, there darker themes and magic contained within, but no gore or anything spooky.