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esmayrosalyne 's review for:
The World Wasn't Ready for You: Stories
by Justin C. Key
Now, I might not be the biggest short story collection girlie, but when you pitch it as "Black Mirror meets Get Out", I am in. Whether you want horror, sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction, or some altogether more unique genreblend, Justin C. Key has got you covered in his razor-sharp and unapologetically Black collection, The World Wasn't Ready for You.
As expected with a collection, there were some stories that worked better for my personal tastes than others, but I think there is no denying that this is objectively one of the strongest short story collections I have personally read. As a young white woman, I feel like it is not my place to judge the way that Key explores the beauty and the horror of the Black experience through a speculative lens here, but I feel like I can say that the powerful examination of themes of race, prejudice, xenophobia, and class really left a mark on me and challenged me in the most appropriately uncomfortable ways.
If I had to give a top 3, I would say that Afiya's Song, The World Wasn't Ready For You, and Now You See Me stood out the most to me. The range of storytelling skills that Key shows across these stories is truly so impressive, and I am very eager to check out more of his works after getting a taste of his exceptional talent here.
If you are looking for a diverse and unflinchingly raw short story collection that is disturbingly gutwrenching yet surprisingly heartwarming in places, I would highly recommend giving The World Wasn't Ready For You a shot. This one will haunt me for a while, and I am not even mad about it.
As expected with a collection, there were some stories that worked better for my personal tastes than others, but I think there is no denying that this is objectively one of the strongest short story collections I have personally read. As a young white woman, I feel like it is not my place to judge the way that Key explores the beauty and the horror of the Black experience through a speculative lens here, but I feel like I can say that the powerful examination of themes of race, prejudice, xenophobia, and class really left a mark on me and challenged me in the most appropriately uncomfortable ways.
If I had to give a top 3, I would say that Afiya's Song, The World Wasn't Ready For You, and Now You See Me stood out the most to me. The range of storytelling skills that Key shows across these stories is truly so impressive, and I am very eager to check out more of his works after getting a taste of his exceptional talent here.
If you are looking for a diverse and unflinchingly raw short story collection that is disturbingly gutwrenching yet surprisingly heartwarming in places, I would highly recommend giving The World Wasn't Ready For You a shot. This one will haunt me for a while, and I am not even mad about it.