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A review by maggie_the_reader
Love Is Hell by Justine Larbalestier, Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld
4.0
A collection of five longish short stories.
While love in fact is hell in two of the stories it’s really just five works of speculative fiction with a romantic relationship at the core. They range from pretty good to wow that was awesome.
The first story, Sleeping with the Spirit by Laurie Faria Stolarz is a pretty good one. It’s the story of a teen who sees ghosts, gets scared, and falls in love. This seemed like a story that should be a full length novel, so it’s weakness is that it feels like pieces were chipped away or glossed over.
Stupid Perfect World by Scott Westerfeld was the surprise ‘wow’ for me. I usually prefer paranormal fantasy to sci-fi but this story of two teens living in the (moderately distant?) future is brilliant. It explores experience in a clever, sometimes funny, and creative way.
Thinner Than Water by Justine Larbalestier is a heartbreaking story that is a little difficult to read but tells a story that feels unique and disturbingly familiar at the same time.
Fan Fictions by Gabrielle Zevin is also a sad one that poignantly tells a story of loneliness, and asks if love is the cure.
The last story, Love Struck by Melissa Marr uses a little seen creature of folklore, the selkie, to tell a nice love story that feels like a balm after the heartbreakers that precede it.
It is a quick read that is worth the small time investment if you enjoy speculative fiction and romance that isn’t too sappy.
While love in fact is hell in two of the stories it’s really just five works of speculative fiction with a romantic relationship at the core. They range from pretty good to wow that was awesome.
The first story, Sleeping with the Spirit by Laurie Faria Stolarz is a pretty good one. It’s the story of a teen who sees ghosts, gets scared, and falls in love. This seemed like a story that should be a full length novel, so it’s weakness is that it feels like pieces were chipped away or glossed over.
Stupid Perfect World by Scott Westerfeld was the surprise ‘wow’ for me. I usually prefer paranormal fantasy to sci-fi but this story of two teens living in the (moderately distant?) future is brilliant. It explores experience in a clever, sometimes funny, and creative way.
Thinner Than Water by Justine Larbalestier is a heartbreaking story that is a little difficult to read but tells a story that feels unique and disturbingly familiar at the same time.
Fan Fictions by Gabrielle Zevin is also a sad one that poignantly tells a story of loneliness, and asks if love is the cure.
The last story, Love Struck by Melissa Marr uses a little seen creature of folklore, the selkie, to tell a nice love story that feels like a balm after the heartbreakers that precede it.
It is a quick read that is worth the small time investment if you enjoy speculative fiction and romance that isn’t too sappy.