A review by sdsmith80
Mine: An Anthology of Body Autonomy Horror by Roxie Voorhees, Nico Bell

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I received an ARC of this book, after hearing about it from an acquaintance that's in a forum I frequent. This book deals with the loss of control over our own bodies that many of us are dealing with, now that Roe v. Wade was overturned. With every entry, I could feel the writer's pain, frustration, anger, and fear, over what this decision means. The allegorical tales and powerful prose do an excellent job of imparting on the reader just what has been lost. 

Out of all of the poems and short stories in this anthology, I think my favorite is "There Is No Subtlety, Only Rage" by Stephanie Rabig. This short story deals not just with the overturning of Roe, but the effect of parents who are caught up in their beliefs and ideals, with no regard for how their actions truly affect others, including their child. When their consequences finally come, the stories that came with them had me in tears. I saw lives that so easily could have been my own, or of those I have loved, and it brought up my own story, and how I may not have survived if it had happened today, and not when medical care was a given.

Overall this book is a must read for those who are angry, scared, or grieving for the rights we've lost, those who want to understand more of what it feels like, and honestly, those who did this to our country.
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