A review by ceallaighsbooks
Salt Slow by Julia Armfield

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

“…I understood the way the surface of the world is thinner in certain places. That these places are where the strange, true things escape.” — from “Cassandra After” in salt slow, by Julia Armfield 
 
TITLE—salt slow 
AUTHOR—Julia Armfield 
PUBLISHED—2019 
 
GENRE—short stories; literary fiction; modern gothic literature 
SETTING—Britain…? mostly? 
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—queerness, otherness, gender criticism, horror, fairytale themes & motifs, gothic themes & motifs, dark academia, death, grief, animal motifs 
 
WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
CHARACTERS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
STORIES/PLOTS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
BONUS ELEMENT/S—A few tales had strong dark fairytale and witchy vibes that were done really well! 
PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
 
“My father said a town was only as interesting as its bad apples and only as safe as its lunatics.” — from “Formerly Feral” 
 
This was such a great, gothic, atmospheric read with gorgeously told, very dark stories with a strange sort of beauty that also had a strangely lovely, calming feel to them. I especially enjoyed Formerly Feral and Smack though there wasn’t a single story that I didn’t like. I would most recommend bringing this collection with you on your next off season seaside vacation. 
 
“The sky is gory with stars, like the insides of a gutted night.” — from “Salt Slow” 
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 
 
TW // body horror, grief, divorce, mental illness (Please feel free to DM me for more specifics!) 
 
Further Reading— 
  • The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, by Mariana Enríquez
  • What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours, by Helen Oyeyemi 
  • The Woman Who Borrowed Memories, by Tove Jansson
  • Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold, by Daisy Johnson and others
  • Dark Tales, by Shirley Jackson
  • The Bloody Chamber, by Angela Carter
  • Nudibranch, by Irenosen Okojie—TBR

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