A review by demongrrl
The World Within by Dani Finn

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The World Within is a trans-sapphic, spicy, cozy-adjacent romance, starring Lila, the transfemme owner of a newly-opened sex shop and spa, and Avisse, the courier shipping the array of toys Lila sells from their manufacturer in another city.

The story is mostly lighthearted, falling somewhat within the conventions of Cozy Fantasy, in the ilk of Legends and Lattes and Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea. The setting – Lila’s Sex Shop and Spa, The World Within – is, in my experience, a rather unique choice that payed off in spades. The book is extremely, on its face, sex positive, in a way that most books in this genre lack. The World Within also deals with trans themes with grace, with Lila struggling to find the confidence to begin taking this universe’s magic-HRT, something that comes up throughout the book. Lila also opens up a space in her store to consult with trans people and their families and provide advice on their transition. This open embrace of transness, and the dedication of the book’s main character to supporting her fellow trans people warmed my heart and was a pleasure to read.

The World Within is marketed as a standalone novel, set in Finn’s already established Weirdwater universe. Whilst the story was still accessible, I felt like that characters that must’ve appeared in previous entries were introduced with the assumption that the reader already knew who they were. Additionally, this corner of the universe has some complex social dynamics in place, that I felt was not adequately explained. I struggled getting into the universe with this entry. However, that is not to say that the world building Finn does isn’t interesting. I would love to be taken on a tour of the world they have created, but this story is not that. It misses that balance, which I feel is a shame.

I also feel this book struggles with pacing, however these struggles are mainly due to Avisse’s work as a courier, and the absences that entails. It feels like when they are together, Lila and Avisse are fucking non-stop. The sex scenes are consistently very good, don’t get me wrong. Finn deals with the nuances of intimacy-when-trans with phenomenal grace, and writes some scenes that definitely made me blush. However, I did find myself getting tired of how frequently these scenes would occur back-to-back, which is a real shame.

Despite all this, The World Within has a sweetness and earnestness that permeates it in a way that meant I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience. The book, its story, and its characters are really charming. Lila is an incredibly loveable main character, Avisse is a phenomenal romantic interest, and her son, Theo, is just adorable. Finn has crafted a story that could’ve very easily not stuck the delicate balance that The World Within does, and they deserve to be applauded for that.