otherworlds's reviews
122 reviews

Body Shocks by Ellen Datlow

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

There were some really great stories in here, mixed in with the mediocre and the truly insufferable. (Seriously, I think Files' transphobic slur-ridden story should not have been included, and I never want to see a male writer's take on women's body image issues ever again.) My favorites were The Lake, Painlessness, and The Old Women Who Were Skinned.

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

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

5.0

today, again, on books that made me cry -

(and in this case, books that also made me seethe in anger, delight in unapologetic queerness, and yell out loud: "oh, shiiiit")

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Vomit, and Death of parent

Cults, religious abuse

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Police brutality, and War

Minor: Sexual assault and Vomit

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

FANTASTIC, absolutely genius. i may write more about it when i have the spoons but i highly recommend this one