Review of Caitlin Devlin, “Milk,” Flash Fiction Online 153 (August 2026): 23-25 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was absolutely gruesome.
REVIEW: “This Is an Emergency Broadcast” by R.S.A. Garcia
Review of R.S.A. Garcia, “This Is an Emergency Broadcast”, Clarkesworld Issue 238, July (2026): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
Oh my. What a story. This one will surely be collecting some nominations, I think!
I have been reading this very slowly amidst a busy few weeks, and it was so so worth it.
Even when I only got to read a few minutes at a time, it was immediately arresting. So many moments in this story that evoked many different kinds of reactions and feelings in me.
At the end of the story, when I tell you I got literal chills and scrolled all the way back up to check something again (you’ll know what I mean if you read the story).. this one was a pure pleasure to read.
Do yourself a favour and read it.
REVIEW: “The Alien You Love” by Jonathan Huston
Review of Jonathan Huston, “The Alien You Love,” Flash Fiction Online 153 (August 2026): 18-21 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
The beauty of this love story was almost enough to get me past my deep-seated dislike of the 2nd person POV.
REVIEW: “Iron & Garlic & Salt & Blood” by Nico Martinez Nocito
Review of Nico Martinez Nocito, “Iron & Garlic & Salt & Blood,” Flash Fiction Online 153 (August 2026): 15-16 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a story of how we as parents no matter how much we might want to protect our children, we cannot do so at the expense of letting them be alive. I think maybe we were supposed to sympathise with the narrator; instead, all I felt was joy for her daughter.
REVIEW: “Eyeballs of My Eyes” by Abigail Guerrero
Review of Abigail Guerrero, “Eyeballs of My Eyes,” Flash Fiction Online 153 (August 2026): 11-14 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Three words to sum up this story: Creepy body horror.
If things to do with eyes squick you out, don’t read this story. (I struggled to get through it for precisely that reason).
REVIEW: “Meatball” by S.L. Harris
Review of S.L. Harris, “Meatball,” Flash Fiction Online 153 (August 2026): 6-9 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
When the emotional support hamster’s emotions are more in need of support than the one its supposed to be supporting, you know the story isn’t going to end up well. I do love it when a story surprises me!
REVIEW: “Pomegranates” by G. M. Mitchell
Review of G. M. Mitchell, “Pomegranates,” Flash Fiction Online 153 (August 2026): 3-5 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
For once, a pomegranate story that isn’t about Persephone! Instead, it’s about unicorns, and while reading it, I couldn’t help but think that after generations and generations, I’m pretty sure unicorns eventually figured out that virgins are always only there to lure them into a trap — and yet even knowing that, they still go willingly.
REVIEW: “We Decay in the Dark” by Ayida Shonibar
Review of Ayida Shonibar, “We Decay in the Dark,” Adventitious no. 2 (Apr 2026): 51-85 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Basically everything Tanika has been told is a lie, and we get to watch her find this out over the course of 30+ pages.
REVIEW: “Fractal House” by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
Review of Merc Fenn Wolfmoor, “Fractal House,” Adventitious no. 2 (Apr 2026): 110-133 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
I found this story somewhat annoying to start off with, but the moment at which it stopped from being annoying to being horror was the moment at which I realized we were supposed to find the story annoying up to that point.
Horror, yes, but also: kinda hilarious. I was properly amused by this story by the end.
REVIEW: “Last Edit to THE ALL BANGERS LIST Made By Your Sex Robot at 11:39 A.M.” by Natalie Zutter
Review of Natalie Zutter, “Last Edit to THE ALL BANGERS LIST Made By Your Sex Robot at 11:39 A.M.,” Adventitious no. 2 (Apr 2026): 152-161 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
In this very interesting piece reflecting on how sex with a sex robot — especially one who has some level of personhood or at least the capacity to simulate falling in love — compares with sex with a person, the one thing that I found most interesting was the lack of any consideration of consent.
SFF Reviews 