Review of Kari Maaren, “The Fruit is Very Acceptable Here,” Adventitious no. 4 (Aug 2026): 45-55 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
On the one hand, this is a story about social norms. On the other hand, it’s a story of possession. Put both hands together, and I really enjoyed this!
Review of Moira Richardson, “Heartwood,” Adventitious no. 4 (Aug 2026): 110-115 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
There was something a little Pygmalion about this little story. It’s not quite a love story — more like an obsession story.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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