REVIEW: “Mother Mangue” by Lis Vilas Boas

Review of Lis Vilas Boas, “Mother Mangue,” Luna Station Quarterly 54 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

Content note: Childbirth, references to infertility.

Mother Mangue is “a mother ready to help” when people are in need of help, and “when they don’t need her, she is just the witch.” The help she offers is both to bring babies into the world that are refusing to come; and to prevent others from coming when they are not wanted. Her story, a quiet one of longing and despair, takes shape when she seeks out for herself that which she has only ever given to others.

This is a long story full of many unexpected twists. It kept me curious all the way to the end.

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REVIEW: “Silk” by Alyssa C. Greene

Review of Alyssa C. Greene, “Silk,” Luna Station Quarterly 54 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

Considering the subject of this story was weaving, it feels appropriate to describe it as “intricately woven,” threads being fed to the reader a bit at a time so that we don’t get the whole pattern at once, but have to wait for it to be built, all the while, horror deepening in the background.

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REVIEW: “This is Not a Place of Honor” by Alex Kingsley

Review of Alex Kingsley, “This is Not a Place of Honor” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 19-25 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

Knowing the reference the title is making (something I did already know, because ever since learning it I have had plans for my own story based on it!) is not necessary to understand the context of the story, which stands beautifully self-sufficient on its own feet, slightly scary and heartbreakingly sad.

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