Review of Devan Barlow, “Shears,” Small Wonders no. 3 (September 2023): 17-18 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was the most hilarious retelling of Sleeping Beauty I’ve ever come across, and I loved it. Top marks, two thumbs up, and a chef’s kiss.
Review of Luc Diamant, “Once In As Many Lifetimes,” Small Wonders no. 3 (September 2023): 14-15 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story was one of those rare gems: A second-person POV which I didn’t dislike! This is in large part due to the fact that it’s also first-person POV, which makes it much easier for me to believe that the “you” is not addressed at me. Instead, what I, as the reader, get from this story is a glimpse into a private conversation (or rather, directed monologue), which is both heart-warming and utterly heart-breaking. I nearly ended up crying on the train at the ending.
Review of H. V. Patterson, “Seducing the Supervillain,” Small Wonders no. 3 (September 2023): 10 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was an absolute smasher of a poem, containing all the things I like: Beautiful language, a clear story with a lot of character development, and that thing that leaves me wanting more.
Review of Christine Hanolsy, “Festival,” Small Wonders no. 3 (September 2023): 7-8 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a lovely and thoughtful take on maintaining cultural traditions as an immigrant.
Review of Suzanne Palmer, “Possibly Just About A Couch”, Clarkesworld Issue 205, October (2023): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
An absolutely beautiful story of a couch. It just was, it always was. With shades of the iconic Douglas Adams, I loved every sentence, every description, and every transition in here.
I have previously reviewed and loved other Suzanne Palmer stories, so I already knew it was going to be amazing. It was even better than that.
A concise history and future of the universe as we know it, from an exceedingly interesting and unique point of view.
I have only good things to say: read it as soon as you can! It’s only a little more than 2000 words, and more than worth the time spent reading it.
Review of Marisca Pichette, “Wonderful Wounds Await You,” Flash Fiction Online (March 2023): 16-19 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was an interesting story which was a “not for me” one because of its use of second-person narration. If this doesn’t bother you, then you’ll probably enjoy it (unless body horror isn’t your thing.)
Review of Dafydd McKimm, “Power is Love in the Devil’s Eye,” Flash Fiction Online (March 2023): 11-15 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Salacious, graphic, and humorful, but unfortunately rather too relentlessly heteronormative for my tastes.
Review of Matthew F. Amati, “About Her Bones So Bleak and Bare,” Flash Fiction Online (March 2023): 7-10 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Death of a child.
This story is gruesome, violent, and haunting.
Review of Kurt Newton, “The Invisible,” Flash Fiction Online (May 2023): 16-19 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story can be summed up “coping mechanisms for past trauma gone wrong”. At first, the idea seems great, but knowing that this issue of FFO is all about horror, you also know from the start that things are all going to go wrong. It was delicious finding out how.
Review of Sarah Cline, “Skin the Teeth,” Flash Fiction Online (May 2023): 11-14 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Gory, creepy, disturbing: those three words sum up this story. It’s crazy cat lady taken to an entirely differently level!
SFF Reviews