Review of Reyzl Grace, “Zvezdochka,” Luna Station Quarterly 61 (2025): 283-306 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a sweet little reflective love story steeped in folklore and theology.
REVIEW: “What the Witch Needs” by Alison Mulder
Review of Alison Mulder, “What the Witch Needs,” Luna Station Quarterly 61 (2025): 321-325 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a lovely example of a cosy story: Something that makes you feel better after having read it.
REVIEW: “Sister Death” by Erin Kissick
Review of Erin Kissick, “Sister Death,” Luna Station Quarterly 61 (2025): 121-125 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
While reading this story, I had a sense of being held at arm’s length, of never being given quite enough detail. We learn a lot of dragons and those who feed on their corpses, but very, very little about the woman who is traveling so far away from her home city just to visit the corpse. I felt a little bit cheated, by the end, because I think she was someone I’d like to know better.
REVIEW: “Not At This Address” by Emily Smith
Review of Emily Smith, “Not At This Address,” Luna Station Quarterly 61 (2025): 87-89 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This ended up being a cute little amusing story, not quite what I expected from how it started. I even almost forgave it for being in my personal-unfavorite, 2nd-person voice.
REVIEW: “Talisman and Bone” by Karen L. Kobylarz
Review of Karen L. Kobylarz, “Talisman and Bone,” Luna Station Quarterly 60 (2024): 157-183 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Set in ancient Tyre, this story was peppered with all the little historical details that I love to see when an author is recreating the essence of an ancient culture — appropriate names, the use of a few foreign vocabulary words and phrases for important items like precious gems and spells, attention to clothing, the gods. But it’s not a simple historical fiction; the twist towards fantasy is strong and vibrant, yet the blending in of magic isn’t jarring or unrealistic. All the pieces fit together well.
REVIEW: “The Dream of Home” by Marlaina Cockcroft
Review of Marlaina Cockcroft, “The Dream of Home,” Luna Station Quarterly 60 (2024): 275-282 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Abuse and harassment (but only obliquely).
What a lovely, unusual, haunting little story this was! The choice of narrator is unexpected and charming and turns this story into a unique little gem.
REVIEW: “Dragon Dance” by Elizabeth Davis
Review of Elizabeth Davis, “Dragon Dance,” Luna Station Quarterly 60 (2024): 203-214 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Lily is the first woman to be a part of the dragon dance, the elaborate traditional celebration that links her (presumably immigrant/diaspora) community with their home culture. There is quite a lot of description going on in the opening pages, which contributed to the slow, drawn-out feel of the story, and also contributes to me not being quite sure what to say about it. I felt like I didn’t have quite the context that I needed to understand the significance of various points: The parts that were significant I only knew were so because as the reader I was told explicitly. All in all, this one didn’t quite work for me, but I’m not entirely sure why.
REVIEW: “From a Damsel to a Dragon” by Hannah Birss
Review of Hannah Birss, “From a Damsel to a Dragon,” Luna Station Quarterly 60 (2024): 217-220 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was quite a straightforward story: A princess, betrothed to a prince in an arranged marriage that neither of them wants, undergoes transformation from a damsel to the titular dragon. There’s no explanation or understanding of why/how this happens, it is just presented to the reader as a straightforward thing. There’s little left to the reader to grapple with, nothing really to figure out, no deeper moral or allegory. It’s just a story of a girl who doesn’t want to marry a prince, and becomes a dragon instead. Still, it was a fun little piece, even if it’s not very deep.
REVIEW: “The House Guest” by Archita Mittra
Review of Archita Mittra, “The House Guest,” Luna Station Quarterly 60 (2024): 147-155 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
There’s something really sweet and gentle about this story, about a woman and her daughter and the abusive husband who finally left to never come back — and the houseguest that her daughter brings home, who brightens up their world even though he is only temporary.
REVIEW: “A Throne Fit for Two Kings” by K. J. Chien
Review of K. J. Chien, “A Throne Fit for Two Kings,” Luna Station Quarterly 60 (2024): 57-68 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Sun Wukong is 15, so he is small and therefore suited for the most dangerous jobs on the railway, usually those involving tight spaces and dynamite. One day a job goes awry and he ends up trapped — only to meet the most curious little character, whose sole purpose at first seems to be to tease and taunt him, but who eventually makes him an offer he can’t refuse.
This is a queer little story (in the sense of strange rather than straight). I’m not entirely sure what to make of it.
SFF Reviews 