otherworlds's reviews
120 reviews

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

3.5

Negative Space by B.R. Yeager

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Well, that sure was a mindfuck! The ending was a bit underwhelming for me but I overall really enjoyed it. I absolutely loved the style and creativity of it all.

With A Vengeance by Freydís Moon

0.0

Knowing that the author is a white person racefaking under a fake identity after losing their previous writing career for being a racist bully, I rescind any support of their work. You can find evidence and explanations at this link: https://twitter.com/porterotica/status/1781662331111633141

With that context, I find this work in particular to be extremely inappropriate, given that it intimately explores a Latinx identity to which Barton has no factual ties, and because Barton has exploited the work of actual queer Latinx writers before under the guise of being Latinx themself.

Exodus 20:3 by Freydís Moon

Knowing that the author is a white person racefaking under a fake identity after losing their previous writing career for being a racist bully, I rescind any support of their work. You can find evidence and explanations at this link: https://twitter.com/porterotica/status/1781662331111633141

We Are Here To Hurt Each Other by Paula Ashe

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Incredible horror. I had to stop reading at multiple points because it was giving me anxiety attacks. Very much worth it. A beautifully narrated, brutal collection, all with the same thesis: we are here to hurt each other.

That being said, heed the trigger warnings, especially when it comes to

child sexual abuse, incest, and self-harm

.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

4.0

A fun, witty, humane little story. Very good palette-cleanser for me between bleak horror fiction and bleaker history nonfiction. 

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

dark emotional tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Brother by Ania Ahlborn

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

An unsettling and generally upsetting story, an interesting spin on classic tropes, and a particularly bleak depiction of living in a rural, abusive home.

At The Crossing by Suzanne Clay

4.25

Unexpectedly very sweet! I enjoyed this. 

A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0