SFF Reviews - Science Fiction and Fantasy

Review of Little Pound Shop by Rebecca Harrison (979 words) Flash Fiction Online, December 2023 : Purchase or Read Online A lovely magical story. I would have enjoyed a longer version as well, maybe some more detail about the enchantments in the shop! That’s just me enjoying stories about enchanted objects though - this story in itself was a treat to read. This one is what short and sweet is all about!    Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of They Could Have Been Yours by Joy Baglio (6982 words) Apex Magazine, Issue 136 : Purchase or Read Online   A woman scrolls on a Site, and all her exes seem to be getting engaged within a few days of each other. She feels self doubt creep in, and then she finds a ring. When she puts it on, she can visit all the women her exes are engaged to. The more she gets involved in her disembodied travels, the more her real life is affected. Interesting to watch it unfold. The prose was beautiful. The ending is beautifully poignant.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks    

Review of welcome, caller by Sarah Little (1000 words) Tree And Stone, Issue 1, March 2022 : Donate , Read Issue or Read Online Conversations across time are always lovely to read. The protagonist finds a phone booth that lets her eavesdrop, so to speak, on her past or future self. The prose was quite nice, too. I wish this story was longer, I would have liked to read more detail about this world. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks    

Review of The State Street Robot Factory by Claire Humphrey (4891 words) Apex Magazine, Issue 136 : Purchase or Read Online   In a seemingly not too distant future, Darius is trying to make some money from his business, for his goal of getting himself prosthetic legs. He sells handmade robots, with detailed artistic flourishes. Everything revolves around fending for himself in a variety of ways, and it’s unfortunately accurate in its representation of daily reality for many. The portrayal of struggling to survive is heartbreaking, yet I especially appreciate that it ends the way it did, because it would have been easy to go in another direction - one which would not be as satisfying. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks      

Review of Every Shade of Healing by Taryn Frazier (994 words) Apex Magazine, Issue 136 : Purchase or Read Online A dark yet beautiful story about healing the pain and scars. It’s only once you heal that you can harness that experience and growth into something beautiful, something meaningful. A thoughtful, lovely one.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Reproduction on the Beach by Rich Larson (999 words) Apex Magazine, Issue 136 : Purchase or Read Online A story that starts off with a couple in a secret relationship on a getaway. It slowly descends into horror, but there’s a lot left unexplored. However, it was still very well written. I have really enjoyed other works by this author, this just felt like it had more to explore.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks