SFF Reviews - Science Fiction and Fantasy

Review of Things Elan Reacquainted Himself with After Being Broken Out of His Single-Day Time Loop by D.A. Straith (<1000 words) Flash Fiction Online, June 2025 : Subscribe or Read Online beautiful written story!  and so evocative within the natural constraints of flash fiction.  the writer certainly has a lovely way with words, and establishes character and setting so deftly.  a treat to read.  Support us on Ko-fi - https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks  

Review of The Hanging of Billy Crabtree by H. A. Eugene (974 words) Flash Fiction Online, September 2024 : Purchase , Subscribe or Read Online  This story is weird in a really fun way! Every twist takes this piece to another level, all in unexpected ways, and escalating quick. Don't even try to predict where this one is going, just let it wash over you - a quick dose of surreal fiction! Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of To Slay a Goblin by Dylan Curry (974 words) Flash Fiction Online, October 2023 : Purchase or Read Online   A funny, unique take on a fantasy-style adventurer, doing some good ol’ adventuring. The sharp, sudden emotion makes this story so layered. A great example of how flash fiction can be such a wonderful format.        Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

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 Double Promotion by Sudha Balagopal (991 words) Flash Fiction Online, March 2022 : Purchase or Read Online How quickly some need to grow up. Our narrator experiences this first hand, something she wasn't prepared for. One may believe that it is people who are sheltered that feel so, but people can be sheltered in different ways - some leading to paths with very little joy. Nostalgia for lost innocence is something many experience, and our narrator is faced with it earlier than many. I got goosebumps reading this one.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of The Perfect Brick of Feta by Sam Weiss (981 words) Flash Fiction Online, Jan 2022 : Purchase or Read Online What a beautiful story. These are the kind of stories you can't really look for, but when you come across them by a stroke of luck, you just give in and enjoy the pleasure that washes over you. Much like our protagonist eventually learns to, in his own way. This story stayed with me for a good while, and kept running through my head. I'm inspired to try and incorporate some of this in my own life. I absolutely love this story so much - it's one of those stories everyone should read.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Breathe by Adam Fout (950 words) Flash Fiction Online, Jul 2021 : Purchase or Read Online Touching story about how courage can show up in the unlikeliest moments. A nuanced take on addiction, and a reminder that we shouldn't forget the humanity of people, even when they're going through rough times. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks  

Review of The Hundred Hidden Kisses by Carol Scheina (991 words) Flash Fiction Online, Jan 2022 : Purchase or Read Online A heartfelt, touching story. About love. The kind of love that exists in reality and fiction and tugs at your heartstrings everytime you experience or even come across it. This is one such story that makes you feel all kinds of good things, even when the sad things come along. Just like life.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

  Review of The Appliance Crisis by Beth Goder (998 words) Flash Fiction Online, February 2022 : Purchase or Read Online Man, I love Beth Goder. She's done it again . Created magic with her words. This is a light, happy story, but full of rich details and vivid descriptions. Showing different types of feelings in just a few words seems to be what Goder excels at, and I am super appreciative of her talent and the fact that she shares it with her readers. A magical happy ending story.     Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

 Review of Fried Rice by Shih-Li Kow (996 words) Flash Fiction Online, February 2022 : Purchase or Read Online A beautiful concept, beautifully executed. I love how the dad's frustration was portrayed. The narrator, Marta, was equally in grief, but wanted dad to take the first step towards moving on. Cook's personality was also very well developed and I loved the conversation between Marta and Cook. The ending was poignant and touching. Lovely story. One of my favorites this year so far.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

 Review of The Lighthouse Keeper’s Guide to Pulau Belakang Mati by Wen-yi Lee (993 words) Flash Fiction Online, January 2022 : Purchase or Read Online Oh my. A very unique conceptual piece. Not just because list stories are hard to get right, but also because it's as much a work of fiction as it is an ode to other SFF stories. A story with a lot of heart and messy reality. Like life, but made better by dint of being fiction. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of The Recipe Keeper by Beth Cato (973 words) Flash Fiction Online, January 2022 Issue : Purchase or Read Online Lovely story about memories and food. I've previously read and loved another story (about bread and memories) by Cato, so I was excited when I saw she had a story out in the Jan issue as well. She has a way with words and knows how to deftly set up a scene. I adore her descriptions of food (and even otherwise!) and I never find a single point of disappointment in any of her stories. Lovely character growth and high stakes make this a very well rounded piece. A clever, lovely story, skillfully executed. This is a story that remains memorable for days to come.    Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks  

Review of “A World Without” or “From a Brief History of the Sjöberg Portal” by Tomiko Breland (1000 words) Flash Fiction Online, May 2018 : Purchase or Read Online A lovely story spanning many years, with the narrator's thoughts interspersed with a book extract about the Sjöberg Portal. It is deeply touching in the first person POV about how the narrator grows over time - emotionally too. The book excerpts show a stark difference between people of the world, some of whom are enamored by the portal and some who choose to stay far, far away. Effectively, this unique format choice provides a very personal reaction to the Portal while also showing how humanity as a whole has been affected by it. A very difficult format to do well and this story is all the more elevated for it.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Claire Weinraub’s Top Five Sea Monster Stories (For Allie) by Evan Berkow (991 words) Flash Fiction Online, October 2017 : Purchase or Read Online Oh my. A very unique conceptual piece. Not just because list stories are hard to get right, but also because it's as much a work of fiction as it is an ode to other SFF stories. A story with a lot of heart and messy reality. Like life, but made better by dint of being fiction.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of James Brown Is Alive And Doing Laundry In South Lake Tahoe by Stefanie Freele (968 words) Flash Fiction Online, August 2018 : Purchase or Read Online This story gave me so many feels. Flash continues to pleasantly surprise me. It features multiple POVs, a rarity in short stories and certainly in flash. It is beautifully executed and the voices are apt for each person too. We do get to see their internal thoughts and feelings. Things are precarious, and something unexpected turns into a moment of respite. Bringing a bit of joy and hope that things might just be okay after all.     Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

  Review of The Birthday by Mike McCormick (771 words) Flash Fiction Online, December 2021 : Purchase or Read Online Skilled language and quick action make this a fast paced story. Creating a fast paced story in flash is challenging in itself because it goes so fast anyway, being limited to under a 1000 words. The concept itself is executed well and the ambiguous ending raises interesting questions. I also enjoyed the uncle's explanations.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Irma Splinkbottom’s Recipe For Cold Fusion by Janene Murphy (996 words) Flash Fiction Online, February 2015 : Purchase or Read Online A fun and funny story with great internal dialogue. Irma is confident, maybe overconfident, that she can solve cold fusion. But make it warm fusion! She eventually does figure something out, but what a price she pays for it! I really enjoyed the prose, both in terms of tone as well as word choices.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks  

Review of I am Graalnak of the Vroon Empire, Destroyer of Galaxies, Supreme Overlord of the Planet Earth. Ask Me Anything.  by Laura Pearlman (966 words) Flash Fiction Online, April 2015 : Purchase or Read Online   This is a story about the Vroon alien overlords that have taken over the earth and their love of radishes. Their leader Graalnak is doing a Reddit AMA and this is the result. List stories are hard to do right, and with chat forums as a narrative choice, it becomes harder because you have limited space to create multiple characters and make them different enough from each other to be identifiable over the course of the story. One of those classic stories I want to keep recommending to people. The usernames are so well chosen, like little jokes in themselves. Super fun read. Read it for the story, re-read it for the little jokes, details and username references. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Echo Echo Heartbeat by Beth Goder (995 words) Flash Fiction Online, September 2021 : Purchase or Read Online A beautifully layered story with vivid descriptions and details. I read another one of her works not long ago, titled " Candide; Life- " and loved that as well. Goder has a fantastic way with words and her stories always transport you in a seemingly effortless way. Now, as someone who is trying to be a better writer, I can tell you that this type of writing is certainly not effortless. It takes a lot of practice and talent. This story in particular has a fairytale quality and packs so much into <1000 words, including latent aspirations and a quiet kind of strength that our narrator does not give themselves enough credit for.      Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

 Review of The Days on Europa Were Long by Kyle Richardson ( 992 words) Flash Fiction Online, November 2021 : Purchase or Read Online Flash fiction never ceases to amaze me. I'm learning about prose and structure lately, and this tale is a shining example of a very well-narrated speculative fiction story. I liked how the author deftly managed to convey details and proceedings without compromising on plot or story arc. A small story big on emotion, commitment, robots with feelings, and an earth that's turning uninhabitable. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks