SFF Reviews - Science Fiction and Fantasy

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 Thin Crust by Erin MacNair (2825 words) Luna Station Quarterly, Issue 049 : Purchase or Read Online It started off with a 2012 (the movie) vibe, which is not at all a bad thing. But then it proceeded to get better from there. This is the kind of evocatively descriptive story that could be made into a short film. The plot is strong and very well constructed. The prose makes it even better. Each sentence, each adjective even - so carefully chosen. Who knew an apocalyptic event could be narrated in such a soothing manner? With hints of humor scattered throughout. Truly a joy to read. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks    

Review of An Eventual Feast by Lindsay King-Miller (5434 words) Planet Scumm, Issue #11, Summer 2021 : Purchase A strong, emotionally charged story. I'm also glad the author was realistic about labour, "unlike the movies". It was a great setting as well, with zombies, spaceships, galactic travel and childbirth. The buildup was so strong, right from the very first sentence. I was wondering how it would play out at the end, but the ending was so much better than I expected. A fitting story to round off this fantastic issue. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of My Mother's Samosas by Malavika Praseed (3700 words) khōréō Magazine, Issue 4 : Purchase or Read Online Our unnamed narrator believes her Indian mother is capable of magic. Poisonous, untrustworthy magic with which she holds sway over her soft, sweet, Midwestern father. Her belief is at least partly colored by her internalized racism, and she grows in different ways through the story. Doubt and dislike gives way to curiosity and acceptance. By the end, she seems to be building some sort of relationship with her mother and in turn with her own layered, ethnic history, illustrated by how things end up coming full circle at the end. Looking forward to reading more of khōréō!   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Ma Dresden by Laura Barker (2453 words) Planet Scumm, Issue #11, Summer 2021 : Purchase Lovely prose. The author has a way of being able to describe things beautifully with just a few words. The arc was great too, as was the visit with Mama Levi. A short story, but it had a lot of depth and emotion. The ending just didn't resonate with me very much, but only because I felt like it needed more space to breathe. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Tomatoes by Eugenia Triantafyllou (4200 words) khōréō Magazine, Issue 4 : Purchase or Read Online The narrator and her sister are magic, and sometimes tomatoes and corn can be too. They certainly are in this place, where the narrator is struggling to come to terms with the responsibility towards magic within their tomatoes - tomatoes that her family has been in charge of for generations. She yearns for a different life, one where she can be free to do the things she wants, even if only for a little while. But she learns that what her heart wanted, what she intuitively really wanted, was something else. A layered, poignant story that will likely unsettle you.     Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks