It's been over a week since I've read this and I'm still wondering why JD my bad, Dennis J. Rance didn't lube up before fucking the leather couch.It's been over a week since I've read this and I'm still wondering why JD my bad, Dennis J. Rance didn't lube up before fucking the leather couch....more
I'm very happy to say that I quite liked this anthology! The first couple of stories weren't my fave, so I was kinda worBuddy read with Mel!
Post-read:
I'm very happy to say that I quite liked this anthology! The first couple of stories weren't my fave, so I was kinda worried that this might not be my thing (the previous Palestinian spec fic anthology I read, Palestine +100, was just okay).
But I'm glad that my reading experience turned out differently. I think after the first few stories, I got the gist of what the authors were going for (ambiguity, heavy on the metaphors, and leaning towards the fantastical on varying degrees), so it was much easier to understand the more I read.
Some of my favorites from this collection are: The Generation Chip by Nadia Afifi Soul Searching by Rana Othman Cyrano de AI by Karl El-Koura Gaza Luna by Samah Serour Fadil The Centre of the Universe by Nadia Shammas
Pre-read:
I fear I might be slightly harsher when it comes to rating speculative short stories than my buddy reader. I'm more of a fan of straightforward, hero's journey type of stories, and so far, these stories are the total opposite. So, maybe take my reviews with a grain of salt.
Thank you to Roseway Publishing and NetGalley for this arc.
Down Under by Jumaana Abdu 3.5/5 stars
Nouran steps into a tunnel that supposedly leads to Palestine.
First story in this anthology! But I'm not too sure how I feel about it. I know Mel really liked it.
It's a very metaphorical story, with two different young women trying to find their way to Palestine. One is an emigrant while the other is a diaspora kid.
Mel said she liked the discussions on the differences and similarities on how they view and experience their Palestinian-ness. I liked that their search for Palestine through tunnels (and getting lost) is a metaphor for Palestine's existence in the future.
The Third or Fourth Casualty by Ziyad Saadi 3/5 stars
A group of children swim in the ocean by Gaza's shores.
This is another metaphorical story on children not being able to return to Gaza after dying while swimming. (Although the writer mentions several times that their deaths aren't relevant, which is an obvious red herring.)
Since it's a huge metaphor, I'm not sure if I understood it correctly. Maybe someone else might read it differently.
The Generation Chip by Nadia Afifi 5/5 stars
Kamel reunites with his family and becomes the sole custodian of his grandmother's "generation chip."
Excellent short story! So far, this one is my absolute favorite! Futuristic sci-fi dramas about family secrets are definitely my jam.
I'm not sure if there was any specific word count, but if there was, the author really used it to their advantage. There's a beginning, middle, and end, and there's even a hero's journey of sorts. The characters are fleshed out enough that the reader is immersed in the story.
I'd read more from Nadia Afifi!
Soul Searching by Rana Othman 5/5 stars
Young Hiba gets an opportunity to atone for her mean girl bullying
I'm not usually a fan of grown-up stories with little kid characters, but I was very surprised by this one! It's the typical "mean girl learns that bullying is wrong" type of trope-filled story, but I think the Palestinian setting and characters gave it both a realistic and fantastic depth. It reads like a modern-day fable with a Palestinian twist, and I loved it.
The Heart Knows the Truth by Layla Azmi Ghoushey 2/5 stars
Arwa goes on a journey through time and space.
I'll admit, I don't really understand this one. It's very fantasy-based and I'm definitely not knowledgeable enough to understand any of the cultural references. My imagination did love Palestine as a planet, the time traveling, and the people that the MC met, so it wasn't a total bust for me.
Cyrano de AI by Karl El-Koura 4.5/5 stars
Nait and his father reflect on life with and without augmentations.
Just when I thought that this anthology wasn't going to hold my interest, here comes another interesting short story! But then again, I do love stories about augmented humans and I'm very intrigued when it comes to learning about how AI (whether it's "true" AI or just generative AI) will help or hinder us.
This was also a story about a father and his adult son disconnecting from the digital world for a bit and reconnecting in real life, not to mention the son learning from his failures with using AI as a crutch. I do love feel good parent-child stories.
The Frontrunner by JD Harlock 1/5 stars
Bilal Mohsen is in a literal life and death situation on a plane.
I'll be honest. I wasn't a fan of this at all. There wasn't really a conclusive ending, nor was the ending the type of ending that made me think deeply. It just felt like your typical thriller on an airplane where the antagonist(?) asks the MC if he wants to take the red pill or the blue pill.
A Table Set for Two by Emad El-Din Aysha 3/5 stars
An Arab scientist and a Spanish scientist build a time machine.
As a lover of time travel stories, I should like, if not outright love, this. But it was just okay. It was more about the two scientists' relationship in the first half, and the second half suddenly went into overdrive with compare and contrast, alternate reality/future time travel stuff. It felt really disjointed and would've been better if it was longer.
In the Future, We Can Go Back Home by Sara Solara 4.5/5 stars
The MC, a child of Palestinian refugees, visits Palestine for the first time.
I questioned whether I would belong, and still that fear eats at me. It is my first time here in Palestine. I cannot speak the language of my ancestors. There is so much I do not yet know, as much as I have tried to learn, because I was barely raised in my own culture, because it was taken from me in the violence of colonialism that pressured my family to erase themselves. There is also the fact I am in love with a woman, and I cannot help but wonder: Will the land love me back in all my queerness? It all hangs heavy over my shoulders.
I'm always a sucker for stories about people from any diaspora going back to their homeland and learning about their family's past. Amidst what's happening, this was a really well-written and feel-good story that hit all the right notes.
The Forty by Sonia Sulaiman 4/5 stars
A small group of pilgrims bear Witness to the past, their ancestors, and the Occupation.
I quite liked this simple futuristic short. You can feel yourself as part of the pilgrimage and everyone is remembering Palestine and the occupation from long ago, in their own way. The cairns being built and placed feel like a religious rite that places nature above all else. And mixing it with memory feels very philosophical.
Remembrance in Cerulean by Elise Stephens 4/5 stars
Paul Thresher, a mechanical engineer taking after his father, forges a bond with Vezda, an alien being who forces him to reconcile with his past.
I love tentacled aquatic aliens as much as the next sci-fi enthusiast, but mix it with a MC who has to reckon with his family issues? Count me in.
At first, I didn't understand the point of the aliens, but I think they're a tool for the MC to understand himself and also might be a metaphor for... colonization? And maybe humanity's trigger-happy reaction to anything that we quickly deem as threats to our survival? I'm not sure.
Gaza Luna by Samah Serour Fadil 5/5 stars
Handala is smuggled into the US and achieves his dreams, but not in the way that he had planned.
The older I get, the more I really don't mind fantasy-based endings on stories that otherwise read as realistic fiction. Sure, you really, really have to suspend your disbelief here, but I loved how the ending was the type of far-reaching dream that a smart refugee kid, who worked hard his entire life, could someday achieve.
Of course, I also loved how it's a reminder that your birthplace, your childhood, your parents, etc. can heavily factor into your future.
Orlando's Wolf by Rasha Abdulhadi 3/5 stars
Yusuf stages a revolt against the European invaders.
I might be too dumb for this since I wasn't an English lit major, so I understood nothing. I did like the historical (Crusades era?) vibes though.
The Centre of the Universe by Nadia Shammas 4.5/5 stars
When Abigail interacts with a specific person, it is the only time that they can physically move or act.
I didn't think I'd like this story (it felt pointless at first), but fighting against your programming is always one of my favorite themes in SFF. The ending is *chef's kiss*...more
Reads like the author is being really meticulous about their sentence structure in an attempt to be 2deep4u. The writing comes off as awkwardDNF @ 36%
Reads like the author is being really meticulous about their sentence structure in an attempt to be 2deep4u. The writing comes off as awkward and stilted.
Example (taken from the audiobook so I'm not sure how it's written exactly):
"Here, they have committed an unforgivable transgression, leaving behind the half butchered doe, its viscera seeping into the ground.
A prodigy.
An ill omen.
A death deferred has come to Stag's Crossing. As (?) laying down in the entryway of a grand house, the obeisance of a slathering hound. And there it will stay, waiting for the interregnum, the return from exile signaling the twilight of an empire."
There might be an audience for this, but it's definitely not me. And I'm saying this as someone who likes to indulge in pretentious writing every so often....more
Being forced to buddy read with my friends, Sarah and Mai. Blinking twice; send help.Being forced to buddy read with my friends, Sarah and Mai. Blinking twice; send help....more
I flew through this arc in less than a week. I was so sure that this would be my next fantasy series obsession.
But sadly, my hopes were quickly smasheI flew through this arc in less than a week. I was so sure that this would be my next fantasy series obsession.
But sadly, my hopes were quickly smashed into smithereens.
The beginning started out with a heart-wrenching scene between two sisters who are separated by a life-altering wall of death. I pictured the Fold from Shadow and Bone. Basically, a graveyard that can eat you alive. What a great start to a new series! The tone was grim and devastating, and I couldn't stop reading to see what would happen to Hakara and Rasha.
After that, there was a ten-year time jump, and we get introduced to more POV characters. At first, I was totally absorbed with the world building, the magic, the monsters, the monster people, and the politics (rebels vs. Sovereign, Restored realms cutting off unrestored worlds, you name it). Sure, at times, it was kinda goofy, but I love that shit.
But as I read on, my interest level started dropping and I stopped caring about any of the characters.
While there were only a handful of POV characters, I realized that I didn't care about Mullayne and Nioanen's story lines. It felt like the author wrote them in so she didn't have to do more characterization with Hakara, Rasha, and Sheuan (my three favorite POV characters).
Which then lead to my biggest problem with this book:
ALL of the POV characters felt very surface level and narrow-minded in their goals.
Halfway through the novel, The Gods Below started reading like a mishmash of every other fantasy novel or fantasy RPG I've read and played. Even worse, things stopped making sense and any problems each character faced were solved in laughably easy ways to the point where it read like a joke.
First non-spoilery complaint: Mull went on his quest with a whole ass team of people, but except for a select few, they were all faceless and felt non-existent that I was surprised that he actually had personnel with him.
Imagine my surprise when the author dropped hints that no, this wasn't a quest he went on with his friends. Dude had like twenty other people with him.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
(view spoiler)[The barrier between realms sounded dangerous as all get out, but then Sheuan went through it, SEVERAL TIMES, with only a damn filter/mask??? She never even got injured?? It was THAT easy?? Give me a fucking break.
Also, why didn't she take any evidence from the restored realm before she went back?? It made NO sense. Girlie was smart enough to get there and take advantage of Rasha, but did absolutely NOTHING when she reached Baatar-Un. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME????
Hakara became the leader of the rebels THAT easily?? Even though she didn't care about the rebellion and never showed ANY interest in leadership activities or even bothered to know people's names outside of her own team. WTF?? If I were a rebel, why the hell would I follow this random person?? I'd rather follow Thassir.
And then Sheuan forced the Sovereign to marry her THAT quickly AND easily?? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME??? Why the FUCK didn't he just get his men to raid Mull's workshop or something?? Why would he agree to marry someone from a down and out clan with no political power? There are other ways to find those masks and get their blueprints. Oh my god. (hide spoiler)]
***END SPOILERS***
What started out as an engrossing read quickly spiraled into a tedious story full of deus ex machina problem solving and barely there characterization that read more Young Adult than Epic Fantasy.
3 stars because I loved the worldbuilding. But I don't think I'll continue on with this.
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this arc....more
One thing I love about this series is that the romance isn't the main focus. It's the little things~One thing I love about this series is that the romance isn't the main focus. It's the little things~...more
This book had one of the oddest writing styles and prose that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. It's definitely something th4.5 stars rounded up.
This book had one of the oddest writing styles and prose that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. It's definitely something that won't work for everyone. I'd even argue that only a small percentage of readers might be into this.
I gotta say though, as part of that tiny niche, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the story so much that I bought a signed and personalized copy from Seminary Co-op Bookstore in Chicago.
Even with its unnecessarily difficult to comprehend prose, the in media res beginning that threw me off my feet, and the entirely new worldbuilding (with its different words for familiar terms and concepts, such as "crawlies" for sapphics/wlw), I had a great time going on this anti-imperial adventure with Marney and co.
While this might officially be compared to the Locked Tomb series, I'd say it's more like Vajra Chandrasekera's novels and short stories. As much as I love the Locked Tomb from the depts of my cold, dark heart, I don't really think it's the right comparison since Metal from Heaven approaches its themes (power structures, queer identities, etc.) in a slightly more grounded manner while the Locked Tomb uses a more whimsical approach.
Despite its quirks and oddities, this is a classic tale of community building and revolution, mixed with class consciousness and queerness. If you love those types of fantasy novels, then give this a try.
Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this arc....more
"How can you be an alpha male when you need your daughters to translate your bills for you, to make your doctor’s appointments for you, to help you read the billboards on the side of the road?"
Surprise, surprise! Mai and I absolutely loved this! (Which is high praise coming from a couple of lifelong haters.) I haven't had this much fun since reading Yellowface. The Eyes Are the Best Part easily became an instant favorite.
This is BIPOC thriller/horror at its finest. There's a satirical bent to this story that's the icing on the cake. *chef's kiss* I was expecting pure horror on a Hannibal type of scale, but in this instance, I was very pleasantly surprise that it didn't turn out to be what I'd thought it'd be.
It was more complex than just "chick goes on a killing spree and eats raw eyeballs." This story has a deeper layer and tackles both the micro and macro aggressions that comes with being BIPOC in the US, specifically being an Asian American woman.
And of course, with Mai and I being Asian American women, we both related to Ji-won's struggles.
'Appa always said that Thanksgiving was the most American of holidays, and that we needed to celebrate to show everyone else that we belonged, that we were good Americans, too.
“It’s harder for us because we are Asian,” Appa said solemnly. “We have more to prove.”'
Like Yellowface, this story is full of marginalized anger, and is a revenge story of sorts. If you can't relate to the racism, misogyny, fetishism that BIPOC women face, or if you can't even sympathize, then I truly envy you. It's hard out here.
I loved this book for its witty lines, real takes on issues like WMAF relationships, being the elder daughter, and the struggles of being a young adult in a messed up family dealing with lots of trauma.
And of course, Ji-won's slow dive into insanity was absolute perfection.
There was a twist at the end that I liked. But just as equally, I also liked how it didn't explain Ji-won's... fetish for munching on blue eyes.
I'd highly recommend for horror thriller fans looking to diversify their bookshelves.
Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this arc....more
I've never been more horny for a vampire zombie orc alien love interest I've never been more horny for a vampire zombie orc alien love interest ...more
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