camiarnett97's review
5.0
This collection was so invigorating! I'm really glad I read it. Like some other reviewers said, and as is often the case with anthologies, there was a mix of highs and lows, but even the stories that I did not find hugely entertaining still intrigued me in some way. The variety in topics and perspectives was really impressive, and I liked that different authors approached the world of kink with different goals: exploring identity, processing trauma, dissecting an imperfect relationship, engaging critically with art, or just writing fun erotica. There's so much to learn about relationships and emotional honesty from these storytellers.
My personal favorites were: "Safeword" by R.O. Kwon, "Oh, Youth" by Brandon Taylor (surprisingly heartbreaking), "Impact Play" by Peter Mountford (I didn't expect to like it from the opening but it has stayed with me since I read it), "The Lost Performance of the High Priestess of the Temple of Horror" by Carmen Maria Machado (there was absolutely no way I wouldn't love it), and "Emotional Technologies" by Chris Kraus (oblique in all the right ways).
All in all a great read. It reinforces queerness and strangeness, but more than anything, it reminds me why I love short stories.
My personal favorites were: "Safeword" by R.O. Kwon, "Oh, Youth" by Brandon Taylor (surprisingly heartbreaking), "Impact Play" by Peter Mountford (I didn't expect to like it from the opening but it has stayed with me since I read it), "The Lost Performance of the High Priestess of the Temple of Horror" by Carmen Maria Machado (there was absolutely no way I wouldn't love it), and "Emotional Technologies" by Chris Kraus (oblique in all the right ways).
All in all a great read. It reinforces queerness and strangeness, but more than anything, it reminds me why I love short stories.
chilivanilli28's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
ginamac36's review
fast-paced
4.0
I picked this up because I want to read everything by Carmen Maria Machado and her story in this collection did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes steamy sex stories.
jakinabook's review
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
fiaca's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
sleepychris's review
2.0
Positives:
- Solid queer rep.
- Good variety of characters and voices
- A good variety of top-shelf writers contributing
Flaws:
- Much of these stories are more pedestrian than mainstream fiction
- Some of the kink focused on got a little repetitive (the scope was very narrow in the end)
- The quality of the stories varies hugely.
3.5/10.
- Solid queer rep.
- Good variety of characters and voices
- A good variety of top-shelf writers contributing
Flaws:
- Much of these stories are more pedestrian than mainstream fiction
- Some of the kink focused on got a little repetitive (the scope was very narrow in the end)
- The quality of the stories varies hugely.
3.5/10.
thesearethebooks's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75