ladynigelia's review against another edition
3.0
As a avid sci-fi/fantasy reader, I was expecting more unreal elements in the story, but this was straight fiction. I'm not sure I got the feminist message that the intro touted but it was still an interesting perspective on a slice of life I don't consider often.
Listened to on LeVar Burton Reads podcast.
Listened to on LeVar Burton Reads podcast.
pryngols's review against another edition
4.0
I read this because I needed to have more of Daisy Johnson’s writing. I absolutely loved Everything Under. This collection did not disappoint.
beholdtheanimals's review against another edition
4.0
A really weird, strong 4 outta 5. I love how these stories are loosely connected, and how they grow progressively denser and stranger and more... Abstract? I'm not even sure what the right word is to describe their gradual slide into weirdness. I won't pretend that I "got" many of the stories in the second half, but I felt the way I do about M. John Harrison's writing—even when the story feels impenetrable, the atmosphere and language keep me reading.
bookloversboudoir's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
https://thebookloversboudoir.wordpress.com/2023/01/10/fen-by-djdaisyjohnson/
I enjoyed all of the stories in this collection. The stories are similar in tone to Madame Zero by Sarah Hall which I did not expect as I chose both at random. The stories are dark, twisted, strange and surreal. I didn’t want to stop reading them. The best stories were Starver, The Scattering and Birthing Stones.
k_a_ewan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
georgegracegibson's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the concept of these stories all being set in the Fen. The girls who ate the men from the pub and accidentally took on their personality traits resonated with me in ways I don’t understand. And scared me a bit too. 3 part fox tale was maybe my favourite. Every time I finished any other story I just kinda felt “oh is that it”. Some of them had parts that made me really feeeeel things but there was just something missing every time. All the female characters merged into one and I hated myself for thinking that. I wish they were all longer; sometimes magic realism and is too “she turned around and there was the speaking toad. It was just like she imagined. The end.” and I have absolutely no idea what they fucking mean. Maybe it’ll come to me in the night, but for now I just feel a little empty.
obscurefangirl's review against another edition
4.0
Not the kind of thing I seek out to read but it was good
fgmetzger's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75