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A review by justinkhchen
Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil by Ananda Lima
emotional
medium-paced
4.25
Imaginative and heartfelt, Craft is a solid collection of interconnected short stories touching upon themes of immigration, familial bond, and writing as a craft. While its marketing places a lot of emphasis on this Devil character, his role is often more of a prompter for broader discussion, rather than a well-rounded presence driving the plot. In addition, I would also label Craft squarely as literary fiction, with supernatural elements featured in a few stories; if you're picking this up expecting a true horror experience — you might be a little taken aback by its subtlety.
Still, as a short stories collection this is one of the stronger ones that feels diverse but still maintains a cohesive core. I really enjoyed most of what I've read, and there are some truly unique standouts (the one about a vending machine selling little people is particularly memorable).
PS: Note the framing story does take place during COVID for a few chapters, in case this may potentially be a trigger for some.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Still, as a short stories collection this is one of the stronger ones that feels diverse but still maintains a cohesive core. I really enjoyed most of what I've read, and there are some truly unique standouts (the one about a vending machine selling little people is particularly memorable).
PS: Note the framing story does take place during COVID for a few chapters, in case this may potentially be a trigger for some.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**