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sav_22's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.0
This compilation of short stories is one that I highly recommend reading. The way she writes is just beautiful even during periods of simplicity to me, and each story leaves you before you leave it; it lingers and stays with you for quite a bit, and her way with allegories is just so raw and impressive. My favorite would have to be Formally Feral; something about it just resonated and truly felt special. Some of her literary decisions may confuse people, or disinterest people because she does not give you all the answers or hold your hand through it. She just expels the story and leaves it as is, so if you aren’t paying attention, or if you like books that don’t revolve around symbolism and metaphors, then this wouldn’t be as good as a read for you. I’d say it’s a niche topic coverage, and I’d even recommend buddy reading so you have someone to talk to about it after tbh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Dysphoria, Grief, Child death, Violence, Miscarriage, Alcohol, and Chronic illness
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Blood, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Animal death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Self harm, Gore, Murder, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Bullying, Violence, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, and Biphobia
ceallaighsbooks's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“…I understood the way the surface of the world is thinner in certain places. That these places are where the strange, true things escape.” — from “Cassandra After” in salt slow, by Julia Armfield
TITLE—salt slow
AUTHOR—Julia Armfield
PUBLISHED—2019
GENRE—short stories; literary fiction; modern gothic literature
SETTING—Britain…? mostly?
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—queerness, otherness, gender criticism, horror, fairytale themes & motifs, gothic themes & motifs, dark academia, death, grief, animal motifs
WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CHARACTERS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STORIES/PLOTS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BONUS ELEMENT/S—A few tales had strong dark fairytale and witchy vibes that were done really well!
PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“My father said a town was only as interesting as its bad apples and only as safe as its lunatics.” — from “Formerly Feral”
This was such a great, gothic, atmospheric read with gorgeously told, very dark stories with a strange sort of beauty that also had a strangely lovely, calming feel to them. I especially enjoyed Formerly Feral and Smack though there wasn’t a single story that I didn’t like. I would most recommend bringing this collection with you on your next off season seaside vacation.
“The sky is gory with stars, like the insides of a gutted night.” — from “Salt Slow”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
TW // body horror, grief, divorce, mental illness (Please feel free to DM me for more specifics!)
Further Reading—
- The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, by Mariana Enríquez
- What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours, by Helen Oyeyemi
- The Woman Who Borrowed Memories, by Tove Jansson
- Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold, by Daisy Johnson and others
- Dark Tales, by Shirley Jackson
- The Bloody Chamber, by Angela Carter
- Nudibranch, by Irenosen Okojie—TBR
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, and Grief
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