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steph_84's review against another edition
4.0
It’s interesting that some reviewers describe this collection of stories as really diverse and others as quite “samey”. I can see both perspectives.
The diversity of topics is startling diverse but there’s an undercurrent in each story that’s dark and has intensity, even if the protagonist’s voice is upbeat. At least one I didn’t finish because it was too dark, but on the flipside there were a couple that stuck with me because of their darkness, and others that I felt didn’t say much that was new.
I learnt a lot about writing short stories from this collection, seeing how the authors started the story, revealed information carefully, and painted vibrant pictures, though I agree with the reviewer that there is a definite “literary style” and that a few stories with a twist or a more formal structure would have added something different.
My favourite was probably by Laura McPhee-Browne, about friendship, articulating an experience that can be almost universally understood.
The diversity of topics is startling diverse but there’s an undercurrent in each story that’s dark and has intensity, even if the protagonist’s voice is upbeat. At least one I didn’t finish because it was too dark, but on the flipside there were a couple that stuck with me because of their darkness, and others that I felt didn’t say much that was new.
I learnt a lot about writing short stories from this collection, seeing how the authors started the story, revealed information carefully, and painted vibrant pictures, though I agree with the reviewer that there is a definite “literary style” and that a few stories with a twist or a more formal structure would have added something different.
My favourite was probably by Laura McPhee-Browne, about friendship, articulating an experience that can be almost universally understood.
wtb_michael's review
5.0
Such a wonderful collection, with short stories from a mix of established and new (to me) writers. Jack Vening and Liz Flux manage add dashes of humour, much needed amidst a lot of other pretty grim stories. Madeleine Watts, Mirandi Riwoe and Laura McPhee-Browne have all written books I really liked, and their stories here lived up to my expectations. Laura Stortenbeker is going to write an absolutely astonishing book one day. Anyway - there's something for everyone here - kudos to Kill Your Darlings for putting it together.
mawaridi's review
4.0
Much like the first volume of KYD's New Australian Fiction last year, I enjoyed this collection immensely. Such a great spread of stories, from the introspective to the deeply bizarre and even darkly funny. Laura Stortenbeker's painful unravelling Low Light, the haunting commodification of trauma in Among the Ruins by K.A. Rees, and Donna Mazza's astonishing body horror The Fingerprint were my very favourites, but I also really enjoyed the stories by Claire G Coleman, Laura McPhee-Browne, Maame Blue and Mykaela Saunders, and Elizabeth Flux's delightful I Go To Pieces had an ending that made me laugh out loud in surprise. A great assortment of stories.
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