Reviews

The Ashes of Around Twenty-Three Strangers by Jeremy Packert Burke

mehsi's review

4.0

A very interesting novella about a world in which it doesn't rain outside any more. Instead.. rain is inside. Not always, some people are still safe, but who knows your house may be next. It is a story also about loss (her brother died and they lost the house) and friendship, about mourning, and about a very strange but also strangely beautiful world. I would love to know more about this. Is there a reason why rain stopped being outside? Why is everyone so into gods in this world? Are they trying to fix the storms happening inside? I also love that the title came back in the story. Wow, that is one way.. but it was a bit disturbing as well.

badseedgirl's review

3.0

I rarely finish one of these short stories and say “I wish I had a little more background going into this story.” but in this case I wish I knew more about who or what the gods are. I’m not sure that is a negative or a positive trait for a story. In my opinion, a good short story should stand on it’s own. But is wanting to know more about a world built in a short story a bad thing, I don’t think that is true either.

eacolgan's review

4.0

This is a lonely, homesick story that almost brought me to tears. Reminded me in some ways of Station Eleven -- the intrusion of a common, human thing like grief onto a world that has utterly changed, and how we deal with it. Very poignant.

directorpurry's review

5.0

Oh my goD.
OMG.
Please.
Please write more.

madarauchiha's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜  my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️

Weird and sad and interesting. I wish there was more books in this world.

Content warnings.
minor parent death, alcohol use, car accidents, death, 
major unreality, religion,

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Death, and Death of parent

crunden's review

4.0

But this is the way the world is: all the storms have moved inside.

Haunting.

kotabee's review

dark emotional fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0