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eliz_hop_1973's review against another edition
My favourites in the collection were:
- The Aromatic Lovers
- Cinder
- Would You Like Charms With That?
- Half a Heart
- Seams of Iron
rystonlentil43's review against another edition
Of course there were multiple stories in here that I did finish, and it took a while to commit to giving up on the rest, but I'm really just not into the primary vibe or style in this collection... I don't know how to describe it. More than 2/3 of these stories are in first person perspective and they reminded me more of the many books I read as a kid that were written that way than of the rarer ones I've enjoyed recently. Maybe it's fluffier than I wanted. (Oh yeah, another reviewer said it feels like YA. I think that's what I mean.)
matheo96gro's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.75
aljy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
aruarian_melody's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
3.0
Like most anthologies, this one was a mixed bag for me. While I appreciate the effort to collect these aro-focused stories, the quality and my enjoyment of the stories varied immensely. It also wasn't always clear to me who the aro character was supposed to be. Still, any representation is welcome and I imagine it wasn't easy to even find aro stories in the first place.
I especially liked "Fishing over the Bones of the Dragon" by Jeff Reynolds and "Half a Heart" by Ren Oliveira. Both of which stood out for their atmosphere.
I especially liked "Fishing over the Bones of the Dragon" by Jeff Reynolds and "Half a Heart" by Ren Oliveira. Both of which stood out for their atmosphere.
smo13's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing group of stories! I’ve never experienced so many aro characters in one place. Really affirming:)
indiekay's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
Like all anthologies, this was a mixed bag for me. Some of the stories were really good, and some weren't my cup of tea. I DNF'd quite a few of them.
I'm also more of a contemporary kind of a person, and all these stories were either fantasy or scifi -- but it does say speculative fiction in the synopsis so that's on me. I was also hoping more of these stories would actually be about aromanticism explicitly, but only a handful of them are.
Anyway, my 1 or 2 sentence review of each story:
The Aromatic Lovers by Morgan Swim: I did not like the writing style one and was confused through most of it, though once I actually figured out what was going on I did appreciate the concept of the world it was set in.
Voices in the Air by Vida Cruz: This one was also confusing to me and probably needed to be a novella instead of a short story, as there was WAY too much background information packed into it.
Moon Sisters by Camilla Quinn: I liked this one! It's the first one that explicitly says the main character is aromantic, and I like werewolf and pack-dynamic stories so I liked this. I think werewolf packs are a great conduit for aromantic stories because they're all about found families and strong bonds between people.
Cinder by Jennifer Lee Rossman: DNF
Not Quite True Love by Syl Woo: DNF
Dracanmot Council of Human Study Report Compiled by Usander Greystart by A.Z. Louise: I liked this one too! I spent most of it trying to figure out if the main character and the council were aliens or time travellers and was delighted by the reveal.
Spacegirl and the Martian by Cora Ruskin: I think I'm ambivalent to this one? Some complicated feelings about siblings and some swishy world building around superheroes.
Would You Like Charms With That? by E.H. Timms: DNF
In The Summer A Banana Tree by Thomas Shaw Leonard: A sweet poem about losing a beloved pet
Remembering the Farm by Thomas Shaw Leonard: I can't state implicitly what this poem is about but I like how it's written nonetheless
Fishing Over the Bones of the Dragon by Jeff Reynolds: This story did not really keep my attention and I ended up taking a two week break from this book in the middle of it, so. It's not bad though.
Steria III by Marjorie King: DNF
A Full Deck by Avi Silver: DNF
Half a Heart by Ren Oliveira: DNF
Shift by Mika Stanard: Not the best writing but it's a sweet story and it involves werewolves, and both characters are explicitly stated to be aromantic (or at least questioning). I enjoyed it.
Discography by Ian Mahler: Poem about the alienation of being aroace in a world obsessed with romantic love.
Seams of Iron by Adriana C. Grigore: I liked this one! It's quite sweet
Not to Die by Rosiee Thor: DNF
Busy Little Bees by Polenth Blake: I really liked the concept of this one, but it feels like it ends waaay too abruptly. Another one of those concepts that needed to be a novella instead of a short story.
Like all anthologies, this was a mixed bag for me. Some of the stories were really good, and some weren't my cup of tea. I DNF'd quite a few of them.
I'm also more of a contemporary kind of a person, and all these stories were either fantasy or scifi -- but it does say speculative fiction in the synopsis so that's on me. I was also hoping more of these stories would actually be about aromanticism explicitly, but only a handful of them are.
Anyway, my 1 or 2 sentence review of each story:
The Aromatic Lovers by Morgan Swim: I did not like the writing style one and was confused through most of it, though once I actually figured out what was going on I did appreciate the concept of the world it was set in.
Voices in the Air by Vida Cruz: This one was also confusing to me and probably needed to be a novella instead of a short story, as there was WAY too much background information packed into it.
Moon Sisters by Camilla Quinn: I liked this one! It's the first one that explicitly says the main character is aromantic, and I like werewolf and pack-dynamic stories so I liked this. I think werewolf packs are a great conduit for aromantic stories because they're all about found families and strong bonds between people.
Cinder by Jennifer Lee Rossman: DNF
Not Quite True Love by Syl Woo: DNF
Dracanmot Council of Human Study Report Compiled by Usander Greystart by A.Z. Louise: I liked this one too! I spent most of it trying to figure out if the main character and the council were aliens or time travellers and was delighted by the reveal.
Spacegirl and the Martian by Cora Ruskin: I think I'm ambivalent to this one? Some complicated feelings about siblings and some swishy world building around superheroes.
Would You Like Charms With That? by E.H. Timms: DNF
In The Summer A Banana Tree by Thomas Shaw Leonard: A sweet poem about losing a beloved pet
Remembering the Farm by Thomas Shaw Leonard: I can't state implicitly what this poem is about but I like how it's written nonetheless
Fishing Over the Bones of the Dragon by Jeff Reynolds: This story did not really keep my attention and I ended up taking a two week break from this book in the middle of it, so. It's not bad though.
Steria III by Marjorie King: DNF
A Full Deck by Avi Silver: DNF
Half a Heart by Ren Oliveira: DNF
Shift by Mika Stanard: Not the best writing but it's a sweet story and it involves werewolves, and both characters are explicitly stated to be aromantic (or at least questioning). I enjoyed it.
Discography by Ian Mahler: Poem about the alienation of being aroace in a world obsessed with romantic love.
Seams of Iron by Adriana C. Grigore: I liked this one! It's quite sweet
Not to Die by Rosiee Thor: DNF
Busy Little Bees by Polenth Blake: I really liked the concept of this one, but it feels like it ends waaay too abruptly. Another one of those concepts that needed to be a novella instead of a short story.
daenknight's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
julia_bichler's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0