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qalminator's review
4.0
Good collection of micro stories. I think I liked this set better than last year's (Impact), and I more often agreed with the judge's picks.
Disclosure: I have a story in here under a different name.
Disclosure: I have a story in here under a different name.
minervacerridwen's review
5.0
My story "Not How We Planned It" is in this book and I'm all the more proud of that after reading all the stories. I was honestly surprised by the quality. In only 300 words or less, all of these entries manage to tell complete and appealing stories, and it doesn't get boring to read 120 of them because the takes on the theme are so different. I had several "wow, that's so original!" and "wow, I wish I had come up with that" moments.
I started writing down my favourites while reading and ended up with a very long list (while there were still many more that I enjoyed a lot). It follows the order in which the stories appear in the book and I'm putting it in spoiler tags just to be sure:
Zulu Finds a Home - Kevin Klehr (so fun and original!)
What Is Left Behind - Monique Cuillerier (touching)
If Pigs Could Fly - Penelope Friday (a simple love story that just works so well)
The Curious Cabinet - Ginger Streusel (so well written that it felt like a much longer story had been told in so few words)
Playing it by Ear - Aidee Ladnier (finding this story is every pun-loving reader's dream)
Elemental - M.D. Grimm (a great myth)
Into the South - Mindy Leana Shuman (dragons!)
Across the Mirror Lake - Ava Kelly (great world-building, a complete arc and great representation all in 300 words)
Where You Go, I'll Follow - Joe Baumann (a very original take on the end of Earth)
The Speck - Bey Deckard (a well-crafted horror story)
The Curse - Jude Reid (not quite as chilling, but an original take and a really good story)
Spores of Retribution - Tray Ellis (I love that it was inspired by bone marrow migration, and the emotion was tangible)
A Moment of Bravery - Jessie Pinkham (I loved the job descriptions (the tusked salmon!), the relatable anxieties and the message of catching the moment)
A Dawn Wish - Antonia Aquilante (a sweet story with clear depiction of demisexuality)
Portrait of a Lady - Isobel Granby (original idea, beautifully described)
The Long Distance Thing - Ether Nepenthes ("Don't text and fly" will always make me smile :) This story takes the reader through different emotions in a very short time.)
Flight - Steven Harper (I loved the ending and its implications for that world. It makes you pause and think about it a moment longer.)
Thiefmaster Rosalind's Apprentice - Devon Widmer (pure fun)
I started writing down my favourites while reading and ended up with a very long list (while there were still many more that I enjoyed a lot). It follows the order in which the stories appear in the book and I'm putting it in spoiler tags just to be sure:
What Is Left Behind - Monique Cuillerier (touching)
If Pigs Could Fly - Penelope Friday (a simple love story that just works so well)
The Curious Cabinet - Ginger Streusel (so well written that it felt like a much longer story had been told in so few words)
Playing it by Ear - Aidee Ladnier (finding this story is every pun-loving reader's dream)
Elemental - M.D. Grimm (a great myth)
Into the South - Mindy Leana Shuman (dragons!)
Across the Mirror Lake - Ava Kelly (great world-building, a complete arc and great representation all in 300 words)
Where You Go, I'll Follow - Joe Baumann (a very original take on the end of Earth)
The Speck - Bey Deckard (a well-crafted horror story)
The Curse - Jude Reid (not quite as chilling, but an original take and a really good story)
Spores of Retribution - Tray Ellis (I love that it was inspired by bone marrow migration, and the emotion was tangible)
A Moment of Bravery - Jessie Pinkham (I loved the job descriptions (the tusked salmon!), the relatable anxieties and the message of catching the moment)
A Dawn Wish - Antonia Aquilante (a sweet story with clear depiction of demisexuality)
Portrait of a Lady - Isobel Granby (original idea, beautifully described)
The Long Distance Thing - Ether Nepenthes ("Don't text and fly" will always make me smile :) This story takes the reader through different emotions in a very short time.)
Flight - Steven Harper (I loved the ending and its implications for that world. It makes you pause and think about it a moment longer.)
Thiefmaster Rosalind's Apprentice - Devon Widmer (pure fun)
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