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Runs in the Blood
A dark and funny short story collection that reveals poignant truths about queer chosen family
A lesbian mother feels out of place taking her daughter to a princess party; a gay couple turns to unconventional means to create their baby; a grieving man winds up on a date with a centaur; an agoraphobic must make an impossible choice before time runs out. This is the unnerving world of Runs in the Blood, Matthew J. Trafford's sophomore story collection, and it pulses with humour, anxiety, and profound disquiet.
Darkly satirical and unflinchingly human, the stories of Runs in the Blood unsettle our notions of family, whether biological or chosen. Careening through the space beyond nature versus nurture, its characters—betrayed, wounded, unequipped—wrangle with their own worst instincts and the grotesqueries of the modern world, attempting to create families worth holding on to and to protect the children they love.
Delightful and disarming, odd and audacious, Runs in the Blood announces the return of a bold and fearless writer.
A lesbian mother feels out of place taking her daughter to a princess party; a gay couple turns to unconventional means to create their baby; a grieving man winds up on a date with a centaur; an agoraphobic must make an impossible choice before time runs out. This is the unnerving world of Runs in the Blood, Matthew J. Trafford's sophomore story collection, and it pulses with humour, anxiety, and profound disquiet.
Darkly satirical and unflinchingly human, the stories of Runs in the Blood unsettle our notions of family, whether biological or chosen. Careening through the space beyond nature versus nurture, its characters—betrayed, wounded, unequipped—wrangle with their own worst instincts and the grotesqueries of the modern world, attempting to create families worth holding on to and to protect the children they love.
Delightful and disarming, odd and audacious, Runs in the Blood announces the return of a bold and fearless writer.
184 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 12, 2025
CW: violence against an animal.
Runs in the Blood offers a satisfyingly complex series of quirky, unusual stories, most of them with queer/trans elements. The writing is wonderful. The stories feel new. Nonetheless, this title was a DNF for me because one of those stories is focused in detail on the killing of a puppy. Violence against animals is something I can't stomach in my reading. If you're like me, at the first mention of a puppy stop reading and jump ahead to the next story. Trafford is worth reading. I'll look for more of his work. But the puppy story left me unable to finish Runs in the Blood.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
Runs in the Blood offers a satisfyingly complex series of quirky, unusual stories, most of them with queer/trans elements. The writing is wonderful. The stories feel new. Nonetheless, this title was a DNF for me because one of those stories is focused in detail on the killing of a puppy. Violence against animals is something I can't stomach in my reading. If you're like me, at the first mention of a puppy stop reading and jump ahead to the next story. Trafford is worth reading. I'll look for more of his work. But the puppy story left me unable to finish Runs in the Blood.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
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April 8, 2026
4.25 STARS
TW: animal death, chronic illness, mental illness, grief, anxiety, child death, car accident, terminal illness, death, injury, medically assisted suicide
This medley of strange and clever tales were beautifully written and such a joy to read. There was a little bit of everything: a wide array of queerness, beauty, hope, strangeness, fear, humor, grief, fantasy and forgiveness. Author has a clear talent for adjusting the writing to suite each story and each character as needed which made each story feel clever and unique.
TW: animal death, chronic illness, mental illness, grief, anxiety, child death, car accident, terminal illness, death, injury, medically assisted suicide
I think a lot of people do that. I think a lot of people are together who shouldn’t be, because they’re just too afraid to try anything else, or to be alone. And I guess if I’m being honest, I fall into that category too.
This medley of strange and clever tales were beautifully written and such a joy to read. There was a little bit of everything: a wide array of queerness, beauty, hope, strangeness, fear, humor, grief, fantasy and forgiveness. Author has a clear talent for adjusting the writing to suite each story and each character as needed which made each story feel clever and unique.
December 25, 2025
One of the best collections I've read.
Was introduced to Matthew through the Afterwords Literary Festival in Nova Scotia and first of all - he needs to do his audio books because his author readings were FIRE and literally had people on the edge of their seats hahaha!
Been diving in to this collection over the holidays and stumbled across a nice Christmas short story in there too which is perfect.
But honestly, reading this I am like "Ok this one is my fave" and then I get to the next one.
Looking forward to reading everything by this author! WOW!
Was introduced to Matthew through the Afterwords Literary Festival in Nova Scotia and first of all - he needs to do his audio books because his author readings were FIRE and literally had people on the edge of their seats hahaha!
Been diving in to this collection over the holidays and stumbled across a nice Christmas short story in there too which is perfect.
But honestly, reading this I am like "Ok this one is my fave" and then I get to the next one.
Looking forward to reading everything by this author! WOW!
January 17, 2026
My first time reading Matthew J Trafford and he did not disappoint.
This book is a collection of short stories and I was just gripped with each one.
I loved the twist at the end of some of them. They each made me take pause to really think about what I'd read and to just consider what had happened, what had been revealed. The family index one is extremely clever.
Overall if you just want to enjoy a few stories with a dark twist, this is for you.
I'll be looking for more Matthew J Trafford books too.
This book is a collection of short stories and I was just gripped with each one.
I loved the twist at the end of some of them. They each made me take pause to really think about what I'd read and to just consider what had happened, what had been revealed. The family index one is extremely clever.
Overall if you just want to enjoy a few stories with a dark twist, this is for you.
I'll be looking for more Matthew J Trafford books too.
January 12, 2026
This was a real mixed bag of stories. Some of them made me think, others made me feel grossed out. I did quite like the story of the family told in dictionary entries. Overall, not my favourite collection.
December 29, 2025
My favorites were:
Sixteen Seconds
A Complete Index of How Our Family Was Formed
Things Given, Things Witheld
Far From the Tree
Sixteen Seconds
A Complete Index of How Our Family Was Formed
Things Given, Things Witheld
Far From the Tree
January 30, 2026
2.5
mostly misses, few hits
mostly misses, few hits
October 3, 2025
I read this a while ago, and I enjoyed the writing, but most of these stories didn't connect or click with me. I don't know what it is about books that fall into my lap with animal violence, but it's been one too many lately, and this was one of them.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews