Mikaela > Recent Status Updates

Reunion: overall, good story to finish up the collection but there were so many unanswered questions that I was left with.

“Ruler of the Winds and Sands”: This story was kind of cute, felt like a modern fairy tale meant to teach kids morales. Definitely the least horror-leaning one in the whole collection thus far.

“Home Sweet Home” was the perfect little psychological thriller. Felt like a mix of Shutter Island with aspects of Hereditary. The story started off so benign and just slowly transformed and twisted into a horrific little dance. Really liked this one.

“Scars”: this story was entertaining and the ending was certainly unexpected. The idea that someone must suffer torture and pain so others can live and thrive was so well portrayed in this. That said, the ending felt rushed. This is one of those short stories where I think the story would have better been served as a novella at bare minimum.

Story #6: Goodbye, My Love. Oh this one was good. It felt like Kazuo Ishiguro, very Klara and the Sun, but with more of a horror element. Very much enjoyed this one.

Story #5: Snare. Okay this one was exceptional. Disturbing and so interesting with such few pages to introduce and resolve a complex and harrowing plot.

Short story #4: The Frozen Finger. This one made me feel uneasy in a way that I appreciated. I think my favorite one so far.

The Cursed Bunny, short story #3 was an interesting premise. Seeking vengeance may offer satisfaction of knowing someone is dealing with misfortune as payback…but the burden a person takes on for seeking vengeance is perpetual…at least that’s what I gathered from the story.

The Embodiment was interesting. It didn’t feel like body horror, at least in the same way that the first short story felt. This felt more like a commentary on contraceptives and the toll women take by being on them for so long?

First story: The Head. Definitely unexpected twist at the end. Not the same by any means, but definitely made me think of the movie Substance in terms of mild body horror.

I was not expecting poetry and was so pleasantly surprised. So far her writing style feels like a cup of hot cocoa while you’re curled under a blanket while watching a rainstorm out the window.

There’s parts of this book that I enjoy but the random inputs of political commentary/opinion that has nothing to do with linguistics pulls me out of the text.

Okay it got better for a little bit

Honestly I’m still not loving this but I’m not hating it enough to DNF.

This book is interesting and not at the same time. I’m holding on because I hope it gets more interesting and it’s just a slow burn.

Easy writing style to read, but the fact that this is a true story is so heartbreaking.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s interesting and well done thus far, but there’s something about it that’s lacking for me.

I like the writing style, but don’t like how quickly I learned about the true form of the KKK members. I kind of wish it was kept a mystery for a bit longer…but maybe there’s more mysteries to come.