Six books reviewed in three sentences

2019 has been a banner year for my anxiety, and I feel like I’ve been scrambling to get everything done. But as usual, I have been reading—I just haven’t been telling you about it. Let’s play catch up, shall we? This time it’s mini-reviews: three sentences each.

The Obelisk Gate and The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

Essun’s saga continues, as she uses her orogene powers to search for her daughter Nassun and hopefully end the seasons once and for all. Sent my emotions to the moon and back. One of the best sci-fi/fantasy series I’ve read in ages—can’t recommend it enough.

Forward: 21st Century Flash Fiction edited by Megan Giddings

An incredible anthology of flash fiction and craft essays by writers of color. What more could you want? Favorites include Christopher Gonzalez, Tyrese Coleman, Eshani Surya, and Thirii Myo Kyaw Myint—but I may be slightly biased because I either know them IRL or via Twitter.

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

Teen witch brings her best friend back from the dead—along with two recently deceased mean girls—and attempts to solve their murders. Heathers meets The Craft, plus something sweeter. Equal parts punchy and heartfelt—I loved it.

Made for Love by Alissa Nutting

Woman flees the constant surveillance of her tech billionaire husband and moves back in with her father and his sex doll Diane. Also, a man develops a sexual attraction to dolphins. Weird AF—couldn’t get enough of it.

Into English: Poems, Translations, Commentaries edited by Martha Collins and Kevin Prufer

An anthology of different poets from around the world, in which we’re given several English translations of each poem, followed by an essay comparing the translations. Preserve the rhyme? The structure? The images? Fascinating to explore the complex choices translators have to make.