seawarrior's reviews
1650 reviews

I was looking forward to reading Tananarive Due's story in this collection and it did not disappoint- reading a ghost story from a young child's perspective made the events all the more disturbing. The foreboding atmospheric was electric and engaging enough that I felt truly terrified once the ghosts turned from mysterious to tortured and violent. On a sociological level, Due's story outlines a tragedy that realistically could have happened in the near-past. Her story was emotional, brutal, and vivid, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

I thought the remaining stories in this collection were surprisingly lackluster. Most of their pages were taken up by exposition that started to grow tiresome, and just when we were nearing a satisfying conclusion, the stories ended with a whimper. I don't think they conjured and conveyed horror or history effectively, but this collection is still worth reading for Due's contribution. 

I would not say this book is poorly written- but regardless, it was so dull that I never looked forward to turning another page. Certain elements of the plot irked me as well, but I suppose that's predictable in books about the female experience written by men. Arabella was a hardy protagonist, and one I would be apt to read more about if I found this book more exciting. 

Crucially, it was difficult to suspend disbelief and imagine the journey between Earth and Mars taking place in a forgiving, gentle atmosphere, with lack of gravity being the only difference between travel on Earth. Every time Earth weather phenomenon was described as happening in outer space, I was jolted out of the story. I did like the steampunk elements, but they just weren't enough to interest me in this world.