Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Chain-Gang All-Stars is a dystopia following prisoners forced to duel for freedom on live TV. There are multiple POVs from prisoners and fans who watch the show. There are two women, the gladiators, who dominate the fighting arenas. As one of them plans to leave the prison, she thinks about how she can help her fellow inmates save their humanity.
The synopsis sounds better than the execution. Many scenes were unnecessary to progressing the story. I appreciate getting into character’s heads, but none of it added to the overarching storyline. The length also added to my annoyance with certain characters. By the end, I only wanted to read about the two main characters, Loretta Thurwar and Hamara Stacker.
I understand why there is so much hype surrounding the book. I appreciate that the story is out there to teach others about how brutal the prison system is and how necessary prison reform is. If you’re interested in reading this book, please look for content warnings.
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck
A Short Stay in Hell follows a Mormon married man who wakes up unexpectedly in Hell. This Hell is full of what seems like an endless amount of books filled with characters. To escape, the protagonist has to find the book that contains his life story.
The book has a high rating on Goodreads and an intriguing plot. That’s about all it has going for it. There were comments about women I didn’t enjoy, regardless of intent. I didn’t think it was horrifying because the writing was bland. The only reason this book received two stars from me is because the beginning was slightly intriguing.
I don’t want to recommend the story to anyone, but I know that many loved it. I’m sad that my second read of 2024 was such a flop, but I hope the good outweighs the bad this year.
Blackouts by Justin Torres
Blackouts is about a young man who has become friends with an older man named Juan on his deathbed in The Palace. They share stories about their past. Juan is passing a project onto his young friend that involves a book called “Sex Variants: A Study in Homosexual Patterns” by Jan Gay, a woman from the early twentieth century. The story was taken from her, removing any credibility she had.
I could talk about this book for months! I enjoyed how comfortable Torres is with the discussion of sexuality and nudity. The writing is pretentious, but I think it works with the storytelling. The only thing that stopped me from giving it five stars is that certain parts dragged along.
If you’re going to read this novel, pick up the physical copy. Whoever Torres hired to create the book is a genius; it’s beautiful from cover to cover. Disclaimer: There are photos of nude people throughout the book.
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed is a collection of short dark fiction stories set in Argentina. There’s a wide range of topics from witchcraft to fetishes.
This collection didn’t work for me at all. I only handed out a few 3.5/5 stars to stories that weren’t terrible. I understand that it’s translated, and I’m unsure if that contributed to my lack of enthusiasm. Many stories dealt with suicide, and while it’s a topic that should be discussed, these instances felt inserted for shock value. It’s not my preferred type of storytelling, even though I’m not easily triggered. This almost makes me hesitant to explore more of Enriquez’s work.
If you’re searching for a dark fiction short story collection, perhaps this isn’t the best starting point. I came across a fantastic one last year titled Never Whistle at Night, edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
In Clarke’s story, the reader follows Piranesi as he explores the House (labyrinth), accompanied only by another person referred to as Other, at least according to his understanding. Piranesi possesses intricate knowledge of the labyrinth, including its layout and the tidal patterns of the ocean trapped within.
I devoured this story in two days. The writing isn’t anything special, but the story is easily digestible. I think the twist is predictable to a point, but it never ruined the enjoyment for me. I’m not sure why there’s so much hype surrounding this one, but I do get some of the appeal. If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy to cuddle up with, this might be a great one for you.
Goodreads review to come.
If you have read any of these, let me know your thoughts in the comments!
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