Review of Skin Thief by Suzan Palumbo
Skin Thief by Suzan Palumbo (Neon Hemlock, 2023) is a collection of dark and atmospheric stories, the majority of which have been previously published in major speculative fiction magazines. The stories contain a variety of themes including family (particularly sisters, but also mothers and daughters) and Trinidadian culture.
Stories I really loved in this collection included “The Pull of the Herd,” in which a shapeshifter who has left her people tries to help them. I found “Her Voice, Unmasked” a gorgeous steampunk story that felt to me like a retelling of or inspired by The Phantom of the Opera. The novella, “Kill Jar,” was a lovely take on a not-quite-human daughter and her very human father. Though one of the darker stories in the book, “Laughter Among the Trees” had such a wonderfully realistic relationship between sisters that I thoroughly enjoyed it, even when I reached the inevitable ending. Finally, “The Bride” wove urban legend and longing together in a perfect way, and again had a great sister relationship that I could relate to.
If you’re looking for a collection of dark fiction, most of which takes place in a world not all that different from our own, check out Skin Thief for these and so many other wonderful stories!
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