Review of Resurrections by Ada Hoffmann
Resurrections by Ada Hoffmann (Apex Book Company, 2023) is a wonderful collection of speculative fiction stories and poetry, ranging through a variety of themes and lengths. Many of the pieces feature neurodiverse and/or queer characters, either explicitly or implicitly.
The collection as a whole is brilliantly assembled, with many of the stories arranged in such a way that they seem to be commenting on one another. My favorites were wide ranging in terms of genre and tone. Although I’m not familiar with the opera, “Variations on a Theme from Turandot” is a lovely opening to the book, creating an internal conversation on actors, characters, and choices. “As Hollow as a Heart” is a fascinating variation on the story of Bluebeard. The method of telling “The Herdsman of the Dead” is everything I wanted in a story told in second person (though with a very clear “you” in mind), exploring the idea of temporarily dying in order to find joy, and the twist at the end tied the whole thing together perfectly. Finally, “The Scrape of Tooth and Bone,” a sort of steampunk-inspired story about paleontology, was filled with wonderful characters, twists, and dilemmas.
As is the case with any collection, readers are sure to find some stories that delight them, and the options abound in Resurrections. This book came out yesterday, so you can grab a copy and start reading right away!
The publisher provided me with an advance copy of this collection for review consideration.
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