Review: I actually stumbled across this book at a half-priced book store in town. I was surprised to find a signed copy and the shelves and I knew that I had to see what this anthology was all about!

My Individual Thoughts on Each Short Story:

“Inertia”: I absolutely LOVED this short story. “Inertia” happens to be the first story in the anthology and man did it hook me in. It was so easy to slowly become a part of Roth’s futuristic world where individuals are granted a visitation period where they can share their old memories with loved ones when they are on their death bed. The concept was so unique and I got so invested in the two main characters that there were parts of the story that had me shedding tears. I encourage everyone to read this one, as it is so beautifully written and incorporates mental health issues, grief, and love.

“The Spinners”: I wasn’t as big of a fan of “The Spinners,” which circles around a world shared by both humans and aliens. I am not a lover of creepy crawlies, so it took me a while to warm up to the leeches. My only complaint with this short story is that I had a hard time connecting with the characters. We were introduced to the main character’s past briefly, but I felt that there was too much going on that distanced me from the narrator.

“Hearken”: Again, this is another short story that I LOVED. I did not want this one to end. I fell in love with the concept of every human being having both a life song and a death song within them. This is not something I would have conjured up on my own and I adored Roth’s beautiful descriptions of the sounds recorded by the Hearkens, the select few who can hear the notes created by each body. I felt like the music nearly leapt out of each page as I read about piano keys being hit and violin strings vibrating.

“Vim and Vigor”: I am a huge fan of superheroes, so it was interesting to read about a universe with characters different from the Marvel and DC superheroes I know and love. Vim and Vigor are just two of the heroes described by Roth at the beginning of the story who play a role in Edie’s life. To my surprise, however, the heroes do not make many appearances. Instead, they serve as a shared love between Edie and her former friends who drifted apart after a death in the friend group. This story definitely was not my favorite, but I still enjoyed reading about Roth’s Elucidation Protocol, a simulated reality technology that reveals the likely outcomes of difficult decisions. It was interesting to see two different outcomes play out for Edie as she decides who to go with to the prom.

“Armored Ones”: I was very excited for this one, as “Armored Ones” is a branch of Roth’s Carve the Mark duology. I was so sad when I finished "The Fates Divide," so it was fun to be able to dive back into that universe again and get more of an insight into the duology. Teka’s perspective was not in the first two novels, so it was fun to see her point of view in this mini story. I got more of a glimpse of her past and in turn her motivations for some of the actions seen in "Carve the Mark." It was also very fun to read from Akos’ perspective once again. Roth briefly touched upon how Akos received his armor in the "Carve the Mark" duology, but I thoroughly enjoyed going further in-depth with it in “Armored Ones.” The story further solidified the lengths Akos will go for his family and shows the beginning of his growth as a character. While this story does connect to the "Carve the Mark" books, I do believe that it can be read as a standalone!

“The Transformationist”: This story also connects to the same universe as the "Carve the Mark" duology, but once again, it can be read as a standalone. “The Transformationist” circles around the life of Otho, a prisoner being held in jail for a crime that is not revealed until the end of the story. I found it really interesting to read about Otho’s familial expectations and what happens when he is not able to meet those expectations. This story is full of love, heartbreak, and trauma. My only comment is that I wish I could have learned more about Otho’s “currentgift,” as it seemed very unique compared to the gifts of other characters in the "Carve the Mark" duology.

Overall: I was very impressed by this collection of short stories and the illustrations were absolutely phenomenal! This anthology is a great way to dive into the science fiction genre and Roth’s writing style as an author.

Jess Approved?: ✓