Released June 1, 2021 

 

Future Feeling 

By. Josh Lake 

Soft Skull Press 

P. 294 

Format: eArc 

Rating: **** 

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I received an e-arc from @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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Future Feeling is a mystical trans fantasy novel. If that does not hook you instantly, then this may not be the novel for you. 

 

Penfield R. Henderson is a dog walker in New York. He is haunted by the R in his name which stands for Ruth, the last remnant of his gender assigned at birth. He is also haunted by Aiden, a trans super influencer on the gram. Aiden shows a life that is a little too perfect. It is too much for Penfield to take. So, he does what any logical trans man would do. He uses his hacker roommate to hack into Aiden’s social media account. Then, he has his witch roommate send out a hex. Except, the hex does not hit Aiden. Instead, it attaches itself to Blithe, a trans man adopted from China. The hex sends Blithe to the Shadowlands. The Rhiz, a mythical organization for all trans beings, charge Penfield and Aiden to work together to bring him back. 

 

This book is written whimsically but covers very deep topics. The book itself is amazing. I wish there was a Rhiz organization to initiate and connect all trans beings. The relationships that are formed are messy, but they are all the better for it. This novel is a validation to all trans beings that you are not alone. For all nontrans beings, then it allows you a glimpse into the mystical tribe. 

 

For the most part, this book is set in a very familiar everyday setting. However, the technology is just slightly advanced. I think this was done, mostly, to highlight the more fantastical elements of the novel. It really makes more of a fusion novel than one set in any specific genre. Which, especially considering the subject matter, really works well.