Plus that romance is queer! The first queer story of the collection. It also has a soft romance that just perfectly balances the gloom of being awake forever, no matter how tired you get. It's about a world where one day peoples' sleep just leaves, lifts from their bodies and becomes a new figure that follows them throughout their now never-ending wakefulness. This is one of the softer stories in the collection, full of longing more than abject terror. It introduces you to Armfield's writing style, which is evocative and bone-chilling, and also sets the tone for these stories of horror and surrealism that center on women. This story about puberty and changes you can't go back from is incredibly haunting and it is a perfect introduction to the rest of the collection. Terrifying and engaging in a way that's impossible to look away from. If you were waiting for a more in-depth look at these stories and what I thought of them then I'm glad you're here reading this. I heartily recommend it.Įyyy, updating with longer story reviews a hot month after reading this. Not to mention, multiple stories in this unsettling collection are about queer women and queer relationships. It’s my favorite short story collection that I’ve ever read and I’m already eager to get my hands on whatever Armfield writes next. This is equal parts horrific and beautiful, tragic and grotesque, dark and divine.

Longer review to come with a more detailed review of each story.

Salt slow by julia armfield