October was super hectic because I received my dev edits for my YA science fiction novel, Worlds Divide, which comes out in April from Balance of Seven Press. This is my debut novel, so the entire process is new to me. This left me with less reading time. No novels (because I need nothing that might set my tenses incorrect) and not a lot of short story reading time.
In October, I recommended eighteen (18) stories. In lieu of new stories the final week, I suggested horror throwback recs. Those aren’t featured here, but they were featured in past round-ups. I also spent a lot of September trying to catch up on Newsletter reading in preparation for getting behind again with my edits. That project my be apparent here.
Diabolical Plots published:
Please Properly Cage Your Words by Beth Goder in July.
A word can turn your life inside out.
Skin as Warp, Blood as Weft by Lilia Zhang in August.
A retelling of a folktale.
(Skin) by Chelsea Sutton in October.
A superbly creepy story (that also made me think of the eyeball alien in Alien Earth.)
A tiny story from V’s Two-Fic Tuesday published in July.
I had to share this because it resonated so hard with me, currently looking for a new home while living in a home I grew up visiting. I’m crying all over again just writing this rec.
Also you should subscribe to V’s Two-Fic Tuesday.
Inner Worlds published
A Certain Kind of Love by Chad Gayle in May.
A bittersweet story about love, loss, and grief.
Lungs by Busayo Akinmoju in August.
A story of loss and grief and familial ties.
I Don’t Mind by Josie Levin in August.
As someone with a difficult meat sack, I appreciate a lot about the ability to send a body outside.
Jujubes by Kim Yudam translated from Korean by Sunnie Chae was published at Words Without Borders in August.
Satisfying a dying grandmother’s wish.
Small Wonders published
Gifted and Talented by Marika Bailey in September.
A list of fairy tales, retold.
Princess Lilaclaire and the Witch’s Frog Faire by Indigo Rue in September.
What is destiny?
The Truth About Crows by Jo Miles was published at Factor Four in September.
A dragon meets a crow, and we all know they both adore shinies.
The Deadlands published in August:
Little Trinkets by A. J. Sharpe
Another story about crows to round out the week.
Deliquescence by Kelsea Yu
A story of death and cycles and a lady in a lake.
I wanted to say this story is gorgeous, but there is death and murder and things that should not be gorgeous within it. Perhaps it is the telling and the cycle that is beautiful. This story wrapped me in. I hope it does the same for you.
Opening the Attic by Melissa Jornd was published at Crepuscular in August.
I’m a little addicted to stories of houses as the POV right now, and stories where homes are left by former residents.
If There’s Anyone Left published Every Taco Bell in America by Annika Barranti Klein in September.
A story of burritos, portals, and grief.
kaleidotrope published:
“I have been to the market” by Shana Ross
The line “Oh, the illusion of choice” really got me.
What a Big Heart You Have by Marissa Lingen
A fun mix of fairy tales and a perplexed granddaughter.
Wyldblood Press Flash Fiction Fortnightly published Five Things You Should Know Before Summoning a Demon by Karl Dandenell in 2022.
Be careful of all the things it takes to summon a demon.
I hope you enjoy these eighteen stories. They were stellar stories. Lots of big feels in the October recs. Join me daily at Bluesky and Mastodon for story recs and every first Monday on my blog here for the round-up.