Reading From The Inside by Sophia Turner
Author: Sophia Turner
Publication Date: January 17, 2025 by Transistance Press
Genres: Erotica
Representation: Transgender, Lesbian
For a first collection, From The Inside is a wonderful thing. Sophia Turner dips her pen into a number of different genres, coloring all of her tales with imagination. What connects them all is the strength of the characters, but what makes them memorable is the themes she explores.
One of the first themes that struck me is that of sacrilege, which plays into my favorite stories in the collection – Ex Inferis, the supernatural tale of a transgender woman who casually summons a transgender demon with a very erotic, very blasphemous prayer. The Lady Of The House has something of sacrilege to it as well, with the reading of erotica very sermon-like, but I’ll have more to say about it with the next theme. Thorns In Her Side is the last story I’d place under this theme, a pastoral kind of fantasy about faith, religion, and the difference between soul and spirit.
The next theme that resonated with me is that of submission, which takes the form of pet play (The Best Dog In the Universe and Cat Got Her Tongue) and dollification (The Lady Of The House and To Heal The Mind). These are stories that explore the need to submit . . . to give up all control . . . to be cared for and commanded . . . and there’s a sincerity to them that tells me Turner understands the role very well. The Lady Of The House was a particular favorite of mine, and a story I would love more of.
The last theme I wanted to touch on, and this is probably the only one that legitimately warrants a content warning, is gender dysphoria, as confronted in the title tale, From The Inside. Wow, this was a powerful tale, and just so well-done. You don’t need to be transgender to appreciate it, but if you are . . . well, you’ll sympathize with the anxiety as much as you celebrate the healing.
There were a couple of stories that just didn’t grab my attention, but I expect that of any collection, and the ones that I enjoyed, I enjoyed immensely. If you’re up for some smart, sexy, meaningful erotica, From The Inside is well worth the read.
Rating: 
