Nore’s Reviews > Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 214, July 2024 > Status Update

born outside - 4.5 stars - how is this six pages. staggering amount packed in here given the brevity. smth smth change and neurodivergence and empathy. really enjoyed this one.

happiness institute - 2 stars - just so on the nose I couldn't get invested! idk I'm not interested in what's being served up here. there's no meat to the world to make it compelling. the writing didn't do anything for me, either. literal two stars, it was okay.

margot's destruction - reads like a parable in the best way. I wrote a short story v similar to this but a lot less romantic a few years ago, so I always love star people - but it's a good take on godhood and mythology. my favorite of the romance-oriented short stories so far. love it when an author just Tells and you're so absorbed it's fine. delicious writing as well, delightfully sensory

stellar evolution - 2.5/3 stars - not my bag. the twist brought it up a half star or so, but it's clearly written by someone who enjoys idol culture and I.... do not. not bad but not rly thought provoking. I would not be surprised if the author read a lot of danmei.

best version of yourself - 4.5 stars - once again, I stalled after this one bc it was so good I wanted to sit with it for a while. didn't bowl me over so bad like molum in 215 but I wanted to chew on this world (ew). compelling bad guys always get me, and the big bad here is just doing what comes naturally to it, in the end, horrifying as it is. genuinely complicated look at the ethics and morality of a weird sitch.

every hopeless thing - 3.5-4 stars - I have a soft spot for sentient tech. warm, tender little story. nice characterization in few words; worldbuilding didn't fully grab me but I could suspend my disbelief. very murderbot-inspired to my eye (not a complaint). I liked it.