River of bones and other stories

Roanhorse (Mirrored Heavens) became a well-known name in speculative fiction with her first short story, "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™," earning her a Nebula and Hugo, plus the Astounding Award for Best New Writer. This story leads off a collection of her shorter writings from the last several years, including "Falling Bodies," in which a new space-station college student tries to figure out who he is outside of his birth race and alien adoption story. Rich housewife Marissa believes she has gotten where she wants to be in "White Hills" but discovers her past secrets cannot stay hidden, and they will cost her. In the brand-new novella, River of Bones, readers return to the "Sixth World" series and see Maggie and Kai respond to a call from Kai's past--one that almost led to his death. Roanhorse's talent for insightful prose, emotional themes, and centering marginalized people in stories is on full display in these stories. VERDICT This enthralling collection brings together some of Roanhorse's best short writing. Current fans and new readers will enjoy.--Kristi Chadwick

Roanhorse's short story collection spans her impressive career. A disillusioned and depressed young man summons a group of cowboy vampires who want him to join their immortal band ("The Boys From Blood River"). In a world with power imbalances not unlike our own, a young human who was raised by an imperialist alien race reckons with his place in the universe ("Falling Bodies"). A queer Black woman's quest for vengeance leads her to otherworldly horrors in 1880s New Mexico ("Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death and, Subsequently, Her Best Life"). A young newlywed reveling in her newly monied lifestyle has to defend herself when her mother-in-law learns the truth about her past ("White Hills"). For fans of Roanhorse's Sixth World series, a novella featuring Kai and Maggie rounds out the second half of the collection ("River of Bones"). Many of the stories, like "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™," about a man working as a cliched shaman character for a near-future company that creates the virtual reality "Experiences" of the title, are profound existential horror. Sometimes Roanhorse uses tools from fantasy, sometimes science fiction, and sometimes she gives stark reality only a gentle artistic nudge. As she writes in the introduction, these stories are "the culmination of the first eight years of [her] writing career," and they demonstrate how clever her work has always been. One of the sharpest writers publishing today, she plays with readers' expectations but is always one step ahead, pivoting before you can guess what she'll do next. This collection is best read with plenty of time to sit and reflect after finishing each piece. A must-read for longtime fans and new readers alike. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.