“Kirbyhasmasteredtheartofshortfiction...Astunningcollectionfromawriterwhosetalentandcreativityseemboundless.“--NPR“Kirbytakesjoyinsubvertingthereader’sexpectationsateveryturn.Hercharactersmightbena簿ve,evenreckless,buttheyaren’tabouttobevictims:They’restrong,andbrave,andnearlyalwayscapableofrescuingthemselves.“--NewYorkTimesBookReviewMargaretAtwoodmeetsBuffyinthesefunny,warm,andfuriousstoriesofwomenattheirbreakingpoints,fromHellenictimestotoday.Cassandramayhaveseenthefuture,butitdoesn’tmeanshe’sresignedtotellingtheTrojanseverythingsheknows.Inthisebullientcollection,virginsescapefrombeingsacrificed,witchesrefusetobeburned,whoresaren’tashamed,andeverywomangetsachancetobearadioactivecockroachwarriorwhosnapsbackatcatcallers.GwenE.Kirbyexperimentswithfoundstructures--aYelpreview,aWikiHowarticle--whichherfierce,irreverentnarratorspushagainst,showinghowcreativitywithinanenclosedspaceunderminesanddeconstructstheconstraintsthemselves.Whenthesewomentellthestoriesoftheirtriumphsaswellastheirpain,theyemergeasfunny,angry,loud,horny,lonely,strongprotagonistswhorefusetobesecondarycharactersamomentlonger.From“TheBestandOnlyWhoreofCymHyfryd,1886“tothe“MidwesternGirlIsTiredofAppearinginYourShortStories,“Kirbyisplayingandlaughingwiththewomenwhohavecomebeforeherandtheyaretellingher,wehavealwaysbeenthisway.Youjusthadtoknowwheretolook.
