Jess Hyslop
@jesshyslop.bsky.social
SFF writer. Fiction in Interzone, Black Static, Mirror Dance, and more. Novella MIASMA out now from Luna Press. All views my own.
https://linktr.ee/jesshyslop
https://linktr.ee/jesshyslop
What does this cover say to you? Does it say, for example, that this book is going to be about a violent, unreliable male narrator who falls obsessively and dangerously in love with another man? No? Didn't think so!
Like, it's a nice cover but in no way mirrors the contents!
Like, it's a nice cover but in no way mirrors the contents!
March 1, 2025 at 10:36 AM
What does this cover say to you? Does it say, for example, that this book is going to be about a violent, unreliable male narrator who falls obsessively and dangerously in love with another man? No? Didn't think so!
Like, it's a nice cover but in no way mirrors the contents!
Like, it's a nice cover but in no way mirrors the contents!
Oh! I've just realised I forgot to mention LOVE AND OTHER THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS by Sophie Ward. With each chapter based on a famous thought experiment, what initially seem like disconnected short stories begin gradually to intertwine in astonishing and moving ways. I loved it.
December 28, 2024 at 6:31 PM
Oh! I've just realised I forgot to mention LOVE AND OTHER THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS by Sophie Ward. With each chapter based on a famous thought experiment, what initially seem like disconnected short stories begin gradually to intertwine in astonishing and moving ways. I loved it.
Finally, & seasonally, A MIDWINTER'S TAIL by Lili Hayward. A heartwarming story of a young woman unexpectedly called back to Morgelyn in the Isles of Scilly, to look after the cat of an elderly man about whom she harbours mixed feelings. A beautifully written, cosy tale of forgiveness & family.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
Finally, & seasonally, A MIDWINTER'S TAIL by Lili Hayward. A heartwarming story of a young woman unexpectedly called back to Morgelyn in the Isles of Scilly, to look after the cat of an elderly man about whom she harbours mixed feelings. A beautifully written, cosy tale of forgiveness & family.
LUD-IN-THE-MIST by Hope Mirelees. Definitely the oldest book I read this year, first published in 1927. Set in a country bordering the land of faerie, it contains some of the most piercing deep-dives into character psychology that I've encountered. One to reread, savour, & ponder.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
LUD-IN-THE-MIST by Hope Mirelees. Definitely the oldest book I read this year, first published in 1927. Set in a country bordering the land of faerie, it contains some of the most piercing deep-dives into character psychology that I've encountered. One to reread, savour, & ponder.
INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE by Emma Torzs. A contemporary fantasy centring around a collection of magical books & the family that protects them. Described like that, it might sound trite - but Torzs's writing is anything but. Her characters are deep & believable, her dialogue sizzles, & her prose shines
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
INK BLOOD SISTER SCRIBE by Emma Torzs. A contemporary fantasy centring around a collection of magical books & the family that protects them. Described like that, it might sound trite - but Torzs's writing is anything but. Her characters are deep & believable, her dialogue sizzles, & her prose shines
LOTE by Shola von Reinhold. A literary mystery, an intellectual feat, and a queer statement rolled into one, LOTE is arch, academic, and incredibly funny. Our narrator, a queer, Black, working class woman, becomes obsessed with following the trail of a forgotten Black poet active in the 1920s.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
LOTE by Shola von Reinhold. A literary mystery, an intellectual feat, and a queer statement rolled into one, LOTE is arch, academic, and incredibly funny. Our narrator, a queer, Black, working class woman, becomes obsessed with following the trail of a forgotten Black poet active in the 1920s.
GHOST APPARENT by @jelenawrites.bsky.social. This slim novella packs a punch, telling the brutal story of a young noblewoman who must fight for power after a shocking betrayal. Set in the same world as Dunato's DARK WOODS, DEEP WATER, it has the same unsettling atmosphere and poised, precise prose.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
GHOST APPARENT by @jelenawrites.bsky.social. This slim novella packs a punch, telling the brutal story of a young noblewoman who must fight for power after a shocking betrayal. Set in the same world as Dunato's DARK WOODS, DEEP WATER, it has the same unsettling atmosphere and poised, precise prose.
LEECH by @hironennes.bsky.social. This book was a spine-tingling surprise. A Gothic horror narrated by one of the most unique POVs I've come across and set in a constantly surprising post-apocalyptic setting. Reminiscent of Mervyn Peake in places, with an anti-colonial twist I also wasn't expecting.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
LEECH by @hironennes.bsky.social. This book was a spine-tingling surprise. A Gothic horror narrated by one of the most unique POVs I've come across and set in a constantly surprising post-apocalyptic setting. Reminiscent of Mervyn Peake in places, with an anti-colonial twist I also wasn't expecting.
THE EMPRESS OF SALT AND FORTUNE by @nghivo.bsky.social. An intricate account of political machinations in a fascinating secondary world--all framed with gentleness and soft humour. Vho manages to make this tale feel both like a comforting hug and a triumphant rallying cry, all at once.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
THE EMPRESS OF SALT AND FORTUNE by @nghivo.bsky.social. An intricate account of political machinations in a fascinating secondary world--all framed with gentleness and soft humour. Vho manages to make this tale feel both like a comforting hug and a triumphant rallying cry, all at once.
ORBITAL by Samantha Harvey. I know, I know, it just won the Booker Prize so doesn't need me shilling for it, but I absolutely adored Harvey's stunning, elegiac novel. Such a slim book to contain such an effective, lyrical portrait of our poor planet.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
ORBITAL by Samantha Harvey. I know, I know, it just won the Booker Prize so doesn't need me shilling for it, but I absolutely adored Harvey's stunning, elegiac novel. Such a slim book to contain such an effective, lyrical portrait of our poor planet.
THE WARM HANDS OF GHOSTS by Katherine Arden. As a fervent fan of Barker's REGENERATION TRILOGY, I wasn't sure about this one at first as I couldn't help but compare them. But as the book continued & the characters developed, I found myself gripped by Arden's account of wartime's horrors & humanity.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
THE WARM HANDS OF GHOSTS by Katherine Arden. As a fervent fan of Barker's REGENERATION TRILOGY, I wasn't sure about this one at first as I couldn't help but compare them. But as the book continued & the characters developed, I found myself gripped by Arden's account of wartime's horrors & humanity.
THE NIGHT TIGER by Yangsze Choo. I also read Choo's THE GHOST BRIDE & THE FOX WIFE this year, enjoying all of them. Her brand of historical fiction laced with supernatural happenings is exactly my cup of tea. THE NIGHT TIGER remains my favourite, with its unique mystery concerning a missing finger.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
THE NIGHT TIGER by Yangsze Choo. I also read Choo's THE GHOST BRIDE & THE FOX WIFE this year, enjoying all of them. Her brand of historical fiction laced with supernatural happenings is exactly my cup of tea. THE NIGHT TIGER remains my favourite, with its unique mystery concerning a missing finger.
ASUNDER by @kerstinhall.bsky.social. A horror-laced fantasy reminiscent of the New Weird. In a world where dog taxis, spider travel, and compacts with bloodthirsty gods are the norm, our protagonist Karis gets caught up in a political conspiracy. Great characters navigate a heartrending plot.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
ASUNDER by @kerstinhall.bsky.social. A horror-laced fantasy reminiscent of the New Weird. In a world where dog taxis, spider travel, and compacts with bloodthirsty gods are the norm, our protagonist Karis gets caught up in a political conspiracy. Great characters navigate a heartrending plot.
CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN by Sayaka Murata. A short novel detailing the day-to-day activities of its neurodiverse protagonist who finds purpose in the structured regime of a convenience store. Quirky and endearing, though laced with a melancholy strand.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN by Sayaka Murata. A short novel detailing the day-to-day activities of its neurodiverse protagonist who finds purpose in the structured regime of a convenience store. Quirky and endearing, though laced with a melancholy strand.
A STUDY IN DROWNING by Ava Reid. It's unusual for me to pick up a YA, but this one intrigued me - and I was duly impressed. The lore of the world was rich and eerie, and interwove deftly with the novel's larger plot and themes of personal and national myth-making.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
A STUDY IN DROWNING by Ava Reid. It's unusual for me to pick up a YA, but this one intrigued me - and I was duly impressed. The lore of the world was rich and eerie, and interwove deftly with the novel's larger plot and themes of personal and national myth-making.
LINGHUN by @aijiang.bsky.social. An atmospheric novella with a sly, almost satirical edge, exploring themes of grief, alienation, and community. Reminded me of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery'.
December 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
LINGHUN by @aijiang.bsky.social. An atmospheric novella with a sly, almost satirical edge, exploring themes of grief, alienation, and community. Reminded me of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery'.
Autumnal colours. #somethingbeautiful
November 3, 2024 at 1:43 PM
Autumnal colours. #somethingbeautiful
Due to personal reasons I’ve been struggling with writing of late, so the other day I decided to get creative in a different way and try my hand at some art. I used to draw a lot as a teen but haven’t done any for ages. Anyway, please enjoy these plants 🪴
September 10, 2024 at 9:06 PM
Due to personal reasons I’ve been struggling with writing of late, so the other day I decided to get creative in a different way and try my hand at some art. I used to draw a lot as a teen but haven’t done any for ages. Anyway, please enjoy these plants 🪴
If you've left your Nebula nominations until the last day, then can I gently hold up my fantasy novella MIASMA for your last-minute consideration. A young boy and his family resist the forces of oppression on the fringes of a toxic magical swamp...
February 29, 2024 at 5:19 PM
If you've left your Nebula nominations until the last day, then can I gently hold up my fantasy novella MIASMA for your last-minute consideration. A young boy and his family resist the forces of oppression on the fringes of a toxic magical swamp...
Given that various awards nominations are still open, here's a reminder that my novella, MIASMA, was published in Feb 2023 by @lunapress.bsky.social - as were five other fantastic novellas by some incredible authors! If you're reading for awards consideration and need a copy of MIASMA, let me know.
January 27, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Given that various awards nominations are still open, here's a reminder that my novella, MIASMA, was published in Feb 2023 by @lunapress.bsky.social - as were five other fantastic novellas by some incredible authors! If you're reading for awards consideration and need a copy of MIASMA, let me know.
With the demise of Tinyletter, I've retooled my newsletter! If you fancy hearing about my publication updates, thoughts on the craft of writing, book reviews, and other related nonsense, sign up here: tinyurl.com/3nn9yyw7
January 17, 2024 at 7:57 PM
With the demise of Tinyletter, I've retooled my newsletter! If you fancy hearing about my publication updates, thoughts on the craft of writing, book reviews, and other related nonsense, sign up here: tinyurl.com/3nn9yyw7
**2023 Awards Eligibility Post**
So MIASMA came out in Feb this year, with the wonderful @lunapress.bsky.social. If you've read and enjoyed it, I'd be honoured if you would consider it for award nomination in the novella category.
So MIASMA came out in Feb this year, with the wonderful @lunapress.bsky.social. If you've read and enjoyed it, I'd be honoured if you would consider it for award nomination in the novella category.
November 13, 2023 at 9:41 PM
**2023 Awards Eligibility Post**
So MIASMA came out in Feb this year, with the wonderful @lunapress.bsky.social. If you've read and enjoyed it, I'd be honoured if you would consider it for award nomination in the novella category.
So MIASMA came out in Feb this year, with the wonderful @lunapress.bsky.social. If you've read and enjoyed it, I'd be honoured if you would consider it for award nomination in the novella category.