infinity-star 💛

I don’t even know how to put into words what this book made me feel.

Helena. My baby. She is one of the strongest, bravest FMCs I’ve ever read. Everything she went through absolutely shattered me and watching her keep fighting despite it all broke my heart over and over again.

This book is an absolute masterpiece. The pacing, the way each part is structured, the reveals, the emotional build-up… I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally invested in a story.

Now excuse me while I stare at my bookshelf because I genuinely don’t think anything will ever compare. 🥲❤️

When your boss asks you to unalive yourself in front of everyone at the staff meeting #awkward #relatable

(Thank you to NetGalley and Stelliform Press for the ARC! All opinions are my own.)

The Wetworks Miracle is a dense, slow-spreading moss of dread and the uncanny, wrapping around the senses and squeezing tight. Caleb Sierra cultivates a surreal, grotesque landscape teeming with body and religious horror, a sentient, overwhelming natural force, biopunk creations, and a cast of distinct, bizarre characters. Creeping underneath this lush story are dark, heavy themes of colonization, man's hubris, religion, man vs. nature, ecological disaster/collapse, motherhood, and humanity's place in a living world that is ultimately beyond its control.

The worldbuilding is creative, expansive, and unapologetically weird. The creatures, cultures, histories, and religion all come together in this smothering thicket of Eco-horror nightmares, and it worked to shock, repulse, and mesmerize. The prose gave life to this vision: atmospheric without being overly ornamental or complicated. It can be a bit sparse in some areas though, particularly in describing the immediate environment. Even after finishing the story, it's a bit challenging for me to completely imagine the Wetworks itself and be wholly immersed. However, the ambiance and the distinct character voices made up for it.

The lushness of the world and the ambition of its plot strain against the novella's limited page count. I had so many questions throughout my read, and I finished it with even more. The Wetworks Miracle does not stop, does not hold your hand, doesn't explain the giant vine blocking your windows and burrowing under your skin. It was exciting to stick my hands into the mud-slick mysteries, and yet I do wish there was more time and space to really explore lore, concepts, characters, and world. The story struggled to achieve the careful balance between ambiguity and meaningful resolution, I think, and coupled with the shifting perspectives and nonlinear storyline, this might frustrate or disappoint some readers.

Overall, The Wetworks Miracle is a wonderful, bold debut. I enjoyed my time walking through this overgrown, verdant, crazy world, though at times, I struggled to find my footing amidst all of the craziness happening. I recommend it for those who want a short, punchy, atmospheric, and engaging read, especially if you like the challenge of digging through the soft earth of its prose for the sprawling ideas and messages underneath.

Wow, this was such an incredible book. Vern was such a compelling main character and I loved Gogo, Howling, and Feral too. The themes were SO good. My mind is blown, this is by far one of the best books I've ever read. Gorgeous prose.