Cheryl S. Ntumy

Sauuti Terrors by Eugene Bacon is an intriguing sci-fi anthology that blends technical imagination with deep emotional layers. Each story offers something unique, ranging from themes of women’s oppression to journeys across imaginative worlds. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook—the narrators added a compelling touch and made the experience more immersive. While the collection showcases versatility, it also made me feel that Black authors have immense potential to explore even show more more genres beyond contemporary fiction. This anthology is a great example of how diverse and expansive their storytelling can be, and I’d love to see more such explorations in the future. The book deserves 3 stars. show less

🌌 Set in Sauútiverse
🎵 Sound magic
😶 Repressed grief
😖 Escalating sensation seeking as coping mechanism
🐙 Diverse alien species
🫂 Coming to terms with your ghosts

When I decided to fully commit to Novellavember, I knew I wanted to make sure I had novellas on hand from my favorite tiny presses, and Atthis Arts was at the top of the list! Which turned out to be perfect timing because Songs for the Shadows officially releases on November 15th!

While this book takes place in the show more Sauútiverse, the anthology Mothersound is not required reading for enjoying this novella. You might feel more familiar with the world going in (full disclosure: I read part of, but did not finish Mothersound before I had to return it to the library), but Ntumy efficiently introduces us to all we need to know for this story.

Shad-Dari has been running all her life. As a child she ran from the noise and chaos of a home full of family to find calm alone. As an adult, she seeks out extreme sound to drown out the echoes of her grief that follow her everywhere. What would it take for her to finally be at peace?

It's fascinating to read this as an early entry into the Sauútiverse, because there are alien species and civilizations of past and future hinted at here that could eventually be expanded upon by not just Ntumy, but any of the authors playing in this sandbox. show less