A Sorrow Named Joy by Sarah Chorn 2023 SFINCs Book Review

This review is part of the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS). SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”. This is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. It’s a sister competition to both SPFBO and SPSFC, and it highlights greatness in the novella format in all areas of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc.).

To see more information on my team Behind the Musings check out this post!

Joy desires nothing more than her husband's happiness. She spends her days creating the perfect life for him in their idyllic suburban home. Everything is neat, predictable, and in its place.

When Joy finds a picture that hints at a past she cannot remember, the facade cracks. As secrets are revealed, Joy realizes her blissful life is crumbling and to find herself, she must first lose herself.

Perfect, after all, is only an illusion.

Joy’s character shows comfort in familiar habits and repetition. And she also shows readers how something small can influence life in big ways. Joy lives to make her husband happy. She makes sure home life is perfect for when he walks in the door. But one day while cleaning she finds an old photograph. And while the woman in the picture is her, she has no recollection of the day the photo was taken. This discovery starts a domino effect of events that will ultimately reveal truths that will change Joy’s entire world.

While A Sorrow Named Joy isn’t as whimsical in its writing style as other works by Sarah Chorn, it still hits on a deeply emotional level. It's a tale explaining choices made due to extreme grief, and the struggle to overcome the loss of a loved one. The novella not only focuses on grief caused by death but also what happens when relationships no longer work. When love has faded and a person is left with the pieces of what once was.

A Sorrow Named Joy is a quick read, able to capture the reader emotionally. It explores the effects of grief and how to live for oneself.

To Purchase: Amazon | Author's Website

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