“It was often the things we least expected that hurt us the most.” Truer words. 

Unshod, Cackling, and Naked (first of all can we talk about how amazing this title is?) is a collection full of exceptionally powerful stories about badass Black women who are done with your shit, actually. These stories are full of women struggling to make everyone around them happy, trying to fit into the societal pockets they have been crammed into: be polite; find a man and do everything in your power to make him happy even though he clearly does not deserve it, but you are less of a woman without a man; no one will love you as you are; put your head down and do the work, don’t complain; I didn’t have these opportunities as a kid, so you will do what I wasn’t able to do, even if it is not what you wanted for yourself. And each story simmers with anger, and anger trapped behind the smiles of constantly trying to please others at the risk of hurting yourself, and even masked in supernatural occurrences, you know the truth hidden within the pages.  These are stories about women taking back their agency, about overcoming generational trauma, surviving in a world that is doing everything in its power to keep them down.  Some of the stories are a poignant look at the current state of mental health, while not shying away from shining a light on how the systems are failing.  In these thirteen stories, the characters are well fleshed out and relatable, the events are harrowing, and they will keep you on the edge of your seat. A rallying cry for those who wish to heed it.

Within these stories are some hard truths; some are gut-punching, and some are gut-wrenching, but every story is fierce and beautifully written. But they will make you question the things that you least expect to hurt you; the things and the people that you think you can trust to protect you. These are stories to be savored, don’t rush the reading. Enjoy the ride.  

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Review by Teresa B. Ardrey

Twitter: @teresa_ardrey