Weird Stories of Strange Women by Christine Hart | Review
Some stories end on the page. These stay with you.
Some collections are designed to be read straight through. Others encourage readers to pause, reflect, and sit with each story before moving on. Weird Stories of Strange Women falls firmly into the second category.
This is my second time featuring Christine Hart's work on the blog. Earlier this year, I spotlighted her Variant Conspiracy Trilogy, a young adult science fiction series that showcases a different side of her speculative storytelling.
Before sharing my thoughts on this collection, here's a closer look at the book.
About Weird Stories of Strange Women
Weird Stories of Strange Women By Christine Hart
on June 2026
Genres: Speculative Fiction
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 181
Maidens, mothers, and crones all show us how a fractured reality-or a fractured mind-can warp even the most mundane of stories into a bizarre tale. From a twenty-something office worker trapped by a mountaintop cult to an unstable mother trying to resist the urge to flee to another dimension, each of these women steps to the edge of what they know and sees the impossible looking back.
Twelve stories, separated into seasons of life, meander through genres including urban fantasy, science fiction, magic realism, steampunk, folk horror, and cosmic horror. All set in British Columbia. Perfect for readers who are, themselves, strange and unusual.
Reader Resources
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Review at a Glance
| Genre: | Speculative Fiction Short Story Collection |
| Setting: | Various locations and realities, primarily set in Canada |
| Length: | A collection of twelve short stories |
| Themes: | Identity, transformation, womanhood, uncertainty, grief, and the unknown |
| My Rating: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Perfect For: | Readers who enjoy imaginative fiction, dreamlike storytelling, and drawing their own conclusions. |
Quick Take: Dreamlike, thought-provoking stories that invite readers to draw their own conclusions.
Content Considerations
Mild horror elements, unsettling imagery, cult themes, cosmic horror, psychological distress, body horror, grief, death, violence, and mature themes.
With that in mind, let's talk about what it was actually like to read Weird Stories of Strange Women.
My Thoughts
This is not the kind of collection I raced through in a single sitting. Instead, I found myself reading a story or two at a time and letting them settle before moving on.
Weird Stories of Strange Women is a very unique collection. Each story feels a bit like a dream that ends just before you learn how it all turns out. Rather than tying everything up neatly, Christine Hart leaves space for readers to interpret events and draw their own conclusions. I often found myself thinking about a story long after I had finished it, revisiting possibilities and wondering what happened next.
The collection is divided into three sections-Maidens, Mothers, and Crones-with four stories in each. While the genres range from fantasy and magical realism to science fiction and mild horror, the stories are connected by their focus on women navigating situations that challenge their understanding of reality. Some tales are unsettling, others are thought-provoking, but all of them embrace the strange and unexpected.
Readers who prefer stories with firm resolutions may find the open-ended nature of these tales challenging. For me, however, that ambiguity was part of the appeal. The stories invite participation rather than simply providing answers, making each reader's experience a little different.
I would not call this a collection for everyone, but I do think it will find an appreciative audience among readers who enjoy speculative fiction, dreamlike storytelling, and stories that linger in the mind after the final page. Whether I loved every story equally or not, each one left an impression, and that's something I always appreciate in a short story collection.
In Conclusion
Not every story needs to explain everything. Sometimes the most memorable tales are the ones that leave us wondering what happened next. Weird Stories of Strange Women won't be for every reader, but those who enjoy imaginative fiction and open-ended storytelling will likely find plenty here to ponder.
Excerpt
One of the things I appreciated about this collection was its ability to create an atmosphere that feels both familiar and slightly off-kilter. This short excerpt from Her Lunar Bloom, one of the stories in the Crones section, offers a glimpse into the strange, dreamlike quality that runs throughout the book.
The growing moon emerged from behind a cloud. It bathed the yard in soft white light, illuminating a figure standing where the purple fern should have been. A moment later, Marie saw that the figure wasn't a person but a small tree. It was covered in white flower buds that opened to the moon and drank in its light.
Marie's heart pounded as she rummaged in her living room cabinet for her binoculars. Whether it was coyotes or killer plants, she wasn't going back to the edge of the property.
She focused the binoculars on the strange shrub. The flowers were the same as she'd seen on the purple shrub, and the limbs of the figure had vines spiraling around each one.
The shrub turned to face Marie. She dropped the binoculars and gasped.
"It's me, Marie. You don't have to be afraid." Rachel's voice seemed to be in Marie's head, despite it seemingly coming from the plant.
Marie's wound itched. She pushed up her sleeve to scratch it. Horrified, Marie stepped back as though trying to retreat from her wrist. The marks where the plant had bitten her looked aggressively infected, deeper, weeping plasma into the fabric of her shirt.
"I just need a bit more, Marie, and then I'll heal you. We can be together again."
Endorphins surged through Marie's body, followed by a pang of desire. Marie closed her eyes and felt Rachel's lips brush her own. She felt her wife's hands on her body, warm and tender. Marie panicked and opened her eyes to find herself alone in her living room. She sat down on the couch and gave in to the urge to lie back. An overwhelming fatigue forced her eyes closed.
Meet the Author
About Christine Hart
Christine Hart is a writer of speculative fiction for youth and adults. She also runs an online metalsmithing shop, Hart Fabrications.
Christine’s backlist includes YA, NA, and MG titles. Weird Stories of Strange Women is her first collection of adult fiction.
When not writing, she creates wearable art from recycled metals, vintage glass, and unusual gemstones. She shares her eclectic home with her husband and two children.
Explore more from the author:
Website | Amazon | Goodreads
Where to Buy
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Tour dates: May 26 through June 16, 2026. To see the full schedule of stops, visit the
Goddess Fish Promotions - Weird Stories of Strange Women Tour Page.
Giveaway
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