Review publishes on 2/25/24.

THESE FRAGILE GRACES, THIS FUGITIVE HEART is a queer thriller about a trans woman who returns to her former anarchist compound and ends up investigating her ex's murder. It intimacy, autonomy, and connection, as well as the timeless question of "if you fuck your own clone, is it incest or masturbation?"

THESE FRAGILE GRACES strange and vibrant, set in a dystopia with governmental and corporate neglect inversely proportional to the wealth of the residents, when any remain at all. The worldbuilding is drawn in broad strokes, only explaining as much as is relevant to Dora's thoughts at any one moment. What is explained is about the result, not the path to get there, as much of the collapse happened before her lifetime.

Even as the mystery part of the story takes a bit of a backseat to Dora's identity crisis when confronted with her clones, it never loses the tense thread which began with her ex-girlfriend's murder and sudden return to a place she left under stressful circumstances.

If you like queer dystopian thrillers, don't miss THESE FRAGILE GRACES, THIS FUGITIVE HEART.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart" is a technothriller story that's not only very queer, but also very anarchist in its philosophy. It's about Dora, a trans woman who'd left her commune a couple years back after some arguments about its philosophy. Now Dora must return to the commune as her ex-girlfriend Kay was murdered, so she must investigate and make sure nobody else has to die. As she investigated more and more, she was attacked by clones of her pre-transition self, and she realized that she (and the commune) was stuck in a war between two big merciless corporations, and she must find a way to get them out of that problem, while also solving the murder.

Despite the length, this book managed to not only pack a fast-paced plot that feels complete (novellas sometimes feel like they're meant to be longer, not the case here) while for the most part) while also having some really interesting commentary about transness and self-determination. The book also uses the concept of clones in a way that I found really interesting and I've never seen before. It's done in such a way that it also explores the idea of identity especially in the context of being transgender. A lot of people will probably see this part of the story as being problematic, but as the author said in the afterword, queer characters should be able to be problematic too, just like everyone else, and this was a good way to go about it.

There have been numerous stories throughout the history of science fiction that take place in locations that are in the remains of once prosperous and populous cities. The reasons these cities are a shambles, shadows of their former selves, are irrelevant to the story. THESE FRAGILE GRACES, THIS FUGITIVE HEART is a novella that takes place in a portion of Kansas City that has been abandoned by the city government. There is little or no police presence, no supported infrastructure, everything is rundown. There is a portion of Kansas City that is well protected and taken care of, but the location of the story here has been left on its own.

Dora, a transgender former security expert, is living in self-imposed exile from the commune she used to inhabit with her girlfriend Kay. Things were becoming more dangerous there, and things were happening that Dora couldn't explain. She wanted to tighten up security, make the place safer for residents of the commune. The changes were controversial and voted down, so she left, abandoning Kay and the rest of the commune. As the story opens, Dora is returning to the commune to investigate the apparent murder by drug overdose of Kay. Her return to the commune is met with suspicion and resistance, since she burned more than a few bridges when she left. While it's apparent that just maybe Dora was right about the changes she wanted to implement to the commune's security procedures, those arguments have to be put aside so that Dora can find out just what happened to Kay and maybe prevent it from happening to someone else.

Kay's investigation opens the door to a number of other incidents, including people disappearing, a new drug circulating around the abandoned parts of Kansas City, and a war between two corporations, one of which employs her father, who refuses to recognize the transitioned Dora as his daughter. During her investigation she is attacked - by clones of herself from her pre-transition past. Dora manages to take one of these clones under her wing and convince them to help her get to the bottom of just what is going on.

THESE FRAGILE GRACES, THIS FUGITIVE HEART is a noir technothriller, with Dora playing the part of the obsessed, insomniac private investigator trying to solve a complex puzzle. The difference is, of course, that this is a science fiction story with many of the trappings that accompany the genre. But it's much more than that. It raises questions of identity - so, you are transgender and you meet a clone of yourself, and how do you handle that situation anyway, especially if only for a little while the emotional situation results in physical needs? - belonging, and family. It's well written with terrific dialog and tells a great story. As with most stories, this one is probably not for everyone, but if you do take a chance on it I think you won't be disappointed. And, once again, I've encountered a writer that I haven't known previously but certainly look forward to reading more from. It seems that my to be read stack will continue to get larger, and there's no end in sight.

I rarely read dystopian fiction—it generally feels enough like non-fiction to make the reading experience rather uncomfortable and often downright heart-breaking. I am, however, quite glad that I found These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart. It is dystopian, but it's also a mystery (a genre I love to read) with a cast that covers pretty much the entire gender spectrum.

The novel is set in Kansas City several decades into the future. Class rifts have widened. The haves have even more. The have-nots scrabble along in the best ways they can using methods ranging from larceny to anarchist collective living. Dora (Theodora, once Theodore) used to be a part of a particular collective, but left it burning bridges behind her. So when Dora finds out that her ex, one of the founders of the collective, has been killed and then finds herself being attacked by a series of assassins who just happen to be clones of her pre-transition self.

This is mind-bending stuff. The technologies of the time are far enough from, yet close enough to, our own to feel both familiar and completely foreign. The hunt for the truth requires moving across a number of dangerous cultural landscapes and making risky decisions about who to trust.

If you enjoy mysteries or sci-fi that move beyond the usual cis-dominated cast, you'll love These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart. If you enjoy both, you're in for a real treat—with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher; the opinions are my own.

A thought-provoking, and thoroughly enjoyable science fiction thriller with a noir-bite. I love the way this story interweaves the murder mystery with the personal story of Dora, and her troubled past within the anarchist commune she once called home. Friendship, old exes, and family (in more ways than one!) tangle with corporate shenanigans and tech that seems frighteningly close to reality. A terrific story with both a hard sci-fi edge and real human depth.

Loved the analysis of commune/community and ethics surrounding longevity, and the noir is fantastic. I find myself wanting more information on everything.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Tachyon Publications for an advance copy of this science fiction novel dealing with identity, the cost we pay to keep to who we want to be, and the greed for money and control that makes future seem so dystopian.

We live in a wondrous age of technology, but in a time where are rights are eroding to almost Puritan time levels. In the land of the free, half of the population can not decide on their own medical care. Another portion can't even ask people to address them as they choose to be. And many seem happy with this eroding of autonomy, as long as it doesn't effect them, or affect their lifestyle. We live in an an age of wonder, and and an age of meanness, for no other reason than cruelty is a new political force, even a new religion. And it looks like it will only get worse. These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein is a novel of the future, full of dying cities, strained alliances, and where one's personal choice of identity, is considered a major to those in power, a threat that will lead to murder, even erasure, all for control.

Dora is a trans woman who escaped her past, and found first safety in a commune among the remains of Kansas City, sometime in the future, and love with Kay who cared for Dora. Dora however could see the signs, the threats that were rising and began to fight among the commune about changing their ways, increasing security. Dora was asked to leave, and parted with Kay harshly, something she still regrets. Dora found work at the fringes of security work, surviving, but not thriving. Until Dora is told that Kay is dead, supposedly from an overdose. Which Dora finds is actually a murder. Dora begins to investigate and finds that quite a bit is happening in the neighborhood. People are leaving, a member of tech group has been spotted in the neighborhood, and Dora is attacked twice by assassins, assassins with curiously familiar faces. Dora must call on all her skills, and fight for a people that many have given up on, including Dora herself.

A very good look at a possible future, one that too many seems like real day. Also this a a very hopeful story, about surviving trauma, and being comfortable with who you really are. The world is very interesting, and as I said very possible in many ways. Little things make sense, collecting water from fire escapes, the use of solar for almost everything. The characters are also very well written. Dora is a character I want to know more about, and read more adventures featuring. Dora is a noir character, complete with a .38 revolver and a cynical knight errant attitude. The story is good, with a strong feeling or what is at stake. And for a book that sounds so dark, does end on a bit of a high note. I understand that this might not be for everyone, but I enjoyed this look at the future ,the characters involved and would love to read more with these characters. There is a lot of potential, and a whole sad America to explore.

A thoughtful presentation of real people, with real problems, and some science fiction themes. I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected, and even a couple hours after finishing, keep thinking of certain lines, and certain ideas.

Personally, I draw the line at clones having sex (which is dreadfully ironic for someone who was in the Orphan Black fandom, I know) - HOWEVER, I was very interested (as I was in the Orphan Black days) in how the clone and original viewed each other and the world. This is made particularly complicated and unique by the fact that the original is trans and the clones are (at least upon first pass) cis. And I can certainly appreciate that our original, Dora, had similar concerns about clone sex before she decided to participate.

Layered on top of this, you have an anarchist commune, almost total societal collapse, and themes of trust vs security. And of course memory, trauma, and deadnaming / other gender-based violence / transphobia.

I was blown away by how much I loved this book. While I thought I would like the novella based on the synopsis, I wasn't expecting this to be a favorite book of mine.

These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart features a trans protagonist in a cyber-noir setting and centers on a murder mystery that grows into a larger corporation-based thriller. However, These Fragile Graces is much more than just a mystery. Its razor-sharp prose prompts readers to consider its queer characters and the queer experience, sometimes asking uncomfortable questions. Why do only certain characters get to be complex? Why can't queer and trans characters also be complicated? Why don't we afford them the same grace we afford cis, heterosexual men? These are tough questions, but Wasserstein handles them beautifully. She uses the framing of a noir-murder mystery, to let her characters be wondrously flawed.

This novella reminded me how much I love messy, complicated characters in science fiction. I firmly believe the best science fiction occurs in grimy, gritty worlds, and those worlds rarely hold pristine people. Wasserstein's characters are amazingly crafted and the perfect blend of complicated and capable. Dora, the protagonist of the book, is a trans woman living in a worn-down corner of an almost post-cyberpunk city. At the novella's opening, Dora receives a visit from an old friend and learns of a murder in her former commune. The remainder of the story centers on this mystery, while also tackling traditional cyberpunk themes of cloning, drugs, and big corporations.

I loved Dora as a main character, but the secondary characters also shined. Blue, with all their complicated and confusing feelings, was one of the most compelling characters I've read in a long time. Although the commune dwellers were mostly minor characters, I also enjoyed getting to know them.

Final Thoughts: I loved everything about this novella. The characters are complex, and the mystery is sharp. The world is bleak, yet the commune shines as a bright spot. I loved Blue (and who they become). I loved Dora. Read this novella.

Rating: An enormous 5/5 stars.

Review will be posted on Back Shelf Books on March 1, 2024, on the link below.

This is a near-future novel featuring trans-positive and LGBTQ characters, framed around a murder mystery involving cloning. Wasserstein shows a lot of promise as a novelist; I enjoyed this one.

Fear was a luxury I could not afford. Anger was cheaper.

Dora the transwoman post-apocalyptic explorer sets out to find the murder of her ex-girlfriend and uncovers a corrupt biotech plan most foul.

Thumbs up: Good commentary on the societal struggles and policing of marginalized peoples, transphobia, and envisioning of life after climate disaster.

Thumbs down: I struggled with this book as I felt there were massive chunks missing from the plot. I do enjoy a fast-paced novella but the motives and important plot points were missing for me. I found there was a lot of telling rather than showing. The lackluster dialogue made it difficult to remain engaged in the story.

Was it a nail biter? I don't think this read was for me but I would recommend it to queer noir sci-fi lovers! 2.5/5

After the murder of her ex-girlfriend, Dora returns to the commune she has recently left to figure out what happened. This novella is perfect for queer fans of mystery and thriller genre fiction. Wasserstein subverts the hardened detective trope by casting a trans woman rather than a cis man as the protagonist, as Dora's critical view of the world comes from her childhood experiences.

In the mid-21st century, Dora hasn't visited her old commune in years. However, when her ex-girlfriend Kay is murdered, and everyone in the commune becomes a potential suspect, Dora realizes she's the only one who can solve the case.

As she gets pulled back into her old community and starts investigating, Dora uncovers more than just Kay's death. A strange new drug is circulating, people are disappearing, and Dora is being attacked by individuals from her past before she transitioned.

There's more to the story but let's stop here. The novella is quick to read and engaging.

I love a good dystopian noir! This was a lot of fun - very atmospheric, very interesting. There were a few plot choices I didn’t totally buy - actually I think this would have worked better as a full novel! As a novella there wasn’t quite enough room for red herrings.

Overall, I enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to whatever this author writes next!

In a queer, noir technothriller of fractured identity and corporate intrigue, a trans woman faces her fear of losing her community as her past chases after her.

Fantastic! Great world-building, great characters, great plot twists. Highly recommended!

Esta novela corta de Izzy Wasserstein nos retrotrae a los inicios del cyberpunk, con una ambientación distópica y opresiva que de una forma provocativa nos pone ante nuestra propia imagen en un espejo.

Me temo que la escasa longitud de These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart juega en contra de la propia obra, porque la ambientación apenas está definida por unos cuantos párrafos que piden a gritos algo más de extensión. Dora es una mujer trans que volverá a una comuna de la que se fue de mala manera cuando su ex novia aparece asesinada.

El mundo en que Wasserstein ha situado su novela es descorazonador, pero no inverosímil. Las insalvables diferencias entre los muy ricos y el resto de la humanidad, la balcanización de los territorios, la práctica inexistencia de los servicios públicos dan como resultado un panorama tan desolador como creíble. La omnipresencia de las grandes corporaciones y su falta de escrúpulos a la hora de conseguir resultados es otro de los temas presentes a lo largo de toda la lectura.

La resolución de la "investigación" es bastante apresurada, pero resulta especialmente perturbadora para los habitantes de la comuna y también para el lector. La presencia de clones implica la existencia de una tecnología muy avanzada a la que no se han puesto cortapisas éticas, lo que también nos da más material para reflexionar.

Me gusta la defensa del anarquismo como medio de vida y supervivencia frente a la barbarie, pero creo que el propio desarrollo de la historia nos deja entrever que está abocado al fracaso.

No es fácil recomendar la lectura de These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart porque considero que hace falta un bagaje amplio en la ciencia ficción para entrar en la historia y aún así, creo que podría haber dado más de sí.