The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe

Teacher seeks student
ran off for love, stayed for math?
what a silly girl.

I liked some of the ideas, and characters, but I didn't love this one.

I'll start off by saying that I've never read HP Lovecraft's original story, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, but this certainly made me want to check it out. I don't think you need to read it in order to really enjoy Kij Johnson's own perspective on the story. This is a short, quick read, but packed with SO much I felt like I just read a 1000 page book. The world-building and the writing and the journey just pulled me right in and I felt swept away in a fantastical story like I haven't been for awhile. Vellitt Boe was a delightful character too. Highly recommended if you want a good fantasy/sci-fi to get swept up in, but can't commit to a 1000 page tome...this packs a punch in 165 pages. Warrants future re-reads as well!