This collection was an absolute joy to read, without having to wonder if a certain character or set piece is neurodivergent coded or not -- they all are, and it felt like being recognized fourteen different times under the cover of the same book. I can imagine becoming that friend who obsessively buys copies of the same book to give them to friends as gifts.

Divergent Realms is a fun anthology of fourteen short stories by neurodivergent authors. As well as the entertainment that the stories bring (and they do!), the editor states that his goal is to represent many diverse voices within the book, which he did by making the submission process more accessible. In doing so, he has collated a truly diverse and interesting set of stories written by neurodiverse authors about neurodiverse characters.

I was also glad to read that the authors were paid as they deserve to be, even if Riley required family support to do so. I think it is an important point, as many, many neurodivergent people are unemployed and underemployed. Nice work, team!

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for review access to the digital book.

This is a challenging review to write.
Were I to just blurt out my first thought, I would have to say "as a whole, it's ok. Nothing stellar".
But that wouldn't be quite right, and it wouldn't be quite fair.
So, Divergent Realms is an anthology of stories written by people with various neurodivergences - ADHD, bipolar disorder, autism (and the different points on that spectrum), and more -, and each of the stories features someone who is different. Sometimes as the protagonist, sometimes as a character we see from the outside. And each of these stories explores some of what it feels like to be different.
Out of the 14 stories, I would say 5 of them were really good, 1 was good, and the rest felt like filler. 6 hits out of 14 seems like a pretty poor batting average, but as I was considering what to write about this collection I started thinking - what made those 6 different, and why did those other 8 leave me indifferent?
They were all stories which I could relate to in some way - the fear of one day not being able to trust my own mind, having people in my life who I will fundamentally never be able to fully understand, the frustration of being betrayed by my own body. These are things which I can understand, and so I get the stories about them. The other stories weren't for me, and that's ok. Not everything is meant for everyone.
Maybe, then, the stories which didn't speak to me might speak to you. In any case, I'm glad this book exists, and I enjoyed of it what I enjoy.

"Divergent Realms" beckons readers into a captivating odyssey through the intricate realm of neurodiversity, beautifully depicted within the imaginative landscape of speculative fiction. Curated and crafted by neurodiverse authors, these stories provide insightful perspectives on ADHD, Autism, OCD, and beyond.

Immerse yourself in these distinct universes and broaden your perception of the world.

This anthology presents tales featuring neurodiverse protagonists, all skillfully written by neurodiverse authors.

I appreciate the opportunity to explore this anthology, which diverges from my usual reading choices as I seldom venture into anthologies. Each evening, it was a delight to escape into a new narrative before drifting off to sleep. While I found some stories more resonant than others, personal preference undoubtedly influences this. Overall, I found the collection to be a rewarding read.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial!

‘Fiction can always do with more of the unique perspectives such writers bring to the table.’ - Riley Odell

Thank you Riley Odell, for doing just this!

This was a very good anthology, with an important theme and high caliber of stories. I found almost every story enjoyable, with only one or two that didn't really work for me. I enjoyed the variety of ideas and representation offered, and will be checking for other work by many of the creators involved.

I'm so glad I decided to try this book. I wasn't familiar with the editor, and anthologies can be very hit or miss, so I wasn't sure how this one would land for me. I was surprised and pleased by this book and I'm glad I read it.

This is an anthology of stories about neurodiverse characters, all written by neurodiverse authors. I love this theme and thought the editor did a great job showcasing stories reflecting a wide range of ND experiences. A hallmark of moving through the world as a ND person is constantly seeing ND conditions/symptoms described in terms of how they impact "normal" or neurotypical people, rather than how they impact the individual with the condition. This anthology was incredibly refreshing in how it centered ND people and their experiences.

While there were a handful of stories that didn't work for me at all - something that's very common for me when reading anthologies - overall I was happy with the quality and depth of the stories. I found several authors whose work I will seek out in the future, and I'll definitely keep an eye out for more work from editor Riley Odell also.

Highlight stories for me:
- A Place to Belong by R.B. Kelly
- All In my Head by Gerri Leen
- Trip of a Lifetime by Holly Schofield
- Nelly's World by Arthur H. Manners

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

Every short story in this collection was a home run. From an autistic kid on a spaceship dealing with the reality that she will not survive to the new planet they're going to, to an anxious android facing her worst fears to save the world, to a man using his ADHD to find both his boyfriend and a better future for everyone, this book was filled with characters dealing with and using their neurodivergencies in a wild variety of situations. It spanned the gauntlet from horror to space opera to paleolithic fantasy. Even if not every story is your cup of tea, at least one or two will absolutely be the story you need to read.

This is a fantastic collection of fourteen short stories written by neurodivergent authors and featuring neurodivergent characters with a good mix of both scifi and fantasy stories. The short stories were consistently well written and enjoyable, and though I’m not neurodivergent myself, I found it really interesting to get an insight into various forms of neurodivergence. The stories were well paced and very readable, and I particularly enjoyed Escape Choice and Defrosting Merlin. Highly recommend this for those looking for something a bit different, to learn more about neurodivergence or even just a fun collection of well written short stories.

Such a quick and fun read! The representation seems genuinely good and thought out, although I can only really speak on the LGBTQ and ADHD rep in this book. Overall, I think that I would recommend this to many people that wanted to just have something to breeze past and keep thinking about again and again!