From Goodreads: Stories tagged under urban life, oblique humor, romance, satire and even the purpose of life. In this book, you will find urban-style, simple prose, sprinkled with thought-provoking metaphors along the way.

Inklings offers a glimpse into the world of intelligent flash fiction, which, while not a popular genre in traditional publishing, is making an impact in online literature.

For an idea of what to expect, an introduction of five of the twelve stories in this anthology follows:

1. “Intoxicated by Impossibility” – The story of one guy who can’t fall asleep because of one girl who’s not even there. Or is she?
2. “Who Wrote the Rules?” – Existential angst clubbed with rebellion against The System.
3. “The Revolt of the Coconut Trees” – Inspired by an academic study published in the Journal of Trauma, 1984, titled “Injuries due to falling coconuts.”
4. “So What?” – What happens after the Storm.
5. “Cheeky” – A story about that chubby part of a certain person’s face.

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I really enjoyed reading this collection of short stories. What I love the most about them is that they range from profound to humorous, incorporating all genres in-between. There is an underlying meaning behind each piece, and though it may take a second look, a closer reading, to get to the heart of each story, it is well worth it. Warrier has selected profound topics for her flash fiction, such as humanity, love and relationships, coming of age, politics, and change, to evoke further contemplation among readers. Though the selections may be short, they speak volumes and push the reader further, philosophically, as the stories take hold of the mind. On more than one occasion, the reader may need to re-read sections of the text in order to grasp all aspects of Warrier’s reflective prose, as each selection incorporates multiple ideas, but as each piece is fairly short, a close reading of the text is easily manageable.

I especially enjoyed “So What,” as it is such a short, yet profound blurb about society. Originally, I laughed, but as I thought about it, and then re-read it, I began to see multiple meanings and underlying messages that are incorporated in this two-paragraph story. “The Revolt of the Coconut Trees” is another favorite of mine. Warrier’s writing style is beautiful and she takes a look at humanity and its presence in the world in this humorous telling of coconut trees fighting back. “Greenie” was a wonderful coming of age story that transcends all cultures and is very touching, and I love that all readers, on some level, are able to identify with this story. All in all, Warrier is an exceptional writer and her flash fiction is a must read. Four stars.