Story Unlikely, September 2025

“Rainbow Baby” by Brittany Rainsdon

Reviewed by Axylus

The speculative elements in “Rainbow Baby” by Brittany Rainsdon are only slight at best, and could be read either as magic realism or a straightforward metaphor for the symptoms of clinical depression. Its protagonist has recently experienced a miscarriage, and in its wake cannot perceive any color aside from shades of black, white, and gray. She learns through friends and counseling that this is not an uncommon syndrome for women who have gone through the same loss. In time she finds a way to bring color back into her life. The story is richly detailed and its characters are believable. However, because the stakes are not emphasized, the emotional nadir lacks a gut-punch. This in turn drains energy from the climax.