I never thought I’d say it but this debut needed to be the first of *at least* a duology, if not a trilogy, to really work. Georgia S2.5* rounded up.
I never thought I’d say it but this debut needed to be the first of *at least* a duology, if not a trilogy, to really work. Georgia Summers can write; the world building has lots of promise; there are some interesting characters (albeit not the central ones unfortunately) and the story made me nostalgic for all the portal fantasies I’ve read before. However, the execution is haphazard and truncated, squashed into less than 350 pages, which leaves some huge gaping holes in the logic of the plot and the motivations of the characters. Most of the secondary actors are barely sketched - although the book treats them like we should know them better. Big dramatic moments are portentously built up and then dismissed in a couple of pages. Important things happen off the page and are explained in a single sentence. It reads, especially towards the end, like someone’s worked up outline for a story rather than a finished novel. There is enough to keep stringing the reader along on the basic plot but if you start probing the fundamentals it all falls apart. Summers paints a grand world but without a grand vision. Plus the ending didn’t make any sense to me - it felt like it was solving a set of problems rather than resolving the arc of the story.
In other words, an incredibly frustrating reading experience. Probably with better editing and more time, it could have been much more than it is. I read that it sold for six figures - oof - so perhaps that brought its own kind of pressure? Anyway, I’m sufficiently interested in Summers development that I’ll try their next book, just to see. ...more
1.5* rounded up. I’ve had this book hanging out in my KU queue for a while and, since I’m playing chicken with cancelling my subscription, I decided t1.5* rounded up. I’ve had this book hanging out in my KU queue for a while and, since I’m playing chicken with cancelling my subscription, I decided to finally try it. And it started well! The first section, set in the mid-1990s in the midlands and told from the perspective of Matt, a neglected gay kid from a council estate, has a beguiling narrative voice. His love affair with posh Alex, a rugby playing blonde Viking from the suburbs, comes across as heartfelt. It was hands down the best part of the book - like Heartstopper but grungier. There were some lovely friendships outside the romance too, which I was perhaps more emotionally invested in than the central pairing.
Unfortunately, everything that came after poisoned it in my mind. We have two time jumps, first to 2005 and then to the present, during which time Matt and Alex are ripped apart by life circumstances and Matt’s struggles with mental illness. We are treated to a barrage of the worst mm romance tropes - misogyny, internalised bi and homophobia, plus a trauma pile-on that goes on and on. Matt is made to suffer the lion’s share of this and I can only say, for those in the know, thank god for Phil and Cartwright. The women and girls of the novel are treated appallingly as either nags or sluts (always off page), unless they are nice boy’s mums. It made me so uncomfortable!
So, good writing is the best I can say - good enough that I’d try Fearne Hill again if it weren’t for all the ways in which this misses the mark for queer rep....more
I have never come so close to DNF-ing a KJ Charles book. This was just *not it* for me, in a big way. The cloying niceness of the MMCs and their lacklI have never come so close to DNF-ing a KJ Charles book. This was just *not it* for me, in a big way. The cloying niceness of the MMCs and their lacklustre chemistry; the centring of the ‘pain of privilege’; the poverty of secondary characters, especially women (who aren’t just plot bunnies); the absolutely bananas plot that is 50% ridiculous coincidences and melodrama and 50% boring too-ing and fro-ing around the midlands; but most of all, the takeaways about the positive good of power and privilege in the hands of the right Duke.
I’m starting to feel panicked that I’m falling out with KJC, having not liked the last three of her mainstream published titles. What is going on? Two stars only because of 1. The surprisingly kinky sex scenes, which made no sense in the context of this story but which I nevertheless enjoyed and 2. That scene where they go looking at churches and Shakespeare sites in Stratford, because it was legitimately lovely....more
I feel like I have been for a swim in a torrent of lava but the lava was made of words.
First of all, thank god I decided to catch up on this series bI feel like I have been for a swim in a torrent of lava but the lava was made of words.
First of all, thank god I decided to catch up on this series back to back, because you need to exercise every brain cell in remembering and making connections to Gideon the Ninth. But at the same time, Harrow has such a different tone - the narrative voice is confused, because the protagonist herself is (quite literally, at times) out of her mind - that even knowing what you know from the first book is no help at all. In other words, expect to feel fucked around for at least the first half of the story.
It’s just a good job that Tamsyn Muir is very very good at fucking with us. The way she makes is possible to re-know characters that we lost or disdained in the first book, in ways that make them utterly lovable? Chef’s kiss. The way she takes the found family trope and warps it around 10,000 years of toxic back stabbing? Perfection. The way she writes monsters and ghosts and fights like she’s taken LSD and then sat straight down to draft the action scenes? I love it.
Inked with a Kiss left me feeling decidedly tepid. It's the story of Jamie, a 37 year old tattooist, and Sierra, a 25 year old social worker, and2.5*
Inked with a Kiss left me feeling decidedly tepid. It's the story of Jamie, a 37 year old tattooist, and Sierra, a 25 year old social worker, and their faltering steps towards a committed relationship. While the pair have undeniable chemistry, fueled by Sierra's regular tattoo appointments, neither one has plucked up the confidence to act on it. Jamie has a lot of life commitments - a 13 year old daughter, an ex-wife and barely functioning alcoholic parents - while Sierra is trying to avoid commitment altogether, keeping life breezy and easy after losing her mum as a child. Add the age gap into the equation and it hardly seems like the basis for a sound relationship: Jamie absolutely does not want to be Sierra's substitute mum, and Sierra doesn't want to be obligated or tied down by anyone. They have a lot to work through to come to a mutual understanding of what being together might mean to them.
This work is facilitated when Sierra enlists Jamie's help in organizing a fundraiser for the crisis centre where she works. The tattooists at Thorn and Thistle will design bespoke tattoos and host an auction at the shop to raise money for art supplies for the kids in foster care. It provides a useful cover for the pair to see a lot more of each other, and start to trust that their attraction is more than chemical.
It's a pretty sound basis for a romance and there was quite a bit that I liked about this story. Both Jamie and Sierra are essentially good people, who do the best they can, and give each other pleasure. I liked watching them go on sweet dates, get to know one another's likes and dislikes, and the intimacy and sex was very nicely done. The relationship itself is low angst, even though alcoholism and parental death is central to the journey of the characters. But. There was too much that grated on my nerves for me to really enjoy it. Firstly, Jamie spends the first half of the book worrying how ancient, decrepit and past it she is; at the age of 37 her body appears to be pretty much failing her, despite the fact that she's active. It was incredibly overplayed as a point of conflict, and I'm not just saying that because I turn 37 this year. Secondly, these two spent a lot of time in the early scenes of the novel objectifying each other in a way that I don't enjoy. Repeatedly mentioning Sierra's curves and 'bouncy' breasts (to match her bouncing personality) and Jamie's muscly calves didn't work for me as a basis for their attraction; I wanted to know more about how they had got to know one another over the course of their tattoo appointments. Thirdly, there were quite a few 'here's some plot' moments to move the story along, many of which felt unearned, including the final conflict that precipitates the grovel and commitment moment. While Inked with a Kiss is the second book in a series it reads absolutely fine as a standalone. Unfortunately though I don't think I will be picking up another one.
*I received an ARC of the this book from Netgalley.
Merged review:
2.5*
Inked with a Kiss left me feeling decidedly tepid. It's the story of Jamie, a 37 year old tattooist, and Sierra, a 25 year old social worker, and their faltering steps towards a committed relationship. While the pair have undeniable chemistry, fueled by Sierra's regular tattoo appointments, neither one has plucked up the confidence to act on it. Jamie has a lot of life commitments - a 13 year old daughter, an ex-wife and barely functioning alcoholic parents - while Sierra is trying to avoid commitment altogether, keeping life breezy and easy after losing her mum as a child. Add the age gap into the equation and it hardly seems like the basis for a sound relationship: Jamie absolutely does not want to be Sierra's substitute mum, and Sierra doesn't want to be obligated or tied down by anyone. They have a lot to work through to come to a mutual understanding of what being together might mean to them.
This work is facilitated when Sierra enlists Jamie's help in organizing a fundraiser for the crisis centre where she works. The tattooists at Thorn and Thistle will design bespoke tattoos and host an auction at the shop to raise money for art supplies for the kids in foster care. It provides a useful cover for the pair to see a lot more of each other, and start to trust that their attraction is more than chemical.
It's a pretty sound basis for a romance and there was quite a bit that I liked about this story. Both Jamie and Sierra are essentially good people, who do the best they can, and give each other pleasure. I liked watching them go on sweet dates, get to know one another's likes and dislikes, and the intimacy and sex was very nicely done. The relationship itself is low angst, even though alcoholism and parental death is central to the journey of the characters. But. There was too much that grated on my nerves for me to really enjoy it. Firstly, Jamie spends the first half of the book worrying how ancient, decrepit and past it she is; at the age of 37 her body appears to be pretty much failing her, despite the fact that she's active. It was incredibly overplayed as a point of conflict, and I'm not just saying that because I turn 37 this year. Secondly, these two spent a lot of time in the early scenes of the novel objectifying each other in a way that I don't enjoy. Repeatedly mentioning Sierra's curves and 'bouncy' breasts (to match her bouncing personality) and Jamie's muscly calves didn't work for me as a basis for their attraction; I wanted to know more about how they had got to know one another over the course of their tattoo appointments. Thirdly, there were quite a few 'here's some plot' moments to move the story along, many of which felt unearned, including the final conflict that precipitates the grovel and commitment moment. While Inked with a Kiss is the second book in a series it reads absolutely fine as a standalone. Unfortunately though I don't think I will be picking up another one.
*I received an ARC of the this book from Netgalley....more
I’m still not sure I know; only time and three more books will tell, but whoa boy did I enjoy this ride. Where dIs it batshit genius or just batshit?
I’m still not sure I know; only time and three more books will tell, but whoa boy did I enjoy this ride. Where do you even begin to describe it?
Our two foe yay leads, necromancer Harrow and her cavalier Gideon, are packed off to a haunted deserted planet along with teams from the seven other Houses of their magic Empire of death to participate in trials to become the next generation of Lyctors (which are like the Emperor’s immortal generals). So, in some ways, it’s the bog standard trials-and-competition plot line that’s dime a dozen in fantasy at the YA end of the market. Except the delivery is bananas. It’s got bone constructs. It's got soul-sucking. It's got reanimated corpses. It's got skeleton servants who staff the canteen. It's the most goth incarnation of this conceit you could imagine, and it’s told from the POV of Gideon, the sarkiest sword-wielding goth girl of them all (but she's a big softy really).
Also, you might have heard that it has An Ending, which it really really does. On to book 2 immediately....more
I raced through this debut, in an attempt to make up for the lost time it spent languishing on my shelves in hardback. It’s like a movie-length episodI raced through this debut, in an attempt to make up for the lost time it spent languishing on my shelves in hardback. It’s like a movie-length episode of Buffy, except make it Latinx and queer. Which means that, yes, you can spot the big bad a mile away and the high octane ending comes at you all at once. But it’s wrapped up in brilliant teen characters; fierce loyalty; and competing responsibilities to family, friends and self. I was absolutely caught up in it....more
This debut novel is such a masterclass in yearning and desire, of lots of different kinds. I’m feeling pretty torn up about it - it’s the kind of bookThis debut novel is such a masterclass in yearning and desire, of lots of different kinds. I’m feeling pretty torn up about it - it’s the kind of book that stretches your empathy muscles to the limit and then makes you go a little further. I realise this review is saying basically nothing at all; it’s just feelings. But if you want queer historical that’s serious and unflinching, while also deeply poignant, this might be for you. ...more
The operative word in most reviews of this seems to be ‘cute’, and that tracks. For the most part, this is a very lovely coming**spoiler alert** 3.5*
The operative word in most reviews of this seems to be ‘cute’, and that tracks. For the most part, this is a very lovely coming-of-age story about Hollis, a nerdy fat girl with anxiety who, in trying to impress her absolute douche of a boyfriend, joins a table top gaming group and unexpectedly finds her people. And also discovers new and confusing feelings about Aini, a fellow player and out-and-proud lesbian, at the same time.
There was a lot to like here. While their respective characters get closer and closer in the game, Hollis and Aini do too, dodging around naming their feelings. I really enjoyed the slow burn of their friendship and the little moments when it tips over into something more: the arms around waists; the holding hands; the thoughtful gifts. It reflected my own first forays into exploring my sexuality at around the same age. I mean, who hasn’t ‘pretended’ to be girlfriends with someone ‘because it would be funny’? *whistles* The support and solidarity of their gaming friends is great - Gloria, Maggie, Iffy and (most of all) FRAN (if you know, you know) were a joy.
However, the situation with Hollis’ boyfriend was over-the-top infuriating - did Chris have to be such a gaslighting villain for the story to work? At times it felt less like Hollis was finding herself and more like she was escaping an abusive relationship. Chris treats her terribly - and facilitates persistent bullying by his friends. He is jealous of her friendships; he likes her meek and anxious; he excludes her from his social life. When they argue, Hollis is always the first and only one to apologise, even though she knows she did nothing wrong. And all the while, she believes that he’s her closest and most comfortable friend. It was so blatantly wrong that I couldn’t believe no one was saying anything about it, to the point where I wanted to reach through the pages and start shouting myself. In the end I wasn’t satisfied with how this was handled and how little Chris was held to account for being The Worst Apart from Landon (who is such an asshole that I have no words). I wanted Hollis to really go for his jugular! I wanted someone to call him out for his behaviour, not only for the sake of the characters but for the readers. I needed that catharsis.
But, my desire to see violence aside, I’d recommend this - it’s a strong debut ff contemporary and I’ll look forward to what the author writes next....more
Anita Kelly did it again! They wrote a book that made me feel all the potential for queer joy and love in this world, amidst a cast of characters thatAnita Kelly did it again! They wrote a book that made me feel all the potential for queer joy and love in this world, amidst a cast of characters that I adore with all my heart. ❤️ this is an incredible end to the trilogy, except I hope it isn’t the end, because we need more Hank amiright?!? ...more
It’s only 4* because I wanted more more more of it - the ending was too abrupt. But. This is peak Cat Sebastian post-2020 - friends in love, gently buIt’s only 4* because I wanted more more more of it - the ending was too abrupt. But. This is peak Cat Sebastian post-2020 - friends in love, gently bumping up against each other physically and emotionally until they find their way to a love declaration. It was delightful. I was duly delighted. It makes me want the next We Could Be So Good book so badly, I can’t tell you. ...more
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