Briers and Miles (and Millie) are back! I loved Eleventh Hour, a late 20s John Buchan styled spy romp with hard bitten spy Briers meeting pint sized cBriers and Miles (and Millie) are back! I loved Eleventh Hour, a late 20s John Buchan styled spy romp with hard bitten spy Briers meeting pint sized cipher clerk Miles, cross dressing as Millie for work and, once he lets go, personal satisfaction.
In this instalment we're a few years on. Miles's diplomat father is in Eastern Europe, his mother has discovered some important secret information, and Miles must accompany her on a flight home. Needless to say things don't go to plan, leading to explosions, a terrific car chase, disguises, escapes, more explosions, a fantastic valet, the Orient Express, jazz pianists and Hollywood stars, multiple bits of Europe whizzed through at speed, grand hotels, somebody called ffoulkes, and all the fun of the 1930s fair.
It's also a lovely deeply felt romance. We see how much Miles and Briers have come to mean to one another, and the depth of unspoken feeling. I also really like the way Miles's cross dressing is very much his gender identity, not a kink--Briers is turned on by him in women's clothing; Miles knows that and still declines to play because it's not right for him; Briers respects that. (While in no way being a 2019 transplant: Miles has to call him out for his old fashioned attitudes more than once.)
The joy of this is definitely in the characters (a large and well drawn cast): the spy plot is fairly loose and more of a structure on which to hang the interactions. Luckily, those are brilliant. The writing is lovely, assured, often funny and very moving in the love scenes. It did need a proofread, a statement I have to make about far too many books from publishers.
Merged review:
Briers and Miles (and Millie) are back! I loved Eleventh Hour, a late 20s John Buchan styled spy romp with hard bitten spy Briers meeting pint sized cipher clerk Miles, cross dressing as Millie for work and, once he lets go, personal satisfaction.
In this instalment we're a few years on. Miles's diplomat father is in Eastern Europe, his mother has discovered some important secret information, and Miles must accompany her on a flight home. Needless to say things don't go to plan, leading to explosions, a terrific car chase, disguises, escapes, more explosions, a fantastic valet, the Orient Express, jazz pianists and Hollywood stars, multiple bits of Europe whizzed through at speed, grand hotels, somebody called ffoulkes, and all the fun of the 1930s fair.
It's also a lovely deeply felt romance. We see how much Miles and Briers have come to mean to one another, and the depth of unspoken feeling. I also really like the way Miles's cross dressing is very much his gender identity, not a kink--Briers is turned on by him in women's clothing; Miles knows that and still declines to play because it's not right for him; Briers respects that. (While in no way being a 2019 transplant: Miles has to call him out for his old fashioned attitudes more than once.)
The joy of this is definitely in the characters (a large and well drawn cast): the spy plot is fairly loose and more of a structure on which to hang the interactions. Luckily, those are brilliant. The writing is lovely, assured, often funny and very moving in the love scenes. It did need a proofread, a statement I have to make about far too many books from publishers....more
Another terrific supernatural read. I really love Henry's scientific spiritualism, it's wonderful fun, and the horror is gloriously sinister. *subsideAnother terrific supernatural read. I really love Henry's scientific spiritualism, it's wonderful fun, and the horror is gloriously sinister. *subsides happily into Jordan's storytelling forever*
Merged review:
Another terrific supernatural read. I really love Henry's scientific spiritualism, it's wonderful fun, and the horror is gloriously sinister. *subsides happily into Jordan's storytelling forever*...more
Standalone historical with a scientist interested in electricity and spiritualism, plus a half-Romany steward who the scientist kinda blackmails into Standalone historical with a scientist interested in electricity and spiritualism, plus a half-Romany steward who the scientist kinda blackmails into helping with his spiritualist experiments.
I loved the setting, especially the porousness of what we (or at least some of us) now consider the entirely opposed fields of actual science and woo-woo nonsense. It's fascinating to me how people approached belief and theories and finding explanations for phenomena, and that did involve a lot of going down what now look like blind alleys. In particular there's a tiny scene where Nick plays with magnets for the first time in his life, and feels the way they repel each other, and you have to reflect how very much that would seem like magic if someone didn't explain it.
The prevalent racism against Roma (I'd say of the time if it wasn't equally prevalent now) is very front and centre; the book makes a stringent effort to show Ward not falling into the trap of assuming Nick must be able to see ghosts because of his "gypsy blood", although we are told he did see a ghost once, as indeed did Ward. (I still don't know how anyone abbreviates Edward to Ward because in my dialect it's pronounced ED-w'd, so I was calling him w'd in my head, which was irritating [of] me.)
My issue was really that Nick has a couple of major and genuine beefs with Ward that never really get dug out and resolved. Ward blackmails him into agreeing to the experiments, and then later on flexes his superior status and education in a really obnoxious way, and Nick is rightfully angry but basically lets both go. We see Ward's remorse in both his POV and his actions, and the acknowledgement of his privilege blinkers throughout is really good, but I wanted more thrashing out. Perhaps that's unrealistic, and the more honest ending is he's learning and changing in a slow and incremental way. ...more
A new AJ Demas is always a cause for celebration, and I got an ARC!
Again set in the author's fascinating alt-ancient Mediterranean world, though to mA new AJ Demas is always a cause for celebration, and I got an ARC!
Again set in the author's fascinating alt-ancient Mediterranean world, though to my mind this one has quite a Japanese feel (in mood, not content), in that it's very 'floating world' with a sense of melancholy. Hylas is a 40yo engineer from a Sparta-like nation of repression and misery, finally broken away but emotionally and sexually inexperienced. He comes to an island known for its tea houses (which offer conversation and entertainment rather than sex per se but sex is kind of a possibility) and strikes up a friendship with a young courtesan, Zo, who has chronic pain.
There's a lovely slow burn romance, which is very realistic about bodies and their failings, about duty and necessity, about people's flaws. I loved that, because it really grounds the relationship: we aren't asking for perfection but looking for happiness, and this is a book infused with kindness. It's really about how people can lift one another up, and how much happier we all are when we work on that rather than our own selfish aims. It's a rainy book in a minor key, but in the end the happiness is all the more real and lasting because of that. Super vividly conveyed setting makes it extra immersive. Make a cup of tea, turn off the phone and reserve your afternoon on the sofa. I loved it. ...more
A standalone horror novel from JLH, yes please. There is a sweet romance element in it but it's very much a subplot. Premise: a pair of con artist broA standalone horror novel from JLH, yes please. There is a sweet romance element in it but it's very much a subplot. Premise: a pair of con artist brothers get caught up in the Klondike gold rush and head up to stake their claim. Unfortunately there's something scary in the woods.
I am absolutely here for something scary in the woods, particularly the element of 'don't answer if something calls your name' which is exquisitely terrifying. But honestly a large part of the terror here is entirely natural. The description of the travel to the Klondike, the physical challenges and mental exhaustion and the life there in a log cabin in sub zero temperatures is...I think I said 'man, fuck this' aloud at least twice. You know what, I don't want gold that much. No thank you.
But we absolutely believe our protags do. The horror is really an externalising of the horrors humans create: greed, selfishness, and the particular expression of those in colonialism: invading, destroying, taking what isn't theirs. The gold-rushers bring their destruction with them; they *are* their own destruction, and the only escape lies in true change. Which is a challenge with the weak, flawed characters of this book. (Not a criticism: the narrator's weakness in particular is horribly plausible in its execution, reminding us you don't have to be an official Bad Person to do bad things: sometimes just going along with stuff is enough.)
Hugely atmospheric, proper spooky, and offers an intelligent, interesting engagement with the historical setting. I wolfed it down.
(I had an ARC from the author, with whom I have co-written. )...more
Epistolary novel set in a super-queer magical alt-Regency when only birth order matters, not gender, and sexuality is not an issue. I absolutely lovedEpistolary novel set in a super-queer magical alt-Regency when only birth order matters, not gender, and sexuality is not an issue. I absolutely loved there was a third title for nonbinary aristos (Dukex) and how the order of 'Lord and Lady X' was inverted if she was the more highborn: that's the kind of attention to detail that shows a really talented worldbuilder.
It's a very sweet story about a man about town courting an innocent young gentleman of low self esteen and retiring nature. It's super low stakes, very much at the cosy end, with not a lot of plot, so everything depends on enjoying the characters and the world, which I did very much. ...more
A standalone book set in the world of The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting but with a completely new cast of characters. (You may notice some familiar faA standalone book set in the world of The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting but with a completely new cast of characters. (You may notice some familiar faces in the background though...)
I really enjoyed spinning out this story from a classic start (duke goes incognito, chaos results). The Duke is a quiet, proper gentleman with a secret yearning for trouble, while Daizell is erratic and noisy with a secret yearning for peace, so obviously it all goes swimmingly. Also contains possibly my favourite Weird Yet Real Profession yet.
BTW I have been writing British-set historical romances for a decade now, and this is my first duke. I think I deserve some kind of award.
Excellent. I think the best in the series in that the author has got the balance of romance and plot and politics just right for me. The MCs are both Excellent. I think the best in the series in that the author has got the balance of romance and plot and politics just right for me. The MCs are both lovely--practical, self-respecting working men. The milieu is done really well-- the drive for self improvement through education, the oppressive politics and repressive laws, the gross inequality. I love how it presents Georgian Britain as a place where people were queer and trans and had unconventional relationships and mostly managed to live perfectly good lives under the radar. (There is quite a lot of available middle ground between 'doom' and 'candyfloss' though you might not often think it.)
The romance is really sweet and engaging slow burn, and thoroughly convincing, with a terrific climax. The threat element does get pretty tense due to the MCs' all too realistic powerlessness in the face of wealth and authority, but the resolution is terrific, and I loved the light we get on the earl's relationship with his valet.
A m/m 1930s romance with Egyptology starring a fake medium, with middle-aged leads. Might literally have been written to my personal specifications. IA m/m 1930s romance with Egyptology starring a fake medium, with middle-aged leads. Might literally have been written to my personal specifications. If you like Jordan L Hawk, you'll go nuts for this.
This debut romance is *immense* fun. We have Dashiel, a washed up ex-Spiritualist fake in his late 40s or so. He's basically a con man who found a certain amount of integrity at the bottom off his soul but not that much: he's still a fairly seedy scammer. Hermann is a professor of Egyptology, 50ish, naive and earnest, trying to deal with Strange Happenings in the Museum.
The Strange Happenings are marvellous. There's a real sense of building threat and fear, and the ultimate revelation of what the ghost wants is perhaps the most perfect thing I have read in a while: I shouted, 'Ha!' and scared the cat. (Suffice to say, you will understand in your soul at this point that the author really is an actual Egyptologist.) I loved the fake medium stuff, which all rang very true.
The romance is fairly understated, closed-door and sweet, more or less fitting round the edges of the intense ghost plot and the secondary 'Dashiel's past' plot, but that works for the older characters--gentle Hermann and damaged Dashiel, both lonely.
Enormously enjoyable, atmospheric, satisfyingly informed with real knowledge, and a pleasure to read: I gulped it down in two sittings. The old style pulp cover is simple but fits perfectly.
Enjoyable third instalment in the Rath and Rune series with the perfect mix of occult horror, romance, bonking (including tentacles), mystery, and gorEnjoyable third instalment in the Rath and Rune series with the perfect mix of occult horror, romance, bonking (including tentacles), mystery, and gore. Also librarians and necromancy. As wildly entertaining as ever, and the sinister over-plot is building nicely. . ...more
Loved the premise, really enjoyed the first chapters, liked how it was developing, but was unable to keep going because the posh English character's dLoved the premise, really enjoyed the first chapters, liked how it was developing, but was unable to keep going because the posh English character's dialogue was, let us say unconvincing (despite the author being British?) and that got too much in the way of my enjoyment, sadly. Won't be a problem for those who don't care/know about how posh people talk, and indeed why should you. DNF at 20%....more
Sweet slow burn romance between a rather fey vampire who doesn't seem to do much vampiring (no hiding from the sun or draining blood, but also no sparSweet slow burn romance between a rather fey vampire who doesn't seem to do much vampiring (no hiding from the sun or draining blood, but also no sparkling, so call it a draw) and a monster hunting human of the Supernatural variety. (This was I think Supernatural fanfic originally? It isn't written in the ubiquitous fanfic style though, so I wouldn't have known if the author's note didn't say, but consumers of fanfic may well know more on this than me.)
It's nice storytelling, well paced and well written, with fluently drawn likeable characters, and a terrifically judged mix of UST and gory violence....more
Sweet slow burn romance between a guy who needs to save his sister from a magical curse, and a somewhat Herne-ish fox/stag/forest god.
It's a likeableSweet slow burn romance between a guy who needs to save his sister from a magical curse, and a somewhat Herne-ish fox/stag/forest god.
It's a likeable, engaging story. The magic is beautifully drawn with some delightful and ingenious details, and it's very tender and lyrically written, with hope and kindness. The relationship is very sweet, which honestly I regretted a tiny bit, purely because I liked its initial premise so much: Fenton (the god) is wonderfully alarming at first, all wildness and savagery and brutal killing, but that aspect seemed to switch off completely in the relationship with Prior in favour off a sweet building relationship of love and trust. Which is great in itself, and works very well: I just really enjoyed the wild inhuman aspect of the forest god, and I'd have liked that edge of threat explored more. However, that's not the story. KJ Stop Arguing With Books For Not Being Other Books 2023.
If you like eg Legends and Lattes, you'll love this. ...more
A terrific short story collection full of strangeness, magic, SF, and hurt. It's immensely queer and achingly sad and angry and brave and defiant, witA terrific short story collection full of strangeness, magic, SF, and hurt. It's immensely queer and achingly sad and angry and brave and defiant, with characters who have the courage to reach for joy in a world that tells them they have no right to exist. Really excellent writing and immense imagination, but it's the purity of its anger, pain and joy that stays with you.
Currently part of the Pride Storybundle (June 2023) and worth the price of admission on its own....more
Romance between two valets in the 1790s, with full awareness of the demands on their time, the arbitrariness of masters, the precarious situation of pRomance between two valets in the 1790s, with full awareness of the demands on their time, the arbitrariness of masters, the precarious situation of people living without any sort of social safety net, for whom poverty and desperation are only a misstep away. Plus external threats: William is tangentially involved in unlawful gatherings of the political kind, and Edwin is being blackmailed for other unlawfulness.
It makes for quite a stressful read at points. Luckily William is a lovely, sunny character, dedicated to those he loves and open hearted; Edwin is more ground down by the stresses he lives under. Their romance is sweet rather than hot, with Edwin constantly pulling away. The resolution works very nicely on its own terms, but I did wish Edwin had involved William more in his troubles: as it is the romance plot and Edwin's problems are parallel rather than interwoven, which makes William feel not quite central to the book.
However, the romance we have is lovely and the historical setting nicely drawn, and when do you ever get two valets? (Or even two servants other than Listen to the Moon?)...more
A very sweet novella set in a folktale-adjacent magical world, with a hugely powerful magician at an angle to people, and a handsome prince. Very bi, A very sweet novella set in a folktale-adjacent magical world, with a hugely powerful magician at an angle to people, and a handsome prince. Very bi, very warm and loving, will honour, decency and kindness winning the day. There's more sex than I felt it needed, but others' mileage will undeniably vary on that, and the magic system is absolutely beautifully rendered and wonderfully imaginative. A pleasure....more
Second in the charming novella series. This is a sweet story of poetry geek and football star at high school, now grown up. Kai is happy as a welder, Second in the charming novella series. This is a sweet story of poetry geek and football star at high school, now grown up. Kai is happy as a welder, coming to terms with his bisexuality, recently lost a parent. Aiden is secure in his sexuality but his working life (poet/MFA) is a frustrating mess of uncertainty. Aiden is still carrying around some residual high school bitterness towards Kai for being popular, secure and sporty, whereas Kai is a big Dulux dog of a man who's realised he was kind of crushing on Aiden the whole time. Aiden is a tad of a jerk at points, but we believe he's learning and that's the important part. It's all very sweet and warm but with enough difficulty so it's never cloying....more
Another highly enjoyable installment in the new contemporary series, with Nigel (trans guy, parapsychologist) anRead during the #TransRightsReadathon.
Another highly enjoyable installment in the new contemporary series, with Nigel (trans guy, parapsychologist) and Oscar (paranormal podcaster and medium). This one is all about buried family secrets, fears, grudges, and cruelties. Wonderful sense of place and building atmosphere, with a very filmic sort of narrative style that makes it super vivid. Nigel and Oscar are super sweet together but established, so this is much more a paranormal adventure than a romance per se (not a criticism, just a calibration of expectations). Huge fun. ...more
Set in a Mad Max sort of world, where there are still cities that are bastions of civilisation and tech, but it's dRead during #TransRightsReadathon.
Set in a Mad Max sort of world, where there are still cities that are bastions of civilisation and tech, but it's damn hard to get into them. Valentine, a trans man possibly with ADHD or similar, desperately needs a visa because once he's on the inside he'll get free T and gender affirming healthcare, but that means both money and passing a citizenship test when he struggles with maths. This part is terrific: the dusty deprived desert, the scavenging and scrabbling, Valentine's dysphoria and hopeless longing for a life he's being denied.
Osric is an AI who's put inside an android (metal plus flesh) body by dubious means, perpetrated by a dodgy rich lady. It isn't entirely clear how this comes about or why, which bugged me a little (how do you forge an AI's signature on paperwork? why would you go to such enormous illegal lengths just to create a messenger to find a couple of random scavengers to retrieve your stolen property? Possibly I missed something but this aspect of the plot felt a bit obviously stage machinery for getting our heroes in place.) But if we slide over that (and I have slid over far worse in my time), we get to Osric learning to live in an unfamiliar body and exploring it, Valentine helping, and the two of them falling delightfully in love.
It's a very sweet romance because they're both immensely kind people, not perfect but big hearted. Valentine in particular makes an incredible sacrifice when he realises the property to be retrieved (android sexbots) are actually sentient beings, and puts their wellbeing ahead of his own. It really is a book about reaching out to others, kindness, and community (Osric is cut off from that network with his fellow AIs when he's put in the android body, something I'd have loved to see explored in more depth re its impact) and despite the dystopian world and the acknowledged moral issues with having the privileged few in the city, we are shown kindness and mutual support leading to a brighter future. There can be hope if we stick together.
I had a few niggles--I found Osric a bit too easily human, honestly, plus the above plot issues--but it's highly readable and lots of fun, and I am always here for an adventure story where the heroes don't win by physical strength or fighting skills. CW that there is a lot on the hero's gender dysphoria and quite a bit of misgendering: this is the engine that powers Valentine's fierce determination and persistence, and shows you the depth of his kindness, so it's absolutely necessary. ...more
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