I loved this! I didn't know what to expect going in, but this was exactly the kind of slow, character driven romance I enjoy. Two people from very difI loved this! I didn't know what to expect going in, but this was exactly the kind of slow, character driven romance I enjoy. Two people from very different world with very different pressures and social expectations fall for each other and the book is all about how they negotiate those issues. I was rooting so hard for them to be together and loved seeing their entire journey and learning to communicate and open up to each other.
But this is also a book about domestic abuse, and what's great about it is how it shows the equal validity of people experiencing emotional abuse from a partner and how to document things and prepare to get out. (note that the abuse is NOT coming from the love interest in the book!) It also gets into how emotionally abusive parents can lay the foundation for going along with the actions of an abusive partner, but also how even the best childhood might not protect you from getting caught up in a bad situation. It's handled with so much care and I thought did an incredible job with a very delicate topic.
This is also a good option for readers who don't want a romance that's super steamy, but is still sex positive. Most of the sex scenes happen off-page and what we do get on page tends to be brief. But it's still clear how much chemistry the characters have physically, while spending more page time on their emotional relationship. I loved this and didn't expect it to become a new fave!...more
A complex narrative following a prickly female main character living as a minority in an oppressive colonial empire, Outlaw Mage is an impressive starA complex narrative following a prickly female main character living as a minority in an oppressive colonial empire, Outlaw Mage is an impressive start to a political fantasy series.
Rosha is a powerful and talented mage living in an empire where she will never be given the same opportunities as her peers because she is Gorenten. She's prickly, often angry, and never nice. But she will also risk her life to save the people closest to her. This first novel follows her from childhood into adulthood as an outlaw mage, hiding from those who enforce the strict laws governing use of magic. But she's eventually drawn into a complex web of political maneuvers and lies that threaten her family and perhaps the stability of the empire.
I don't want to say too much about the plot, but this is a meaty and thoughtful novel with plenty of surprising twists and strong character work. I suspect there will be a lot of readers who won't like Rosha, but that's okay because odds are she wouldn't like them either. Personally, I really appreciate stories with complex female characters who are allowed to be angry and make some bad choices. Rosha feels very real and the social and political issues in the book offer no easy answers. The text is a bit on the dense side with a lot packed into a single book. I read it a few chapters at a time over two months, and as someone who typically breezes through books in a couple of days, that's unusual. But while it took awhile, I loved the entire journey. The story and main character really sunk their teeth into me and I cannot recommend this enough to people who would enjoy this sort of novel. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own....more
This book was EVERYTHING!!! A geeky, queer, slow-burn romance with older characters. A prickly heroine with social anxiety whose son just went off to This book was EVERYTHING!!! A geeky, queer, slow-burn romance with older characters. A prickly heroine with social anxiety whose son just went off to college befriends a man in an online gaming group who she assumes is like 21, but is actually 50. Also this has unexpected queer rep that was beautifully handled - Aiden is bisexual and demisexual, though he is just learning those words. Also Maggie is half Asian her son is white-passing, so this touches on the challenges of having a less visible identity.
I just loved everything about this- the slow-burn friends to lovers romance, the way things heat up towards the end, the way the characters take care of each other, and the relatability of what it's like to be an older introverted geek trying to interact with other parents in your community. Easily My favorite romance of 2023 so far and I can't recommend it enough. Heads up that Aiden has some extremely homophobic and racist family members and there is a good bit of external drama. But I really like this kind of external conflict in a romance where their relationship with each other is solid.
I find it interesting that there are people saying they read like teenagers, not like adults around 50 and I disagree. Honestly I think part of the point of this book is the experience of being older and responsible in many ways, while not feeling like your interests fit what is expected of you for your age. And there is something to be said for how you can reach different turning points in your life where there is change and transition, rediscovering who you are and who you want to be. I feel like I'm there in my mid-30's as my kids are getting older and I can imagine you would also have it in their situation- she's newly an empty-nester and he's retired from the career he had for years. ...more
Ummm....okay this is the CUTEST THING I've ever read!!! Kind of obsessed and you should absolutely preorder if you want an adorable sapphic romance. IUmmm....okay this is the CUTEST THING I've ever read!!! Kind of obsessed and you should absolutely preorder if you want an adorable sapphic romance. If You'll Have Me is a graphic novel following two girls falling for each other in the first year of college.
Momo is super nerdy and adorably awkward and has never had a girlfriend. PG is hot and cool and has a reputation for seducing lots of ladies. But if this opposites attract romance doesn't make you squee you're probably heartless. The art is fantastic and the story is really sweet and heartwarming. Go order a copy! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
Octavia Butler just does not miss for me! As a speculative historical novel, Wild Seed is such an interesting take on personhood, slavery, eugenics, gOctavia Butler just does not miss for me! As a speculative historical novel, Wild Seed is such an interesting take on personhood, slavery, eugenics, gender, and the morality of different kinds of sexual relationships. She's always interested in power, oppression, gender, and sexuality- this time in a sci-fi version of the 1700's (mostly) following two immortal beings who both love and hate each other. I'm very interested to see where this series goes, but this was nuanced and thought-provoking. Butler isn't afraid to make readers uncomfortable, and there are plenty of uncomfortable, violent, and horrifying things here, but the point isn't to make those things okay. It's drawing parallels to real-world things in a way that allows for enough distance to unpack them. ...more
TLDR: If you (like me) were hoping the Zodiac Academy fandom would lead to us getting a college-age fantasy romance in a school that's not toxic and iTLDR: If you (like me) were hoping the Zodiac Academy fandom would lead to us getting a college-age fantasy romance in a school that's not toxic and is actually well-written...I give you Fourth Wing!
Detailed Review:
A college-age magic school, a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance (with all the pent up desire), political twists, and dragons...truly what more could you ask for?! I've got to say, reading Fourth Wing is the most pure FUN I've had with a fantasy book in awhile.
This delivered all the tropey goodness I could want, while also being compulsively readable with an interesting world. And we get a disabled heroine which is cool! She has a ligament disorder and deals with chronic pain, and eventually we even get a fantasy-world disability aid for her that's pretty awesome. I had such a good time with this book and it is expertly executed.
Survive, or die. Violet Sorrengail has trained to be a scribe, but her mother is the general of the dragon riders and insists she become a rider as well. The catch? The mortality rates for cadets are incredibly high, plus Violet has a chronic disability that makes her even more vulnerable. But she's smart and determined to survive, regardless of how many people want her dead because of who her mom is....
I won't say too much about the plot, but it's fast-paced, twisty, and the stakes are high. Violet uses her brains to save her when her body can't, but she also finds ways to strengthen the body that she has, even if it's not like everyone else's. I love the way Violet claims her agency in this book and isn't content to let someone treat her as less capable. And the romance she ends up in is really well-balanced with a partner who supports her, but also respects her. This was excellent and with the cliffhanger ending I'm looking forward to book 2! The audio narration is also fantastic, easy to follow, and kept me listening. I received an audio review copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
Their Vicious Games is a dark and biting satire that's The Bachelor meets Squid Game where a group of young women are supposed to fight Eat the rich.
Their Vicious Games is a dark and biting satire that's The Bachelor meets Squid Game where a group of young women are supposed to fight for a shot at a life of wealth and influence. It's a book about race, class, privilege, misogyny, and women with teeth. I loved it.
Adina Walker is prickly and messy and some readers aren't going to like her, but I really don't think she would give a f*ck. Personally I was a fan and I think her character arc really works. She's a Black girl from a middle class family who attends a prestigious prep school because her parents work there. She worked hard to be admitted into Yale, but a fight at school stripped that away and now she's willing to do just about anything to get back what she earned. Even enter The Finish- a secretive competition among young women where the winner will get everything she dreamed of. But the cost might be higher than Adina realizes....
I don't want to spoil things but this was brutal in the best sort of way. It offers a look at what might lie behind the gracious smiles and perfect styling of these women and the way they are used by the men around them, but without excusing their culpability for harm that is done. It also pushes back on performative allyship and people who give lip service to positive change while really only caring for their own interests. It's very over the top on purpose and kept me incredibly entertained. I was rooting for Adina to survive and turn the tables on these bastards, and the ending was very satisfying. Excellent debut!
I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
I don't know why I'm just now reading this but wow, it's SO good! Thank you to my Patrons for selecting it as a book for me to read and vlog. Blame itI don't know why I'm just now reading this but wow, it's SO good! Thank you to my Patrons for selecting it as a book for me to read and vlog. Blame it on a childhood of being traumatized by Newberry Award winners, but I tend to be wary of them. If you're like me, I urge you to try picking this one up. It's about a town that thinks they must sacrifice a baby once a year to a witch, a witch who doesn't know why she keeps finding babies but does her best to find them homes, and the special little girl who becomes her family and will eventually change everything.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a richly layered narrative with beautiful prose, humor, and a lot of heart. It feels very much like a modern fairytale and like the sort of thing that will go on to be a classic. Delightful, nuanced characters (including the villains that are hateful but don't see themselves that way), and big ideas made accessible for a young audience.
One of the central themes is the idea that it really matters who controls a narrative and stories can be twisted in ugly or beautiful ways. Especially for kids today, this concept of how you know which stories are true, and which hide the truth in deceptive ways is valuable. Not to mention that the way history is framed has real impact. It also deals with grief, death, and the reality that while some people use their trauma as a way to hurt others, their pain doesn't excuse their choices. That every choice has consequences, even unintended ones. And parents might try to protect their children, but one day they will begin to grow up. Also MAGIC! So much magic. And a grumpy but loveable bog monster. And a tiny dragon who thinks he's enormous. Ahhhh I love it so much!!
This book is fantastic and I expect to revisit it in the future. Easily one of the best novels for children I've read in a long time. ...more
Okay, I absolutely loved this! It actually reminds me a lot of The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton. Similar time period, setting, and themes witOkay, I absolutely loved this! It actually reminds me a lot of The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton. Similar time period, setting, and themes with beautiful writing and a very character driven story about siblings.
The character work is excellent and this handles several delicate issues with grace and nuance, including the journey of the middle sibling with his transmasculinity. Seriously, I teared up with how beautiful his character arc was. The eldest sister longs for love and marriage, but believes herself undesirable because of a bad injury from fire that left her without the use of a hand. (again, I really liked the way this ultimately handled the issue of disability, especially for a fantasy novel) The youngest sister gives me strong Lydia Bennett vibes from Pride and Prejudice. And the novel centers on these siblings, and on a time caught between the old rituals of pagan magic and the new encroachment of the Christian church. Also there is a very creepy priest. This was a beautiful, if sometimes harrowing novel and I adored it. ...more
This took me by surprise in the best possible way! Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is both an engrossing fantasy story, and a beautiful slow-burn romanThis took me by surprise in the best possible way! Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is both an engrossing fantasy story, and a beautiful slow-burn romance inspired by manga.
Yumi lives her life as a series of minutely pre-determined rituals allowing her to draw on the spirits of her land to help the people around her. But this doesn't allow for freedom of choice or individuality.
Painter comes from a technologically developed city where nightmares take physical form and his job is to trap them with art.
But then something changes and they are pulled into each others worlds....
The world of this story is so vibrant and feels real. Yumi and Painter are very different people, but both of them grow because of the other person and seeing them develop love for each other and become better versions of themselves is really beautiful. This offers a great balance of mystery, danger, tension, friendship, and romance. I loved it.
This was SO GOOD! It had me sobbing at the end (yes, I did get that on camera).
Excellent queer coming of age novel showing why it's still not safe for teens everywhere to be uncloseted, and the realities of homophobia at Christian (in this case Catholic) schools. And Yami is dealing with being at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities as a queer, Latinè woman terrified of her parents finding out and kicking her out of the house. Please just give me everything Sonora Reyes writes because this was not only an important novel, but beautifully written with great characterization. Highly recommend.
Content warning for suicide attempt, self-harm, homophobia...more
Camp Damascus might be among the best satire of American Evangelical Christianity that I've read, with some really deep cuts into the nuts and bolts of that culture. Highly recommend to fellow deconstructing and ex-evangelicals if you can deal with horror. The way this book has a chokehold on me...video to come.
This horror novel is about a gay conversion camp run a culty Christian sect. They have a 100% effectiveness rate, but why is that? Rose is a young woman who is devoutly Christian (and as we come to find out autistic, which adds a layer to all of this that will resonate for neurospicy folks), but she's noticing weird feelings about a female friend, has never had interest in a boyfriend, and then starts seeing a creepy woman who might be a demon. And vomiting up live insects. No big deal. But things get stranger and she starts to see the cracks in the faith she has always based her life around. And what's the deal with Camp Damascus run by her church?
Objectively this may not be a perfect book. It's got some pacing issues starting around the middle and is perhaps slightly too long. And arguably Rose comes to realize what's up far faster than is realistic. None of that detracted from my reading experience though and I think this novel is incredibly successful at its aim, and offers a surprising amount of nuance as well. I cannot recommend this enough. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
Reread: This book is just as good as I thought it was the first time! _________________________
This is a hard one to talk about without spoilers but iReread: This book is just as good as I thought it was the first time! _________________________
This is a hard one to talk about without spoilers but if you are at all intrigued by the idea of a horror/western novel about a woman running from her past and carrying a mysterious steamer trunk. A trunk that when opened, tends to result in people dying... Or if you like the idea of a novel that centers women and uses horror to tackle issues like race, misogyny, and homophobia in brilliantly nuanced ways, then you need to pick up Lone Women.
1915 Adelaide Turner is running from her past to homestead in rural Montana. But she's carrying part of that past along with her in the form of a mysterious steamer trunk. Running to a place where she will be one of only two Black women. There is so much I could say about this novel but I really don't want to spoil it. Suffice to say I think it is brilliantly crafted with a strong sense of place, nuanced characterization, and layers upon layers of themes that can be minutely examined, but aren't necessary to enjoy the story. I clearly need to read more from LaValle. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
The Harper Collins Union strike has finally ended!
Okay, I LOVED this book! So much more than I ever expected to. However, I suspect it won't be what sThe Harper Collins Union strike has finally ended!
Okay, I LOVED this book! So much more than I ever expected to. However, I suspect it won't be what some readers are expecting, especially if they know Chokshi from her YA novels.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is quite a dark sort of fairy tale for adults, and much darker than I would have expected. Similarities to her YA books include lush, descriptive prose and a love of of mythology. Otherwise this gothic novel is much grittier, more disturbing, and draws characters who are morally grey at best. It is a gender-bent Bluebeard retelling, but it is also drawing on many other dark fairytales. All as a way of talking about abuse, grooming, trauma, enmeshed relationships, and cycles of violence. It was exactly my sort of dark, gothic story with a whole lot of feelings.
We get two character perspectives and two timelines. A man who loves fairytales and is married to a beautiful but mysterious woman named Indigo who asks him not to pry into her past. But when they return to the estate of her childhood- a place where once upon a time Indigo and Azul were the closest of friends- he must decide if he's willing to risk his marriage in search of the truth.
Years past, Azure meets Indigo as a young girl and is drawn into her darkly magical world as an escape from her family life. But as they get older, she is pulled between Indigo's world and the world outside.
I won't say much more, but there are definitely queer undertones to the friendship between the two girls and in many ways the entire book is darkly seductive. It's a stunning adult debut that seamlessly weaves mythology and fairytales into this tense gothic story of love and obsession. I look forward to more like this from Chokshi!
Angeline Boulley is such a masterful author! Warrior Girl Unearthed deftly navigates sensitive topics with a wonderfully entertaining main character wAngeline Boulley is such a masterful author! Warrior Girl Unearthed deftly navigates sensitive topics with a wonderfully entertaining main character with a growth arc, and gives us a sort of heist/thriller.
And you will probably come out of this book like I did, horrified at the realities of reclaiming and repatriating indigenous ancestral remains and sacred objects from museums and collectors. This book was a real education, but also not as heavy as you would expect given the content. Perry is the perfect character for this and she really grows from not caring about anything besides fishing to being a passionate advocate for her people. While still staying very much herself. This also touches on MMIW (missing and murdered indigenous women) which not enough people are aware of.
Set 10 years after Firekeeper's Daughter, we get to see Daunis as a mother and auntie to Perry which is very cool. In general this novel just feels so well-realized with depth to the community, history, characters, and practices. But it's also a page-turner. Seriously, I can't recommend this enough. The audio narration is also excellent, especially because you get to hear proper pronunciation of the language being used. I received an audio review copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
Okay I LOVED this!! The perfect fluffy, low-angst, sapphic rom-com where most of the conflict is external to the couple. AND it has some of my favoritOkay I LOVED this!! The perfect fluffy, low-angst, sapphic rom-com where most of the conflict is external to the couple. AND it has some of my favorite tropes with a modern marriage of convenience and a fake relationship. It was absolutely delightful and while it doesn't have a ton of steamy scenes, the ones it does have are excellent.
Tansy is a quiet bookseller who made up a relationship with Gemma, a romance cover model to get her family off her back. So no one is more surprised when said model actually shows up to her cousin's wedding! But as it turns out, Gemma is in need of a wife to gain her inheritance so she goes along with the farce. They agree to a marriage of convenience that will allow Tansy to save her family's bookstore, but of course they catch feelings along the way...
I loved this so much. It was sweet and sexy and funny. Clearly I need to read more from this author! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings include sexual exploitation of a character in her past and threatening interactions with her former abuser....more
Read for a video project reading 10 years of Goodreads Choice Awards Winners in Science Fiction: https://youtu.be/RyBrlzx0RJM
Easily the highlight of tRead for a video project reading 10 years of Goodreads Choice Awards Winners in Science Fiction: https://youtu.be/RyBrlzx0RJM
Easily the highlight of this project, I LOVED Sea of Tranquility and now need to go read Mandel's backlist. This is very much a literary take on science fiction and will certainly not be to everyone's taste, but it was exactly to mine. Lush prose, beautiful interweaving narratives across timelines, a bit of philosophy, and a lot of humanity. It really resonated with me....more
Omg this book is SO GOOD! A haunted house with a dark past, a forgotten Black girl, toxic parents, dark secrets, cycles of trauma, and a girl who seesOmg this book is SO GOOD! A haunted house with a dark past, a forgotten Black girl, toxic parents, dark secrets, cycles of trauma, and a girl who sees the dead blend together in Delicious Monsters.
Listen, I'm internet friends with the author and I'm sure I went in with added goodwill, so feel free to take my review with a grain of salt. But I'm genuinely floored at how smart, well-crafted, and creepy this upper-YA horror novel is. Liselle goes hard with the body horror, and weaves together a narrative with so many layers to unpack. This is easily the best thing I've read this month.
Daisy can see the dead and is getting out of a toxic relationship. She moves with her controlling mom to a mysterious estate in rural Canada with a dark past and a dangerous present. 10 years later, Brittany is trying to succeed apart from her abusive mother, creating a show about haunted houses. This season, she's investigating a forgotten Black girl connected to the very same house and is determined to uncover the truth of what happened there.
I think having Brittany's story as a framing device is very effective and what she's going through dovetails with some of the themes present in Daisy's narrative. Delicious Monsters does my favorite thing in the horror genre- using supernatural horror elements as a way of talking about real life horror. And this is not a light book by any means. It tackles abuse, neglect, racism, sexual assault, grooming, PTSD, gaslighting, and how cycles of abuse are perpetuated. It can be intense to read at times, but it's handled thoughtfully and isn't gratuitous in depicting certain kinds of violence. (though there is graphic body horror!) And what's so great is that while a character might not always see abuse for what it is, the reader can. And the character will eventually get there too.
One note I want to make about the narrative choices here: I suspect some reviewers will say that a certain"twist" is too obvious and use that as a reason to be negative. I would argue that thing actually isn't intended to be a twist at all and is supposed to be very clear to the reader from early on, even if it isn't to the characters. While there ARE twists in the book that I think are really well done, this particular thing (if you've read it, you should know what I mean) is instead creating tension, hanging ominously over the entire narrative. And if a character takes awhile to put it together, I think it's because they are still in denial about their OWN trauma and are unable to see things for what they are until they are willing to confront the truth. I think that was such a smart way to execute a story like this and focus on character growth without using trauma for cheap shock value. I have a lot of respect for how this book was crafted.
So clearly I'm a fan. The creepy vibes and atmosphere are on point, the character work is excellent, and the narrative structure works. Highly recommend, though this obviously comes with plenty of content warnings. I'll add to the things mentioned above violence to animals (off page), bugs, and carnivorous birds. I received a copy of this book for review as part of a unpaid book tour, all opinions are my own.
Here are the content warnings directly from the author: childhood sexual assault (off page, some details discussed), childhood physical abuse (corporal punishment, off page, described), childhood physical abuse (confinement punishment), childhood neglect, gaslighting, grooming, suicide (off page, mention), killing of a goat (off page, described), discussions of fatphobia, body horror/gore, violence, death...more
I love this take on queer horror set at summer camp. The Honeys is a book about grief, identity, gender, and the particular challenges that come with I love this take on queer horror set at summer camp. The Honeys is a book about grief, identity, gender, and the particular challenges that come with being a person who doesn't conform to the version of masculinity expected of you.
There is a particular sort of fear, discomfort, and disdain for people who present as femme or femme-leaning and were assigned male at birth, regardless of the gender they actually identify as. Probably because of misogyny and toxic masculinity, but you really see that embodied in this book where our main character is genderfluid, being pushed into gendered boxes at camp. (I think this especially resonated with me as a parent of a gender non-conforming kid. You realize how early performing gendered expectations is pushed onto kids by their peers and society.) But beyond that, Mars is there, grieving their sister and investigating what was going on with her before she died. She was part of an exclusive group of girls known as The Honeys, and they take Mars in but there's also something strange about them...
This book had several twists I wasn't expecting and it gets fairly dark and creepy for a YA novel, but in a way that feels warranted. It's smart and nuanced and I was rooting for Mars to find a happier ending and a safe space to fully be themselves. I expected to like this, but I loved it a lot more than I had anticipated. La Sala has written a book that is at once flamboyant and subtle, using good writing to suggest we might have an unreliable narrator and that something weird is happening. I liked the places this went and how unapologetically queer it is. Plus the audiobook is phenomenal! It's fully-produced with sound effects that make it this really immersive reading experience. I'm glad I finally made space to read this. ...more
I love this series so much that I always get nervous that the latest book won't live up to my expectations. Hence putting this off for so long, but I I love this series so much that I always get nervous that the latest book won't live up to my expectations. Hence putting this off for so long, but I should not have worried. Nona was entirely different from both Gideon and Harrow, but I adored her and this book was such an unexpected delight that further fleshed out the mysteries of the Locked Tomb and this world. Muir is just so talented at her craft- she writes interesting and distinct characters with very different voices.
Nona is a breath of fresh air after the mind-bending horror of Harrow, and yet you really feel the dissonance between Nona's sweet, bubbly, and fairly naive personality with who/what she is and the incredibly dystopian world she inhabits. She's young in some ways, but not in others and I think it really works. I loved this and can't wait for Alecto. Besides which I desperately want to re-read the entire series for a closer look at all the hints and easter eggs I know exist throughout. Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of the book, all opinions are my own....more
Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)
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