April
Between three and four stars. This was my first time reading Keira Andrews, and it turned out to be very different from my usual reads. It reminded me somewhat of the books I've read by Ava March, because there are a lot of detailed sex scenes. But Ava March's books are usually light on plot (which is fine), while this has a solid plot, as well as good character development. I also really enjoyed the historical details, such as Hawk's life story as he tells it to Nathaniel. That section of the book felt especially real to me.
Nathaniel experiences a lot of shame and internalized homophobia early on, and it was just too thorough for my taste as a reader. There was so much of it, in fact, that I thought the author might turn it into something like humiliation kink when the sex scenes began, but that didn't happen. Nathaniel just gets over it, because of his emotional bond with Hawk (and because of all the sex, of course). Nathaniel is also ashamed that he can't read (I think he's meant to be dyslexic).
I really disliked that Hawk uses Nathaniel's shame about being gay and his shame about not being able to read as weapons to push him away. Especially the disability thing, that really put me off. I'm not even calling the book out - I understand its function within the story and that even Hawk didn't truly believe his own insults. But for me, it went too far, and prevented me from really losing myself in the romance.
But I liked the romance very much, as well as both of the MCs' emotional journeys over the course of the story. So although this book didn't match my tastes completely, I did enjoy it. I'll probably read more of her books.
I loved this book. It could've gone in a lot of different directions, but I like the focus that it has.
Before reading it, I appreciated that it was about men in their 40s, but I find age really is just a number in many romance novels. To me, though, this does actually feel like a book about older characters. I could identify with them easily.
I usually like the journey from despair to hope as a romance plot arc, but in some books, only one MC is on that path. Here, both characters have almost given up on life (understandably so); the events of the story, including their romance, teach them how to hope again and experience joy. I thought it was beautiful.
I loved how the MCs first connected over old (imaginary) popular culture and how surprising it was to Fenn that Morgrim had once needed to learn the same kinds of things that he did. I also liked how Fenn could so clearly see the boy Morgrim had once been. While some of the establishment of their connection was told and not shown, I thought that worked very well:
They talked. About horses and books and magic and the ways the world had changed since they'd been boys. Morgrim remembered a lot of the same things Fenn remembered. Fenn didn't have to explain how things used to be different: Morgrim knew. He'd lived it himself.
I teared up at one part of the ending, about the elderly horses. It had an obvious link to the book's main plot and it really affected me.
I relistened to this today while listening to the whole anthology it's in, and it really stands out, and definitely not just because it's the only one (afaik) with a gay main character. It really captures a lot of what I remember about being a teenager, even though I had a different set of experiences from the MC. Just a very good piece.
Original review: It feels strange to give a star rating to short fiction, but this is very good. It's free to listen to on Google Play. It's definitely horror and extremely bleak. Like the title says, it's written in the style of a list of explanations, and I liked the unusual format.
Between four and five stars. I really enjoy spending time in this world. Varazda and Damiskos are one of my favorite fictional couples ever, because they're so considerate and loving with each other at all times. I love that the author has created a culture in which it isn't totally unremarkable to be queer and/or trans, but it's also possible for everyone to live openly. These don't feel like characters with modern values transplanted into a historical fantasy world. Ariston is an interesting character and I thought his voice was especially good. His speech really sounds like an enthusiastic young man, and he's sometimes a bit of an irritant to others, but always well-intentioned. The author does not outright tell us much about him, but his character comes shining through in his dialogue. I also liked Yazata a lot. He really pulled at my heartstrings, and I spent much of the book wanting to hug him and tell him he didn't need to be afraid. I'm really not sure if my one problem with this book is because of my own preferences or if it's a real shortcoming. I feel the mystery/intrigue plot has some pacing problems. It was part of the story from the beginning, but we never (or barely) meet some of the relevant characters until the last few chapters. I think (Shorab) needed more fleshing out, especially. The intrigue and romance plots of [b:Sword Dance 51856712 Sword Dance (Sword Dance, #1) A.J. Demas https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564091594l/51856712.SX50_SY75.jpg 71873589] worked really well together, so I was expecting something similar. I feel that the intrigue here could've been woven into the rest of the story more effectively.There is a lot of domestic fluff in this book, as well as a domestic conflict, and I loved all of that so much. I would read ten books about the everyday life of all of the characters in Saffron Alley. So I'm very pleased that we actually spent so much time in this home. It was a great read for me in that way.I'm looking forward to reading the third book, but I know both Sword Dance and Saffron Alley will be frequent rereads for me.
Between four and five stars. This is a very good read, and it's unfortunate that it's currently out of print. To me, it succeeds really well in capturing queer life in a specific time and place (1967 England), but the romance is also excellent, with a believable progression, conflict, and resolution. I felt for Dylan and his loneliness, and for his disbelief that he could have any happiness.
Dylan has serious internalized homophobia, which makes sense in context, but it's intense. The world he lives in is also very homophobic. So be aware of that before diving in, if you're used to reading queer historicals in which homophobia is not as prominent (like KJ Charles and Cat Sebastian's books).
But for me, reading this book was a great experience. Dylan savors every moment that he spends with Max, and I so enjoyed his focus on details. One example:
Dylan pretended not to care, although he would remember splitting a ham sandwich, a cheese sandwich and a Thermos of tea on a bench in a public garden in the spring with lovely Max until his very last day.
emphasizes the importance of queer community
Between four and five stars. I really enjoyed this and I'm excited to read more books of this kind. The cover caught my eye before I knew what it was about, and I wonder if the photo inspired the author. It's so striking.
There's a line late in the book that describes this image really well:Like a dark, seductive fairy that would disappear if he got too close, or maybe lock him away and keep him forever if he dared to touch.That isn't the plot of the book, but it is about Marco taking charge of Greg with love and patience.
I would've preferred it if the characters had talked about a few of the things that happened before they took place, especially the first time Marco gets fully naked with Greg.. But that's my only real complaint, and I look forward to reading more of this series soon.
This was an enjoyable read. This is the third book I've read in the ESTO Universe, and as far as I can tell, they all stand alone. This book is much lighter in tone and subject matter than the other two I've read so far (Prisoner 374215 and Vassily the Beautiful). Nothing too terrible happens in By Imperial Decree. There's some violence, and stalking, but it's really very mild. It's overall a very fluffy read, with a lot of blushing, hand-holding, general cuteness, and a low-conflict romance.
I'm rounding up from 3.5 stars because I really loved both the main characters, but I felt there were a few missed opportunities. I knew this was a fake relationship book, but I didn't know it also had the "You've Got Mail" trope, in which characters aren't aware that they already know each other when they meet in person. I love this trope! I think it could've been explored a bit more here, though. We never actually see the messages they exchanged in the book club.
I look forward to reading more books in this setting soon.
This is a very good romance novella. It's part of a series and I think the other couples show up briefly, but I've only read this one and didn't feel like I was missing any info. So it stands alone. Although Vitya's life problems are very serious, and his circumstances are extremely difficult, this book has the feel of a lightweight holiday romance (celebrating Chanukah). I didn't feel it was an angsty read.
My one criticism: Mario believes that he's really tough on his employees, but we don't really see him in action in the kitchen, only a couple times with his manager, and she deserved his toughness. I was expecting a very different kind of book, with a redemption arc of some kind - that I might have to come around to liking Mario. But Mario never seems like a jerk. It's a gentle read, and there's only one truly harsh moment, when Mario loses his temper with Vitya for a reason that's easy to understand. That conflict was resolved almost immediately and I really liked that.
The connection between Vitya and Mario is deep and romantic. There's a decent amount of sex, and it's both hot and affectionate. They fit each other's needs perfectly, and I totally believe in them finding happiness together.
Vitya is a gay cis man and Mario is trans, and Vitya is comfortable with Mario's gender at all times. I have read several trans + cis romances where that isn't the case. (Note: I am a cis reader, so be sure to seek out reviews from trans readers on that point.)
Overall, this is a sweet story that feels like a slice of life. I'm curious to read more by this author.
This was a very intense book and it totally held my attention from beginning to end. 4.5 stars because although I did enjoy the whole experience, I have a minor criticism or two.
First, Alyssa Cole has said that this isn't a romance. It is not romantic and sweet, but it has the structure of a romance, for the most part. I hesitated to read it because I wasn't sure about the book's structure, so if you're the same, don't worry.
I've only ever read a few books in the suspense genre, and it's usually somewhat difficult for me to identify with the main characters. I found Sydney very easy to relate to, partly because I also have an anxiety disorder, but more than that, because she's alone in life in many ways. I also feel that there aren't a lot of official resources available to me, but I am white and know that fact makes my path easier than hers, both in the real world and in this book.
I really liked how Theo and the white lesbians were not actively hateful, and would probably have all called themselves anti-racist, yet they still did not understand things, and still benefited from racism. IIRC this theme is more prominent in her book An Extraordinary Union, and more subtle here, but it's relevant. Probably a lot of white people read this book thinking ourselves anti-racist, but are we really? For example, I'm ashamed that I hadn't until now made the obvious mental connection between gentrification and colonization. That's really the focus of the book, and it has given me a new framework to understand some things.
I liked the romance a lot. There was a big gap between how they saw each other and the reality of things. I enjoy that type of plot in any romance, but it was very intense here, because the stakes felt so high. I thought both characters had excellent development to make it clear why they would have so much trouble trusting each other. I also found them both easy to like and cheer for.
Two criticisms: first, some of the side characters could've had a little more depth or detail, especially Drea and all the elderly neighbors. But I think I see why it was written this way: Sydney couldn't trust her own perceptions, and we were mostly seeing these characters through her eyes. Second, the ending: Like I hinted in my first spoiler, I was expecting this book to have an unhappy ending, and it doesn't. But the ending did seem to come from nowhere in a few ways. I may have missed some foreshadowing, though.
I already loved Alyssa Cole's books and I am excited she has published a book in a new genre. I recommend this book to romance readers and thriller readers alike. Above all, I really did enjoy the story. I did not want to take breaks from listening. The audiobook had two narrators, Susan Dalian and Jay Aaseng, and they were both fantastic.
I listened to all three seasons of this and they were entertaining. The audio production and voice acting is top-notch. It's a modern-day version of Lovecraft's stories. They're presented as though they're part of a true-crime podcast, but otherwise close to the source material. This is unlike the Lovecraft-inspired stories I am more used to (such as [a:Jordan L. Hawk 6519692 Jordan L. Hawk https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521548404p2/6519692.jpg]'s books or Peter Clines's [b:14 15062217 14 (Threshold, #1) Peter Clines https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1338999953l/15062217.SX50.jpg 20716929]), in that those are original stories using Lovecraft's ideas, and it's very unlike [b:Winter Tide 29939089 Winter Tide (The Innsmouth Legacy, #1) Ruthanna Emrys https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1463670456l/29939089.SY75.jpg 47306624], which is a thoughtful exploration of Lovecraft. This podcast isn't really deep in any way, just something fun to listen to. But if you like cosmic horror and unsolved mysteries, it's done well.
I didn't love this one, but I did enjoy it a lot.
So this book has a few major elements. Sam has very low self-esteem, due to parental abuse. I see a lot of myself in this character and can relate to his experience and outlook easily. It was satisfying to see him finding a place for himself in the world and slowly overcoming some of his problems. I look forward to seeing him grow over the course of the series.
I also really like the new setting, speakeasies in Prohibition-era Chicago, and I'm glad Hawk will be bringing us back to this world. As always with his books, there is a lot of flavor, and I really felt immersed.
The romance is pretty good. I like Alistair a lot too, and the plot of his not wanting to take another chance is believable and heartfelt. There is a lot of cuddling in the first half and I always enjoy that. There was something missing for me, though, and I can't really articulate it. They have a small argument right after they finally get together, and while their positions in the argument make sense for their characters, the emotional tone feels out of place. A pacing issue, maybe.
The main plot about the murder and gangs didn't really capture my attention. I also didn't really get a feel for most of the side characters, except Wanda and Holly. I am not sure why there are so many people in the Gatti family, from a reading standpoint, and I had trouble keeping track of who was who. I don't remember right now what specific cats the siblings turn into, or all of the characters who were in the war. But I'm sure we'll learn more about these interesting characters down the road.
This world felt almost queernormative this time, more like our world, in which there are still phobic people, but being queer is not remarkable in some places. I don't know if that is the nature of Hexworld in the 1920s or the real situation in this neighborhood of Chicago at that time, or only 1920s Hexworld Chicago. But homophobia does not play much of a role in Sam and Alistair's lives, from internal or external sources. Sam's religious upbringing seems like it was joyless overall and more anti-magic than anything else.
This is somewhere between four and five stars for me. I really like the overall structure of the book. Both main characters believe that kindness and love can't be real, and they prove each other wrong. That's a great romance plot! I also love several of the book's relationships: Robin and Hart, Robin and Marianne, and Robin and Alice. We don't see as much of Hart and James together, or Hart and Lady Wintour, but I enjoyed both of those too.
However, Robin and Hart spend most of their time together discussing their relationship and not really having that relationship. The sex scenes were good, but I wanted more domesticity and cuteness between them. I felt those things were happening off-page, for the most part. I also missed seeing Marianne and Alice forming a friendship. We heard about them being friends but didn't see much of them together.
Maybe my opinion will change when I listen to the audiobook. I did do a lot of highlighting, and I absolutely love the way that Robin brings Hart's emotions out, and shows him he's worthy of love. Overall this is a good read and I enjoyed it a lot, but not quite as much as I usually enjoy KJC's books.
This is a beautiful and very slow-paced romance novel, and I recommend it enthusiastically. It feels luxuriant. Two interesting characters surprise themselves by falling in love with each other, and there is a lot of very intense and detailed pining.
I can't really speak to the ADHD or autism representation, because I have neither diagnosis, but it seemed very respectful, as well as affirming, in that both MCs love aspects of the other that society tends to pathologize. I also liked all the side characters; this is the kind of book where it's easy to imagine them all living full lives off the page. I always enjoy that.
I think this author is at the start of his career and I know this is his first full-length novel. I enjoyed it very much, but I feel it would've benefited from better proofreading and possibly better editing. I'm not sure on that last point, because I was fully on board for the whole thing, personally. But it really is an extremely slow-burn romance.
I listened to all the free episodes of this horror fiction podcast that have been released so far and enjoyed it. Note for my queer romance pals here: there's a gay couple who are major characters, but they're not in the first season.
The cosmic-horror plot is not overly surprising, but it's definitely not dull. The free episodes tell a complete story, and then there are bonus stories set in the same universe which are only available on Patreon (I haven't heard those). All the characters are interesting. The production is very good and the voice actors are all top-notch.
The unusual thing about this podcast is that it's multilingual; almost all the characters speak multiple languages. Translations are part of the story, except for short asides they make to themselves, and all the transcripts are available free on the Patreon if you're like me and want to hear every word.
This is a lovely and atmospheric romance and I'm so glad I read it.
I've had the experience of meeting long-time long-distance friends, and this story captured the hopeful awkwardness of that situation very well. It's also very evocative of the time and place and I liked all the historical details, such as how Richard and Tobias first started writing to each other.
Mainly, though, the cozy cottage really feels like a safe haven for Richard and Tobias, and I loved seeing them find peace together there. It's a very good holiday read.
This is very good and a great follow up to The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. That book and The Bedlam Stacks are both favorites of mine. My enjoyment did not quite reach that level with this one, but I did really like it.
The audiobook is especially good. If you like audio, I recommend it for her books, because the narrator makes a lot of insightful (and plot-related) choices with the accents. Most of the characters in this book are Japanese, and he did different British and American accents for all of them, I think to try to capture aspects of their characters. I felt this worked really well.
Mild spoiler I had some trouble identifying with Thaniel, overall. The depth of Mori's love for him seemed obvious to me, but he doubts it for most of the book. The structure of the story makes me think I was supposed to be a little frustrated with him. But I don't know.
The author really has fun with all the SFF concepts here, and this one feels more science-fiction-y than her other books. I don't know if she will return to this world again, but I hope she does. Either way, I look forward to reading her future books.
This is an interesting book, but I can't really say I enjoyed it. I thought it was a romance, but it's a horror novella. There's a lot of explicit violence and gore, including people suffering from a plague. Johann is a murderer and delights in killing. If you prefer to look for content warnings, you definitely need to do that for this book. Or if there's something specific you avoid, ask me.
Florian is evil. Imagine the evilest villain you can. I don't mean the fun kind of villain, but someone you actively loathe. For me, I think of Prince Regal in the first Farseer Trilogy and Kai Winn from Deep Space Nine. Now imagine this villain has a henchman who is completely devoted to them, and they have sex. That's pretty much the nature of the pairing between Florian and Johann. It has an element of fated mates, as well, in a way that I found extremely off-putting.
I don't mind gay villains but these two (especially Florian) are written like deviants. Johann says flat out (not a direct quote), “you prefer men because no woman measures up to your sister.” I'm not comfortable with anything about that. It also would've been really easy to make this world queernormative, but instead, they're transgressing with their relationship too, in addition to all their actual crimes.
I did like the dynamic between them because I've never read anything quite like it. Florian doesn't have any soft edges. He is actively cruel to Johann at every turn. Johann is a brute but he loves everything about Florian, including his cruelty. There is no explicit sex, but the love scenes are like twisted games. Very dark and strange.
I also liked the imagery. The crumbling industrial city was very easy for me to see and it felt original, while reminding me of other settings. The streets and interiors felt desolate and decayed. This writer is skilled at establishing mood and at painting a detailed picture.
I think I might've enjoyed the book much more, despite all my distaste, if I had liked the writing style, but I did not. It's overloaded with metaphors. I am kind of pretentious myself and I rarely think that about books, but I did have that feeling here. I wasn't enchanted. But I listened to the audiobook and I liked the narrator, Daniel Henning, who was new to me.
Overall, I only recommend this to people who enjoy horror. I don't like the nature of the relationship, and I don't believe we are at a place as a society where we can conscionably write queer relationships this way without doing harm to the perception of real people's lives.
Between four and five stars. I really loved this romance! I wanted many more pages of these two being adorable, kind, and loving together, but I am a serious devotee of fluff. The story also has a plot, involving violence and crime.
It takes place before the events of Any Old Diamonds and could be read on its own, so it works as a teaser for that book series. My criticism is that Jerry and Templeton got slightly too much page time, in a romance about other characters. But I did really enjoy reading this, and they're all great characters.
This novella is beautiful, both the prose itself and the story. I didn't know much about it at all, which made it a quick read, because I wanted to know what was happening. But I plan to reread it soon. I think I'll better appreciate it when I'm no longer curious about the plot's secrets. I look forward to reading more by this author.