Jerry Cooke
I can't even tell you how many times this book made me cry happy tears (and some sad ones to boot). I love a D&D romance so much, but so many of them are hetero and so I was totally overjoyed to find this one and it didn't disappoint in the slightest.
As a D&D player, I can attest that it was written by an actual lover of the game, because it was accurate in its rules and knowledge, and the D&D campaign had its own subplot that was described in a narrative episodic style outside of the narrative of the story itself, but still connected through the players. It was beautifully described and had its own lovely genuinely growth and peril, etc. that worked so well alongside the main story.
The queer representation in a small red state rural setting was amazing, depicting the difficulty in coming out when you feel you're not safe to, but find that there's a community you didn't realise existed around you. It had good non-binary and asexual representation and a secondary romance subplot between two of the other players as well that was super cute.
It also really well captured gender dysphoria and dissociative episodes when a character is forced (by familial pressure) to take part in a super feminine and heteronormative bouquet toss and the description was so tenderly and perfectly written.
I listened to the audiobook and the use of three narrators was a really excellent choice. The chapters alternate semi-regularly between the two MCs, which each had their own narrator, but the D&D segments were handled by a third narrator, which really helped keep those narrative third person sections separate.
Overall, I just adored this book. It was fantastic and I really hope M.K. England writes more about this group one day!
I can't even tell you how many times this book made me cry happy tears (and some sad ones to boot). I love a D&D romance so much, but so many of them are hetero and so I was totally overjoyed to find this one and it didn't disappoint in the slightest.
As a D&D player, I can attest that it was written by an actual lover of the game, because it was accurate in its rules and knowledge, and the D&D campaign had its own subplot that was described in a narrative episodic style outside of the narrative of the story itself, but still connected through the players. It was beautifully described and had its own lovely genuinely growth and peril, etc. that worked so well alongside the main story.
The queer representation in a small red state rural setting was amazing, depicting the difficulty in coming out when you feel you're not safe to, but find that there's a community you didn't realise existed around you. It had good non-binary and asexual representation and a secondary romance subplot between two of the other players as well that was super cute.
It also really well captured gender dysphoria and dissociative episodes when a character is forced (by familial pressure) to take part in a super feminine and heteronormative bouquet toss and the description was so tenderly and perfectly written.
I listened to the audiobook and the use of three narrators was a really excellent choice. The chapters alternate semi-regularly between the two MCs, which each had their own narrator, but the D&D segments were handled by a third narrator, which really helped keep those narrative third person sections separate.
Overall, I just adored this book. It was fantastic and I really hope M.K. England writes more about this group one day!