#Striking Distance

[jikubodypillow]

is this bakudeku

[dinosaurs0ckz]

Moment from the fence novel!! Seiji being celebrated for being an amazing master criminal

[aurorawest]

Bargain of Blood and Gold by Kristin Jacques - 3.75/5 stars

Reminiscent of Jordan L Hawk's Widdershins series, but with vampires and werewolves. Also takes place in Maine, which isn't a very common setting. Unwittingly, I bought the second book in the series months ago, and I realized as it got to the top of my TBR that I didn't have the first book! I had to scramble to order it and I was happy I enjoyed it since, obviously, I already have the second book.

Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa - DNF at pg 2

Captive Prince by CS Pacat (reread) - 5/5 stars

Prince's Gambit by CS Pacat (reread) - 5/5 stars

Kings Rising by CS Pacat - 5/5 stars

I think I loved these books even more on my reread.

Gravity by Tal Bauer - 4.25/5 stars

Probably my favorite hockey romance that I've read.

The Modern Mythos Anomaly by Juniper Lake Fitzgerald - DNF at pg 132

I actually liked the story, the characters, and the writing in general, but this book just needed another few edits to slim it down a bit.

Lose You to Find Me by Erik J Brown - 4.5/5 stars

Leeward by Katie Daysh - 4.5/5 stars

The blurbs on this book are hilarious, because they're all like, tall ships people, and then Mackenzi Lee, hailing it as a lovely queer historical romance. This was a really lovely book and I'm excited for the sequel. Also hoping for more kissing in the sequel since this was a serious slow burn.

Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball by Jason June - 3.75/5 stars

Starseer by Katya Hernández - 4/5 stars

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala - 5/5 stars

I loved this book so much!! Oh my god. Super funny, very romantic. It revolves around cosplay which is of course a special interest of mine.

Northranger by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo - 4.5/5 stars

Flying Without a Net by EM Ben Shaul - 2.75/5 stars

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley (reread) - 5/5 stars

Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan - 4.75/5 stars

I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. The graphic novels were good but changing to a novel format allowed for much deeper characters. Surprisingly devastating and also really funny.

The Old Haunts by Allan Radcliffe - 4/5 stars

The Gay Best Friend by Nicholas DiDomizio - 5/5 stars

Main character is the best friend of both the bride and the groom, and everything surrounding the wedding becomes a train wreck beginning on the weekend of the bachelor party, when the bride asks the MC, Dom, to keep tabs on the groom for her. As someone who is extremely conflict avoidant with friends but not family and romantic partners, I heavily related to Dom. There's also a romance that I really loved.

Romance Languages by AJ Truman - 4.25/5 stars

I think this was my favorite of the South Rock series. It deals with some more difficult topics—Julian's self-loathing over his body image is heartbreaking (and relatable), and Seamus's guilt over the way his gambling addiction hurt his ex was very well done. I'm a sucker for stories where a character learns to ask for help, not to mention difficult parent-child relationships, and this had both. I also appreciated Julian's arc re: sex and virginity.

Darkhearts by James L Sutter - 5/5 stars

Another bandmates-in-love treasure, with a twist—the main character, David, left the band right before they got famous. He ends up falling for one of his ex-friends/bandmates after they reconnect. The author is a musician himself, and it definitely shows (in a good way). I'm really a sucker for The Burdens of Fame, which this book definitely had, but there's actually a really good arc for David and how he deals with his jealousy and resentment over being left behind. Plus he wants to be a carpenter rather than go to college, which was cool.

Brute by Kim Fielding - 4.25/5 stars

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian - 5/5 stars

What can I say about this book? Why was it so lovely? Why did it make me feel so much? Why can I not rate things higher than 5 stars? It's a million stars in my heart. Aside from just being a gorgeous mid-century America m/m romance (my favorite), this one features an Italian-American main character. The stuff with Nick's family was spot-on. I just loved this book. I felt like I was wrapping myself in a big, comfy, historical gay romance blanket.

Drowned Country by Emily Tesh - 5/5 stars

The sequel to Silver in the Wood. Had a very mythic and sort of folk horror vibe. This one is from Henry Silver's POV instead of Tobias Finch's and takes place two years after Silver in the Wood, which is time that Henry has mostly spent sulking in Greenhollow Hall, sans Tobias. Really highly recommend this duology. Emily Tesh is a treasure.

The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro - DNF at pg 11

[cynosurus]

One of the favourite lines my brain likes to quote to me:

Seiji Katayama, world's most unexpected class warrior

from Fence: Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan

[m4el-1t0]

This is how I feel reading Striking Distance

[insult-the-glory]

"After a date, we should leave the practice at the door."

As opposed to taking it inside. Into the room. With the beds in it. Harvard's mind felt like it was bending and might fracture under an immense weight.

[anxious-black-hottie]

[flojocabron]

Being an homage sucks.

[1990s-2000s]

[libertyreads]

Book Review #93 of 2023--

Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan. Rating: 3.75 stars.

Read from July 20th to 21st.

To a degree, I struggle with rating this one. It is just as dumb and young as Nick looks on that cover, but I cannot help but enjoy my time with the boys from Kings Row. They’re all so smart and so talented but at the same times just complete and total himbos. I love them for it. But especially the longing and the mutual pining between Harvard and Aiden. Stop it. I love it. Everything I’ve been missing for the last two weeks is just sitting there in their relationship and I had such a good (and terrible) time with it. Good job. No notes.

It was weird because you definitely should read the comics before you read this novel. There’s so much you’re missing if you don’t which is part of what took away from the rating for me. I wish people could pick this up randomly and fall into the Kings Row life seamlessly. It was also a bit strange for me that while the comics were so heavily fencing focused, the novelization was so heavily friendship and relationship focused. Which is something I was missing in the comics. So, I loved that, don’t get me wrong. It was just such a whiplash moment for me.

This was silly and stupid and I really had an amazing time. I’m so sad that my library doesn’t have the next book. But I’m hoping to swing by a shop and pick up a copy in the next couple of weeks. (I just have to know what happens with Aiden and Harvard!)

[hate5sixofficial]

Striking Distance 2022-07-22 Metro Gallery Baltimore, MD

[il-predestinato]

6 TENTHS?!

Charles’ brake issue in Bahrain cost him 6 tenths per lap! 😭 Imagine the race we could have had!

(Source: formu1a.uno)

[sunlitpynch]

back after my hiatus (recently saw a fence post and was like “i think….i miss my wife”)

i forgot how much fun it was to make these — i already have my next dump half done

[liesmyth]

Johnny Depp is getting some kind of career achievement award at a film festival in my city. brb finding out if there's some kind of organised protest already or I have to do everything myself

[quaranmine]

i saw a really scenic lighthouse last week and my first thought was "maybe i should revisit the lighthouse fic" so maybe yall have that going for yall again now?

[gummi-ships]

Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance Commands - Break Time