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battyaboutbooksreviews · 3 months ago

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🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in August 2024 🌈

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Happy reading!

[ Text list below ⤵ ]

❓What was the last queer book you read?

[ Release dates may have changed. ]

❤️ Failure to Comply - Sarah Cavar 🧡 I Spit On Your Celluloid - Heidi Honeycutt 💛 You're Embarrassing Yourself - Desiree Akhavan 💚 Death of the Hero - Briona Johnson 💙 Between Dragons and Their Wrath - Devin Madson 💜 The Crimson Crown - Heather Walter ❤️ Sacrificial Animals - Kailee Pedersen 🧡 Oath of Fire - K. Arsenault Rivera 💛 The Palace of Eros - Caro De Robertis 💙 This Ravenous Fate - Hayley Dennings 💜 Mistress of Lies - K.M. Enright 🌈 Wolf Bite - T.J. Nichols

❤️ In the Valley, A Shadow - Samantha Tano 🧡 Follow My Lead - Adrian J. Smith 💛 The Last Woman I Kissed - Venetia Di Pierro 💚 Full Shift - Jennifer Dugan & Kristen Seaton 💙 Hers for the Weekend - Helena Greer 💜 Come Out, Come Out - Natalie C. Parker ❤️ Rules for Ghosting - Shelly Jay Shore 🧡 How to Leave the House - Nathan Newman 💛 Plot Twist - Carmen Sereno 💙 On the Far Side of a Crescendo - Kalyn Hazel 💜 Tiny Oblivions and Mutual Self Destructions - Maxwell I. Gold 🌈 Daylan and the River of Secrets - Edd Tello

❤️ The Italy Letters - Vi Khi Nao 🧡 The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie - Lee Wind 💚 The House Where Death Lives - Alex Brown 💙 Ash's Cabin - Jen Wang 💜 The Avian Hourglass - Lindsey Drager ❤️ The Heart Wants - Krystina Rivers 🧡 A Grand Love - Janna Barkin 💛 You Can't Go Home Again - Jeanette Bears 💜 Libertad - Bessie Flores Zaldivar 🌈 Her Golden Coast - Anat Deracine

❤️ Mighty Millie Novak - Elizabeth Holden 💛 Rise and Divine - Lana Harper 💚 Dying for You - L Flowers 💙 I'll Have What He's Having - Adib Khorram 💜 Changing Her Tune - Amanda Kabak ❤️ Monogamy? In this Economy? - Laura Boyle 🧡 The Rainbow Age of Television - Sayna Maci Warner 💛 Medusa of the Roses - Navid Sinaki 💙 Confounding Oaths - Alexis Hall 💜 Idol Lives - K.T. Salvo 🌈 Brother's Keeper - Quinn Cameron

❤️ Key Lime Sky - Al Hess 🧡 Crushing It - Erin Becker 💛 The Husky and His White Cat Shizun - Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou 💚 Not for the Faint of Heart - Lex Croucher 💙 Tasting Temptation - JJ Arias 💜 Ami - S. Jae-Jones ❤️ You're the Problem, It's You - Emma R. Alban 🧡 Cubs & Campfires - Dylan Drakes 💛 The Dark We Know - Wen-yi Lee 💙 Practical Rules for Cursed Witches - Kayla Cottingham 💜 Riyati Rebirth - Kalani Shimizu 🌈 The Brujos of Borderland High - Gume Laurel III

❤️ A Bánh Mì for Two - Trinity Nguyen 🧡 Dance of the Starlit Sea - Kiana Krystle 💛 Scattered Snows, to the North - Carl Phillips 💚 Beyond a World Apart - Caitlin Myers 💙 Don't Let It Break Your Heart - Maggie Horne 💜 Nothing Heals Me Like You Do - Harper Bliss ❤️ How It All Ends - Emma Hunsinger 🧡 How Do I Sexy? - Mx. Nillin Lore 💛 The Palace of Eros - Caro De Robertis 💙 Prince of the Palisades - Julian Winters 💜 Better Left Buried - Mary E. Roach 🌈 Back to Back - Jo Fletcher

❤️ DITCHLAPSE / [REALLY AFRAID] - Tommy Wyatt 🧡 The Love Archives: Bonus Scenes & Excerpts for Palestine - Various 💛 Guardian: Zhen Hun - Ying Priest 💚 The Sunforge - Sascha Stronach 💙 Queering Reproductive Justice - Candace Bond-Theriault 💜 Gender Explained - Diane Ehrensaft & Michelle Jurkiewicz ❤️ The Unlikely Pair - Jax Calder 🧡 In Universes - Emet North 💛 We Love the Nightlife - Rachel Koller Croft 💙 Lessons from Cruising - Martin Goodman 💜 Wild Ginger in the Rhubarb - Eule Grey 🌈 Not My Circus - Delicia Niami

❤️ Asunder - Kerstin Hall 🧡 The Phoenix Keeper - S.A. MacLean 💛 Encounters with James Baldwin - Various 💚 Verity's Game - Jennifer Giacalone 💙 Hunt Me! I Crave the Chase - Fae Quin 💜 The Audacity Omnibus - Carmen Loup ❤️ Haunted to Death - Frank Anthony Polito 🧡 Blood Orange - Paige Grunewald 💛 The Bad Things We Did - Chris Archeske 💙 Dark Restraint - Katee Robert 💜 Worth the Wait - Kenna White 🌈 The Maid and the Crocodile - Jordan Ifueko

❤️ Loving Corrections - Adrienne Maree Brown 🧡 The Last Witch in Edinburgh - Marielle Thompson 💛 The Duchess of Kokora - Nikhil Prabala 💚 The Scales of Seduction - Rien Gray 💙 Survival Is a Promise - Alexis Pauline Gumbs 💜 Loka - S.B. Divya ❤️ The Every Body Book of Consent - Rachel E Simon 🧡 Southern Lights - Liz Arncliffe 💛 Then Things Went Dark - Bea Fitzgerald 💙 Death at Morning House - Maureen Johnson 💜 The Last Doorbell - William Parker 🌈 The Pairing - Casey McQuiston

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kadoore · 2 years ago

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March 2023 Queer Adult SFF Books!

THE MIMICKING OF KNOWN SUCCESSES by Malka Older 3/7/2023

f/f

gaslamp mystery, but make it Jupiter

platform-livin' on a gas giant

cozy Holmes/Watson vibes

ARCA by G.R. Macallister 3/7/2023

sapphic MCs, pan and nb side characters

picks up where SCORPICA left off

that is, a matriarchical society where politics and magic clash and a fragile peace might soon come undone

THE FAITHLESS by C.L. Clark 3/7/2023

f/f

sequel to THE UNBROKEN

those ARMS

found family vs found my family

the queen might be hot af but she's still trying to conquer your people

it's time for a revolution

PROUD PINK SKY by Redfern Jon Barrett 3/14/2023

m/m

the alt-historical, glittering queer metropolis of Berlin draws two fleeing gays toward (supposed) sanctuary

but even in a queer utopia, there's strife and division amongst the gays

FEED THEM SILENCE by Lee Mandelo 3/14/2023

f/f established couple

hey we can translate wolf speak!

oh, what they're saying is pretty interesting

let's just be wolves

well that escalated quickly

BITTER MEDICINE by Mia Tsai 3/14/2023

bi MCs in a m/f relationship

xianxia-inspired romantic fantasy between a descendant of the Chinese god of medicine and an elf security expert

magical calligraphy, cursed children, & murderous younger brothers

WE DREAM OF GODS by Devin Madson 3/21/2023

m/m, plus bi characters

puts the epic in epic fantasy

necromancy & tasteful beheadings & empire building, yesss

4th & final book in the REBORN EMPIRE, which started with WE RIDE THE STORM

THE BLOOD HOURS by Ann H. Fox 3/21/2023

bi MC

magic-users are marked with how long they're allowed to live before they're hunted by priests as sacrifice

MC got 72 years; his sister only 10

So when his sister enters the hunt, so does he

LOKI'S RING by Stina Leicht 3/28/2023

many queer POV characters

a crisis team of middle-aged folks are stranded on a planet under quarantine

adopted AI children & alien-made solar systems

same universe as PERSEPHONE STATION

BLACKHEART GHOSTS by Laure Eve 3/30/2023

f/f

queer Arthurian urban fantasy with motor bikes?? And illegal magic???

illusionists, betrayal, and half-drowned strangers 🧑‍🍳🤌

sequel to BLACKHEART KNIGHTS

More queer 2023 books: January | February | April

#queer books #get your queer books #queer adult sff books

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haliespages · 3 months ago

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🏛~ reading update

last: a warning about swans by r.m. romero - 4✨️

current: out of the riverlands by nghi vo

next: wings of starlight by allison saft

🕰~ sept. tbr

graveyard shift by m.l. rio

blood on her tongue by johanna van veen

don't let the forest in by c.g. drews

the archive undying by emma mieko candon

mistress of lies by k.m. enright

dark woods, deep water by jelena dunato

🗝~ bookmail

thrum by meg smitherman

between dragons and their wrath by devin madson

the poppy war by r.f. kuang

wings of starlight by allison saft

the city in glass by nghi vo

celestial monsters by aiden thomas

don't let the forest in by c.g. drews

wisteria by adalyn grace

#bookblr #booklr #books #books and reading #bookstagram #book review #reading #bookworm #lifestyle #literature

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witchertits · 1 year ago

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I was wondering if you would maybe have a book/book series recommendation for a fan of the Witcher series ( the books and Netflix(preferred season 3)) and most high/epic/dark fantasy? I'm looking for another mostly female centric series that's just as dark as the witcher but with at least a slightly happier ending. Something that's tragic but not with a tragic ending. I really liked the emphasis on family in the witcher. I also specifically liked the father daughter duo but it's not required. I completely understand if you don't have any recommendations or simply just don't feel like/want to. Feel free to pls 100% ignore this I just figured I would shoot my shot.

Hey! I'm gonna start by saying I have not read these books, but this is what I'd do for a patron. I'm using a database called NoveList Plus. I have to log in with my library card, link found on my local library's free database resources.

REFERENCE UNDER THE CUT 📚

First I searched for the last wish and clicked the "series read-alike" button. This returned 9 results of fantasy series with short summaries:

Tawny man Hobb, Robin Reason: Though the Witcher novels are fast-paced and the Tawny Man novels are more leisurely, both star dangerous assassins at work in fully realized fantasy worlds. Compelling writing and careful description bring these intricately plotted tales vividly to life.

Shadowdance novels Dalglish, David Reason: These world-building fantasy tales focus on the adventures of deadly assassins where magic, monsters, and bold exploits rule the day. Fast-paced and intricately plotted, they're set in realms where a conscience is as valuable as brute strength.

Vlad Taltos novels Brust, Steven Reason: These world-building tales of fantasy adventure feature amazing magic, the most unusual creatures, and assassins with hearts of gold. Though the Vlad Taltos novels are more offbeat and witty, both series are action-packed, fast-paced, and intricately plotted.

Wizard king trilogy Corrie, Chad Reason: These series have the themes "sword and sorcery" and "scum and villainy"; the genre "fantasy fiction"; and the subjects "wizards," "assassins," and "magic."

Elric Saga Reason: These series are world-building, and they have the theme "sword and sorcery"; the genres "fantasy fiction" and "epic fantasy"; and the subjects "wizards," "magic," and "imaginary kingdoms."

Book of Swords Saberhagen, Fred Reason: These series are action-packed and world-building, and they have the theme "sword and sorcery"; the genre "fantasy fiction"; and the subjects "wizards," "magic," and "magic swords."

Riyria revelations Sullivan, Michael J. Reason: These series are world-building, and they have the themes "sword and sorcery," "scum and villainy," and "rightful heir"; and the subjects "wizards," "assassins," and "mercenaries."

Reborn Empire Madson, Devin Reason: These series are compelling, gritty, and world-building, and they have the genres "fantasy fiction" and "epic fantasy"; and the subjects "assassins" and "imaginary empires."

Sword of the south Weber, David Reason: These series are world-building, and they have the themes "sword and sorcery" and "dark lord"; the genre "fantasy fiction"; and the subjects "wizards," "magic," and "imaginary kingdoms."

The cool thing about NoveList is how it can filter results. So let's look at the last wish's catalog entry to see how it's described:

Genre: fantasy fiction, short stories, translations, page to screen Themes: Sword and sorcery Storyline: action-packed, world-building Pace: fast-paced Writing style: compelling Subject headings: assassins, monsters, wizards, magic, duty, imaginary creatures, imaginary kingdoms, swordplay

Next, I went to advanced search. I can do a ton of things here, like look up books mentioned only on NPR, books only by a female author, only award-winning books. I typed in search terms "strong female protagonist" and "happy ending" then filtered for fantasy only in the sidebar. All of the results here are for teens, but hey, YA has come a long way in the last 20 yrs it's pretty decent these days! You'll notice they're pretty heavy on fairytales, but if you're looking for happier endings don't write off YA. We have 7 results:

Mechanica Cornwell, Betsy "A retelling of Cinderella about an indomitable inventor-mechanic who finds her prince but realizes she doesn't want a fairy tale happy ending after all"

Bitterblue Cashore, Kristin Eighteen-year-old Bitterblue, queen of Monsea, realizes her heavy responsibility and the futility of relying on advisors who surround her with lies as she tries to help her people to heal from the thirty-five-year spell cast by her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities.

Tales from the Hinterland Albert, Melissa Journey into the Hinterland, a brutal and beautiful world where a young woman spends a night with Death, brides are wed to a mysterious house in the trees, and an enchantress is killed twice—and still lives.

The queen will betray you Henning, Sarah After a thousand years of political stability, the realm of The Sand and Sky is up for grabs. Four kingdoms, four rulers vying for the ultimate prize, sovereignty over the entire continent: A ruthless old king spinning webs, whose schemes encompass generations. A widowed queen whose only credo is all kings must die. A runaway queen whose unexpected return upends everyone’s plans. And a prince-in-waiting determined to wait no more. Standing against them are a dispossessed princess and her stable boy love with a surprising claim of his own.

Circle of shadows Skye, Evelyn Eager to prove themselves in a peaceful kingdom, two magic apprentice warriors on the brink of graduating infiltrate a camp of mysterious soldiers who lead one of them on a transformative mission of deception.

Beast: a tale of love and revenge Jensen, Lisa Granted her wish to see her handsome but cruel master suffer, a servant girl is astonished when her employer is transformed into a gentle beast who patiently tends roses, writes poetry and regrets his past actions, until an innocent beauty arrives to break the spell.

Unchosen Blair, Katharyn A horrifying curse, swoon-worthy sea captains, and the power of one girl to choose her own fate.

"Strong female protagonist" "epic fantasy" and "hopeful" brought a couple new ones:

Half the world Abercrombie, Joe Seeking to avenge her dead father, fifteen-year-old girl soldier Thorn learns harsh lessons in the ways of war in the king's army while falling in love for the first time.

The wolf of Oren-yaro Villoso, K. S. A queen of a divided land must unite her people, even if they hate her, even if it means stopping a ruin that she helped create.

"Strong female character" and "fantasy" refined by "adult" and "time period: medieval" gave me several more results:

Winternight trilogy Arden, Katherine Spirited, fierce Vasya, daughter of a wealthy boyar, inherited her grandmothers' magical gifts, dangerous amongst religious intolerance, fierce politics, and rival magics. As her powers grow, so do their consequences, along with her need to right wrongs. These emotionally stirring and lush literary historical fantasies are riddled with fairy tales and folklore, bringing 14th century Russia vividly to life.

Armed in her fashion Heartfield, Kate A historical fantasy set in fourteenth-century Bruges about a widow who leads a raid on a Hellmouth to save her daughter.

Dark earth Stott, Rebecca After their father, a legendary blacksmith accused of infusing his swords with dark magic, suddenly dies, his daughters are faced with enslavement and must escape to the Ghost City where they find an underworld of rebel women living in secret.

Divine heretic Moyer, Jaime Lee The voices whispering to Jeanne d'Arc that she is fated to put a king upon his throne claim to be sainted angels. Jeanne knows they're lying.

The golden wolf Hartsuyker, Linnea After Freydis is kidnapped, Ragnvald and his sister Svanhild each grapple with a difficult decision as they peruse their destinies and honor their ancient gods in the conclusion to the trilogy, following The Sea Queen.

The lost queen Pike, Signe Reveals the untold story of Languoreth--a forgotten queen of sixth-century Scotland and twin sister of the man who inspired the legend of Merlin--as her family fights for the survival of their kingdom against the encroaching forces of Christianity and the Anglo-Saxons.

So! Hopefully that helps. If your library has this database or a similar one it's really fun to play around with. And if I didn't help any, go visit your local librarians, they don't bite! If you don't already have a card, get one, and you can probably read ebooks & audiobooks for free!

#librarian tag #ask #witcher books

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beyondmistland · 1 year ago

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Book Review (7/3/23)

The King Must Fall by Adrian Collins (4/5)

A wonderful collection of dark and bloody stories. What You Wish For by Devin Madson (4.5/5) Maybe it’s the fact this is the first story in the anthology or maybe it’s that fairytale-like ending but I loved this story apart from one or two of the character names. The Dark Son by Luke Scull (4/5) Apart from the jungle setting the story wasn’t too original but it did benefit from having one of the rare endings to come with a positive message. Glory to the King! by Anna Smith Spark (3/5) While the idea of imposter syndrome in an undefeated ruler was interesting to read and the writing generally solid, said ruler’s profanity-laced narration struck me as more juvenile than moving personally speaking. The Book Burner’s Fall by Anthony Ryan (3.5/5) While well-written, particularly in its opening sections, I was left somewhat dissatisfied by the climax. Mother Death by Michael R. Fletcher (5/5) The Ice Age-inspired setting, the unique magic system, and the compelling first-person narration made this one an instant favorite of mine. The Black Horse by Jeremy Szal (4/5) The bloodiest of the bunch, this story really reminded me of TLOU from the dynamic between the two main characters to the moral dilemma presented at the climax. Thrall by Lee Murray (4/5) The story didn’t do anything unexpected apart from making the selkies New Zealander but it was well-told. King for a Day by Daniel Polansky (4/5) The Mesoamerican-inspired setting was interesting but what really grabbed my attention was just how many times the MacGuffin changed hands, not to mention the fact each murderous, would-be ruler having a different reason for wanting power. Looking back now, it kind of reads like someone adding the One Ring or the Green Pearl to The Emperor’s New Groove, which…obviously isn’t very funny. The King-Killing Queen by Shawn Speakman (5/5) Really wish I could have backed the expanded edition on Kickstarter. Anyway, what I liked most about this particular story was the blending of an Arthurian-based mythos with a GRRM-like sensibility regarding the human condition. The Face of the King by Adrian Tchaikovsky (5/5) This story was by far the most experimental, which immediately earns it some brownie points. The fact Tchaikovsky actually managed to pull off the present tense, second-person narration and stick the landing with one of the most memorable endings in the whole book, on the other hand, elevates it to the top of the pile. Hand of the Artist by Trudi Canavan (5/5) This was another first-person story I really enjoyed. The protagonist was very relatable and it was nice to see a king be brought down through the healing power of art for a change. The Conspiracy Against the Twenty-Third Canton by Alex Marshall (4.5/5) A non-European setting combined with two likable female protagonists and a few good twists made this a pleasure to listen to though there were some instances of modern language I didn’t particularly enjoy. Also, cannibalism. The Blade Queen and the Stoneheart by Anna Stephens (3/5) Apart from the titular Blade Queen none of the characters were that interesting and again the amount of profanity was a turn-off. That said, the ending did leave a striking image in my mind and the homage to Eowyn from LOTR a nice touch as well. The Day the Gods Went Silent by Justin T. Call (3/5) Well-written but overstuffed with world-building. A Piece of Movable Type by Peter Orullian (2.5/5) Apart from the ending the story wasn’t so much bad as it was dull and underwhelming. Definitely the weakest of the bunch in my opinion. The Wizard in the Tower by Kameron Hurley (5/5) I wasn’t expecting something romantic but I’m also not going to complain when it’s this good. The Varcolac by Matthew Ward (4.5/5) The relatively straightforward plot was elevated by cool characters, excellent prose, and a stellar ending that left me torn. On Wings of Song by Deborah A. Wolf (5/5) A fairytale-like story of sirens and female friendship that was heartwarming, if appropriately bloody by the end. The Last Days of Old Sharakhi by Bradley P. Beaulieu (4.5/5) Definitely a high note to end the anthology on. As an Arab, I adored the Middle Eastern setting but just as much I enjoyed the themes of change, legacy, and mortality. Special shoutout to audiobook narrator, Greg Patmore, who did an excellent job narrating each story.

Currently reading: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

#book review #books #grimdark fantasy #dark fantasy #fantasy #short stories #anthologies

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wolfreader · 3 months ago

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august 2024 wrap-up - adult fiction

this month i read ten (10) adult fiction novels.

the warm hands of ghosts by katherine arden 📚 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

i absolutely adored this book! i'm very seriously considering getting my own copy once it comes out in paperback.

i didn't have super high expectations, especially considering i'm not normally a magical realism enjoyer, but this book legitimately brought me to tears (which is very rare for me). i've seen other reviews that say that this book is more about the journey than the destination, as the ending leaves a lot open and unanswered, and i definitely agree, but wow is it an amazing journey.

foundryside by robert jackson bennett 📖 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

this is a fantasy series i've heard about for a while, but i avoided because i heard that the magic system is very science-oriented, which i don't typically like. however, now that i've finally given it a try, if the next two books blow me away as much as this first one this might become a favorite series.

the main character was really lovable and endearing from really early on and the talking key that she ends up in possession of (not a spoiler, he shows up not even five chapters in) is so much fun and quickly became a favorite character. i also wasn't aware that this had a sapphic love interest, so that was a pleasant surprise!

sense and sensibility by jane austen 📖 🌟🌟🌟

much like persuasion, which i read at the end of july, this is not my favorite austen novel that i've read thus far. i cared about the relationship between the sisters, but i wasn't invested much in any of the romantic relationships presented. i wasn't interested at all in either of the men marianne becomes entangled with and i only slightly cared about elinor and edward's thing.

i still enjoyed it, just not as much as some of jane austen's other books. going to keep working my way through her work so see if my favorites are dethroned at any point.

sleeping giants by sylvain neuvel 📚 🌟🌟🌟

one of my reading resolutions for the second half of 2024 has been to try some books outside of my comfort zone, and i never read sci-fi, so i picked this up at the library.

this is told as though it's a series of interview transcripts, journal entries, news reports, et cetera which isn't a writing style i adore, but it also made it very quick to read. that being said, i don't think i'm going to continue with the series. i'm not going to give up on finding sci-fi that i enjoy, there are some other books i've been recommended that sound really promising, but i'm just not invested enough to continue with this series in particular. i only really connected to one character and i don't like the direction that character is going in.

to the lighthouse by virginia woolf 📖 🌟🌟🌟

i don't know how to feel about this one? i liked it well enough.

i know that this is one of those books that's supposed to be plotless, but i feel that this was perhaps a little too plotless for my tastes. i did really enjoy the second and third parts, especially the depiction of the contrast in the ramsay's life before and after the first world war.

i plan on coming back to this in a year or so, when i've read more from woolf and am more familiar with her writing style, so maybe i'll feel differently then.

we dream of gods by devin madson 📚 🌟🌟🌟

this is a series that i've been at for a while. i initially bought the first three books, but after months went by without me even thinking of buying the fourth and final one i had to accept that i simply wasn't interested enough to justify spending money on it. my own library system didn't have it, so i put in an inter-library loan request and recieved it!

i was a little underwhelmed. there was only one character of the four main ones that i was really invested in, and she at least got a satisfying, happy ending, but i just didn't feel any strong emotions about any of the other point of view characters and that applied to their endings as well.

i can't believe i'm rooting for a straight couple to end up together, but two characters who intially had romantic and sexual tension ended up in seprate, queer relationships by the end of the series, and both of these relationships came out of left field and had no chemistry. if this series were more popular, i'd say that perhaps reader interest made the author switch directions with these characters, but i don't think it's popular enough for that to have been a factor.

after sappho by selby wynn schwartz 📖 🌟🌟🌟🌟

i adored this book! it's been on my radar for a while, but my work got a couple of copies in and i obviously have an employee discount so i saw it as a sign to finally read it. the format and style of this book is for sure an acquired taste but i, personally, enjoyed it a lot.

i loved the use of "we" throughout the book, framing the author as part of a background collective of queer women that was there throughout the historical events taking place; this was potentially as a deliberate attempt to evoke the image of a greek chorus? either way i really liked it, it really helped to create a sense of kinship with both the "main characters" of the novel as well as with this hypothetical group of sapphic women paying witness to the growing and changing landscape of queer and particularly sapphic culture.

i also really liked the framing of sappho less a person and more an idea, or a spirit that can inhabit anyone. seeing as we know very little about the historical sappho and we knew even less during the time period this book takes place, i found the presentation of sappho as an idea very compelling. i was fascinated with the repeated imagery of "becoming" sappho, of being transformed into sappho for a brief period through art, performance, activism, relationships, et cetera.

mrs. dalloway by virignia woolf 📖 🌟🌟🌟

an apt follow-up to after sappho, as virignia woolf was a major character in that novel. i enjoyed this one more than to the lighthouse, which makes me excited for orlando (which im planning to read soon), as friends who are familiar with woolf's writing have told me they think that's the one i will like the best. also, after sappho put a lot of focus on the woolf's writing of orlando in particular, which excited me.

but for mrs. dalloway, i'm a little mixed. the parts i liked i really liked but the parts i didn't like i really didn't like. there were parts that almost made me cry, and parts that i was incredibly bored with.

the once and future king by t.h. white 📖 🌟🌟

i was really enjoying this book for the half, but in my opinion it took a sharp dip in quality in the second. the first two books included in this edition (the sword in the stone and the queen of air and darkness), which focus on king arthur's childhood and therefore on elements of arthurian legend that aren't as well-trodden in literature, i really enjoyed, but once the focus shifts to lancelot and guinevere and the more classic arthuriana stuff i thought it really dragged. i just felt that not only have i seen this story before, i've seen it done a lot better than this.

as i write this i've already gotten rid of my copy at a book swap and traded it in for something i'll hopefully enjoy a lot more.

the desert spear by peter v. brett 📖 🌟🌟🌟

i have really complicated feelings on this one. consider this a right-in-the-middle 2.5 stars that i've rounded up for simplicities sake.

on the one hand, i think peter v. brett is a talented writer. his writing style is very quick and engaging and readable without feeling dumbed-down or juvenile. when he actually takes the time to give characters a fully realized story instead of just relying on stereotypes, those characters are really compelling and i find myself wanting to continue the series to find out what happens to them. the demons and the mysteries surrounding them are interesting.

however, this book is insanely racist and misogynistic. and not in an (unfortunately very common) "average grimdark fantasy written by a white man" way, in a very noticeable way. while the primary antagonists in this series are the literal demons, the secondary antagonists, the krasians, are very thinly veiled amalgamations of various swana cultures. and the way these fantasy allegories for muslims are written is, as mentioned, insanely racist and islamaphobic! the best non-white man in the series thus far is still depicted as a money-hungry coward willing to sell out his close friends for wealth. most of them are depicted as bloodthirtsy rapists, including one of only two non-white male point of view characters.

most women in the series and every single woman who is a point of view character can be sorted into either "rape surivivor" or "hypersexual manipulator" (or sometimes both!). there's a new female point of view character introduecd in this book that was only briefly mentioned in the last one, and almost immediately she is sexually assaulted. if i had a nickel for every time a female character in a demon cycle book was violently sexually assaulted only to then immediately seek out sex with the next vaguely nice man they interact with, i'd have two nickels. the most prominent non-white female character and the only non-white female point of view character is sorted into "hypersexual manipulator", as are most of the non-white women in general. even when these women are given sympathy as rape survivors, it's in a very racially charged way, to put it mildly. also this man simply does not know how the female body works. the hymen does not work like that, peter, and a woman who has dedicated years of her life to healing and is particularly knowledgable about fertility and women's reproduction would know this.

i've heard from others who have noticed this very obvious issue with the book but who have also read the rest of this series that the desert spear is the absolute worst it gets, that it gets better throughout the series, so i might continue (as i said, when brett actually puts effort into his characters they're very compelling) but i'm very conflicted.

#bookblr #august 2024 #reading wrap up #adult fiction

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indiespacesite · 6 years ago

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Indie Author Spotlight: ‘In Shadows We Fall’ Author Devin Madson

Geeks of Doom's Maximus Prime delves into author Devin Madson's In Shadows We Fall – a hallmark of "Grimdark" fantasy fiction that introduces an Asian-inspired setting.

#Writing

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spaceandsorcerysblog · 2 years ago

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WE RIDE THE STORM (The Reborn Empire #1), by Devin Madson #WyrdAndWonder

For this year’s Wyrd & Wonder I wanted to take the opportunity to read some of the fantasy books that have been languishing for a while on my TBR, and the first that came to my attention is this first volume in Devin Madson’s Reborn Empire series: with hindsight, I can’t believe I waited so long before losing myself in this magnificent saga that from the very start proved to be a compelling read…

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#Fantasy #Reviews #Series #Wyrd & Wonder 2023

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beeblackburn · 2 years ago

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Discounting stuff published in hardcover 2022, only now released in 2023:

The Chatelaine by Kate Heartfield

Gods of the Wyrdwood by R.J. Parker

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan

Labyrinth's Heart by M.A. Carrick

The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan

Witch King by Martha Wells

The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl by Emily Riesbeck and N.J. Barna

The Gods on Sunday Morning by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson

The Strange by Nathan Ballingrud

Lone Women by Victor LaValle

Blade of Dream by Daniel Abraham

The Faithless by C.L. Clark

Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder

We Dream of Gods by Devin Madson

Behold, Behemoth by Tate Brombal and Nick Robles

Smut Peddler Presents: My Monster Girlfriend

March's End by Daniel Polansky

Please let me know which new releases are you looking forward to this year because I only have these 3:

#books

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literatureaesthetic · 3 years ago

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look at the water damage on my book 🥲 anyway, i don't care because i ended up putting this book down after an awfully written r*pe scene. Yeah, not impressed at all.

[ my review ]

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foreverlostinliterature · 4 years ago

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11/30 Book Deals

Good morning and happy Monday, everyone! How are you all doing?? How was your weekend and how are you holding up? It looks like it’s going to be a little warmer this week here, which is odd and not very December-like, but the weather is always weird. Sorry for the lack of posts over the past couple of days, I was just trying to take some time to focus on non-internet things when I could, haha. I just have two papers due this week and two finals and then I’m done with the semester and my excitement for that is far, far too high.

In regards to books--there are a lot on sale, so definitely be sure to have a look if you want to discover any new books or authors or worlds. :) I could recommend a lot of these, such as The Bone Shard Daughter, We Ride the Storm, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro, The Last Smile in Sunder City, etc., but there are also a ton I haven’t read that I’ve heard awesome things about and hope to read someday myself! Have you read any of these to recommend? Let me know!

Anyway, I hope you all have a truly wonderful start to your day and happy reading! :D I hope you can find something nice to read. :)

Here is the link to find resources on how you can help out with the BLM movement! Keep the momentum going!

Today’s Deals:

This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab - https://amzn.to/2Jny0qt

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas - https://amzn.to/3oma5aj

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas - https://amzn.to/3qcV4ZW

An Ember in the Ashes (#1) Sabaa Tahir - https://amzn.to/2JpqRWS

A Torch Against the Night (#2) by Sabaa Tahir - https://amzn.to/39s7YNL

A Reaper at the Gates (#3) by Sabaa Tahir - https://amzn.to/2Ju2hnH

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - https://amzn.to/33rSi9C

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel - https://amzn.to/3fOGZgB

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee - https://amzn.to/3fSceY7

A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers - https://amzn.to/33wZuRA

All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness - https://amzn.to/3o97i3T

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso - https://amzn.to/36jGGXZ

Conceal, Don't Feel (A Twisted Tale) by Jen Calonita - https://amzn.to/2JsZf2S

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo - https://amzn.to/2JkZTji

First: Sandra Day O'Connor by Evan Thomas - https://amzn.to/3fOozN1

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones - https://amzn.to/2JmfnUb

We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter - https://amzn.to/3lp5CkW

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Bk. 1 by RIck Riordan - https://amzn.to/3o97qAp

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - https://amzn.to/33tolWB

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart - https://amzn.to/3lmZWbl

We Ride the Storm by Devin Madson - https://amzn.to/39t71or

Mind of My Mind (#2) by Octavia E. Butler - https://amzn.to/3o98G6B

The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold - https://amzn.to/33uBgaV

Bringing Columbia Home: The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew by Michael D. Leinbach, Jonathan H. Ward - https://amzn.to/33sgHf0

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin - https://amzn.to/36mIS0L

The Other Wind (The Earthsea Cycle Bk. 6) by Ursula K. Le Guin - https://amzn.to/36jnPMB

The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Pt. 1 by Irene Koh - https://amzn.to/3mpWrlH

The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman - https://amzn.to/2JwcTCd

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer - https://amzn.to/2ViuxMz

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai - https://amzn.to/39taOSM

Sharon Tate the Manson Murders by Greg King - https://amzn.to/3odEjfd

The Umbrella Academy Vol. 3: Hotel Oblivion by Gerard Way - https://amzn.to/37enie0

Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar - https://amzn.to/2HRmeEk

NOTE: I am categorizing these book deals posts under the tag #bookdeals, so if you don’t want to see them then just block that tag and you should be good. I am an Amazon affiliate in addition to a Book Depository affiliate and will receive a small (but very much needed!) commission on any purchase made through these links.

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