#song of the huntress

[catis15]

My Opinions/Reviews on Saphic Books:

- Bright Falls Trilogy

- All of them are cute and heartwarming and giggle worthy and shit

- It's cool seeing each of the friend groups POVs and they're all pretty relatable in my opinion

- Pretty good representation of various family relationships especially with mothers

- the various relationships are actually really well written but the stories are still very much focused on the romance, they're not sidelined persey but they're not the main focus of that's what your looking for it's very much about the couple

- I like the variety in body types through the series, there's different heights, weights, yada yada and it's nice to see and they're all appreciated

- There aren't any POC MCs but there are side characters, also lots of gender and lgbtqia+ identity representation NB characters, ace characters, lots of queer couples, I think there may be a polycule mentioned but I'm not entirely sure

- Smut? Yes there is, how much varies between book but I'd argue there's more every book with Iris's book having the most; Id also argue it gets intenser as the series continues but it's all pretty mid (not in the it's bad writing way in the I've read far worse but I've also read some relatively pg 13)

DELILAH GREEN

- I love Delilah sm she can fucking step on me and Id ask her to do it again

- It's a sorta an asshole to everyone but you between her and Claire but not in the typical way? Like it's there but it's not written the way a lot of that trope usually is, idk I just really like how these books are written I think the author does a fantastic job

- Delilah seeing Claire for who she is and like just how much emotion she has is just yes, and also Claire seeing Delilah as like a sweet person and not just an asshole is nice too

- Because I know it bothers some people, Claire is a mother and the kid is talked about, I don't mind parent tropes but ik some people just don't enjoy reading them, I thought Ruby was sweet though and Claire seeing how Delilah interacts with her is also really cute

- Delilah also providing that safe and comforting space for artwork for Ruby is also really sweet and seeing Delilah kinda give Ruby what she herself didn't have is wholesome ASF and Claire just appreciates it and shit idk it's cute

- Hating On The Straight White Man TM (because he is gross to Astrid)

- Delilah is a photographer and Claire runs a bookstore

ASTRID PARKER

- It's cool getting to see Astrid's POV compared to how Delilah (her sister) views her

- Mommy Issues TM and in my opinion it catches some of the subtleties of growing up with a toxic parent really well

- Jordans ex comes along so warning for that, ok some people don't really like that

- Also handles like not missing your ex but feeling like YOU failed because the relationship failed

- again the subtleties of so much is just so well written

- Jordan is very stereotypical lesbian and I'm here for it

- her truck is named adora, her cat is named catra (if I'm remembering correctly), she wears random button ups, got that half saved short hair going (funnily enough I myself had both Astrid and Jordans haircuts at various points in my life lmao), she's a carpenter sorta, she's got an attitude, is into taro, like I love her sm 😂 she's so me fr 😭

- enemies to lovers

- Astrid's a bitch and Jordan pretends not to be into it

- they fuck in a pantry

- it's funny

IRIS KELLY

- iris doesn't do kids and marriages and her more or less traditional family is giving her shit for it

- Stevie has anxiety and handles it the same way I handle mine so that was relatable

- handles the shit that goes along with having anxiety really well so props to the author once again

- fake dating tm

- They're basically giving each other 'classes' because they think they're bad at things; but in reality it's just them being comfortable with stuff they're actually pretty good at; Stevie helps Iris be more comfortable with everyday romance and Iris helps Stevie be more comfortable with adult fun time intimacy outside of committed long term relationships

- but at the same time in queer Shakespeare and it's beautiful

- Home Field Advantage

- will add later

- The Song of the Huntress

- Just bought it and haven't read it yet

- The Priory of the Orange Tree

- Just bought it haven't read it

- Late Bloomer

- a few chapters in

- th author notes are funny and enjoyable

- good representation of things like people pleasing, autism, trust issues due to family trauma, bad relationships that you stay in for the comfort, toxic friends

- They're some pretty heavy themes but their handled in an easy to swallow way

- while these are very present themes the main focus is still the romance, but they're handled a bit more in depth than say the Bright Falls Trilogy

[theinquisitxor]

May 2024 Reading Wrap Up

I read 8 books in May and fully got through all the books I wanted to read this month, which makes me happy. My enjoyment was a big up and down throughout the month, but I'm overall happy with what I finished in May. I read mostly fantasy, with 3 nonfiction. I wrapped up 1 series and read a few new releases I have been excited about.

Let's get into it!

1.The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo 4/5 stars. This was an enjoyable new historical fantasy standalone, and I'm liking her adult works quite a bit. I enjoyed the early-modern Spain setting, including all the societal upheavals that Spain was going through during this time period. This novel feels like a Leigh Bardugo book, with characters, themes, and plots that appear in her other books. In general, if you consistently like Bardugo's works, then you'll probably like this one! Adult Historical Fantasy.

2.Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa L. Sevigny. I read this on audio, and this was an enjoyable nonfiction about the first women to raft down the Colorado River in the late 1930s. Nonfiction.

3.The Winners (Beartown 3) by Fredrik Backman, 5/5 stars. This gave me such a satisfying but emotionally devastating conclusion 😭. I knew from page 1 that things were going to hurt, but I really couldn't have asked for a better series about a small hockey town. Fiction.

4.Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland 2/5 stars. I read Sistersong when it was released a few years ago and loved it. I was disappointed with this however, I never really connected to the plot or characters at all. I felt like our main character never went through any sort of growth, and I was bored or frustrated throughout.Shoutout for having an ace main character, but other than that I would have dnf'd this book if it wasn't for how much I deeply enjoyed Sistersong. Adult Historical fantasy

5.The Language of Trees: A Rewilding of Literature and Landscape by Katie Holton. This was a lovely collection of short essays, musings, passages, and poetry about trees and forests.

6.The Hedgewitch of Foxhall by Anna Bright, 3/5 stars. I'd been interested in this novel since the title and fantastic cover caught my attention. Young Adult is generally not my favorite genre anymore, and this definitely had a YA feel to it, a bit more than I find I enjoy anymore. The ending felt cobbled together and rushed, but I thought this novel had some good reflections and critiques on nature and society that apply well today. Young Adult Historical Fantasy

7. Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness by Edward Abbey. I can see why this is a foundational piece of North American Nature Literature, and I did enjoy my time reading it. Edward Abbey was certainly a man with opinions, and a man of this time. I thought his prose, reflections on the landscape and nature were beautiful and apt. However sometimes he will randomly spout some nonsense. I did really enjoy reading this collection of essays and he makes me want to visit this region, and to really get to know, understand, and appreciate the land. Nature Literature

8.The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks 3/5 stars. This was my Random TBR Pick for the month of May. I'm not the biggest Fantasy Romance person, but I was willing to give this a try. This was fine. It was entertaining and I kept wanting to turn the page and find out what happens next. I didn't connect with the characters as much as I wanted to, and I did not enjoy the Insta-love that happened. The worldbuildng felt weak, but the magic system interests me. This book definitely steered in a direction I wasn't fully expecting, and I don't think I have any interested in continuing the series. It's not necessarily bad, just not my cup of tea. Adult Fantasy Romance.

that's all the books I read in May!

My June TBR:

The Magician's Daughter by HG Parry

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh (TBR pick)

River Horse: A Voyage Across America by William Least Heat-Moon

1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H Cline

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

Song of the Huntress

historical fantasy set in 8th century Britain

follows three characters:

a woman who has spent centuries leading the wild hunt & reaping souls after being tricked into it, who disguises herself as a human to enter the kingdom

the queen of Wessex who never lives up to the demands of the court, despite leading their people in battle - and after a battlefield defeat they turn against her

and her husband, the king, deals with magic and political upheaval as his brother tries to usurp him and conflict arises between new and old religions

bi woman MC, lesbian MC, ace man MC

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Ine from Song of the Huntress is asexual!

[hiddenbookcasepodcast]

Somehow it’s that time again already! We’ve got a busy few months ahead at The Hidden Bookcase, so peek under the cut for what we’re reading and chatting about on our upcoming episodes as autumn ambles on in… 🍂🧣🍁

Before we get to our autumn reads, we couldn’t let Disability Pride Month pass without celebration! We’re joined by the stellar Ella T. Holmes, disability advocate & organiser of the upcoming disability in fantasy anthology, for a chat about writing fantasy with disability in mind.

Then it’s time for Ahistorical Autumn to begin! We’re setting sail on August 5th with Natasha Pulley's seafaring adventure The Kingdoms, for which we are joined by a very beloved member of The Hidden Bookcase crew, the incredible Kit Lovick!

Afterwards, we have yet another fireside chat for you all, this time celebrating Fat Liberation Month in August! For this episode, we’re accompanied by the wonderful Anya Josephs, author of sapphic fantasy novel Queen of All 👑⚔️🏰

Then it’s back in the saddle as Ahistorical Autumn continues with Lucy Holland’s Song of the Huntress on September 2nd! 🐴🌙🌳 Longtime bookwyrms will know Sistersong was one of the first books we read on the show- we can’t wait to delve into this world again!

We’ve got something especially exciting for the latter half of September- an author interview with Jessica Mary Best! Audiodrama lovers may know her as writer of our of this world @starshipiris. We’ll be chatting sapphic, sci-fi, YA murder mystery Stars, Hide Your Fires on the 16th!

Last but certainly not least, Ahistorical Autumn finishes with a flourish on October 7th- we’re talking the epic She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, alongside author of Home, the one and only Cailean Steed ☀️🔥🐉

Told you things were going to get busy- we can’t wait! Are any of these books on your TBR, or perhaps already amongst your current favourites? We’d love to hear what you bookwyrms are most excited about! 📚🐉💜💛

[merelymatt]

"But stories cross boundaries that we may not. Countries, religions ... time. I bar none from my hall, and welcome those that tell them."

—Song of the Huntress, Lucy Holland

[holley4734]

Song of the Huntress: #bookreview

@silvanhistorian @panmacmillan @netgalley#bookreview @BloggersHut #BloggersHutRT #BloggersTribe #biblioblog @_TeamBlogger #TeamBlogger #blogdreamRT @bookbloggershub

The acclaimed author of Sistersong transforms the story of Herla and the Wild Hunt into a rich, feminist fantasy in this stunning tale of two great warriors, a war-torn land, and an ancient magic that is slowly awakening. Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland begins in 60 AD in what is now the county of Norfolk. It is a feminist retelling of King Herla and the Wild Hunt. Some people says it is a…

[starry-bi-sky]

Danyal Phantom Doodles uhhh i’ve got a handful of Danyal Al Ghul drawings that I like enough to share.

[anonymocha]

are you gonna be there with me?

taco bell commercial song got me dyking

[ashesfierybree]

I just started playing a couple days ago but I'm in love with her and her play style

[huntressofartemis001]

yelling the “i’ve fallen in love” part of I Want to Break Free with all my soul except not only have i never fallen in love, i also think i never will. im aromantic

[llycaons]

if you're writing a romance and the change the character has to go through is so dramatic that they're literally insufferable prior to their development then at a certain point it's like. why bother. darcy from pride and prejudice had to undergo major personality changes, but from his first introduction he was a observant and clever, and he conversed intelligently with elizabeth. he did have obvious flaws but they just made me more interested in how he'd change, it didn't make me want to give the book up in disgust. characters can be at odds, have different goals and perspectives, argue and fight, and even be enemies, but they should both be tolerable presences to read

[roachsdoodles]

mr skull cranium, 2024 mixed media

[hiddenbookcasepodcast]

Ahistorical Autumn continues- on today's episode of The Hidden Bookcase we're reading Lucy Holland's Song of the Huntress! Let's talk asexual rep, awkward conversations with your siblings, and audiobook excellence 🐎🌙🏰

🌿 Listen on Spotify 🌿 Or find us wherever you get your podcasts 🌿 For transcripts, visit our website 🌿 For closed captions, visit our YouTube

[floralovebot]

hai i would love to send helia asks! is there any instrument you imagine helia would like playing? do you headcanon him to be a good singer?

AAAAAAAAAAAA TY!!!

he canonically plays guitar in the comics!!

headcanon wise, i think he was one of those asian kids who was forced to learn either the piano or violin ladjhg but i do think he would like playing the piano! he would exclusively know classical pieces in a minor key though what a loser

i do think he'd be a good singer! not like. The Best. but definitely not Bad either. he'd be in tune and it would sound really soft and lovely yknow? i feel like helia is more of a hummer though!