Elisa Rolle's Blog, page 106
December 5, 2021
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Every Time We Meet
Every Time We Meet by A.M. Leibowitz
Queer Groundhog Day! There's only so many ways to tell a do-over, and so this isn't a groundbreaking novel in that sense, but a bisexual woman lead? That's worthy of celebration on its own. I enjoyed the subtle changes in each iteration of Heidi's do-over day and the suspense of waiting to see if she'd got it right yet. Not the ending I was expecting, no. Much better than that.
https://amzn.to/3oqeqfg
comments
Queer Groundhog Day! There's only so many ways to tell a do-over, and so this isn't a groundbreaking novel in that sense, but a bisexual woman lead? That's worthy of celebration on its own. I enjoyed the subtle changes in each iteration of Heidi's do-over day and the suspense of waiting to see if she'd got it right yet. Not the ending I was expecting, no. Much better than that.
https://amzn.to/3oqeqfg
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Penumbra
Penumbra by Dan Ackerman
A brilliant novel with subtle world-building, slowly immersing the reader into the characters' reality. The author explores themes of morality and social justice through the relationships Arden strives for with his 'subjects'. I loved everything about this novel, even if the ending wasn't quite the one I was rooting for.
https://amzn.to/3Dqx1Mr
comments
A brilliant novel with subtle world-building, slowly immersing the reader into the characters' reality. The author explores themes of morality and social justice through the relationships Arden strives for with his 'subjects'. I loved everything about this novel, even if the ending wasn't quite the one I was rooting for.
https://amzn.to/3Dqx1Mr
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Glimpses
Glimpses by Chris Zett
I haven't read any of the full stories these 'codas' relate to, but they all pretty much work on their own, and I'll certainly be reading them now. This anthology is a lovely gift from authors to their readers.
comments
I haven't read any of the full stories these 'codas' relate to, but they all pretty much work on their own, and I'll certainly be reading them now. This anthology is a lovely gift from authors to their readers.
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: To Hold A Hidden Pearl (Rossingley #1)
To Hold A Hidden Pearl (Rossingley #1) by Fearne Hill
I loved the Britishness of this story - as a Brit, I'm not keen on us being called quirky, but the cap fits for these guys. The chemistry between the two main characters was clear from their very first scene, and I enjoyed the unrushed development of their relationship. I'll definitely be reading the next instalment.
https://amzn.to/3Ghbd7M
comments
I loved the Britishness of this story - as a Brit, I'm not keen on us being called quirky, but the cap fits for these guys. The chemistry between the two main characters was clear from their very first scene, and I enjoyed the unrushed development of their relationship. I'll definitely be reading the next instalment.
https://amzn.to/3Ghbd7M
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Owl
Owl by M. Raiya
This is a well-pitched YA shifter romance where the characters actually read as young adults. Some suspension of belief required to enjoy the plot.
https://amzn.to/3DnOmpd
comments
This is a well-pitched YA shifter romance where the characters actually read as young adults. Some suspension of belief required to enjoy the plot.
https://amzn.to/3DnOmpd
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Thaw
The Thaw by Pat Henshaw
To me, this was perfectly written. This is a story about unrequited love, or at least each of the MCs thought it was. Friends since high school, the two young men weren't aware the other felt the same but with the awareness that their relationship wasn't accepted, especially by one of their parents, they were afraid of letting the other know about their feelings. This was a sweet story, especially toward the end, when finally, all come out in the open and, even though a friend's tragic death was dangling above their heads by feeling guilty, they acknowledge their innocence. We get to see a bit of everything in this story: friends to lovers, hatred toward weakness and toward the gay community, redemption, forgiveness, and so much more. Well-written novella, I highly recommended it.
https://amzn.to/3xUy6ep
comments
To me, this was perfectly written. This is a story about unrequited love, or at least each of the MCs thought it was. Friends since high school, the two young men weren't aware the other felt the same but with the awareness that their relationship wasn't accepted, especially by one of their parents, they were afraid of letting the other know about their feelings. This was a sweet story, especially toward the end, when finally, all come out in the open and, even though a friend's tragic death was dangling above their heads by feeling guilty, they acknowledge their innocence. We get to see a bit of everything in this story: friends to lovers, hatred toward weakness and toward the gay community, redemption, forgiveness, and so much more. Well-written novella, I highly recommended it.
https://amzn.to/3xUy6ep
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The God's Eye (Lancaster's Luck #3)
The God's Eye (Lancaster's Luck #3) by Anna Butler
Filled with action, imagination, and amazing details, with an excellent command of story and setting, this steampunk adventure is a fun read that mashes up history, technology, and Eygptology, picking the reader up off their feet and carrying them away on unexpected and delightful journeys.
https://amzn.to/31wiAJJ
comments
Filled with action, imagination, and amazing details, with an excellent command of story and setting, this steampunk adventure is a fun read that mashes up history, technology, and Eygptology, picking the reader up off their feet and carrying them away on unexpected and delightful journeys.
https://amzn.to/31wiAJJ
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Road to Kalazad
The Road to Kalazad by K.L. Mitchell
Sweet, fun, and cleverly amusing. I was quite taken by Revka and Iyarra and enjoyed their adventures a great deal.
https://amzn.to/3px0waJ
comments
Sweet, fun, and cleverly amusing. I was quite taken by Revka and Iyarra and enjoyed their adventures a great deal.
https://amzn.to/3px0waJ
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: By Imperial Decree (ESTO Universe)
By Imperial Decree (ESTO Universe) by Angel Martinez
This is the kind of trans representation I would love to see in queer storytelling. Shiro is running away from his suitors and ends up on Bremen station where he is rescued by Marsh. The romance between them ignites in diversity, but there is more to their story. The trans representation is well-done and just one facet of a much bigger story. The world-building is fantastic, and it is wonderful to see the community-based culture that Marsh grew up in. The secondary characters lift the story of the main characters and add to the overall development of the story. This is one story in part of Martinez's ESTO universe, where each story is stand alone, but for the readers who have read the other stories, there are easter eggs and appearances from other stories. It's a rich universe that I enjoy thoroughly.
https://amzn.to/3op2fzh
comments
This is the kind of trans representation I would love to see in queer storytelling. Shiro is running away from his suitors and ends up on Bremen station where he is rescued by Marsh. The romance between them ignites in diversity, but there is more to their story. The trans representation is well-done and just one facet of a much bigger story. The world-building is fantastic, and it is wonderful to see the community-based culture that Marsh grew up in. The secondary characters lift the story of the main characters and add to the overall development of the story. This is one story in part of Martinez's ESTO universe, where each story is stand alone, but for the readers who have read the other stories, there are easter eggs and appearances from other stories. It's a rich universe that I enjoy thoroughly.
https://amzn.to/3op2fzh
comments
2020-2021 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Other Girls Like Me
Other Girls Like Me by Stephanie Davies
Wonderful story with a passionate voice of growing up different in a suburban home.
https://amzn.to/3xUOeMU
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Wonderful story with a passionate voice of growing up different in a suburban home.
https://amzn.to/3xUOeMU
comments
