Siavahda's Blog, page 59
August 15, 2022
Must-Have Monday #98
NINE new SFF books I’m excited for this week! Check these out!
Warlady (The Calpurnian Wars, #2) by Jo Graham Genres: Sci Fi
Published on: 15th August 2022
Goodreads
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Warlady is the sequel to Graham’s Sounding Dark, although from the description, it sounds like it might work as a standalone. I encourage you to read Sounding Dark first, though, because it’s great and why would you deny yourself great books???
The Worthy by Anna K Moss Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Sapphic MC
Published on: 15th August 2022
Goodreads
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Blood is thicker than water. Tell that to Prince Barsten, betrayed and abandoned on foreign soil. His sister is intent on claiming the throne and he’s intent on stealing it back. One of them might succeed, if it weren’t for a sacred creature infecting people with its emotions. Rage, fear, paranoia, despair. As their country collapses, the royal siblings must stay true to themselves or find out just how thick their blood really is.
Moss’s compelling debut novel dives into a desperate kingdom, full of intrigue, treachery and sapphic-longing. Fast-paced and awash with sinful characters and fetid settings, The Worthy is a must-read for all lovers of dark fantasy.
Content warning: This novel contains scenes of violence, assault and occasional dialogue of a homophobic and racist nature. The opinions of the awful people within are not the author's own.
I know very little about this one, but I’m cautiously optimistic!
The Oleander Sword (Burning Kingdoms, #2) by Tasha Suri Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Desi-coded setting and cast, F/F
Published on: 16th August 2022
Goodreads
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The prophecy of the nameless god—the words that declared Malini the rightful empress of Parijatdvipa—has proven a blessing and curse. She is determined to claim the throne that fate offered her. But even with the strength of the rage in her heart and the army of loyal men by her side, deposing her brother is going to be a brutal and bloody fight.
The power of the deathless waters flows through Priya’s blood. Thrice born priestess, Elder of Ahiranya, Priya’s dream is to see her country rid of the rot that plagues it: both Parijatdvipa's poisonous rule, and the blooming sickness that is slowly spreading through all living things. But she doesn’t yet understand the truth of the magic she carries.
Their chosen paths once pulled them apart. But Malini and Priya's souls remain as entwined as their destinies. And they soon realize that coming together is the only way to save their kingdom from those who would rather see it burn—even if it will cost them.
Listen, as I said in my review, The Oleander Sword is amazing – even better, imo, than The Jasmine Throne was!!! I can’t praise it enough – no question, it’s one of the best books of 2022!
Second Spear (Border Keeper, #2) by Kerstin Hall Genres: Fantasy
Published on: 16th August 2022
Goodreads
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The thrilling follow-up to Nommo Award finalist The Border Keeper
After surviving the schemes of the goddess Fanieq and learning some shattering truths about her former life, the warrior Tyn feels estranged from her role guarding her ruler. Grappling with knowledge of her identity, she unleashes her frustrations on all the wrong people.
When an old enemy returns wielding an unstoppable, realm-crushing weapon, Tyn is swept up in the path of destruction.
I loved the first book in this series, The Border Keeper, and I absolutely adored Second Spear – you can read my review here, but the TL;DR version is that it’s officially my new favourite Kerstin Hall book!
Alternative Alamat: An Anthology: Myths and Legends from the Philippines by Paolo Chikiamco, Mervin Malonzo Genres: Fantasy
Representation: Filipino cast
Published on: 16th August 2022
Goodreads
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An anthology of speculative short fiction from 12 talented Asian authors!
Dip into the rich treasure trove of Filipino alamat (legends) with this new collection of contemporary short stories. This anthology includes works by a dozen talented and award-winning Filipino writers including Budjette Tan (Trese) and Eliza Victoria (Dwellers). Explore richly imagined realms where powerful gods and magical creatures are responsible for the twists and turns of fate in the lives of ordinary people.
The 13 amazing stories in this collection include:
The fate of the lingering Sky Maiden
The diwata Maria Makiling seeking romantic partners in the human world
Depictions of Philippine deities, including Balitok, Bangunbangun, Dagau, Haliya, Hukloban and Melu
Encounters with celestial power beneath the sea, at the movies and in a pawnshop
And many more!
Each tale is reimagined for a modern sensibility and reinvented for the current generation of fantasy fiction fans. This gripping collection is essential reading for anyone interested in magical realism and contemporary Filipino fiction.
Filipino mythology is not something I know much about – but I’m eager to learn! And this sounds like a wonderful place to start.
Tinderbox by W.A. Simpson Genres: Fantasy
Representation: Black MC
Published on: 16th August 2022
Goodreads
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The Tinder Box by Hans Christian Andersen is one of my favorite stories, but it’s not very popular/well-known. So I’m always so excited when we get a retelling of it! I haven’t heard much about Simpson’s Tinderbox, but I can’t wait to dive in and discover all its secrets for myself!
Tune in Tomorrow: The Curious, Calamitous, Cockamamie Story Of Starr Weatherby And The Greatest Mythic Reality Show Ever by Randee Dawn Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy
Published on: 23rd August 2022
Goodreads
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A funny, thrilling and mysterious adventure into the world of alternate reality television... Perfect for fans of Jasper Fforde and Christopher Moore.
She’s just a small town girl, with big mythic dreams.
Starr Weatherby came to New York to become… well, a star. But after ten years and no luck, she’s offered a big role – on a show no one has ever heard of. And there’s a reason for that. It’s a ‘reality’ show beyond the Veil, human drama, performed for the entertainment of the Fae.
But as Starr shifts from astounded newcomer to rising fan favorite, she learns about the show’s dark underbelly – and mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her dream job – though she might just bring down the show in the process.
I am very disappointed that the subtitle isn’t on the cover (The Curious, Calamitous, Cockamamie Story Of Starr Weatherby And The Greatest Mythic Reality Show Ever is objectively marvellous) but everything else about Tune in Tomorrow has me EXTREMELY INVESTED. This seems to promise to approach Urban Fantasy from an angle I’ve never seen before – magic reality tv!!! – and several of my best-beloved authors are already big fans, so yes, I will be pouncing on it!
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala Genres: Queer Protagonists
Representation: Genderfluid MC
Published on: 16th August 2022
Goodreads
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From Ryan La Sala, the wildly popular author of Reverie, comes a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendor of a secluded summer retreat.
Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who'd grown tragically distant.
Mars's genderfluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions -- and expectations -- of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.
What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying -- and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death.
But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive.
I can’t swear this is SFF – the reviews I read danced around the question, which means a clear yes it is/no it isn’t is probably a spoiler – but it is Ryan La Sala, and his writing is certainly magical, so I’ll take it!
Weird Fishes by Rae Mariz Genres: Fantasy, Sci Fi
Published on: 18th August 2022
Goodreads
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AN UNDERWATER TALE OF FRIENDSHIP AGAINST MONSTROUS ODDS
When Ceph, a squid-like scientist, discovers proof of the ocean’s slowing currents, she makes the dangerous ascent from her deep-sea civilization to the uncharted surface above. Out of her depths and helpless in her symbiotic mech suit, Ceph relies on Iliokai, a seal-folk storyteller, who sings the state of the sea and has seen evidence of clogged currents as she surfs the time gyres throughout the lonely blue. Navigating the perils of their damaged ocean environment, and seemingly insurmountable cultural differences, Ceph and Iliokai realize that the activities of terrestrial beings are slowing the spiralling currents of time. On a journey that connects future and past, the surface and the deep, the unlikely friends struggle to solve a problem so big it needs a leviathan solution.
I’ve been warned to pay attention to the trigger warnings at the start of this novella, but otherwise this seems to have garnered a lot of pre-pub praise and I’m really intrigued. I love what I’ve heard of the worldbuilding!
Will you be reading any of these? Let me know!
The post Must-Have Monday #98 appeared first on Every Book a Doorway.
August 14, 2022
Sunday Souçons #16
soupçon/ˈsuːpsɒn,ˈsuːpsɒ̃/ noun
1. a very small quantity of something; a slight trace, as of a particular taste or flavor
Sunday Soupçons is where I scribble mini-reviews for books I don’t have the brainspace/eloquence/smarts to write about in depth – or if I just don’t have anything interesting to say beyond I LIKED IT AND YOU SHOULD READ IT TOO!
It’s been a little while since I did one of these! Alas, today I have mini-reviews for two books that ended up disappointing me.
A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin Genres: Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy
Representation: PoC cast
ISBN: 0553383043
Goodreads
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Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth.
Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
I’m sorry, I just don’t see what all the fuss is about.
I got a lot out of the foreword and afterward included in my edition (an omnibus of the whole Earthsea Cycle) but the story itself? Intellectually, I can see and acknowledge that it’s Outside The Box to have a coming of age story with no military-esque conflict; there’s no Big Bad, exactly, but a shadow the MC must confront after he let it loose into the world himself. I think I see what you’re doing there, and I like it.
But it’s just boring. It’s boring and bare and we’re told so much more than we’re shown. It never felt magical, despite allegedly being a magic school book (and really, who decided to categorise it that way??? I’ve seen it described as a magic school story dozens of times, and it absolutely is not). The plot rambles randomly – what on earth was that whole sideplot with the Stone??? – and pointing out to the reader that Ged, our MC, has never interacted with a girl before doesn’t actually get you out of not writing any women into your book. FFS.
And yeah, I know it’s an old book. I really don’t care. Le Guin did a ton of thinking about sex and gender and sexuality, and it would have been nice to see some of it here. Why the fuck can’t women be wizards? Why is women’s magic lesser and base and generally corrupt? Go away.
The writing style reminded me of the Silmarillion, and that is not a compliment. Dry and blunt, with no description of literally anything, and no poetry to the prose.
I have no idea why so many people adore this book so much – I can only say that I absolutely will not be continuing with this series.
Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Asexual MC, bisexual MC, F/F
PoV: Third-person, past-tense, multiple PoVs
ISBN: 1645674665
Goodreads
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Salem’s Lot meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this horror-fantasy retelling of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.”
Lou never believed in superstitions or magic--until her teenage aunt Neela is kidnapped to the goblin market.
The market is a place Lou has only read about--twisted streets, offerings of sweet fruits and incredible jewels. Everything--from the food and wares, to the goblins themselves--is a haunting temptation for any human who manages to find their way in.
Determined to save Neela, Lou learns songs and spells and tricks that will help her navigate this dangerous world and slip past a goblin's defenses--but she only has three days to find Neela before the market disappears and her aunt becomes one of them forever.
If she isn't careful, the market might just end up claiming her too.
Where Not Good For Maidens fundamentally failed was the supposed appeal of the Goblin Market.
I love the Goblin Market trope – is that the correct use of the word trope??? unsure – and I’ve devoured it many times in many books. No storyteller portrays it quite the same way; sometimes it’s darker, sometimes it’s fairly toothless; sometimes it’s ugly, sometimes it’s beautiful; sometimes there are only goblins and sometimes other magical beings show up there as well. It’s all good to me!
But what defines the Goblin Market is: it is dangerous, and yet, immensely compelling – sometimes irresistibly so.
And Bovalino missed the mark so hard on giving readers any reason to appreciate the Market. Not once was I presented with a reason that might even tempt me to consider visiting the Market. It’s not beautiful, it’s not magical, there is no wonder or strangeness to it – just a lot of humans getting tortured and eaten. You have stalls of goblin fruit…and stalls of human parts for goblin customers to take home and barbecue. That’s it. No dreams for sale, no songs, no gowns of moonlight – no magic.
Sooo…why the fuck would anyone want to visit??? Why is it that tourists flock to the Market? What’s the appeal? Why is it so irresistible, to both humans who know about magic and those that don’t? I get that everyone thinks to themselves ‘well, I won’t get eaten’, I do. But there has to be something to offset the risk. Aside from adrenaline junkies, people don’t do dangerous things just because they’re dangerous – we have sex because it feels good, we do drugs because it’s fun, we join Fight Club for the thrill and sense of community and meaning it gives us, etc. (I’m simplifying a lot, but you get what I mean.) The Goblin Market in Not Good For Maidens doesn’t even clothe itself in glamour to make itself look beautiful, angler fish style. So how does it have a reputation for anything but dismembered corpses and humans being eaten?
It’s a real shame, because otherwise Not Good For Maidens is a pretty wonderful book – the first half in particular was really strong, with velvety prose and characters I shamelessly adored. And in all fairness, Bovalino orchestrates excellent reasons for all of the named characters to enter the Market – Lou, for example, only goes in to save her aunt, who in her turn only went in to safeguard an idiot friend. I struggled a bit with May’s motivation – in the timeline 18 years before Lou – but it’s clearly supposed to be a reckless impulse in the face of her life plans abruptly falling apart, so I can wrap my head around it. Just about.
But I have no idea what all the tourists and so on see in the place. You couldn’t pay me to set a foot inside!
I thought the ending was pretty weak – although I loved Lou’s journey and overall arc, I felt that everything all came together way too easily and quickly, complete with a magic weapon whose existence is never even alluded to before it appears. Lou’s trump card was awesome, and I was happy with how everything stood at the end of the book – I just wish the big climax hadn’t been so quick and simplistic.
A book that started off incredibly well, but ended up being a bit meh.
Until next time!
The post Sunday Souçons #16 appeared first on Every Book a Doorway.
August 13, 2022
Mercilessly Exquisite: The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri
The Oleander Sword (Burning Kingdoms, #2) by Tasha Suri Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Desi-coded setting and cast, F/F
PoV: Third-person, past-tense; multiple PoVs
Published on: 16th August 2022
ISBN: B09N5S3FFC
Goodreads
The prophecy of the nameless god—the words that declared Malini the rightful empress of Parijatdvipa—has proven a blessing and curse. She is determined to claim the throne that fate offered her. But even with the strength of the rage in her heart and the army of loyal men by her side, deposing her brother is going to be a brutal and bloody fight.
The power of the deathless waters flows through Priya’s blood. Thrice born priestess, Elder of Ahiranya, Priya’s dream is to see her country rid of the rot that plagues it: both Parijatdvipa's poisonous rule, and the blooming sickness that is slowly spreading through all living things. But she doesn’t yet understand the truth of the magic she carries.
Their chosen paths once pulled them apart. But Malini and Priya's souls remain as entwined as their destinies. And they soon realize that coming together is the only way to save their kingdom from those who would rather see it burn—even if it will cost them.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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~much delicious yearning
~(un)holy fire
~careful who you promise your heart to
~watch the queen conquer
I really, really, really enjoyed Jasmine Throne.
But I am here to tell you that I love The Oleander Sword.
The second book in the Burning Kingdoms trilogy wraps around you like a silken sari, somehow even more sumptuous than its predecessor. You can smell the flowers and feel the fire, bespelled by Suri’s exquisite, sensual prose; page by page, Oleander Sword sinks its roots into your heart and doesn’t let go.
Of course, why would you want it to?
Oleander opens a year after the end of Jasmine, with Priya a temple elder dedicated to curing the rot, and Malini waging war to claim her throne as Empress of Parijatdvipa. When the Emperor’s forces reveal a new and terrible weapon, Malini decides she needs one of her own…and asks for Priya’s aid. But ancient powers are waking in Ahiranya, and another, much more devastating war may be on the horizon.
I love how much this series is an ode to and celebration of unlikable women; how these books explore so many different facets of femininity; how they showcase the experience of women in a world built by and for men. When I reviewed Jasmine Throne, I talked a little bit about how well the Ahiranyan plant-magic worked as a metaphor for female strength, and I still think that’s true. The difference is that in Oleander Sword, both Priya and Malini get to be strong – and powerful, which isn’t always the same thing – in the open. In that way it’s more wish-fulfilling, more intoxicating, than Jasmine was; we get to glory and luxuriate in the both of them being different kinds of power-fantasy!
Which is not to say, alas, that life has become easy for either of them: Malini, in particular, is constrained by the expectations – expectations which are very nearly demands – of the men who serve her; she must embody the ideal of womanhood, especially royal womanhood, wherever anyone might see, in order to hold on to their loyalty. But while she was seriously ill and then in recovery in Jasmine Throne, here we see her at her best – and her best is glorious. Empress Malini more than lives up to the potential and promise of her princess past-self: given free rein (and reign) at last, she’s on full display in this book as a master manipulator, the sun at the heart of the political solar system, with generals and princes kneeling at her feet. All while still being her brilliantly vicious, ruthless, vengeful self behind the lovely mask.
Malini is the eponymous Oleander Sword; a blade of flowers, deceptively feminine, but the beauty of it – the oleander blossom – is, itself, a deadly poison. Femininity – the ideal of womanhood – wielded as a weapon, not just against her enemies but also, really, against the men under her banner; men manipulated and controlled by the ideal they hold her to. What’s meant to be Malini’s cage, her constraints, she turns back against the world and uses, and I love her for it.
Priya is very different – she doesn’t have to be pure and dutiful and a Good Woman, because she’s a monster, and her savage joy in that fact is wonderful. In a lot of ways, actually, she and Malini are perfect opposites; Malini is a monster pretending not to be, and Priya wears her monstrousness in the open…and is maybe a lot more ‘good’, as we’d recognise it, than Malini, underneath it all. It’s hard not to adore how well they fit together, and especially the way in which Priya embraces all of Malini, cruelty and mercilessness and all.
I didn’t find their relationship in Jasmine Throne to be a big sweeping romance – and I liked that a lot! – but Oleander Sword very much makes up for it. Despite being surrounded by eyes that can not be allowed to see them together, Priya and Malini become beautifully entwined in this book; and what I loved most about it is that it is so…so unrepentant. There are absolutely soft moments between them, and tenderness, but they both know who the other is, and have no interest in changing each other. Malini is not going to become a good person because she loves Priya. Priya is not going to become a tame thing because she loves Malini. And neither of them want that. Which makes their love story feel very unconventional and unique, and gives their passion a feral, dangerous edge; the two of them together are terribly beautiful and beautifully terrible, and it’s perfect.
You are like ink, Malini thought helplessly. Ink, and all I want is to make poetry of you.
Oleander Sword introduces a new POV character that I wasn’t expecting and probably should have been: Chandra, Malini’s fucked-up, religious-fanatic brother, sitting Emperor of Parijatdvipa. All I can say is that Suri absolutely nailed the complicated, horrific tangle of religious devotion and narcissism and racism that is this abominable man. Suri makes him feel human and all-too-real without giving him excuses or making him sympathetic; he’s a complex character, but an unforgivable one, which is exactly the way I’d have wanted him treated if it were up to me.
his unyielding desire for a better world, for better people.
The above quote is one I turned over and over in my mind while I was reading this book, because it sums Chandra up so well. At first glance, the desire for a better world is something most of us would approve of, but…it’s unyielding desire. And ‘better people’? The idea of an unyielding desire for better people gave me flat-out chills.
Suri’s writing in this book, her prose, is just like that; her words stay with you, individual sentences getting caught in your thoughts. She’s been a master storyteller since she came out of the gate with Empire of Sand in 2018, but I swear Oleander Sword is on a whole other level even than Jasmine Throne; even lusher, more poetic, jewel-toned, sharp as the titular sword. Suri builds sentences like constellations, every word a star in exactly the right place to dazzle you and imprint its story on your heart.
It was a voice made for mantras, for song, for guidance. For pouring faith, like wine, into the cup of a waiting heart.
That was how priests often asked questions, Kartik had learned. Questions mildly phrased that demanded answers clawed from the marrow of a man’s bones, the deepest blood of his heart.
At least she had found the kind of love that would break the world for her sake, and make it into something that would always wear her mark.
And what a story! I haven’t actually talked much about the plot, because it’s difficult to go into without entering spoiler-territory, but Oleander Sword gives the impression of having so much more space for the story – and characters – to breathe. This book is about Malini claiming her throne, and that means war; it means tactics, battles, shifting alliances, politics, princes and generals to make dance to Malini’s tune. But it also delves deep into religion, into the ancient past of Parijatdvipa and Ahiranya, into the different sects of the Mothers and the various currents of belief and loyalty running through the priesthood. Into the relationship between Parijatdvipa and Ahiranya; what it was in the past, what it is now, what it might be in the future. Suri has spun us a sequel-saga of intrigue and action, faith and love, battles that take place in the world, the heart, and the mysterious sangam of the yaksa – and no one else could possibly do it justice.
The Oleander Sword is soft as petals and piercing as thorns, and the story itself comes together like an offering-garland at the feet of the Mothers, a dozen different blossoms woven together by an impossibly deft hand. Even if, by some un-miracle, you didn’t love Jasmine Throne, you should still pick up Oleander Sword.
It’s simply a masterpiece.
The post Mercilessly Exquisite: The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri appeared first on Every Book a Doorway.
August 11, 2022
A Potent Wonder: Second Spear by Kerstin Hall
Second Spear (Border Keeper, #2) by Kerstin Hall Genres: Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy
Representation: Major nonbinary character
Published on: 16th August 2022
ISBN: 1250250161
Goodreads
The thrilling follow-up to Nommo Award finalist The Border Keeper
After surviving the schemes of the goddess Fanieq and learning some shattering truths about her former life, the warrior Tyn feels estranged from her role guarding her ruler. Grappling with knowledge of her identity, she unleashes her frustrations on all the wrong people.
When an old enemy returns wielding an unstoppable, realm-crushing weapon, Tyn is swept up in the path of destruction.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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~beware places without rules
~suspicious book is suspicious
~put flowers in the skull for luck
~time to take down a god
Second Spear is everything I hoped for from a second visit to the incredible afterlife realm first introduced us to in The Border keeper!
I adored Border Keeper, but I always wanted to see and know more about Mkalis – a world made up of hundreds of strange, magical, intricate realms, each ruled over by a god or demon who can set any rules they please for those who live in or visit their dominion – like not being able to speak lies, or not being able to move in the presence of the Ruler. In Border Keeper we saw beautiful things and grotesque things (and others that were both) but we were viewing it all through the eyes of a visitor. Second Spear, on the other hand, is told from the perspective of Tyn, who has lived in Mkalis for as long as she can remember – which means we get so much more insight into this world than we had before!
The story here opens with Tyn being healed from the injuries she sustained at the end of Border Keeper, and the plot is in direct response to the fallout of what happened in that novella. I’m going to try and write this review without spoiling the specifics of Border Keeper, but bear in mind: this is not a standalone! Second Spear follows on directly from the events of Border Keeper, and you really need to read (or reread) that first before diving into this book!
Now that that’s said: let’s get to it!
I was immediately enchanted by Second Spear: the whole book reads as if Hall wrote it just for me. It opens with a look at (relatively) normal life within Tyn’s home; Tahmais, the City of the Spinelight, capital of the 194th Realm, ruled by the demon Lfae. We finally learn what being Second Spear actually means, and begin to see how the society of the 194th realm is arranged, the community Tyn is an intrinsic part of, with the nonbinary Lfae at the top and the Firsts of each tribe answering directly to said ruler. Glimpses we received in Border Keeper are expanded on here; tantalising hints from the previous book unfold and reveal themselves. What was esoteric and infinitely complicated to the main character of Keeper is Tyn’s daily life, taken for granted. One scene that drives this home pretty well is when the Spears gain a new member: Rion, who has just died in Ahri and been transported to Mkalis for his ‘afterlife’. Rion is, pretty understandably, freaking out, but for Tyn and the others, it’s just another Tuesday.
Lfae’s realm is…well, an idealised fantasy realm, in aesthetic; beautiful and strange, but not so strange as to be uncomfortable or feel alien, watched over by Lfae’s fey mechanical creations. Hall’s imagination and prose is simply breathtaking, and I was entranced by the pictures she painted in my mind as I read;
Curling strips of copper wire and old painted bones hung from the branches. Femurs, vertebrae, ribs, some wrapped in strands of precious stones and pearls. They served as mementos to Spears who had fallen defending Tahmais and Res Lfae.
That’s an effect that lasted throughout the book; Hall freely and deftly unleashes her signature fantasticality on Lfae’s realm and the others explored throughout Second Spear; on the dwellers who live in them and the rulers who rule them, and the complex web of politics, history and magic that connect them all. Outside of Lfae’s realm, this is rarely idyllic; with the flick of a page Second Spear can turn from simple to surprising, exquisite to eerie, delightful to dangerous. A welcome can be a warning, and the most alien-looking creatures can be your best allies. There are twists and turns and tricks as Tyn, Vehn (the leader of the Spears) and Rion try to reach a far-away, closed-off realm in the hopes of recovering a treasure that might be a weapon, one that might help Lfae and the Border Keeper herself in a conflict spun out from the events of the previous book.
Whatever you expect, Hall will find a way to make you gasp at least once – and probably a lot more often than that.
The three-character main cast complement each other wonderfully; Vehn, whose stiff brusqueness obscures a deep well of responsibility, honour, and unthinkable secrets; Rion, who is an unbelievable pest, but grows on you like a fungus and then steals your heart; and Tyn herself, wrestling with revelations and (percieved) failures from Keeper and determined to prove she can do better. Together they make for a very interesting combination, and while I’m not sure they were the best possible team for the job, they’re exactly the right one for the story. I wouldn’t trade any of them in for anyone else.
This is a book I inhaled in a single sitting, immersing myself in Hall’s incredible prose, the magic of Mkalis, and Tyn’s complicated, contradictory inner nature. And I really can’t overstate how ridiculously delighted I was to get to see and explore more of this amazing world Hall’s created; if Border Keeper left you hungry for more insight into the realms, Second Spear is not a book you can skip.
Does this mean we learn all of Mkalis’ secrets? Of course not! It’s not at all clear what the difference is between gods and demons, for example – it’s certainly not as simple as ‘demons bad, gods good’. Nor do we know how souls end up in one realm rather than another – is it random chance, or is there some kind of system? I don’t have a clue, but that’s more than okay: a big part of Mkalis’ magic is its mystery, its secrets, the sense that there will always be something more to discover – that no mortal can possibly comprehend it all. It’s imbued with a sense of gorgeous, ancient majesty, and you know what? I don’t need to know everything. Not this time.
That doesn’t mean I don’t want to know more, and I’m hopeful, because Second Spear‘s ending definitely leaves open the possibility of more books in this setting.
Regardless, there’s no question: Second Spear is my favourite of Hall’s works so far, and whether it’s in Mkalis or elsewhere, I can’t wait to see what she does next!
The post A Potent Wonder: Second Spear by Kerstin Hall appeared first on Every Book a Doorway.
August 10, 2022
I Can’t Wait For…Queer Little Nightmares ed by David Ly & Daniel Zomparelli
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about but haven’t yet read. Most of the time they’re books that have yet to be released, but not always. It’s based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme, which was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This week my Can’t-Wait-For Book is Queer Little Nightmares ed by David Ly & Daniel Zomparelli!
Queer Little Nightmares: An Anthology of Monstrous Fiction and Poetry by David Ly, Daniel Zomparelli, Kai Cheng Thom, Amber Dawn, Hiromi Goto, David Demchuk, jaye simpson, Eddy Boudel Tan Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy
Representation: Queer MCs
Goodreads
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The fiction and poetry of Queer Little Nightmares reimagines monsters old and new through a queer lens, subverting the horror gaze to celebrate ideas and identities canonically feared in monster lit. Throughout history, monsters have appeared in popular culture as stand-ins for the non-conforming, the marginalized of society. Pushed into the shadows as objects of fear, revulsion, and hostility, these characters have long conjured fascination and self-identification in the LGBTQ+ community, and over time, monsters have become queer icons.
In Queer Little Nightmares, creatures of myth and folklore seek belonging and intimate connection, cryptids challenge their outcast status, and classic movie monsters explore the experience of coming into queerness. The characters in these stories and poems - the Minotaur camouflaged in a crowd of cosplayers, a pubescent werewolf, a Hindu revenant waiting to reunite with her lover, a tender-hearted kaiju, a lagoon creature aching for the swimmers above him, a ghost of Pride past - relish their new sparkle in the spotlight. Pushing against tropes that have historically been used to demonize, the queer creators of this collection instead ask: What does it mean to be (and to love) a monster?
Contributors include Amber Dawn, David Demchuk, Hiromi Goto, jaye simpson, Eddy Boudel Tan, and Kai Cheng Thom.
I’m very picky when it comes to short story collections, but how could I resist an anthology that’s all about queering cryptids?!
I suspect the idea behind this collection might have its beginnings in the utterly delightful claiming of the Babadook by the queer community – not that that that was the first time queerness and monsters have been aligned, or, even better, reappropriated. Queer Little Nightmares is just the latest in a deeply satisfying tradition of queers going ‘sorry-not-sorry, these are ours now!’ when it comes to beasties.
I am extremely here for it.
The post I Can’t Wait For…Queer Little Nightmares ed by David Ly & Daniel Zomparelli appeared first on Every Book a Doorway.
August 8, 2022
Must-Have Monday #97
FIVE wonderful books this week!
The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Bisexual Black MC, lesbian secondary character, F/F
Published on: 9th August 2022
Goodreads
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Reminiscent of the works of Margaret Atwood, Shirley Jackson, and Octavia Butler, a biting social commentary from the acclaimed author of Lakewood that speaks to our times--a piercing dystopian novel about the unbreakable bond between a young woman and her mysterious mother, set in a world in which witches are real and single women are closely monitored.
Josephine Thomas has heard every conceivable theory about her mother's disappearance. That she was kidnapped. Murdered. That she took on a new identity to start a new family. That she was a witch. This is the most worrying charge because in a world where witches are real, peculiar behavior raises suspicions and a woman--especially a Black woman--can find herself on trial for witchcraft.
But fourteen years have passed since her mother's disappearance, and now Jo is finally ready to let go of the past. Yet her future is in doubt. The State mandates that all women marry by the age of 30--or enroll in a registry that allows them to be monitored, effectively forfeiting their autonomy. At 28, Jo is ambivalent about marriage. With her ability to control her life on the line, she feels as if she has her never understood her mother more. When she's offered the opportunity to honor one last request from her mother's will, Jo leaves her regular life to feel connected to her one last time.
In this powerful and timely novel, Megan Giddings explores the limits women face--and the powers they have to transgress and transcend them.
This is one of my favourites of 2022, no question – I absolutely adored it, and I need absolutely everyone to read it!
You can read my review here!
The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia Genres: Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Refugee BIPOC nonbinary aroace MC with c-PTSD, BIPOC trans male side character, queer BIPOC female side character with c-PTSD, QBIPOC supporting cast, nonbinary side characters that use neopronouns, WLW side pairing, muslim inspired religious characters, chronically-ill side characters
Published on: 9th August 2022
Goodreads
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In this intricate debut fantasy introducing a queernormative Persian-inspired world, a nonbinary refugee practitioner of blood magic discovers a strange disease that causes political rifts in their new homeland. Persian-American author Naseem Jamnia has crafted a gripping narrative with a moving, nuanced exploration of immigration, gender, healing, and family.
Firuz-e Jafari is fortunate enough to have immigrated to the Free Democratic City-State of Qilwa, fleeing the slaughter of other traditional Sassanian blood magic practitioners in their homeland. Despite the status of refugees in their new home, Firuz has a good job at a free healing clinic in Qilwa, working with Kofi, a kindly new employer, and mentoring Afsoneh, a troubled orphan refugee with powerful magic.
But Firuz and Kofi have discovered a terrible new disease which leaves mysterious bruises on its victims. The illness is spreading quickly through Qilwa, and there are dangerous accusations of ineptly performed blood magic. In order to survive, Firuz must break a deadly cycle of prejudice, untangle sociopolitical constraints, and find a fresh start for their both their blood and found family.
Powerful and fascinating, The Bruising of Qilwa is the newest arrival in the era of fantasy classics such as the Broken Earth Trilogy, The Four Profound Weaves, and Who Fears Death.
This is a beautiful little novella that convinced me Jamnia is an author to watch!
You can read my review here!
The Art of Prophecy (The War Arts Saga, #1) by Wesley Chu Genres: Fantasy
Representation: Chinese-coded cast and setting
Published on: 9th August 2022
Goodreads
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An epic fantasy ode to martial arts and magic—the story of a spoiled hero, an exacting grandmaster, and an immortal god-king from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives of Tao.
It has been foretold: A child will rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, a cruel immortal god-king, and save the kingdom.
The hero: Jian, who has been raised since birth in luxury and splendor, celebrated before he has won a single battle.
But the prophecy was wrong.
Because when Taishi, the greatest war artist of her generation, arrives to evaluate the prophesied hero, she finds a spoiled brat unprepared to face his destiny.
But the only force more powerful than fate is Taishi herself. Possessed of an iron will, a sharp tongue—and an unexpectedly soft heart—Taishi will find a way to forge Jian into the weapon and leader he needs to be in order to fulfill his legend.
What follows is a journey more wondrous than any prophecy can foresee: a story of master and student, assassin and revolutionary, of fallen gods and broken prophecies, and of a war between kingdoms, and love and friendship between deadly rivals.
It’s been a while since I was interested in Chosen One stories…but a story where the Chosen One is not, in fact, the One??? That’s a premise I absolutely have to know more about!
High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Sapphic MC, queernorm world, F/F
Published on: 9th August 2022
Goodreads
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Kelly Robson is back with fairies, scribes, and many many kisses in High Times in the Low Parliament.
Lana Baker is Aldgate’s finest scribe, with a sharp pen and an even sharper wit. Gregarious, charming, and ever so eager to please, she agrees to deliver a message for another lovely scribe in exchange for kisses and ends up getting sent to Low Parliament by a temperamental fairy as a result.
As Lana transcribes the endless circular arguments of Parliament, the debates grow tenser and more desperate. Due to long-standing tradition, a hung vote will cause Parliament to flood and a return to endless war. Lana must rely on an unlikely pair of comrades—Bugbite, the curmudgeonly fairy, and Eloquentia, the bewitching human deputy—to save humanity (and maybe even woo one or two lucky ladies), come hell or high water.
High Times = good times: this book is a delightful treat, slightly silly in the best of ways and a lot of fun. Plus: grumpy fairies!
You can read my review here!
The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope, L. Penelope Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy
Representation: Black cast, secondary gay character, secondary albino character
Published on: 9th August 2022
Goodreads
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A woman able to communicate with spirits must assemble a ragtag crew to pull off a daring heist to save her community in this timely and dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history, and romance.
Washington D. C., 1925
Clara Johnson talks to spirits, a gift that saved her during her darkest moments in a Washington D. C. jail. Now a curse that’s left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So, when the Empress, the powerful spirit who holds her debt, offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, a desperate Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.
Clara can’t pull off this daring heist alone. She’ll need help from an unlikely team, from a jazz musician capable of hypnotizing with a melody to an aging vaudeville actor who can change his face, to pull off the impossible. But as they encounter increasingly difficult obstacles, a dangerous spirit interferes at every turn. Conflict in the spirit world is leaking into the human one and along D.C’.s legendary Black Broadway, a mystery unfolds—one that not only has repercussions for Clara but all of the city’s residents.
I admit, I DNF-ed this one, but not because it’s a bad book – it just wasn’t quite for me. I think fans of hiest stories will enjoy this a lot, especially if you’re interested in a historical setting.
Will you be reading any of these? Let me know!
The post Must-Have Monday #97 appeared first on Every Book a Doorway.
August 5, 2022
Giggles and Glitter and Good Faith Politicking (Mostly): High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson
High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Sapphic MC, queernorm world, F/F
PoV: Third-person, past-tense
Published on: 9th August 2022
ISBN: 1250824532
Goodreads
Award-winning author Kelly Robson returns with High Times in the Low Parliament, a lighthearted romp through an 18th-century London featuring flirtatious scribes, irritable fairies, and the dangers of Parliament.
“Funny, literally outlandish, and deeply relevant.”—Malka Older
Lana Baker is Aldgate’s finest scribe, with a sharp pen and an even sharper wit. Gregarious, charming, and ever so eager to please, she agrees to deliver a message for another lovely scribe in exchange for kisses and ends up getting sent to Low Parliament by a temperamental fairy as a result.
As Lana transcribes the endless circular arguments of Parliament, the debates grow tenser and more desperate. Due to long-standing tradition, a hung vote will cause Parliament to flood and a return to endless war. Lana must rely on an unlikely pair of comrades—Bugbite, the curmudgeonly fairy, and Eloquentia, the bewitching human deputy—to save humanity (and maybe even woo one or two lucky ladies), come hell or high water.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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~yeast is hallucinogenic now???
~you’ll never guess where babies come from
~fairies > men
I’m sure I’m not the first one to say this, but: this book is a trip.
High Times in the Low Parliament has much the same vibe as its main character Lana: charming, delightful, and here to have a good time. But just as Lana – to her own surprise – finds herself having to knuckle down and get at least reasonably serious, so too does High Times reveal an unexpectedly genuine heart beneath the giggles and glitter.
See, in Lana’s world, parliament isn’t the ruling body of a single country: it’s where representatives of all the countries on Earth hash out international law. And to force them all to get along, the fairies have a law of their own: if parliament can’t keep its shit together, the fairies will drown it under the waves.
Honestly, I can think of more than one government in our world which might benefit from that kind of magical threat. Ahem.
Anyway. Due to dastardly trickery, Lana ends up appointed one of the scribes recording everything that’s said on the parliament floor…and maybe that wouldn’t be so bad, in another year. But at the moment? Parliament can’t seem to agree on anything. They’re deadlocked, and the end of the parliamentary session is rapidly approaching. If they can’t come to an agreement by then, they’re all going to drown.
This could have been a super-serious book, full of intrigue and plots and the importance of democracy, or whatever – but instead, Lana makes friends by sharing hallucinogens and spends her time gazing adoringly at the most beautiful of the representatives. Which is not to say it’s empty-headed fluff-fic, because it most certainly is not – there’s some sobering stuff about the sheer awfulness of the worst of humanity, and the friendship that develops between Lana and Bugbite, the fairy overseeing the scribes, is pretty literally game-changing in a way I massively appreciated. Plus, a huge amount of the tension is in seeing how the stupidity of the ruling class/politicians has direct consequences for civilians – the representatives are far from the only humans in parliament, and all the cooks and cleaners and everyone else will drown too.
It’s not the subtlest of metaphors.
The prose is quite light and breezy, and maybe that’s why it took me a little while to realise something was nagging at me about Lana’s world. At first, I was just delighted that we were getting so many women in positions of power – from running their own bakeries and taverns, to being representatives in parliament. And that didn’t stop delighting me…but eventually I realised that there are no men at all here. At all. Not anywhere in this world. Babies come from being respectable enough for a baby-giving fairy to bless you with one, as best I can make out, and folx, I love everything about this. I have so many questions, and I would really like more stories set in this world to see more of the backstory and how this all works, but I just. Find this absolutely fabulous.
Is there a causal link between the lack of men and world peace??? Hmmmm…
No, not really – the people causing trouble at parliament are women, after all. It’s pretty clear that things got magically fixed by fairies, not by an absence of men. But I am really curious about why Robson decided to craft her world like that. Maybe she, like me, just finds the idea really fun?
Because High Times in the Low Parliament is fundamentally fun. It’s a short, gleeful little read that will have you grinning, making weird shapes with your eyebrows, and definitely rolling your eyes at the ridiculousness of our heroine – even if you can’t help being extremely fond of her, too.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for fun, sneakily clever, and unexpected fantasy.
The post Giggles and Glitter and Good Faith Politicking (Mostly): High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson appeared first on Every Book a Doorway.
August 1, 2022
Must-Have Monday #96
They’re not all SFF, but there are NINE books I have my eyes on this week!
(Books are listed in order of pub date, then Adult SFF, Adult Other, YA SFF, YA Other.)
With A Vengeance by Freydís Moon Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Autistic nonbinary MC, NB/M
Published on: 1st August 2022
Goodreads
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Kye Lovato left their hometown in search of a better future, but when their estranged mother passes away, they return to their parish to settle her affairs. Even though Kye escaped their traumatic past, being back in swampy Madison, Louisiana only worsens their debilitating depression, increases their dissociative episodes, and intensifies the intrusive voice plaguing their every thought.
The moment Kye steps foot into their childhood home, they know something is wrong. That night, they come face to face with the shadowy presence driving them mad: the handsome demon duke, Eli, who offers them an irresistible deal. In exchange for their soul, Eli will give them pain, pleasure, and power.
Kye set a path for themself—live fast, die young—and Eli seems like the perfect exit route. With nothing to lose, they agree.
But after an impromptu visit from a local ICE agent, Kye forms an unlikely friendship with their mother’s bookkeeper and stumbles into an insidious mystery surrounding their family’s homegrown alebrije business. Met with ghosts, displaced employees, and a garage filled with unfinished artwork, Kye can’t help but wonder. . . What was their mother hiding? And why is a rogue officer interested in Lovato Alebrijes?
Kye is possessed, unkempt, and chasing death, but as stubborn as they are, they’re the only person left alive who can resurrect the family business and carry the Lovato legacy, and their only ally is the demon possessing them.
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS BOOK! I loved Moon’s novella Exodus 20:3, and With a Vengeance promises so many of the things I love, in the hands of an author I know can do them justice! I’ve been swooning over the excerpts and making grabby hands at the aesthetic boards Moon’s shared on social media for weeks, and it’s out TODAY!
It’s on my ereader now, and I can’t wait to pounce on it!!!
Cute Mutants Deluxe: Vol 1 Mutant Pride by S.J. Whitby Genres: Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Queer and QBIPOC cast
Published on: 1st August 2022
Goodreads
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A BRAND NEW DELUXE HARDCOVER EDITION OF THE CULT INDIE HIT ABOUT QUEER TEENAGERS WITH SUPERPOWERS
Contains all-new content!
"My name is Dylan Taylor, human incarnation of the burning dumpster gif, and this is my life"
I always wanted to be an X-Man. Except people and me never got along, and apparently you need social skills to run a successful team.
Cue Emma Hall's party. One slightly awkward kiss, and now I can talk to objects like my pillow (who's far too invested in my love life) and my baseball bat (who was a pacifist before I got hold of him). And there's a whole group of us with strange abilities, including super hot ice queen Dani Kim who doesn't approve of how reckless I can be. The bigger problem is there's a mysterious mutant causing unnatural disasters, and we're the ones who have to stop him. But things blow up in my face, and the team's on the edge of falling apart. I've always been a disaster. How am I supposed to be a hero?
"Move over, Marvel, Cute Mutants is my new obsession. Hilarious and heartwarming, this pageturner delivers snark, action, and a queer found family you can't help but root for. SJ Whitby is a rare talent, and I'll read anything they write."
- Rosiee Thor, author of Fire Becomes Her
"A delightfully chaotic and queer spin on the awkward teen superhero experience."
- Xiran Jay Zhao, bestselling author of Iron Widow
"A queerer, wittier Riverdale with a side of superpowers, rolled in rainbow glitter. Whitby's dialogue sparkles from the page, layered with delightful snark and pop culture references. This squad of achingly relatable protagonists and their vividly imagined powers will capture the hearts of diehard superhero lovers and welcome new fans."
- Ren Hutchings, author of Under Fortunate Stars
"Equally heartwarming and hilarious, Cute Mutants has it all: breathless action, complex queer characters, swoon-worthy romance, and a chaotic ride-or-die superhero squad that will capture your heart. A must read!"
- Alicia Jasinska, author of The Midnight Girls
"An extremely hilarious punchy sci-fantasy that grabs you from the first line and never lets go, SJ Whitby and their Cute Mutants series, is the fresh voice we've all been waiting for."
- K Ancrum, author of Darling
"Cute Mutants is a wild electric joyride from start to finish. The superhero genre at its best, with thrilling, vivid fight scenes, voice-y high school angst, and queer found family that grabs you by the throat. This series is a rainbow-glitter explosion of subverted tropes and fast-paced action that leaps from the page straight into your heart."
- Jenna Voris, author of Made of Stars (forthcoming 2023)
"An irreverent, ultra-nerdy, and unapologetically queer exploration of found family, self-discovery, and smashing the patriarchy-all unfolding via a sharp character voice."
- Claire Winn, author of City of Shattered Light
"Gloriously flawed characters going hard in all their messy, big-hearted queer teen glory, as they navigate a wild ride of newfound powers, responsibility to themselves and others, and shifting relationships in a fantastically screwball world of unlikely superpowers. Deeply loveable in its relatability, I'm burning through this series a supersonic speeds."
- Ash van Otterloo, author of A Touch of Ruckus
"Filled with heart, hope and humor, SJ Whitby expertly immerses the reader in a world where queer kids get to be the heroes of their own universe. A masterclass in quality and imagination, and an essential addition to every YA bookshelf."
- Esme Symes-Smith, author Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston (forthcoming 2022)
If you haven’t hopped on the Cute Mutants bandwagon, now’s an excellent time: the first volume is being rereleased in a deluxe edition! This isn’t a graphic novel/comic series, it’s all prose – and super diverse, very funny, with delightfully offbeat superpowers!
Unwieldy Creatures by Addie Brook Tsai Genres: Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Queer biracial Chinese MC, queer biracial Indonesian MC, nonbinary MC
Published on: 2nd August 2022
Goodreads
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A tale of doom and ambition, loss and revenge, love and murder.
Unwieldy Creatures, a biracial queer, gender-swapped retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, follows the story of three beings who all navigate life from the margins: Plum (she/her), a queer biracial Chinese intern at one of the world’s top embryology labs, who runs away from home to openly be with her girlfriend only to be left on her own; Dr. Frank (she/her), a queer biracial Indonesian scientist who compromises everything she claims to love in the name of science and ambition when she sets out to procreate without sperm or egg; and Dr. Frank’s nonbinary creation, painstakingly brought into the world due to complications at birth that result from a cruel twist of revenge, only to be abandoned. Plum struggles to determine the limits of her own ambition when Dr. Frank offers her a chance to assist with her next project. How far will Plum go in the name of scientific advancement and what is she willing to risk?
This is another super queer, super out-there book I’m heart-eyes for this week! I’ve never read Frankenstein, but I’m more than delighted for this to be my introduction to it!
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Sapphic MC, asexual secondary character
Published on: 2nd August 2022
Goodreads
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Out on the Yorkshire Moors lives a secret line of people for whom books are food, and who retain all of a book's content after eating it. To them, spy novels are a peppery snack; romance novels are sweet and delicious. Eating a map can help them remember destinations, and children, when they misbehave, are forced to eat dry, musty pages from dictionaries.
Devon is part of The Family, an old and reclusive clan of book eaters. Her brothers grow up feasting on stories of valor and adventure, and Devon—like all other book eater women—is raised on a carefully curated diet of fairytales and cautionary stories.
But real life doesn't always come with happy endings, as Devon learns when her son is born with a rare and darker kind of hunger—not for books, but for human minds.
You can read my review here, but honestly, The Book Eaters is incredible – so original, dark and clever and twisty. One of my faves of the year, hands down – and I suspect it’s going to be a lot of other people’s fave as well!
The Sleepless by Victor Manibo Genres: Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Gay MC
Published on: 2nd August 2022
Goodreads
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In a near-future New York City where a minority of the population has lost the need for sleep, a journalist fights to uncover the truth behind his boss’s murder on the eve of a sinister corporate takeover—while his own Sleeplessness spirals out of control.
A mysterious pandemic causes a quarter of the world to permanently lose the ability to sleep—without any apparent health implications. The outbreak creates a new class of people who are both feared and ostracized, most of whom optimize their extra hours to earn more money.
Jamie Vega, a journalist at C+P Media, is one of the Sleepless. When his boss dies in a suicidal overdose, Jamie doesn’t buy this too-convenient explanation—especially given its suspicious timing during a controversial merger—and investigates.
As Jamie delves deeper into Simon’s final days, he tangles with extremist organizations and powerful corporate interests, and must confront past traumas and the unforeseen consequences of being Sleepless. But he soon faces the most dangerous decision of all, as he uncovers a terrifying truth about Sleeplessness that imperils him—and all of humanity.
A lot of bloggers and other readers I trust have really enjoyed Sleepless, and the premise sounds super interesting. Intrigued!
Face by Joma West Genres: Sci Fi
Published on: 2nd August 2022
Goodreads
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Life is competitive; all the best babies are designed now.
Schuyler and Madeline Burroughs have the perfect Face—rich and powerful enough to assure their dominance in society.
But in SchAddie’s household, cracks are beginning to appear. Schuyler is bored and taking risks. Maddie is becoming brittle, her happiness ever more fleeting. And their menial is fighting the most bizarre compulsions.
In Face, skin color is an aesthetic choice designed by professionals, consent is a pre-checked box on the path to social acceptance, and your online profile isn’t just the most important thing—it’s the only thing.
Face is a novel about the lies we allow ourselves to believe in order to make us feel whole.
This is another one that sounds really interesting, but early reviews haven’t been that enthusiastic. Guess I’ll have to see for myself!
Ben and Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra Genres: Queer Protagonists
Representation: Plus-sized queer biracial Black MC
Published on: 2nd August 2022
Goodreads
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There’s nothing like falling for your worst enemy.
Beatriz Herrera is a fierce woman who will take you down with her quick wit and keen intellect. And after the results of the 2016 election worked hard to erase her identity as a queer biracial woman, she’d be right to. Especially if you come for her sweet BFF cousin, Hero. Beatriz would do anything for her, a loyalty that lands Beatriz precisely where she doesn’t want to be: spending a week at the ridiculous Cape Cod mansion of stupid-hot playboy Ben Montgomery. The same Ben Montgomery she definitely shouldn’t have hooked up with that one time… The things we do for family.
White and wealthy, Ben talks the talk and walks the walk of privilege, but deep down, he’s wrestling with the politics and expectations of a conservative family he can’t relate to. Though Beatriz’s caustic tongue drives him wild in the very best way, he's the last person she'd want, because she has zero interest in compromising her identity. But as her and Ben’s assumptions begin to unravel and their hookups turn into something real, they start wondering if it’s still possible to hold space for one another and the inescapable love that unites them.
This retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is both razor-sharp and swoon-worthy: the perfect love story for our time.
Not SFF, but I’ve seen a lot of love for this Much Ado About Nothing retelling, and I want to give it a go when I’ve got a chance.
Husband Material (London Calling, #2) by Alexis Hall Genres: Queer Protagonists
Representation: M/M
Published on: 2nd August 2022
Goodreads
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Wanted: One (very real) husband
Nowhere near perfect but desperately trying his best
In BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do.
Good thing Oliver is such perfect HUSBAND MATERIAL.
This Summer 2022, you’re invited to the event(s) of the season.
Alexis Hall is one of my favorite authors – one of the only writers who can consistently make me read contemporary fiction. I ADORED Boyfriend Material, and I’m so happy we get to see Luc and Oliver again! This is definitely going to be my not-so-guilty pleasure read this month!
Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Filipino-coded cast and setting, sapphic MC, bisexual love interest
Published on: 2nd August 2022
Goodreads
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A teen girl must bring together two broken worlds in order to save her nation in this lush, Filipino-inspired young adult fantasy novel from debut author Elisa A. Bonnin.
“Be dauntless, for the hopes of the People rest in you.”
Seri's world is defined by very clear rules: The beasts prowl the forest paths and hunt the People. The valiant explore the unknown world, kill the beasts, and gain strength from the armor they make from them. As an assistant to Eshai Unbroken, a young valor commander with a near-mythical reputation, Seri has seen first-hand the struggle to keep the beasts at bay and ensure the safety of the spreading trees where the People make their homes. That was how it always had been, and how it always would be. Until the day Seri encounters Tsana.
Tsana is, impossibly, a stranger from the unknown world who can communicate with the beasts - a fact that makes Seri begin to doubt everything she's ever been taught. As Seri and Tsana grow closer, their worlds begin to collide, with deadly consequences. Somehow, with the world on the brink of war, Seri will have to find a way to make peace.
Like a lot of other people, I’ve been grabby-hands for Dauntless since I first heard about it! Filipino mythology isn’t something I see very often, or even know much about, and I love unfamiliar influences in the fantasy I read. Gimme!
Will you be reading any of these? Let me know!
The post Must-Have Monday #96 appeared first on Every Book a Doorway.
July 31, 2022
In Short: July
Being ill has continued, but I’m better than I was, and I’m calling that a win!
Now, onto the books!
ARCs Received
ARCs for 2023 releases have started to appear! And, like magic, ARCs of The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming: Book Two: Practice appeared the same day I finished book one, so that was pretty magical! As is the LONG-AWAITED appearance of Scratch Daughters and Nightland Express!
I have no doubt they’ll both prove to have been worth waiting for.
Extremely excited for The Stars Undying after glimpsing the first page (which gave me immense Teixcalaan vibes!) and Daughters of Izdihar, which is one of my most-anticipated books of 2023!
Read
15 books this month, which is three less than June. I’m okay with that. I’ve been ill, and just generally had a harder time than usual focussing on books. But the ones I read were mostly excellent – stand-outs being A Half-Built Garden, The Women Could Fly, and The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming: Book One: Theory. Hoping to get a review out for that last one next month; I’ve already reviewed the other two.
13.33% of this month’s books were by BIPOC authors. Up from last month, but not great, since it’s really just a fancy way of saying two books. Of 15. Gah.
Reviewed
Not the order in which they were published, and I scheduled a few for next month, but this is the order in which I wrote them and there’s EIGHT of them!!! I am delighted.
I’m especially delighted with my review of The Women Could Fly, because I didn’t know how to do it justice, but I think I managed. (I didn’t know how to do justice to A Half-Built Garden, either, and I don’t think I did, but I did my best and it counts!)
DNF-ed
Only three this month! I’m so glad – I feel like I’ve been DNF-ing books left, right and centre lately, and I’d rather not.
I talked about these three in my round-up post yesterday, but the TL;DR version is: The Monsters We Defy is not bad, not great, just not for me; The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a book that lots of people are going to adore, but again, not quite for me; and Beneath the Burning Wave is unbelievably bad in all the ways.
ARCs Outstanding
Nine! I’m down to NINE outstanding ARCs! July was meant to be my get-through-ARCs month, and I managed it – I got through HALF of the ones waiting for me!
Not sure how I managed it, but I’m super happy!
MiscI made substantial behind-the-scenes edits to my Unmissable Fantasy and Sci-Fi of 2022 list, and added more books and newly-revealed covers. I probably won’t be able to add more books/change book details any more, for tech reasons, so if I discover more books I want to feature, I’ll probably showcase them in these monthly wrap-up posts.
I withdrew as a judge from the Subjective Chaos Kind of Awards – it was a good experience, but it was definitely the right move to bow out.
And I ended up making a pie chart re how many of the books I read are queer vs not after a conversation with the hubby, so you can have that too!
(Honestly, we were both surprised that Cishet MC was as big a slice as it is! 29%?! How did THAT happen?!)
Looking Forward
August is absolutely PACKED with amazing new books – so many of this year’s fantasy heavy-hitters are coming out next month! I especially can’t wait to see the fandom reaction to A Taste of Gold and Iron! (If you missed it, you can read my review here! Spoiler: It’s flawless.)(The book, not the review!)
I’m in the middle of reading The Oleander Sword, Moon Dark Smile, and The Spear Cuts Through Water at the moment – all books from some of my favourite authors, all ridiculously excellent!
Entirely new to me will be The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Ruby Fever, and Husband Material. Don’t ask me to choose which I’m most excited for! Although that does remind me, I need to reread Boyfriend Material…
That’s it for this month – maybe August treat us all well!
The post In Short: July appeared first on Every Book a Doorway.
July 30, 2022
July DNFs
Only three DNFs this month! HURRAY! And two of these, it’s really NOT that they’re bad books at all; I just didn’t jive with them. Which is very different from a book being so bad I want to defenstrate it. BENEATH A BURNING WAVE, I AM LOOKING AT YOU!
The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy
Representation: Black cast, secondary gay character, secondary albino character
Published on: 9th August 2022
ISBN: B09N3DN3W7
Goodreads
A woman able to communicate with spirits must assemble a ragtag crew to pull off a daring heist to save her community in this timely and dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history, and romance.
Washington D. C., 1925
Clara Johnson talks to spirits, a gift that saved her during her darkest moments in a Washington D. C. jail. Now a curse that’s left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So, when the Empress, the powerful spirit who holds her debt, offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, a desperate Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.
Clara can’t pull off this daring heist alone. She’ll need help from an unlikely team, from a jazz musician capable of hypnotizing with a melody to an aging vaudeville actor who can change his face, to pull off the impossible. But as they encounter increasingly difficult obstacles, a dangerous spirit interferes at every turn. Conflict in the spirit world is leaking into the human one and along D.C’.s legendary Black Broadway, a mystery unfolds—one that not only has repercussions for Clara but all of the city’s residents.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I made it to 35% – 15% further than my usual cut-off point – because I really wanted to like it. And because there’s nothing actually wrong with it. It’s just…fine? Although there were a few small surprises, for the most part the story was very predictable, and utilised a lot of tropes I’ve seen before, and the love interest practically had a banner over his head announcing that he was, in fact, the love interest, the magic system was extremely simple, and I just…didn’t really care? I don’t mind that the plot took a little while to get moving – Penelope utilised that time well to introduce us to our main characters and make us care about them – but there just wasn’t anything holding my attention.
I felt like I knew exactly how the story would go, even if I didn’t know the exact specifics, and there was nothing that made me want to stick around and see how it would unfold. You need some really unique hook, when you have a story where a reader can pretty confidently predict the ending (or thinks they can); or else you need especially lovely prose, or some stand-out kind of writing style or format. And I didn’t find any of that here.
I’m sure a lot of other people are going to enjoy it, and I can see why, but I don’t have time for books that I feel completely neutral about. It’s ‘this is so cool!’ or nothing, and The Monsters We Defy just didn’t grab me that way. Alas.
Beneath the Burning Wave (The Mu Chronicles, #1) by Jennifer Hayashi Danns Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Brown nonbinary cast
Published on: 4th August 2022
ISBN: 0008491186
Goodreads
I was incapable of imagining what I had never seen…
Kaori and Kairi are the first twins to survive infancy on the ancient island of Mu, where gender is as fluid as the crashing waves. One was born of fire, the other of water.
But there’s a reason why none have survived before. A prophecy that has haunted the elders since time began. A rivalry destined to sink the entire island beneath a twin catastrophe of volcano and tsunami.
As hatred spills from the forbidden twins like the deadly poison of sacrificed sea snakes, they must decide what matters to them most…
The fight for the island – for tradition and duty.
Or the fight for freedom – for love and light.
The Mu Chronicles is a visionary YA fantasy trilogy exploring the origin of gender and desire in an epic queer fusion of Japanese folklore and Egyptian mythology.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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A seventeen orbit carrier without a maymu is a freak.
(Seventeen orbit = seventeen years old, maymu = baby.)
When talking about sexual attraction, one character puts it thus
I think I prefer my opposite rather than my same.
Hi – you have completely failed to create a nonbinary, or genderfluid, society. It’s actually kind of embarassing. When you discard the male/female binary, there is no longer any concept of ‘opposites’. So it makes absolutely no sense for your characters to think about it this way.
I was also pretty unhappy that the characters are clearly coded traditionally masculine and feminine, and that it’s the XY characters who have ‘male’ traits and the XX ones who are feminine. Seriously? Not only does your allegedly genderfluid society divide people by sex, you couldn’t be bothered to explore or experiment outside traditional gender roles? Why use neogenders and nonbinary pronouns if you’re just going to replicate the cisheteronormative system???
Other reviewers have mentioned that the writing is incredibly confusing. This is very much the case. I was rarely able to understand the reasoning or motivations behind anyone’s actions, and at times the writing just dissolved into the nonsensical.
I don’t want to live anymore anyway. I am already dead. You all buried me. I am free. I am your fear. I am the air. The sky. The dying. The dead. You are all living in my tomb. I am outside breathing while you suffocate in my stench. Look at you. Your sanctimony. You feast on willing, weak minds to elevate your own sick soul. I am you. You are me. I am half of nothing. You are nothing. Truth is not in this chamber. No one in this chamber seeks truth. You are not judging me. You are judging yourself. You would do what I do if you had the guts. Instead, you are submerged in stagnant red pools. You pretend to be horrified but I see your pleasure. It drips down your legs. Lick it up. It is as close to escape as you will get. I am the horizon. The point of no return. You can finish me but I will begin again.
This isn’t the speech of a god, or someone communing with some kind of spirit, or even someone intoxicated: this is the inner monologue of one of the main characters when they are brought before the ‘court’ on charges.
Um???
On top of that, the author has filled the book with invented words, without ever explaining what those words mean. Is this noun an animal, vegetable, or mineral? I have no idea. Because characters were described as ‘curling up like a coco’ multiple times, I was picturing some kind of small animal, but eventually I worked out that it’s actually some kind of fruit or nut. Which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense either – who curls up like a nut? And there are dozens of other terms where it was never clear if the characters were referring to an insect or rodent or maybe a big cat???
This next part isn’t down to bad writing, exactly, just extremely unpleasant: one of the two main characters is a sadist who really, really despises ‘carriers’, and wow it was not fun being in their head.
I don’t like carriers. I think they are pathetic for letting a maymu take their purpose…They don’t seem to live as long as Maymuans and even if they did they are never allowed to become Experienced.
Experienced = elders, the governing body of this society. So this genderfluid culture still manages to be sexist towards anyone without a penis. Why???
There are also a lot of scenes involving violence towards animals. I appreciated the author including a content warning for this; however, it seemed hugely gratuitous: at one point a character is walking in the woods and without looking, randomly punches an owl off its branch.
…Why? We already know this character is a villain. You really don’t need to have them punching owls to underline it for us. It’s so stupid it almost becomes funny. Why would anyone punch a random owl? It makes no sense, especially in a culture where you can face the death penalty for killing an animal. But the characters don’t even comment on it, never mind explain it.
To go back to bad writing: it is a bad idea to give your main characters almost identical names. Other reviewers have talked about not being able to hear the difference on the audiobook, and I can tell you that even reading the names on a page, they’re easy to mix up. Writers, please don’t do this.
Finally, I learned that the sadist character is going to set up their own society and it will be misogyny central. I was going to DNF this book already, but when I heard that…I just cannot even.
I read 32%, and it was 32% too much.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen Genres: Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy
Representation: Secondary M/M
Published on: 23rd August 2022
ISBN: 0356518655
Goodreads
Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness.
Mercy never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest.
After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born.
If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most – Mercy. As the dangers from Tanria grow closer, so do the unlikely correspondents. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares – each other?
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
{ "@context":"https://schema.org", "@type":"Review", "datePublished": "2022-07-30T08:31:00+00:00", "description": "Two books that are objectively unobjectionable, just not for me - and one book that was just plain awful.", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Every Book a Doorway" }, "url": "https:\/\/everybookadoorway.com\/july-dnfs\/", "itemReviewed": { "@type": "Book", "name": "The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Megan Bannen", "sameAs": "" }, "isbn": "0356518655" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sia", "sameAs": "https:\/\/everybookadoorway.com\/" }, "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": false, "bestRating": "5" }}Undertaking, on the other hand, is actually a pretty great book, I think – it’s just not a me-book. Which is not its fault! But it does mean I don’t want to finish it, even after hitting the halfway point.
It’s a tiny bit silly and very indulgent and delightfully odd: the worldbuilding is fairly simple, but manages to feel very original and unexpected. There is emotional growth to go through and misunderstandings and delicious baked goods, and quietly in the background are some big mysterious question marks about some of the magical shenanigans.
This is a book a whole lot of people will love, basically, and I’d like to come back to it at some point, maybe. But for now I’m putting it aside.
Just three in one month is pretty great! Let’s hope August goes as well.
The post July DNFs appeared first on Every Book a Doorway.
