Fight Fire with Fire

by Sionna Fox

Frannie Thorpe is on the verge of getting everything she ever wanted, crowned by securing an exhibition of the work of late queer photographer Rian Sampson--until her funding is put in jeopardy by a would-be senator with an eye on slashing public funding for "pornography."

Ashley Patterson, Sampson's muse and erstwhile indie music darling, steps in to help close the funding gap. Working together to save the show creates sparks, but neither woman is prepared for the fire between them.

*This short story originally appeared in the anthology Rogue Passion

Genres: Novella, LGBT, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

74 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 21, 2018

About the author

Sionna Fox is an author of sweet/hot HEAs, die-hard romance fan, and lover of things nerdy and twee. She drinks too much coffee, has a minor issue with washi tape and planner stickers, and tagging her in anything involving llamas, foxes, or women in suits is a surefire way to her heart. She lives in New Hampshire with her very patient husband and very put-upon dog.

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

Satisfying f/f novella about a museum curator organising a photography exhibition and the musician who was the photographer's muse. They get together when a philistine Republican bigot attempts to make political capital out of funding for a queer exhibition. It's very much about how the personal is political, touching on family rejection and the obstacles for trans people in getting healthcare, grief and defiance and survival and the power of organising. Which is a lot for a novella, but works here. The romance started off a bit instalove for me but grounded itself as it went along, and gives us women being themselves, including a fat MC, and not giving a damn. A quick enjoyable read.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfyingly political sapphic romance novella about a museum curator and a musician, centered around a conservative group boycotting an exhibit of a deceased queer photographer's work. Frannie Thorpe took a professional risk bringing the exhibit to her museum, but she couldn't pass up the chance to bring Rian Sampson's work to her community. Ashley Patterson, Sampson's muse, hasn't fully dealt with her grief over her friend/partner's death, but she knows she needs to help save the exhibition after donor support is yanked over the controversy. Frannie's always had a crush on Ashley, Ashley finds Frannie appealing, but Ashley's not sure she's ready for anything real.

The story of why Rian Sampson (nonbinary) died is a kick in the heart. Since I'm old enough to remember the NEA wars of the mid 90s - and we're going through an even worse wave of oppression as I update this review in 2023 - the political side of this resonated and was compelling. Ashley's personal journey in dealing with their death was also quite striking, very delicately told, especially in such a short work.

[Silvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting f/f novella that managed to create interesting and well developed characters as well as a politically charged setting in barely 70 pages.

The only thing I think it lacked was true chemistry between the main characters, or better said, I think their attraction was very valid and understandable, I just couldn't feel the (spoilers, maybe) more romantic aspect of it since they were together for such a brief time.

It was still well written and kept me engaged and it was wonderfully queer, so I would totally recommend giving it a try (it's 99cents on Amazon).

TWs: grief, mention of a long-dead queerplatonic partner, mention of sickness resulting in death, mention of transphobia in a medical environment resulting indirectly in the death of the trans (nonbinary) character, mention of hate speech

[Helen Kord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this novella was beautiful. This story is angry at the society that mistreats minorities, supportive towards contemporary art and undestands exactly how important art is, and how it can be used as a big middle finger to everyone who wants us to disappear.

I loved how grief was handled, and how it was shown that even years later, Ashley was punishing herself and running away instead of dealing with her grief and it was beautiful, even if it made me cry in public, repeatedly.

The romance was swoony, with Frannie the dapper butch especially stealing my heart. I love how unabashedly fat Ashley was and how there wasn't even a whiff of fatphobia anywhere. I loved their connection, and their fierce refusal to back down in the face of adversity. Just. Everything about this story was wonderful

[Abhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was awesome. Great little novella and perspective on queer anger and pain that comes with the prejudice against gender non conformity.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is about to have her biggest break when her funding is cut she to a man not liking the porno part of the exhibition. Another comes to help and she is in for a shock. It is a woman and there is a connection between them. What will she do? See where it will go

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Oaktrees · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

A novella full of good intent and passion. The love story didn't particularly compel me, but both of the characters are interestingly-written and their personalities are shining off the page.