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Of Drag Kings and the Wheel of Fate
A sultry, mystical novel of love and destiny, of leather jackets and cigarettes, Of Drag Kings and the Wheel of Fate will draw you into its passion, power, and magic, leaving you spellbound. Rosalind, a college professor, moves to Buffalo for her first job where she meets Taryn, a young butch tattoo artist, and they set the harsh upstate winter ablaze with their intense attraction, but find out it is so much more than that--all the world's their stage, and they must act on the demands of fate, or lose everything. Smitty's eloquent prose lures you with its beauty and captivates you with its unashamed honesty; its intensity will overwhelm you and make you beg for more as the words burn into you. Rosalind and Taryn will reside in your heart and soul long after you've read this book for the 20th time. You will find the meaning of life, you will be entranced in the sublime, and you will be grateful for the moment.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Susan Smith
6 books8 followersLibrarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Susan Smith "Smitty" is the author of three published novels. She has been publishing lesbian and queer fiction since 2001, while at the same time writing poems, plays, short stories, and fan fiction.
Susan Smith "Smitty" is the author of three published novels. She has been publishing lesbian and queer fiction since 2001, while at the same time writing poems, plays, short stories, and fan fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 14, 2012
This book took me a week to read. (that's long for me) I had to stop and take breaks to read other stories. I found it took more energy than i expected to read this book. It wasn't the story-line - that was awesome and memorable and by the end of the book i loved the plot; with the seers and reincarnation and priestesses... i really liked that whole theme. The souls coming back throughout time to meet up again and trying to have some control over how the fates thought things should end up. very cool. i probably should give it more stars for just that, but like i said, i struggled to get into it for some reason.
So even though it was just 'ok' for me, i think the skill of the author and the plot if you fancy that, is definitely worth checking out. i'm glad i didn't give up on it, but was still glad when i got to the end.
if i had to guess what got me hung up, it might have been the dramatic writing style. which was very beautiful and poetic, but was very detailed and at times droned on as theater is wont to do. my advice would be not to start this book if you are in the mindset for a mindless read that flows like water. This one is more like the rapids and will expect a little more attention out of you.
regardless, i got into the story enough by the end, to have already ordered the sequel, Burning Dreams. by the end of the first book, i got good enough at being able to skim the wordy parts and just inserting 'blah blah blah' in their place. (i know, it's blasphemous and probably makes the author cringe at the total disregard for her hard work). but i like the characters and the story enough to do that through another of her books, though now that i know what to expect, maybe i wont have to.
So even though it was just 'ok' for me, i think the skill of the author and the plot if you fancy that, is definitely worth checking out. i'm glad i didn't give up on it, but was still glad when i got to the end.
if i had to guess what got me hung up, it might have been the dramatic writing style. which was very beautiful and poetic, but was very detailed and at times droned on as theater is wont to do. my advice would be not to start this book if you are in the mindset for a mindless read that flows like water. This one is more like the rapids and will expect a little more attention out of you.
regardless, i got into the story enough by the end, to have already ordered the sequel, Burning Dreams. by the end of the first book, i got good enough at being able to skim the wordy parts and just inserting 'blah blah blah' in their place. (i know, it's blasphemous and probably makes the author cringe at the total disregard for her hard work). but i like the characters and the story enough to do that through another of her books, though now that i know what to expect, maybe i wont have to.
May 2, 2008
This book is good, for what it is.
Because it's pure, light lesbian romance fiction- the kind of book you take with you to the beach, or to read over the weekend (I personally enjoyed it on a 12-hours flight). I won't go so far as to say that it's "trashy" (because it isn't), but there's nothing about it that screams "fantastic literature!". Rather, it's an enjoyable read about destined lovers. It won't rock your world, but it will hold your attention for a while and maybe hit your inner romanticist.
I picked up the book because, while I certainly like lesbian romance, I really, really like drag kings (girls who dress up as boys and do performances, much like drag queens). And with it right in the title, well, come on!
Rosalind, a college professor, moves to Buffalo for her first job where she meets Taryn, a young butch tattoo artist-slash-drag king, and they set the harsh upstate winter ablaze with their intense attraction, but find out it is so much more than that--all the world's their stage, and they must act on the demands of fate, or lose everything.
The fantastical, magical aspect of the book definitely brought a fun edge to it, although at some points it really stretched my "sappiness" factor by being, well, so sappy in the love department. Like most romances and my lack of tolerance for them, I had to wonder at how quickly they become inseparably devoted to one another. But I'm willing to let it go, because, like I said, it is nice light reading.
Go for it!
Because it's pure, light lesbian romance fiction- the kind of book you take with you to the beach, or to read over the weekend (I personally enjoyed it on a 12-hours flight). I won't go so far as to say that it's "trashy" (because it isn't), but there's nothing about it that screams "fantastic literature!". Rather, it's an enjoyable read about destined lovers. It won't rock your world, but it will hold your attention for a while and maybe hit your inner romanticist.
I picked up the book because, while I certainly like lesbian romance, I really, really like drag kings (girls who dress up as boys and do performances, much like drag queens). And with it right in the title, well, come on!
Rosalind, a college professor, moves to Buffalo for her first job where she meets Taryn, a young butch tattoo artist-slash-drag king, and they set the harsh upstate winter ablaze with their intense attraction, but find out it is so much more than that--all the world's their stage, and they must act on the demands of fate, or lose everything.
The fantastical, magical aspect of the book definitely brought a fun edge to it, although at some points it really stretched my "sappiness" factor by being, well, so sappy in the love department. Like most romances and my lack of tolerance for them, I had to wonder at how quickly they become inseparably devoted to one another. But I'm willing to let it go, because, like I said, it is nice light reading.
Go for it!
October 7, 2021
(3.5/5)
I’m not really sure how to rate this book.
On one hand I absolutely loved Taryn. I almost never see well written butch characters with complex relationships to gender, and in certain parts the book really made me feel seen. Taryn was also really well developed as a character and I enjoyed the whole past lives/reincarnation aspect of the book.
The main thing that really bothered me was the relationship between Taryn and Rhea. Rhea
So yeah mixed feelings.
I’m not really sure how to rate this book.
On one hand I absolutely loved Taryn. I almost never see well written butch characters with complex relationships to gender, and in certain parts the book really made me feel seen. Taryn was also really well developed as a character and I enjoyed the whole past lives/reincarnation aspect of the book.
The main thing that really bothered me was the relationship between Taryn and Rhea. Rhea
So yeah mixed feelings.
February 10, 2008
i picked this book off the clearance rack at a bookstore in sydney years ago and decided to finally read it since we're in Pride month.
So if I had to forwgo my wife and draw my perfect partner, it'd be Taryn one of the main characters. I loved her. Rosalind, her partner and main character bored and annoyed me and got on my nerves.
I liked the story of their meeting- the while I'm in love after one week was too cliche and the storyline about past lives and all that fantasy was just too far fetched and weirdo for me. I skipped most of the last 30 pages, it was just too far out there for me.
So if I had to forwgo my wife and draw my perfect partner, it'd be Taryn one of the main characters. I loved her. Rosalind, her partner and main character bored and annoyed me and got on my nerves.
I liked the story of their meeting- the while I'm in love after one week was too cliche and the storyline about past lives and all that fantasy was just too far fetched and weirdo for me. I skipped most of the last 30 pages, it was just too far out there for me.
December 4, 2023
So much more than I thought it would be
“Love is what lets us endure the knowledge that we must die, but love is also what makes death unbearable.”
• ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ •
So much more than I thought this book would be! Far beyond the simplistic story of discovering the comfortability of living in one's own skin, it interlaces literature, philosophy, history & spirituality into a journey that defies classifications—best description is "an experience".
“Love is what lets us endure the knowledge that we must die, but love is also what makes death unbearable.”
• ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ •
So much more than I thought this book would be! Far beyond the simplistic story of discovering the comfortability of living in one's own skin, it interlaces literature, philosophy, history & spirituality into a journey that defies classifications—best description is "an experience".
August 22, 2020
I devoured this in 2 days. Very good story telling and pace.
February 13, 2008
total. trashy. queer romance novel. yes. yes. yes.
January 25, 2011
This is one of my all time favourite novels! beautiful!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews