I've been holding my breath while I waited for book three of the Lesser known Monsters series. And I wasn't disappointed. I liked that this book picks I've been holding my breath while I waited for book three of the Lesser known Monsters series. And I wasn't disappointed. I liked that this book picks up the story two years after the end of book two. The characters have all been living and growing separately from each other, and they aren't the same people (or monsters) I knew from before. Interestingly, the focus of this book shifts markedly between different characters, more so than the other two books. In book one, the main characters were definitely Dimitri and Oscar. In book two, we see the development of Zara and Marcus with their own storylines. In book three, Zara takes more of main character role, which is a refreshing new perspective on the story. I love these characters, and the outrageousness of the plot and worlds. Well done Rory!...more
T.J. Klune has done it again! I fell in love with the characters, as they were falling in love with each other. Klune has the amazing gift of taking yT.J. Klune has done it again! I fell in love with the characters, as they were falling in love with each other. Klune has the amazing gift of taking you inside the main character's psyche, enveloping you in their thoughts and emotions, and dragging you through their faults and fears. Like with Nick in The Extraordinaries, Klune forces us to inhabit the main character Linus as he spends time at the house in the Cerulean Sea, and discovers a world of possibility and worth that had never before existed in his mind. This is a lovely story about love, both of self and others, and remarkable people becoming a family. ...more
Infestation by William Melkle follows the tradition of character driven action novels along the lines of Alistair MacLean and Matthew Reilly, but withInfestation by William Melkle follows the tradition of character driven action novels along the lines of Alistair MacLean and Matthew Reilly, but with a twist. The story jumps right into the action, and death and mayhem ensue. The main character, Captain John Banks, is competent enough to get through the danger, albeit with several lives lost, but also appears out of his depth with the situation in which he and his team are trapped. And who wouldn't be out of there depth, with hoards of ocean bed-dwelling creatures out to kill you. Yes, an Infestation! I've long been a fan of this type of action story, and look forward to reading more in this series....more
Daniel Jeudy has created a cruel world in this crime novel. Everything is harsh - the thoughts of the main characters, the crime scenes, the criminal Daniel Jeudy has created a cruel world in this crime novel. Everything is harsh - the thoughts of the main characters, the crime scenes, the criminal actions, even the climate and environment seems harsh. This is all in keeping with the type of story this is - brutal. The main character, Detective Addison Mowbray, is beaten, worn and bordering on corrupt, without really crossing over. The parallel crime plots are poles apart. One, the deranged desire of a cult member to raise his girlfriend from the dead. The other, a renegade killer taking out the criminal trash. While there are lots of offensive people and scenes in this book, none were directed at the reader, being contained in the action of the story. This made some of the cruelty easier to handle as a reader. This appears to be book #1 in a series, and there is definitely scope for a series to develop from this premier book. A good read for those who like gritty, gruesome crime reads....more
What an original and entertaining story! Kevin Wilson gives a straight-faced telling of a bizarre family circumstance. The fire-children (twins BessieWhat an original and entertaining story! Kevin Wilson gives a straight-faced telling of a bizarre family circumstance. The fire-children (twins Bessie and Roland) are intriguing, although most of the attention is given to Bessie and her developing relationship with their reluctant care-taker, Lilian. The character development lacks a bit of detail, but is compensated with a plot that is succinct and keeps the story moving at a good pace. A really fun story, with a heartwarming take on the 'found' family theme....more
The Shield Road is an enchanting collection of intertwined stories, with characters that climb into your heart and pull at your emotions. The BladekinThe Shield Road is an enchanting collection of intertwined stories, with characters that climb into your heart and pull at your emotions. The Bladekin was my favourite character, and his chapters were central to the overall story. Dewi Hargreaves is skilled in creating a world that is simultaneously real and fantastic. His characters are relatable, each being skilled and flawed by their own histories. This was a completely enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it....more
Not quite what I expected. I thought this would be a light, comical escapade of romantic near misses and innuendo. How wrong could I have been.
Not QuiNot quite what I expected. I thought this would be a light, comical escapade of romantic near misses and innuendo. How wrong could I have been.
Not Quite Out is a serious tale of self-acceptance, romance, abusive relationships, tested friendships, bi-phobia, and found family. I was absorbed by the inner turmoil of the main character, William Anson; and intrigued by the mysterious struggles of his love interest, Daniel. Throw in the strain William’s friendship with Daniel has on his other friends, as well as other, typical college struggles, and this becomes a serious examination of life in flux. And not just William’s.
Wow! I read this book and immediately wanted to travel back to my teen years and date Bryson Keller myself. While he is the titular character, and welWow! I read this book and immediately wanted to travel back to my teen years and date Bryson Keller myself. While he is the titular character, and well worth the investment, it is the main character Kai Sheridan, who is the heart of this story.
This queer YA novel travels through familiar themes - coming out, self-acceptance, homophobia, abuse, family rejection, religion, and teenage romance. But it does so with a clear understanding this is Kai’s story, not an everyman tale. Kai’s perspective and experiences provide a unique vision to these themes, and secretly includes the reader in Kai's inner discourse.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, and a lovely story. ...more
Richard Glover gives an amusing and engaging recitation of his life growing up in an odd-ball family. His mother is a striking concoction of fantasy, Richard Glover gives an amusing and engaging recitation of his life growing up in an odd-ball family. His mother is a striking concoction of fantasy, lies and wishes. His father, a lost soul consumed by loneliness and alcohol. In the midst of their chaos, Richard grew, and went on to thrive in a world that accepted him, and gave his family space to be who they wanted.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. As someone with more than my fair share of family dysfunction and wierdo relatives, I related to the shenanigans Richard was subjected to by his parents. There is no lack of love towards them from Richard, and an ultimate acceptance of them as distinct individuals, whose lives and loves had nothing to do with him. ...more
The themes in this story seem too many, and too deep, to be dealt with in one book. But they are. Starting with suicide, proceeding through dysfunctioThe themes in this story seem too many, and too deep, to be dealt with in one book. But they are. Starting with suicide, proceeding through dysfunctional family dynamics, drug abuse, family violence, homophobia, transphobia, assault, death, friendship, found family, self-discovery, and ending with the ultimate prize - a life of one’s own. I told you it was too much!
Except it isn’t. Not in the hands of Craig Silvey. Craig has a lightness of touch that brings humour to awkwardness, light to darkness, and hope to despair. Honeybee is a wonderful book, and an enigmatic character....more
Another exciting, and at times unsettling, read from Alan Baxter! This collection of short stories had something for each emotion. There's the hauntingAnother exciting, and at times unsettling, read from Alan Baxter! This collection of short stories had something for each emotion. There's the hauntingly sad Her Grief In My halls; the unnerving The Goodbye Message; the creepy They All Come Through London In The End; and the angry, revengeful Served Cold. My favourite stories were: - In Vaulted Halls Entombed, where a group of soldiers encounter otherworldly evil that breaks their bodies and minds; and - Yellowheart, where a group a group of friends go to a cabin for weekend, and ingest some 'alternative' mushrooms. If you've ever read horror, or watched any 'cabin in the woods' horror films, you'll know there's nothing good awaiting these friends on their weekend away. I've read a few Alan Baxter books now, and never fails to deliver an engaging story (in this case, stories), filled with the macabre, the eerie, and the dreadful. Highly recommended!...more
Bloody hell! What a ride! As a long time lover of horror and monster lit, it was exhilarating to see this combined with queer lit in this exciting storBloody hell! What a ride! As a long time lover of horror and monster lit, it was exhilarating to see this combined with queer lit in this exciting story. Rory Michaelson has created an interesting 'other' world, where monsters exist in secret alongside humans. The veil between the our world and the alternative reality where monsters originated is beginning to fail. Oscar, along with his friends Zara and Marcus, is thrust into chaos when he is exposed to the reality of monsters by the sexy Dmitri, a monster himself. I would hazard a guess that Michaelson had some fun writing this book, as the sense of adventure and camaraderie shines through in his writing. This is dramatic speculative queer lit, with themes of found family, overcoming fears to be our true selves, accepting others for who they are, and trusting those closest to you. I can't wait for the next book in this series, The Bone Gate.
The enjoyment I received from this book was a complete surprise! The story is set in an alternative reality, where an early-hours phone from a mysterioThe enjoyment I received from this book was a complete surprise! The story is set in an alternative reality, where an early-hours phone from a mysterious organisation called Death Cast informs people they will die that day. The two main characters, Mateo and Rufus, both receive calls. They connect via an app for the soon-to-be deceased, and spend their last day together. These two young men explore their city, their minds, and their hearts, as they ride the subway and Rufus' bike around New York. The narrative alternates between each character, giving the reader insight into what they think of each other, what they think of themselves, and what emotions they are struggling with during their last day on earth. All the adventures they undertake carry risks, reminding the reader of how many near misses each of us have each day. Reminding us how precious life is. I connected with Mateo and Rufus as people, and their plight, and was emotionally invested in their story. Even though I knew the ending form the start. This is a smart and original story from Adam Silvera. I highly recommend this book for lovers of YA queer lit, or speculative queer lit, or any queer lit!...more
The idea behind this story had me sucked in. As a life-long arachnophobia I have a morbid curiosity for spider stories, especially horror. It's like IThe idea behind this story had me sucked in. As a life-long arachnophobia I have a morbid curiosity for spider stories, especially horror. It's like I can't look away. I covered my eyes and read the book through my fingers as I squirmed - and checked the corners of the ceiling for spiders! I enjoyed the isolated setting, the unique township, and the high population of bisexual or pan-sexual townsfolk. The 'she likes her' and 'he likes her too' side comments added a lightheartedness to the story. Unfortunately, the amount of character backstory was too much for my liking. I felt like I spent pages and pages being told why some characters had settled in this secluded location, only for them to die a page later. Yet the main characters weren't given much opportunity to show their growth through the adversity they experienced. Overall, though, a very interesting concept and enjoyable read....more
This is a thoroughly enjoyable YA sci-fi/fantasy/thriller mash-up. The high-schoolers at the center of the story are relatable, facing the everyday stThis is a thoroughly enjoyable YA sci-fi/fantasy/thriller mash-up. The high-schoolers at the center of the story are relatable, facing the everyday struggles of all high-schoolers across the world. Except, of course, for the monsters trying to kill them! Stephen King-esque that no-one else can see what's happening, or even remembers those who have been taken (killed) in the past. Only this handful of teenagers, and one determined grandfather, stand between the devastation of the town and freedom form the underground creatures. This was a fun read - full of excitement and action reminiscent of The Goonies. It also deals with the issues of loss, death and grief from a unique perspective, subtly weaving these motives into a story that spans generations....more
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas is a unique YA fantasy novel, delving into the world of Latinx trans and queer kids, alongside mystical arts. I was enthCemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas is a unique YA fantasy novel, delving into the world of Latinx trans and queer kids, alongside mystical arts. I was enthralled with the main characters from the start: trans-teenager Yadriel, his cousin Maritza, and the spirit Julien. They were well-rounded and had clear voices throughout the story. Although I figured out the mystery about halfway through the book, this did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. In fact, it made me more eager to see what would happen, how the characters would deal with the inevitable conflict to come, and what the final outcome would be for each of them. Kudos to Thomas, I was a little surprised by the ending. I really enjoyed the Latinx cultural references through the story as well. It made the setting and fantasy elements real, as though this is exactly how life is played out in East L.A. This is a story of owning one's identity, family connectedness (whether through born-family or found-family), cultural barriers to queer acceptance, and ultimately, love. This is a must-read in queer literature....more
A Threat From The Past is book one in The White Dragon Saga. Paul Cude sets the scene here, building a world in which dragons co-exist secretly with hA Threat From The Past is book one in The White Dragon Saga. Paul Cude sets the scene here, building a world in which dragons co-exist secretly with humans. Dragons influence human development and policy, guiding humankind to make better choices for themselves and the planet. Cude uses an interesting ploy to cross between dragon and human worlds: dragons use magic to transform themselves into a humans. This allows for everyday interactions between humans and dragon-humans, such as at work and sporting clubs. The main characters are interesting enough. Peter flounders about trying to solve a mystery but really ends up creating a mess. His best friends, Tank and Richie, are barely developed in this book. Hopefully there a deeper relationship develops between them. For now they are merely 'friends who grew up together'. A lot of time is spent describing the dragon sport of Laminium Ball. It all sounds rather quidditch-esque, but with dragons instead of broomsticks. Hopefully the large amount of time spent describing this game feeds into the plot at some point. The way the dragon world is tied into history is an interesting plot twist as well. I'm looking forward to reading more in this saga, and seeing just how much Peter and his friends develop into well-rounded dragons and humans....more
From the opening sentences, I felt the sadness of this story like a weighted blanket, comforting me through the book. This book is poetry: melancholicFrom the opening sentences, I felt the sadness of this story like a weighted blanket, comforting me through the book. This book is poetry: melancholic, innocent, hard and unyielding. The main characters, Ludwik and Janusz, share a love and passion that is pure; a love that is theirs to hold and that holds them in turn. The setting, 1980s Poland, and the background of unforgiving rule and minimalist existence, make their love even more valuable. I knew I would be heartbroken in the end, even though I had no idea where the story would take me. There was something so predetermined about their love and their lives that left nothing but the knowledge it could not last in that environment. I highly recommend this beautifully written story, about true love, of another, and of self....more
This was a thoroughly enjoyable queer YA story. Sass expertly explores the 'negative' of being queer in society - from religious judgement and family This was a thoroughly enjoyable queer YA story. Sass expertly explores the 'negative' of being queer in society - from religious judgement and family rejection, to teen pregnancy and first love, to suicide and conversion therapy. Adam Sass uses humour and adventure to lighten the load of these heavy topics, while giving the characters room to be emotionally impacted by their shared trauma. The found family element is inspiring, and balances well with the darkness encompassing Connor and the other teens. I really enjoyed this book, and was rooting for Connor Major from the start!...more
Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones is an engaging, hypnotizing, and surprising novel, exploring the relationship between the low self-esteemed main characterBox Hill by Adam Mars-Jones is an engaging, hypnotizing, and surprising novel, exploring the relationship between the low self-esteemed main character, Colin, and the world in which he finds himself enmeshed from the age of 18. Colin is an everyman. He is short, fat and self-deprecating. He unexpectedly becomes involved in a six year relationship with Ray, a character who is mythical and mysterious. As Colin's experiences with Ray develop and grow, so does his relationship with the world around him. This book was an inspiring read. The language is evocative, honest, and captures Colin's heart and soul. I couldn't put it down....more
Calum McSwiggan spins an interesting, heartfelt, sometimes cringeworthy, tale of his travels in this compelling memoir. The locations are exotic and vCalum McSwiggan spins an interesting, heartfelt, sometimes cringeworthy, tale of his travels in this compelling memoir. The locations are exotic and varied, providing a theatrical backdrop to his very personal experiences. His interactions with the people he meets brought back many fond memories of my own experiences travelling the world, sometimes on my own, and the importance of the people I met. As Calum says, "... it's the company you keep that makes a home feel like home." That is what he experienced in Italy, Germany, India, Thailand, and Spain. And it is what he creates for himself in London. Calum also manages to include references to LGBT+ culture, laws, norms and behaviours form around the world, reminding the reader that what we might have, others may not, and the fight for justice for all continues. A touching and inspiring memoir....more
What a fun ride! Auggie Pfeiffer is a normal, horny, uncertain, evolving, gay teenager. He just happens to have crushes on two sexy vampires - Jude anWhat a fun ride! Auggie Pfeiffer is a normal, horny, uncertain, evolving, gay teenager. He just happens to have crushes on two sexy vampires - Jude and Gunnar. Oh, and he's being slowly possessed by a fallen Angel wanting to take over the world. Add in witches, a lesbian best friend, and loads of boners at inappropriate times, and you've got an exciting and angst-ridden journey through an alternative reality, where vampires, humans, and witches share the earth. I thoroughly enjoyed this YA novel. Caleb Roehrig provides a well written and emotionally authentic journey. Well worth the read!...more
This was a fun supernatural read. Faith provides a unique world of magic/non-magic living side-by-side, and a crossover universe full of demons, vampiThis was a fun supernatural read. Faith provides a unique world of magic/non-magic living side-by-side, and a crossover universe full of demons, vampires and zombies. The main character, Ella Grey, is tough and tortured, like any good hero should be. The setting in Boise is interesting (good to be out of LA or NY for a change). This was a fun, easy read and definitely spurred me to get the next book in the series to pursue the larger plot....more
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