CW: Self-harm (historical), violence, death of secondary characters. AJ reviewed the first book in the series, Slippery Creatures and enjoyed it and so did I. There is a simple reason for this being a review of the next two books together rather than one: when I finished The Sugared Game I was in agony, desperate for the rest of Will and Kim’s story in Subtle Blood. This is the second time I’ve read this trilogy. It … Continue reading The Sugared Game and Subtle Blood by KJ Charles→
This book is exemplary. It can literally be held up as an actual example of what a romance novel should be. I am in awe. But before I wax lyrical about the many ways in which this book is excellent, let’s set the scene. Simon and Charlie are co-stars on a sci-fi TV series and for the seven years that the show has been running, they’ve been fighting, squabbling, and disagreeing. Simon is considering leaving … Continue reading Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian→
I’m not even going to pretend that I picked this book up by chance. I had meant to read it last year when it came out, but didn’t. I don’t know why. I don’t have a good reason. Post-Heated Rivalry TV show obsession, I remembered I had this novel waiting for me on my Kindle. I started it last night when I got in bed. I read it while I was pumping milk in the … Continue reading The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid→
Meet the Newmans is a novel set in 1964 that follows a real-life family playing a TV family. It’s about our authentic selves versus our public selves within the framework of the rise of second wave feminism. It also deals with queer identity. The Newmans, father Del, mother Dinah, and sons Guy and Shep, are a real life family who also play a sanitized version of themselves on TV. They are the perfect White, middle … Continue reading Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven→
Tarot for the Hard Work is one of the best tarot books I’ve come across in a long time! This book uses the Major Arcana (the first twenty-two cards in a tarot deck) to explore the role of tarot in helping the reader understand systemic racism and intersectional inequality and how to dismantle these oppressive systems. As much as I love getting my books from the library, I encourage readers to buy a copy of … Continue reading Tarot for the Hard Work, by Maria Minnis→
This is a book about a quiet, steady woman in her 50s who is dogged in her pursuit of justice. Margaret is a research assistant and she’s perfectly suited to the job: she’s methodical, reliable and devoted to science. When her boss dies unexpectedly, it is Margaret alone who suspects murder. In the way of these things, she is dismissed and not believed. As to that disbelief: the book is frank about how older women … Continue reading The Botanist’s Assistant by Peggy Townsend→
I was delighted when I saw this book was being released. I devoured book one in the series, Rules for Ruin, and ended that review with a note about how I was looking forward to the couple I guessed would be in the next book. I was delighted to be right! Nell is one of the earliest cohorts at Miss Corvus’ school and when she was younger, she felt destined for great things. But a … Continue reading The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews→
This Confessions of a Middle Aged Gamer guest review is from Crystal Anne! Crystal Anne with An E comes to us from a sunny clime, but prefers to remain a pale indoor cat. She enjoys reading, cross-stitching something nerdy, going to see live music, and playing video games. She works as an autism consultant by day, got a degree in information science for fun, and currently serves on her local library advisory board. … Over … Continue reading Game Review: Hades II→
I liked Chuck Tingle’s book Camp Damacus, but I loved Lucky Day (I still haven’t read Bury Your Gays). I found Lucky Day to be much more assured and solidly constructed than his first book, and its X-Files/Welcome to Nightvale sensibility and musings on existential vs nihilistic philosophies really hit the spot for me. I even liked the fact that what seems like a potential romance turns out to be something else. Vera is a … Continue reading Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle→
The Less People Know About Us is a really compelling true crime story without any violence or murder. I read it in one sitting and I think people who are potentially interested in true crime but are leery of the violent content will really enjoy this. When the author was a child, her parents’ identities were stolen, resulting in non-stop collections calls and financial despair. This all happened before the internet, so her parents assumed … Continue reading The Less People Know About Us by Axton Betz-Hamilton→
This guest review is from Danielle Fritz. Danielle is a former librarian who has a special affection for children’s lit and books about the funeral industry. She first cut her criticism teeth as a fanfic writer. A resident of the upper midwest, she’s learned to love beer and tater tot casserole and tolerate long winters. Most nights will find her cuddled up with her pups and wearing out her wrists with yet another crochet project. … Continue reading The Divorce Colony by April White→
