TL;DR: No HEA - so perhaps not for everyone but I loved this fantastical romance through the ages.Source: NetGalley - Thank you so so much to the publisher! Plot: Two men's souls recognize each other through the ages as they're caught in a cursed loop of love and loss. Characters: We follow 6 men, who... Continue Reading →
A View From the Stars by Cixin Liu
TL;DR: A weirdly structured collection of essays and stories. Probably more for the devoted fans of Cixin Liu than anyone else.Source: NetGalley, thank you to the publisher! Collection: As far as a collection, this one felt like a bunch of saved files from a folder with no real collective theme or reason. It was fairly... Continue Reading →
Lake of Souls by Ann Leckie
Source: NetGalley - Many thanks to the publisher!TL;DR: A really fantastic collection, some more challenging than others but nearly all were winners for me. Plot: Each plot was well drawn and worked within the confines of the story. Ann Leckie has a real knack for short stories.Characters: A good variety of characters existed here, all... Continue Reading →
Someone You Can Build A Nest In by John Wiswell
Source: NetGalley, thank you to DAW for the review copy!TL;DR: Wow the abuse was rampant - while this looks cute and quirky I would not recommend it for anyone who doesn’t enjoy borderline trauma porn. Plot: This hinges on Shesheshen's instalove for Homily who is the victim of constant and deep abuse. It was... a... Continue Reading →
Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis
Source: NetGalley - Thank you so much to the publisher!TL;DR: A surprisingly warm and cozy story that follows a crew and the occupants of a floating hotel - including spies and torturers. I loved this. Plot:The plot is told through the multiple perspectives of the crew and occupants of the ship - I love that... Continue Reading →
These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein
Source: NetGalley - Many thanks to the publisher!TL;DR: Some weird choices were made here, but I didn't dislike my time. I would definitely read more from the author. Plot: A transwoman returns to her former home, a commune of anarchists to solve the murder of an old ex. Clones start popping up!Characters: The entirety of... Continue Reading →
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved A Human by Kimberly Lemming
Source: Netgalley - Thank you so much to Orbit!TL;DR: Another fun entry in this series (made especially so by the lack of drunkenness and abundance of being drugged) Plot: Dante, a character we've met previously in this series sets off on his own to find a mate and some quiet. He finds one of those... Continue Reading →
Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan
Source: Netgalley - many thanks to Orbit for the review copy!TL;DR: Full of promising themes and a beautiful world, however cold and distant characters truly killed the story. Plot: An actually fantastic idea - Fathomfolk (water dwelling folk) and human politics coming to a head.Characters: I've met cardboard cutouts more interesting than these characters. Big... Continue Reading →
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jenson
Source: Netgalley, thank you to the publisher!TL;DR: If you enjoy Romantasy you’ll probably enjoy this, if you want nuance or depth maybe go elsewhere. Plot: A young woman is used for her power. Pretty much it.Characters: Fairly two dimensional? Freya felt very familiar and everyone else filled their roles nicelySetting: A fantasy world that had... Continue Reading →
Kindling by Traci Chee
Source: Netgalley - Thank you so much the publisher. I actually pre-ordered this on finishing it.TL;DR: I loved this. The unique narration style, the characters, everything was so good. Plot: Seven Samurai but make it magical and change the genders. It was fantastic. Loved the tightness and brutality of it.Characters: I loved all these girls.... Continue Reading →