awanderingweasel's reviews
247 reviews

The Tempest by William Shakespeare

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4.25

The Trouble with Normal: Sex, Politics, and the Ethics of Queer Life by Michael Warner

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1.0

Antenora by Dori Lumpkin

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dark relaxing tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Dori Lumpkin's novella, Antenora, is feral girlhood at its finest. Set against the backdrop of the Appalachian South, the story follows Abigail, who is grappling with her burgeoning sexuality, and Nora, a troubled girl (to put it lightly), as they grow up in oppressive Bethel. Antenora is an unsettling exploration of faith and queer existence in the suffocating grip of a community steeped in religious dogma.

The novel's strength lies in its atmospheric prose and its exploration of religious extremism. Lumpkin crafts a sense of unease from the first few pages:

When I was young, my mother used to tell me that the mountains around Bethel, Alabama were touched by angels. They protected us, she said. The way they jutted up out of the ground, sky-high and endless, keeping us in like a prison. Bethel was in a valley. A perfect valley, she said, keeping us safe from harm and the devil’s influence.

The author doesn't shy away from depicting the hypocrisy and cruelty that can fester within seemingly devout communities. The writing is vivid and pungent. While reading this, much of my time was spent highlighting passages and writing comments in the margins of my e-book.

I recommend Antenora to lovers of: atmospheric prose, complex characters, queer yearning, Southern Gothic horror, girls who can’t stop thinking about kissing, and a bit of gore.

Thanks to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

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dark mysterious slow-paced

3.5

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

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mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Evocation by S.T. Gibson

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1.0

dnf @ 70% - LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD

Having read Odd Spirits (Evocation’s little sister) back in 2022 and enjoyed it, I was very surprised when I neglected to enjoy Evocation. In fact, I’m sorry to say that I disliked this book so much that I couldn’t even finish it. I cannot believe this is supposedly the first book in a trilogy, because what else is there to talk about when the narrative is so bland and character relationships so unnatural?

I have a bone to pick with Moira’s behavior. Readers pointed out how in Odd Spirits Moira was displaying biphobia towards her husband, which turns into complete understanding of Rhys and David still being in love with each other and kissing years after their breakup. S.T. Gibson might have been trying to right her wrongs and rid Moira of her initial biphobia, but this completely dulls her and renders her a side chick in her own marriage. I don’t know if this is a common dynamic in poly relationships, but it seemed wrong that Moira should be the odd one out and get cheated on. This poorly written Black woman goes from one stereotype to another: first, in Odd Spirits, she does not legitimize her husband’s bisexuality, then, in Evocation, she is supposed to accept and stand by while her husband gets it on with his ex??? Moira’s characterization infuriated me, to say the least. I should point out that Odd Spirits is getting re-published later this year, and I think S.T. Gibson will have fixed the issues from the original novella.

It goes without saying that the polyamorous romance skews drastically towards Rhys and David, whose connection isn’t really fleshed out either. We are more so told that they had a two-year relationship, and strong feelings linger even now that Rhys is married to Moira. Other than that, there is no way of actually seeing why Rhys and David are drawn to each other, or why Rhys married Moira. It all feels so fabricated with zero chemistry.

Another point that drove me mad was how poor the worldbuilding was. I was very excited to read about the occult community in Boston (a place I lived in for 4 years, where I was introduced to tarot, etc.), but it was lacking detail. I wanted to learn more about the characters’ special practices, more about the rituals, just more than what we ended up getting. I didn’t care much for the relationship drama that, unfortunately, occupied most of the story.

I have so much more to say, but I do not wish to bash this book before publication, even though it was a huge disappointment. I’m starting to believe that S.T. Gibson no longer writes for my taste.

Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced