sashahc's reviews
189 reviews

Imperfect Illusions by Vanora Lawless

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Just finished "Imperfect Illusions" by Vanora Lawless.  It's a queer paranormal romance taking place on the fields of WWI between two magic users unwillingly drafted because the army wants their talents.  It doesn't shy away from the war, so it's sweet and horrific by turns.  It's well written with imperfect and charismatic main characters.  Definitely spicy.  I'm looking forward to #book 2.
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Chef's Kiss by TJ Alexander

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Just read a cute New York City professional cooking queer romance called “Chef’s Kiss” by TJ Alexander.  It has a great non-binary love interest and made me want to eat ALL THE THINGS. 
Another Kind by Cait May, Trevor Bream

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A middle grade graphic novel rec!  “Another Kind” by Cat May and Trevor Bream is about a group of young modern day cryptids trying to find a forever home.  They escape the government!  They road trip!  They deal with conspiracy weirdos and aliens and avert a werewolf-werecat war!  It’s beautifully illustrated and there’s some sweet non-binary rep.  Definitely a #book worth going on holiday lists.
Husband Material by Alexis Hall

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Just read “Husband Material” by Alexis Hall.  The previous #book, “Boyfriend Materal,” was a pretty classic gay enemies to lovers fake dating romance with a HFN ending.  This one takes its structure from ”Four Weddings and a Funeral.”  It was fun to revisit the world and characters and I laughed out loud several times.  A delightful diversion.
To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose

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

5.0

“To Shape a Dragon’s Breath” by Moniquill Blackgoose is delicious.  It is a steampunk queer YA about an indigenous young woman who discovers a dragon’s egg and has to join a dragon riding academy in Victorian (sort of) era Southern New England.  As one of two indigenous students, Anequs takes no nonsense and has zero interest in being colonized.  Great world building and characters.  I can’t wait for the next #book.
No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 What a #book!  It is written in the first person omniscient, which will make more sense when you read it.  It is sort of an urban fantasy and wanders across different intertwined characters and through memories and places.  It is queer and anarchist and ACAB and full of were-animals and witches and gods and other things.  It’s a glorious puzzle box of a book, and I highly recommend it.
Notorious Sorcerer by Davinia Evans

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adventurous funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Just finished a #book I very much enjoyed.  “Notorious Sorcerer” by Davinia Evans has street alchemists and upper class intrigues and flashy swashbucklers and fallen angels and dastardly inquisitors.  There is queer romance and daring escapes and an unlikely and quirky hero.  It was original and fun and I’m looking forwards to number two.
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

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adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“The Space Between Worlds” is described by Micaiah Johnson as “Girl dies tons, has adventure.”  Cara is dead in 372 worlds, meaning she can travel the multiverse.  She is plucked out of poverty by a corporation, which sends her between worlds to gather information.  When she discovers the details of the death of one of her doppelgängers, she realizes that there is conspiracy afoot.  It delves deep into privilege and class and is full of clever characters and plot twists. It has deserts and Wild West sex workers and travel bans and queerness.  The main character is very wry and iconoclastic.  It’s a fun and layered read.
Reverie by Ryan La Sala

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“Reverie” by Ryan La Sala is queer YA modern fantasy about a grumpy teenager and his friends who have to save their community from its own imaginations made real.  It’s about found and real family, figuring out choices and consequences, and has the best drag queen villain.  Fun characters, lots of action, and trippy alternate universes.
Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne

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adventurous funny lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Just finished a very fun #book.  “Ink and Sigil” by Kevin Hearne is about a Glaswegian wizard who uses rare inks to keep the fae and human worlds apart.  He has a queer punk battle mage for an office manager and a piss-taking hobgoblin for a sidekick.  AND he’s past middle age and not bitter and burned out (which is an overused trope of urban fantasy).  Anyway, nice brain fluff.