sashahc's reviews
189 reviews

Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

“Her Majesty’s Royal Coven” by Juno Dawson is modern fantasy in England with hidden communities of witches and warlocks that are known to the highest government but no one else.  Four old friends have gone their own ways, practicing magic in different contexts.  Elle is a housewife, Niamh has become a country vet, Leonie has created a coven centering diasporic PoC and Helena remains the only one working for the government in HMRC, now High Priestess.  Niamh is asked to mentor some young magic users, including Theo, a traumatized and powerful young person who may be prophesied to destroy HMRC.
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The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

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adventurous dark emotional tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

"The Jasmine Throne" by Tasha Suri is described by the author as "a big, chonky multi-pov epic Indian-inspired fantasy about morally grey lesbians setting an empire ablaze."  Priya, a chambermaid, is secretly one of the last scions of a religion destroyed by a neighboring colonial power.  Malini, an imperial princess, has been exiled to Priya's town for trying to depose her brother, the emperor.  Thrown together, they have to navigate the politics and passions of the different erupting factions and choose a path forward for Priya's country, the empire itself, and the ancient magic that is bubbling up from the very ground.  There is class and race, queer love, destiny, family, trauma, colonization, and all sorts of messy intrigue.  The cast of characters are complex and earnest, tied to each other in difficult ways.  It is a hugely readable and enjoyable #book.
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The Unbroken by C.L. Clark

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adventurous emotional tense 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

Chaotic lesbians dealing with colonialism, rebellion, magic, military politics, loyalty, espionage, etc.  It scratches quite a few itches.
The Backstagers: Rebels Without Applause by James Tynion IV

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

5.0

"The Backstagers" is a YA comic book series written by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Rian Sygh.  It's described by the author as "A SUPER GAY STAGE CREW BOOK!!”  The story centers around Jory, who has just transferred to a private all-boys school and is feeling like an outcast.  He joins the stage crew, assuming it's just fetching props and painting things.  At this school, however, there is a door backstage that leads to alternate realms, and sometimes, things escape.  It's the backstagers' job to keep things under control so that the show goes on.  This book is so fun.  It's the perfect mix of theatre in-jokes and surreal supernatural hijinks.  It got some creepiness and some coziness and all-around good humor.  There are tons of diverse queer characters, a supportive friend group, and beautiful art.  
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

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adventurous funny mysterious reflective medium-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

“Mimicking of Known Successes” by Malka Older is the queer second-chance romance f2f anti-capitalist cozy science fiction  Holmesian mystery that you didn’t know you wanted.  A man goes missing from the colony of Jupiter, and investigator Mossa is assigned the case.  She engages Pleiti, a researcher into Old Earth (and her former lover), to help her investigation.   They are immediately immersed in university politics and backstabbing colleagues.  Mysterious Hijinks Ensue!  Tea is drunk and scones are eaten!  Everything is questioned.  It is a romp with wonderful delicious layers.  Highly recommended.
A Song for a New Day by Sarah Pinsker

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adventurous dark funny hopeful 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

Just finished Sarah Pinsker’s cozy dystopian novel “A Song For a New Day.”  I love the queer anti-capitalist optimism in her books.  I’m amazed I didn’t hear more about this one, given that someone obvs gave her a time machine to 2020.  Musicians will especially appreciate this story.  Bonus points for Jewish rep.  Recommend!
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When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

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emotional hopeful 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

Do you want lush and lyric writing that you can get lost in full of longing and tenderness and magic?  I got you. “When the Moon Was Ours” by Anna-Marie McLemore is a gorgeous coming of age YA #PrideSFF #book about two best friends dealing with growing into their gender, race, family, and magic.  Miel grows roses from her wrist and Sam paints moons and hangs them from trees.  It’s a book to read all day in a summer hammock with a tall lemonade and cicadas screaming in the background.

(I fully recommend the rest of their books as well.)
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PET by Akwaeke Emezi

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dark emotional mysterious sad 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

Post-apocalypse - creatures from other dimensions - autistic trans Black MC - are humans the real monsters after all?  And yet…  an overall sweetness and hope.  “PET” by Akwaeke Amezi is a #PrideSFF #book like no other.  It will stay with you for a long time after closing the cover.  Definitely critical reading.  (Check the TWs first)
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Infomocracy by Malka Older

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adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

Malka Older's near-future series "The Centenal Cycle" is freaking brilliant.  It's a meditation on the future of democracy and media control but is it dystopia or utopia?  It's got spies, assassins, politicians, and journalists.  It takes place all over the world.  And it has queeeeeers.  I love that for us.  This is a science fiction thriller written by a Latinx humanitarian aid worker with a phd in disaster response.  It is very on the nose and there are no easy answers inside.  But also NOT grimdark.  Recommend.
Witchmark by C.L. Polk

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

5.0

CL Polk is definitely in my list of “if they write it, I will read.”  The Kingston Cycle is a fantasy #Pridesff #book series that has a bevy of wonderful layers.  There are (so many) queers.  There are revolutionaries, complicated families, conspiracies, magical incursions, and sweet romances and heartbreaks.  And lots of bicycles.  Each one is structured as a romance, but the political tension ramps up successively. This series nicely straddles the line between cozy and thoughtful.  It’s just so so good.