Tag: lgbt+

Lets Talk: My Favorite Books of 2022

Robin2 Comments

My top reads of 2022, are coming at you four months late, but as Harper Collins workers advocated for a fair contract these past several months, It was necessary to delay this. Looking back at 2022, I am left feeling like there were so many books that I didn’t get around to reading. Nevertheless, this year was very successful for me. I read a whopping 373 books which is the highest amount I have ever reached since I started documenting my reading, and a majority of these were 4-5 star reads. 2022 marked my deep dive into historical romance and fantasy, two genres I feel I had not been reading enough of prior to the start of the year, and as these were my two most prevalent genres in 2022, I can definitively say that went off without a hitch. Narrowing down my favorite reads of the year presented quite a challenge, but I managed to decide upon my top twelve. Given that I started bookselling this year I thought it would be fun to present them with the shelf-talkers I display at the store. It’s safe to say that there were many books I left out of this, but expect some romance and fantasy features in the coming month!

Top Reads of 2022

Joan by Katherine J. Chen

A revitalized look into the life and times of Joan of Arc, from her startings in Domrémy France, to her martyrdom and eventual rise to sainthood. Katherine Chen has created a version of Joan of Arc completely unheard of in our time, emphasizing the woman beneath the image, flawed and unyielding. With as much of a focus on the history surrounding the Hundred Years War as its central figure, this story slowly enraptured me. Joan is perfect for fans of historical fiction, or even readers wanting to take a stab at the genre. A brilliant novel for the ages.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, war

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

Roshani Chokshi breathes life into this gothic novel centered around fairytales, myth, and the treacherous secrets of a marriage. Wandering the halls of the crumbling House of Dreams, Chokshi spins her tale, interweaving fairy tales into the central narrative amidst broken promises and childhood dreams. Expertly crafted, with lush writing and an unsettling undertone, this is everything you could possibly wish for in a gothic novel. The way it slowly approaches the final act will leave you breathless in its downfall.

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, murder

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

In a secluded estate far removed from the conflict on Yucatans peninsula, Carlota Moreau lives an isolated existence. That is, until the arrival of two strange gentlemen dissolve her fragile world into chaos. Layering in themes of colonization, class, and subjugation, Moreno-Garcia examines possession and the relationship between creator and subject. This is her best work by far. Wonderfully romantic and intense in its resistance.

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, abuse, death, gun violence, suicide, experimentation

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

Last of the true witches in all of Oblya, Marlinchen and her sisters spend their days tending to their clientele, and placating the unending appetites of their cursed wizard father. A chance connection spells freedom, but at a price that may be too monstrous to pay. Gorgeously gruesome and brutal in its design, Juniper & Thorn is a twisted gothic horror retelling of The Juniper Tree, imbued with memory, a poignant examination of abuse, and survivorhood in all forms.

Trigger warnings: violence, emotional abuse, gore, blood, death, murder, body horror, cannibalism, eating disorder (bulimia), vomiting (graphic), sexual assault, antisemitism, xenophobia, drug use 

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

In an isolated manor on the edge of town, sharpshooter Margaret Welty lives alone. When she spots the legendary Hala in the woods one evening, she knows that the annual halfmoon hunt is about to commence. The only problem? She appears to be short a partner. Allison Saft’s sophomore novel is purely evocative, with hunts in a moonlight wood, an exquisite exploration of loneliness, and a rediscovery of love lost. Full of words that drown you in their depths and a striking fantasy atmosphere, I loved every second of this (Margaret + Wes forever have my heart).

Trigger warnings: blood, gore, emotional abuse, neglect, antisemitism, xenophobia, nationalism, animal death and injury, ableism, parental death (mentioned), PTSD

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop

Babel by R.F Kuang

What can I say about this extraordinary book that hasn’t already been said? Babel is one of those books that slowly leads you through a flawed world and characters seeking to make it better and then leaves you to grapple with its legacy. R.f Kuang explores the longevity of empire and whether or not violence and sacrifice have become the only translatable actions. Through the eyes of a translation student at Oxford and five acts, Kuang conducts her discordant symphony and four students’ slow descent into disillusionment. I needed a whole month to recover from this (as well as several scones) and you will too.

Trigger warnings: racism, racial slurs, death, murder, war, slavery, colonization

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop

A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

There’s so much I could say about Rebecca Ross’s Elements of Cadence duology that would fall woefully short. This duology is a raging fire of community, belonging, love, and sacrifice that slowly rekindled my adoration for enemies to lovers and slow-burn fantasy. This series follows a suffering bard and his childhood enemy-turned-wife as they navigate clan wars, mysterious illnesses, and a world thrown out of balance. There’s so so much yearning and desperation to understand the world and our place in it. I’m absolutely obsessed with the main two couples in this book and I’m begging everyone to give this series a try.

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, grief

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop

The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

Declared the rightful empress of Parijatdvipa by the prophet of the nameless god, Malini wages war to get back what was taken from her. Meanwhile, Priya faces an unsettling situation back in Ahiranya. This follow-up to The Jasmine Throne stole my heart and destroyed my soul with a slow and delicate grace. Intensely ruthless and brutal at its core, The Oleander Sword is an astonishing sequel that blooms with betrayal, romance, and unintended sacrifice. Tasha Suri’s Burning Kingdoms is an exemplary fantasy series, altogether epic and expansive.

Trigger warnings: death, violence, war, suicide

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

In a world where the color of your blood determines your standing, two young women switched at birth to ignite a failed revolution reunite in an effort to achieve what they both desire. This is easily one of my favorite fantasy debuts of the whole year — ruthless and entirely ambitious. El-Arifi has poured her soul into this expansive story where loyalties are tested and history is not as truthful as it appears. Do yourself a favor and pick up this epic and queer fantasy debut.

Trigger warnings: blood, addiction, child abuse

Buy a copy:

B&N
Bookshop

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

When her father is discovered dead in his office at the New York Public Library, in possession of the very map that tarnished her reputation and destroyed their relationship, Nell Young is drawn into an investigation with greater consequences than she could have ever imagined. Peng Shepherd draws together an incredible narrative of belonging, secret societies, personal history, and magic. I flew through this in one afternoon and could not stop thinking about it for weeks afterward. This book is unexpectedly ingenious and I could not put it down.

Trigger warnings: death, grief, murder, violence

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop

Exes and O’s by Amy Lea

Amy Lea’s follow-up novel to Set on You quickly flew to the top of my radar. Romance novel obsessed Tara Chen has had more than her fair share of heartbreak. After an inspiring interview, Tara gets an idea: revisit all of her past romances and reevaluate them with the hope of securing the time-honored trope, the second chance romance. Amy Lea has written the romance heroine of my dreams and one of my all-time favorite friends-to-lovers romances. A true love letter to every romance aficionado out there, and funny as hell!

Trigger warnings: sexism, gaslighting

Buy a copy

B&N
Bookshop

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Happy Place is absolute magic, bottled up and delivered in the form of saccharine summer days, happiness, teary moments, and newfound longing, and I loved every single second of it. Its wonderfully unique friendships and signature blend of past and present merge to deliver a truly unforgettable romance. Prepare to fall in love with Wyn, Harriet, and a friend group together across the years. Emily Henry is the master of the romance novel and Happy Place is her best one yet!

Trigger warnings: death, grief, alcohol consumption

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop

And that’s a wrap on my favorite reads of the year. So many amazing reads marked my journey through 2022, and I can’t wait to see what I get to in the coming year. There were many of my favorite reads that did not make the final cut (gone but never forgotten) and I will be highlighting those in a future post or collection so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, I’d love to hear if any of these were on your list and what books really impacted you in 2022.

Review: The Fiancee Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur

RobinLeave a comment

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Bookish Tansy Adams has always found comfort in managing her family bookstore handed down after the passing of her late father, rather than the real-world romantic encounters she can’t seem to parse. When her family refuses to let up on the romance front, Tansy invents a girlfriend, Gemma, inspired by a gorgeous cover model featured on dozens of romance novels. Tansy’s lie is put to the test at a wedding, when in walks Gemma van Dalen, cousin of the groom, and the very person around whom she created her lie. Heir to the family’s newspaper empire, Gemma is on the brink of obtaining everything, except for the clause that says she must marry before the year is out or the inheritance defaults to her cousin. When confronted with Tansy’s lie, Gemma plays along, and a modern marriage of convenience is born. Tansy and Gemma make quite the unconventional couple, yet they have an undeniable connection that could lead to something real, provided they survive the family determined to oust their engagement as a farce.

Alexandria Bellefleur pens another effortlessly charming contemporary romance, harkening back to god-tier romantic comedies, and a multitude of Taylor Swift references. After falling head over heels for Count Your Lucky Stars this past winter and the entire Written in the Stars series, there wasn’t a force on earth that could stop me from sinking my teeth into Bellefleurs newest as soon as possible. I mean, an indie bookseller who agrees to a fake marriage with a newspaper heiress turned romance cover model?? I was sold. Bellefleur writes the romances I’ve dreamed of reading my entire life, and there’s a magic captured in her original trilogy that perfectly translates over to her newest novel. Reading The Fiancee Farce feels perfectly familiar, through its black sheep heroine taking desperate measures, and a bookstore on the verge of being sold, much to the chagrin of its owner. These are the tropes and storylines formulaic for countless romances, yet the proposed solution to the novel’s central problem is where Bellefleur makes her twist– through a queer modern-day marriage of convenience. Everything about this shines, through the open vulnerability between leads Gemma and Tansy, and the overbearing family intent on driving them apart. These two have such an honest chemistry that is only intensified against all of the meddling and disorderly plans that ensue. The little dates and domestic moments contained in the midst of it all only made me all the more smitten. From its impeccable setup, right up to its emotional conclusion, The Fiancee Farce is pure chaos combined with all the romantic tropes and twists I could ever yearn for in a romance novel. Bellefleur continues to outdo herself with every passing year and I’ll be anxiously awaiting anything that she does next. 

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: sexual harassment, slut shaming, death of a parent

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Review: Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould

Robin1 Comment

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Ever since the death of her mother, Beck Birsching has struggled to stay on course. Ellery Birsching was an investigative reporter who spent years digging into a strange town in Arizona and never found the answers she craved. When a strange note arrives from her mother with the instructions to ‘Come find me,’ leading to the very town she investigated for so long, Beck travels south with her sister to Backravel, Arizona, where the past is more present than ever and the presence of their mother refuses to dissipate. Yet something strange is happening in Backravel. There are hardly any people present, no graveyards, and a strange center at the top of the hill offers treatment for any ailment. Everyone seems to be in a haze, and as Beck investigates the truth behind the town, its connection to her mother threatens to drag her under for good. 

Courtney Gould has written another sapphic masterpiece, about strange towns, sisterhood, and the relentless hold of grief. Wandering the backroads south to Arizona, Gould draws us into the mind of Beck Birsching, a grieving young girl trying to piece together the legacy of her deceased mother while struggling to keep herself together. The latest of Gould’s wonderfully weird locals is a seemingly innocent town that has ensnared many victims, drawing them into its thrall and feeding off of their desperation. Backravel Arizona becomes the site of emotional toil, eerily mirroring the mental state of our heroine and taking on a role that is truly terrifying the deeper Beck digs into her mother’s past. While many novels have endeavored to construct a web of claustrophobia within the narrative, none have managed it quite like this one. Right from the start there is a stark feeling of wrongness, that slowly closes in on the reader until they too are trapped in Backravel with Beck and the townspeople. Gould’s sophomore adds a moving investigation into sisterhood and motherhood. Two sisters that are divided not only in the way that they grieve, but in the way they viewed the profession of their late mother and how to navigate a future without her. I love a journey narrative, specifically ones that blend physical displacement with mental transformation. Where Echoes Die gives us exactly that, a trip between two sisters not ready to leave the past behind and who have yet to navigate a way out of their grief. Less at the forefront, but still poignant is the open discussion of queerness, seen through Beck’s coming out to her mother and other characters like Avery that were never given their time. Courtney Gould has gone two for two with books that have made me cry and I think this might be my favorite from her. Where Echoes Die breaches the past to prove the longevity of grief upon generations, and the universal struggle of the human experience. I’ll be keeping a weather eye out for more weird towns and badass Lesbians from Courtney Gould and basically anything she does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: death of a loved one, terminal illness, violence

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Lets Talk: Novellas

Robin2 Comments

With a little over a month left in the reading year, and still no end in sight with my yearly goal, I thought It would be interesting to visit the mountain of novellas that have been piling up these past few months. I spent a whole weekend reading my backlog of various novellas, both published and unpublished, in the hopes of getting ahead of my reading and discovering some new favorites. Several of these titles are coming from authors that have read in the past and loved, but there are a few standouts that I was wanting to try. I mostly stuck to science fiction fantasy this way out the gate but did hit some of the horror novellas that I had missed from my October reading. This novella romp was so much fun, so without further ado, here are my thoughts on the eight novellas I read over the weekend!

Novellas I loved

Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee

“I wanted to be one. I wanted to be the monster that kills other monsters.”

It shall come as no surprise that Fonda Lee wrote another book I’m completely obsessed with. Her previous Green Bone Saga series launched her to the top of my favorite fantasy authors last year, and when I heard about her upcoming novella I knew it was going to hit just as hard. Untethered Sky follows a young woman consumed by vengeance, and her career path as a Ruhker, trainers of the giant predator rocs that are taught to hunt the very Manticores that destroyed her family. This extraordinary novella confronts the limitations of obsession and the one-sided love between man and predator. Through the partnership between Ruhker and fledgling, Lee tries the bounds of love and loyalty, against inner nature.

Trigger warnings: violence, blood, death, gore

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L Polk

“I called to the devil, and the devil came to me.”

Angels, demons, and magic combine in this gorgeously queer novella tinged with romance and heartache. An insightful and entertaining romp through 1940s Chicago, following a Lesbian detective determined to get back the soul she bargained away years ago, and thus secure a future with her great love. When I heard about this sapphic historical fantasy novella by C.L Polk I knew that I was in for a wild ride. I loved their previous historical novel The Midnight Bargain, so naturally, I had high hopes for their newest novella. Even Though I Knew The End is a well-rounded story that managed to deliver on every possible front. Inquisitive, Sapphic, and fun. Give it a try!

Trigger warnings: death, misogyny, homophobia, forced institutionalization

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill

“Mothers fly away like migrating birds. And fathers die too young”

The Crane Husband is a peculiar story of a fifteen-year-old girl managing the affairs of her family after the death of her father. When her mother brings home a crane to stay with them, generations of family trauma and grievances are brought into the open as her mother begins to lose herself piece by piece in the crane’s menacing clutches. Barnhill composes an unsettling futuristic fable that is part retelling and part inquisition into abuse, abandonment, and children placed into parental roles far too young. The Crane Husband skillfully details a family slowly falling apart and a horror at the center of the household. The perfect novella for anyone looking to read a futuristic spin on Japanese folklore tangled up in a sinister family tragedy.

Trigger warnings: death, illness, domestic abuse, blood, violence,

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

“Myths are full of lies. This is not one of them.”

The Salt Grows Heavy is a gruesome tale tracking a mermaid who destroyed her husband and his kingdom, and a plague doctor as they wander an entangled forest. They happen upon a strange village, where children compete in a brutal game for a chance at immortality and supposed saints safeguard the treacherous truth. Cassandra Khaw delivers easily the most horrific and violent novella I have ever read. There’s a dangerous underbelly to its language that slowly ensnares you at its surface, and once beneath, morphs into something truly terrifying. Seriously, the descriptions in this were bone-chilling and morbid to the point of needing to put the book down at times. The Salt Grows Heavy is the perfect novella for horror (and bloodthirsty mermaid) fans.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, gore, murder, disembowelment, torture

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo

“Singing Hills knew that the truth showed up in its own time, often late and entirely unlooked for”

Nghi Vo continues The Singing Hills Cycle, following the cleric Chih as they travel to the Riverlands to record the prominent tales of the martial artists that torment the area. Chih and Almost Brilliant journey with two young women and an older couple whom they quickly fall in with while navigating the changing landscape. Nghi Vo once again delivers a stellar addition to her Singing Hills Cycle series with Into the Riverlands, a novella that continues to emphasize the power of storytelling and the passing down of stories through the generations. Vo lets us peek behind the curtains of various fables and myths to view the kernel of truth at their center. This is a brilliant series that continues to delight year after year. Can’t recommend it enough!

Trigger warnings: violence, death

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown

“It sounded like the seismic breath of stars…It sounded like a conversation between gods”

The Scourge Between Stars is a thrilling science fiction horror novella about a temporary captain that confronts the threat of an alien intruder whilst trying to keep the crew alive on a ship approaching extinction. Everything about this was just incredible. It reads like a full-length science fiction novel from the amount of detail Ness Brown poured into the worldbuilding and the wide array of characters present. From start to finish I was on the edge of my seat as Jacklyn unearths the truth about this threat and deals with the pressures passed down by her absent father. An incredible story of perseverance and the deep manifestations of trauma contended within the wide expanse of space. Look no further for your next thrilling queer sci-fi horror, it’s here.

Trigger warnings: death, violence, blood, gore

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Novellas I Didn’t Love (as much)

The Two Doctors Gorski by Isaac Fellman

“If she had ever thought of herself as a rose, it would be a withered one -crisp, dry, delicate”

Annae is a graduate student focused on psychiatric magic, but she harbors the uncanny ability to read the minds of the people around her. Her abilities allow her to protect herself and provide her colleagues and superiors with exactly what they expect. With a premise as amazing as this one, the actual story was very much a letdown. The Two Doctors Gorski is the perfect example of a novella that was attempting too much and was confronted with its own limitations. I appreciated the conversation this was trying to have with academic abuse and women starting a career in a male-dominated field, but its short page count left more to be addressed, and there was simply too much going on that I was left pondering over many unanswered questions.

Trigger warnings: death

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Spear by Nicola Griffith

“A name, she thinks, is what makes a person who they are. A name is how they know themself”

I had high hopes for Spear, a novella twisting Arthurian legend and chronicling the journey of a young woman disguised as a man trying to find her place among knights and kings. The beautiful prose sharply hit its mark and I fell easily into the flow of the ever-shifting narrative. This feels like the type of story read by the fire on a cold winter night, that warms your bones and brings comfort in times of need. Spear is a fantastic queer fantasy novella, but there were several things that held it back. The prose, while stunning, weaved a dense web that made it hard to navigate the events that occurred, and the last half was very slow going. Not my least favorite novella, but not worth contending with my other favorites.

Trigger warnings: death, violence, infertility, blood

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

So ends my weekend journey into my various novellas of the past year. Many of these have an expected publication in the coming year, so be advised that most of the quotations above are coming from a proof and are subject to change. I had such a fun time with this. I’d been feeling a bit behind on my reading goal and uninspired as to what to read next so this helped me a whole lot! I will definitely be keeping up with any new novellas in the upcoming year and looking out for any new ones to read that are already published. If any of these sound interesting, please consider pre-ordering a copy through the links provided, and do let me know what you think when you get around to reading!

Review: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

RobinLeave a comment

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Decades of fighting have left Viv the orc barbarian tired of bloodshed. One last mission makes her the owner of Scalvert’s Stone, a mythical artifact with untested power that paves the road to her next adventure, opening a coffee shop in the city of Thune. Viv’s fresh start doesn’t come easy after a life of battle, and renovating the cafe space may be the least of her problems. Convincing the residents of Thune to give her unfamiliar drinks a try, facing the uncontested powers within the city, and the return of old enemies could quickly crumble the life of peace she is desperate to maintain. To successfully pull off her plan, Viv will need to enlist the help of her new partners in order to get the cafe back on track, which just may provide her with the perspective that she has been missing all along.

Legends & Lattes is easily the coziest fantasy novel I have ever read, centered around an orc barbarian turned entrepreneur Viv and her trials and tribulations in opening a coffee shop. Debut author Travis Baldree serves up a lighthearted and easygoing tale that feels like being wrapped up in a warm blanket with a piping hot cup of coffee. Following Viv, as she journeys to the city of Thune to start her new adventure, I was instantly carried away by the sights of the city, and the mouthwatering pastries and food described in ever-expanding detail. This is definitely a feast for the senses, combined with an incredible attention to detail. My favorite moments in particular were the chalkboard menu updates that were described after each new morning pastry addition. They all sounded so delectable I wished for nothing more than to jump into the page and enjoy a steaming cinnamon bun myself. As the cafe expands and takes on new upgrades, so are we introduced to our lovely cast of characters Viv, Cal, Thimble, and Tandri. I adored them all, especially Thimble and his careful attention to his breakfast pastry creations, and Viv and Tandri who had such a heartwarming love story. Every passing addition to the cafe team imparted such a strong sense of coming together, along with that found family component I was hoping for. Legends and Lattes is, at its heart, about community and friendship, and how personal quests for transformation cannot be accomplished alone. Look no further for a fantasy that doesn’t forgo a warm atmosphere and layers heavily on all things cozy. Legends and Lattes is the perfect book for anyone that has ever dreamed of ditching their responsibilities to open up a cafe or bookstore, or is in need of a well-earned escape. 

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc

Trigger warnings: fire, violence, sexual harassment

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Indiebound

Review: The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling

RobinLeave a comment

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Gyre is part of a one-person expedition mapping a cave system on the mining colony of a distant planet, but after basically lying her way into the job for the substantial paycheck, she soon finds herself in way over her head. The cave is filled with the bodies of past explorers that met an unfortunate end, and the surface team tasked with monitoring her surrounding environment is not a team at all, but a grieving young woman determined to unbury a graveyard. Lured into a false sense of security by the promised payout that will allow her to track down the mother that abandoned her, Gyre continues her descent, but the cave system is not what she expected, and her handler will stop at nothing to push forward. Confused and alone in the dark, Gyre makes one unsettling discovery after the other. Supplies have gone missing, tunnels completely shifted, and as she encroaches deeper into the darkness Gyre begins to suspect that she may not be entirely alone.

The Luminous Dead is the perfect combination of spooky and gay, wound up in a psychological thriller investigating the traumas of two young women and the ties that bind them. Told entirely from the perspective of caver Gyre as she navigates the expansive cave system of her home planet Cassandra-V, Starling’s confined narrative contests with the limitless scope of the underground. The vast network of caves becomes a nightmare, where the emotions and mental state of Gyre and her inconsistent handler Em begin to fray. I’m a big fan of the use of the surrounding environment as an extension of the emotions of these characters, where unique traumas can be realized and overcome. The Luminous Dead took this to an extreme degree. The plot manages to draw out the horror contained within, with the thirty-some dead cavers, cave collapses, and missing gear, alongside Gyre’s slow loss of sanity. This isolation is fully brought home with there being only two characters in the story, while finicky Em enters and exits on her own agenda, leaving Gyre to fend for herself and parse her handler’s inconsistencies. There were so many little moments throughout where I felt aligned with Gyre in not knowing what to believe or trusting anything that was being seen. The general fear of being watched, having her suit tampered with, or being controlled was terrifying to observe. Situating the novel around the exploration of a system of caves was enough to maintain suspense, but the psychological torment of Gyre was even more dreadful. Her hallucinations and the prevailing slow build toward her loss of self became incredibly anxiety-inducing to witness. Until its unexpected ending, I really had no idea if she would leave the cave alive. Secluded and horrifying, The Luminous Dead is the internal journey of two women united by trauma towards healing by exorcising the past. An unsettling atmospheric read that chilled me to the very core.

Trigger warnings: death, parental death, parental abandonment, forced drug use, body horror, vomiting, suicidal thoughts

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Review: Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

Robin3 Comments

Rating: 5 out of 5.

For interior designer and impeccably put-together Astrid Parker, failure is out of the question. After her botched engagement over a year ago, Astrid has held tight to the reins of her life lest her world crash and burn around her. When the opportunity to design the renovation of Bright Falls Everwood Inn appears in front of her, Astrid soars. Since the renovation will be televised on a popular home improvement show, it may just be what she needs to put herself back on the map. What Astrid doesn’t intend is to butt heads with lead carpenter Jordan Everwood, who despises the plans that Astrid has for renovating her family home. Tension sells better than anything, and when the producers of Innside America ask them to up the ante, Jordan and Astrid clash until their deep dislike for one another is threatened. All Astrid has ever done is what is expected of her, yet there is a chance for her to live the life she truly desires if only she can let go of the rigid control that she has clung to for so long.

Ashley Herring Blake pens another queer romance reminiscent of Schitt’s Creek and the romantic comedy, with lovable characters, emotional depth, and classic small-town charm. Astrid Parker delighted in the first installment of the Bright Falls series and I was elated when I heard the sequel would center around her own love story. Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail completely outsells, elevating her character and developing an enthralling rivals-to-lovers romance at its center. If there is one thing I have come to expect from Herring Blake, it’s the unique situations that she crafts for her characters. This secondary romance is no different, concentrating on a home-improvement show and the antics between interior designer Astrid and lead carpenter Jordan Everwood. Oftentimes I find it difficult to engage with the rivalry trope, especially if the set-up isn’t there or the rivalry isn’t founded on anything concrete, but that was not an issue here. The first chapter establishes an exquisite antagonism with a coffee spill gone wrong and a vengeful Astrid caught in the crossfire. This led to some of the most glorious romantic tension and palpable on-page chemistry as the story unfolded. There is nothing more telling I can say about this other than it completely ruined me. Astrid Parker’s story is about the trials surrounding creating the life you truly want for yourself, against a world pulling you in an entirely different direction – how the people in our lives can sometimes show up right when they’re needed, even if it doesn’t make sense at first. By way of this, Ashley Herring Blake has given voice to a pervasive fear of failure, and just what it means to figure out your sexuality later in life. Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail is a sensational follow-up romance to Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, and is shaping up an incredible continuation for the Bright Falls series.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing the arc.

Trigger warnings: death, depression

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Lets Talk: Gothic Reads for the Fall Season

Robin4 Comments

Everything gothic, from retellings, to gothic horror

Fall is one of my favorite seasons of the year, and what better way to celebrate its arrival than by sharing some of my favorite gothic novels from the last two years. If you’re like me, then fall is the time that you reach for gothic novels and horror more than anything. Something about the leaves falling and the temperature dropping puts me in the mood to read about desolate castles, blood, and murder. Even if you aren’t the biggest gothic fan, fall is undoubtedly the perfect time of year to give it a try or another shot. This post will reach everything from vampires to haunted castles, and retellings. Of course, these are just a select few of my favorite gothic reads. Regardless of the time of year, I am always looking for more, so please drop a recommendation if you feel like it. Spooky reading!

Gothic Recommendations

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher is a new author I have discovered this year, with an extensive backlist in both fantasy and horror. Their new novel, What Moves the Dead is an unsettling gothic retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher. Following the retired soldier Alex Easton, coming to the aid of a dying childhood friend, we explore the house of Usher run amok with mushrooms and unpredictable wildlife, and set around the malevolent murky depths of a lake. What Moves the Dead has a suspenseful build to it, leaning more towards the classic horror I have come to love. Perfect for the everyday Poe fan, or someone looking to read more of the genre.

Trigger warnings: Body horror, animal death, death, war, suicide, gore

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

Queer horror has definitely had a resurgence this year, and House of Hunger is one of my favorites of them all. There’s a sprawling estate with plenty of secrets inside and a vampiric regime that preys on impoverished women. Henderson has perfected the gothic atmosphere, combining the horrific, an analysis of desire, and a sweeping narrative that ensnares the senses. Following heroine Marion, as she applies for the position of bloodmaid, and discovers the truth behind the illustrious houses of the North, this novel delves deep into its corrupted heart. House of Hunger comes packed with a gruesome twist that you won’t want to miss!

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, gore, murder, torture

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

A Dowry of Blood by S.T Gibson

An exquisite reimagining of Dracula’s Brides in the form of an open letter from the first bride Constanta; A Dowry of Blood is an achingly haunting and beautiful novel that spans centuries in the life of its narrator. S.T Gibson devises an evocative narrative, chronicling the quiet descent from love into violence over many years. This queer polyamorous vampire novel has re-debuted this October through Orbit and what better time to read it than the Halloween season. Everything about this is exquisite, a combination of sapphic yearning at the opera, found family, and a moving exploration of relationship abuse.

Trigger warnings: Emotional abuse, blood, death, murder, abuse

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

Continuing the trend of retellings, Juniper & Thorn is one of my favorites, a gothic horror retelling of The Juniper Tree that just released this year. Honestly, Ava Reid is THE author for fantasy and the gothic, and they always manage to deliver an impeccable story that ticks all the boxes. Juniper & Thorn is a phenomenal story full of monsters that await you down dark hallways and the ones within. Its examination of survivorhood, defiance, and the monstrous is something I will carry with me for a long time. If any gothic horror is going to stick with you, it’s going to be this one.

Trigger warnings: violence, emotional abuse, gore, blood, death, murder, body horror, cannibalism, eating disorder (bulimia), vomiting (graphic), sexual assault, antisemitism, xenophobia, drug use 

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

The Death of Jane Lawrence has been aptly compared to Crimson Peak, with a narrative so mind-boggling it completely threw me over. Set in a dark version of Post-War England, we follow the bright and practical Jane Shoringfield as she makes a marriage of convenience centered around a bargain she won’t be able to uphold. This is one of the most brilliant and unnerving books that I have ever read within the horror genre. Starling weaves a startling story with layers that cannot be fully parsed with just one glance and one that I continue to think about to this day. It’s gothic horror with a historical layer and a side of discontent.

Trigger warnings: Blood, gore, medical procedures, drug use, child death, death, gaslighting

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

An instant recommendation of mine is always going to be Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This is comped as Rebecca meets The Yellow Wallpaper, and honestly, nothing could be a more accurate comparison. A gothic that burns slowly and then doesn’t catch its breath until the very end —complete with a twist that still keeps me up at night, Mexican Gothic is a great venture into gothic horror. Moreno-Garcia is one of my all-time favorite writers, with an insane capacity to genre-shift and spin the stories that stay with you. Mexican Gothic is arguably her most well-known novel, and for good reason. It’s got a creepy family estate, and a horrific family legacy to unpack before its smashing conclusion.

Trigger warnings: Violence, death, body horror, sexual assault, sexism

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

This is coming a bit late into the season so I’ve already had the chance to revisit a few of these and try some new reads. The books above remain my absolute favorites of what the gothic has to offer, and if you try and like any, be sure to reach out and let me know. Every single one of these authors has other works I have adored, and I cannot recommend delving into their backlist, especially if you liked any of them. Currently, any and all of Jennifer McMahon’s books are on my upcoming reading list, as well as a few of Paul Tremblay’s horror novels. Both authors have provided a fascinating dive into the horror genre and I hope to read more before the season is out!

Review: Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen

RobinLeave a comment

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The year is 1952, and Irene Lamontaine, head of the illustrious Lamontaine soap empire has died, leaving behind a substantial family seat vacant. Irene spearheaded the family’s soap empire to its current position with her signature and everchanging scents, held secret behind the gates of the family estate Lavender House. On the estate, the inhabitants have secrets of their own, secrets that require keeping outsiders at bay, and an understanding staff. When Evander Mills, a recently fired cop of the San Fransisco police department is contacted by a mysterious widow to investigate the circumstances surrounding her wife’s death, he finds himself behind its illusive walls for the first time. Reaching deeper into the family’s past, Andy soon finds himself beset by petty squabbles and family jealousy, but Irene’s death wasn’t an accident, and even between a family united by secrets, there are some worth killing for.

Lavender House has been aptly described as a 1950’s Knives Out mystery, surrounding a queer family, their confined existence, and the deadly secrets they keep hidden. Perfectly situated in its place in time, Rosen assembles a cloying ambiance for this novel, with an overpowering scent of deception that permeates the stuffy halls of Lavender House and unto the very page. Passing through the gates of the house aside the narrator Evander Mills, the real mystery begins once inside, as the motivations and history of each of the characters are exhumed. It was at this point of the story, that I was officially hooked. So much of what I love about the family mystery narrative is the entangled motivations and complicated relationships that are played out from start to finish. Lavender House has the added layer of the Lamontaine family being comprised entirely of queer people that have found solace, and ultimately family, with one another. For that reason, this novel is very much a stark examination of queer lives during the 1950s as it is a murder mystery. These two topics intersect as Andy investigates deeper into the family history and the establishment of their legendary soap empire. Each of the family and staff all have their own struggles with identity, which Rosen does a great job exploring in tandem with existing as queer in this time and the difficult choices necessary to exist and have any kind of security. This is a historical novel that does depict some of the violence inflicted upon the LGBTQ+ community during the time period by individuals and law enforcement, so I strongly advise checking out the content warnings before reading. I ended up having to take several breaks during certain sections of this. The existence of Lavender House in and of itself is escapist for the time period it is situated in, yet it provides an altogether intimate and refreshing inquiry into queer existence served against a stellar mystery. With its not so neatly wrapped up ending, I am hopeful that this is not the last we will be hearing from these characters going forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc to review.

Trigger warnings: violence, grief, homophobic slurs, homophobic violence, police brutality, animal death

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound

Review: House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

RobinLeave a comment

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The advertisement in the paper seems almost written in blood. It comes on behalf of the illustrious houses of the far north, where wealthy nobles live for the finer pleasures of human blood, relying on young women known as bloodmaids to supply it. Happening upon this strange advert is Marion Shaw, a young woman desperate to leave her current circumstances, yet with no hopes of doing so – until now. When a taster deems her blood an exquisite and rare taste, Marion is taken north to be presented as a potential new bloodmaid, where she finds herself the newest member of the notorious House of Hunger. Drawn into the dark world of which Countess Lisavet rules, Marion is quickly swept up in her allure and a hopeless desire to please her. The walls of the house cannot hide everything, and when an expulsion of the head bloodmaid reveals a pattern of past bloodmaids gone missing, Marion learns that deep within the house, lies something truly wretched.

House of Hunger is the unforgiving gothic horror of my dreams, soaked in blood and depravity. One look at its premise, and I could feel in my soul that this was going to be an instant favorite. With vivid descriptions and luscious prose, Alexis Henderson paints an alluring picture of a desolate house set on a sprawling estate and the noble families for whom the taste of blood still holds sway. Where desperate young women plucked from poverty are traded comfort in exchange for the endless supply of blood they can provide. Right from the get-go, this novel scorched a direct path to my heart, assisted by a devastating gothic atmosphere that slowly captured an essence of disquiet, building like a horrific symphony I could not look away from. Of course, no gothic horror is complete without its resilient leading lady, and Marion Shaw is certainly that, a sensational protagonist to follow as the truth behind the house of hunger is unveiled. Entangled in a hypnotic seduction with Countess Lisavet and set off by an unsettling discovery, Marion’s journey was everything I could have possibly asked for, fraught with disillusion and a descent from unwavering devotion into violence. Henderson did an amazing job balancing why someone in Marion’s position would be willing to enter into a bloodmaid contract, and how the wealthy took advantage of these women, that in their eyes, were easily expendable. Coupled with intensifying house politics, the claustrophobic feel of the narrative, and the revelation to the inner workings of the houses, this story takes a depraved and horrifying final bow. House of Hunger is everything I could possibly want in a horror novel, a fearsomely dark tale with a corrupted center.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing this arc.

Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence, gore, murder

Buy a Copy:

B&N
Bookshop
Indiebound