Tag: lgbt+

Review: The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman

January 11, 2022March 24, 2025 RobinLeave a comment

In a world where magic is all but a coveted resource, four estranged siblings will reunite to search for a fabled object said to unlock a new source of magic, before their enemies surpass them entirely. Vira is the Maharani of Ashoka, tasked with maintaining a country on the brink of war and upholding her predecessor’s legacy. Behind the walls, magic is the only thing keeping Ashoka’s enemies from completely overtaking them, but its source is nearly spent. The only solution is the legendary Ivory Key, an ancient relic said to be capable of unlocking the magic that was previously sealed away by a once-revered secret society. In order to pursue and retrieve the key, Vira and her siblings must reunite to piece together lost clues that will have them journeying deep into enemy territory. Amidst shifting agendas and continued harbored secrets, this treacherous quest is no easy undertaking and may be the thing that finally tears apart their family and the world that they love for good.

With complicated family dynamics and intricate puzzles to solve, The Ivory Key is an artful love letter that pays homage to Indiana Jones and National Treasure with its central quest. As a longtime fan of elaborate sibling dynamics, what first caught my eye here was the core focus on four estranged royal siblings that are forced to reunite and work together to save their country. In turn with my love for quests, hidden clues, and lost relics, The Ivory Key peered deep into my heart and promised it all. Beyond these various layers to the plot, the world that Akshaya Raman has created within is so vivid and vibrant it fully came alive inside my mind. Grounded in a myriad of distinct cultural elements from India and South Indian architecture, it’s clear that Raman poured a part of herself into this world and its foundations. Hearing about all the different foods that were described at length specifically, only served to make me hungrier than I was when I began. The Ivory Key promised angst between siblings and boy did it deliver. No doubt my favorite part of the entire book was the differing agendas and fractured relationships that came into play with the quest for the key. Each of the characters had been on separate paths that had to be reconciled with who they had become and what they were trying to save. My only real setback with this was the timeline for everything. The first half of the book was devoted entirely to set-up and drawing the siblings back together, and while that was interesting, it left less time to execute the search for the treasure. Once the quest was underway, I was completely swept up in the clues and mysteries being unlocked. There were some clever twists here and there that reminded me of past treasure movies and made me all the more excited to reach the end. In combining secret societies, hidden temples, and ancient treasure, Raman has drawn together an immersive world that I am not so quick to leave. At its heart, The Ivory Key examines the bond between siblings and the identity that can be found with family and on one’s own and how those can be reconciled.

Trigger Warnings: blood, violence, death, murder, death of a parent, grief, alcohol consumption

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Review: Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

November 17, 2021March 25, 2025 Robin4 Comments

It’s 1927, and Shanghai stands divided by blood. Allied to the Scarlet Gang through family ties, Juliette Cai gambles the safety of those around her to protect those she loves from the inevitable fallout. Having chosen a necessary betrayal over her own heart, Juliette is completely undone, possessed by an impossible need to prevail against the White Flowers and her own family. Roma Montagov believes her cruelty for the supposed murder of his comrade, but Juliette must keep up the game if she ever hopes to keep her cousin from ousting her as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. Deep within the city, something far more dangerous lurks primed to strike. It brings with it great evil, a final chip in the marble that could bring Shanghai to its knees. A betrayal may have torn their reunion asunder, but Juliette and Roma will have to shed the hatred binding them together to become something far greater to each other and to the city that they hold dear.

The thing about Our Violent Ends is that I didn’t want the ends to be violent. I spent most of my time reading this denying that the duology was in fact a Romeo and Juliette retelling and instead choosing to focus solely on vibes. Right from the start, Chloe Gong does not hold back, amping up the action and drawing an exquisite picture of betrayal and intrigue. The complexities arising from the conclusion of the previous book stay strong, give or take some added angst that set my soul ablaze. There’s just something about the betrayal trope that drives forth this finale into something dark and tragic. A foreboding atmosphere that seeps into every crevice of the story, threatening to fracture apart growing relationships and the fate of the characters. Much like the previous book in the series, the politics, and complicated alliances play against the emergence of an outside threat, but one far greater than before. Roma and Juliette really excelled here, as they ultimately reach the tipping point for compromise and a search for power amidst the blood feud that has fueled the city for decades. Seeing all of these complex feelings play out, especially after the events that concluded the last book, was simply delightful. Gong has a talent for keeping the emotions of her characters in check until the last second, which drove me completely insane. By the time that the inevitable reconciliation came around, I was utterly ruined by it. Roma and Juliette have this passion mixed with a tenderness that is so rare to read about. I certainly won’t be getting over their journey anytime soon. With so many allusions to the original text, I was afraid of how this was going to end, but Chloe Gong crafts a compelling and bittersweet ending that simultaneously tore my heart to pieces and restored my faith in love. In this explosive finale set in the chaos of a city divided, two people find their way back to one another and must fight against the bonds determined to destroy them both.

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

Trigger Warnings: blood, violence, gun violence, death, murder

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Review: A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

October 5, 2021March 24, 2025 RobinLeave a comment

Sleeping Beauty comes crashing into the multiverse by way of Alix E. Harrow, author of The Once and Future Witches and The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Destined to not survive her twenty-first birthday due to a rare genetic disorder, Zinnia Gray has always felt a strong affinity to sleeping beauty, someone who shares in her fate. Then miraculously her birthday arrives and nothing of note occurs, that is until her best friend decides to throw a birthday party worthy of sleeping beauty herself. All Zinnia does is prick her finger on the spindle of the spinning wheel and she’s transported far from her hometown to a strange world, one not so different from her own. Though the world may be lacking in some respects there in it also lies a girl desperate enough to escape her fate. Together Zinnia and Beauty rally other sleeping beauties from across the worlds to try to change their circumstances, taking their destinies into their own hands.

Well Alix E. Harrow certainly never misses the mark when it comes to crafting a fascinating story I would sell my soul to read immediately. This time it’s a short sleeping beauty retelling that spans a little over a hundred pages but crosses multiple worlds. I would say this is in the vein of Into the Spider-Verse since it deals with multiple dimensions and characters of similar titles joining hands. Just as her first two novels completely mesmerized me, this one was no different. Turns out even when Harrow writes a shorter novel I am still bound to enjoy it as much as the others, to the point where my only complaint is that I wish it was longer. Sleeping beauty was never one of my favorite fairy tales for the reasons Zinnia so aptly points out at the beginning of the novel. However, I am happy to say I have changed my tune now that Harrow has sunk her teeth into a reimagining of the story. This crossed a search for agency with the original tale so brilliantly I cannot stop thinking about it. There is just something about finding unity among those to which you share similar situations with that Harrow has exemplified in her writing time and time again. Though Zinnia and Beauty are from different worlds and backgrounds, there is a sense of solidarity that binds them and the other sleeping beauties together as they go forward on their quest. It really was one of the more compelling parts of the text. Not that the entire novel did not sway my emotions and make me have deep feelings at any other point than that. A Spindle Splintered is Alix. E Harrow’s love letter to the transcendence of sisterhood and the common struggles that bind all women. Ties that can bring us together oftentimes in strange ways, but are by no means any less powerful.

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

Trigger warnings: blood, genetic disorder, terminal illness, rape (mentioned)

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Review: The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi

September 30, 2021March 24, 2025 Robin1 Comment

What began in the streets of Paris concludes in a blazing glory over the winding canals of Venice. Still reeling after the betrayal of Séverin, the crew is irrevocably severed. Following a mere handful of clues, they manage to make their way to Venice, Italy, in an effort to track down Séverin and the Divine Lyre. Allied with Ruslan, the patriarch of the fallen house, Séverin plays a balancing act. He must manage unstable tempers while searching for the entrance to the temple beneath Plague Island, the one place where the Divine Lyre can be played and he can achieve godhood. With less than ten days until Laila succumbs, the gang will do whatever it takes, undergo any ordeal, in order to save her from her fate. Divinity may divide them, but in this glorious finale to The Gilded Wolves Trilogy, the crew will have to set aside their convictions in order to reach the steps of the golden temple and tempt the gates of godhood. Even if the powers within may enact a price that they are not at all prepared to pay.

The Bronzed Beasts is honestly one of the most satisfying heart-wrenchingly beautiful endings to a trilogy I have read in my entire life. It made me laugh, cry, rage, seethe, and agonize, only to redeem itself and do it all over again. Trademark to Roshani Chokshi’s writing style, the opulent atmosphere and lush language flourishes in this third installment. Made even stronger by the setting of Venice, Italy, with lively masquerades and gondola rides. Tensions are undoubtedly high after the events that concluded The Silvered Serpents, and I adored reading about the fallout from Séverin’s betrayal and how it affected everyone. It made for an intense emotional conflict between all of the characters, with trust needing to be re-established, but with little time to do so. Laila and Séverin have always been utter perfection and the added angst because of this only heightened that. Besides our main couple, there were so many little relational developments happening on top of the central conflict. Certain ones that I’m sure will make many readers very happy (vis a vis who ended up with who). Characteristic to the entire series, the plot dealt heavily on intricate puzzles, building upon those from the previous two books and tying in mind forging in an entirely new way. The added mystery shrouding the Divine Lyre and Laila’s fate assembled with this to form quite the intense conclusion. One that I’m not sure I’ll ever recover from. How Roshani Chokshi was able to embody National Treasure energy, with found family and an ending that ripped my heart out in this, is beyond me. Regardless, this series will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to returning to it time and time again. For the time being you can find me in the corner crying over that epilogue. Add this to the list of books whose authors I’ll be billing for emotional distress.

Trigger Warnings: blood, death, murder

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Review: The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould

August 3, 2021March 25, 2025 Robin2 Comments

Sometimes a family can be a lesbian, her girlfriend, and her two ghosthunting dads, and I think that is truly beautiful. The editor for The Dead and the Dark described it as “like Riverdale, but good,” and they are absolutely right about it. In a quiet town in Oregon on the edge of nowhere, the tragic disappearance of a young boy marks the beginning of a descent into upheaval. Enter into the chaos TV’s resident ghost hunting duo, Brandon and Alejo, returning to their hometown of Snakebite after many years in hopes of solving the disappearance. Joining them in this endeavor is their daughter Logan, who has never felt more out of sorts than she has upon her arrival in the strange town. With more teenagers winding up missing, and still no answers in sight, Logan begins to take matters into her own hands as she enlists the aid of an unlikely stranger. Someone who just might help her discover what lurks behind the shadows.

Upon starting The Dead and the Dark, I began to feel myself slowly unwind as I was led deeper into its tangled web of secrets. Secrets that built up inside my mind until they threatened to crash down the very foundations that had been so delicately composed. All this is an elaborate way of saying that this book not only architectured an intricately layered horror story, but managed to make me cry in the process. A feat that has never been easily attained in my book. Courtney Gould’s inquiry into grief and loneliness is certainly one that evokes emotion and left me with not much else to do but grapple with all that had been expressed. The novel’s subtle exposition of a darkness taking root in a small community, and the ramifications associated with giving such a darkness voice, was such a powerful component throughout. I’ve found that horror grounded in truth will always triumph over everything else and never fail to leave an impression on me. Which is perhaps the strongest part of this debut, and had me thinking for days afterward about the meaning behind it all. Going into this, all I really had in the back of my mind were two things: sapphics + ghosts, and dammit if either of them weren’t flawlessly represented in all parts of the novel. The ghost hunting girlfriend representation the world was waiting for and we all deserve. From the cover alone, I should have known this book would give me everything I needed. A look into an eerie town and the secrets it contains, and a visualization of the resentment that often follows people from place to place. I loved the deep dive into family dynamics and the commentary on how unresolved trauma can adversely impact the relationship between parent and child. Throughout the sinister undertones, that remained apparent and was touched on well. The twisting nature and Stranger Things vibe of this will certainly draw people in, but much like the darkness at work within the town, they will stay entirely for one messy ghosthunting family.

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

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, murder, attempted murder, drowning, funeral, death of a main character, homophobia, homophobic language, hate crimes

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Review: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

July 21, 2021March 24, 2025 Robin2 Comments

This was pitched as Mulan meets The Song of Achilles, and it was that and so much more. A glorious epic in every sense of the word. Fate is a tricky thing, and after hearing a fortune teller give reference to her brother’s destiny for greatness, the girl expects to hear very much the same. However, her own destiny is revealed to be just that: nothing. While her brother is fated to rise up and leave his mark upon the world, she is expected to fade from view, unremembered. Starving and desperate, an unexpected event changes the trajectory of her entire future. She takes her chance, seizing her brother’s identity and assuming his fate in the process. Under this new circumstance, she may just find freedom, glory, and a way to change her destiny forever.

She Who Became the Sun is, simply put, a masterpiece of a debut. It’s a powerful, evocative, and brutal high fantasy that will leave you utterly wrecked and begging for more. Parker-Chan blends history with fiction in this sweeping story that chronicles Zhu Yuanzhang’s ascent to power and the rise of the Ming Dynasty in 14th century China. It’s the perfect novel for anyone looking for complex characters set amid a backdrop where loyalties are tested and the stakes are high. The lyrical prose paints a vibrant picture of a war-torn period, reimagined, but ultimately true to its roots. Right from the get-go, I was pulled into the ambitious nature of the narrative amidst its definitive passion and decisive action. I straight up devoured this in under a few hours and then realized I would have to suffer in silence since none of my friends had finished reading. What it means to be an arc reviewer am I right? The exploration of gender and gender identity, tied up in a story that is so brilliantly queer, is the true hero of all of this though. There was a very nuanced conversation taking place within the novel, that I appreciate and can tell will be carried over into the next installment. To see a character that was not only flawed and determined but honest with themselves about their own identity and who they are was incredibly powerful to read. Looking forward to seeing just how that evolves in the next book. And my God, that ending. So devastatingly beautiful it may just keep me up for the next few nights. If we’re lucky, otherwise I may not ever get to experience sleep again.

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

Trigger warnings: starvation, death, abuse, public execution, mass death, misgendering, ableist language, dysphoria, life-altering injury, offscreen murder of a child

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Review: One Last Stop by Casey Mcquiston

July 6, 2021March 24, 2025 RobinLeave a comment

The Q train is a place and a person, and for August Landry it’s proof that there is a bit of magic left in the world. Moving to New York City at twenty-three was supposed to prove to her the exact opposite, that the world is indeed just as cynical as she expected; but with a weird new group of roommates, her new job at a 24-hour pancake diner, and the gorgeous stranger who keeps magically reappearing on her morning commute, August is far from being proven right. Subway girl is Jane, and Jane is everything August could possibly want. There’s just one problem: Jane is not just some girl swept up in the nostalgia of old school rock, she’s literally been stuck on the subway since 1970. Having been confronted with the impossible, August is more than ready to help Jane get off the train, but doing so means returning to a past she promised would stay buried. Something that may be precisely what she needs in order to find a future worth believing in.

One Last Stop is marvelous, full of all the wit and charm that McQuiston brought to their first debut Red, White & Royal Blue. This book could be pitched as Nancy Drew meets a time travel romantic comedy, which are two things I never expected to be mashed together in a contemporary novel. When it comes to Casey McQuiston however, I have learned to expect the unexpected. Their previous book is proof of that. In her sophomore novel, McQuiston crafts a heartwarming testament to the queer community wrapped up in 70’s nostalgia and breakfast food. The characters shine through in the same way that those in Red, White & Royal Blue did, yet there is a realness to the space in which they occupy that is wholly different. Set in the backdrop of New York City, this story brings together a diverse group of people, creating one of the most wholesome queer-found families I have read in a long time. Though most of the plot deals with August and her quest to save Jane from the subway, there is a lot going on in the background with the side characters and their own lives. I can again report that I have formed an unhealthy attachment to certain characters that aren’t the core focus of a novel (Nora Holleran and Wes I am looking at you). There is just something about the way that McQuiston writes their characters, how genuine each of them comes across on the page, and how I begin to feel for every single one without fail. The variety of relationships portrayed in this novel make it shine even more so. Casey McQuiston is clearly becoming a force to be reckoned with in new adult romance, an author I know I can rely on for impactful queer stories. I’ll never stop being grateful for everything they have done, past, present, and future. This book is straight-up magic, a beautifully crafted love letter to belonging, community, and finding your place in the world.

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

Trigger warnings: racism, homophobia, anxiety, death of a loved one, blood

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Review: The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

July 3, 2021March 24, 2025 Robin2 Comments

It begins with a burning and an exile. Malini is a traitor — a vengeful princess banished to the Hirana, a ruined temple, to atone for her crimes. Kept under lock and key, she grows weaker under the watchful eye of her caretaker, facing almost certain death. Priya is a maidservant tasked with taking the treacherous path to the Hirana every night to care for the captive princess. The job is dangerous, accompanied by the risk of revealing her most well-kept secret, and when Priya is attacked one evening, she reveals a power long kept buried to the last person she intends, the princess herself. Having witnessed Priya’s true nature, Malina and Priya are bound together on a journey that will have them uncovering the hidden power behind the ancient temple and setting them on a path to transform an empire.

It may have taken me a moment to fully immerse myself in the world of The Jasmine Throne, but once I did, it was impossible to put down. Tasha Suri has seamlessly combined everything I adore about fantasy into one novel, full of intricate history backdrops and character-driven storylines. Add to the list that this includes morally grey lesbians set in an Indian-inspired fantasy world, and you’ll understand why I went absolutely feral over this. There are almost ten different points of view combined throughout the entire story, which is no easy feat to accomplish, but one that was pulled off beautifully by Suri. While most of the book concentrates on the journey of Priya and Malini, the other points of view added a much-needed interlude, providing a necessary perspective on significant events taking place. Where this really wowed me though, was in the complexity of the plot and the depth of each of the characters. This is a slow-building story, with simmering tensions that wait until the last second to boil over, allowing for the motivations of both characters to be carefully picked apart. Just like the pacing, the romance was the most satisfying slow-burn, developing from reluctant allies to something much stronger. Truly, the best part of the story was watching these two women come together to strive to gain power and get their revenge. The romantic development alongside all of that really outsold this for me. With evocative language, an incredible magic system, and compelling characters, Tasha Suri once again makes her mark on the fantasy genre. The Jasmine Throne is a delicately layered story meant to be savored slowly and devoured with care. A triumphant start to what is sure to be an outright amazing series.

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

Trigger warnings: blood, gore, violence, murder, poisoning, torture, public execution, homophobia, forced drug use, body horror, suicidal thoughts, self-mutilation, abusive family member

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Review: Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta

June 29, 2021March 24, 2025 Robin5 Comments

Godolia wished for gods so badly that they set about creating them, secured with the invention of Windups, giant mechanized weapons piloted by cybernetically enhanced individuals. Now Godolia’s tyranny is endless and those that resist are at the mercy of their cruelty. Eris Shindanai is a Gearbreaker, a rebel tasked with crippling Windups from the inside and bringing Godolia to its breaking point. On a day that ends with a mission gone badly, Eris is captured and brought to one of Godolia’s prisons. There she finds an ally where she least expects it, Sona Steelcrest, a newly enhanced windup pilot with loyalties of her own. Sona has successfully infiltrated the Windup program in an effort to quell Godolia, and though the two could not be more different, they share a common goal: to destroy Godolia’s tyrannical reign from within.

As a fan of pretty much anything sci-fi-related, Gearbreakers ticked all the boxes for me. A brilliant debut perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Red Rising, and the Legend series that could not have possibly lived up to those comparisons any more so than it did. Set in a world with divided loyalties and an oppressive regime, this intense novel brings heart-stopping action sequences and a wholesome found family all together under one roof. With an exceptional cast of characters to follow, each with their own motivations, reading this was like slowly easing open a door and unlocking all of its secrets. Zoe Hana Mikuta certainly takes her time to set the stage for what’s currently at play in this futuristic society but makes everything down the line all the more rewarding. I loved gradually learning more about each of the characters and the part they had to play in the rebellion and to one another. While each of these characters felt distinct and could stand on their own, by far the best part of the book was seeing all that they could accomplish together. The camaraderie and more lighthearted moments between the crew spaced out the serious parts of the story and helped solidify the found family aspect I was looking for. There was definitely a lot to keep up with at times, give or take some heavy lifting at the beginning, but where Gearbreakers excels is in the thick of the action. Every battle or skirmish was so vividly described and clearly thought out I felt as if I was there. It’s not often I can visualize a whole scene or action sequence and Gearbreakers did that for me. An added bonus is absolutely the romance between Eris and Sona, two people on seemingly opposite sides of a war, drawn together by their desire to end it. The tension and small moments they had together completely outsold everything else for me and I will be needing more immediately. After the way this ended, I am not sure I can wait until 2022 for the sequel. Zoe, please pay for my therapy, my lawyer will be in contact.

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

Trigger warnings: death, blood, violence, torture

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