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I've been failing to compile these for a while, so here's a summer's worth of books and a few short stories as well.
ETA: at a suggestion I'm experimenting with adding some genre info before reviews. Feedback welcome.
Cat Pictures Please and Other Stories - Naomi Kritzer ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(short story collection: spec fic, some queer content)
I read this book slowly because I was savouring these stories. There is a warmth and kindness to these stories that really resonated for me. They’re not always nice, and they’re not always happy, but they’re almost universally hopeful stories about small, everyday kindnesses. ( read more )
Island of the Mad - Laurie R. King ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: historical, mystery, some queer content)
I love these characters so much and am always thrilled to come back to this series. ( read more )
Point of Sighs - Melissa Scott ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: spec fic, mystery, queer)
A satisfyingly twisty mystery that delves more into Astreiant’s past. As with the rest of this series, the cast of supporting characters, both new and recurring, were diverse and well-drawn, and Philip and Nico’s relationship continues to be wonderful to read about. They’ve reached a kind of cozy domesticity with each other that I really love.
The rainy, fall setting made this perfect reading for a hot summer day by a nice, calm lake.
cw: a lot of drowning, near-drowning and possibility of drowning in enclosed spaces.
Hamilton's Battalion: A Trio of Romances - Courtney Milan, Alyssa Cole & Rose Lerner ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novellas: historical romance, queer)
Three linked novellas set during or after the American revolution featuring three diverse relationships, one m/f, one m/m and one f/f, written by three authors very much at the top of their game. This is the rare anthology where I adore all three stories, and it’s definitely going to lead me to seek out more by these authors. ( read more )
Unfit to Print - K.J. Charles ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novella: historical romance, queer)
A delightful novella about the friendship and romance between two non-white queer men - one Indian, one biracial - in Victorian England. And porn. A LOT of Victorian porn. ( read more )
A Gentleman Never Keeps Score - Cat Sebastian ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: historical romance, queer)
Cat Sebastian continues to question exactly what a happily ever after should look like for two characters from different social classes and I continue to love her answers.
But even more than that, this is a book about the consequences of a society that cares about propriety and appearances above all things, unless you are wealthy enough and powerful enough not to have to care about them at all. ( read more )
The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: historical, spec fic)
The story of a Golem and a Jinn, two supernatural creatures living in two distinct immigrant communities in turn of the century New York City. ( read more )
Signal to Noise - Silvia Moreno-Garcia ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: spec fic)
It took me a long time to read this, renewing my library hold several times, but it was definitely worth it.
It’s not a challenging or hard to understand book, but I found it difficult to read because, especially at the beginning, the main character Meche is prickly and difficult and at times profoundly unlikeable. I love her rather a lot. ( read more )
Rogue Protocol (The Murderbot Diaries #3) - Martha Wells ★ ★ ★ ★
(novella: spec fic)
Oh, Murderbot, never change. Except, of course, the best thing about Murderbot is that it’s always changing, learning about different ways to be a person, different ways to be a bot, and figuring out where it falls in between. ( read )
Witchmark (The Kingston Cycle #1) - C.L. Polk ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: spec fic, romance, queer)
Secondary world fantasy with a central m/m relationship, with a 1920s-ish level of technology and an equally 1920s looming shadow of a just-ended Great War. ( read more )
The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps - Kai Ashante Wilson ★ ★ ★
(novella: spec fic, queer)
You know how sometimes you think you really like something when you read it, and then afterwards, as you think about it more, you realize you maybe don't like it as much as you thought you did? This is one of those books for me. ( read more )
Fail Seven Times - Kris Ripper ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: romance, queer, polyam)
I ADORED this book, and I highly recommend it, but it deals with some pretty heavy topics.
Fail Seven Times is the kind of book where almost all of the conflict is internal to the pov character, who self-identifies as an asshole, and yet it’s incredibly compelling and compulsively readable. ( read more )
Musketeer Space - Tansy Rayner Roberts DNF
Abandoned at about 4% read. I’m just not currently up for the level of secondhand embarrassment required to get through the first few chapters of any Three Musketeers-inspired story.
Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries #4) - Martha Wells ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novella: spec fic, some queer and polyam content)
MURDERBOT HAS A LOT OF FEELINGS. AND SO DO I.
This was the absolutely delightful and perfect conclusion to Murderbot’s story that I’d been hoping for. There’s always a risk with a serial story that the author won’t stick the landing. MARTHA TOTALLY STUCK THE LANDING. ( read more )
Space Opera - Catherynne M. Valente ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: spec fic, humor, queer, polyam)
I needed this book right now. I needed this explosion of glitter and glam and unapologetic queerness, a cheerful riot screaming fear and pain and hope into the face of reality. ( read more )
The Lady Astronaut of Mars - Mary Robinette Kowal ★ ★ ★
(short story: spec fic, historical)
Short and unusual retro-alt-future story that I feel like I should have liked more than I did. It just felt like there was too much style and worldbuilding, not enough story and substance.
The Thing in Your Walls Wants Your Small Change - Virginia M. Mohlere ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(short story: spec fic)
Short story free online at above link.
I am completely charmed and delighted by this story.
The monster in Caro’s walls is adorable, the one in her family is not. You can guess from my delight which one’s still in her life at the end of the story.
Help Me Follow My Sister Into the Lands of the Dead - Carmen Maria Machado ★ ★ ★ ★
Short story available online here.
(short story: spec fic)
Great creepy short story told in the form of a crowdfunding campaign. I’m a sucker for this kind of epistolary storytelling and this is a great example of how it can add depth and layers to a fairly simple story.
To Whatever - Shaenon Garrity ★ ★ ★ ★
(short story: spec fic, queer)
Short story available online at above link.
This is a strangely sweet epistolary story about making friends with the Lovecraftian horror inhabiting your apartment building.
Band Sinister - K.J. Charles ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: historical romance, queer, polyam)
K.J. Charles goes full-on Heyer homage and it is delightful! And also queer, socially progressive and feminist in some really interesting ways. ( read more )
Currently Reading:
The Black Tides of Heaven - J.Y. Yang - I'm about 25% in and enjoying this quite a lot, but have taken a break from it for a few days to read more fluffy things.
From A Certain Point of View - Various Authors - this is an entertaining series of short stories all of which show parts of Star Wars: A New Hope from the perspective of a minor character. I'm reading this sort of casually, a story or two a day.
Rogue Desire - Various Authors - I haven't made any further progress on this since my last post. I probably should though.
The Lives of Christopher Chant - Diana Wynne Jones - I'm rereading this quickly because I love it and want to refresh my memory before requesting some of the characters for Yuletide.
ETA: at a suggestion I'm experimenting with adding some genre info before reviews. Feedback welcome.
Cat Pictures Please and Other Stories - Naomi Kritzer ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(short story collection: spec fic, some queer content)
I read this book slowly because I was savouring these stories. There is a warmth and kindness to these stories that really resonated for me. They’re not always nice, and they’re not always happy, but they’re almost universally hopeful stories about small, everyday kindnesses. ( read more )
Island of the Mad - Laurie R. King ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: historical, mystery, some queer content)
I love these characters so much and am always thrilled to come back to this series. ( read more )
Point of Sighs - Melissa Scott ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: spec fic, mystery, queer)
A satisfyingly twisty mystery that delves more into Astreiant’s past. As with the rest of this series, the cast of supporting characters, both new and recurring, were diverse and well-drawn, and Philip and Nico’s relationship continues to be wonderful to read about. They’ve reached a kind of cozy domesticity with each other that I really love.
The rainy, fall setting made this perfect reading for a hot summer day by a nice, calm lake.
cw: a lot of drowning, near-drowning and possibility of drowning in enclosed spaces.
Hamilton's Battalion: A Trio of Romances - Courtney Milan, Alyssa Cole & Rose Lerner ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novellas: historical romance, queer)
Three linked novellas set during or after the American revolution featuring three diverse relationships, one m/f, one m/m and one f/f, written by three authors very much at the top of their game. This is the rare anthology where I adore all three stories, and it’s definitely going to lead me to seek out more by these authors. ( read more )
Unfit to Print - K.J. Charles ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novella: historical romance, queer)
A delightful novella about the friendship and romance between two non-white queer men - one Indian, one biracial - in Victorian England. And porn. A LOT of Victorian porn. ( read more )
A Gentleman Never Keeps Score - Cat Sebastian ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: historical romance, queer)
Cat Sebastian continues to question exactly what a happily ever after should look like for two characters from different social classes and I continue to love her answers.
But even more than that, this is a book about the consequences of a society that cares about propriety and appearances above all things, unless you are wealthy enough and powerful enough not to have to care about them at all. ( read more )
The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: historical, spec fic)
The story of a Golem and a Jinn, two supernatural creatures living in two distinct immigrant communities in turn of the century New York City. ( read more )
Signal to Noise - Silvia Moreno-Garcia ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: spec fic)
It took me a long time to read this, renewing my library hold several times, but it was definitely worth it.
It’s not a challenging or hard to understand book, but I found it difficult to read because, especially at the beginning, the main character Meche is prickly and difficult and at times profoundly unlikeable. I love her rather a lot. ( read more )
Rogue Protocol (The Murderbot Diaries #3) - Martha Wells ★ ★ ★ ★
(novella: spec fic)
Oh, Murderbot, never change. Except, of course, the best thing about Murderbot is that it’s always changing, learning about different ways to be a person, different ways to be a bot, and figuring out where it falls in between. ( read )
Witchmark (The Kingston Cycle #1) - C.L. Polk ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: spec fic, romance, queer)
Secondary world fantasy with a central m/m relationship, with a 1920s-ish level of technology and an equally 1920s looming shadow of a just-ended Great War. ( read more )
The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps - Kai Ashante Wilson ★ ★ ★
(novella: spec fic, queer)
You know how sometimes you think you really like something when you read it, and then afterwards, as you think about it more, you realize you maybe don't like it as much as you thought you did? This is one of those books for me. ( read more )
Fail Seven Times - Kris Ripper ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: romance, queer, polyam)
I ADORED this book, and I highly recommend it, but it deals with some pretty heavy topics.
Fail Seven Times is the kind of book where almost all of the conflict is internal to the pov character, who self-identifies as an asshole, and yet it’s incredibly compelling and compulsively readable. ( read more )
Musketeer Space - Tansy Rayner Roberts DNF
Abandoned at about 4% read. I’m just not currently up for the level of secondhand embarrassment required to get through the first few chapters of any Three Musketeers-inspired story.
Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries #4) - Martha Wells ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novella: spec fic, some queer and polyam content)
MURDERBOT HAS A LOT OF FEELINGS. AND SO DO I.
This was the absolutely delightful and perfect conclusion to Murderbot’s story that I’d been hoping for. There’s always a risk with a serial story that the author won’t stick the landing. MARTHA TOTALLY STUCK THE LANDING. ( read more )
Space Opera - Catherynne M. Valente ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: spec fic, humor, queer, polyam)
I needed this book right now. I needed this explosion of glitter and glam and unapologetic queerness, a cheerful riot screaming fear and pain and hope into the face of reality. ( read more )
The Lady Astronaut of Mars - Mary Robinette Kowal ★ ★ ★
(short story: spec fic, historical)
Short and unusual retro-alt-future story that I feel like I should have liked more than I did. It just felt like there was too much style and worldbuilding, not enough story and substance.
The Thing in Your Walls Wants Your Small Change - Virginia M. Mohlere ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(short story: spec fic)
Short story free online at above link.
I am completely charmed and delighted by this story.
The monster in Caro’s walls is adorable, the one in her family is not. You can guess from my delight which one’s still in her life at the end of the story.
Help Me Follow My Sister Into the Lands of the Dead - Carmen Maria Machado ★ ★ ★ ★
Short story available online here.
(short story: spec fic)
Great creepy short story told in the form of a crowdfunding campaign. I’m a sucker for this kind of epistolary storytelling and this is a great example of how it can add depth and layers to a fairly simple story.
To Whatever - Shaenon Garrity ★ ★ ★ ★
(short story: spec fic, queer)
Short story available online at above link.
This is a strangely sweet epistolary story about making friends with the Lovecraftian horror inhabiting your apartment building.
Band Sinister - K.J. Charles ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(novel: historical romance, queer, polyam)
K.J. Charles goes full-on Heyer homage and it is delightful! And also queer, socially progressive and feminist in some really interesting ways. ( read more )
Currently Reading:
The Black Tides of Heaven - J.Y. Yang - I'm about 25% in and enjoying this quite a lot, but have taken a break from it for a few days to read more fluffy things.
From A Certain Point of View - Various Authors - this is an entertaining series of short stories all of which show parts of Star Wars: A New Hope from the perspective of a minor character. I'm reading this sort of casually, a story or two a day.
Rogue Desire - Various Authors - I haven't made any further progress on this since my last post. I probably should though.
The Lives of Christopher Chant - Diana Wynne Jones - I'm rereading this quickly because I love it and want to refresh my memory before requesting some of the characters for Yuletide.
