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sashahc's reviews
169 reviews
All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
"All the Hidden Paths" by Foz Meadows is follow up to "A Strange and Stubborn Endurance." It is a worthy followup, featuring twisty court politics, SO MANY assassination attempts, epic pining, spicey spice, and is hella hella queer. If you are looking for a vacation read, these are an excellent choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Paladin's Faith by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read the new T. Kingfisher, "Paladin's Faith." It is another warm cup of fantasy romance occasionally violent book. Damaged Paladins meet their match and in this case, solve a missing person case, escape assassination, and potentially damage capitalism. Next one, please!
The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
I read “Mask of Mirrors” by M.A. Carrick. Part court drama, part long con, a bit of upstairs-downstairs, a whole bunch of backstabbing, some procedural, some gangster, and some good old fashioned colonialism. An interesting magic system, very developed world, and casual queerness. Good for when you want a long intricate read. #book
The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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 tagline of “The Undetectables” by Courtney Smyth is “Be gay. Solve crimes. Take naps.” I mean, how can you resist that? Instead of a private investigator who is solitary, belligerent, and underslept, we have a witch with fibromyalgia, two best friends, and a very dramatic ghost who must spend eternity in cat ears and whiskers. Not to mention a magical serial murderer on the loose. Hooray for interdependent queers having adventures. A delightful read. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness
A Power Unbound by Freya Marske
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
I finished "A Power Unbound," the final book in Freya Marske's Last Binding trilogy. It was a great end to the series and I loved seeing all the characters in one book being goofy magical Edwardian queer friends together. You need to read the first two to understand this book, but you definitely should. It's V. Spicy, fyi. I want to go back and re-read the whole series now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Murder
The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read “The Shadow Cabinet” by Juno Dawson today. It’s the follow up to “Her Majesty’s Royal Coven.” It’s dark and intense and you have no idea who is going to die next and I couldn’t stop reading in. HOW MANY DOUBLE CROSSINGS CAN ONE BOOK HAVE? Anyway. If bloody British coven politics is your jam, here you go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Torture, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Just finished “Bookshops and Bonedust” by Travis Baldree, the prequel to Legends and Lattes. I am happy to report that it is just as delightful as its predecessor. We get to see Liv swing a sword and there is a bookshop and a wicked necromancer and sleepy seaside town and baked goods. A perfect book to read in an overstuffed chair with a scone and a tea.
Saint Death's Daughter by C.S.E. Cooney
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I just read “Saint Death’s Daughter” by CSE Cooney. For some reason, the TBR gods have been sending me Necromancers lately. This one has a literal allergy to violence, but was born into a family of assassins and executioners. It’s got court drama, family drama, ghosts, revenants, skeletons, shapeshifters, and a really interesting magic system. There are sweet parts, very grim parts, and it’s delightfully unpredictable and effortlessly queer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Gaslighting
Good Neighbors: The Full Collection by Stephanie Burgis
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I just finished “Good Neighbors” by Stephanie Burgis, a fun fantasy romance between an unconventional and grumpy magic wielding inventor and the melodramatic necromancer next door. Add some puritanical tendencies in the village nearby and local politics and there is a good dollop of adventure. Casual queer rep, too. A cheerful and diverting read.
The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa
adventurous
dark
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
I love love love that Z is growing up with so many SFF books that he can personally relate to. I gave him “The Wicked Bargain” by Gabe Cole Novoa for his birthday after reading it myself. He devoured it in two days. Every so often he’d look up from reading it and say, “This is SO GOOD!”