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madmadmaddymad's reviews
193 reviews
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was rough for me to read.
I was excited about the premise, but found the writing itself to be a little lacking.
End of the world, apocalyptic zombie situation. The villains are the evangelical church types, trying to harness the power of the “Grace” and unleash it on the world. Very twisted, very dark, very violent. The heroes are a group of queer kids and Benji, the protagonist, has a ticking time bomb of the “Seraph” inside him that will one day dissolve his body like a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis to become a butterfly.
This book is creepy. This book is visceral. It’s gratuitous in it’s violence and the world building of the beasts called “the Grace.”
I’m not sure how I feel about it but I’ll give it 4 stars for being a unique take on the genre, and for having an all queer cast.
I was excited about the premise, but found the writing itself to be a little lacking.
End of the world, apocalyptic zombie situation. The villains are the evangelical church types, trying to harness the power of the “Grace” and unleash it on the world. Very twisted, very dark, very violent. The heroes are a group of queer kids and Benji, the protagonist, has a ticking time bomb of the “Seraph” inside him that will one day dissolve his body like a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis to become a butterfly.
This book is creepy. This book is visceral. It’s gratuitous in it’s violence and the world building of the beasts called “the Grace.”
I’m not sure how I feel about it but I’ll give it 4 stars for being a unique take on the genre, and for having an all queer cast.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
In His Web by Rebecca Massey
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I’ll be the first to admit I don’t read a lot of monster smut literature, but it’s a genre that I’m probably going to start considering more often.
Meet Bishop, the spider of your dreams. (Or if you’re like me, nightmares) he may seem lonely and innocent, but it’s impossible to forget this guy has 8 legs and a pair of pedipalps perfect for surrounding your waist and holding on tight. This guy will tie you up in his web and make sure you enjoy yourself. I must confess, I’m creeped out by spiders, but Bishop still won me over.
Meet Bishop, the spider of your dreams. (Or if you’re like me, nightmares) he may seem lonely and innocent, but it’s impossible to forget this guy has 8 legs and a pair of pedipalps perfect for surrounding your waist and holding on tight. This guy will tie you up in his web and make sure you enjoy yourself. I must confess, I’m creeped out by spiders, but Bishop still won me over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Loveless by Alice Oseman
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was simply incredible, and a strong contender for my favorite LGBTQ read of the year!
I loved getting to know the whole cast, but I loved Georgia most of all. The way that her friendships are allowed to be the most important relationships in her life really struck a chord with me. I think this is something that even allosexual people should take to heart. Cherish your friendships, because they are just as important and nourishing to the soul as romantic relationships.
I loved getting to know the whole cast, but I loved Georgia most of all. The way that her friendships are allowed to be the most important relationships in her life really struck a chord with me. I think this is something that even allosexual people should take to heart. Cherish your friendships, because they are just as important and nourishing to the soul as romantic relationships.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Just lost interest… not the book’s fault.
It was hard to focus on - as I’m enjoying the audiobook and they have six narrators. I can’t focus on what’s happening in the story. I think I need to read this one as opposed to listen to it.
It was hard to focus on - as I’m enjoying the audiobook and they have six narrators. I can’t focus on what’s happening in the story. I think I need to read this one as opposed to listen to it.
Lost Boi by Sassafras Lowrey
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve never read a book like this one in all my life. It’s not pretty. It’s dirty, gritty, and all kinds of complicated. But I have to applaud how fabulously queer and trans the whole thing is. Gender is a big part of the story, and also, it’s not. Anyone can be a lost boi. Gender doesn’t have anything to do with it.
I never had to live a life like this, I never struggled with my family or homelessness due to my identity. But I do understand the power of found family, and the power of magic. This book makes me feel sick and sorry and somehow glad all at once.
Part of me wants to be creeped out by Pan, by the idea of Neverland and never growing up - (themes which I do not think should be associated with such heavy kink and drug use, yikes) But somehow I was still rooting for him by the end. Somehow, the magic of being a baby queer street kid sleeping in a warehouse and having adventures with “pirates” and “mermaids”… it really crept up on me and nestled it’s way into my heart. There is an essay about how queerness subverts time and space, which I think helped me get over any personal “icks” I had with the themes of this book. Our lives are not divided into cis/het milestones of time such as getting married, having kids, getting a job, growing old. That’s why I think it is, actually, the perfect metaphor to put the world of Pan and then make it so shamelessly unabashedly queer. I have never read the original Peter Pan, but now I can’t imagine reading it any other way.
I just really enjoyed it. I’m giving it 5 stars because I’m shocked by how much I enjoyed it.
I never had to live a life like this, I never struggled with my family or homelessness due to my identity. But I do understand the power of found family, and the power of magic. This book makes me feel sick and sorry and somehow glad all at once.
Part of me wants to be creeped out by Pan, by the idea of Neverland and never growing up - (themes which I do not think should be associated with such heavy kink and drug use, yikes) But somehow I was still rooting for him by the end. Somehow, the magic of being a baby queer street kid sleeping in a warehouse and having adventures with “pirates” and “mermaids”… it really crept up on me and nestled it’s way into my heart. There is an essay about how queerness subverts time and space, which I think helped me get over any personal “icks” I had with the themes of this book. Our lives are not divided into cis/het milestones of time such as getting married, having kids, getting a job, growing old. That’s why I think it is, actually, the perfect metaphor to put the world of Pan and then make it so shamelessly unabashedly queer. I have never read the original Peter Pan, but now I can’t imagine reading it any other way.
I just really enjoyed it. I’m giving it 5 stars because I’m shocked by how much I enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
The Naughty List by Ellie Mae MacGregor
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Lol
Very kinky! And very funny. I was a little uncomfortable with some of the Santa Claus stuff, just personally kinda icky for me to think about such a jolly, loving man being such a horn dog…. But a fun time nonetheless! Santa is quite a dream boat.
I also really like how the protagonist is a middle aged divorced mother, and I appreciate how the divorce story was not the focus and not a story of heartbreak. He didn’t hurt her and neither of them were cheating. They just fell out of love, and then along comes Santa. I think it was pretty refreshing to not villanize the ex, and to not make divorce be a big deal.
Very kinky! And very funny. I was a little uncomfortable with some of the Santa Claus stuff, just personally kinda icky for me to think about such a jolly, loving man being such a horn dog…. But a fun time nonetheless! Santa is quite a dream boat.
I also really like how the protagonist is a middle aged divorced mother, and I appreciate how the divorce story was not the focus and not a story of heartbreak. He didn’t hurt her and neither of them were cheating. They just fell out of love, and then along comes Santa. I think it was pretty refreshing to not villanize the ex, and to not make divorce be a big deal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Utterly delightful and unbelievably heartwrenching. This is a very relatable story about growing up… as well as a very painful story about never being able to grow up.
I especially liked being introduced to Diana, and how she was the only adult who was able to see and interact with Alexa. It made my heart hurt in a good way.
I especially liked being introduced to Diana, and how she was the only adult who was able to see and interact with Alexa. It made my heart hurt in a good way.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
The Beautiful Things Shoppe by Philip William Stover
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Cheesy.
It’s exactly like watching a hallmark movie, except it includes queer and gender diverse people.
I especially enjoyed the scene where they went sledding and made out with each other at the bottom of the hill. It gave me those good wintertime playfulness feelings!
The plot itself was structured in a very “by-the-numbers” kind of way, but I still enjoyed the read. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, low stakes, sweet and gay wintertime romance, check this one out!
It’s exactly like watching a hallmark movie, except it includes queer and gender diverse people.
I especially enjoyed the scene where they went sledding and made out with each other at the bottom of the hill. It gave me those good wintertime playfulness feelings!
The plot itself was structured in a very “by-the-numbers” kind of way, but I still enjoyed the read. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, low stakes, sweet and gay wintertime romance, check this one out!
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
Did not finish book. Stopped at 63%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 63%.
This book is causing turmoil in my relationship lol
I started reading it with my boyfriend and he lost interest…. I feel like I’m nagging him every day to continue and even rewound the audiobook so we could carry on where he last remembered. It might be the kind of journey I have to go on by myself, but for now, I’m putting this one back on the shelf because it’s associated with too many personal negative emotions
I started reading it with my boyfriend and he lost interest…. I feel like I’m nagging him every day to continue and even rewound the audiobook so we could carry on where he last remembered. It might be the kind of journey I have to go on by myself, but for now, I’m putting this one back on the shelf because it’s associated with too many personal negative emotions
Deceived by the Gargoyles by Lillian Lark
emotional
tense
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? No
5.0
This book is simply amazing.
It’s polyamorous and wonderfully kinky. The relationships are believable and developed at a natural pace.
I’m so in love with all three of these gargoyles
It’s polyamorous and wonderfully kinky. The relationships are believable and developed at a natural pace.
I’m so in love with all three of these gargoyles