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simonlorden's reviews
1283 reviews
Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight
5.0
A heartfelt classic about both the devotion and the needless cruelty humans have towards animals.
Under The Mistletoe With You by Lizzie Huxley-Jones
5.0
I somehow read two queer Christmas romcoms taking place in a small Welsh village after each other, which is wild to do by accident.
A+ good story though. My favorite part was how the community organized after the snowstorm to make sure everyone in the little village was safe and had something to eat for Christmas.
Also, Nash is trans, but it's kind of a non-issue and there's only a few sentences about it, which was strange to me at first, but I guess if he came out 20 years ago then it's not a big deal anymore.
A+ good story though. My favorite part was how the community organized after the snowstorm to make sure everyone in the little village was safe and had something to eat for Christmas.
Also, Nash is trans, but it's kind of a non-issue and there's only a few sentences about it, which was strange to me at first, but I guess if he came out 20 years ago then it's not a big deal anymore.
Secret Guncle by Andrew Grey
3.0
It was okay. I wasn't really vibing with the writing style, but I loved the original idea. (Gay guy doesn't keep in touch with his homophobic sister, but he doesn't want the kids to suffer, so he gets them anonymous gifts each year.) Also, there's a toy store and a vet clinic/shelter with lots of cute dogs.
Look Up, Handsome by Jack Strange
4.0
tldr; Overall a good book, with a couple of things that bugged me.
M/M smalltown Christmas romcom, between a queer bookseller and a famous author who both have their own trauma and problems to deal with. It also goes into issues such as capitalism, large firms destroying small businesses, slut shaming and victim blaming in media, all without making it feel too much or too in your face. Also complicated parent-child relationships.
It also takes place in a little Welsh town, near the English border, and it has some discussion of the English oppression of Wales, and an appearance by Mari Lwyd. (If you don't know what Mari Lwyd is I very much recommend you look it up.)
Four stars only because I really don't like cheating plotlines, and while this wasn't /quite/ that, it came close. I would say there was definitely emotional cheating involved (not between the two main parties).
M/M smalltown Christmas romcom, between a queer bookseller and a famous author who both have their own trauma and problems to deal with. It also goes into issues such as capitalism, large firms destroying small businesses, slut shaming and victim blaming in media, all without making it feel too much or too in your face. Also complicated parent-child relationships.
It also takes place in a little Welsh town, near the English border, and it has some discussion of the English oppression of Wales, and an appearance by Mari Lwyd. (If you don't know what Mari Lwyd is I very much recommend you look it up.)
Four stars only because I really don't like cheating plotlines, and while this wasn't /quite/ that, it came close. I would say there was definitely emotional cheating involved (not between the two main parties).
Born Into the Night by Emily Bisbach
3.0
I received an ARC through NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Evie is a university student who doesn't remember her life before she was four years old, when her mother disappeared. When an old friend shows up, she learns that her mother is from a magical parallel world, where she was hunted by a dark cult who is looking for the family heirloom Evie has.
There wasn't anything objectively wrong with this book, but it wasn't right for me. I kept waiting for that spark of uniqueness or excitement, and it just never came. The characters are okay, but no big love. The love triangle with the two brothers was sort of awkward. The magic system is interesting, but why do they keep insisting on calling it not-magic. I think the Blair-Evie relationship could be interesting in the future, but we haven't really gotten there in this book yet. There's a lot of potential, but it didn't hit the right points with me.
It might hit better with people who like art history, since there is a plotline involving a real-life artist and famous paintings.
Evie is a university student who doesn't remember her life before she was four years old, when her mother disappeared. When an old friend shows up, she learns that her mother is from a magical parallel world, where she was hunted by a dark cult who is looking for the family heirloom Evie has.
There wasn't anything objectively wrong with this book, but it wasn't right for me. I kept waiting for that spark of uniqueness or excitement, and it just never came. The characters are okay, but no big love. The love triangle with the two brothers was sort of awkward. The magic system is interesting, but why do they keep insisting on calling it not-magic. I think the Blair-Evie relationship could be interesting in the future, but we haven't really gotten there in this book yet. There's a lot of potential, but it didn't hit the right points with me.
It might hit better with people who like art history, since there is a plotline involving a real-life artist and famous paintings.
Honeysuckle and Bone by Trisha Tobias
5.0
I received this ARC through NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
(Mild spoilers ahead, but I kept it vague.)
I've been struggling with my last few reads, so this has been a breath of fresh air. I'm a sucker for ghost stories where an outsider arrives in an old place that is haunted, and has to figure out who the ghost is and what skeletons are hiding in the closet (literally). And this is that, with a healthy dose of family drama, some teenage drama (and trauma) and all that in a Jamaican setting. Lots of mystery, friendship, Jamaican patois language, maybe even romance?!
I initially thought that the reveal of Carina's "crime" was underwhelming, but now I feel like that was part of the point. She's just a teenage girl, and there's bigger monsters here. I also wanted there to be something romantic between Carina and Dante, but I guess that didn't work out, huh?
I liked that Carina struggles with her identity - she's Jamaican, but she's never been to Jamaica, and in the past she'd clung to stereotypes to feel connected to her culture, which was interesting.
Overall an interesting read, the mystery and the characters were both very intriguing, and the setting/atmosphere also.
(Mild spoilers ahead, but I kept it vague.)
I've been struggling with my last few reads, so this has been a breath of fresh air. I'm a sucker for ghost stories where an outsider arrives in an old place that is haunted, and has to figure out who the ghost is and what skeletons are hiding in the closet (literally). And this is that, with a healthy dose of family drama, some teenage drama (and trauma) and all that in a Jamaican setting. Lots of mystery, friendship, Jamaican patois language, maybe even romance?!
I initially thought that the reveal of Carina's "crime" was underwhelming, but now I feel like that was part of the point. She's just a teenage girl, and there's bigger monsters here. I also wanted there to be something romantic between Carina and Dante, but I guess that didn't work out, huh?
I liked that Carina struggles with her identity - she's Jamaican, but she's never been to Jamaica, and in the past she'd clung to stereotypes to feel connected to her culture, which was interesting.
Overall an interesting read, the mystery and the characters were both very intriguing, and the setting/atmosphere also.
Az utolsó tanítvány by Naomi Novik
4.0
the first half of the book was a struggle, but then it took me in. El, who was born to be a supervillain but she loves her mother so much and she's so traumatized but she still wants to love. Orion, who is just a complete idiot apparently. Also a sentient murder school.
The Duke at Hazard by KJ Charles
5.0
I've loved everything I read by this author, but this series is possibly my favorite. The absolute scoundrels and gentleman of uncertain fortune are just too entertaining.
Of course, it's very much wish fulfillment. Duke Severn has more power than a human being should ever have, frankly - but since he's the good guy, and this is a fictional story, it's still cathartic to read him throwing his power around to help others.
It also had some great romantic chemistry, only one bed, somnophilia and praise kink, which was a really nice collection of my favorite things.
And the boys from the first book show up at the end, which was the best ending.
Of course, it's very much wish fulfillment. Duke Severn has more power than a human being should ever have, frankly - but since he's the good guy, and this is a fictional story, it's still cathartic to read him throwing his power around to help others.
It also had some great romantic chemistry, only one bed, somnophilia and praise kink, which was a really nice collection of my favorite things.
And the boys from the first book show up at the end, which was the best ending.
Subtle Blood by KJ Charles
5.0
A nice end to the trilogy. Everyone is where they belong at the end, I think. I liked that in this book we also dealt a bit with Will's trauma and how that influences their relationship, since until now the obstacles mainly came from Kim.
Also the murderous brother and the abusive family gave some Whyborne & Griffin vibes, while Kim's shady character in general has been reminding me of Hither Page.
Also the murderous brother and the abusive family gave some Whyborne & Griffin vibes, while Kim's shady character in general has been reminding me of Hither Page.