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cle_hobbit's review against another edition
4.0
It was a fun, geeky view of Coventry and a Cleveland Heights. The idea of an LGBTQ+-centric story set in Cleveland was a delight, and the nerdiness over Dungeons ‘n Dragons and other subcultures of geekdom seemed genuine and written by someone who was/is an active participant, not an observer.
The main plot wasn’t really that exciting for me. It’s essentially a gay meet-cute, but the descriptions of the record store, the comic book store, and some shoutouts and references to real Cleveland places with personalities and histories made it worth the read!
The main plot wasn’t really that exciting for me. It’s essentially a gay meet-cute, but the descriptions of the record store, the comic book store, and some shoutouts and references to real Cleveland places with personalities and histories made it worth the read!
raebrock's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t know why this book doesn’t have better reviews, I thought it was fun and clever and I liked the characters. Certain moments of the D&D story were absurd in the best way and I got looks from my fiancé for chuckling out loud several times. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’d love a sequel with a different campaign. I think Celeste would make a great protagonist.
Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
ashyq's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
caspianfireblade's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
3.75
lillist's review against another edition
3.0
I received a digital ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!
3 Stars - solid, but just not for me
Well, this was a bit of a frustrating read. I was really looking forward to this after seeing the cover and reading the blurb but it just fell kind of flat and did not make use of its potential.
This book felt like it was written for a very specific audience: queer (male) role-players in their twenties who are still looking for their place in life and also cannot stop thinking about sex.
Mostly with guys who are hairy.
And this is why I feel this was a missed opportunity. It would have been so easy to tell a story that every uncool dork who is kind of a misfit could relate to and this was admittedly just what I had been hoping for and did not find.
Also, I found the language to be a bit lacking in terms of a distinct voice or even melody.
Don't get me wrong, this was mostly perfectly fine. The characters are interesting enough, the role-playing elements are fun enough and it was not a slog. But this was not a page-turner either which made me realize that I could not really engage with this all that much.
So, this was just not the book for me, but not every book has to, I guess.
3 Stars - solid, but just not for me
Well, this was a bit of a frustrating read. I was really looking forward to this after seeing the cover and reading the blurb but it just fell kind of flat and did not make use of its potential.
This book felt like it was written for a very specific audience: queer (male) role-players in their twenties who are still looking for their place in life and also cannot stop thinking about sex.
Mostly with guys who are hairy.
And this is why I feel this was a missed opportunity. It would have been so easy to tell a story that every uncool dork who is kind of a misfit could relate to and this was admittedly just what I had been hoping for and did not find.
Also, I found the language to be a bit lacking in terms of a distinct voice or even melody.
Don't get me wrong, this was mostly perfectly fine. The characters are interesting enough, the role-playing elements are fun enough and it was not a slog. But this was not a page-turner either which made me realize that I could not really engage with this all that much.
So, this was just not the book for me, but not every book has to, I guess.
vdarcangelo's review against another edition
5.0
Doug Henderson has written an anthem for all the geeks and outcasts from the Rust Belt. His wonderful debut novel transported me back to the early 1990s, when me and my friends would haunt Twice-Loved Books and various used record shops in and around Youngstown.
We went to metal shows all over northeast Ohio, so obviously, I related most to Albert, the chaos agent of Cleveland Heights. He works at a record store, listens to death metal and has a wardrobe consisting of black band T-shirts and jeans.
The action begins when he joins an LGBTQ D&D group who meet every Thursday in the back of a comic shop. He is a welcome addition to all members of the party except Ben, the protagonist. Lacking in nerve and self-confidence (as well as a job or apartment), Ben is flustered by Albert’s intrusion.
He complains to Celeste, the dungeon master, “He’s too good looking to play D&D.”
Behind his objections, of course, is an irrepressible and terrifying attraction. The tension between them drives the novel, fueled by Henderson’s sharp prose and humor.
There is so much I love about this book, and I wasn’t ready for it to end. Henderson certainly laid the foundation for an epic, with a large ensemble cast, including the gamers, a rival vampire role-playing group and some banker bros (including Mooneyham, a member of the campaign who hasn’t yet come out to his coworkers).
Mooneyham is perhaps the most compelling member of the group. While the others are traditional geeks, Mooneyham is an alpha male with locker-room charisma who hides his inner nerd beneath a power suit. He is annoying, but as the novel progresses he shows depth and vulnerability. He is less open about his sexuality because, as he explains, the others were misfits whose reveal was not a huge surprise. When Mooneyham comes out, it will be a bombshell. It might also derail his career.
Unfortunately, this storyline fizzles into a missed opportunity. Henderson has built up many interesting characters, but the novel’s brevity doesn’t allow their arcs to fully develop.
And while a common (and often justified) critique of cis-het male authors is that they struggle to create well-rounded female characters, this is not exclusive to straight men. The group’s women, Valerie (cis) and Celeste (trans), have a ton of potential that isn’t realized. I wanted their stories to be more significant.
But ultimately, the book is about Ben and Albert, and their journey is portrayed brilliantly. It’s a strong debut, and I look forward to where Henderson takes us next. Personally, I would like a sequel. I love this group of adventurers and want to spend more time in the geek shops of northeast Ohio.
We went to metal shows all over northeast Ohio, so obviously, I related most to Albert, the chaos agent of Cleveland Heights. He works at a record store, listens to death metal and has a wardrobe consisting of black band T-shirts and jeans.
The action begins when he joins an LGBTQ D&D group who meet every Thursday in the back of a comic shop. He is a welcome addition to all members of the party except Ben, the protagonist. Lacking in nerve and self-confidence (as well as a job or apartment), Ben is flustered by Albert’s intrusion.
He complains to Celeste, the dungeon master, “He’s too good looking to play D&D.”
Behind his objections, of course, is an irrepressible and terrifying attraction. The tension between them drives the novel, fueled by Henderson’s sharp prose and humor.
There is so much I love about this book, and I wasn’t ready for it to end. Henderson certainly laid the foundation for an epic, with a large ensemble cast, including the gamers, a rival vampire role-playing group and some banker bros (including Mooneyham, a member of the campaign who hasn’t yet come out to his coworkers).
Mooneyham is perhaps the most compelling member of the group. While the others are traditional geeks, Mooneyham is an alpha male with locker-room charisma who hides his inner nerd beneath a power suit. He is annoying, but as the novel progresses he shows depth and vulnerability. He is less open about his sexuality because, as he explains, the others were misfits whose reveal was not a huge surprise. When Mooneyham comes out, it will be a bombshell. It might also derail his career.
Unfortunately, this storyline fizzles into a missed opportunity. Henderson has built up many interesting characters, but the novel’s brevity doesn’t allow their arcs to fully develop.
And while a common (and often justified) critique of cis-het male authors is that they struggle to create well-rounded female characters, this is not exclusive to straight men. The group’s women, Valerie (cis) and Celeste (trans), have a ton of potential that isn’t realized. I wanted their stories to be more significant.
But ultimately, the book is about Ben and Albert, and their journey is portrayed brilliantly. It’s a strong debut, and I look forward to where Henderson takes us next. Personally, I would like a sequel. I love this group of adventurers and want to spend more time in the geek shops of northeast Ohio.
christinereads1823's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Interesting premise, significantly lacking follow-through. Side plot left underused and with no resolution, flat character development for a majority of the mains, and sometimes awkward writing.
That being said, there were good moments and enjoyable scenes, but the cons outweigh the pros.
That being said, there were good moments and enjoyable scenes, but the cons outweigh the pros.
reasie's review against another edition
4.0
A lighthearted romance with geeky overtones. Sometimes you can really tell the author isn't a native Clevelander, but then there are parts that are genuine enough.
Yes, we really do have a horrid paucity of late-night diners on the east side. What is up with that? Remember Chuck's Diner? The Red Chimney? Yeah.
AHEM.
The high point is a sexomancy orgy and a kiss-in, which tells you this story keeps a low-level buzz of sexuality going. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, though.
Yes, we really do have a horrid paucity of late-night diners on the east side. What is up with that? Remember Chuck's Diner? The Red Chimney? Yeah.
AHEM.
The high point is a sexomancy orgy and a kiss-in, which tells you this story keeps a low-level buzz of sexuality going. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, though.
jessiejoelle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
masoncasper's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
3.5
Fun and super nerdy little coming into maturity novel. There are super strong themes of identity and community, particularly around the gaming and LGBTQ communities. Love the allusions and references to all the nerd culture and also the free flowing prose on sexuality across the spectrum.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia