nmcannon's reviews
1382 reviews

Star God – A Flash Fiction & Poetry Chapbook. by Beau Van Dalen

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Pittsburgh by Frank Santoro

emotional reflective fast-paced

3.0

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

funny hopeful reflective 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

4.5

Wing by Beau Van Dalen

hopeful sad fast-paced

3.0

The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig

adventurous tense slow-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

3.5

The Prince's Pretty Guards by Beau Van Dalen

emotional lighthearted slow-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

4.0

The Prince’s Pretty Guards is a midquel between The Prince’s Loving Guards and the next one, and I loved it. The smarmy god of Arkaus grants another wish—and this time Hal lets his guards explore their secret desires. Suddenly, Hal isn’t the only one being vulnerable. I relished in the character and relationship growth between Kaiser and Elwood. Sometimes it feels like the guards instantaneously fell in love with Hal (unless there’s a secret previous connection revealed later?), and their own love story is a slow burn paced to stretch the whole series. Connect that final triangle side, boys! The prose is highly polished, and I only have one quibble. The dresses could be described more vividly and more often. When Elwood came out in a pink dress, I visualized one million billion petticoats, but that begged questions later of how anyone made eye contact while buried in his thighs, hahaha. Overall, I found myself reading very slowly because I didn’t want the book to end. The Prince’s Pretty Guards might be my favorite of the series so far. I look forward to the next! 

The Unwanted Guest by Tamsyn Muir

emotional funny mysterious 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

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

dark emotional funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Dragon Falls by Davis Lavender

adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Keeper of Lonely Spirits by E.M. Anderson

emotional hopeful sad 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? Yes

4.0

Lightning review to get the word out before it's pub date! I won a paperback ARC from EM Anderson in an online giveaway.

What a gift of a book. While there are definite cozy elements (plants! birding! coordinated waistcoats and bowties!) and the book centers the founding of a family, Peter wears his grief in an authentic, recognizable way that had me pausing to absorb. Anderson's prose encourages savoring, perhaps with a cup of tea and a knitted blanket. The final page hit me like the end of a Pixar movie, with sweetness and tears. If you're a fan of Pixar's Up or Shelly Jay Shore's Rules for Ghosting and/or in the mood for a sad old codger putting his burdens down and embracing love, pick up EM Anderson's The Keeper of Lonely Spirits.