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shanajeanh's reviews
24 reviews
Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Good book, but a little more "two people like each other and keep misinterpreting despite the obvious" for my taste
Lady Eve's Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
5.0
I don't know what I liked best: the fantastic world building, the charming cast and the sizzling chemistry between romantic interests, or the clever plots--both the ones the con artist heroine enacts and the actual storyline of the book.
Also an interesting look at how Judaism might look in an interstellar future, both the ways it might change and the traditions that'll continue on. Not to mention the fantastic sibling dynamics!! This book's going to stay with me for a long time.
Also an interesting look at how Judaism might look in an interstellar future, both the ways it might change and the traditions that'll continue on. Not to mention the fantastic sibling dynamics!! This book's going to stay with me for a long time.
The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin
dark
emotional
sad
tense
4.0
This book will have you equal parts cringing at the supremely bad life choices and desperately turning pages to see what happens next. If you like dysfunctional queer relationships (fictional ones, that is) and Jewish magic, this book will be extremely your jam.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Absolutely hilarious right up til it punches you in the art with emotion. Great for anyone who's ever felt bad killing the monsters in games and asked if they could seduce the monsters instead. Also: has fantastic footnotes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault
While the main character discusses death, self-harm, and suicide frequently and casually, there is an extenuating circumstance that she's in a time loop and will wake up again if she dies, so it's not the same as the real world equivalent.
The Dishonest Miss Take by Faye Murphy
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
This book is a DELIGHT. It's pure chaos and mayhem and superhero/villain shenanigans with a side of steampunk and sapphic romance and dark humor. If you like garbage lesbians this is the book for you.
A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book is what you get if you put gay romance, heists, and labor activism into a magic cauldron and barter viciously over the contents. It's "be gay do crimes" with a side of "oh no I caught feelings." It's fast talking con artists and the solid strength of friendship. And in addition to all of that, there's a talking cat.
A Power Unbound by Freya Marske
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I don't know how these books keep getting better.considering how amazing they've been from the start. It's clear Freya Marske comes from fanfic in the best ways: character-focused romance, exploration of kink with a strong emphasis on consent, and scenes that are simultaneously extremely sexy and heartwrenchingly emotional. Relationships where two characters have such a vast power difference can be difficult to pull off, but A Power Unbound manages it beautifully.
Chef's Choice by TJ Alexander
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I finished this book and then spent a while staring at the ceiling and sighing happily. I would have hugged it if it weren't an e-galley. (E-galleys are great, but not as satisfying to hug as a physical book. Why does no one talk about huggability in the book format debates?) I think I liked Chef's Choice even better than the first book, Chef's Kiss, and that's saying a lot, since I loved Chef's Kiss. This, though, features several of my favorite things: T4T (trans for trans) relationships, found family, french accents, fake dating, and queer people with zero skills attempting to do something that takes a LOT of skills through sheer tenacity. This is immediately one of my favorite romance novels and I immediately need everyone I know to read it so I have people to shout about it with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Don't Want To Be Your Monster by Deke Moulton
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I spent a lot of time debating with my Jewish friends whether or not a vampire could keep kosher. So when I saw there was a book about Jewish vampires coming out, my expectations were immediately high. I'm pleased to say I Don't Want To Be Your Monster is everything I could have hoped for and more. They even discuss the kosher vampire problem! Even better, the story interrogates the underlying biases and prejudices that created vampire myths--especially antisemitism. What results is a story that is fascinatingly nuanced and interesting while also being an incredibly satisfying and enjoyable read.
Galaxy: The Prettiest Star by Jadzia Axelrod
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
This book was cute but I don't like that it was advertised as trans because honestly it feels like the opposite?? This is a story about someone born a woman forced to live as a man and then finally living as a woman. Like, I can see how it would work as an allegory for trans people but in practice it's saying the sex this character is assigned at birth is her "real" gender.
I mean if this book brings people joy that's awesome and the art is absolutely stunning. There's a cute sapphic romance too. But for a book marketed as a new trans superhero book, it didn't work for me at all.
I mean if this book brings people joy that's awesome and the art is absolutely stunning. There's a cute sapphic romance too. But for a book marketed as a new trans superhero book, it didn't work for me at all.