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tay_af's reviews
451 reviews
A Natural History of Transition by Callum Angus
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
A well written short story collection with interesting discussion of transition, but not necessarily my cup of tea. I’m not a short story person at the best of times, but am particularly freaked out by involuntary transformations, so the last story really got to me. Overall, if it is a genre and form you enjoy, I’d say it’s an excellent read.
Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman
reflective
tense
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
4.75
I was searching for trans masc novels to help understand my own experience of trans masculinity, and certain phrases in this book hit me at my very core. An excellent and inventive novel that explores the liminal spaces of queerness in more ways than one. Highly recommend.
Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
An excellent (trans!!!!) novel with fresh and exciting meta-textual play both with the story itself and the nature of narrative as a whole. The discussions of history, archives, and queerness are well informed and engaging, and I loved the tension between the editor’s excitement and the capitalist agenda that took place in the metatext. It dragged a bit in parts, but overall a great read. I particularly recommend it to fellow transmasc people, anyone with an interest in historical archives and/or queer theory, and those who enjoy the academic tone of works like Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
If the title alone doesn’t make you want to read this book, I cannot relate. It was very good, thoughtful, loving, empathetic, and (sometimes sadly) realistic. I would caution everyone to be really aware of trigger warnings, though, as it did get at times very emotionally difficult to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Outing, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Bullying, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Forced institutionalization
Content warning for eldest sibling trauma, parentification, and disownment
Nevada by Imogen Binnie
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is an absolutely phenomenal novel. I read a proof of it ahead of the UK publication and it just made me feel things to my core. I’m so glad this novel exists and I’m so glad I got to read it.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book is tongue-in-cheek and witty, but it took me a while to get into. I may not have continued it if not for stellar reviews from my friends, and while I did eventually get engaged, I was a bit disappointed with how long the build-up was. Still, I enjoyed the world building and will likely read the sequel.
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The phrase “trans Regency romance” didn’t even seem possible outside of Archive of Our Own to me until I learned about this book, and I am so delighted that I got to read it. I feel that it is rare still (although getting less so!) to find a queer adult novel in which queerness is a source of joy and the harsher realities of queer existence are allowed to take a back seat to romance, fantasy, and happiness. It is especially rare to find this for trans characters. Alexis Hall, however, achieves this with finesse in the lovely, charming, and occasionally heart-wrenching A LADY FOR A DUKE.
This is by far my favorite of Hall’s work that I’ve read. Fans of historical romance and regency romance will find themselves in familiar territory with the standards of the ton providing the central shaping force of respectability, along with the genre-standard slight hand-waving of those standards in the face of true love, but will also see the way Hall works the genre anew. Viola, a trans woman who gave up a dukedom and faked her own death on the fields of Waterloo in order to live as her authentic self, encounters her former best friend while working as her sister-in-law’s lady’s maid. She quickly realises how thoroughly he still grieves her ‘death’ and is forced to decide if she will grow closer to him as a stranger or reveal their history together. Although this premise could certainly set the stage for significant transphobia, Hall deftly manoeuvres between the potential difficulties posed by being trans in this era without focusing too heavily on transphobic elements.
I found the romantic and intimate scenes in particular to be very respectful and encouraging. The cast of characters are amusing and captivating throughout, and the central romance feels at once realistic and like the stuff of dreams. I will say the conflict in the final quarter of the book felt a bit sudden, both arising and resolving in a rather rushed fashion, but it was more of a background element of the plot to begin with.
I highly recommend A LADY FOR A DUKE, even to those readers who have not connected with the romance or historical romance genre before. It’s a fun-yet-thoughtful Regency romp, with much more meditation on the meaning of love and intimacy than the genre traditionally allows for. It also feels like exciting new trans representation and I’m hopeful and excited to see readers engage with it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital proof in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is by far my favorite of Hall’s work that I’ve read. Fans of historical romance and regency romance will find themselves in familiar territory with the standards of the ton providing the central shaping force of respectability, along with the genre-standard slight hand-waving of those standards in the face of true love, but will also see the way Hall works the genre anew. Viola, a trans woman who gave up a dukedom and faked her own death on the fields of Waterloo in order to live as her authentic self, encounters her former best friend while working as her sister-in-law’s lady’s maid. She quickly realises how thoroughly he still grieves her ‘death’ and is forced to decide if she will grow closer to him as a stranger or reveal their history together. Although this premise could certainly set the stage for significant transphobia, Hall deftly manoeuvres between the potential difficulties posed by being trans in this era without focusing too heavily on transphobic elements.
I found the romantic and intimate scenes in particular to be very respectful and encouraging. The cast of characters are amusing and captivating throughout, and the central romance feels at once realistic and like the stuff of dreams. I will say the conflict in the final quarter of the book felt a bit sudden, both arising and resolving in a rather rushed fashion, but it was more of a background element of the plot to begin with.
I highly recommend A LADY FOR A DUKE, even to those readers who have not connected with the romance or historical romance genre before. It’s a fun-yet-thoughtful Regency romp, with much more meditation on the meaning of love and intimacy than the genre traditionally allows for. It also feels like exciting new trans representation and I’m hopeful and excited to see readers engage with it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital proof in exchange for a fair and honest review.