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wilt's reviews
88 reviews
The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
very sad to say i found witness for the dead dreadfully and thoroughly boring after i loved goblin emperor SO much. i am very disappointed. 20 pages in i thought to myself 'surely this will pick up sometime soon' and then it didn't, and never at any point did i feel invested in any of loosely strung together struggles of barely fleshed out characters and the utter lack of impact felt by major events. the goblin emperor did a very good job of telling a concise story, firmly packed with just the right level of details. the witness for the dead, however, was a whole lot of nothing. how celehar was reduced to such a nothing character when he was so interesting in the snippets we got of him in goblin emperor is pretty impressive, especially as we are given his first person perspective, but i also really hated this story structure with zero chapter breaks and weird little side quests that also added nothing of lasting substance to his story, and just made the entire mess feel disjointed and distracted in the type of book it wanted to be. i also couldn't help comparing the opera murder sideplot (which i'm still confused on whether or not it was intended to be the main plot) to Point of Dreams by Lisa A. Barnett & Melissa Scott, which also featured a mystery murder at the heart of a theater in the middle of a fascinating and intricate fantasy city, but was way more engaging, actually fun to read, and whole lot gayer (including but not limited to lesbians secretly fucking in the attic, on page, in 2001 no less, as opposed to what Witness gave us - a weeping lonely lesbian blackmailed into silence for her shameful secret).
catastrophic bombing of expectations. some of these ideas could have been interesting, but i cannot believe how they were chosen to be presented. 1/5 stars.
catastrophic bombing of expectations. some of these ideas could have been interesting, but i cannot believe how they were chosen to be presented. 1/5 stars.
From the Belly by Emmett Nahil
but i still really liked it. flaws and all. there's some really good lines in here, and the whole whale ship setting felt very immersive. i enjoyed the queer horror spin and how it all unfolded. dont go in expecting a perfect book but if you like weird ocean horror, i would recommend this one.
4.0
while there was a lot that really worked for me, there are unfortunately quite a few typos and errors throughout this book. mostly small stuff, but some things really tripped me up, and I'm still not sure if Morrow was giving she/they realness or if their pronoun mixup was yet another error. there were also a few (again, small) things that felt unfinished or purposeless. and i can accept loose ends, especially in a story like this, but several times it felt like there was supposed to be more and then there just wasn't.
but i still really liked it. flaws and all. there's some really good lines in here, and the whole whale ship setting felt very immersive. i enjoyed the queer horror spin and how it all unfolded. dont go in expecting a perfect book but if you like weird ocean horror, i would recommend this one.
Sacrament by Morgan Dante
Did not finish book. Stopped at 65%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 65%.
DNF @ 65%
Lost interest due to the the abrupt POV switch to Alain, as well as jumping back in time to before Maël's story starts. Could not get invested in whatever relationship Alain might've developed with Sebestyen seeing how they barely interacted in the 'present time', and with this being labelled M/M/M I was not confident I would feel satisfied with however that might culminate in the last stretch of this book. Wish the M/M/M could have had a presence earlier in the book instead of Alain constantly being relegated to the sidelines, because I was interested in his dynamic with Maël. But alas. When Alain's POV just went into his backstory with Sebestyen I could not find it in me to care. Especially considering where Maël's story gets cut off. Speaking of, I found that whole ordeal with Sebestyen's actions utterly baffling. Maybe the official release will have better pacing but that was another big factor in my decision to DNF.
Did appreciate this book's commitment to gaudy gothic vampire aesthetics, though. Sad I couldn't see it through to the end.
Lost interest due to the the abrupt POV switch to Alain, as well as jumping back in time to before Maël's story starts. Could not get invested in whatever relationship Alain might've developed with Sebestyen seeing how they barely interacted in the 'present time', and with this being labelled M/M/M I was not confident I would feel satisfied with however that might culminate in the last stretch of this book. Wish the M/M/M could have had a presence earlier in the book instead of Alain constantly being relegated to the sidelines, because I was interested in his dynamic with Maël. But alas. When Alain's POV just went into his backstory with Sebestyen I could not find it in me to care. Especially considering where Maël's story gets cut off. Speaking of, I found that whole ordeal with Sebestyen's actions utterly baffling. Maybe the official release will have better pacing but that was another big factor in my decision to DNF.
Did appreciate this book's commitment to gaudy gothic vampire aesthetics, though. Sad I couldn't see it through to the end.
EUSECT by C.L. Methvin
dark
3.0
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
I'm a little puzzled by the publisher's description of 'queer horror' for this collection when only one of the stories was queer. I expected (and hoped) for more than that. The gore in some of these stories was absolutely excellent and squirm-inducing, and I would have loved to see what this author could do with a heavier queer spin. But as it is, I would not personally call this a 'queer collection'.
Regardless, I still enjoyed a majority of the stories (Eusect, Tender Writhing, and A Stagnant Song were my favorites). It takes a lot to genuinely gross me out with fiction and Eusect had me downright recoiling in the very best way. But with it situated near the start of the book, I struggled to feel as strongly for the next few stories that followed. They were still good, just nowhere near the level of intensity that captivated and revolted me so dearly. I think that's the biggest reason why I can't give more than three stars. There are some five-star individual stories in here, some very good gore scenes that truly give it their all, but as a whole this collection sadly did not land very strongly for me.
I'm a little puzzled by the publisher's description of 'queer horror' for this collection when only one of the stories was queer. I expected (and hoped) for more than that. The gore in some of these stories was absolutely excellent and squirm-inducing, and I would have loved to see what this author could do with a heavier queer spin. But as it is, I would not personally call this a 'queer collection'.
Regardless, I still enjoyed a majority of the stories (Eusect, Tender Writhing, and A Stagnant Song were my favorites). It takes a lot to genuinely gross me out with fiction and Eusect had me downright recoiling in the very best way. But with it situated near the start of the book, I struggled to feel as strongly for the next few stories that followed. They were still good, just nowhere near the level of intensity that captivated and revolted me so dearly. I think that's the biggest reason why I can't give more than three stars. There are some five-star individual stories in here, some very good gore scenes that truly give it their all, but as a whole this collection sadly did not land very strongly for me.
The Spoils of Victory by Jem Blackwing
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
dnf 17%
this is a seemingly interesting world that i would have loved to spend the time getting to know, but i dislike how most of the imformation is presented through dialogue that feels forced. also i know this is a slave romance book, but eugh. was not interested in the direction things were going. not for me.
this is a seemingly interesting world that i would have loved to spend the time getting to know, but i dislike how most of the imformation is presented through dialogue that feels forced. also i know this is a slave romance book, but eugh. was not interested in the direction things were going. not for me.
Landlocked in Foreign Skin by Drew Huff
3.0
Delicious little novella with an interesting narration style and beautifully gross descriptions. I love books with toxic/complicated gay relationships and this definitely scratched that itch. I loved the Fisherman's POV and was immediately hooked from the very first page.
But although I appreciate what the novella tried to do with its narration style, I do think the execution was a little weak at times. And it was difficult to get a sense for the type of society that was supposedly going on beyond the Fisherman's perspective, even though its a pretty big point in the book. It threw me for a loop to see pop culture references and societal norms that were both outdated and extremely specific to modern day life happening on a moon orbiting an entirely different planet during a time period (assumedly) futuristic. I think I would have liked the antique/outdated themes of the book more if they weren't occuring right next to things like livestreaming and being an influencer. Or if that blend was introduced in a more complimentary way.
One other thing that confused me was the abundance of cissexist language across the book. I do not expect (or hope for) differently with most authors. Even in gay books the existence of trans people is rarely taken into account. And it would not have bothered me if it was because we were simply dealing with a nonhuman's perspective on language about sex traits. Or even if the fisherman's understanding of human sex organs was based solely on Isobel's biases. I would have been okay with that. But it felt strange when pronouns were a point of discussion at multiple points in the novel. And one of the main aspects the book tries to criticize about society (re: reproduction value) ended up falling flat when cissexism is still heavily reinforced by the very same character who is able to make these points because they did not grow up in this society in the first place, and therefore should not be limited by these same beliefs.
It felt like a missed opportunity to not consider the alien perspective on gender/reproduction/sex/language is all I'm saying. And more than a little dissonant.
But I enjoyed the book overall. I really liked how gross it got at times, and the pacing was enjoyable for the most part. The fisherman's POV was definitely my favorite aspect.
** I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. **
But although I appreciate what the novella tried to do with its narration style, I do think the execution was a little weak at times. And it was difficult to get a sense for the type of society that was supposedly going on beyond the Fisherman's perspective, even though its a pretty big point in the book. It threw me for a loop to see pop culture references and societal norms that were both outdated and extremely specific to modern day life happening on a moon orbiting an entirely different planet during a time period (assumedly) futuristic. I think I would have liked the antique/outdated themes of the book more if they weren't occuring right next to things like livestreaming and being an influencer. Or if that blend was introduced in a more complimentary way.
One other thing that confused me was the abundance of cissexist language across the book. I do not expect (or hope for) differently with most authors. Even in gay books the existence of trans people is rarely taken into account. And it would not have bothered me if it was because we were simply dealing with a nonhuman's perspective on language about sex traits. Or even if the fisherman's understanding of human sex organs was based solely on Isobel's biases. I would have been okay with that. But it felt strange when pronouns were a point of discussion at multiple points in the novel. And one of the main aspects the book tries to criticize about society (re: reproduction value) ended up falling flat when cissexism is still heavily reinforced by the very same character who is able to make these points because they did not grow up in this society in the first place, and therefore should not be limited by these same beliefs.
It felt like a missed opportunity to not consider the alien perspective on gender/reproduction/sex/language is all I'm saying. And more than a little dissonant.
But I enjoyed the book overall. I really liked how gross it got at times, and the pacing was enjoyable for the most part. The fisherman's POV was definitely my favorite aspect.
** I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. **
Reclaimed by Seth Haddon
2.0
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
At first, this had all the makings of a 4 or 5 star book. There was so much going on in the beginning that struck so many of my personal interests. I liked the story setup: both the gravity of the situation and Saba's conflicting emotions regarding it, especially his 'selfish' motivation that lead to the catastrophe at the heart of the book. I will go to bat for messy transgender characters any day of the week, and throughout the book Saba's inner turmoil regarding his body, sense of self, and his drive to change his body at the expense of everyone and anything else -- all tied up with his guilt, anger, grief and ambition -- was my favorite element by far. Even when it was painful and depressing to see him struggle with his body as a trans reader myself. His motivation was a great catalyst for the story and I was very interested in the mystery/investigation vibe the book opened with. And of course the size difference between him and the love interest was an immediate draw as well.
However. Despite Saba and Zek being interesting characters on their own, their romance struggled to captivate me. Which is hard to say, because they had some genuinely good moments throughout the book. But too many scenes came off as the author nudging them together rather than it feeling like an organic connection between the characters themselves. And too much of it felt rather juvenile, given the circumstances and the heavy tone introduced from the beginning, and the stakes at play.
For the remaining 2/3rds I frequently considered DNFing due to this loss of interest in the romance, but also because the plot itself lost its edge, with pacing and plot decisions that felt awkward, and even inconsistencies in the writing itself (one example: where characters were described as climbing out of a gig only to be inexplicably seated in it again a few pages later).
There were also several pet peeves prevalent: from an overabundance of winking, to numerous side characters acting way too invested in Saba and Zek's relationship, even when they were barely witness to it or weren't exactly friends to either of them. As well as the casual and frequent use of the word 'slut' to describe Saba's pretty normal feelings of desire. Which brings me into another issue regarding Saba's past experiences with sex, which is only briefly described towards the end of the book and really threw me for a loop, because of how casual his sex life apparently has been up to this point when so much of his anxiety is rooted around his body and how others gender it under every circumstance. Anxiety around sex and intimacy is a real and complex thing among some trans people, but his past experiences felt wildly overlooked and dissonant compared to where we meet him as a reader. I would have liked more insight into how he overcame these anxieties with previous encounters when his anxiety has such a major grip over him through the course of this book. Especially when it seems (by implication) he might've been having sex early in his transition, or even before it. It was either a missed opportunity to add further depth to Saba's complex feelings on sex, or a very huge contradiction, to write his past in this way. But with how briefly this point was glossed over, there wasn't enough to work with either way, and that makes me very sad.
Overall, I can't say I enjoyed this book outside the first 20% or so. But I appreciate Saba's character -- for his complexities and motivations and messy emotions. I appreciate the attempt made to tell an interesting trans story heavily focused on an unconventional means of transition. I appreciate that Zek had his own (perceived) bodily imperfections. And even though the execution didn't land its mark, and I'm not sure I would really recommend this book, I can at least walk away with these positives.
At first, this had all the makings of a 4 or 5 star book. There was so much going on in the beginning that struck so many of my personal interests. I liked the story setup: both the gravity of the situation and Saba's conflicting emotions regarding it, especially his 'selfish' motivation that lead to the catastrophe at the heart of the book. I will go to bat for messy transgender characters any day of the week, and throughout the book Saba's inner turmoil regarding his body, sense of self, and his drive to change his body at the expense of everyone and anything else -- all tied up with his guilt, anger, grief and ambition -- was my favorite element by far. Even when it was painful and depressing to see him struggle with his body as a trans reader myself. His motivation was a great catalyst for the story and I was very interested in the mystery/investigation vibe the book opened with. And of course the size difference between him and the love interest was an immediate draw as well.
However. Despite Saba and Zek being interesting characters on their own, their romance struggled to captivate me. Which is hard to say, because they had some genuinely good moments throughout the book. But too many scenes came off as the author nudging them together rather than it feeling like an organic connection between the characters themselves. And too much of it felt rather juvenile, given the circumstances and the heavy tone introduced from the beginning, and the stakes at play.
For the remaining 2/3rds I frequently considered DNFing due to this loss of interest in the romance, but also because the plot itself lost its edge, with pacing and plot decisions that felt awkward, and even inconsistencies in the writing itself (one example: where characters were described as climbing out of a gig only to be inexplicably seated in it again a few pages later).
There were also several pet peeves prevalent: from an overabundance of winking, to numerous side characters acting way too invested in Saba and Zek's relationship, even when they were barely witness to it or weren't exactly friends to either of them. As well as the casual and frequent use of the word 'slut' to describe Saba's pretty normal feelings of desire. Which brings me into another issue regarding Saba's past experiences with sex, which is only briefly described towards the end of the book and really threw me for a loop, because of how casual his sex life apparently has been up to this point when so much of his anxiety is rooted around his body and how others gender it under every circumstance. Anxiety around sex and intimacy is a real and complex thing among some trans people, but his past experiences felt wildly overlooked and dissonant compared to where we meet him as a reader. I would have liked more insight into how he overcame these anxieties with previous encounters when his anxiety has such a major grip over him through the course of this book. Especially when it seems (by implication) he might've been having sex early in his transition, or even before it. It was either a missed opportunity to add further depth to Saba's complex feelings on sex, or a very huge contradiction, to write his past in this way. But with how briefly this point was glossed over, there wasn't enough to work with either way, and that makes me very sad.
Overall, I can't say I enjoyed this book outside the first 20% or so. But I appreciate Saba's character -- for his complexities and motivations and messy emotions. I appreciate the attempt made to tell an interesting trans story heavily focused on an unconventional means of transition. I appreciate that Zek had his own (perceived) bodily imperfections. And even though the execution didn't land its mark, and I'm not sure I would really recommend this book, I can at least walk away with these positives.