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wilt's reviews
90 reviews
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 It threw me for a loop to see pop culture references and societal norms that were both outdated and extremely specific to modern day life happening on a moon orbiting an entirely different planet during a time period (assumedly) futuristic. I think I would have liked the antique/outdated themes of the book more if they weren't occuring right next to things like livestreaming and being an influencer.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.
Stitching Palms by B.L. Brown
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
I will concede that my rating is purely based on a disconnect of taste, rather than any big shortcomings of the writing itself. There are some things that worked for me extremely well, and other parts that absolutely did not.
What I liked:
The setting. I am not an urban fantasy guy, but the setting (the Florida Keys) piqued my curiosity and I really enjoyed everything it had to offer. The way the writing kept things colorful and magical and special really complimented the place and made even the pesky chickens seem endearing. It always felt sweaty and bright and vibrant, and it sparked my appetite in the loveliest ways. I also loved the way the writing described magic, and the different ways it worked with different people. The witch systems themselves were fascinating and creative and clearly have a lot of lore behind them, but everything was introduced naturally and it never felt overwhelming. There was just the right balance to leave me wanting more and enjoying every morsel offered. I also loved Diego - his history, his present, and the links between both. His Way of being a witch was totally unique and it was really cool to see the way his talent was utilized for the plot. I enjoyed most of the other characters too, and was never bored by them.
What I disliked:
The sex scenes did not work for me, at all. I typically don't have any issue with lengthy or frequent sex scenes, but for this book I found myself wanting to blur past them to get right back to the plot, every time. And I'm not quite sure why that is. Maybe there wasn't enough build up from the start, or maybe it was Trav himself, who I couldn't get a solid grip on, personality-wise (which worked great for the plot, but not for convincing passionate romance). The constant inclusion of alcohol as a lead up to the sex also did not help matters. The writing for the scenes themselves was not bad, but they really brought down my overall experience.
That being said, this is a fascinating book. The writing and concepts were fun, the plot interesting, and I definitely want to check out more from this author and series (as this is my first entry to it!)
*I received an advance review copy of Stitching Palms for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I liked:
The setting. I am not an urban fantasy guy, but the setting (the Florida Keys) piqued my curiosity and I really enjoyed everything it had to offer. The way the writing kept things colorful and magical and special really complimented the place and made even the pesky chickens seem endearing. It always felt sweaty and bright and vibrant, and it sparked my appetite in the loveliest ways. I also loved the way the writing described magic, and the different ways it worked with different people. The witch systems themselves were fascinating and creative and clearly have a lot of lore behind them, but everything was introduced naturally and it never felt overwhelming. There was just the right balance to leave me wanting more and enjoying every morsel offered. I also loved Diego - his history, his present, and the links between both. His Way of being a witch was totally unique and it was really cool to see the way his talent was utilized for the plot. I enjoyed most of the other characters too, and was never bored by them.
What I disliked:
The sex scenes did not work for me, at all. I typically don't have any issue with lengthy or frequent sex scenes, but for this book I found myself wanting to blur past them to get right back to the plot, every time. And I'm not quite sure why that is. Maybe there wasn't enough build up from the start, or maybe it was Trav himself, who I couldn't get a solid grip on, personality-wise (which worked great for the plot, but not for convincing passionate romance). The constant inclusion of alcohol as a lead up to the sex also did not help matters. The writing for the scenes themselves was not bad, but they really brought down my overall experience.
That being said, this is a fascinating book. The writing and concepts were fun, the plot interesting, and I definitely want to check out more from this author and series (as this is my first entry to it!)
*I received an advance review copy of Stitching Palms for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Dark Heir by C.S. Pacat
dark
mysterious
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
criticisms aside for a moment, pacat's writing is phenomenal. the way she builds narrative tension and twists a story until you dont know which way is up or down anymore, leaving you entirely at its mercy, speaks of skill and effort and care and has driven me to be a loyal reader. but that loyalty isn't blind. and reading this felt like skimming the surface of a vast lake. in which its depths lurked the true story that could have been told if pacat was writing without limit. and maybe she always wanted to write this story in the bodies of children. there are points where it makes sense; the possibility of growth, when you arent yet an adult. the sheer bravery of adolescence. but i couldnt shake the feeling of being held back on a tight leash from ever dipping deeper past the surface of this lake. and trying to pull just made me tired.
i can say a hundred times that i wish this wasnt YA, but that won't make it true. whats true is that this book was a lot better than the first. a lot stronger and coherent and focused. the knife was already plunged in during book one, and book two only twisted it deeper. but its impossible to get past the age thing. when we are given scraps of their adult selves. when adults keep coming on to these kids. when there is a 10,000 year old creature living in the body of a 15 year old boy. when the writing itself, at times, feels watered down for a younger audience. either through repetition, or stating the obvious, or dumbing down explanations. its impressive what pacat has managed to create even with these limitations. there are real gems of dialogue, and tension, and word play. of narrative structure, and romance. but with a full cast of children, there's only so far you can push these points for it to be believable or compelling.
i'll still preorder book 3 as soon as i can. but i'll never be able to shake this sad, sour taste from my mouth, at what this could have been.
i can say a hundred times that i wish this wasnt YA, but that won't make it true. whats true is that this book was a lot better than the first. a lot stronger and coherent and focused. the knife was already plunged in during book one, and book two only twisted it deeper. but its impossible to get past the age thing. when we are given scraps of their adult selves. when adults keep coming on to these kids. when there is a 10,000 year old creature living in the body of a 15 year old boy. when the writing itself, at times, feels watered down for a younger audience. either through repetition, or stating the obvious, or dumbing down explanations. its impressive what pacat has managed to create even with these limitations. there are real gems of dialogue, and tension, and word play. of narrative structure, and romance. but with a full cast of children, there's only so far you can push these points for it to be believable or compelling.
i'll still preorder book 3 as soon as i can. but i'll never be able to shake this sad, sour taste from my mouth, at what this could have been.
Ocean's Blood by Thelma Mantey
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
I am rounding up my review from 4.5 stars to 5 because despite a few small criticisms I had, I consumed this book in about 2 days and am desperately clawing for the sequel.
The book's description does not do it justice. My eyes honestly glazed over the first time I read it, and I only stopped from backing out of the page when I noticed the comparison to Captive Prince at the end. Which filled me with dread, because despite being one of my favorite series to this day, the few dark gay romances Capri has inspired have failed, in my eyes, to hit the marks that make it so special. But my curiosity got the best of me. What if Ocean's Blood understood the marks? What if /this/ was the book that could finally touch the same vein that Capri first awakened in me, and has been starving ever since?
I can't accurately say how glad I am I gave this book a chance. It delivers on every front, and so much more. It goes beyond its own comparison to Capri and delivers wholly unique lore that always had me fully gripped, despite being relatively exposition heavy (the first of my criticisms). Ocean's Blood delivers vampires under its own name, with enough solid and distinct lore to make that name stick. Singers are terrifying, and the dread they instill from the very first chapter had me enthralled. So did the story, which pulled no punches, and had me feeling gored and helpless as I followed Vindt's painful story.
A lot of dark fantasy, in my experience, tends to shy from going too dark, or loses itself in gratuitous misery at the expense of other elements. Ocean's Blood hit a perfect balance for me. Violence, pain, and blood, yes, but also the careful undercurrents of something more. Something that has no business blossoming under these grim conditions, and I can't wait to see how that thread will no doubt continue in the sequel. Because another thing this book throws itself into wholeheartedly is its /slowburn/. Which, in this day and age, seems to be a dying genre, at least in its fullest form. As well as enemies to lovers (truly enemies!), and oh how delightful it is to find a book that not only understands the assignment but loves it, and wields it to tear at my heart like a singer's own song.
As for Vindt and Ashe - I feel like we've only scratched the surface of their personalities, and knowing that the story isn't finished yet makes me wary of giving an assessment too early. But I'm excited for what was set up for them at the end of this book, and my curiosity for what will happen to them (and between them) will eat at me every day. If it wasn't already obvious, I'm deeply invested, and will sing this book's praises every day if that's what it takes to get the next book released.
My only other criticism is a few minor points where the language broke my immersion ('braincells'? 'vibes'? what year and world does this story take place in, again?) but they were very easy to overlook. For a debut novel this is extremely promising, I have already begun to tell all my friends about it, and anyone else who will listen. This is an author to watch and support by any means.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
The book's description does not do it justice. My eyes honestly glazed over the first time I read it, and I only stopped from backing out of the page when I noticed the comparison to Captive Prince at the end. Which filled me with dread, because despite being one of my favorite series to this day, the few dark gay romances Capri has inspired have failed, in my eyes, to hit the marks that make it so special. But my curiosity got the best of me. What if Ocean's Blood understood the marks? What if /this/ was the book that could finally touch the same vein that Capri first awakened in me, and has been starving ever since?
I can't accurately say how glad I am I gave this book a chance. It delivers on every front, and so much more. It goes beyond its own comparison to Capri and delivers wholly unique lore that always had me fully gripped, despite being relatively exposition heavy (the first of my criticisms). Ocean's Blood delivers vampires under its own name, with enough solid and distinct lore to make that name stick. Singers are terrifying, and the dread they instill from the very first chapter had me enthralled. So did the story, which pulled no punches, and had me feeling gored and helpless as I followed Vindt's painful story.
A lot of dark fantasy, in my experience, tends to shy from going too dark, or loses itself in gratuitous misery at the expense of other elements. Ocean's Blood hit a perfect balance for me. Violence, pain, and blood, yes, but also the careful undercurrents of something more. Something that has no business blossoming under these grim conditions, and I can't wait to see how that thread will no doubt continue in the sequel. Because another thing this book throws itself into wholeheartedly is its /slowburn/. Which, in this day and age, seems to be a dying genre, at least in its fullest form. As well as enemies to lovers (truly enemies!), and oh how delightful it is to find a book that not only understands the assignment but loves it, and wields it to tear at my heart like a singer's own song.
As for Vindt and Ashe - I feel like we've only scratched the surface of their personalities, and knowing that the story isn't finished yet makes me wary of giving an assessment too early. But I'm excited for what was set up for them at the end of this book, and my curiosity for what will happen to them (and between them) will eat at me every day. If it wasn't already obvious, I'm deeply invested, and will sing this book's praises every day if that's what it takes to get the next book released.
My only other criticism is a few minor points where the language broke my immersion ('braincells'? 'vibes'? what year and world does this story take place in, again?) but they were very easy to overlook. For a debut novel this is extremely promising, I have already begun to tell all my friends about it, and anyone else who will listen. This is an author to watch and support by any means.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)