Five Reasons Why You Need to Read Desdemona and the Deep

Title: Desdemona and the Deep Author: C.S.E. Cooney Publisher: Tor.com Release Date: July 23rd, 2019 Genre(s): Fantasy Subjects and Themes: Fae, LGBTQIAP+ (lesbian mc, trans side character) Page Count: 224 (ebook) Rating: 9.5/10         In Desdemona and the Deep, the spoiled daughter of a rich mining family must retrieve the tithe of …

July Wrap-Up: Family News, Red & Blue is the New Black

I feel like a lot of my personal posts lately have just been me going, "I'm a sad little bundle of sadness!" And, well....the same applies today (I promise a LOT more flowers and rainbows for the next one). But I'll try to keep it brief this time. To put it shortly, my grandmother passed …

Review: This is How You Lose the Time War – This is How You Write a Time Travel Story

Title: This is How You Lose the Time War Author: Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone Publisher: Saga Press Release Date: July 16th, 2019 Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Romance, Epistolary Subjects and Themes: War, LGBTQIAP+ (f/f) Page Count: 208 (hardback) Rating: 9.5/10       Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a …

Reviews: Contagion & Immunity by Erin Bowman – Biological Space Horror and Maple Walnut Ice Cream

Title: Contagion (Contagion 1) Author: Erin Bowman Publisher: HarperTeen Release Date: July 24th, 2018 Genre(s): YA Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror Subjects and Themes: Microbiology, LGBTQIAP+ Page Count: 432 (hardback) Rating: 7.5/10       After receiving a distress call from a drill team on a distant planet, a skeleton crew is sent into deep space to …

Review: Last Bus to Everland – Life Sucks But We’re in it Together

Title: Last Bus to Everland Author: Sophie Cameron Publisher: Roaring Brook Press Release Date: June 18th, 2019 Genre(s): YA Contemporary, Portal Fantasy Subjects and Themes: Mental Health, LGBTQIAP+ Page Count: 336 (hardback) Rating: 8.0/10       Brody Fair feels like nobody gets him: not his overworked parents, not his genius older brother, and definitely …

Review: Magic for Liars – Ivy Gamble is Not Magic and She Wants Everyone to Know

Title: Magic for Liars Author: Sarah Gailey Publisher: Tor Books Release Date: June 4th, 2019 Genre(s): Fantasy, Mystery Subjects and Themes: Siblings, Mental Health, LGBTQIAP+ (Secondary) Page Count: 336 (hardback) Rating: 5.0/10       Ivy Gamble was born without magic and never wanted it. Ivy Gamble is perfectly happy with her life – or …

Double Reviews: The Guildmaster and All the World Between Us – Water-themed Romances

One book has pirates. The other has swimming. Both involve water. (And I'm a sucker for themes) Let's get to it.   The Guildmaster (Vanguards of Viridor 3) by T.S. Cleveland Having helped foil the attempt to kill Viridor’s queen, Merric’s return to the Guardians’ Guild should have been celebrated. Instead, his support of elementals …

Review: The Binding – Sweetly Flawed and Somewhat Forgettable

Title: The Binding Author: Bridget Collins Publisher: HarperCollins UK Release Date: January 7th, 2019 Genre(s): Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance Subjects and Themes: LGBTQIAP+, Memories Page Count: 448 (hardback) Rating: 7.0/10     Emmett Farmer is working in the fields when a letter arrives summoning him to begin an apprenticeship. He will work for a Bookbinder, …

Review: Deposing Nathan – Heartwrenching, Raw, and So Very Important

  Title: Deposing Nathan Author: Zack Smedley Publisher: Page Street Publishing Release Date: May 7th, 2019 Genre(s): YA Contemporary Subjects and Themes: LGBTQIAP+, Religion, Abuse Page Count: 400 (hardback) Rating: 9.0/10     For sixteen years, Nate was the perfect son—the product of a no-nonsense upbringing and deep spiritual faith. Then he met Cam, who …

Author Interview (+ Giveaway): Starworld by Audrey Coulthurst & Paula Garner

Today I'm very excited to present an interview with Audrey Coulthurst and Paula Garner, authors of STARWORLD--an emotional YA contemporary that explores themes of friendship, sexuality, and the battles we face in our everyday lives. Spoiler: Their answers are FUN.         Sam Jones and Zoe Miller have one thing in common: they both want …