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BOOKISH WAYS TO CELEBRATE PRIDE
In case it isn’t clear, I love Pride Month! As a book lover and introvert who doesn’t have access to a lot of Pride Month events (ours are in November for some reason), I wanted to share some ways you can celebrate and enjoy the month of June with a rainbow twist.
Leave your recommendations in the comments. I’d love to hear more about how you celebrate!1. Make some pride bookmarks
Simple and creative! Get crafty alone or with family and friends by making your own pride bookmarks. It’s a relatively low-cost way to have some pride themed merch. Will you do a rainbow? Yours or a friend’s flag? Will you make it punny? (“All Bi My Self” “I Have An Ace Up My Sleeve”) There are tons of jokes and examples online to draw inspiration from; Pinterest is a great place to start!
And it goes hand in hand with the next activity.2. Read books that celebrate queerness
In the wake of mass book bans, you’re probably already familiar with a few titles. Gender Queer, All Boys Aren’t Blue, Prince & Knight. Whatever your preferred genre is, there is a queer book out there for you. Nonfiction, middle-grade, graphic novel, action adventure, mystery. Look for something about queer folx just being their normal happy selves.
Bonus: read about an identity or dynamic you aren’t too familiar with. Never read about queer platonic relationships? An intersex mc? Now’s your chance to learn something new.3. Listen to a queer podcast
Too busy to read this June? That’s okay, sometimes weeks go by when I’m unable to read anything. But I still need something to fill the silence during my 40 minute commute. Podcasts are great for filling in those quiet moments. And there are some amazing ones out there!
I’m partial to fiction so shows like the Penumbra Podcast and Night Vale, but more niche productions, like Where the Stars Fell and King Falls AM, are also fantastic. Once again there is something for everyone!4. Chat with some LGBTQ+ bookstagrammers
If you’re here you probably love stories and books (if you don’t you may be lost, but feel free to stick around). Finding some #lgbtbookstagrammers to follow and talk about books with will open your reading options exponentially! They are the best when it comes to book recommendations. It can be hard to connect with people irl, and finding a group of friends who can relate to the queer aspects of your life isn’t always possible. I joined bookstagram when I realized I’d found people I could be open with and I’ve been here ever since.
Best of all, most are very welcoming! Don’t be shy. Send someone a message to say hi!5. Research!
I know this might not be everyone’s thing, but I love research! Studying history and culture is my jam. The queer community has a very long and very interesting history. It didn’t all start at Stonewall, although the contributions of that event have shaped the foundations of today. Queer people have always existed. Learning about some of the LGBTQ+ people who’ve contributed to the world we live in is a nice way to connect with the past, and serve as a reminder that we’ve always existed and will continue to exist.
A few ideas to start with: Harry Allen, Alan Turing, Josephine Baker, Emperor Ai of Han, Empress Elagabalus.6. Donate to organizations fighting book bans
Recent book bans are disproportionately affecting books on the subjects of race and LGBTQ+. Large organizations from ALA to publisher Penguin Random House are fighting these bans in court, while smaller organizations and individuals are working on the ground to keep these books in the hands of children who need them. If you can, show your support by donating books or funds to these organizations to keep the fight going.
Alternatively: Not everyone can make a monetary donation and that’s perfectly fine. Write to your legislators about book bans. Something nearly everyone can donate is time. Find the information for your officials and let them know you don’t support censorship or book bans. These are elected officials meant to make decisions that represent the will of the people. Let them know what side the people fall on.National Coalition Against Censorship | PEN America | Freedom to Read Foundation
7. Joing an LGBTQ+ Readathon
There are great readathons and reading challenges out there, and during pride month there are even more to encourage diverse reading and education. With some searching, you’re sure to find one that fits your reading style. Whether you’re looking to focus on biographies or lesbians or graphic novels or romances, there is a readathon out there for you.
Check #bookstagram on Instagram for ideas. ObscurePages hosts one every year, and BookwormPanda and NightReads have one as well. Goodreads is another great place if you like forum style posting and chatting about your books. If you still can’t find one, set a goal for yourself and work towards it! So long as you’re reading, you’re winning. And don’t forget to read queer all year!8. Support Queer Bookstores
Pride Month is often a big month for queer owned businesses, finding ways to show your support can go a long way to the survival of these businesses. If you can’t afford a new book right now, check out their merch. I always find the best stickers in these places! Oftentimes their merch is curated by local artists which means you’ll have something unique and you’ll have supported two independents for the price of one!
Share their posts on social media, attend their events, let them know you care. And if you don’t have any near you don’t sweat it. Most shops have online stores these days so you can still support them even if it’s from far away. Or show the same support to your local library. Check out those banned books, see what the big deal is! Everything I’ve mentioned above counts here too. Those statistics and positive support let them know you care!The Ripped Bodice | Meet Cute Romance Bookshop | Dog Eared Books
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THE QUEER BOOKS THAT GOT ME BACK INTO READING
Before I became a librarian I was a recent college grad who admittedly hadn’t read anything in years. My creative writing professor kind of killed my love of reading (being told that your preferred genre is crap for years will do that) and college itself isn’t exactly an environment that encourages reading for pleasure.
Still, a year later I was working my first library job and I was really enjoying myself! But the one question I had trouble answering was, “What books do you recommend?” I had no idea. I tried recommending the big-name authors, but I didn’t read their stuff and people who weren’t already fans had no interest in starting. I couldn’t recommend what I liked because I just didn’t know what I liked anymore.
After a particularly funny question asking for spicy summer reads was followed by one asking for gay romance (we had one ancient book) I realized two things. One, I had to find something that got me interested in reading again. And two, I had to start reading outside what I already knew.
I already had a feeling the things I loved as a teen wouldn’t work for me anymore. So I decided to take those two reference questions to heart, do some research, and read something I would recommend to those who’d asked.
CARRY ON by Rainbow Rowell
I decided to start with something we had in the library. Carry On had great reviews and was said to be hilarious, full of magic and romance. A chosen one who sucked at being the chosen one? That didn’t sound like the same reused YA plotlines I’d grown up with. I was more than a little intrigued.
After hesitating at the sheer size of this book, the glowing recommendations from my coworkers had me checking out.
I DEVOURED IT.
I can’t explain what it felt like to read something I actually enjoyed after so long. I finished the book in a day and at 522 pages that was no small feat! As silly as the story was, I couldn’t help getting invested. And what’s more, I found myself curious about a dynamic I’d never read about before. I’d never read a book with two men in a happy, loving relationship. Had never really seen them in media either. Unlike all the YA romances of the past, it didn’t make me cringe. It made me happy.THE MAGPIE LORD by KJ Charles
After finishing Carry On I spent hours on Goodreads searching for the highest-rated gay and lesbian romance books.
I hadn’t read adult fiction before and wanted to make sure I picked something good. We didn’t have any of them, as many titles are independently or self-published, but I was eager enough that when I found something I liked, I went through my drawers and dusted off my old keyboard Kindle.
The Magpie Lord was near the top of every list, and since two of my favorite things to read are historical fiction and anything with magic, a book about a disgraced earl and sassy male witch solving a murder mystery sounded like a great place to start.Going from Rowell to Charles was like splashing around in the kiddie pool before being thrown into the deep end. As in, I went from YA to full frontal steaminess and it was an experience! The Magpie Lord started strong and did not let up. Action, romance, mystery, sex. KJ Charles delivered!
Once again I was hooked. I didn’t realize a romance could make me feel so happy. A Charm of Magpies series not only helped me realize that romances were okay for me to enjoy, but rekindled another old love of mine. That of historical fiction.
WIDDERSHINS by Jordan L Hawk
I found myself back on Goodreads not long after finishing the magpie books. I wanted more of whatever magical experience I’d just had with KJ Charles. All I knew was I needed more action, more romance, everything a book could possibly give me. Thank god for the similar titles section because it led me to Jordan L Hawk.
The Whyborne and Griffin series might be my favorite of all time. I wanted a book that would give me everything and that is exactly what I found within the fictional town of Widdershins.
A fussy, lonely scholar teams up with a rakish ex-Pinkerton detective and rifle-wielding lady Egyptologist to protect the town from Lovecraftian horrors and evil men alike. Not only do these two men have an incredibly tender romance built on appreciation and love, but for the first time in years I felt truly seen by something I was reading.
Reading about Whyborne, his traumas, and insecurities, gave me permission to see those same things in myself. To stop being stoic and acknowledge the parts of me that were hurting. I saw pieces of myself in him and in all the other characters. That unexpected connection drew me further into the story.
More importantly, and what made me realize I’d rediscovered my love of reading, was the books made me want to be better.
As I read about these characters overcoming their struggles to find satisfaction and love I realized just how much I wanted that for myself. I wanted to live authentically and surround myself with people who would accept me. Coming to the conclusion that the circumstances of my past may have led me to this moment but that I can direct myself to a better future, is a gift I had never thought to give myself.
These three books, and the series that follow them, hold the stories that rekindled my love of reading. I found books that made me want to be a hero. Books that made me not care if people see me as other. That gave me permission to seek my own contentment.
I’ll be forever grateful to these stories and their authors as they’ve given me something I didn’t even know I was missing. Happiness.
Interested in these titles? Check them out here!
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Book Review: NOT YOUR AVERAGE HOT GUY (MATCH MADE IN HELL, Book 1)
Author: Gwenda Bond
Genre/s and tags: romantic comedy, angel/demon, adventure, apocalypse
Publication date: October 5, 2021
Content Warnings: HP reference, parental abandonment (literally and emotionally)Synopsis
A paranormal romantic comedy at the (possible) end of the world.
All Callie wanted was a quiet weekend with her best friend. She promised she could handle running her family’s escape room business while her mom is out of town. Instead a Satanic cult shows up, claiming that the prop spell book in one of the rooms is the real deal, and they need it to summon the right hand of the devil.
Naturally they take Callie and her friend, Mag, along with them. But when the summoning reveals a handsome demon in a leather jacket named Luke who offers to help Callie stop the cult from destroying the world, her night goes from weird to completely strange.As the group tries to stay one step ahead of the cult, Callie finds herself drawn to the annoying (and annoyingly handsome) Luke. But what Callie doesn’t know is that Luke is none other than Luke Morningstar, Prince of Hell and son of the Devil himself. Callie never had time for love, and with the apocalypse coming closer, is there room for romance when all hell’s about to break loose?
Review
I wanted to like this book so much! 😩 A rom-com about the son of Lucifer and a human girl trying to prevent the end of the world is the sort of paranormal nonsense I am normally 100% into! But what started as an adventurous sort-of romance ultimately became something chaotic (not in a good way) that had me feeling let down.
To say the plot is disorganized only addresses part of the issue. Not Your Average Hot Guy is advertised as a comedy, fun plots and outrageous situations are pretty typical for the genre. The problem is there wasn’t enough humor or romance here to justify calling this a rom-com. The humor was cutesy bordering on juvenile, and the romance…well, we’ll get there.
The book was divided into 3 parts. Part 1 felt like the author had a pretty solid understanding of what story she wanted to tell. It wasn’t perfect, but it had a bit more of the advertised comedy and the beginnings of a romance.
However, in Part 2, the tone shifted completely from attempted romantic comedy to something darker. I know it took place in Hell, but again, as a rom-com I wasn’t expecting how depressing and cruel this entire section would be. Any light-heartedness pretty much stopped here and never made a full return.
It was around this time I started to feel like someone had taken a machete to the manuscript. Individual sentences were fine, but next to one another they felt awkward, like the text had been so heavily edited it didn’t fit with anything else around it. This made the remainder of the book through Part 3 really choppy.
The romance is also secondary to the plot which is a major reason why the story didn’t work. The book could have focused on one or the other and ultimately chose the thing the author didn’t seem to know what to do with.
These characters never had a plan or even a basic understanding of how their own world worked (Luke’s excuse is literally that his lessons in Hell were boring, he was literally too stupid to live).
Even in the final moments, they were stumbling along asking each other, “What do we do?” They seem to have saved the world in the same way they almost ended it: by accident.
Despite all of this Callie is a character I couldn’t help but like. Her early chapters are ultimately what sold me on this book. She’s a lost 20-something who has a great mind, and designs puzzles while working for her mom’s escape room business (speaking of which I was so angry we only got one Indiana Jones/Uncharted puzzle moment; it was literally her thing, I feel robbed). I loved her random tangents and references, and I loved that her family and Luke loved them too.
I liked Luke too, but more his potential than him as a character. His chapters felt inconsistent like he didn’t really know what he thought about things (other than ‘Callie pretty, Callie smart, she makes me happy’). The way he was written made him seem noncommittal in the extreme. For someone whose dad has literally said they will unmake them if they fail, Luke comes across as way too laissez-faire.
That’s not to say the author didn’t attempt to give him an emotional journey. There’s this brief discussion about him getting his wings, that he needs to “realize who he is” but by the end he still feels the same. When it finally happens…it just sort of happens. There’s no personal growth or realizations, no sudden protective urge or self-preservation instinct. It’s just convenient wing time!
And finally my last big gripe. The story was going so well, and then right in the middle the main character just had to make a Harry Potter reference (just because you see something that looks like an owl but is not an owl, in a place that is nothing like Hogwarts, doesn’t mean you need to start talking houses.) And calling out the author in your book doesn’t suddenly make it okay either.
The trans community has made it clear, the best way to be an ally regarding Rowling’s BS is to not give her a platform. That means no references and no gushing over houses. Good stories can be written without piggybacking off of her work.
This was so disappointing because I feel like the author was a decent ally up until this point. Nonbinary best friend Mag felt well-rounded and was an important player, I wanted to see even more of them. Honestly my favorite character!
This book started out strong. I was laughing, lead Callie was entertaining, I liked the storyline, but the longer it went on the more obvious the issues became until I realized I’d judged it a little too soon. I was invested enough to finish, but it was a struggle by the end.
This book wasn’t the demon/human comedy I was hoping it would be. Ultimately Not Your Average Hot Guy became Less Than Your Average Romance. The book with the cute lil cover has let me down.
Quote that summarizes my experience:
“The romantic mood has officially left the mausoleum.”
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Writing: ⭐⭐⭐ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐ |
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐ | Spice: 🌶️*This is a closed-door romance, but I’ve gotta say that paragraph right before the fade-to-black really worked for me 😘
Purchase a Copy
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Book Review: LUCK OF THE DEVIL (RECKLESS DAMNED, Book 4)
Author: Lark Taylor
Genre/s and tags: Paranormal, Queer, Angels/Demons, Found Family, MMM Romance
Publication date: May 11, 2023
Content Warnings: stalking, violence and injury detail, illness, anxiety attacks, references to domestic abuse relating to a side character, foster care discussions, war, drugsSynopsis
One demon. One angel. A relationship that’s failed so many times. Could it really be just one human they’ve been missing?
Dagon
For centuries, Dimitri and I have tried to make it work. Each time we’ve been torn apart by our dominant natures, neither of us willing to back down. A hundred years ago, I thought he’d betrayed me in the worst possible way. In a fit of anger, we made a deal that led to my downfall.
Now Dimitri is back in my life, reshaping our history with the truth. But love still isn’t enough to make it work, not when being together tears us apart.
When he tells me he’s met our human mate, I can’t help but hope that Lucky will be the key to loving Dimitri the way I’ve always wanted.
But with Hell knocking at our door and an uprising threatening us all, can we persuade Lucky to give us a chance before it’s too late?Dimitri
I haven’t given up on Dagon for one hundred years, and I won’t now.
When Lucky crosses my path, I finally understand why Dagon and I have never quite worked. Fate never intended us to be a couple…we were destined to be a triad. Lucky is the piece we need to complete us.
Winning Lucky over won’t be easy. Someone is hurting him, making him put up walls that are nearly impossible for us to cross.
But chasing Dagon has taught me that I’m a stubborn angel. I won’t give up on either of my mates.Lucky
What an ironic nickname. Never in my life has anything lucky ever happened to me.
But everything changes when I meet Dagon and Dimitri. Two super-hot guys who aren’t put off by my inexperience? All my dreams are coming true.
Not for long though. Even with my boss and his family looking out for me, I know it’s only a matter of time before my past catches up to me.
So, for now, I’m going to soak up every drop of happiness Dimitri and Dagon have to offer.
Drink it up and pray they forgive me when I do what I always do.
Run…and don’t look back.
Review
Cue the happy tears as I give this series a final send-off 😭 Yes, this review is too long, no I don’t care!! I am happy and it took me way too long to form coherent thoughts so I’m sharing all of them!
I can’t believe it’s over. Was it really less than a year ago I stumbled across the blurb for Devil’s Mark, prompting me to immediately email the author and beg for an advanced copy?
If you’re new to the series, here is a quick spoiler-free recap.
The sons of Lucifer have abandoned Hell to live on Earth. They’ve spent the last century enjoying their freedom, doing as they please away from their father’s control. But things started changing a few years ago when the eldest brother, Cal, met Oscar. His fated mate. Since then the other brothers have found their partners as well, protecting them with everything they can as tensions with Hell start to rise. Now only one brother is left without his happily ever after, and he’s about to find it in the form of not one but TWO mates!
There has always been undeniable tension between Dagon and Dimitri. There’s clearly a past neither man is willing to share, but their interactions have illustrated all the ways they care and clash. No matter how much they want it to work, nearly 2,000 years of failure has proven that they can’t. Not as they are.
Enter Lucky. The human man who just so happens to be their mate. They were never two halves of a whole, they were a puzzle missing their final piece.
Lark did a wonderful job of showing just where Lucky fills in the gaps in their relationship. He isn’t the glue that holds the other two together, he’s a full partner, even if it takes them a while to convince him of that (a task his angel and demon are more than up to; these three generated enough heat to warm Hell!) 🔥🔥🔥
Lucky is a character I loved from page one. His life has been hard, isolating (this series is crack for lovers of hurt/comfort), and that’s part of why he is such a good choice for our angel and demon. With them, he gets double the love! And they both get someone to protect, someone who can bring gentleness to their lives.
“I’m so fucking happy the two of you can love each other how you always should’ve been able to. I’m sorry I kept you waiting so long.”
And it’s important to point out that their relationship worked. It’s not uncommon in poly stories to have characters with history who just don’t work but love each other enough that they can’t step away, even when every encounter leads to heartbreak. Meeting everyone’s needs requires a balance that sometimes two people alone can’t accomplish.
And as for how their relationship related to the plot, Lucky did so much more than balance the boys out. The symmetry between Dagon and Dimitri, a demon mated to an angel, was interesting enough before the addition of Lucky, a human. It wasn’t a random choice so the author could write a poly relationship. The trio literally represents Heaven, Earth, and Hell. One not being able to exist without the other ends up being very important to the conclusion of our story!
As always a fantastic cast of characters keeps us entertained between action and smut. Bailey was once again one of my favorites. There was this one moment towards the end where I was so. Damn. Proud. Of. Him! I have it on good authority that we might get to see his murder-husband’s reaction in a future scene and I am very excited about it!
Luck threw up his hands in exasperation, turning to River, Oscar, and Bailey. “Really? How the fuck do you guys put up with this?”
“We have a group chat.”Lark has a writing style that just works for me. She lays things out books in advance, preparing the groundwork for what she has planned so that when it finally happens you’re met with this wonderful, “Ah-ha!” moment.
I had a feeling this would be a poly book after Devil May Care, and I’m glad I was right. With how much Dimitri and Dagon butted heads, I think I would have been disappointed to suddenly see them get their crap together and I don’t feel it would have lasted. Lucky, Dagon, and Dimitri were just meant to be.
Luck of the Devil is a wonderful final book for the sons of Lucifer and their mates. From the climax with Lucifer to the smut – Lark writes some of the best sex scenes in gay romance and the ones in Luck of the Devil are no exception! – she managed to give readers the perfect send-off.
To this group, at least. I’m thrilled we’ll be getting more in this world, with Ferry’s book coming out this summer and others on the horizon!
Thank you so much for the ARC Lark! 😇🧑🏻😈
*For the record, just because an author chooses to go in a direction you weren’t expecting doesn’t mean the decision is inherently bad. A good author tells their story and doesn’t necessarily pander to readers. Plenty of books don’t meet my expectations, it’s okay to feel disappointed or disagree with a decision, but harassing authors and tanking reviews for a difference in opinion, especially when you haven’t read the story, is never right.
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 |
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
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Hello Wanderers,
It’s been a minute. I can say for certain this is not the way I wanted the launch of this blog to go. Making a few posts and then disappearing for months. Seems like a project given up on far too quickly.
Firstly, let me say thank you to those of you who have visited my blog so far. When a message pops into my inbox saying that someone has viewed my page or liked a post, I get this little burst of joy. That anyone is willing to take the time to read what I’ve written or cares what I have to say is such a foreign feeling, but one that fills me with confidence.
Every single one of you has made my day a little brighter in some way. So sincerely, thank you.
Secondly, an explanation for the extended absence both here and on social media. I typically take a break at the beginning of the year, but this break was not planned. I spent most of February and March caring for my cat who was diagnosed with a fast moving cancer. Tiger required so much care and attention I didn’t want to think of anything else.
She passed away March 28th. I just couldn’t see her in that kind of pain and discomfort. It was such an agonizing experience, but I feel both of us are at peace now. I had my little girl from the day she was born up until her last and I’m so thankful I got to be her world for the 12 years (she would have been 13 a few days later) she was here.
Lately I’ve been feeling the effects of my unintentional isolation. I didn’t realize how alone and disconnected I felt dealing with all of this by myself. Not being able to focus on my comfort activity – reading – certainly didn’t help either.
But now I’m feeling more conscious of the things I miss doing. I miss writing, I miss reviews, I miss my favorite characters, I miss talking about books and stories with people who love them as much as I do.
So expect a bit more from me in the near future! I have one post already written that I’ll be sharing soon to get things moving again and will be attempting to build up a bit of a backlog in case anything happens again.
For now, wander with abandon my friends. I’ll catch you on the road.
Madison
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GONE HOME Review
Image courtesy of Wikipedia Approx Playtime: 1.5 – 3 hrs | Game Type: Walking Simulator, Narrative | CW: some homophobia (no slurs, briefly mentioned), infidelity, mental health
The experience I had playing Gone Home was unexpectedly heartwarming, and a reminder of why coming of age stories can be so important and impactful.
It’s 1995. You are Katie, eldest daughter in a family of four, who has just returned from a European backpacking trip only to find her family’s home empty. As you wander the house interacting with different items and uncovering messages from your sister, Sam, the larger tale of what occurred during your time abroad unfolds.
*this review will contain some spoilers, please skip to the final verdict at the end of the article for final spoiler-free thoughts.
Gone Home is an epistolary narrative experience. There is no action or combat, there isn’t even traditional puzzle-solving. You are simply walking the family home, finding notes and artifacts, looking at photographs, and listening to cassette tapes. Slowly forming a picture of what happened over the year you were gone.Despite the game being on my radar since its release in 2013, I managed to go into this completely blind. Something I recommend as the coming of age themes, while not uncommon, are revealed so naturally. Sam’s journey to discovering her interests and desires is portrayed authentically and with great care. Her story made me emotional in a way many contemporary stories often fail to.
Faced with a new school, preoccupied parents, and a sister she has no way of contacting, Sam is struggling. She finds an outlet through writing, and the player will find snippets of her stories scattered throughout the home.
These were my favorite items in the game. I loved watching Sam’s writing grow in strength and maturity, and reflect her own life as she learned more about herself. The pirate plot had me wishing for an irl novel, and the story where the first mate changed gender and the pirate captain declared she loved her still made my heart sing!
I know it was written as a reflection of Sam realizing her attraction to women, but I couldn’t help but see it as a moment of transgender joy as well! That declaration had me tearing up.
Her journey from discovery to love to heartbreak to…well, I won’t spoil everything, had me bursting with joy. Historical queer stories (and yes, it does sound strange to be saying ‘historical’ regarding the year I was born) are so important, reminding us that even though the support might not have been there, many were still able to find happiness.
The glimpses we get of the girls’ parents are interesting, but take a backseat to the story of Sam. Serving more as reasons for her thoughts and behavior changes, than stories as complex as her own.
The big exception is the mysterious uncle from whom they inherited the house. Not much is revealed about Uncle Oscar, and what little there is has been left intentionally vague.
It’s clear something bad occurred with the uncle sometime in 1963, and whatever it was led the girls’ father, Terrance, to become obsessed with that year. There are clues throughout the manor hinting that whatever it was caused Oscar to be shunned by his family and ultimately isolate himself in his home. Based on what little evidence there is, fan theorists have different explanations such as he was gay, he was caught crossdressing, or he abused Terrance. Since Gone Home is about drawing conclusions based on secondhand information, I’m inclined to believe any of these is possible based on the limited information the player has.
Edit: the developer seems to have indicated via Twitter that the abuse theory is correct. I wasn’t able to find the source but will link it if I find it.
Visually the game is an impressive sight! While it may not be on the same graphical level as more recent games, I still found myself impressed even 10 years after Gone Home’s initial release. It ran perfectly without sacrificing appearance. I did have to tweak some settings to make things a bit brighter and turn off the motion blur, but who doesn’t adjust visuals to their preferences?
The sound design was impressive as well. The soundtrack and Sam’s voiceovers were crisp and full of emotion. My one criticism regarding the sound might be the sound of the story raging outside. No matter how long I played you could not convince me that the jarring sound that kept repeating was lightning. I think a simple rain soundtrack would have honestly worked just as well, if not better.
I also liked the addition of text overlays. I’ve been playing a few too many games lately that expect you to read a character’s messy handwriting and having the addition of a plain font option is a thoughtful accessibility feature.
VerdictA game perfect for a quiet night in, Gone Home holds a special spot in my heart. From the beautiful visuals to the bubbling feeling of queer joy I felt, and continue to feel whenever I think about it, this game should be considered a classic in the genre of narrative gaming.
Reminiscent of the young adult novels I loved as a teen, Gone Home brings players a nostalgic experience. All the messy feelings that come from figuring yourself out are presented in such an honest and relatable way. For those missing the 90s and the discovery phase of young adulthood, you’ll find an immersive, authentic walk down memory lane.
☆☆☆10/10☆☆☆
Reviewed on PC | Available on PC, Mac, Playstation, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
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THE GREAT WIDDERSHINS REREAD
Welcome to The Great Widdershins Reread of 2023!
Do you love fussy, repressed scholars with magical talent? How about ex-Pinkertons with seductive smiles and sword canes? Female archeologists with fantastic rifle skills and more brains than most men? Eldritch horrors and old town secrets?
Well then, you’re in for a treat!
Love is dangerous. Ever since the tragic death of the friend he adored, Percival Endicott Whyborne has ruthlessly suppressed any desire for another man. Instead, he spends his days studying dead languages at the museum where he works. So when handsome ex-Pinkerton Griffin Flaherty approaches him to translate a mysterious book, Whyborne wants to finish the job and get rid of the detective as quickly as possible.
Griffin left the Pinkertons after the death of his partner. Now in business for himself, he must investigate the murder of a wealthy young man. His only clue: an encrypted book that once belonged to the victim.
As the investigation draws them closer, Griffin’s rakish charm threatens to shatter Whyborne’s iron control. But when they uncover evidence of a powerful cult determined to rule the world, Whyborne must choose: to remain safely alone, or to risk everything for the man he loves.
The Whyborne & Griffin series by Jordan L Hawk is one of my favorites. Of all time. These books combine so many of my favorite story elements and genres – historical, paranormal, LGBTQ+ stories, Lovecraft retellings, romance – it’s honestly perfect!
I can’t think of a better time to reenter Hawk’s world of magic and monsters. W&G is an 11 book series with 1 book of short stories, so 12 books total. Perfect for a year-long reread!
I know January is nearly finished, but the number of books to the number of months means that if I get to be a little lax 😂 I think the hardest thing about this challenge will be not rushing through, but I hope forcing myself to slow down will allow me to savor them the way they deserve.
I’ll be working through the books one month at a time starting with Widdershins in January.
If you’d like to join me, please do! I’m trying to decide what would be the best method for group reading in blog format. In the meantime, I’ll be making a post for each book where you’re free to comment (don’t go to the comments unless you want spoilers!). I also might do something with Instagram, so keep an eye out.
- WIDDERSHINS, book 1
- THRESHOLD, book 2
- STORMHAVEN, book 3
- NECROPOLIS, book 4
- BLOODLINE, book 5
- HOARFROST, book 6
- MAELSTROM, book 7
- FALLOW, book 8
- DRAAKENWOOD, book 9
- BALEFIRE, book 10
- DEOSIL, book 11
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Book Review: GALEN (Sons of the Fallen, Book 1)
Title: Galen
Author: Jaclyn Osborn
Series: Sons of the Fallen, Book 1
Genre/s and tags: Adult, Paranormal, Angels / Demons, Urban Fantasy, MM Romance
Publisher: Self
Publication date: June 15th 2021Synopsis
Simon just wants to run his antique shop in peace.
But then he finds a small mysterious box that’s (probably) haunted, and his shop is broken into by the hottest man he’s ever seen who then steals said creepy box. Now demons are after him and his only hope is to trust the tall, muscled, combat-boot-wearing thief who claims to be the son of a fallen angel.
Galen is charged with protecting humanity from dark forces. Cursed with Wrath, he’s hot-tempered and spends his days fighting demons and trying not to kill his six brothers when they irritate him.
His number one rule? Never fall in love. But then he meets Simon, a clumsy human who asks way too many questions and is—unfortunately—a total demon-magnet, and he starts breaking his own rules.What’s inside the box, and why do the demons want it so badly? One thing is for sure… Simon can kiss his peaceful, ordinary life goodbye.
Review
Everyone has been recommending this series to me for a while. Whenever I’d mention one of my favorites – Necessary Evils – or a book on my tbr – Monstrous – people were like, “You have to read Sons of the Fallen!”
And it’s not that I was avoiding it. I wanted the series to finish first, which it recently has, so I can read them all at once (and a certain series by Nikole Knight involving angels may have…scared me for life. Just a little bit. So I was a smidge hesitant to jump into another book with a massive holy war.)
On January 1st I downloaded book one and promptly finished it in two days, making Galen my first book of 2023! So what did I think?
I loved it, obviously. My friends rarely steer me wrong, and in this case, they were very, very right about this family of sinful Nephilim.
This book’s strength is definitely in the characters. I have honestly never been so excited about a multicouple series before! Each of the brothers has such a distinct character and personality that I cannot wait to get inside their heads. (More Raiden and Gray please!)
Between our two leads, Simon really stole the show for me. How he was written felt so realistic. He responded to a completely outrageous situation the way I think any real person would, often putting on a brave face when internally he was absolutely scared shitless.
Galen was a bit harder to love, mostly to him being a stubborn ass, but we forgive him for it because Simon does. He really was an interesting character once he started to open up a bit more. It was easier to understand his reasoning for holding Simon at arm’s length upon hearing what he’d gone through.
The author did a great job making him and all the brothers relatable without humanizing them in the traditional way. Part of understanding them is acknowledging they are not human and never have been. The way they have lived and experience life will forever separate them from us, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t people.
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 |
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Quote that made me laugh:
“‘I fuck hard. I don’t do gentle.’ Yep. Rest in peace to my ass.”
Purchase a Copy
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Book Review: M IS FOR MONSTER
Title: M is for Monster
Author: Talia Dutton
Genre/s and tags: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, SFF, Retelling, LGBTQ+
Publisher: Abrams Books
Publication date: June 28th 2022Synopsis
When Doctor Frances Ai’s younger sister Maura died in a tragic accident six months ago, Frances swore she would bring her back to life. However, the creature that rises from the slab is clearly not Maura.
This girl, who chooses the name “M,” doesn’t remember anything about Maura’s life and just wants to be her own person.
However, Frances expects M to pursue the same path that Maura had been on—applying to college to become a scientist—and continue the plans she and Maura shared. Hoping to trigger Maura’s memories, Frances surrounds M with the trappings of Maura’s past, but M wants nothing to do with Frances’ attempts to change her into something she’s not.
In order to face the future, both Frances and M need to learn to listen and let go of Maura once and for all. Talia Dutton’s debut graphic novel, M Is for Monster, takes a hard look at what it means to live up to other people’s expectations—as well as our own.
Review
“This isn’t my body. I just live here.”
Well this debut graphic novel has Talia Dutton solidly on my “authors to watch” list! Grief, identity, family, are all major themes within this Frankenstein retelling and the art style really ties everything together.
The world has stylistic similarities to the classic Frankenstein movie, opting for more of a teal-and-white tone rather than the grayscale typically seen in monster stories. This gives the book a bit of a lighter feel which works so well as M is for Monster is more of an emotionally driven story than one of horror. I love the way the characters looked! Frances in especially acted as a constant reminder of the implied time period with her particular style of lab wear and gloves.
I do wish some of the world-building had been better explained. The time period is implied but never stated which gives the story a timeless feel, but magic is mentioned several times without really being explored. It was just vague enough that all mention of it could have been removed and the story would not have changed.
M is for Monster is, on a base level, a Frankenstein retelling. In reality, those similarities stop early on and we’re left with Dutton’s original take on a very old question, “How can we know who we are when the world insists we are something else?”
The story has some LGBTQ+ side characters, and while they aren’t the main focus of the story many readers will recognize how M’s journey mirrors the struggles many in the community face. Particularly dealing with the expectations of others and assumptions about you based on your physical body. Not to mention keeping your identity a secret for reasons of literal survival and fear of being without family.
M is for Monster is one of those stories I’m so glad to have read. I think it’s a story that will resonate with a lot of readers. This is the story Victor’s creature deserved (you know if Victor wasn’t a wimp and took responsibility as a father), it’s the story all of us deserve.
Purchase a Copy
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READ HARDER 2023
I am probably the worst person when it comes to reading challenges. As a mood reader, forcing a TBR on myself is pretty much a guaranteed way to not read any of those books for as long as possible.
Throw in a neurodivergent brain that requires structure to function while also silently screaming “I can do what I want!” when I try to implement that structure myself, and you have someone who really, really struggles to achieve goals.
But that doesn’t stop me from trying! For the last few years I’ve been setting a yearly TBR for myself – think 22 in 22 – where I have one year to get through as many preselected titles as I can. When I saw the prompts for Book Riot’s 2023 Read Harder Challenge I realized that they were perfect for helping me get out of my comfort zone and work through my list of unread books.
The books I’m choosing may not be the ones I use to fill the prompts, but it will be nice to have options as I attempt to read through this list. I’m also only using books that I own copies of or that I know my library has.
1. Light from Uncommon Stars
Read a novel about a trans character written by a trans author.2. Neverwhere (rec’d VE Schwab)
Read one of your favorite author’s favorite books.3. The New Queer Conscience (Pocket Change Collective)
Read a book about activism.4. The Hate U Give
Read a book that’s been challenged recently in your school district / library OR read one of the most-challenged / banned books of the year by a queer and / or BIPOC author.
5. Miss Abbott and the Doctor
Read a completed webcomic.6. Pretty much anything from 2022
Finish a book you’ve DNFed.7. The World We Make
Listen to an audiobook performed by a POC of a book written by an AOC.8. On a Sunbeam
Read a graphic novel/comic/manga if you haven’t before; or read one that is a different genre than you normally read.9. Parable of the Sower (was originally published by indie publisher, Four Walls Eight Windows)
Read an independently published book by a BIPOC author.10. This honestly sounds perfect for mood reading so I’ll leave it blank
Read a book you know nothing about based solely on the cover.11. Heroes’ Feast (Dungeons & Dragons): The Official D&D Cookbook
Read a cookbook cover to cover.
12. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States
Read a nonfiction book about BIPOC and/or queer history.13. The Guncle
Read an author local to you.14. The Alien’s Runaway Omega
Read a book with under 500 Goodreads ratings.15. The Henna Artist or The Map of Salt and Stars
Read a historical fiction book set in an Eastern country.
16. Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating
Read a romance with bisexual representation.17. Firekeeper’s Daughter
Read a YA book by an Indigenous author.18. Everything Is OK (Tung)
Read a comic or graphic novel that features disability representation.19. Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot
Read a nonfiction book about intersectional feminism.20. If They Come for Us
Read a book of poetry by a BIPOC or queer author.21. Somewhere Beneath Those Waves
Read a book of short stories.
22. We Hunt the Flame
Read any book from the Ignyte awards shortlist/longlist/winner list.23. My Heart Is a Chainsaw
Read a social horror, mystery, or thriller novel.24. So many to pick from…
Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat (a finished fanfic, a book whose movie or TV adaptation you’ve seen, a queer retelling, a book by a disabled author, etc)
That should be everything. Have you ever taken on a reading challenge? What are some books you’d recommend for these prompts?
Happy reading!
Life is too short to read things you don't love
Fictional Wanderings 