Chronicling key figures in lesbian fiction from the 1920s to the 90s, Lisa Marie Evans and Marianne K. Martin's In Her Words: 20th Century Lesbian Fiction is an exhaustive walk through individual author's lives and works using a range of new and archival interviews. Without preamble, we are thrown into a discussion of Radclyffe Hall’s... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Broken Valley by Owen Lach ★★★1/2
Broken Valley, Owen Lach’s follow-up to his sci-fi debut Founder’s Mercy, sees his band of young runaways crossing the country to find freedom and answers while staying one step ahead of the forces hunting them. Roadtrip! I was a big fan of Lach’s first book in the Neskan Chronicles. It blended action, sci-fi world-building, character,... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Rise of the Renegade Child by Robert Roth ★★★★
Robert Roth has taken his queer action sci-fi set up and layered multiversal political intrigue into the mix. Rise of the Renegade Child deepens and expands the world of The Gates Saga, without sacrificing its frenetic pace. Picking up right after the events of the previous book, Into the Lightning Gate, Cam Maddock is reeling... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Out of the Blue by Jason June ★★★1/2
Nonbinary merpeople on a magical journey of self-discovery meets teen swim team relationship drama, Jason June (author of Jay’s Gay Agenda) has delivered a queer rom-com that’s, well, okay… silly and cheesy and a bit daft, but also adorable AF. Crest is about to start their Journey, a tradition for teen merfolk (mer are nonbinary,... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Heat Wave by TJ Klune ★★★
TJ Klune wraps up his YA superhero trilogy, The Extraordinaries, with Heat Wave which sees teenager Nick launching into his superhero career, as well as launching into his fully-fledged relationship with Seth. Quick note: being the last part of a trilogy, there’s no way to avoid spoilers for the previous books in this review. Nick... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Book Boyfriend by Kris Ripper ★★★★
If you’re looking for a cute, contemporary gay romance to snuggle up with then Kris Ripper’s Book Boyfriend is a good place to start. Behind it’s rom-com trappings, it has hidden depths and a beautifully flawed lead character in PK. Preston ‘PK’ Harrington is an editorial assistant (and wannabe author) working at a book publisher... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Doubting Thomas by Matthew Clark Davison ★★★★
The gap between real support and performative allyship—the lurking fear that beneath the flag waving veneer of equality hides something untrustworthy, the thought that when push comes to shove straight people may not really have our backs—is the starting point for Matthew Clark Davison’s debut novel, Doubting Thomas. Thomas is an openly gay fourth grade... Continue Reading →
Book Review: The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters ★★1/2
Comic book geek Wesley Hudson is in love with his best friend, but between dealing with his successful YA writing mother, the potential closure of his favourite bookshop (that's also his employer) and dealing with his brother's upcoming wedding, he's got more than enough on his plate to worry about. Julian Winter's new book, The... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Never Turn Your Back On The Tide by Kergan Edwards-Stout ★★★1/2
Full disclosure: I’ve known Kergan Edwards-Stout for the better part of thirty years. I was there for many of the events depicted in his book and am even mentioned in it. Despite this, I am going to be as objective as I can with this review. Truth be told, I would have read this book... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Crema by Johnnie Christmas & Dante Luiz ★★★★
Ghosts, coffee, arson and love - it’s a funny mix in Crema, a new supernatural graphic novel from writer Johnnie Christmas and PRISM Award nominated illustrator Dante Luiz. Esme is a Brooklyn barista with the uncanny ability to see ghosts when she’s caffeinated to the hilt. When her café is about to be sold to... Continue Reading →