I saw a retweet about this and read it today. An Utterly, Utterly wonderful short story. I cried several times, I had to take a little break. Went bacI saw a retweet about this and read it today. An Utterly, Utterly wonderful short story. I cried several times, I had to take a little break. Went back to it. Fantastic social commentary, lovely queer characters and a wonderful arc. Definitely recommended and look forward to seeing what else the author writes.
Merged review:
I saw a retweet about this and read it today. An Utterly, Utterly wonderful short story. I cried several times, I had to take a little break. Went back to it. Fantastic social commentary, lovely queer characters and a wonderful arc. Definitely recommended and look forward to seeing what else the author writes....more
I almost read this in one go, but fell asleep and finished it when I woke up. I really love the Birdverse. It is such a wonderful queer setting. The cI almost read this in one go, but fell asleep and finished it when I woke up. I really love the Birdverse. It is such a wonderful queer setting. The characters just resonate so much. This felt a bit like a feminist Lord Dunsany story, in that the language and the world building were fantastical and felt like real legends. But there was also a very human/personal story being told. And the characters were so interesting with so many layers being revealed with each new addition. Very highly recommended....more
I'm giving this four stars because I had two very different reactions to this book. The first half I absoutely loved would give 6 out 5 stars. Ox whenI'm giving this four stars because I had two very different reactions to this book. The first half I absoutely loved would give 6 out 5 stars. Ox when he was young and trying to figure out the world was just so loveable. I shed so many tears when he was finding acceptance with the family and figuring out the world. It was a nice cozy werewolf book and I was totally there for it. But then the second half once the violence and the split happened I just didn't like at all. It just felt like SO much unneeded angst. It was a storyline that went no where apart from making people miserable without effecting the plot at all. As it all circled back. And the "alpha" stuff was really annoying. Ox turned into an annoying normal person. And I didn't like the way "becoming an alpha" changed people's personality and interactions. I also thought it was really odd in a queer book that only penis penetrating lower body hole counted as "sex" and that was all that mattered for mating? I bought the second book when I was very much enjoying the first half but I'm not sure if I'll bother reading it now. ...more
This book was quite silly but enjoyable. I think I would have liked it more if the students had decided to steal the artifacts because of the injusticThis book was quite silly but enjoyable. I think I would have liked it more if the students had decided to steal the artifacts because of the injustice of colonisation, rather than being hired to do so for very large sums of money by a billionaire. It just felt like they lost some of the moral ground over that. Also it made it seem a little implausiable as to why a billionaire would try and hire a group of random Chinese American students to do the stealing, and not say, highly competent professional thieves. But it was a quick read, and the characters were likable. And I really enjoyed all the cultural references. ...more
Delany is one of those authors I will buy whenever I find anything by him. This one was an interesting kinda post-post apocalyptic book in the far futDelany is one of those authors I will buy whenever I find anything by him. This one was an interesting kinda post-post apocalyptic book in the far future. With mutants, who weren't really mutants. And an epic journey, and mythology and legends, and non-binary people before non-binary people were acknowledged. And I really enjoyed it....more
Lovely little biography about Peter Cushing and his wife. It largely details his career and her influence. And has lots of photos of objects in the cuLovely little biography about Peter Cushing and his wife. It largely details his career and her influence. And has lots of photos of objects in the current display at the Whitstable Museum....more
This was a fun little oxfam find. A tri-lingual book in Chinese (traditional), English and Japanese. It was a story set at West Lake that I hadn't comThis was a fun little oxfam find. A tri-lingual book in Chinese (traditional), English and Japanese. It was a story set at West Lake that I hadn't come across before. A young dragon escapes an evil one, helps people, finds a family, but dies when his identity is revealed, so they worship him as a god....more
This was utterly brilliant. At first it filled me with nostalgia for 90s queer culture. Then it was a bit sad as the drug use got so excessive and it This was utterly brilliant. At first it filled me with nostalgia for 90s queer culture. Then it was a bit sad as the drug use got so excessive and it felt like things were a little mean to the main character. But once it got to LA. And the end of the world started it was just perfect. I'm not sure what other Michelle Tea books I've read. But this has made me sure I need to go back and read them all just to be sure. ...more
I adore Gail Simone but this just didn't feel like Misty to me. It was nice horror comic and the art work was GORGEOUS and felt very 70s. But the charI adore Gail Simone but this just didn't feel like Misty to me. It was nice horror comic and the art work was GORGEOUS and felt very 70s. But the characters in the story felt too old to be Misty stories. Having recently discovered these comics the link I liked best about them was that the main characters were all school aged girls who had to defeat some form of evil, away from the everyday world, weren't believed, and often made friends along the way. The last story felt like that but not the first three. I feel like Misty was there to inspire young girls obsessed with spooky things. Whereas this was aimed at a much older audience. ...more
This was probably the best of the snowpiercer books. Maybe because they finally got off the train! But it was interesting to see a bit more of the worThis was probably the best of the snowpiercer books. Maybe because they finally got off the train! But it was interesting to see a bit more of the world. And it did feel like it got a proper ending. Overall I think the snowpiercer is kinda stupid as post apocalyptic worlds go but I am always strangely curious about it and when I see a copy for £2 I figure it's probably worth reading. ...more
I put off writing this review for awhile because I do not think I can do this book justice. It is rare that a third book in a trilogy holds its own asI put off writing this review for awhile because I do not think I can do this book justice. It is rare that a third book in a trilogy holds its own as well as the other two. But this one did. I loved this book so much. The whole trilogy is brilliant and the third book really gives a very satisfying conculsion to what was established in the other two books. There were also several totally unexpected and wonderful new additions. I loved Hassa on the cover. I loved all the character development. The interactions. It is hard to judge the book on it's own, as this is my new favourite trilogy. And one I will re-read many times. Highly recommended. but definitely start with the first book in the series as this is not stand alone. Thank you to netgalley for advanced reading copy. I am SO happy I got to read this early. I can't wait for the book to come out to purchase it and read it again in hard copy....more
I found two more of the snowpiercer graphic novels in the super sale bin at Forbidden Planet and decided to get them. I'd not read the first prequel. I found two more of the snowpiercer graphic novels in the super sale bin at Forbidden Planet and decided to get them. I'd not read the first prequel. But didn't feel like I needed to to understand what was happening with this one. It was ok. The planet dying was interesting but like the other snowpiercer I read it didn't feel real enough to be scary. There wasn't a lot of social commentary. Just this thing is happening. People are dying. The apocalyptic cult was kinda the most disappointing. I was wanting some reasoning there. But it was just, nope everyone will now die. Still for only £1.99 less than a powerade I can't complain!...more
I would say probably 3.5. This was another oxfam find. I bought it because it was occult, a woman writer and social commentary. But it didn't quite liI would say probably 3.5. This was another oxfam find. I bought it because it was occult, a woman writer and social commentary. But it didn't quite live up to what I was hoping. I think probably because I was expecting more social commentary. I'm not sure if I will hunt down part 2 or not yet. Definitely worth getting and reading though. ...more
For some reason vol. 5 lost the page illustrations before each chapter. Which I found disappointing as I really loved the artwork. But the story of "lFor some reason vol. 5 lost the page illustrations before each chapter. Which I found disappointing as I really loved the artwork. But the story of "little blind" is one of my favourite parts of the series and I really enjoyed the graphic novel version. ...more
I really loved this! I can't wait for the next volume. It was such a great book. Non-binary main character and a queernormative setting. A dragon in hI really loved this! I can't wait for the next volume. It was such a great book. Non-binary main character and a queernormative setting. A dragon in human form. A heist! Low magic. And a powerful story about conflicted loyalties and the possible end of the world. Very enjoyable. Highly recommended! ...more
This was in a way quite disappointing and also quite useful. I was not expecting it to be as much about a specific plan and more about strategic leadeThis was in a way quite disappointing and also quite useful. I was not expecting it to be as much about a specific plan and more about strategic leadership in general. I also didn't realise it was written for US libraries (having come across it at the CILIP confererence). And it was also written for Very Big libraries. The whole plan was have a committee for these three things who'll feed back to a larger group. And i was like we have EIGHT staff! I was hoping for more details on how to have staff lead, why you should listen to them, and specific things for them to do. More details, less big picture. But still I did find a lot in here that I can use in my current situation. ...more
This was incredibly useful. I work what I consider to be a highly successful library that's had a lot of cuts and is currently undergoing a consultatiThis was incredibly useful. I work what I consider to be a highly successful library that's had a lot of cuts and is currently undergoing a consultation and this book provided me with a lot of ways to fight back against those decisions and offer an alternative proposals for the benefit of both our users and our service. Nice, simple and practical, definitely one I'd recommend for librarians in a similar position. ...more
I devoured this book in two sittings. I probably would have read it straight through in one go but I had important work things the next morning so shoI devoured this book in two sittings. I probably would have read it straight through in one go but I had important work things the next morning so shouldn't have stayed up super late, and the book does warn you not to do that! This was quite gross body horror, and lots of social satire. And lots of horrible things and yet, despite the abuse and the toxic relationships there were still a lot of relatable things for these characters. And there were some really beautiful bits as well. I'm definitely going to keep reading everything by Alison, which means Space Babies next! *insert laughing emoji here*...more
I was lucky enought to get a review copy of this book from netgalley. I had read the first book and loved it! It was great to return to these characteI was lucky enought to get a review copy of this book from netgalley. I had read the first book and loved it! It was great to return to these characters and their magical world. This one felt like it could be a spooky, cozy, queer midsommer murders. There was a mysterious murder on set and the team had to infiltrate the set to make their investigations. I really appreciated the way these murders were set up, bodies that looked like people who were still alive, a mysterious doll house. And an fascinating subplot about what was up with their returned from the dead (again) ghost. This series is really refreshing. It has such great disability and queer rep. More than anything I think it shows the best way to be a friend to someone who has a different energy level and pain level than most people. The ending was tantalising and I can't wait for book 3. Even though I got a free preview copy from netgalley. I will definitely be buying this when it comes out as it will be one I'd like to read again as a physical copy. ...more
This was another Netgalley find. A queer retelling of White Snake was something I really wanted to read. I am familiar with several different versionsThis was another Netgalley find. A queer retelling of White Snake was something I really wanted to read. I am familiar with several different versions of the legend. There were a lot of changes to the story besides the gender of the White Snake. He wasn't already an immortal, Xian was a prince not a doctor, the baddie wasn't a monk, and there was no flood and 100s of deaths! But it still had the same heart. Green Snake was definitely still Green snake. The story was sweet and felt rooted in history despite being a fable. The author also did a good job of introducing elements of Chinese culture without it being annoying for people who already knew about it. It was a lovely story and I love that queer romance of this story exists for teens to read today. I would recommend it to people of all ages. ...more
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