Reading Round-up: Spring 2024

I’ve read a ton since the baby was born, mostly because there’s not a lot else to do while nursing. Here’s a brief spring list, much delayed due to the difficulty finding computer time not otherwise allocated for keeping the family fed. Summer list to follow, fear not, but I thought I’d break things down into manageable chunks!

An Education in Malice by ST Gibson

This is a book with sapphic vampires. It is very well written. It’s actually kind of what I wanted from Reluctant Immortals and didn’t get. There’s dark academia and immortality and poetry. An enjoyable read. (LGBTQ+, Horror, Dark Academia)

Kindred by Octavia Butler

A classic that gave me a lot to think about. I’d love to write a whole post about Butler’s attitude to racism and the near-fatalist approach she has, but I unfortunately don’t have time at this moment in my life (a theme of these reviews I’m sorry to say). Someday, I will come back to Kindred and some of the other Butler I have read and compile my thoughts. But until then, Kindred was honestly one of the things I have most enjoyed by her so far. A must-read in my opinion, a true American classic. And there’s time-travel. Time-travel for me is a hit or miss. I either love it or hate it. This time travel was compelling and absolutely integral to the story and themes Butler was exploring. A+. (How do I classify this book though? Classic, Horror, Historic Fantasy, Not sure???)

Small Gods of Calamity (ARC Received)

In case you are wondering, I definitely turned around a bought a copy of this book to support the author. That is high praise for an ARC.

I had intended to do a full review of this book because I did receive an e-ARC through NetGalley but….parenting. Parenting is a thing. I am tired. Even writing this post was Herculian. So with that in mind, I’ll keep it brief. I loved this story. It’s queer, it has a magic system/spiritual system that is compelling and new-to-me (though may not be for readers from the same background as the author of course) and a compelling emotional thru-line about grief, guilt, and forgiveness. Also there’s lots of murder. It’s basically Amanda catnip. Go forth. Enjoy. (Horror, Urban Fantasy, LGBTQ+)

Wolfsong by TJ Klune

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, kind of didn’t care for the finale. But I see why people love it and it’s well-written. Do with that review what you will! I have very few spoons to write them for you! But I read the book, and at some point I may get around to reading the sequel, which is a slightly lukewarm review, but that’s how I feel, mostly because I love werewolves but I am not so sure about how things wrapped up. (Urban Fantasy, LGBTQ+)

A Day of Fallen Night (and) The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

I absolutely loved this book. I did not as much care for Priory! This surprised me, and I wish I had written this review before I wrote it! Alas. A Day of Fallen Night had a lot of things I love — badass warrior women, Vikings, cool Asian-inspired temples, and dragons. Dragons of more than one variety even! There are prophecies, there are moments of poetry, there is a really ill-advised decision to ride a horse directly postpartum that made me stressed. I enjoyed it immensely. Perhaps because I enjoyed it so much, Priory felt like a letdown for me. It’s a shame, I think I would have loved it if I had read it first! Such is the life of a reader reading things out of the publication order. (Fantasy, LGBTQ+)

In the Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

This might be my favorite book I read this spring, which should not be a surprise considering the hype in various circles. It is well-deserved. I’m a sucker for World War I books — it’s such and interesting time period and I find it absolutely fascinating. I’m also a fan of a good Orpheus-adjacent descent to save someone you love. A descent into a literal hell on earth seems appropriate. (Historical Fantasy, LGBTQ+)

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

This is possibly my least favorite Bardugo book. Which isn’t to say I disliked it. I think that, for me, Galaxy’s first book was so satisfying, it would have been incredibly hard to top. Hell Bent just doesn’t quite manage it, perhaps because for it to work as a book we have to really feel Galaxy and Darlington’s relationship more than I personally did. But the Yale setting continued to be really fun, so there’s that! (Horror)

That’s all I have to say about these books! I’ll do another post with everything I’ve over the summer here soon.

Don’t forget that I will be at Sweet Donkey in Roanoke tomorrow doing some fun stuff! Until then!