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the_lesbrarian's reviews
100 reviews
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
I really wanted to like this book. On paper, it looks like everything I love to read: witches, sapphic love story, familial love, cozy plot… Unfortunately, this one did not live up to my expectations. I gave reading it a few different tries, but the writing is so heavy with juvenile purple prose that it kept me from connecting with the characters or plot. The plot moves very slowly, and I DNF’d around the 50% mark because I was too underwhelmed to make myself continue.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, I just wish it was structured differently. I would be interested in trying another book by this author as their style matures.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for this ARC.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, I just wish it was structured differently. I would be interested in trying another book by this author as their style matures.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for this ARC.
Wild Things by Laura Kay
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
I had fun with this book! It’s like a warm autumnal version of a beach read.
You have to be willing to put up with some of the cringe cardinal rules of beach reads that this book follows: some of the timelines in this book objectively do not make sense, there is a plethora of pop culture references, and the late-20s characters have the logical and emotional capacities of teenagers. That being said, I love halloween and also being being a silly lesbian who enjoys silly romance books, so this was a good shut-your-brain off cozy witchy sapphic romance to get ready for spookier months ahead.
You have to be willing to put up with some of the cringe cardinal rules of beach reads that this book follows: some of the timelines in this book objectively do not make sense, there is a plethora of pop culture references, and the late-20s characters have the logical and emotional capacities of teenagers. That being said, I love halloween and also being being a silly lesbian who enjoys silly romance books, so this was a good shut-your-brain off cozy witchy sapphic romance to get ready for spookier months ahead.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying and Death
There’s a lot of ghosts in this book but truly no gory focuses on death nor any mention of grief.
Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.5
An intriguing mystery, but I yearned for more characterization.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual assault
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
3.75
I enjoyed this more than the first installment. The characters had a very sweet relationship and this book has way less miscommunication than the first. Good conversations about being in your late 20s and grappling with how different our paths can be, in love, in careers, in goals, even among your closest friends.
The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi
a major
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Police brutality
Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly
funny
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Such a perfect summer read. A slice of life of an academic Māori-Russian family full of so much love for each other through the eyes of two twenty something siblings.
Sometimes laugh out loud funny, sometimes messy and vulnerable, always charming.
Sometimes laugh out loud funny, sometimes messy and vulnerable, always charming.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual content
The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. It suffered from some pacing issues that had me put it down a few times, but it has so much going for it that I kept returning. The characters are rich and nuanced with relationships that feel like they could jump off the page. It uses familiar fantasy tropes and situations (gamelike trials for leadership, a girl trained as an elite warrior, an underground world of crime, a secretive magic) in new and engaging ways, making for a story that feels familiar and exciting all at once.
The world is queernormative, all characters are Black, and there is a slow-burn main sapphic romance.
The world is queernormative, all characters are Black, and there is a slow-burn main sapphic romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
4.0
Hell yeah for masc nonbinary love interests in romance novels. Plus you’ll love this if you watch The Great British Baking show and have ever thought “this could be more horny and gay.”