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j12i@wyrms.de

Joined 2 years, 9 months ago

Contains brainfog. I admire people who have a clear definition for what each number of stars means, but I give them out purely intuitively.

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reviewed A Season of Monstrous Conceptions by Lina Rather

Lina Rather: A Season of Monstrous Conceptions (2023, Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom)

Lina Rather's A Season of Monstrous Conceptions is an eldritch historical fantasy of midwifery, monstrosity, …

A Season of Monstrous Conceptions

Novellas are inherently short on characterizaton, but in my opinion the characterizaton of London/English lilfe of this time is well done here, it made quite the impression. I also really liked the descriptions of the supernatural happenings; concise and impressive always, grand and awe-inspiring where appropriate.

(I started it in the afternoon and stayed up very late to finish it.)

September 2025 #SFFBookClub

commented on Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba (Stormbringer Saga, #1)

Gabriella Buba: Saints of Storm and Sorrow (2024, Titan Books Limited)

In this an enthralling Filipino-inspired epic fantasy, a nun concealing a goddess-given gift is unwillingly …

I found it a little opaque in the first few chapters, but now I'm at 16 and it's thoroughly gripped me.

reviewed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Sangu Mandanna: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (Paperback, 2022, Berkley)

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide …

It's a really fun book.

Pretty good examination of (family) trauma and the possibility of reconciliation (or not). Lots of cozyness. Good characterization throughout, of the children as well—it is a bit caricature-y, but, it's a short book for the count of characters. I am pretty sure the main character is intentionally autism-coded.

I liked the way magic is portrayed, even if it veers into cheesy at times.

Like @hollie@social.coop noted, the narrator, Samara MacLaren, is outstanding.

Some stuff rubs me the wrong way: the use of alcohol as a social lubricant as a matter of course, without any reflection; a child having magical powers, which their caretakers know about, and them nevertheless letting them believe in Santa Claus; a reverence for the "classics" (Austen etc.).

The sex scene is pretty hot, executed with grace and skill—I wonder if the author writes smut under another name.