Title: Omnisexual Author: Geoff Ryman In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Aliens, Erotica, Science fiction Dates read: 30th November 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: ROC Year: 1990 5th sentence, 74th page: Lying on his back, he could see the stars.
An incredibly sexual short story filled with intense innuendos and aliens.
I felt so very, very confused while I was reading this. So I figured that it might be a good idea to just share with you the dot points that I wrote as I was reading this. I’m not even sure I can make sense of what I was writing… I’m not sure I made sense of what I was reading… but it was fun regardless!
Not sure if this is about sex or birth. Seems gross either way.
SHE is giving birth to hummingbirds. And there was something about doves.
HE is now pregnant (???)
Basically, this story is fucked and I’m only on page 2.
Every single sentence in this is super, super, intensely sexual. Like wow.
The sexuality is ACTUALLY making me uncomfortable.
The child is being rode (or is it ridden?)
Alright, I’m THINKING that this short story is about immortality that we achieve in the next generation. I’m gonna think of it like that… this was WAY too weird.
Title: Beowulf for Cretins: A Love Story Author: Ann McMan Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Contemporary, LGBTQI, Romance Dates read: 30th November 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Bywater Books Year: 2018 5th sentence, 74th page: I don’t doubt it.
Is God in the machine – or out to lunch? It’s anybody’s guess.
English professor and aspiring novelist, Grace Warner spends her days teaching four sections of “Beowulf for Cretins” to uninterested students at one of New England’s “hidden ivy” colleges. Not long after she is dumped by her longtime girlfriend, Grace meets the engaging and mysterious Abbie on a cross-country flight. Sparks fly on and off the plane as the two strangers give in to one night of reckless passion with no strings attached, and no contact information exchanged.
Back home at St. Albans, the college rocks Grace’s world when it announces the appointment of a new president – the first woman in its fabled 165-year history. Cue Abbie – and cue Grace’s collision course with a neurotic dog named Grendel, a fractious rival for tenure, and a woman called Ochre in what very well be a final shot at happiness.
This story is sweet, fun and not one that I’m going to forget anytime soon. It’s a fairly easy read, but one that still completely sweeps you away. Makes you forget about reality. I spent a perfect afternoon reading about Grace, Abbie and their neurotic dog while my neurotic dogs were piled on top of me. There was just something completely innocent and sweet about this story… not what I would normally claim for a romance. Mostly they tend to be a lot more lustful.
Sadly, there aren’t many LGBTQI stories on my shelves. Yet, every time I’ve run across one, I’ve found that it is brilliant and unforgettable. Maybe because they’re not so common-place, and it is more difficult to have them published… whatever it may or may not be, it’s not a sub-genre that often finds its way to my shelves. And, in fact, I think this was the first LGBTQI romance that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. It was kind of life changing to be honest. I’m going to now find every single Ann McMan book I can.
An obsession with books is obvious in the amount that I read… but I also love to write, and reading a story about someone who has that same literary obsession was really relatable. Everything about Grace is relatable and makes her impossible to not to love. Then, there’s Grendel. A dog that is damaged, neurotic and completely loveable. Although, I do find every dog I meet ridiculously loveable… whether in person or on print.
Abbie was also a loveable character. However, I found that I related to Grace’s awkward mannerisms and kind of lost feeling way more. The more put together woman is someone that I aspire to be… but I think I’ll forever be more like Grace… kind of bumbling through life in a somewhat confused way. But always stumbling into a happily ever after. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.
Title: “…Or Forever Hold Your Peace Author: Susan Krinard In: My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (P.N. Elrod) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fantasy, Magic, Urban fantasy Dates read: 30th November 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Year: 2006 5th sentence, 74th page: Olivia frowned and studied him more carefully, sinking deeper into her Talent as an Anatomist.
It’s the marriage of the season. Until a man objects, and then falls to his death. The bride goes missing and the groom and friends discover a secret that will shock everyone.
I’ve never really understood why people are happy to have that unless anyone objects part in their wedding vowels. If I had that in mine and someone objected, I’d probably want to march right up and sock them. I’ve also never been to a wedding that has that in the ceremony. But, it does make for a good literary tactic. Something that adds a nice sense of drama and suspense. Plus, the perfect moment for a spurned lover, crazy person, whatever to interrupt the proceedings.
There was a sense of completing the circle in this story – it starts and ends with pretty much the same scene. Just the final part there is a little more understanding about who the bride actually is. I really loved how this was a full circle – there was a bit of a humorous, poetic sense to the tale. And a much needed sense of closure that I don’t often find in short stories.
I’m so excited that this is part of a series. As I was reading it, I was hoping that it was – there was just something really interesting and fun about the world that was being built. Although, the series is just another short story… still, I get to revisit Kit and Olivia!
Title: Dragon Blood Author: Patricia Briggs Series: Hurog Duology #2 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Dragons, Magic, Medieval fantasy Dates read: 30th November 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Ace Fantasy Year: 2002 5th sentence, 74th page: Her tail curled around her front paws and she purred when my eyes met hers.
CALL TO REBELLION
Ward, ruler of Hurog, is striving to restore his lands and people to prosperity, wanting nothing more than a quiet life. But when an old friend, escaping from high King Jakoven’s torturers, seeks refuge in his keep, Ward can no longer ignore the growing rebellion against the tyrannical High King. He realizes that he cannot stand aside – he must join with the rebels.
However, Jakoven has a secret weapon with which he intends to crush the rebellion: Farsonsbane, a magical artifact that has destroyed entire cities. But first, Jakoven needs blood to awaken it. Dragon’s blood. The very blood that courses through Ward’s veins…
I have read this before. So I didn’t think I’d get as insanely hooked… I read the whole book in one day. While I was trying to write a paper. Probably not the best book to sink my literary teeth into if I’m being honest with myself…
Although Dragon Bones would have been fine as a standalone, I’m really glad that Briggs decided to revisit this world. There is just something about Ward and Hurog that makes it difficult to walk away. Plus, interestingly, it is the only one of her series thus far that features a male lead. Yes, there is still a strong, independent woman in this story. But it’s written from Ward’s POV and more so about him. Tisala is his love interest.
Dragon Blood is a fantastic end to this duology. Not only do you feel like Ward and Tisala get to live happily ever after. Their country and peoples’ are finally safe from a tyrannical king and an ancient artefact that could kill them all is also destroyed. A very good, easy happy ending that still lets you know that everyone continues to live and fight their battles – after all, dragons, bandits and magic are still heavy in the air.
If I was asked to describe in one sentence why I love this story so much… I wouldn’t be able to answer the question. As with all of Patricia Briggs’ books, there is something about the writing, the character building and the battles that Ward overcomes that make it impossible not to love the tale. Add in a heavy dose of dragons and medieval sword fight… I’m kind of sad that I read through it so quickly… again. I read this in one day last time too…
She’s part of a writers group. And she really enjoys their company. But one night, a strange man decides to join and takes a little bit too much interest in her. It turns out that he’s a time traveller and what he has to tell her about the future may tear her world apart.
I should be part of a writers group. But I should probably also write my own work a lot more than I do. There is something about doing a PhD that completely removes your ability to get much of anything else done. Reading and writing reviews is the extent of it at the moment. But, I digress… in this short story, I loved the idea of a writers group being the primary setting of the story.
One of my biggest fears in not only my personal writing, but also my academic writing is putting in all of the work for someone else to take advantage of it. There is just something a little too relatable to this storyline and the idea of her work being stolen that made me feel the heeby jeebies from the very beginning. The fact that this was done through a brutal murder was just terrifying and skeevy.
I loved that ultimately, there is a choice between guaranteed fame, and an unknown, but highly potential future. Eventually, there is a choice between the love of millions and the love of one. A superficial love, or one that knows her to her core. Such a great story.
Title: A Hard Day’s Night-Searcher Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon Series: Dark Hunter #9.5 In: My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (P.N. Elrod) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy, Vampires Dates read: 29th November 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Year: 2006 5th sentence, 74th page: Celena knew she was breaking the rule, but Rafael didn’t have to know it.
His squire has published a story all about… well, him. But, the punishment and the punisher might just be what the doctor ordered. It’s bought Celena to his doorstep and into his home.
This is the second to last short story in a collection of tales about weddings. I spent most of the story wondering where the wedding in the story was. After all, it starts with the couple trying to seduce (and avoid being seduced). Not that much about marriage. And there were no invitations to a marriage either. Actually, it started with the squire of the vampire-esque creature being a total moron.
Actually, Jeff is more than a total moron. He is painfully, ridiculously stupid. Not like a little off-kilter and doesn’t necessarily think things through. Holy crap stupid. Like, almost gets himself and everyone else killed stupid. Which of course made me kind of love him. In that, I want to kill you way… there is just something hilariously brilliant about someone who is that truly dumb.
Reading this reminds me why I love Kenyon’swriting (the little I’ve read so far) and why I have six of her books already sitting on my shelves, ready to go. I’m seriously hoping that the premise created in this story could be part of a larger series. There is something fun about the world created that is fun and had me smiling all the way through.
Title: A Guide to Native Bees of Australia Author: Terry Houston Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Australian authors, Insects, Non-fiction, Science Dates read: 16th October – 29th November 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Non-fictional text Publisher: CSIRO Publishing Year: 2018 5th sentence, 74th page: As the bee immatures reach maturity and pupae give rise to adults, the mite nymphs moult to become hypopi and mount their new bee hosts in preparation for being carried out of the brood cells to begin yet another cycle.
Bees are often thought of as yellow and black striped insects that live in hives and produce honey. However, Australia’s abundant native bees are incredibly diverse in their appearance and habits. Some are yellow and black but others have blue stripes, are iridescent green or wasp-like. Some are social but most are solitary. Some do build nests with wax but others use silk or plant material, burrow in soil or use holes in wood and even gumnuts!
A Guide to Native Bees of Australia provides a detailed introduction to the estimated 2000 species of Australian bees. Illustrated with stunning photographs, it describes the form and function of bees, their life-cycle stages, nest architecture, sociality and relationships with plants. It also contains systematic accounts of the five families and 58 genera of Australian bees. Photomicrographs of morphological characters and identification keys allow identification of bees to genus level. Natural history enthusiasts, professional and amateur entomologists and beekeepers will find this an essential guide.
This book has been insanely helpful to my understanding and knowledge of native Australian bees. A lot of what I’ve witnessed in the field was supported and further expanded by this book. Yet, it was also filled with approachable language that even people who don’t pursue a PhD would be able to understand. Not something I often find in my science books.
The layout of this book is wonderfully logical. It starts with an overview of Australian bees, starts to go into the specifics of their biology and then, finally, ends with a breakdown of the specifics of each family found within Australia.
There’s not much more I can really write about a nonfictional text in an interesting manner. But, suffice it to say that I would be referring to this a lot as I march around the bush in search of pollinators and other interesting invertebrates.
Title: Summer Knight Author: Jim Butcher Series: The Dresden Files #4 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Crime, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Wizards Dates read: 25th October – 29th November 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Orbit Year: 2002 5th sentence, 74th page: I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a willing murderer.
Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago’s first (and only) Wizard P.I. Turns out the ‘everyday’ world is full of strange and magical things – and most of them don’t play well with humans. That’s where Harry comes in.
Since his girlfriend left town to deal with her newly acquired taste for blood, Harry’s been down and out. He can’t pay his rent. He’s alienating his friends. He can’t recall his last shower. Then when things are at their worst, the Winter Queen of Faerie saunters in with an offer Harry can’t refuse. All he has to do is find out who murdered the Summer Knight, the Summer Queen’s right-hand man, and clear the Winter Queen’s name.
It seems simple, but Faerie politics seldom work out that way. Then Harry discovers the fate of the entire world rests on this case. So no pressure…
MAGIC – IT CAN GET A GUY KILLED.
I always forget how much I enjoy Harry Dresden when I walk away from one of his books. I always want to immediately pick up the next one in the series, but since I’m easily distracted… this doesn’t necessarily frequently happen. I only picked up Summer Knight because I recently read yet another short story set in this world. Which reminded me how amazing this writing is. Not just the storyline and the fun characters, but the pure sarcasm that tends to trip from the pages.
This might have one of my favourite scenes in it thus far – Harry screaming “I don’t believe in fairies.” As he charges into a battle with the faery courts. Quite possibly the best battle cry I have ever read and one that had me giggling quite insanely. Because I do many things in an insane matter at the moment… it’s just the crazy time of year.
This is the first Dresden Filesstory that starts to deal with the fae. The first book is a great introduction to the world, then we get werewolves and then vampires. And now, now it is the courts of the Sidhe going into battle with each other. And you know, an evil, completely insane faery behind it all who somehow thinks she’s doing the right thing by ripping the world apart. It’s yet another supernatural group which Harry manages to piss off and alienate.
There are so many hints of Harry’s history in the first few books of this series. It’s obviously dark and twisted. But you never actually find out why he killed his mentor. Finally, we meet Elaine (the woman who was a part of his life at the time) and find out exactly what happened. Why he decided that killing his mentor was a good idea. It also gives an inkling to why there are some ill feelings between himself and the Council. Ill feelings which I’m pretty sure are going to expand as the series continues and I think that Morgan is going to turn out to be a bit of a villain throughout.
As usual, this is a fantastic novel. I can’t wait to add more to my shelves… maybe in the new year I will finally get caught up on this series!
Title: Shadows Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout Series: Lux #0.5 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Aliens, Romance, Science fiction, Young adult Dates read: 28th – 29th November 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Entangled Teen Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: How…how in the world?
The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life-form on Earth, human girls are… well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane. Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable.
Bethany can’t deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren’t a complication she wants, she can’t stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she’s drawn in. Captivated. Lured. Loved.
Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence…and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can’t stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.
This was seriously cute. And now I’m disappointed that the Lux series is about Daemon, not his twin Dawson. Dawson is much, much sweeter than his twin and I love that he falls so hopelessly in love from the very beginning of the story. I’m also seriously hoping that the end isn’t what it seems to be and is just a part of some massive, major conspiracy. I’d much rather a conspiracy to the ending of this prequel… that was just really sad and made me cry. Literally.
The tone of this is pretty typical for a sappy, teen romance. However, the writing is phenomenal – I haven’t read many teen romances set in high school that draw me in this completely. And, honestly, I think that it comes down to the writing and the brilliance of the creator. Because although the storyline follows the expected pathways (until the end, then there’s a really big twist)… it’s the characters that I’ve come to love. To the point that I wanted to pick Obsidianup immediately after finishing the final page. I have a MASSIVE TBR that I want to finish before the end of the year though, so I’m doing that whole self-control thing.
Sometimes I read a prequel and then wonder how it’s going to connect into the main series of novels. That wasn’t the case with this. Not only does Shadows introduce you to the main characters, but it also gives a background into exactly who the Lux are. And also the difficulties that they have to face with their alien presence in the world. Actually, just the description of the alien race is not only unique, but fantastically handled in this. After all, they’re beings of light – not terrifying humanoid creatures (I’ve been reading a book called Alien Sexlately, and that collection is filled with terrifying, messed up aliens).
I haven’t read many alien novels… mostly they’ve just never come up in my suggestions before. But I’m discovering this year that I do really enjoy them. And this has got to go to the top of my list. I’ve got the first four books on order now and I can’t wait until they arrive on my doorstep!
Title: Make it Snappy Author: Faith Hunter Series: Jane Yellowrock #0.75 In: Urban Enemies (Joseph Nassise) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women Dates read: 28th November 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Gallery Books Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: Katie pouted, her lips pursing around her canines.
Leo’s heir has pinned and trapped him with some help. What she wants is something a little more difficult to define than simply power… plus, there’s some betrayal in the mix.
It’s been a little while since I picked up a Jane Yellowrock novel. It just seems to have fallen on the wayside of the series that I’m insanely digging through. I also tend to be a bit of a book slut – I’ll read one or two books from a series, and then move on to another one. I’m currently reading about 190 different series. Having said that, I did love revisiting this world and the introduction that this short story provides to Leo and his heir, Katie.
One of my favourite things about this short story is the final sentence. I won’t tell you what it is, because you should read it yourself… but it is a great ending to a fantastic story. It also gives a little more insight into the dynamics of the vampire clan which Jane is most closely involved with.
I love that although Katie is in a position of power over Leo, she doesn’t actually want to take his place. It’s a reminder that for different people, power means different things. And we all take advantage in our own ways. Actually, mostly, it just made me like Katie all the more – it’s the unseen powerful that you never see coming that are intimidating.
