Tag Archives: LGBTQI

The Effluent Engine by N.K. Jemisin

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of SteampunkTitle: The Effluent Engine
Author: N.K. Jemisin
In: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk (Sean Wallace) & The Mammoth Book of Gaslit Romance (Ekaterina Sedia)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, LGBTQI, Steampunk
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Jessaline beheld the honest shock on her face and felt some guilt for having troubled her so.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Jessaline is on a mission to save her people. But what she finds could end up saving herself.

Thoughts

Reading the title of this short story made me think it was going to be really funny. And a little quirky. And it really wasn’t. There was discussion of minorities, freedom and prejudice. All topics that I love to read about and sink my teeth into on a frequent basis.

Jessaline is on a mission to save her countrymen from the horrors of conquest and the taking of their freedom. Yet, on the way she ends up finding something much better – true love. Or at least, that’s how it seems throughout. And the fact that it’s a woman based in “olden times” just makes it all the more engaging. I kind of loved that the love story in this was about two women.

With a backdrop of a steampunk world with one of the leading females being a scientist, this story shows the power of others and how inner strength can shine through. Whether you are living in your brothers shadow, or hiding amongst the shadows as a spy…

 <- Prayers of Forges and Furnaces Review The Clockwork Goat and the Smokestack Magi Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Christmas Curse by Ruby Moone

Book Review, , ,

Overview

The Christmas CurseTitle: The Christmas Curse
Author: Ruby Moone
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, LGBTQI, Romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Kindle
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: In his line of work, a man had to take care, very great care.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

It’s almost Christmas 1806, and government agent Jared Templeton finds himself adopted by a beautiful stray dog as he walks his customary route each night to his Mayfair home. Having never owned a dog before, Jared is surprised to find himself talking to the beast. It’s wonderfully easy and lifts some of the heavy burdens he carries.

Eventually Jared confides in the dog, not only secrets about his work as an agent, but also the biggest secret about himself. About his innermost desires and needs, safe in the knowledge his companion will never betray him.

But at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, Jared discovers things are not quite what they seem …

Thoughts

I got this little novella to complete a reading challenge – an author with the name of a jewel. I had no idea what it was like. What it was about. Really any idea about anything. I got it because it was one of the few that I could actually find in Australia. And I didn’t regret it in the least. It is the first truly LGBTQ (I think that’s the right acronym) story that I have read. And I loved it.

This is based at Christmas time, which I normally find beautiful and mystical. But I really didn’t take that away from this tale. I took away the LGBTQ storyline. And it was this sweet little romance that I enjoyed. I found the writing a little lacking in moments, but the ability of the author to write such a great plot.

This wasn’t one of those earthshattering tales that I am desperate to pick up again. Not even one that has made me desperate to find out more about the author. But it was a tale that was sweet, and interesting. And just an easy way to spend half an hour. Simple is the best word to describe this. And I mean that in the absolute best sense.

 <- More Christmas reviews More LGBTQI reviews ->
Image source: Smashwords