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zefrog's reviews
1033 reviews
The Hell You Say by Josh Lanyon
3.0
As fun and engaging as the previous two, even if the ending feels rushed and the premise isn't quite my thing.
Shame about the bisexual erasure, though...
Shame about the bisexual erasure, though...
The Betrayal of Thomas True by A.J. West
On the whole The Betrayal of Thomas True got me interested and engaged right to the end (and increasingly so as the story went on).
There were, however, several elements of the storytelling that rather grated with me. The few outbursts of magic realism felt unnecessary (other than as ways to conveniently move the plot forward for an author who had painted himself into a corner, perhaps?). Naming the book after a character who is not the real main protagonist felt strange too (Although I suppose West really wants us to keep guessing whether Thomas is really true as long and as much as possible, and this was clearly part of it). Some of the dialogue felt caricatural at times (Cor blimey, guvnor!), and there were many scenes when I wasn't sure what I was reading, due mostly to break down in internal logic, resulting in a kind of foggy vagueness that I found rather alienating. Finally, having read Rictor Norton's (non-fiction) book, Mother Clap's Molly House: The Gay Subculture in England 1700-1830, I was a little annoyed by some gratuitous inaccuracies in what purports to be an homage to the molly culture of 18th centre London.
I liked the idea of the story, I was not so keen on the execution (no pun intended).
There were, however, several elements of the storytelling that rather grated with me. The few outbursts of magic realism felt unnecessary (other than as ways to conveniently move the plot forward for an author who had painted himself into a corner, perhaps?). Naming the book after a character who is not the real main protagonist felt strange too (Although I suppose West really wants us to keep guessing whether Thomas is really true as long and as much as possible, and this was clearly part of it). Some of the dialogue felt caricatural at times (Cor blimey, guvnor!), and there were many scenes when I wasn't sure what I was reading, due mostly to break down in internal logic, resulting in a kind of foggy vagueness that I found rather alienating. Finally, having read Rictor Norton's (non-fiction) book, Mother Clap's Molly House: The Gay Subculture in England 1700-1830, I was a little annoyed by some gratuitous inaccuracies in what purports to be an homage to the molly culture of 18th centre London.
I liked the idea of the story, I was not so keen on the execution (no pun intended).
Troublemaker by Joseph Hansen
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The name of the murderer becomes pretty obvious about 3/4 in (when it's only revealed in the last few pages), but it's still a good read.
The Queens of Sarmiento Park by Camila Sosa Villada
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The book is a disparate collection of incidents and characters (many of them barely scketched, and gone as fast as they appeared) with elements of magical realism (headless men, a werewolf, a woman turning into a bird).
It is a fairly familiar canvas of queer misery drawn in impressionistic touches that didn't quite coalesce into a complete and compelling picture for me. Perhaps because everything here is so transcient, and we don't learn enough about the few recurring characters to like and care about them much.
The language can be very poetic at times, though.
It is a fairly familiar canvas of queer misery drawn in impressionistic touches that didn't quite coalesce into a complete and compelling picture for me. Perhaps because everything here is so transcient, and we don't learn enough about the few recurring characters to like and care about them much.
The language can be very poetic at times, though.
Here There Be Dragons by Robert Bentley
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Like many modern readers, it seems, the book came to my notice via another one: Josh Lanyon's Adrien English Mystery Fatal Shadows. And I am so glad I followed through and bought a copy.
Spy novels are not normally my jam but this one Cold War thriller, with its gay twist, got me hooked from the start and never let go. Bentley has woven his story with suspense, and although there isn't much action as such (as in gun fights and such), the book has a lot to offer: dream scenery, likable characters, nail biting moments, some moving ones, hot gay sex, and even a bit of romance. Someone needs to turn it into a film!
As the quote by one Michael Greer states at the back of my copy, it is "a damn good book!" What a shame Bentley doesn't seem to have published anything else (despite the promise of a second novel in the blurb).
Spy novels are not normally my jam but this one Cold War thriller, with its gay twist, got me hooked from the start and never let go. Bentley has woven his story with suspense, and although there isn't much action as such (as in gun fights and such), the book has a lot to offer: dream scenery, likable characters, nail biting moments, some moving ones, hot gay sex, and even a bit of romance. Someone needs to turn it into a film!
As the quote by one Michael Greer states at the back of my copy, it is "a damn good book!" What a shame Bentley doesn't seem to have published anything else (despite the promise of a second novel in the blurb).
Heartscape by Garrett Leigh
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wanted, an Author by KJ Charles
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Wanted, A Gentleman by KJ Charles
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0