queer_bookwyrm's reviews
511 reviews

3.5 ⭐ CW: violence, death of a parent, death of a child, misogyny, ableism, sexual content, war 

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan is book one in The Radiant Emperor duology. This book came highly recommended from bookstagram, but I gotta, I was disappointed. This definitely didn't live up to the hype for me, and it makes me nervous to read the other "sapphic trifecta" books. 

We follow Zhu, a girl who loses both her father and brother, and assumes her brother's identity in order to gain the fate he was told: that Zhu Chongba had greatness in his future. With that goal in mind, Zhu becomes a monk, and continues to strive for that greatness she believes is her fate. She eventually becomes embroiled in the fight between the rebels of the Red Turbans and the ruling Mongols, using her cunning. 

This story is an exploration of gender identity using the historical lens of the Ming dynasty in the 1300s. Zhu has lived almost all of her life as a man, and only really has to confront that after she becomes married to Ma Xiuying. It's also a story about Zhu's ambition and belief in herself. She is stalwart throughout the book about what she wants, and will do anything to get it. I did appreciate the relationship between Zhu and Ma. Ma discovering she is attracted to Zhu, because she is a woman, and Zhu seeming to be asexual and also having a bit of body dysphoria. We get the sense that Zhu is probably genderqueer. 

This was a beautifully written historical fiction book, but it was so slow. I thought it would have more action and be more character focused, but I just wanted it to end sooner than it did. We also follow a whole lot of characters and the transitions were a bit jarring at times. I don't think I'll read the second book. 

4 ⭐ CW: racism/racial slurs 

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Harmony Becker is a nonfiction graphic novel telling the story of George Takei's family and his experience with the Japanese-American internment camps. 

This was such a great way to introduce people to the history of the Japanese-American internment camps during WWII. I see so much written about or TV shows or movies talking about WWII, but I almost never see things talking about this. I think people forget that America has a long history of locking innocent people up due to their race or beliefs. Takie is of the mind that if we don't remember and talk about these histories, we are doomed to repeat it. 

And he is right. We did just that when America started kicking up immigrants at the US-Mexico border, putting children in cages, and banning people coming to this country from Muslim countries. Takei tells about the awful conditions his family and others were forced into, simply because they were of Japanese dissent. He also emphasizes the importance of democracy and participating in that democracy. Although the US has madeany considerable mistakes, the fact that we are able to speak out about them and work against them, makes democracy worth it. 

I urge you to read this graphic novel to get a taste of what things were like for Japanese-Americans. I appreciate George Takei so much for writing this and creating a play about this as well. It's no shock, I'm most familiar with him for his role as Sulu in Star Trek: The Original Series. He's also a proud gay man, who fought for marriage equality. He is an example of someone using their platform to advocate for important causes, and never stay silent. 

5 ⭐ CW: violence, grief 

In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune is a scifi standalone that is like iRobot meets Pinocchio. I think I'm three for three on T.J. Klune so far! I loved this one just as much as the other two books I've read by him (The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door). As always, his stories are bittersweet. 

We follow Victor Lawson, a human living in the woods with his father Giovanni Lawson (an android), and two other robots. Victor and his father like to make things and fix things. One day while searching through the Scrap Yard for parts, Victor and his friends find another android with a little power left, but damaged, and bring him back to Victor's lab to be fixed. 

The android, Hap (or Hysterically Angry Puppet) is surly, but with a new heart that Victor made, is learning new things like emotion. When Victor accidentally bleeds in the Scrap Yard, the authority comes to find him, but Giovanni hides him and is taken away. Victor and his friends go on a mission to rescue him, and along the way learn more about themselves. 

This was a great found family read! I love our characters: Nurse Ratched, the sardonic nurse machine with sociopathic tendencies that pretends to hate everyone, but is really a softie; and the anxious cinnamon roll vacuum, Rambo, who has my whole heart. Hap is our resident grumpy boy/Pinocchio learning how to feel and how to love. And then we have Victor, wonderfully human and asexual. 

This was a story about what it is to be human, flaws and all, as well as being a story about free will, choice, and self-determination. It's also a story about forgiveness. This was such a great story with plenty of humor and profound moments. Go give this Pinocchio retelling a try. 

5 ⭐ CW: homophobia/internalized homophobia, death of a parent, suicide, violence, cursing, gay slurs, domestic violence 

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera is a contemporary YA book with a dash of speculative fiction. This book was devastating, heartbreaking, painful, and hopeful all at once. I feel like this is a very important book. 

We follow Aaron Soto, a boy living in the Bronx dealing with the grief and trauma of his father's suicide and dealing with his own attempt. All Aaron wants is to forget the bad memories, to be happy. Things start to look up a bit for him when he meets handsome stranger, Thomas. But then Aaron starts to question his feelings for his girlfriend, and when Thomas doesn't feel the same way, he wants to forget all over again. 

I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't say much more about the plot. Aaron deals with the struggles of being poor in a city along with the rampant homophobia. These characters were so real, so messy, so emotional, so relatable. Aaron's story is heartbreaking and tragic, you just want to give the guy a hug. I'm glad I have the edition with a new happier ending, cause Aaron deserves one. 

As gut wrenching as this is, everyone should read it. I think what Aaron feels about being gay is the exact reason queer kids need to see themselves in media and need to see queer adults thriving and living their lives. Queer adults give hope, and hope is what these kids need. 

4 ⭐ CW: bullying mentions, homophobia, child sexual abuse mention, suicidal ideation mention 

Morally Straight: How the Fight for LGBTQ+ Inclusion Changed the Boys Scouts--And America by Mike De Socio. Thank you to Mike De Socio and Pegasus Books for sending me a copy of this book for review. This was a nonfiction book that was well researched about the fight for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Boy Scouts by a gay Scout who is now an editorial journalist. This releases June 4! 

De Socio starts off by giving us a bit of history of gay Scouts in the 70s who were kicked out when it was found out that they were gay, and continues that narrative throughout the book from different times and perspectives. We see the failed court cases that tried to make the Scouts stop their anti-gay policy that wasn't even really a policy until the issue was forced. De Socio shows us how that policy and the subsequent failed court cases affected gay Scouts and adult leaders. Gay inclusion was 20 years in the making. Boy Scouts was late to the party as far as gay rights are concerned, having only passed a gay resolution policy for Scouts in 2015. 

I really enjoyed learning about this topic. I was in the Brownie Scouts as a kid, but always wanted to be in the Boy Scouts, but couldn't since I wasn't a boy. Now anyone can be a Scout. This looks back at the recent history that really hits home how quickly gay rights have changed in America in a short period of time, even from when I was in high school. It was really clear that the success of this movement was due to grassroots activism and staunch allies of the LGBTQ+ community. I don't think the Boy Scouts (Now called Scouting America) are perfect, but they have made strides, albeit under duress. The court of public opinion definitely had more of an effect than legal courts. 

I did think the pace dragged a bit in places, particularly the first section and the last section. I don't think it was necessary to give us an entire play by play of entire conversations and court cases. 

This is definitely worth a read if you want to learn more about the Boys Scouts in the context of gay rights or if you are a Scout or leader. Especially if you are a youth who has never seen a world where queer people weren't included in the Scouts. 

3.5 ⭐ CW: bullying, fantasy violence, slavery mention

Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials by Jamar J. Perry is book two in the Cameron Battle duology. This was an okay middle grade series. I've definitely read better, but I did really appreciate reading about a little gay, black boy with magic, and Igbo mythology.

We pick up with Cameron, Aliyah, and Zion after the events of book one, while they are at school. All Cameron can think about is getting back to Chidani to save his mom and dad. When Cameron starts getting bullied by his  classmate Vince, he realizes that the classmate has been possessed by mmo, and he and his friends get pulled into a portal and thrust back in Chidani. 

When Vince fell into Chidani, he was taken by the goddess Ala, and Cameron ends up having to let her take Zion too. The only way to save both Vince and Zion is to complete the Escape Trials: one a game of wit, and one a game of love. Cameron has to face some hard truths about the fate of his mother and face his feelings for Zion. 

I did enjoy this one more than book one, but I felt that the escape trials were a pretty small part, which felt weird since that's the name of the book. Most of the book was Cameron trying to figure out his summoning magic with the Book, and trying to figure out how to get his mom's soul back from Amina. I felt like Cameron didn't have enough growth throughout the book, and I didn't love that he was bent on killing Amina. Some of the other elements just felt a bit rushed since it was a short book, and I felt the world-building would have been better served if it were a trilogy instead. 

This was still a fun story with great representation. I love seeing Black Boy Magic and that Cameron and Zion got to have a happy ending. 

3.5 ⭐ CW: violence, death

Goddess in the Machine by Lora Beth Johnson is book one in the Goddess in the Machine duology. I didn't love this book as much as I thought I would. It kind of dragged on for me and took me too long to get into and finish. The cover might be the best part about this book. 

We follow Andra who has woken up from cryo'stasis a thousand years late to a world she doesn't recognize, and is being worshipped as a goddess. She is in a desert like place where people refer to all technology as magic and all bots as angels. Zhade, a boy exiled from the city of Erensed, helps her with "goddess lessons" to teach her what the people expect from her. All Andra wants is to go home, but she has to figure out to create a "miracle" (use the tech in her brain) so the people keep believing she's a goddess to keep from being sacrificed. But there is more going on in Erensed than she realizes, and Zhade has his own plans, despite their burgeoning feelings for each other. 

This just did not wow me like I thought it would I liked the concept of space princess and science as magic, but the execution felt faulty. I also liked the idea of the English language changing so much over time that it becomes something else, but it was hard to get used to and ultimately, felt clunky and a little silly. I also thought the twists were a little too convenient. 

I did like that our MC is a plus sized South East Asian mixed race person working through her confidence issues around her size. I had a hard time really getting invested in Zhade as a character, he just didn't feel deep enough for me. Maret could have been an interesting antagonist if we had spent more time with him or saw more of his mother's influence on him. Instead, he was just kind of an unhinged bad guy. I'm not interested enough in this story to read the second book. 

3.5 ⭐ CW: anxiety/panic attacks, death of a loved one mention, immolation mention, death of an animal 

Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin is the second book I've read by her. This book was fine. I liked The Nature of Witches much more than this one. It just lacked some depth for me. It was a quick and easy read though. 

We follow Iris, a Lunar witch that has a connection to animals. After having witnessed a terrible death caused by her best friend, Iris and her mom have moved to the Pacific Northwest and run a wildlife refuge. Since then, Iris is determined to keep the fact that she is a witch a secret, especially from the annoying intern, Pike Alder. After hearing Pike's intense hatred of witches, Iris creates a curse to make him one with plans to dispel it so it never reaches him, but an owl gets in the way, absorbs the curse and flys away from the refuge. 

Iris decides to go after the owl in order to unbind the curse from him, but is saddled with having to take Pike with her. While searching for the owl, they form a new kind relationship, but things get difficult with the owl becomes injured and there is a risk of the curse getting out of control if it dies. 

First of all, what kind of name is Pike Alder? I thought naming the owl MacGuffin was a bit on the nose and too meta for me. It made me roll my eyes for sure. I did like the magic normal world and the different types of witches and how magic works. I just thought the story itself was a bit shallow and predictable. If you're intrigued by a cursed owl in the Pacific Northwest with an enemies to lovers vibe, this would be for you. 

4 ⭐ CW: violence, blood, gore, sexual assault, death, torture, cannibalism 

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang is a Chinese historical fantasy based on classic martial arts wuxia literature. This was sort of like a very queer and female centric Robin Hood meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. This was an excellent book! We get found family, no romance, and plenty of queer characters. 

We follow Lin Chong, a female master arms instructor to the emperor's soldiers and guardsmen. When she becomes victim to the Marshall's sexual advances and rebuffs him, she is branded a criminal and sent away. On her way to a work camp, Lin Chong discovers that the Marshall has contracted her guards to kill her, but she is rescued by Lu Da, the Flower Monk, a member of the outlaw bandits Liangshan. 

Since Lin Chong's rescue, she has been connected to the power of Lu Da's god's tooth, an object that gives the wearer great power over energies. She finds she has a new awareness and enhanced abilities to the fighting skills she already possesses. Once at the stronghold of Liangshan, Lin Chong must face her struggle between wanting true justice and not wanting to be involved with criminals, but she is very much disenfranchised from the government. We also see a story about the grand Chancellor's quest for power beyond all imagination by researching the manufacture of god's teeth. 

This was a great story of found family, and of how the state is not always to be trusted blindly, that those in power often abuse it. It's also a story of redemption. Liangshan may be made of criminals, but their over all goal is justice for the oppressed and abused. Liangshan is a place where women get to hold power, and trans and nonbinary people can be themselves. We see several side characters who are known as "wind riders," those who go between genders. There are mentions of lesbian characters as well. Lu Da is definitely my favorite. She's a big lug of a  woman with a fiercely loyal heart. She is kind of like a big muscular golden retriever. 

It was a bit slow in the middle, but I quite enjoyed this wuxia story. It's my first time with this genre, but I appreciate learning about different cultures and martial arts practices. I would definitely read another book by this author. 

3.5 ⭐ CW: racism, racial slurs 

Lost Atusville: A Black Settlement from the American Revolution by Marcus A. LiBrizzi is a short local history book about a Black settlement in Machias, Maine (where I live!). Atusville was a place I had heard a little bit about since going to school at the University of Maine at Machias, where I met the author who was one of my English professors. 

It was really fascinating to learn more about the town's history in general, some of which I knew already. Machiasport is the site of the first naval battle of the American Revolution. Citizens of Machias captured and took over a British ship called the Margaretta. We even have a festival in June commemorating that moment, but little is said about Atusville and the Black men that participated in the battle. This book sets out to tell about London Atus, the former slave whom the settlement is named for. 

Understandably, there is little left over from that time about the individuals who lived in Atusville, much of that due to racism. Unfortunately, that has resulted in vague details about the very people this book claims to be about. It's almost as if they are side characters in their own stories. I also felt that the author's tone when discussing slavery was a bit too casual and lacked the sensitivity it should have had when discussing enslaved people. Instead, it inspired the tone of "yeah they were slaves, but it wasn't that bad." I've also witnessed this casual ignorance in American Lit classes with this professor as well, and called him out for when we read Uncle Tom's Cabin. 

I think this is an okay book if you are just looking to learn a little bit more about local Machias history, but it isn't quite deep enough to feel satisfactory to me.