thelesbianlibrary's reviews
299 reviews

The Christmas Pic by Rena Sapon-White, Ella Schaefer

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I'll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Staging Love by Lynette McCornan

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Mistletoe Motel: A Sapphic Christmas Romance by Lise Gold

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

To the Bone by Alena Bruzas

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Set the Record Straight by Hannah Bonam-Young

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A Generous Spirit: Selected Works by Beth Brant by Beth Brant

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

The Binding of Bloom Mountain by Vesper Doom

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

4.5 stars :) 

This book was intense, complex, heartwarming, and full of fantasy. The story follows Celeste Foster’s last chance at saving herself from financial ruin after being laid off from her forestry job. However, she soon learns the simple mountain hike she signed up for is anything but when she arrives at the secretive mountain town of Milton. Celeste quickly finds herself lost in a world of magic, curses, and possibly her family's buried past. Can Celeste find it within herself to bind Bloom Mountain and save the town? Or will self-doubt and fear force her to back out of the challenge? All the dark forest fantasy and more in The Binding of Bloom Mountain. 

Celeste is one of my favorite MCs in a fantasy book ever. Not only is she a great representation of an autistic lesbian, but she didn’t take herself too seriously through everything. Including fending off an ancient rogue mountain god, which made her feel so real despite the fantasy setting. Paired with the high-stakes plot in a world of lore so deep I wanted to do a Google deep dive after reading to check if any of it was true makes for a great read. The characters were fleshed out and complex, the story was unique and the writing style was easy to read but not juvenile. Not to mention a sweet sapphic subplot with a hot, witchy, bisexual barista. This book would work even if you aren’t a fantasy fan as it blends so well with the contemporary world. My only critique is the pacing, which felt a smidge slow in places.
 
All in all this forest-loving fantasy is a fall must-read. From the harrowing journey to the freaky monsters, you will not want to put this down. Not to mention you will immediately want to book a ticket to Milton to visit Witch Peak Brews. If you like magical small-town mysteries and sapphic love stories, you are in the right place. Happy reading! 

CW: Alcoholism, animal abuse (discussed), animal death (discussed), anxiety, blood, death (discussed), cancer (SC), demons, depression, emesis, violence. 

Thanks so much to Vesper Doom for sending me a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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