Reviews as of August 23, 2026

Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
This is the first Stephen King book I ever read back in the day. It isn’t horror like most of his stuff. This is personal horror where a woman discovers her husband is doing terrible things & getting ready to do worse. She puts an end to it.
~ Killerwesel

Raised By Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn
Girl going through high school in the 90s feels alone, even with her friends. Her parents & brother seem invisible, like ghosts, in her life.
~ Killerweasel

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca
3.5 stars
I'm not sure what to think of this short story collection. Maybe it's a little too steeped in religion for me to fully enjoy? But the first story was absolutely my favourite in this; I liked the way it was told only through e-mails and IM messages, how we were lacking any other context except the author's introduction. It lets you fill in all the blanks, which is the best way to tackle anything that might even remotely be horrific. The other two stories felt like more classic ghost stories or stories about the devil, and they felt... religious. Somehow unreal, too, in the way that I didn't really connect to them.
Overall, the stories are decent, but are simply not fully my cup of tea. The first story was the best out of the three.

(Also, please do check out the content/trigger warnings for this book. They're pretty heavy. CW/TW for suicide, animal harm, and religion/religious trauma are the first to come to mind.)
~ fpwoper

Born of Fire and Rain - M. L. Herring
I liked this book a lot and the artwork the author did is really beautiful, but I kept being reminded of other books I've already read (and the author pulled from for research) that go much more in depth in the subjects she writes about. It's a great overview of the forest ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest and how all the geology and biology and human influence interact together, but most of it was too broad for me. I already know the surface level of a lot of this stuff, and I'm interested in getting more in depth.
~ LarndeSolen

The Department of Sensitive Crimes - Alexander McCall Smith
This book was not for me. I chose it for the simple reason that it was roughly eight hours long on audiobook and I had roughly eight hours of driving to do. It passed the time but I can't say much more for it than that. A slice of life narrative about detectives in Sweden, lots of rambling conversation, not a huge amount of plot and the occasional jarring socially conservative comment ("but you couldn't say THAT these days" "it's frowned upon to comment on women's fat bottoms" etc etc).
~ rueforyou

The Tree of Life: Solving Science's Greatest Puzzle by Max Telford
I enjoyed this one. I liked how the author walked through how we know what we know about evolutionary trees and why it's important to learn more, and his passion for the topic really came through in the text.
~ remreader (bluesky)

How to Fake it in Society by KJ Charles
I didn't love it as much as The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen but it was still a solidly fun read.
~ remreader (bluesky)

“Your Time Starts Now” by Zuckerbaby_1 
I’ve not watched “Taskmaster” here in the US. This story on ao3 gave me so much insight, though, and it’s a lot of fun watching video highlights.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

Well, that was easy since this was an OFMD AU.
Stede being confident yet not quite accomplished. Taskmaster is the perfect role for the Ed we’ve come to know in OFMD.
~ cindyb5

Spectred Isle by KJ Charles
I'm just going to quote my message to a friend: "Just finished Spectred Isle! The occult lore was utterly incomprehensible to me 😂 but the relationship was so delicious.
Men Damaged By The War are my absolute weakness, I fear."
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of “Latino” by Héctor Tobar
A very insightful read. I'm glad I picked it up.
~ lem0nb0iii.bsky

Lore Olympus Volume One by Rachel Smythe
Got the itch to read this story again. I haven't read it in 6 years somehow so catching up in book form is nice!
~ lem0nb0iii.bsky

Amongst our Weapons - Ben Aaronovitch
An avenging angel accidentally released from a magic lamp going on a killing spree wasn’t on my bingo card, humans fucking up other humans and turning them into weapons sadly was.

At this point I don’t know why I’m ever surprised by new supernatural weirdness or new magic related horrors and murders, wherever horrific things humans are capable of is magnified when magic is involved.

As always with this series it’s often the small things that show the real strengths of a character. Peter can be somewhat reckless, but he’s willing to protect Nightingale his boss, his mentor, his friend from even more trauma at the potential expense of his own sanity.

Whether fatherhood will tone down the recklessness a little remains to be seen or maybe the threat of half of south west London flooding if his river goddess partner is upset will help.
~ robotpinemarten

Trial By Ice by Richard Parry
Pretty good! I've had this book on my shelf for a couple years (shout out to the free library I pulled it from!), and I've dabbled in some polar ice exploration stories, but this year I finally watched The Terror and lost my mind. So then I picked this off my shelf and read it, and I'm glad I did.
~ BKTrashCat

Bromantasy (2026) by Máire Roche
A fun story of best friends who, because of a misunderstanding, hide their feelings for far too long. They’d rather wrestle than talk.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

Like Ed and Stede, Juniper and Mo had terrible fathers.

In Bromantasy:
‘There were two little bedrooms right next to each other—Juniper’s a bit bigger, because he had wanted a closet for his fine garments’
<In OFMD 1-04:
STEDE: This is my auxiliary wardrobe. It's a back-up to my actual wardrobe.
ED: Okay.
STEDE: Winter jackets. Autumn vibe. Summer linen.
ED: All of this is yours?
STEDE: Afraid so. I'm a bit of a clotheshorse.

In Bromantasy:
Mo said: "Did you know my grandmam said that there used to be a species of dragons that could shift between human and dragon form?"
<In OFMD 1-06:
ED: I think the scariest thing I've ever seen would probably be the Kraken. 
THE SWEDE: The, the Kraken's not real, though. 
ED: I remember when I used to think that. 

In Bromantasy:
There’s a double-crossing Prince:
“He's just a minor prince,” Juniper reassured her.
She snorted. "Don't tell him that."
<In OFMD 2-01:
RICKY: the Gentleman Pirate, he saved my life! Quite frankly... you're my hero. See, I, too, am a child of wealth. I'm actually a minor prince. And I was entertaining ending it all when I heard about you. You gave an odd bird like me hope, Bonnet.
~ cindyb5

A Prince Among Pirates by Katie Abdou
This book made me so nostalgic for season one canon era OFMD fic.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Reviews as of Agust 16, 2026

Detective stories - Ben Aaronovitch
How do you explain in your police exam that the murder victim knows can tell you who their killer was because they’re a ghost? And all the other weird shit that the special assessment unit deals with?

Aside from the main story this edition of the graphic novel featured a racist getting what he deserved, a dog poop theft and foxes done with humans littering. Perfectly normal events in the Rivers of London universe
~ Robotpinemarten

Platform Decay by Martha Wells
As always, I love you, Murderbot. 🥹 What a beautiful story of friendship in space.
~ lem0nb0iii.bsky.social

Frisk by Dennis Cooper
I would need every content warning imaginable, but a horrible, disgusting, fascinating first person look at trauma and SV.
~ BKTrashCat

Since I Laid My Burdens Down by Brontez Purnell
A perfect precursor to his book 100 Boyfriends, I felt like I was reading something that the author *needed* to exorcise. A short read; lots of rumination on sex, queerness, Blackness, artistry, growing up in the South (USA). I feel like the provocation really hit in 2017, when it was published, but it's still a worthwhile read!
~ BKTrashCat

"So You Want To Be A Wizard?", by Diane Duane
I always saw these books at the library growing up but somehow never picked them up. I'm glad this series has come into my life when it has. Heavy doses of influence from L'Engle and maybe LeGuin are palpable, but the in-world system of magic comes from a very scientific logic, and the protagonist is a science buff who applies her knowledge to her newfound discovery of magic. Duane's prose is lovely and the world she's created is highly enjoyable. Can't wait to start the next book in the series for my next read! 🙂
~ AndaliteBandit

The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life by Ian Bogost
A nonfiction book about how we become alienated from the sensory experiences of daily life and how to deliberately seek out gratification in the mundane. It's a pleasant read! But it kind of felt like it could have been an essay rather than a whole book.
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

The Woods All Black - Lee Mandelo
Boy did this book twist in a way that I was not expecting! Slow burn historical fiction and then bam [redacted]! Luckily for me it pushed all of my gross little buttons and I had a fun old time but perhaps one to search before you read if you don't like surprises. I'd have like this to be longer - a whole lot happened in a short novella - I'd have liked it to be spookier and the epilogue felt a little unsatisfactory but all in all this an enjoyable read.
~ rueforyou

Fang Fiction - Kate Stayman-London
This book was so silly!! And I mean that with all the love in the world because it was a hoot!! I don't normally like romance novels but this didn't take itself too seriously (though it tackled some serious subjects) and was so fun because of it. A woman discovers vampires are real and is whisked off to a magical isle full of them, expect the most ludicrous plot mechanics (involving a buzzfeed article and a bar full of portals) way too many Taylor Swift references, a pretty well rounded cast of characters that all get the endings they deserve and little fun epistolary asides. I was annoyingly enamoured by this in all it's ridiculous glory.
~ rueforyou

"In the Heart of the Sea: the Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex" by Nathaniel Philbrick
Perhaps the quintessential true story of shipwreck and cannibalism at sea. The concept of a vengeful whale inspired Melville to write Moby Dick. Tore through this one! It makes me want to visit Nantucket.
~ SpaceCadetGlow

"The Sea Captain's Wife" by Tilar J. Mazzeo
The true story of Mary Ann Patten, who taught herself navigation and medicine on her husband Joshua's clipper. At 19 and pregnant she successfully navigated around Cape Horn in his stead when he fell ill. A heroine of her day, now largely forgotten.
~ SpaceCadetGlow

The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson
It's a great translation and I'm glad I finally actually read the whole thing but 14-year-old me was right, I just don't like The Odyssey. I did really like the introduction and translator's note though, fwiw.
~ remreader (bluesky)

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo
WOW
I read this on the recommendation of another pirate reader, and I'm so glad I did! A dark, creepy, queer fairy tale with a satisfying conclusion. Also a super-quick read that I couldn't put down and feels like it will linger for awhile after.
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

Reviews as of August 9, 2026

Tender is the flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
The first half was really building something interesting, and I was hooked. But that quickly disappeared in the second half as every predictable thing happened at an incredibly fast pace. 3.5 stars because the concept and writing style was good, and I enjoyed the first half but that second half was ehhhh
~ Moth

You Weren't Meant to be Human by Andrew Joseph White
Instant top 5 book. Dark, creepy, and So Trans. I am still thinking about this book weeks later, it was soooooooo good
~ Moth

Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts by Maple Lam
This was cute. Art is in chibi style. The Monkey King was less of a trouble maker than most stories I’ve read. I’ll have to see if I can find the rest of the series.
~ killerweasel

The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry
There’s something very wrong with the old McIntyre place. Missing children, teenagers claiming the house attacked them, and other weird happenings.
~ killerweasel

Lone Wolf and Cub Deluxe Edition Volume One by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima
New edition of a classic book series, now in a much larger size. Ronin and his son are assassins for hire who are out for revenge on those who murdered a wife and mother.
~ killerweasel

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Probably my 4th or so reread of this book, but this time i read it to my kids. Still and always a delight. Come for the mystery, stay for the character portraits and a kid's book that doesn't talk down to its readers.
~ alimasin

Lone Wolf and Cub Deluxe Edition Volume Two by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima
This volume contains backstory about Lone Wolf and Cub, talks about why a rival clan set him up, and has a number of fight scenes with detailed illustrations.
~ killerweasel

Chef's Kiss (2022) written by Jarrett Melendez, illustrated by Danica Brine, colored by Hank Jones, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
[I have included the creators’s credits, because the book is beautifully produced.]
I bought Chef’s Kiss (“a queer adult graphic novel”) when I learned the author would be at NYCC 2023, but I really went to see the 6 OFMD actors who attended: Rhys, Con, Kristian, Vico, Nathan, Matthew. (I bought an OFMD group photo and couldn’t afford anything else, but I have some journal entries I reread and remember the day fondly.)
I decided to finish reading Chef’s Kiss, then started over from the beginning.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

Part of the storyline is about making your own choices, something Ben, here, and Stede in OFMD have in common. Ben just graduated and isn’t getting hired. He sees a “No Experience Necessary” sign, and is hired to train as a cook. He predictably reacts to meeting blond tattooed Liam a bit like Stede does to Ed. (One of his first thoughts is simply “Hi” which we see in a red heart-shaped thought-balloon.)
{Stede’s marriage was arranged by his father. Years into it he has a ship built and becomes a pirate captain without having more than an idealized view of that life. OFMD 1-03 ends with Ed and Stede meeting.
<<BLACKBEARD: The Gentlemen Pirate, I presume.
STEDE: You've heard of me?
BLACKBEARD: Oh yeah, I've heard of you. I've heard all about you.
(Stede smiles happily, and “Our Prayer” by The Beach Boys plays)>>}

As Liam is training Ben on one of the restaurant’s entrees:
BEN: Aye-Aye! Potatoes walking the plank, Cap’n!
LIAM: Ha! Are we pirates now?
BEN: Heh. I kinda, maybe wanted to be a pirate when I was a kid. Not for looting and plundering. Just that freedom to do whatever out on the open seas.
{In OFMD 1-04, while Stede is unconscious (after being stabbed), he has unsettling dream memories:
<<STEDE: Et voila! What do ya think?
MARY: It's a toy?
STEDE: It's a model of a ship. What would you say to living on something like that? You, me, the kids... at sea.
MARY: Why on Earth would we do that?
STEDE: I don't know. Break the monotony.
MARY: Our life feels monotonous to you?
STEDE: No! No, it doesn't, does it? Um... I just think that… why waste our time here, day after day, doing the same old thing when we could be doing this! We could be on a ship having adventures.
MARY: Do you know I hate the ocean? >>}
~ CindyB5

Murder at the Black Cat Cafe by Seishi Yokomizo
This short book is actually two separate stories - one is a pretty seedy tale about a "faceless corpse" found buried behind a brothel, the other an epistolary story about feuding families, jealousy, and murder. Have now read several books by this author and I always enjoy the details of mid-20th-century/postwar Japanese life, plus he loves to include commentary on the genre of mystery fiction itself.
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

Splendid Solution: Jonas Salk and the Conquest of Polio by Jeffrey Kluger
I wish the book had focused more either on being a biography of Jonas Salk or on the science/history of the development of the polio vaccine because as it stands I sort of felt like I didn't really get enough depth on either part, and the narrative ended pretty abruptly with a lot of (imo) important information rushed through in the epilogue. (This probably sounds more negative than I mean it to; the book was interesting and all, I was just hoping for more.)
~ remreader (bluesky)

Apparently Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers
Enjoyed it! Didn't think too much about it afterwards, but definitely an enjoyable and weird read!
~ veeagainsttheday

None of the Above by Travis Alabanza
Really interesting memoir from someone who is publicly nonbinary and non-white living in England.
~ veeagainsttheday

Who's Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler
Judith's commentary on gender as a phantasm to the global right is my theory of why everything is so fucked up in world politics right now. I also love how they acknowledge their own past errors. The elder statesperson of gender theory weighing in on our modern times.
~ veeagainsttheday

False Value - Ben Aaronovitch
So the bad guy is dead and there’s a new bad guy in town and this time it’s everyone’s favourite villain a billionaire tech bro. At first I thought I’d wandered into the wrong book, the billionaire tech bro is also a masons nerd who based his entire company around the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy complete with towels for new members of staff.

Of course in the Rivers of London world it’s never as simple as the tech bro just being corrupted there is as ever magic involved this time involving ghost powered truly sentient AI and 3D printed magic powered murder drones.

More river gods/goddesses, more hints into the wizards of WW2 and an out of London cop being lured into world of magic policing.
~ robotpinemarten

The People's Library, Veronica G. Henry
This is the August pick for my library book club, and I really wanted to like it more than I did. I really liked the concept, and I loved the arcs that the protagonist takes as she goes through the events of the story and is definitely not a perfect person, but something about the execution kind of bored me. I'm not sure why. It's almost 300 pages long but at times felt rushed and at others kind of dragged. I think it was a really interesting examination of AI technology and how it might be used in the near future, and setting it in a Cleveland-that-actually-accomplished-rebirth was a really good choice. I think I'll read something else from the author because I like her ideas, but it's possible her style is just not my thing. It will be a really good book club discussion, though.
~ michellethestan

Reviews as of August 2, 2026

Marilyn and Her Books: The Literary Life of Marilyn Monroe by Gail Crowther
I wish this had been a little more substantive (a bit too much seemed to rely on speculation just based on books being in Marilyn's collection) but I appreciated the overall argument being made.
~ remreader (bluesky)

What We Sow: On the Personal, Ecological, and Cultural Significance of Seeds by Jennifer Jewell
I just didn't really vibe with this one overall, which is too bad since it's an interesting topic.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Gardening with Guineas - Jeannette S. Ferguson
I keep chickens and have no interest in getting guinea fowl (even less so after reading this book!), but I thought Gardening with Guineas was really charming nonetheless. The author is extremely excited about spreading the word about her favorite birds. I especially enjoyed the chapter talking about how she discovered the internet in the mid 90s and created a website to connect with other guinea owners and share tips. Heartwarmingly earnest.
~ LarndeSolen

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
2.5* - I didn't really enjoy this. On the surface of things, it felt like something I could enjoy, but I think the multitude of POV switches and the unconvincing... romance(??) between some of the main characters didn't work in favour of this book. I probably would have liked it better if they'd firmly remained friends and accepted that.
The book is trying to do a lot of different things, and I keep wondering what could be changed to make me enjoy it more but I think that'd involve cutting it down approximately 200-300 pages and having less POV switches. It felt like it dragged on for too long for the plot/the characters/the world while we still don't really know much about any of that. And maybe part of that is down to how YA this book feels despite also trying to be adult fantasy? I don't know. Maybe I should stop reading fantasy for a bit.
This is meant to be a series but I'm not really interested in what's going to happen in any of the next books because I'm not invested in the characters or the world. It's unfortunate, but it happens.
~ fpwoper

Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke
Picked this up because sometimes I love getting on the hype train and it was a lot better than I expected that it would be. I read this in a rural farmhouse so I was pretty much primed to have a good time. I read one bad review that accused the author of making up a woman to be mad at but like, yes good, reminded me of Yellowface in that I was constantly infuriated by the narrator, both her downfalls and missed potential. Did some fun twisty things where I worked out some of the journey the book was taking me on but was surprised by others.
~ rueforyou

The Secret History - Donna Tartt
For family roadtrips I often pick a chunky non-fiction survival story audiobook by this time I subjected my family to The Secret History, which lead to my dad asking a couple of hours in 'Is this really a murder book? All they've done so far is learn Greek!' I love the prose, I love how terrible everyone is but I also understand why it took me so long to get around to it, it's long, and some of this length is maybe superfluous but also, I had hours to kill on open roads so it was a perfect companion.
~ rueforyou

The Killer Question - Janice Hallett
I'll read anything written by Janice Hallett (and do, each time I take a summer holiday). I love the epistolary style and the way the narratives hold back secrets until the very end. Didn't much care for the B-Plot of this at first but it won me back as the puzzle pieces started falling into place, a fun time.
~ rueforyou

Magical Girl Dandelion Vol. 1 by Kaeru Mizuho
I'm always looking for magical girl series that are doing something different, and this is a strong series start. Not 100% sure I'm sold yet, but I liked it enough that I'll keep reading.
~ acesaru

These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein
I'm ALWAYS down for a sci-fi noir, but this one didn't stick the landing for me. It might have benefitted from being a novel vs a novella, with more room to explore its themes (which were admittedly interesting!)
~ acesaru

We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune
I think my expectations were really high for this one. It didn't hit me as hard in the feels as it did other folks I know, but I did think it had its beautiful, poignant moments. There's some scenes that are definitely going to stick with me a long time.
~ acesaru

The Summer Hikaru Died Vol. 1 by Mokumokuren
I loved this anime a lot, and the manga is equally fun. And by "fun," I mean it's terrifying and sad and beautiful. I just want these boys to be happy!!! Even if one of them might actually be a [ unsettling radio static noises ]
~ acesaru

A Wild Radiance by Maria Ingrande Mora
I wanted to love this one so much, especially because of the polyam + queerplatonic relationships at the center. Unfortunately, almost every element was a miss for me. But to be fair!! I'm not the target audience. I very well might have adored this as a teen.
~ acesaru

Witch Hat Atelier Vol 4. by Kamome Shirahama
I finished the anime then and RAN to pick the manga back up where I left off. I'd been told the story really doesn't pull its punches, and we start to see that kick in here. Beautiful art, propulsive story, great character arcs. What's not to love?
~ acesaru

Witch Hat Atelier Vol 5. by Kamome Shirahama
Alright, I'm officially past where S1 of the anime ends! We're getting to know these characters on a deeper level, and the worldbuilding is also starting to ramp up even more. I'm consistently impressed by how much is packed into each volume.
~ acesaru

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
Isekai and villainess stories aren't my usual fare, but I LOVED THIS. It's often cheesy and silly, but also very genre-aware and clever in how it plays with its fantasy tropes. I also love every character. Especially Key. He's the best guy around, what murder—?
~ acesaru

Magical Girl Dandelion, Vol. 2 by Kaeru Mizuho
This is officially just not clicking with me for some reason. The bones of the plot are all good, and it's still doing some interesting things with the magical girl genre. I just want a little bit more of everything it's already doing right.
~ acesaru

Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn
A story about the legacy of anger and revenge by way of sea monsters and an equally monstrous pregnancy. I wish we went deeper into the world and its lore so that all the really cool things this novella is in conversation with could come together more.
~ acesaru

Verdriet is het ding met veren [Grief is the Thing with Feathers] by Max Porter
4.5* - I read this in a Dutch translation. Translation of my review (in Dutch): I'm not sure how to describe how this book makes me feel but I understand why people think this is a gorgeous book. The way this is told is incredibly intricate and special and I love how the different POVs work together. I may have missed some subtext to fullly understand the book but it's gorgeous and will haunt me for some time to come.
~ fpwoper

Het laatste verhaal van Jamie Gunn [Jamie Gunn's last story] by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
5* [Book read in Dutch; review is translated - the book, unfortunately, has not been translated as of yet]

I had to put this book down last night because I was pulled too far into the story (and was genuinely terrified)... but then picked it up today and in the light of day, I couldn't put it down. It dragged me along. I love how many layers the book has - and as the last part of the book says, it's like a matrushka doll, and it may have even more layers than an onion, which is why the idea of rewriting the story has such an impact. I don't think you ever really know at which layer the story is rewritten. And wow, those final pages....
I was pulled right into the story. As per (almost) usual, another great Thomas Olde Heuvelt horror novel!
(and a great ode to writers, too. I do hope this one will be available in English, too, someday.)
~ fpwoper

Wild Pork and Watercress (1986) by Barry Crump
Mostly I thought of Taika while reading, this being the 10th anniversary of Hunt for the Wilderpeople (which was based on this book).

In the story, a boy and his uncle travel from hut to hut, mostly in and around Te Urewera. It’s in the Bay of Plenty region that also incorporates Taika’s birthplace. Te Kaha coast is one of the closest places mentioned. Maybe that’s one reason why Taika bought the rights. That, and it really is a tale full of emotions and adventure. (In T’s words, “so entertaining…not flowery and over the top, but straight up.”)

A lot of the book is in the film, and it was nice to have some visuals in my mind during reading.

Ricky liked to read.
‘Aunty Bella joined the library in town for me and I read everything I could borrow around the neighbours.’
{Stede likes to read, which he tells Ed in OFMD 1-04:
<<STEDE: And this is my pride and joy. (indicates library)
ED: Incredible. You've read all of these?
STEDE: Many times. These are just my favorites.>>}

Hec and Ricky were constantly looking for food, both what they could catch and what was in the huts.
‘Flour, rice and sugar were the main things we liked to find. …but condensed milk, sugar and tins of meat or fish were the rarest and best finds.’
This was a lot like pirates, whose accounts frequently mention “taking provisions.”
{Of course, one of the funniest scenes in OFMD 1-07 was due to worries about scurvy…
<<STEDE: All right, stop going on about your cakes. Barely tasted of orange, if that's any consolation. Let's just accept the fact that, due to Roach's immoderate use of the citrus... we now have to go grocery shopping.>>}
~ Cindyb5

White Supremacy is All Around by Dr. Akilah Cadet
I suppose finishing this an hour and a half after disability pride month ended is pretty on brand for me. 😅 But wow, this book is so powerful. That's always something to learn and this book is no exception.
~ @lem0nb0iii.bsky

The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life after AI by Cory Doctorow
4* - A very insightful short read about how AI works, what its history is, and what may come after. I really liked the way Doctorow explained what the playbook is and how strangely it is financed. It's an enlightening book to say the least, and it manages to not be belligerent while describing what is going on. I very much also enjoyed the positivity at the end (what to scavenge, basically, and what we're going to learn when/if the bubble pops). Very much worth the couple of hours it took me to read.
~ fpwoper

Reviews as of July 26, 2026

Bone of my Bone by Johanna van Veen
I absolutely loved it! A sapphic folk-horror set during the Thirty Years' War, centered around a Protestant peasant girl and a Catholic nun trying to reuinite what they believe is a saint's skull with her body.

It did not hold back on describing the horrors that the common folk faced during a very violent time in history but the comfort and hope that Elsebeth and Ursula find in each other throughout offers light in an otherwise very bleak setting. The ending was great, give you more of that little ray of hope, even if it's very far from the usually happily ever after.

Very much recommend this book for anybody looking for sapphic horror!
~ Ivill

Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York by Ross Perlin
This book was really interesting, definitely recommend.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Unfit to Print by KJ Charles
Fun, fast-paced, very short novel (probably a novella actually) with two Victorian guys solving a missing-person case that hinges on a trove of inherited pornography. And falling in love, of course (it's a lovely second-chance romance with two characters who have Been Through It).
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

Call it Courage (1940) by Armstrong Sperry
This is just the sort of children’s book I might have read as a kid, an adventure about a kid needing to survive on his own for a while. I read the 50th anniversary edition filled with illustrations by the author (they look like woodcuts). I also watched a Disney film version. Its Polynesian island setting was a bit of a connection to some OFMD actors.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

Moana is the sea god.
Matafu believes the sea god took his mother’s life and wants to take his, as well.
{Auntie in OFMD 2-02:
<<AUNTIE: Sea witch. I have looked for you far and wide. But then you probably know that.
BUTTONS: Best not assume we know anythin' at all, ma’am. >>}

“That is woman’s work.”
Matafu does more practical work than his peers, but being handy and resourceful becomes an important part of his story.
{Pete in OFMD 1-01:
<<PETE: I'm not fսckin' sewing. That's women's work.
STEDE: Oh, Black Pete, come on now. You know that's not true. How many of you sew? Be honest.
ROACH: Sewed my shoulder up once... after I'd been stabbed. (all gasp) >>}
~ cindyb5.bsky.social

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
a CLASSIC murder mystery starring my beloved Hercule Poirot. Twisty and fun with some genuinely interesting characters and a satisfying wrap-up. NB: this book was written by an English author in 1937 and takes place in Egypt, so there is some pretty jarring period-typical racism
~ alimasin.bsky.social

The October Man - Ben Aaronovitch
Back with the wizards but this time it’s German wizards and German river goddesses. This book is definitely signalling changes in the world of magic and international magic relations.

Unlike the previous book in the series set internationally this one was closer to the rest of series with the protagonist being the equivalent of main character in the London books. It was interesting to get a few snippets of events during the war from the other side and river goddesses no matter what country they live in having to deal with life amongst mortals.
~ Robotpinemarten

The Dogs of Venice (2025) by Steven Rowley
I saw this novella and grabbed it on my way home from the library yesterday. I loved Steven Rowley’s “The Guncle” and I think I’ll always enjoy what he writes.
Here, Paul’s husband ended their marriage before a trip abroad and Paul is learning to not only travel, but be, on his own.
The cover is of a man with light brown hair in a teal blue jacket with a red scarf fluttering in the wind. Very Stede-like, although the character holds the sadness of both Ed and Stede when they end up apart after forming such a close connection.
Short and sweet.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

Paul’s ex said Paul was too needy.
{Fang asks Ed in OFMD 2-05:
<<Do you think you talk so much because you don't wanna know how to sit with yourself? >>}

‘Paul lingered in the candlelight, savoring each forkful with an appreciation for both ingredient and technique, unearthing the china pattern on the restaurant's dishes with the slow precision of an archaeologist.’
{Stede is teaching Ed about the rule with cutlery in OFMD 1-05:
<<STEDE: In we go with salad fork...
ED: I learn all of this just to fսcking eat?
STEDE: Yes, oh, but it's not just eating. We're dining. And remember, dining is...
ED: Pageantry.
STEDE: Pageantry. >>}

Nicola says:
‘"Do you know your way at night? Streets in Venice are full of dark. Dark that can be too dark."
{Stede calls to Ed in 2-04:
<<Ed. Hey, um, can you come with? It's getting a bit dark, and I-I can't, actually... I can't find my way back to the ship. >>}
~ cindyb5.bsky.social

We Burned So Bright, TJ Klune
Oh boy mind the tags on this one, folks. I didn't and assumed it would be another Klune Feelings book that's ultimately hopeful and it is *not*. It gave me a night of nightmares when I fell asleep reading and I sobbed silently at the end cuddling my kid to sleep. It's good but it is Rough and you really need to be in a good headspace for it, which I very much wasn't as the apocalyptic wildfire smoke engulfed my house. Beautifully written except for a really clunky chapter that read like an LGBT history lesson weirdly and it just didn't work for me. Read it (if you can handle a study on grief and love at the end of the world) but don't expect the Cerulean Sea or even Under the Whispering Door. There are moments of joy but that's not what it is about.
~ michellethestan

1776 by David McCullough
Pretty straightforward history book, but well-written.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Reviews as of July 19, 2026

Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow
Oh my God. I need the sequel IMMEDIATELY. This was so good and so fun!! My god, I am enamored.
~ lem0mb0iii

Maggie Nelson "The Argonauts"
the “problem” with this book is that it’s incredibly theoretically dense but written in a way that makes you fly through. which, on one hand, makes the theory fun and accessible but i also probably missed a lot of it. you could spend a day meditating on every single paragraph. i think my favourite parts are the ones about art and about applying theoretical concepts to her own life, or choosing to reject or rework them based on her own experiences. overall, a really fun and thought-provoking book.
~ @florenceafter12.bsky.social

Francesco Petrarca "Die Besteigung des Mont Ventoux"
einer der schönsten texte der literaturgeschichte <3
~ florenceafter12.bsky.social

Phaswane Mpe "Welcome to our Hillbrow"
unfortunately i didn’t like this at all. more an outline instead of a book, very tell-don’t-show, superficial about all the big topics it attempts to talk about, confusing and somehow manages to be repetitive in under 150 pages.
~ @florenceafter12.bsky.social

John Berger "Ways of Seeing"
a bit too absolute at times, but offers fantastic ideas of thinking about art and images that will definitely shape my own perspective and research in the future.
~ @florenceafter12.bsky.social

"A Marriage At Sea" by Sophie Elmhirst
Great book, especially for fans of survival stories. My favorite part was that (unsurprisingly) the wife was the one never giving up and keeping them alive.
~ SpaceCadetGlow

"Captain's Dinner" by Adam Cohen
CW cannibalism

This book is about the wreck of the Mignonette, which is known as the case that put an end to the tacit condoning of "the custom of the sea" (i.e. drawing lots to determine which of a wrecked/stranded group would be killed to feed the others). Before this case it was understood that what happened on a ship was the captain's domain, and somewhat removed from laws on land. Authorities would generally turn a blind eye to people doing what they needed to do to survive, recognizing the extraordinary circumstances. However, documented cases of "the custom of the sea" often conveniently resulted in a person with the least power, or a person from an out-group, being chosen. Such was the case with the Mignonette crew too, and this time they were put on trial for murder. The book delves heavily into the legal and ethical battle, and how it related to Victorian reforms to protect the vulnerable. Highly recommended!
~ SpaceCadetGlow

A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman
The latest in the series (2 books to go), I spent most of it like this: O_O

Everything has been building up to this and it didn’t disappoint.
~ killerweasel

Lies Sleeping - Ben Aaronovitch
The end of a multi story arc or at least a partial end. The death of the bad guy wasn’t a surprising conclusion, a bad guy with the ability to use magic to bring about chaos and harm greater than the London terror attacks is not the sort of person you can just throw into a cell.

The mix of history, mythology and author embellishments is enjoyable and sends me down various rabbit holes afterwards.
~ Robotpinemarten

Winters gifts - Ben Aaronovitch
I think the fact that I enjoyed this book less than the others in the series was more on me than the book. This is the first one see outside of London focussing on a side character rather than the main characters.

In this book the vengeful spirit of dead explorers creates adverse weather and more fucked up magical creatures, this time some kind of yeti type monsters. The book took a while to get to the ‘weird shit’ and was a little rushed towards the end.
~ Robotpinemarten

The Big Short by Michael Lewis
Held my attention surprisingly well for a book about economics and I do actually think I understand what happened in the 2008 crash (slightly) better now.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Reviews as of July 12, 2026

Stupid Cupid by Maeve Black
Was a pretty decent monster-fucking story. it’s technically a second book in the series and even though it’s not necessary i did read it ahead of time. reading it helped with the world and the characters but idk its a story about straight people and just was not for me. stupid cupid a m/m romance between a cupid and a dragon (that is a santa claus 🧍) and if you love stupid hot things it’s short enough to not take up too much time.
~ gentlebeard

After the Fall, Edward Ashton
This was a pick my speculative fiction library book club, but based on the summary I would have picked it up for myself. It was another solid meh. Loved the idea, not so wild about the execution. Slow to start and too fast to finish, left me wanting more information and not in a good way.

I judge a 4-12 speculative fiction writing contest I used to do in school. I give a lot of feedback basically that you can leave your reader with questions but it should be strategic. Mystery and ambiguity are good, but you need to know the answers & don't annoy your reader. In this book I was frustrated because characters knew more than I did and never shared it. What's the point of that? Build me your world! And also if one of your main characters is an alien actually describe what he looks like. It was funny and the idea of the plot was good but I feel like it needed someone to sit down and be like, ok, what's happening here. Why are we here. What are you trying to say.

Fingers crossed the two dads that comprise the book club agree with me because I'm still very new and it'll be awkward if they loved it.
~ Michellethestan

The Sugared Game by KJ Charles
The second in the Will Darling Adventures series. Loved it! I’ve never considered myself a big fan of mysteries, but every time I read one by KJ Charles, I’m obsessed, so I dunno if it’s just that I need them to also be queer romances or if she’s just that good.
~ unfunpleasures

Subtle Blood by KJ Charles
The final book in the Will Darling Adventures series. I’m going to miss these guys! The audiobooks for this series are fantastic, as well.
~ unfunpleasures

A Good Puck by Rochelle Wolf
Oh man. This book has EVERYTHING. Egg cracks, the PWHL, Canada, and two lil sapphic cuties. 🥰🥰
~ lem0nb0iii

The Demon of Beausoleil by Mari Costa
If everyone keeps telling you that you’re cursed, that you’re evil, that you’re an incubus, then it has to be true, right? Helianthes, a half-demon, has to figure it out before it is too late.
~ Killerweasel

Wild Dark Shore (2025) by Charlotte McConaghy
This was filled with sadness and the feeling of potential disaster all along the way. I may not have chosen it on my own, but it was a book discussion choice. I’ll always find something good in a book, and I like how strong the family is.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

-OFMD - ‘Orly tells Rowan, “I’m here, I won’t leave you”’
{Mer!STEDE to ED in 2-03: Ed, wake up! Come on! I'm here. I'll never leave you. I'll never leave again.”

-OFMD - ‘We hear the sound before the lighthouse appears. The long, slightly mournful notes of a violin drifting through the fog to us.’
{Opening scene of 2-06: Inside, Ned Low with a violin}

-OFMD - ‘Eight years is too long to expect a child's friendships to hold on, so she has no real friends waiting for her.’
{ED in 2-03: “I don’t think anyone’s waiting for me.”

-OFMD - Rowan thinks, ‘I am returned to the sea.’
{BUTTONS in 2-01: “We are returned, my love. My ocean deep”
~  cindyb5

Bloom - Delilah S Dawson
Sapphic cottage core with a slow burn horror twist. A little too slow burn for me, the build up to pay off ratio was way off imo. The last few pages were horrible and I woke up in the night thinking about them but the journey to get there was a little frustrating at times. Inspired by Hannibal, no where near as suave.
~ rueforyou

The Correspondent (2025) by Virginia Evans
All letters, with different storylines occurring. There are holes, but they seem resolved by a subsequent letter. As a work friend said, the correspondent was opinionated, but she meant well and apologized when wrong.

Keeping OFMD in mind as I read…

-OFMD - ‘My brother suffered at the hands of sadistic classmates for years.’
{NIGEL BADMINTON in 1-01: We were rowdy school chums. Always playing pranks on one another. Hmm? Do you remember the day with the rowboat? 
STEDE: The rowboat? 
NIGEL: Oh, come on now. 
STEDE: No, I can't. 
NIGEL: The rowboat. (laughs) It was hysterical!
[Stede’s bad memory - Look! It's Baby Bonnet! Get him! Bonnet! (all yelling, throwing rocks, while Stede is tied to the oars) Oh! Row, Baby Bonnet! Row!]
NIGEL (chuckling): Oh, it was all in good fun, of course. An initiation of sorts. 
STEDE: Yes, funny, I don't recall it happening to anyone else.}
~ cindyb5

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
4* - This is a short story collection and they're always hard to rate in my opinion. I loved the first two stories and the last two, and could barely put the book down. The other four weren't quite to my tastes, even though I can't really figure out why. Still, I did overall enjoy them. Genuinely enjoyed the body horror aspects of it all, how womanhood/female bodies were part of the horror and horrific aspects, how sex could also be horrible. And how much trauma is in this. A very good collection.
~ fpwoper

Dolly Parton: Star of the Show by Dolly Parton
I love Dolly. She’s amazing. This massive autobiography starts off with her childhood and goes to now, full of stories and so many pictures. I’d love to get a copy for myself.
~ Killerweasel

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by KJ Charles
Loved the format of this one - a novel in stories, each covering a different case. Ghosts and smut and unconventional true love.
~ alimasin

The Confessional by Paige Hender
Newly turned vampire is with her maker and an assortment of interesting vampires at a whore house in New Orleans. She falls for a priest. Is it love or does the priest have nefarious plans in mind?
~ Killerweasel

In Case You Read This by Edward Underhill
When I first heard about this book, I thought the premise was very sweet and fun, so I added it to my TBR. In truth, I had a hard time reading it. I don’t think it’s a bad book at all— I’m just not the target audience (it’s a YA title), and I didn’t even read YA when I was at the right age for it. While it wasn’t for me, I think it’s super cool that books like this exist for young queer kids— especially young trans guys in small towns who may not always have the luxury of feeling safe or seen. As for me, though, if this had been a fic, I’d have loved it, but as a book? Eh, not quite my cup of tea.
~ unfunpleasures