Reviews as of September 22, 2026

Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on Our Sex-Obsessed Culture by Sherronda J. Brown
This was excellent, definitely recommend.
~ remreader

Water Weed - Ben Aaronovitch
No one wants to be dragged into their partners family drama especially when it’s a legal issue and you’re the police. Weed grown using magic wouldn’t be something most cops would be aware of but most cops aren’t also wizards.

The defence for the grower/dealer/supplier was that she was doing it all to pay for specialist care for her disabled uncle which while true didn’t defend her violent attacks on others.
~ Robotpinemarten

Cry Fox - Ben Aaronovitch
The idea of a reverse fox hunt is something I’m not against the issue is when the people being hunted aren’t actually involved in fox hunting itself and the collaborator is a borderline sec offender and all round creep and pervert fae.

I enjoy the graphic novels fitting into the main series with reoccurring characters but still having a separate storyline in each edition I just would have preferred it if the ‘fox’ had been the hunted and not left to carry on chasing little ‘bunnies’
~ Robotpinemarten

Moonflow by Bitter Karella
This one was recommended by my friend. It was a wild ride. Some parts were ROUGH but I just could not stop reading. Trans author, transfem lead, egg cracks, some fuuuucked up gore.
~ lem0nb0iii

Cry Out Loud by Tara O’Connor
Time travel, banshees, Ireland, cults, and lesbians. This book has it all.
~ killerweasel

Stone and Sky - Ben Aaronovitch
Everyone loves a summer holiday until a dead Selkie turns up on the beach and you end up working on a case in a different country.

One thing about these books is that they show that humans will take advantage of and exploit anyone for financial or political gain especially vulnerable fae and anyone on edge of society.

Previously I’ve not been keen on the books set outside of London but I can’t dislike a book featuring a sapphic teenage romance with a mermaid.
~ Robotpinemarten

Shapes of Love by L.V. Peñalba
I will admit I'm pickier about ace and/or aro rep in books than I probably ought to be given there's still SO little of it out there but I really liked this one!
~ remreader (bluesky)

Blank Canvas - Grace Murray
This book wasn't quite what I expected it to be. I thought it would be a kind of thriller where I got to enjoy the protagonist being terrible, or some dark academia vibes, but instead it was quite, tender and deeply sad. A great exploration of the stories we tell ourselves and others, with a focus on the way we connect with, and isolate ourselves from, other people. Also, it was lesbian, so extra points for that.
~ rueforyou

A Lady's Guide to London by Faye Delacour
A bit cute, a bit silly, a bit spicy. Historical romance for the modern reader.
~ improperdepression

A Most Worthy Husband by Faye Delacour
Rarely have I met a more annoying protagonist, on both sides of the relationship. Luckily for everyone involved, these two idiots were made for each other
~ improperdepression

Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell
This reads like fanfiction (extreme compliment).
~ improperdepression

What Mother Won't Tell Me by Ivar Leon Menger
A book that's terrifying till about 60% in.
~ improperdepression

Game Changer by Rachel Reid
Alright, okay I get the hype now.
~ improperdepression

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
Phryne is my new favorite hero.
~ improperdepression

Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood
Once again, Phryne proves the best.
~ improperdepression

Murder on the Ballarat Train by Kerry Greenwood
No one does it like her.
~ improperdepression

Death at Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood
You WILL love Bert and Cec
~ improperdepression

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Viktor Frankenstein might be the worst protagonist ever written. This man could not take accountability if it'd chased him across the world and nearly killed him.
~ improperdepression

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
An absolutely fascinating story that I cannot praise without spoiling everything.
~ improperdepression

The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
how to find a wife: a tutorial by Hastings
~ improperdepression

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
He's the GOAT for a reason! Keeps you on your toes, even so many years later.
~ improperdepression

Wish On A Willow by Maria Oka
My friend wrote this book! It's a really sweet middle-grade novel about family and friendship and dealing with hard things, plus a tiny bit of magic.
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

The People's Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn by Dave Zirin
I don't know how much I liked the book as a *biography* - it at times hovered at the edge of feeling hagiographic about its subject while at the same time not offering enough information/detail/etc. about Zinn's life story outside his work to really get a feel for him as a person (which may have been unavoidable, it was repeatedly emphasized how private he and his wife were about personal stuff) - BUT I found it to be a fascinating look into many of the social and political movements he was a part of and definitely well worth reading.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Kill All Wizards by Jedediah Berry
That was a really fun read!
~ lem0mb0iii

The Lionhearts by Mike Lawrence
Two boys team up with their former hero grandparents to rescue their parents from a group who are up to no good. Enjoyed this. Looks like a fun start to a new series.
~ killerweasel

The Great Orchid Heist by Eleanor Vendrell
It was cute but unfortunately not something that has particularly stuck with me! Maybe I need to be more garden-pilled.
~ Highwaystars

Viper by Bex Hogan
In my nautical era so this kinda hit. Extra cute because I borrowed it from my husband's younger sister. Fun enough adventure book! Excited for rest of trilogy
~ Highwaystars

Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi
This one was a slog for me. I don't really need to be reading a whole story from the pov of an ignorant colonizer to learn about unbalanced power relationships 🫠🫠🫠 how are these stories still getting awards lol
~ Highwaystars

A Prince Among Pirates by Katie Abdou
I didn't know I felt so strongly against publishing fanfic until I read this. It feels kinda icky to make a whole story with so much clearly lifted from OFMD and pretend it's an original work. Womp womp.
~ Highwaystars

Klara and the Sun (2021) by Kazuo Ishiguro
I wanted to read it as soon as Taika became the screenwriter and director. Thinking about OFMD as I read and a fun thing that stood out was the mention of a “Jenkins Report” (although I don’t know what it is). Anyway…

There’s an overall sadness, due to loneliness and grief, and each reveal is delayed. Unhappy with the past, worried about the future. There is illness that makes the present unfulfilling.

Josie’s friend, Ricky, is referred to as “unlifted.” Since it’s deemed a privilege, he doesn’t have the same prospects in life as Josie and her other friends.
In OFMD 1-01, Olu said, “we don't do this because we like it. We do it because... we don't have any other choice.”

There is an “interaction meeting.” It’s just a social gathering, but Rick says it’s a meeting for “lifted kids.”
JOSIE: The AF who lives in the house usually attends. Especially if they're new like you. They'll all want to inspect you.
KLARA: So Josie would wish me to be present.
JOSIE: Sure I want you to be present. It might not be so great for you though. These meetings stink and that's the truth.
In OFMD 1-05, Ed learns about passive aggression…
STEDE: Pirates, they attack with force. The upper crust, they strike with cutting remarks disguised as politeness.
Ed: That's fսkking diabolical.
STEDE: It is.
Frenchie brings in an invitation he found “to some kind of fancy party for hoity-toity people.” Stede reads it’s for a “stuffy, swanky formal affair tonight,” and Ed is intrigued…
ED: We may as well, maybe, just go. Give me a chance to practice my massive aggression.
STEDE: Passive aggression.
ED: Passive aggression. I know.
STEDE: Well, I think you'll hate it. It's just a whole bunch of posh nobs hobnobbing with other posh nobs, drinking champagne, and exchanging glances, and talking about nonsense. Fashion, all that kind of stuff.
ED: We're going.
~ Cindyb5

What Feasts at Night, T. Kingfisher
I was really excited to find out that the Sworn Soldier books existed, I thought it was just "What Moves the Dead," which I read awhile ago. This was a super fun and creepy read as expected. It takes a lot for me to enjoy a first person narrator, but Alex Easton is such a good character that I enjoy getting in their head. This is my least favorite of the three books, but it was still a really enjoyable adventure.
~ michellethestan

What Stalks the Deep, T. Kingfisher
I am obsessed with this book. The combination of horror and absurdity and folklore was just perfect. Without giving anything away, the new character introduced was so ridiculously good and strange, I didn't want the story to end. I have a soft spot for Appalachian folklore and it was great to see Alex Easton grappling with that world.
~ michellethestan

The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All by Sumiko Arai
It feels like forever ago since I read a whole graphic novel! Loved the bright green colours in this. This is definitely a genre I am not used to so the slow pace kinda took me by surprise, lol, but maybe I will keep up with the series!
~ Highwaystars

Moby Dick by Herman Melville
It is a really weird and idiosyncratic book, in a good way. Also unexpectedly funny at times! And gay. People are not joking about that. I enjoyed the poetic language in a lot of it, and the pithy way Melville likes to end his chapters. Now I need to go to Nantucket.
~ SpaceCadetGlow

Pseudotooth by Verity Holloway
Dreamy portal fantasy that blurs realities, with distinct and unique characters. Themes of illness/disability, trauma, and memory. The kind of lush and vivid sensory descriptions that I love in fiction. Highly recommended!
~ SpaceCadetGlow

Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle
What a stunning, stellar read. I could imagine everything in full color. That was such a satisfying and heartbreaking ending, too, especially as a queer AFAB person who also has a fucked up relationship with their father. Also, if this ever gets made into a movie, James Spader would be an amazing Eddie Michaels. 👀 Though I did imagine him looking like Ray Liotta, too but alas.
~ lem0nb0iii

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
What a fantastic book. I know I am not the first to say it! I had not consumed any GoT content before this year, when I watched the Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show. Loving getting to know all these characters, all this conflict, in the genuinely well-written book.
It's fun and it's good! It can be done!
~ Highwaystars

Reviews as of September 13, 2026

Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King
This is my personal favorite short story collection of his. I think ‘The Finger’ would make an excellent horror short film. It involves a guy doing battle with a giant finger coming out of his bathroom drain.
~ killerweasel

The Dark Frontier: Unlocking the Secrets of the Deep Sea by Jeffrey Marlow
I found this one really interesting; I appreciated the detailed discussions of how scientific study of the seep ocean takes place and about the politics around ocean/sea floor conservation vs. exploitation. It is quite a long book but the writing style was conversational enough that it didn't feel like a drag.
~ remreader

Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 by Albert Marrin
This is one of the deadliest pandemics in history. The mutated version of H1N1 originated in the United States at a military base & spread around the globe at a pace never seen before. Millions died.
~ killerweasel

In the Shadow of the Moon: The Science, Magic, and Mystery of Solar Eclipses by Anthony Aveni
I liked the author's approach to discussing how ancient cultures viewed eclipses and the book as a whole was pretty interesting.
~ remreader

Mickey7 by Edward Ashton
While I know I broke the cardinal sin of watching the movie before the book, and the movie was very different, I still thoroughly enjoyed this read. What a fun ride.
~ lem0nb0iii

The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim
Oh, God. So gory and dark and SO GOOD. I support women's rights and their wrongs. But also. 🤢 But like in the best way.
~ lem0nb0iii

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Holy shit. What an insane, beautiful, sad story. Fucking A. I want to read it again.
~ lem0nb0iii

The Demon Overlord's Retirement Plan by M. H. Foster
Picked this up at the Atlanta airport on the way home from dragoncon on Monday, because I knew I'd be finishing Sunrise on the Reaping before landing. What a lovely palette cleanser. I need the sequel.
~ lem0nb0iii

The Story of Birds: A New History from Their Dinosaur Origins to the Present by Steve Brusatte
This was excellent, definitely recommend for anyone interested in birds.
~ remreader

How to Fake It In Society, KJ Charles
KJ Charles never misses! I found this one super enjoyable. There were maybe one or two twists I saw coming easily enough, but I was still surprised more than once! Additionally, the audiobook is super good!
~ unfunpleasures

Lore Olympus Volume Two by Rachel Smythe
Fucking MINTHE 😤 Fucking APOLLO 😤 I forgot how much disdain I have for these versions of them. But as always, Hades and Kore are prime. 💙🩷
~ lem0nb0iii

Pet Semetary by Stephen King
It’s interesting reading about a character going from completely logical to totally insane, driven by grief and loss. How far would you be willing to go to bring back a loved one, even if they might not be themselves?
~ killerweasel

The Far Edges of the Known World: Life Beyond the Borders of Ancient Civilization by Owen Rees
It was nice to learn a little bit more about ancient history outside of Greece/Rome/Egypt and I appreciated how the author kept the book really grounded in discussion of the archeological record and specific artifacts as well as acknowledging the limits of what we can definitively conclude from them.
~ remreader

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A reread of one of my favorite books of all time. My kid read it this summer and then we watched the (Baz Luhrmann) movie and then I just HAD to read it again. This book is 101 years old and every sentence is a pleasure.
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

De gestolen van Goghs [The stolen Van Goghs] by Lex Boon
3.5 stars
[Book read in Dutch; review is translated (book has not been translated)]
This is a fun read. It's interesting to see how many Van Goghs were stolen and how long they were gone. The conversations with different parties involved with the current case are intriguing and occasionally funny. It does feel like the book is trying to do too many things at the same time and doesn't quite wrap up all of them. But it was a fun, non-fiction read.
~ fpwoper

Reviews as of September 5, 2026

Handprints on Hubble: An Astronaut's Story of Invention by Kathryn D. Sullivan
I don't know a ton about the shuttle era so it was cool to read in-depth about something from it besides the disasters.
~ remreader (bluesky)

A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell
I liked this one! I wish there'd been fewer side characters so they could've had more development/not have it feel like some were sort of dropped by the wayside as the story went on but I really enjoyed the main archeology plotline.
~ remreader (bluesky)

One of the Boys by Victoria Seller
Highly recommend even if you aren't a football/sports person (I'm definitely not 😅)
~ remreader (bluesky)

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organising by KC Davis
4 stars
I've had this book recommended to me several times and finally picked it up. There are now sticky notes in the book with pages that might help me if I have a bad day, but it's also made me realise that I've already sorta intuited the way that works best for me over the last few days. Mostly, what this has taught me is that I need to be kinder to myself about not ticking off all the tasks I had planned, and potentially even making a list of tasks I would need to prioritise when I've got a bad day so I can keep functioning in my space.
I really do like the idea of the 5 things tidying method, and I've absolutely also taken notes on the various ways to get motivation to start a task because that is often more of a holdup (but once I get moving, I can usually knock everything out). The closing duties are intriguing too, I will have to figure out if that works for me. I think this is a very helpful book if you struggle with care tasks and figuring out where to start with them.
~ fpwoper

Vanilla by Ype Driessen
4 stars
[Dutch novel, this book has not been translated]
I didn't know what to expect from this book when I started it but I enjoyed it. The different types of dates described are probably recognisable to many people and I do have to say that it made the book feel more realistic. I'm also glad that there were consequences to Jip's actions, which means that Jip turns into a grey-moralistic character, which in turn made him feel more human. I kinda wish that there'd been more info about Mefi and the investigation into what he was doing, but well. It isn't a book that needs to put that at the forefront, although he is a fascinating character.
I'm kind of glad that this book is explicit about its talk about sex and detailed sex scenes, including drug usage which seems to be the norm in Amsterdam for gay men. Every detail added to this book makes it feel more realistic. Great book!
~ fpwoper

The Killing of a Chestnut Tree by Oliver K. Langmead
This was a really lovely cozy queer Sherlock Holmes-esque mystery. I wish it had been longer than a novella so the mystery and investigation and characters could've been fleshed out more but it was definitely still compelling as is.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Strange Houses by Uketsu
This author's books are so gimmicky - he's a Japanese youtuber who wears a mask and whose identity is unknown, they all have a major visual element that gets revisited and explained as the books go on, and they're written mostly in a script/dialogue style rather than traditional narrative. They're also just enjoyably batshit - every so often you'll be like WHAT AM I READING. Anyway, this book is about houses with weird floor plans, which the main mystery-solver guy immediately theorizes is due to them being used for [extremely specific way to commit murder], and by the end of the book you find out he's right, and also the murders are being done for [insane reason]. Fun!
CW for weird family dynamics/trauma and kids getting involved in the murdering
~ @alimasin.bsky.social

Ga gewoon wat leuks doen [Just do something fun] by Aafke Romeijn
4* [Book read in Dutch; review is translated - the book, unfortunately, has not been translated as of yet]

An incredibly accessible book about depression and everything related to it like getting a diagnosis, medication, and ways to find a better balance, but also the way it might impact your family and desire to have children. I enjoyed the langauge used and Aafke does a great job taking you along to show you how she's experienced her chronic depression. Definitely a recommendation if you want to know more about depressions.
One downside is the amount of repetition in the book, which made me skim some parts. But it's still absolutely a rec from me!
~ fpwoper

Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte
4.5* - I loved this. It breaks several walls (or does it?), and I like how some of the stories and characters seem to overlap. And then the final few stories just turn everything back on its head. I... I think I'm a little flabbergasted after this one, to be honest. I'm not sure how to describe how I feel after this book except that I just really enjoyed it. I loved the different mediums, the different characters, the different types of text we were dealing with (lots of texting, some e-mails. Longform sort of reddit posts). This book is not quite a joy to read, because the topic of it is too heavy - it *is* all about rejection and people being rejected or rejecting themselves - but it is very good.
~ fpwoper

Vesuvius by Cass Biehn
Unfortunately this one just really didn't work for me. The plot(s) were messy and poorly paced, the characters spoke and behaved WAY too modern for ancient Pompeii (yes, even taking into account that this is YA written for modern readers), and the actual eruption of Vesuvius ended up sort of feeling like an afterthought in the last handful of chapters of the book.
~ remreader (bluesky)

Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales! Yarn is Everything by Aaron Reynolds
Girl becomes obsessedwith crocheting and being on a tv show. A possesed crochet hook comes into her possession and bad things happen.
~ killerweasel

Barn 8 (2020) by Deb Olin Unferth
Perhaps this book got a movie deal because of the price of eggs this past year? Maybe not, but it has interesting parts:
-a “small” family egg farm that grew to be huge
-investigators who secretly check on the living conditions of the hens
-a main story about setting some of the hens free
I enjoyed the time jumping, which did require a few notes and paying attention. I rooted for the well-meaning humans, and also for the hens.

Thinking of OFMD while reading…

-Janey left her home, and when she tried to go back her mother had passed away
-Stede left his family and when he tried to go back he discovered his wife had started an affair and he realized he was in love with Ed

-the ‘old Janey’ would do ‘whatever law-abiding inanity’ ‘as a way to waste the day.’
‘the new Janey was a pirate, a Robin Hood, an outlaw of the best kind’
-In OFMD, Stede was ‘uncomfortable in a married state’ and would play pirates with his kids, saying, “I'm the greatest pirate that ever lived!”

And here’s a wonderful quote from the book that is also fitting for OFMD:
‘Of course, one falls in love not because of who the beloved is but because of who the beloved allows -you- to be.’
~ cindyb5

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
This was a re-read for book club and I had just intended to skim to refresh my memory for the conversation but by page ten I was sucked in, by page fifty I was pre-grieving. Just a really juicy reading experience, I didn't expect to enjoy it as much the second time around but it was still beautifully written and almost better on the second pass knowing the beats and seeing them play out again. I love fate, I love tragedy, I love sad boys.
~ rueforyou

The Lost City of Z - David Grann
My favourite genre of non-fiction is 'man goes out into nature, it goes wrong'. This was a little left field for me because there was no water (iced or otherwise) involved but still a great read that had me wanting to google every little detail to find out more.
~ rueforyou