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The Galaxy and the Ground Within

With no water, no air, and no native life, the planet Gora is unremarkable. The only thing it has going for it is a chance proximity to more popular worlds, making it a decent stopover for ships traveling between the wormholes that keep the Galactic Commons connected. If deep space is a highway, Gora is just your average truck stop.

At the Five-Hop One-Stop, long-haul spacers can stretch their legs (if they have legs, that is), and get fuel, transit permits, and assorted supplies. The Five-Hop is run by an enterprising alien and her sometimes helpful child, who work hard to provide a little piece of home to everyone passing through.

When a freak technological failure halts all traffic to and from Gora, three strangers—all different species with different aims—are thrown together at the Five-Hop. Grounded, with nothing to do but wait, the trio—an exiled artist with an appointment to keep, a cargo runner at a personal crossroads, and a mysterious individual doing her best to help those on the fringes—are compelled to confront where they’ve been, where they might go, and what they are, or could be, to each other.

An amazing addition to the Wayfarers universe. With only 5 characters and spanning just a few days The Galaxy and the Ground Within really immerses you with these characters and the predicament they find themselves in. A sweet and funny character driven look at friends forged by proximity and a closer look at some of the galaxy's more interesting inhabitants, would highly recommend. 

Record of a Spaceborn Few & The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers

Record of a Spaceborn Few

 Hundreds of years ago, the last humans left Earth. After centuries wandering empty space, humanity was welcomed – mostly – by the species that govern the Milky Way, and their generational journey came to an end. 

 But this is old history. Today, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, a place many are from but few outsiders have seen. When a disaster rocks this already fragile community, those Exodans who have not yet left for alien cities struggle to find their way in an uncertain future. Among them are a mother, a young apprentice, an alien academic, a caretaker for the dead, a man searching for a place to belong, and an archivist, who ensures no one’s story is forgotten. Each has their own voice, but all seek answers to inescapable questions: 

 Why remain among the stars when there are habitable worlds within reach? And what is the purpose of a ship that has reached its destination?

I have previously read, The long way to a small and angry planet, and A closed and common orbit, I am a big Becky Chambers fan and have been meaning to read this for a long time. 

What's interesting about Record of a space born few is that where the previous two books need to be read consecutively to each other Record of a space born few could be read as the 3rd installment, as a standalone read or if you are the type of person who can get overwhelmed by all the alien terminology of sci fi as the introduction to the Wayfarers series due to it predominantly taking place in the human Fleet. 

In a similar vein as The Long way to a small and angry planet, Record of a space born few is far more character driven then plot, which is something I really enjoy, give me a good character study any day. 

I seriously enjoyed this, a beautiful and comprehensive look at day to day life within the Exodus Fleet and humanity's ever evolving place within the universe of the Wayfarers.   

[queerbookgeek]

Record of a Spaceborn Few & The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers

Record of a Spaceborn Few

 Hundreds of years ago, the last humans left Earth. After centuries wandering empty space, humanity was welcomed – mostly – by the species that govern the Milky Way, and their generational journey came to an end. 

 But this is old history. Today, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, a place many are from but few outsiders have seen. When a disaster rocks this already fragile community, those Exodans who have not yet left for alien cities struggle to find their way in an uncertain future. Among them are a mother, a young apprentice, an alien academic, a caretaker for the dead, a man searching for a place to belong, and an archivist, who ensures no one’s story is forgotten. Each has their own voice, but all seek answers to inescapable questions: 

 Why remain among the stars when there are habitable worlds within reach? And what is the purpose of a ship that has reached its destination?

I have previously read, The long way to a small and angry planet, and A closed and common orbit, I am a big Becky Chambers fan and have been meaning to read this for a long time. 

What's interesting about Record of a space born few is that where the previous two books need to be read consecutively to each other Record of a space born few could be read as the 3rd installment, as a standalone read or if you are the type of person who can get overwhelmed by all the alien terminology of sci fi as the introduction to the Wayfarers series due to it predominantly taking place in the human Fleet. 

In a similar vein as The Long way to a small and angry planet, Record of a space born few is far more character driven then plot, which is something I really enjoy, give me a good character study any day. 

I seriously enjoyed this, a beautiful and comprehensive look at day to day life within the Exodus Fleet and humanity's ever evolving place within the universe of the Wayfarers.   

[queerbookgeek]

I wish you all the best by Mason Deaver

It’s just three words: I am nonbinary.

But that's all it takes to change everything. When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school. But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life. At turns heart breaking and joyous, I Wish You All the Best is both a celebration of life, friendship, and love, and a shining example of hope in the face of adversity.

I loved this. A really easy read that was well paced with great characters and didn't tip toe around difficult topics. The relationships both platonic and romantic, were really well written. The main character Ben was interesting and very relatable and I especially enjoyed seeing how their relationship with their sister evolved and unfolded. The anxiety of coming out, even with people you believe you are safe with, was captured really well and in a way that felt very real. 

[queerbookgeek]

The Dark Artifacts book 2 - Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

A shadowhunter's life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a shadow hunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners - sworn to fight together, die together but never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs has learnt that the love she shares with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, isn't just forbidden - it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from him. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides.

Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorn's can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargin with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey to the courts of fairie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile rising tension between Shafowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They'll do do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own.

When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the for of the Lord of Shadows - the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have reproductions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

I was slightly unsure of this one at first finding it hard to get stuck into but once I was I was once again entrapped by the world and characters Cassandra Clare creates. The imagery of Fairy is one that is always so enchanting. I loved seeing the dynamics of the Blackthorns change with the addition of Kit as well as Jullian beginning to allow his younger siblings more independence. 

A really fun, exciting and very emotional adventure but I need to start Queen of Air and Darkness right now.

The Dark Artifacts book 1 - Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare.

In a kingdom by the sea … 

In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight deacons. Parabatai is a sacred word. Parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other - but they can never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter. She lives for battle. Alongside her parabatai Jullian Blackthorn, she patrols Los Angeles, where Vampires party the shadowstrip, and fairies - the most powerful of supernatural creatures - teeter on the edge of war with shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and fairies are found murdered in the same way Emma's parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma's chance for revenge and Jullians chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held by the fairies courts. All they have to do is solve the murders within two weeks … and before the murder targets them.

Their search takes Emma to the sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Jullien been hiding from her all these years? Why does shadowhunter law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents - and can she bear to know the truth.

I loved this, I mean I seem to love all Cassandra Clare books so I'm not really surprised. But I found myself loving the Blackthorn family more than I thought I would. Following Emma and the Blackthorns who had been introduced at the end of the mortal instruments. I really loved these characters and considering how many of the Blackthorns there are they each felt very realistic and fleshed out. The bond between Emma and all the Blackthorns was really beautiful and something I really enjoyed reading.

The story was great fun, but then who doesn't love a good murder mystery, especially one with a magical backdrop. 

There was also more queer rep in this than i was expecting considering Emma and Jullian are the main focus. Can’t wait to get stuck into the next one.

[queerbookgeek]

Toil & trouble 15 tales of women and witchcraft edited by Jessica Spotswood & Tess Sharpe

As a whole 15 tales of women and witchcraft was a really fun and beautiful read focusing on a wide array of different characters and there wasn't a single story that I didn't enjoy. 

Some of my personal standouts  whoever are, 

The first  story of the book, starsong by Tehlor Kay Mejia. Follows Luna Mendoza, an Instagram famous witch who reads people's stars. I won't go into to much because there's only so much you can say about a short story without giving it all away but I seriously need a full book about this character!

The second story of the book - Afterbirth by Andrea Cremer, a true contrast to Starsong  that comes before, set I'm New England in 1650, follows Deliverance Pond a midwife's apprentice.

Death on the sawtooth by Lindsay Smith. Follows the lone follower of The Lady (death) who has been austrised by her peers and the world for it. Until she is called on by the High Warlock for help. The world created in such a short space is truly fascinating and I would gladly read 3-6 books set there!

The one who stayed by Nova Ren Suma.  I don't know what to say about this one, it was haunting and very dark and a whole different take on witchcraft and covens from any of the others.

Why they watch us burn by Elizabeth May. The final story of the book, set in a hyper patriarchal world and follows the story of a woman sentenced to hard leghbour for crimes of ‘witchcraft’ This was truly the perfect conclusion to the book as a whole, and it had me in near tears come the end. A beautiful story of friendship, love and magic.

(I would advise to read with care as some of the stories have some pretty difficult subject matter and you might want to look up individual trigger warnings for each one.)

[queerbookgeek]

American Hippo - River of Teeth & Taste of Marrow by Sarah Gailey 

In the early 20th Century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true.

Other true things about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two.

This was a terrible plan.

Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.

This book is wild! I needed something a little smaller to break up the dark Artifacts books as I've been struggling to find the spoons to read at the moment. 

American Hippo contains both River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow as well as a couple short stories. They are everything I didn't know I needed from queer hippo cowboys. Heists, explosions, nonbinary love interests, murder. And obviously so many hippos! I really want to make it my entire personality but not sure how to incorporate hippo cowboys into my everyday life.

Such a fun read and I am very obsessed!

[queerbookgeek]

The Dark Artifacts book 1 - Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare.

In a kingdom by the sea … 

In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight deacons. Parabatai is a sacred word. Parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other - but they can never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter. She lives for battle. Alongside her parabatai Jullian Blackthorn, she patrols Los Angeles, where Vampires party the shadowstrip, and fairies - the most powerful of supernatural creatures - teeter on the edge of war with shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and fairies are found murdered in the same way Emma's parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma's chance for revenge and Jullians chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held by the fairies courts. All they have to do is solve the murders within two weeks … and before the murder targets them.

Their search takes Emma to the sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Jullien been hiding from her all these years? Why does shadowhunter law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents - and can she bear to know the truth.

I loved this, I mean I seem to love all Cassandra Clare books so I'm not really surprised. But I found myself loving the Blackthorn family more than I thought I would. Following Emma and the Blackthorns who had been introduced at the end of the mortal instruments. I really loved these characters and considering how many of the Blackthorns there are they each felt very realistic and fleshed out. The bond between Emma and all the Blackthorns was really beautiful and something I really enjoyed reading.

The story was great fun, but then who doesn't love a good murder mystery, especially one with a magical backdrop. 

There was also more queer rep in this than i was expecting considering Emma and Jullian are the main focus. Can’t wait to get stuck into the next one.

[queerbookgeek]

The lost book of the white by Cassanadra Clare & Wesley Chu

Life is good for Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood.

That is, until the night two old acquaintances break in and steal the powerful Book of the White, stabbing Magnus with a strange magical weapon in the process. Now Magnus and Alec will have to drop everything to follow the thieves to shanghai.

Once there they learn a much darker threat awaits them. Magnus's magic is growing unstable, and if they can't stop the demons flooding into the city, they might have to follow them all the way back to the source - to the very Realm of the dead. Can they stop the threat to the world?

I am obsessed and absolutely no one is surprised. I loved that we got a final (hopefully only final for now until a new Eldest Curses book comes out) adventure with all the New York shadowhunters from The Mortal Instruments series. I have really missed these characters and getting to see them from the perspectives of Alec and Magnus was great, especially this version of Alec and Magnus that are far more settled. 

It was everything I want from a Shadowhunter book, moving and funny, emotional and adventurous. Lots of demon killing and action but also focusing on the small emotional stuff too. I seriously can't wait for another eldest Curse book to come out but until then I still have plenty of shadowhunter books to get through and there are some big ones coming up. 🏳️‍🌈

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

All Magnus Bane Wanted was a vacation. A lavish trip across Europe with Alec Lightwood, the shadowhunter, who against all odds, is finally his boyfriend. It doesn't seem like too much for the centuries-old High Warlock to ask for. But no sooner have they settled in Paris than an old friend arrives with news about a demon-worshiping cult called the Crimson Hand that is bent on causing chaos around the world. A cult that was apparently founded by Magnus himself. Years ago. As a joke.

Now Magnus and Alec race across Europe to track down the Crimson Hand and its elusive new leader before the cult can cause any more damage. As their quest for answers becomes increasingly dire, Magnus and Alec have to trust each other more than ever - even if it means revealing the Seacrest they're both been keeping. 

The mortal instrument book series is such a nostalgic series for me. I first read them while going through a pretty traumatic time as a teen and have always fallen back on them as comfort books but I somehow have not read all the shadowhunter books, something I hope to remedy this year. The ones I have read are The Mortal Instruments series, The Infernal Devices trilogy, The Bane Chronicles and Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy.

 I don't have time at the moment for a full reread so I'm just going to pick up what I've missed. 

Starting with the red scrolls of magic, the first of two in the Eldest Curses set. This book takes place after City of Glass when Magnus and Alec take a vacation together early on in their relationship. These characters have so much nostalgia for me and were hugely important to me as some of the first queer representations I had in books.

I loved getting to see more of Alec and Magnus’s relationship especially early on while they are both trying to figure each other out. As they travel across Europe to uncover a mystery from Magnus’s past meeting some new characters as well as some familiar ones too. This story was so much fun and I can't wait to read the second Eldest Curses book next. 🏳️‍🌈

[queerbookgeek]

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

All Magnus Bane Wanted was a vacation. A lavish trip across Europe with Alec Lightwood, the shadowhunter, who against all odds, is finally his boyfriend. It doesn't seem like too much for the centuries-old High Warlock to ask for. But no sooner have they settled in Paris than an old friend arrives with news about a demon-worshiping cult called the Crimson Hand that is bent on causing chaos around the world. A cult that was apparently founded by Magnus himself. Years ago. As a joke.

Now Magnus and Alec race across Europe to track down the Crimson Hand and its elusive new leader before the cult can cause any more damage. As their quest for answers becomes increasingly dire, Magnus and Alec have to trust each other more than ever - even if it means revealing the Seacrest they're both been keeping. 

The mortal instrument book series is such a nostalgic series for me. I first read them while going through a pretty traumatic time as a teen and have always fallen back on them as comfort books but I somehow have not read all the shadowhunter books, something I hope to remedy this year. The ones I have read are The Mortal Instruments series, The Infernal Devices trilogy, The Bane Chronicles and Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy.

 I don't have time at the moment for a full reread so I'm just going to pick up what I've missed. 

Starting with the red scrolls of magic, the first of two in the Eldest Curses set. This book takes place after City of Glass when Magnus and Alec take a vacation together early on in their relationship. These characters have so much nostalgia for me and were hugely important to me as some of the first queer representations I had in books.

I loved getting to see more of Alec and Magnus’s relationship especially early on while they are both trying to figure each other out. As they travel across Europe to uncover a mystery from Magnus’s past meeting some new characters as well as some familiar ones too. This story was so much fun and I can't wait to read the second Eldest Curses book next. 🏳️‍🌈

[queerbookgeek]

The Darkness outside us by Eliot Schrefer

Two boys alone in space. Sworn enemies sent on the same rescue mission.

Ambrose wakes up on the Coordinated Endeavor with no memory of launch. There's more that doesn't add up: Evidence indicates stranger's have been on board, the ship's operating system is voiced by his mother, and his handsome, brooding shipmate has barricaded himself away. But nothing will stop Ambrose from making his mission succeed - not when he's rescuing his own sister. In order to survive the ships secrets, Ambrose and Kodiak will need to work together and learn to trust each other … especially once they discover what they are truly up against.

This was a strange one to be sure and not at all what I was expecting. It was pretty slow at first and took me a little while to get into it but once I did it was a very captivating read and I finished it in one night. 

There was however some language used to describe nonbinary people while not major felt kind of clunky and poorly executed and while I can appreciate what the author was going for it didn't hit the mark for me,  nevertheless it was only a couple throwaway sentences and not enough to deter me from reading and enjoying the story.

For me I felt the story picked up about a quarter of the way through when the mystery and thriller elements were becoming more prominent, I was seriously gob smacked and shook on more than one occasion. The character's had great chemistry too and their relationship was very believable even after only a short period of time.

Overall it was a pretty decent and very intense story, there aren't really any good places to put it down either so I think that added to the urgency of it all. 🏳️‍🌈

[queerbookgeek]

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree.

Viv’s career with renowned mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn't going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk - so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it. What's a swarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a struggling bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted even though it may be exactly what she needs. Still, adventure isn't far away. A suspicious traveler in grey, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk could be more eventful then Viv could have ever expected. Sometimes, right things happen at the wrong time. And sometimes, we find ourselves in stories we experience together.

Set Twenty years before the events of Legends & Lattes , Bookshops & Bonedust is a stand alone cosy fantasy about the power of a good bookshop, great friends and the unexpected choices along the way.

I read Legends & Lattes early last year, I won't go into it as Bookshops & Bonedust pretty much stands alone but I will say it very easily became one of my favorite cosy books i've read, which ment expectations for Bookshops & Bonedust were high. It also left me hungry for cinnamon rolls, so this time I came prepared with fruit scones and ice tea. Also lets take a second to appreciate this super cute bookmark that I got for free when I ordered the book, a testament to why you should always buy from independent bookshops when possible. 

To say that I loved this book feels like an understatement. 

I loved all the new characters in this , a couple standouts for me are Satchel and Potroast but honestly I adored all of them, and watching Viv’s relationship unfold with them throughout the book even knowing that she is going to eventually leave is just beautiful. Also getting to see how Viv met Gallina was a lot of fun too. 

I know some people really didn't like it and I would honestly love to know why? I found it fascinating to  see the early seeds being sown in Viv’s life that would eventually lead her to give up adventuring and open her coffee shop.

The story, while slightly more adventurous than the first book, was really fun. It still very much leans more cosy than adventurous so still very fitting as a companion piece to Legends & Lattes.  

All this to say I really, really hope this isn't the last we see of Viv and Travis Baldree would so kindly give us another book about her life. 🏳️‍🌈

[queerbookgeek]

Light from uncommon stars by Ryka Aoki

Shizuka Satomi made a deal with the devil : to escape damnation, she must entice seven inheritance Violin prodigies to trade their souls for success. She has already derived six.

When Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway, catches Shizuka's ear with her wild talent, Sizuka can almost feel the Curse lifting. She's found her final candidate.

But in a donut shop off a bustling highway in the San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka meets Lan Tran, a retired starship captain, interstellar refugee and mother of four. Shizuka doesn't have time for crushes or coffee dates, what with her very soul on the line, but Lan's kind smile and eyes like stars might just redefine a soul's worth. And maybe something as small as a warm donut is powerful enough to break a Curse as vast as the California coastline.

This book was stunning! I have always been a person who complains that sci-fi and fantasy never coexist but this just proves that they can.

Overall a beautiful story about love and finding the joy in the little things and surrounding yourself with the right people. 

So refreshing to get to follow a sapphic romance plot that follows older women. Lan and Shizuka both have their flaws as all people do but they also both have their own moral codes that sometimes conflict with each other. I really enjoyed their dynamic and watching their story unfold.

I loved Katrina's story while harrowing at times was a truly beautiful journey of healing and learning to love and accept who you are. And learning to see the friendly face in a crowd rather than focusing on the hate. 🏳️‍⚧️

This is another one that I would advise to read with care and look up possible trigger warnings before going into it.

[queerbookgeek]

Nighthawking

Sheffield's botanical Gardens is an oasis of peace until one morning when the body of a young woman is found there, buried in a quiet corner. Police determine that she has been there for months and would have gone undiscovered for years - except someone returned in the dead of night to dig her up.

DS Adam Tyler and his team have many questions to answer- who is the victim? Who killed her and hid her body? And who dug her up?

Tyler's investigation draws him into the secretive world of nighthawkers: treasure-hunters who operate under thhe cover of darkness, seeking the list and the valuable… and willing to kill to keep what they find.

I actually really liked this one. The story felt like a natural follow up to Firewatching and the case was interesting to follow. 

DS Tyler is also dealing with his own personal issues as well as investigating his father's death, which leads newly promoted DC Mina Rabbini handling a greater part of the case and story. I really like Mina's character and found her having a larger part of the story very refreshing as she  deals with absent superiors and mentors, as well as imposter syndrome all while navigating her new role as detective. 

I will say I didn't enjoy the storyline that followed the Nighthawkers as interesting as I found Lily's story in book one but it did work for the story. 

I'm very interested to see where Russ Thomas takes the story for book 3 Cold Reconing and can't wait to read it. 🏳️‍🌈

Firewatching & Nighthawking by Russ Thomas.

I finished Firewatching at the beginning of the year, so will go over it now before I start Nighthawking. 

'A body is found bricked into the walls of a house from the state of the hands its clear he was buried alive, that he tried to claw his way out before he died. The victim is quickly linked to an old missing persons case and DS Adam Tyler is called. 

But Tyler discovers that he has a connection to the case that hopelessly compromises him. With a brutal sadistic murder to unpick, Tyler must move carefully to discover the truth, without destroying the case or himself.

Meanwhile, someone in the city knows exactly what happened to the body. Someone is watching Adam closely. Someone with an unhealthy affinity for fire.'

Overall I liked it, enough to go on and buy the second one anyway. I've never actually read a crime thriller before but I had been given it for christmas and thought I would give it a go.

It mostly follows 4 different perspectives. Each chapter is laid out as a day during the investigation and at the start of each there is a blog entry from an arsonist.

The most prominent perspective is of course DS Adam Tyler as he trys to solve a murder six years after it took place.

Adam doesn't really work well with others but is assigned to work with DI Doggett and his team to investigate the murder. I enjoyed Adam’s character, he is pretty clueless as to what other people are thinking and feeling socially and it felt pretty relatable. And also kind of funny to read the contrast to how observant he is during an investigation. Adam is also gay and deals with a fair amount of homophobia from other members of the police force, to me it felt like it was dealt with well and in a way that doesn't bog down the story but works within the narrative to be realistic.

There are also some parts following Constable Rabbini, a young police constable, who is on the team working the investigation, who wants to be a detective.

To me the most notable though was the perspective of Lily an elderly woman who lives near the murder scene with her partner Edna. Lily starts receiving black mail notes but can't remember what she did, only that it was something bad. Obviously this was pretty emotional to read but it was an interesting take rather than just following along the investigation alone.

Each book is pretty much a stand alone but continuing to follow DS Tyler. Russ Thomas is also working on a third book. 

Obviously this deals with some pretty dark and potentially triggering subject matter and I would recommend looking up trigger warnings for each beforehand. 

Going to Start Nighthawking now and will be back in a couple of day with my thoughts 🏳️‍🌈

[queerbookgeek]

Firewatching & Nighthawking by Russ Thomas.

I finished Firewatching at the beginning of the year, so will go over it now before I start Nighthawking. 

'A body is found bricked into the walls of a house from the state of the hands its clear he was buried alive, that he tried to claw his way out before he died. The victim is quickly linked to an old missing persons case and DS Adam Tyler is called. 

But Tyler discovers that he has a connection to the case that hopelessly compromises him. With a brutal sadistic murder to unpick, Tyler must move carefully to discover the truth, without destroying the case or himself.

Meanwhile, someone in the city knows exactly what happened to the body. Someone is watching Adam closely. Someone with an unhealthy affinity for fire.'

Overall I liked it, enough to go on and buy the second one anyway. I've never actually read a crime thriller before but I had been given it for christmas and thought I would give it a go.

It mostly follows 4 different perspectives. Each chapter is laid out as a day during the investigation and at the start of each there is a blog entry from an arsonist.

The most prominent perspective is of course DS Adam Tyler as he trys to solve a murder six years after it took place.

Adam doesn't really work well with others but is assigned to work with DI Doggett and his team to investigate the murder. I enjoyed Adam’s character, he is pretty clueless as to what other people are thinking and feeling socially and it felt pretty relatable. And also kind of funny to read the contrast to how observant he is during an investigation. Adam is also gay and deals with a fair amount of homophobia from other members of the police force, to me it felt like it was dealt with well and in a way that doesn't bog down the story but works within the narrative to be realistic.

There are also some parts following Constable Rabbini, a young police constable, who is on the team working the investigation, who wants to be a detective.

To me the most notable though was the perspective of Lily an elderly woman who lives near the murder scene with her partner Edna. Lily starts receiving black mail notes but can't remember what she did, only that it was something bad. Obviously this was pretty emotional to read but it was an interesting take rather than just following along the investigation alone.

Each book is pretty much a stand alone but continuing to follow DS Tyler. Russ Thomas is also working on a third book. 

Obviously this deals with some pretty dark and potentially triggering subject matter and I would recommend looking up trigger warnings for each beforehand. 

Going to Start Nighthawking now and will be back in a couple of day with my thoughts 🏳️‍🌈

[queerbookgeek]

Just finished and I love it.

The characters were great and all felt very three dimensional and thought out. The character of Sam especially, hit pretty close to home as a neuro spicy enby myself. But all the characters had a feeling of realness about them.

The story was great too and I really enjoyed the mystery that Sam and their new friends set themselves to solve.  As well as the more emotional aspects of it like Sam having to deal with their past trauma and figuring out how to open up about it on their own terms. 

Overall it was great, easy to follow, amazing characters and a well thought out story with a satisfying end. 💛🤍💜🖤

Kicking 2024 off with The many half-lived lives of Sam Sylvester by Maya McGregor.

'Sam Sylvester has long collected half-lived lives of kids who died before they turned nineteen. Sam was almost one of those kids. Now, as Sam's own nineteenth birthday approaches, their recent near death experience haunts them. They're certain they don't have much time left...'

Nonbinary, autistic, slightly magical teen with a macabre special intrest and a mystery to solve, ticking a lot of boxes for me before I even start, so looking forward to this!

[queerbookgeek]

Kicking 2024 off with The many half-lived lives of Sam Sylvester by Maya McGregor.

'Sam Sylvester has long collected half-lived lives of kids who died before they turned nineteen. Sam was almost one of those kids. Now, as Sam's own nineteenth birthday approaches, their recent near death experience haunts them. They're certain they don't have much time left...'

Nonbinary, autistic, slightly magical teen with a macabre special intrest and a mystery to solve, ticking a lot of boxes for me before I even start, so looking forward to this!