Not the first DNF of 2025! Well, I gave it my best, but unfortunately this is just too vulgar and violent for me. I'm not prude-ish or anything, just not interested in reading something like this right now. It's not to be erased the violence that trans queens of color face, especially in this time period, and how most of them were homeless and sex workers to get by. I'm not mad at Cassara for painting this picture in the slightest. I guess if I cared about the overall story a bit more I could stomach it and continue but I don't find it worth it. Especially since I was feeling the story early on, and cared for the characters presented to us initially, but then it got boring around the middle section. Furthermore, reading other's impressions of this book, many find it to be fanfiction of real life queens who have, sadly, passed. Those featured in Paris is Burning and lots of nods to the TV show Pose, both of which I'm a fan of.

The writing is gorgeous and there's much to take away here. I do recommend it. I'm just not interested in continuing.