rainbowbrarian's Reviews (1.85k)

Vi is heading to a new school without her twin brother, the first time they've not done something together. She's feeling out of her element and out of sorts being forced to handle all these changes on her own. But this new high school is nothing like what she expected. It's filled with actual fairies (wings and all), ghosts, and so many attractive people.

If you're a fan of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night or of high school romantic comedies, this is the book for you! It's a delightfully diverse cast with a rainbow of skin tones and queer identities. The book is FULL of Shakespeare references and nerdy homages. So fun and satisfying. It also avoids the HORRIBLE fate for Malvolio by making it lighter and having the perpetrators acknowledge their misdeeds.

I was hooked at first sight of just the cover of the first volume. Sapphic space pirates trying to take down the patriarchy? Heck yes, I’m in. This second volume takes a step up in continuing the story of Pan and her ragtag bunch of queer found family. When we last left Pan she’d discovered a secret message from her childhood friend Tara that turned her life upside down. She’s suddenly left having to reconsider things she thought she knew. Did she really make a mistake in helping Tara escape all those years ago? Was it really even an escape?
In this second installment, we’re made to reconsider things right alongside her. Does rescuing princesses one by one really make that much of an impact? Where the first book was a raucous adventure into the cosmos with the characters, this second volume is starting to tell the story of “well we did the thing, now what?” I loved getting to see more depth to the relationship between Cass and Bee, as well as getting some looks into Bee’s backstory. I can’t wait to see where they go with Scottie’s character too. I really like getting to see some development of the Princesses as more than just political capitol.
I didn’t expect them to go into the whole geo political (can you still call it geo if it’s in space?) angle but I am really here for this deepening of the story from a fun adventure into a more fully rounded tale. I also really love the way they use color to set scenes in this series, going from striking acid green and dark blues to these warm moody purpley reds is really effective and helps with scene changes when jumping between perspectives.
I can’t wait for the next one! And thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy!

Eh, the story line could have been cute if the relationship between the two MCs had been so freaking award and stupid. Glad I got this through Kindle Unlimited and didn't buy it.

I wanted to like this more. I’m just kind of tired and disappointed at reading yet another queers in their 30s-40s that is nothing at all like my own experiences. I never did the party and obsess over sex thing. I’m not judging anyone who did, but it’s just no something I can relate to. Demi-sexual introvert problems maybe?

There’s definitely an aspect of my privilege hitting home here since I didn’t have any of the problems that these people did. But it also feels kind of isolating to never see people like me.

I need more nerdy DND queers I think.

This was a super cute little stories about two kids falling in love and learning how to help each other through the tough stuff. I love a cute fluffy romance but it was really good to see two queer teenagers working through their challenges together. Also it was nice that it didn’t have to be queer specific trauma too. I appreciate seeing stories where the characters are queer and are treated just like all the other kids too.

This story felt soothing in a way :). Just what I needed.