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simonlorden's Reviews (1.38k)
sometimes, you re-read your old favourites and they're just as good as they were the first time. other times, they... aren't. case in point: this was 5 stars when I first read it.
okay, so I get that Carson being an asshole who turns slightly more decent is the point of the book, and I admit he has SOME complexity. but mostly he's an obnoxious straight white guy who thinks he's better than everyone and being "brilliant" equals being mean to everyone he meets. he implies being asexual is something negative, he makes jokes about transvestites and the Holocaust, and he's just generally That Guy who everyone wishes would shut up, but he still thinks he's smarter and better than everyone else.
yes, he also does good things. he makes some good points about the problems in education. he gives some good advice and says some inspirational things- although the straight guy telling the two closeted gay guys with homophobic parents in a small town that they should just be themselves and "we are all a minority" is... eh.
there are some things I liked, like the progression of the story for grandma and all the submissions in the magazine that show people as actual complex people that Carson refuses to see them as, but most of the book was just... not fun to read. (Nicholas's poem is the best tbh.)
I also don't understand the point of the ending to be honest, and since that's the thing the story culminates in, I guess the whole book was lost on me. I love the quote the mother gives to the newspaper, but otherwise it felt pointless.
okay, so I get that Carson being an asshole who turns slightly more decent is the point of the book, and I admit he has SOME complexity. but mostly he's an obnoxious straight white guy who thinks he's better than everyone and being "brilliant" equals being mean to everyone he meets. he implies being asexual is something negative, he makes jokes about transvestites and the Holocaust, and he's just generally That Guy who everyone wishes would shut up, but he still thinks he's smarter and better than everyone else.
yes, he also does good things. he makes some good points about the problems in education. he gives some good advice and says some inspirational things- although the straight guy telling the two closeted gay guys with homophobic parents in a small town that they should just be themselves and "we are all a minority" is... eh.
there are some things I liked, like the progression of the story for grandma and all the submissions in the magazine that show people as actual complex people that Carson refuses to see them as, but most of the book was just... not fun to read. (Nicholas's poem is the best tbh.)
I also don't understand the point of the ending to be honest, and since that's the thing the story culminates in, I guess the whole book was lost on me. I love the quote the mother gives to the newspaper, but otherwise it felt pointless.
3.5 stars
I really liked the first 300 or so pages of this, but then I started to feel like the book is just being dragged out. I guessed the traitor long before he was revealed, and for an assassin, the main character didn't receive orders to kill anyone until very late in the book.
Also, it might be historically accurate (although I have my doubts even about that), but my mind just couldn't accept the princess literally being 12. I know YA is all about teens, but I guess 15 is my "dividing line".
I'm still interested in this trilogy, so I will most likely pick up the other two books eventually.
tws: mentions of a failed abortion, and several attempts at sexual assault, one of them against a 12-year-old
I really liked the first 300 or so pages of this, but then I started to feel like the book is just being dragged out. I guessed the traitor long before he was revealed, and for an assassin, the main character didn't receive orders to kill anyone until very late in the book.
Also, it might be historically accurate (although I have my doubts even about that), but my mind just couldn't accept the princess literally being 12. I know YA is all about teens, but I guess 15 is my "dividing line".
I'm still interested in this trilogy, so I will most likely pick up the other two books eventually.
tws: mentions of a failed abortion, and several attempts at sexual assault, one of them against a 12-year-old
this was... a wild ride. fuck yeah queer anarchism though
I liked Vulture ask Danielle about her pronouns, but I wish there was like, nonbinary characters too. still, solid good book with multiple queer mains.
tw for suicide and mention of a rape. also, general gore and horror things
I liked Vulture ask Danielle about her pronouns, but I wish there was like, nonbinary characters too. still, solid good book with multiple queer mains.
tw for suicide and mention of a rape. also, general gore and horror things
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Gore, Rape
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Average rating: 3.7 stars (rounded to 4)
A great variety of unicorn stories, some that could still be read to children, and some decidedly adult ones. Two of the stories have queer women as their protagonists, and one of them has a gay male side character and also mentions the severity of the AIDS crisis. I'm used to anthologies like this not really acknowledging queer people at all, so that was nice.
I expected some plotlines about virgins and unicorns, because that's a big part of unicorn stories, but some of the stories took the virginity = purity thing to uncomfortable extremes. In several of the stories, even kissing someone, or just HEARING too much about marriage can stain a virgin's "purity". I know that's the traditional unicorn story, but in a fresh new anthology that has "not just for virgins anymore" in the description, I really expected more subversion of this trope.
I much preferred stories like Ghost Town, where the purity in question is more about moral purity and pureness of the heart.
Some stories have really interesting worldbuilding: for example, in Falling off the Unicorn, only virgins can ride unicorns, so competitive riders are heavily infantilised. They have to be short, they have to be girly, even when they are teens or adults, they aren't allowed to use bad words, etc. Thankfully, this is shown to be just as toxic as it sounds.
However, at one point the same story implies that having lesbian sex doesn't count. In the end, it felt more like they were trying to say that only boys stain girls (because even kissing a boy stains you, but sex with a girl doesn't), but yeah, I'm not a fan of the implications there, and it wasn't really clear what the authors wanted with it.
My lowest rated story in the anthology is A Hunter's Ode to His Bait, where a hunter buys a twelve-year-old girl from her mother to help him lure unicorns. They work together for years, and sure, the girl is of age when they start a relationship, but it reaaaaally felt like the guy was grooming her there.
My absolute favourite was Stampede of Light, which is about lonely children and the teachers who don't let them get lost.
Individual ratings:
The Magical Properties of Unicorn Ivory by Carlos Hernandez: 4.5 stars
The Brew by Karen Joy Fowler: 4.5 stars
Falling Off the Unicorn by David D. Levine and Sarah A. Mueller: 4.5 stars
A Hunter's Ode to His Bait by Carrie Vaughn: 2 stars
A Thousand Flowers by Margo Lanagan: 3 stars (rape/dubious consent)
The Maltese Unicorn by Caitlín R. Kiernan: 3 stars (rape/dubious consent)
Stampede of Light by Marina Fitch: 5 stars
Ghost Town by Jack C. Haldeman II: 5 stars
The Highest Justice by Garth Nix: 4 stars
The Lion and the Unicorn by A.C. Wise: 3 stars
Survivor by Dave Smeds: 4 stars
Homeward Bound by Bruce Coville: 3.5 stars
Unicorn Triangle by Patricia A. McKillip: 3 stars
My Son Heydari and the Karkadann by Peter S. Beagle: 3 stars
The Transfigured Hart by Jane Yolen: 3.5 stars
Unicorn Series by Nancy Springer: 4 stars
Average rating: 3.7 stars (rounded to 4)
A great variety of unicorn stories, some that could still be read to children, and some decidedly adult ones. Two of the stories have queer women as their protagonists, and one of them has a gay male side character and also mentions the severity of the AIDS crisis. I'm used to anthologies like this not really acknowledging queer people at all, so that was nice.
I expected some plotlines about virgins and unicorns, because that's a big part of unicorn stories, but some of the stories took the virginity = purity thing to uncomfortable extremes. In several of the stories, even kissing someone, or just HEARING too much about marriage can stain a virgin's "purity". I know that's the traditional unicorn story, but in a fresh new anthology that has "not just for virgins anymore" in the description, I really expected more subversion of this trope.
I much preferred stories like Ghost Town, where the purity in question is more about moral purity and pureness of the heart.
Some stories have really interesting worldbuilding: for example, in Falling off the Unicorn, only virgins can ride unicorns, so competitive riders are heavily infantilised. They have to be short, they have to be girly, even when they are teens or adults, they aren't allowed to use bad words, etc. Thankfully, this is shown to be just as toxic as it sounds.
However, at one point the same story implies that having lesbian sex doesn't count. In the end, it felt more like they were trying to say that only boys stain girls (because even kissing a boy stains you, but sex with a girl doesn't), but yeah, I'm not a fan of the implications there, and it wasn't really clear what the authors wanted with it.
My lowest rated story in the anthology is A Hunter's Ode to His Bait, where a hunter buys a twelve-year-old girl from her mother to help him lure unicorns. They work together for years, and sure, the girl is of age when they start a relationship, but it reaaaaally felt like the guy was grooming her there.
My absolute favourite was Stampede of Light, which is about lonely children and the teachers who don't let them get lost.
Individual ratings:
The Magical Properties of Unicorn Ivory by Carlos Hernandez: 4.5 stars
The Brew by Karen Joy Fowler: 4.5 stars
Falling Off the Unicorn by David D. Levine and Sarah A. Mueller: 4.5 stars
A Hunter's Ode to His Bait by Carrie Vaughn: 2 stars
A Thousand Flowers by Margo Lanagan: 3 stars (rape/dubious consent)
The Maltese Unicorn by Caitlín R. Kiernan: 3 stars (rape/dubious consent)
Stampede of Light by Marina Fitch: 5 stars
Ghost Town by Jack C. Haldeman II: 5 stars
The Highest Justice by Garth Nix: 4 stars
The Lion and the Unicorn by A.C. Wise: 3 stars
Survivor by Dave Smeds: 4 stars
Homeward Bound by Bruce Coville: 3.5 stars
Unicorn Triangle by Patricia A. McKillip: 3 stars
My Son Heydari and the Karkadann by Peter S. Beagle: 3 stars
The Transfigured Hart by Jane Yolen: 3.5 stars
Unicorn Series by Nancy Springer: 4 stars
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
More queer autistic scientist women, please!
The Outside by Ada Hoffmann is a complicated novel that blends autism, heretics, "madness" and understanding in a world where humans are governed by AI Gods. Since the whole book is about going past what your mind is capable of understanding, it's not always easy to follow what's happening.
I loved the characters, and I loved Yashira, Elu and Egna especially. It was interesting to root for both sides, or at least be attached to characters on both sides, because it didn't seem like there was a scenario where both of them would win. I headed into this book thinking it was a standalone, but based on the ending, I really felt like there's a sequel coming.
I admit, the whole "everything is a lie" thing repeating all the time got frustrating after a while, and the book was denser than I would have liked, but those are personal preferences. Those who enjoy science fiction where there is a bigger focus on the science part will be likely to enjoy this.
More queer autistic scientist women, please!
The Outside by Ada Hoffmann is a complicated novel that blends autism, heretics, "madness" and understanding in a world where humans are governed by AI Gods. Since the whole book is about going past what your mind is capable of understanding, it's not always easy to follow what's happening.
I loved the characters, and I loved Yashira, Elu and Egna especially. It was interesting to root for both sides, or at least be attached to characters on both sides, because it didn't seem like there was a scenario where both of them would win. I headed into this book thinking it was a standalone, but based on the ending, I really felt like there's a sequel coming.
I admit, the whole "everything is a lie" thing repeating all the time got frustrating after a while, and the book was denser than I would have liked, but those are personal preferences. Those who enjoy science fiction where there is a bigger focus on the science part will be likely to enjoy this.
me @ past me who rated this 5 stars: why
on second read, I couldn't get past 30 pages. I mean, I guess I could if I really wanted, but I have better things to do than ruin all my remaining nostalgia.
on second read, I couldn't get past 30 pages. I mean, I guess I could if I really wanted, but I have better things to do than ruin all my remaining nostalgia.
this is the first Shakespeare play I read and it's antisemitic as hell. also, I had to be reading it together with the No Fear version because the language was very difficult for me. neither of these really motivate me to read more by him, but I have to anyway. and hey, at least I checked off a challenge prompt.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is definitely going on my list of favourite poetry collections, and it gets extra points for having a list of trigger warnings at the beginning. I really wish that was normalised for all books. (The list is: body image, sexual assault, rape, eating disorders, queerphobia, emotional abuse, physical abuse, gore, blood, death, fire.)
The world was full of men who called themselves heroes for crossing boundaries, claiming bodies like prizes. The world still is.
Trista Mateer blends mythology with present, and discusses abuse, rape, body image, queerphobia, but most of all healing, letting go and finding joy. In a way, this is also a retelling of Greek myths, with Aphrodite and the poetess taking turns speaking. There are also wonderful illustrations and reimagined Tarot cards that I loved - I especially love The Lovers card.
Read this book. Because you too deserve to have a goddess help you heal.
We thrive best
like gardens,
not singular plants
in lonely pots
This is definitely going on my list of favourite poetry collections, and it gets extra points for having a list of trigger warnings at the beginning. I really wish that was normalised for all books. (The list is: body image, sexual assault, rape, eating disorders, queerphobia, emotional abuse, physical abuse, gore, blood, death, fire.)
The world was full of men who called themselves heroes for crossing boundaries, claiming bodies like prizes. The world still is.
Trista Mateer blends mythology with present, and discusses abuse, rape, body image, queerphobia, but most of all healing, letting go and finding joy. In a way, this is also a retelling of Greek myths, with Aphrodite and the poetess taking turns speaking. There are also wonderful illustrations and reimagined Tarot cards that I loved - I especially love The Lovers card.
Read this book. Because you too deserve to have a goddess help you heal.
We thrive best
like gardens,
not singular plants
in lonely pots
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Just like the first one, this book felt like a huge, warm hug. The art style is beautiful, full of colours, nature and flowers. I could seriously look at these images and the tiny tea dragons all day, or mentally wander around the forest and the mountains depicted in the art.
And of course, there's the story and the characters. The Tea Dragon Festival features a nonbinary main character (they/them pronouns) and their family, including their uncle and the uncle's partner. I'm not quite sure what gender Hese is (pronouns are avoided, and the word "partner" is used), but it's definitely a queer relationship, that is wonderful and supportive and full of love.
Rinn doesn't only have their family: there is a wider community there who live together and help each other, including learning sign language when one of their members is born Deaf. The book also has resources for learning ASL and learning more about Deaf people.
All in all, this is a magical and wonderfully inclusive story with beautiful art, and I am very tempted to get a physical copy once it's out.
Just like the first one, this book felt like a huge, warm hug. The art style is beautiful, full of colours, nature and flowers. I could seriously look at these images and the tiny tea dragons all day, or mentally wander around the forest and the mountains depicted in the art.
And of course, there's the story and the characters. The Tea Dragon Festival features a nonbinary main character (they/them pronouns) and their family, including their uncle and the uncle's partner. I'm not quite sure what gender Hese is (pronouns are avoided, and the word "partner" is used), but it's definitely a queer relationship, that is wonderful and supportive and full of love.
Rinn doesn't only have their family: there is a wider community there who live together and help each other, including learning sign language when one of their members is born Deaf. The book also has resources for learning ASL and learning more about Deaf people.
All in all, this is a magical and wonderfully inclusive story with beautiful art, and I am very tempted to get a physical copy once it's out.
