Late April Reviews (2024)
Greetings
Welcome to the Books That Burn Fortnightly Roundup! Releasing every two weeks (one week early for Patrons). Remember to head to Transcripts That Burn for all available transcripts of the podcast.
News and Events
I track upcoming book releases by authors we've previously covered on a shareable google calendar.
Notable May Releases:
Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams
The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo
Disobedience by Daniel Sarah Karasik
Evocation by S.T. Gibson
Wheel of Fate by A.K. Faulkner
Signal Boost
If there's no ceasefire in Gaza by the time you read this, please use resources like Ceasefire Now to contact your representatives and ask them to support a ceasefire in the crisis in Gaza. The link includes information on planned protests and demonstrations, and has information for people internationally on what they can do to get involved.
I now have a blog/website for my sewing: R.H. Seamstrix.
Recent Reviews
TO GAZE UPON WICKED GODS by Molly X. Chang, book 1 of To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is Fantasy marketed as Young Adult. Ruying teams up with a prince among the Roman colonizers to save her family's lives. Told in First/Third Person with Dual POVs.
WHAT MOVES THE DEAD by T. Kingfisher, book 1 of Sworn Soldier is Horror, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Alex Easton is a retired soldier who visits an ailing friend and discovers something is amiss at their home. Told in First Person with Single POV.
THE UNWANTED PROPHET by Carolina Cruz, book 1 of The Creed of Gethin is Fantasy, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Quincy is made the prophet of Gethin, but his priests are rather upset by her sudden elevation. Told in Third Person with Ensemble POVs.
A TASTE OF HONEY by Kai Ashante Wilson, book 2 of The Sorceror of the Wildeeps is Fantasy, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Aquib has fallen in love with a soldier, but his family needs him to marry. Told in Third Person with Ensemble POVs.
THE FORGOTTEN LYRIC by Carolina Cruz, book 2 of The Creed of Gethin is Fantasy, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Kennet is a former assassin, hired to solve the poisoning of a child. Told in Third Person with Ensemble POVs.
HOW TO BITE YOUR NEIGHBOR & WIN A WAGER by D.N. Bryn, book 1 of Guides for Dating Vampires is Fantasy/Romance, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Vincent is a vampire who can't stay away, Wesley is a human who needs a vampire as bait. Told in Third Person with Dual POVs.
Reviews forthcoming for THE GENTLE ART OF FORTUNE HUNTING by K.J. Charles and HOW TO SELL YOUR BLOOD & FALL IN LOVE by D.N. Bryn.
DNFs
A few DNFs this time around:
imPerfect Magic by C.N. Rowan
Kiss Me Deadly by Jessie Thomas
When Shadows Fall by Lindy Enns
No Review (Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, etc.)
A FATE INKED IN BLOOD by Danielle L. Jensen is probably not getting a full review. I don’t even know how it ended up on my list of books to read, and since most things I’m reading now tend to be queer I thought it would be too, but if it is it wasn’t in a way I noticed. It was fine, not amazing, but fine, and I don’t want to write a whole post just to damn it with faint praise.
Rereads and Older Reviews
I just finished my re-read of the Inheritance series by A.K. Faulkner. The books remain excellent and I’m very excited for WHEEL OF FATE (coming in May).
Current Reads
I’m paused in reading BLOOD JUSTICE by Terry J. Benton-Walker, THE WINGS OF ASHTAROTH by Steve Hugh Westenry, NICKED by M.T. Anderson, CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins, and A CROWN SO CURSED by L.L. McKinney. I got distracted by the possibility of a future essay about Alexis Hall’s writing, and so I’m reading BOYFRIEND MATERIAL.
In Case You Missed It
This time last year I read CURSES by Lish McBride, a Beauty and the Beast retelling which expertly weaves in other tales.
Pluggables and Podcast News
If you're looking for a place to buy any of the books I've reviewed, please consider our Bookshop page (if you use our links to purchase any books we get a small commission). Let us know if there's a category you'd like to see curated and we'll see if we can get some titles together.
Speaking of Bookshop, I've put together top picks lists for 2021 onwards. Books are included based on the year they were published, so occasionally older lists might get new titles. To be in the Top Picks list a book needs to get a five-star rating from me, and be published in the year of the list. You can find the 2024 list here.
As for the podcast, hopefully you're enjoying our most recent episode. If you'd like to receive episodes early, as well as bonus content, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Patrons receive this newsletter one week early, as well as a list of upcoming podcast episodes and even more planned reviews.
Patrons pledging $20 or more each month receive a bonus episode. Patrons pledging $50 or more can vote once per month on what we'll cover in the podcast. You can find all of those polls here. Patrons at any level receive the booklist with our planned episodes for up to three months at a time.
Thanks for reading, the next roundup will be in two weeks!
-Robin
Co-host of Books That Burn
