Bad Weather Mammals: Poems by Ashley-Elizabeth Best
A deeply impactful, brutally honest poetry collection about the joys and trauma of living with a disability.
I highlighted SO much of this book. The prose are stunning, the imagery is compelling, the way Elizabeth-Best plays with form elevates her words beyond the page.
For me, reading poetry is a deeply intimate act that connects the reader to the author in really vulnerable ways. In Ashley-Elizabeth's case, she takes her specific lived experiences and then cracks it open to create a connection to others in this really compelling way.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
A no-nonsense assassin is given an impossible case, in this sci-fi/fantasy novella infused with dark humour.
Our FMC is dead, well un-dead, and has signed her soul over to an ancient goddess in return for becoming an assassin. However, when she sees her latest mark, she realizes the young woman in front of her is impossible, and yet, there she is.
Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram
This is one of my favourite books of the year.
Get lost in a liminal maze, while staring at yourself in the mirror, in this gorgeously written nightmare novella.
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
A Macbeth retelling, but make it gothic feminine rage. The prose are gorgeous. The pacing was consistent. The gothic descriptions of Macbeth's castle made me feel the stones beneath my fingers.
Karma by Lauren Biel
This dual POV erotic horror will have you wanting to buy the fancy nails from your hardware store.
Out of the Drowning Deep by A.C. Wise
A sci-fi murder mystery novella that will have you praying to gods old and new.
This is a wildly imaginative and beautifully written novella which really excels in character development. Our main characters are a newly created angel, an investigator with addiction issues and an automaton that has achieved consciousness, but worries he may not have a soul. All of this on the backdrop of a lone tower, on a forgotten planet where a key religious leader known as 'the pope' has been murdered.
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir
This nightmare of a book will keep you awake all night.
I love an unreliable narrator. Iðunn is having the worst sleep of her life; she keeps waking up with unexplained bruises, dirt under her fingernails and more tired than before she fell asleep.
Heart of Frost and Scars by Pam Godwin
You'll never be able to escape in the last book of the Frozen Fate trilogy.
This final book answered all of our outstanding questions about who is stalking Frankie, what happened to Wolf, and how will all three alphas be able to live under one roof with the love of their life, Frankie.
Final Boy by Dixon Sloughleigh
So much depravity shoved into 16 pages.
We have
🔪 Snuff film makers
🔪 Adorable twink
🔪 Dicks
🔪 Revenge murder
🔪 Violence
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
Long live dislikable female main characters with this flip on traditional fantasy tropes.
I love the idea of flipping the script on fantasy tropes, where our main characters are fundamentally good or working towards good. Our main character Ray, is pretty dislikable the entire time. She is selfish, and self-absorbed. She leans into being a villain so hard that she calls her guard Key "minion" regularly.
Time's Agent by Brenda Peynado
A horror sci-fi that explores metaverses to contemplate grief, loss identity and capitalism.
The discovery of Pocket Worlds changes everything for science, nature and our understanding of time. These worlds are small slices of heaven, some no larger than a small island and populated with nature and artifacts. Our main character, archeologist Raquel and her wife, Marlena work for an institute dedicated to exploring and uncovering these worlds and who may have lived there previously. Perhaps even discover an entire second universe.
Want Me by Neve Wilder
A hot MM college romance that will unlock so many new kinks for you.
I asked my bookish community for recommendations on the hottest books they've ever read and this one came up a few times.
I can confirm, this is hot. Spice starts early and often. It's written in a way that is so believable and incredibly descriptive.
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
A queer romance full of vibes and good intentions.
You won't know which is sweeter, the mexican hot chocolate you're drinking or the love story between our two holiday princes. Words that come to mind with this book are adorable, earnest and cozy.
Through the Woods by Emily Carroll
🍁Terrifying collection of short stories centring around nightmares in the forest🍁
I read my first E.M Carroll book last month, A Guest in the House, and it blew my mind. So I immediately ran to read another from them and I am so glad I did.
The illustrations are terrifying and the creative use of panels propels the story forward, or makes you sit in the fear, whichever E.M wants you to do in that moment. It's genius!
Spurs by M.A. Cobb
🐴 "Do you know how to break a bratty mare? Dig in your spurs and let her buck." 🐴
🤠 Rope yourself a pleasure dom cowboy in this spicy romance. 🤠
Star Trek: Lower Decks―Warp Your Own Way by Ryan North
You'll want to be fully caffeinated to read this choose-your-own-adventure graphic novel.
I LOVED this!
Lower Decks is one of my favourite shows, which is both a parody and an homage to Star Trek and sci-fi in general. This interactive graphic novel puts you on in Mariner's shoes on the deck of the USS Cerritos.
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone
This is my favourite book of all time. I read it multiple times a year. It’s futuristic-sci-fi, but also a love story, and also poetry. It’s structured as a series of letters between two elite soldiers on either side of a ‘time war’. We see the letters change from taunting, to respectful to deeply powerful and loving.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis
A fast-paced heist adventure novella with a clever rogue main character.
I giggled and kicked my feet through this whole book. The balance between plot and character development is perfect. The pacing is fast, the world building is really well done. The banter between our FMC, Ada, and the man in charge of the mission, Rian, is top tier.
Lights Out by Navessa Allen
A dark romcom that's packed with kink, humour and the threat of violence.
I love the banter between our main characters. Both Josh and Aly are super likably. Josh is hot, but also funny in a nerdy way, which makes him the perfect book boyfriend. The chemistry is hot and the spice is spicing.
The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey
"Alien life exists, and they are assholes"
A dystopian space-epic filled with violent aliens, found family and ultimately hope in impossible situations.