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Book Reviews

Boogieman In Lavender Review: Heiresses of Russ

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Jeff Baker

The story was that some people had learned to read again.—-line from “The Tip of the Tongue” by Felicia Davin. That most conventional of female archetypes, the bride, figures in several of the unconventional stories in “Heiresses of Russ,” the 2016 edition of the best Lesbian speculative fiction of the year, edited by A. M. Dellamonica and Steve Berman and published by Lethe Press. Leading off is the first of several award nominees, (Nebula nominee, shortlisted for the Hugo and Tiptree awards) “Grandmother-Nai-Leylit’s Cloth of Winds,” by Rose Lemberg. A story of gender fluidity, magic and deepnames where men and … Read more

Review: “Trustworthy” by Astrid Amara

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Title: Trustworthy Series: A Policy of Lies #2 Author: Astrid Amara Genre: MM Military Romance Publisher: Loose Id Pages: 272 Blurb Ten years ago, lovers and best friends Ivo Toreli and Robert Mackenzie were separated by death. But sometimes life gives you second chances. Life…and a lot of cybernetic enhancements. Trust Agent 505 may not remember who he was before he worked security for Trust Insurance, but now his prisoner thinks he knows him. This revolutionary named “Mack,” who has stolen one of Trust’s prized possessions, seems to think Agent 505 is named “Ivo,” someone from his past. Someone he … Read more

GUEST REVIEW: Adrift, by Isabelle Adler

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Adrift

One of our QSF folks, Christina, wanted to share a review of an MM sci fi book she really enjoyed. Bonus points, Christina, for the QSF shirt!!! Captain Matt Spears learns this the hard way after a mysterious employer hires his ship to hunt down an ancient alien artifact but insists on providing his own pilot. Ryce Faine is handsome and smart, but Matt has rarely met anyone more obnoxious. With tensions running high, it isn’t until they are attacked by the hostile Alraki that Matt grudgingly begins to respect Ryce’s superior skills, respect that transforms into a tentative attraction. … Read more

Review: “Gyrfalcon” by Anna Butler

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Gyrfalcon

Title: Gyrfalcon Series: Taking Shield #1 Author: Anna Butler Genre: Gay Science Fiction Publisher: Anna Butler Pages: 317 Blurb Earth’s last known colony, Albion, is fighting an alien enemy. In the first of the Taking Shield series, Shield Captain Bennet is dropped behind the lines to steal priceless intelligence. A dangerous job, and Bennet doesn’t need the distractions of changing relationships with his long-term partner, Joss, or with his father—or with Flynn, the new lover who will turn his world upside-down. He expects to risk his life. He expects the data will alter the course of the war. What he … Read more

Review: “The Beast Without” by Christian Baines

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Title: The Beast Without Series: Arcadia Trust #1 Author: Christian Baines Genre: Gay Paranormal Publisher: Glass House Books Pages: 234 Blurb Reylan is everything a Sydney vampire aspires to be: wealthy, handsome and independent, carefully feeding off companions plucked from the gay bars of Oxford Street. When one of those companions is killed by Jorgas, a hot-headed young werewolf prowling his streets, Reylan reluctantly puts his cherished lifestyle of blood and boys on hold to help a mysterious alliance of supernatural beings track down the beast. It can’t be that hard… not when Jorgas keeps coming after him. But there’s … Read more

Review: “Skythane” by J. Scott Coatsworth

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Skythane

Title: Skythane Author: J. Scott Coatsworth Genre: Gay Science Fantasy Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Pages: 244 Blurb Jameson Havercamp, a psych from a conservative religious colony, has come to Oberon—unique among the Common Worlds—in search of a rare substance called pith. He’s guided through the wilds on his quest by Xander Kinnson, a handsome, cocky skythane with a troubled past. Neither knows that Oberon is facing imminent destruction. Even as the world starts to fall apart around them, they have no idea what’s coming—or the bond that will develop between them as they race to avert a cataclysm. Together, they will … Read more

Review: “Transcendent” – Boogieman In Lavender

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Transcendent

“Transcendent,” edited by K.M. Szpara, is the latest “Best Of” collection from Lethe Press. The question arises, would there be enough Transgender-related speculative fiction for a full anthology, let alone an annual series? The answer, judging from the fifteen stories assembled here, is “yes.” The stories display a surprising variety, never straying from Trans characters, (some not obvious) or themes. Transformation is an obvious recurring motif in the stories but when it occurs, it is often in subtle and startlingly different, and entertaining ways. “The Librarian’s Dilemma,” by E. Saxey, features a group “seeding” an archive, The Hairad Collection, which … Read more

Review: “The Human and the Hunted” by R. A. Burg

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Title: The Human and the Hunted Series: Rise of the Great Assembly # 1 Author: R. A. Burg Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: CreateSpace (Amazon) Pages: 322 Blurb Earth. 11,000 BCE. A galaxy wide war between sentient machines rages and Earth is in the crossfire. Oblivious to the deadly peril above, Far Runner and his tribe face their own struggles. An unstable climate forces the group to migrate south and into the sights of a ruthless human foe. A merciless attack tears Runner away from his family and friends. A wounded alien cyborg soldier is stranded on Earth. Her views and … Read more

Review: “Fragments” by Zen DiPietro

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Title: Fragments Series: Dragonfire Station #2 Author: Zen DiPietro Genre: LGBTQ Science Fiction Publisher: Parallel Worlds Press (Sold by Amazon) Pages: 227 Blurb Fallon and her team need answers. But before they can storm the PAC base on Earth, they need to find supplies and deal with Fallon’s memory loss. Her strange dreams sure aren’t helping matters. If they’re memories that her brain is trying to reconstruct, her brain is just going to have to work harder at making some sense. Either way, once they arrive at Earth, all bets are off. As soon as they steal the information they … Read more

Review: “Quarry” by Elizabeth Noble

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Title: Quarry Series: The Vampire Guard #2 Author: Elizabeth Noble Genre: Gay Paranormal Mystery Publisher: DSP Publications Pages: 200 Blurb The members of the Vampire Guard—Jonas Forge, spy and soldier turned cop; computer hacker extraordinaire Blair Turner; Declan, thief, con man, and ex-pirate; and medical examiner and werewolf Dr. Lucas Coate—face a dangerous and elusive enemy. And this time, it’s personal. Over the course of three hundred years, a man has touched each of their lives in ways they are only just realizing. When a hunt for a psychotic killer in the present resurrects memories and clues from the past, … Read more