#non-binary author

[readrenard]

I would like to introduce: my most anticipated release of 2023!!!

Jamison has an amazing style & I've wanted to read their stories for a while now. SO happy they are finally being published. I am hungry for the ambitious black ballerina who makes deals in blood to succeed against the rich.

I Feed her to the Beast and the Beast is Me releases 08/29/2023, but it's available for pre-order right now.

[litandroses]

ARC Review: This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke

Rating: 3★ of 5

Release date: Apr 5, 2022

This Rebel Heart was set in Post-WWII Hungary and mainly follows Csilla, a Jewish girl who has survived the Holocaust, and even after the war still gets tailed to and from work. She is constantly reminded by her aunt - and her only surviving family member - to keep her head down so they could flee. The tension and feelings of uneasiness was palpable all throughout the book. With the city of Budapest described as devoid of color, this imagery only complimented the atmosphere. The premonition may be the angel of death that was called to the city.

I was immersed with this book from the very beginning. The first line and vivid writing captured me. After each chapter, there would be an excerpt of letters, journals, newspapers, etc, that provided more insight to a character's past (these were usually very sad), and depicted these times of unrest in another light. It's also through these that I appreciated the author's attention to detail. Everything that may seem insignificant at first was there for a reason, things were described in a certain way for a reason. I really had no qualms with the writing in this book, the prose was great. It surprised me in good ways.

This was also told in multiple POVs and my favorite was Csilla's. I loved her characterization and her growth. I could say the same of the triad here, Tamas and Azriel were also good characters but it was Csilla's that shone for me. These three are in a polyamorous relationship, their tenderness towards each other was nice to read about. I found this to be another highlight and though their relationship began quickly, it didn't annoy me the way instalove usually does. It didn't read like instalove, neither did it feel like it since their connections with each other was established earlier on. I also thoroughly appreciated how this relationship did not take the reader's attention away from the plot and the revolution ongoing. There was no character that was flat, I found them all to be written well including the side characters.

The ending was uncertain as the rest of the book. When I was 99% through, I always hoped that there was another page after each one I turned but since I doubt the events would be resolved by the last remaining percent, I had to come to terms with the fact that whatever would happen next would be up to me as the reader.

There were many things in this book that simply shone and surprised me, but on the other hand, the pacing was a bit off. The build up was slow and when things did pick up I found myself wanting more. This was probably the only reason I deducted a star; it didn't make the impact I thought it would. Nevertheless, I still really liked this, many things to appreciate.

A review copy was granted in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[biandlesbianliterature]

Zoe reviews Body Music by Julie Maroh

Zoe reviews Body Music by Julie Maroh

Body Music is a graphic novel translated from French, written and drawn by nonbinary lesbian artist Julie Maroh, best known for their book Blue is the Warmest Color.

It’s a series of short 5-10 page vignettes about love and desire between different people in Montreal neighborhoods. The vignettes are connected by theme and location only. The book is packed with representation–there are queer…

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