Lish McBride

Faolan Kelly -- smart, a little uncanny, troublesome and in a vulnerable spot when this book opens. There are many things I loved about this book -- from the setting (vague west), to the high intensity of the building dread, to the essential decency of many of the characters, to the diversity, to the weird twists and turns. I loved how Faolan is able to get away with a lot with surface compliance. I loved the alliances that evolve. I found the ending satisfying, and I enjoyed the various depictions of partnership and romance that happen in the book. I have complicated feelings about the Rovers and am trying to just set that aside. It's a Western-ish fantasy, with no obligation to map to either the Romani or Indigenous peoples of the Americas -- and the borrowing feels respectful to me. Altogether a very enjoyable read.

Advanced Reader's Copy Provided by Edelweiss.… (meer)

Van wants to do a hedgewitch course, but requires evidence of the basic training she did in high school -- and to get that, she has to contact her estranged father.

Once again, not quite my aesthetic. (In particular, I didn’t want to think about Will’s job -- he’s a body piercer at a tattoo shop, and I’m rather squeamish about such things.) But I enjoyed the humour, the positive familial relationships -- most notably Van’s bond with her sister and Will’s close relationship with his nan -- and the supportive found-family. I’m hoping McBride writes more about this gang of characters!… (meer)

Declan, a werewolf, moves in with a friend in Seattle. He’s horrified to discover that one of his new housemates is an animal mage -- he’s had traumatic dealings with an animal mage. Meanwhile, Lou, the aforementioned housemate, is offended that Declan is horrified. But Declan and Lou are pushed into working together when they realise someone from Declan’s past is trying to track him down.

This urban fantasy aesthetic doesn’t wholly appeal to me. Which is only notable because I have the impression that it’s meant to be cosy, aesthetically and romantically appealing. But I still enjoyed the humour, the characters’ positive familial relationships (to balance out their dysfunctional/toxic ones) and the sharehouse’s found-family dynamic.… (meer)