LGBTQ Archives - Matt gets LIT-erary

Hawk Mountain

Hawk Mountain by Conner Habib
Published by Random House on July 21, 2022
Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Gay, Psychological, Thrillers, Horror
Pages: 320

I am kicking off spooky book season with a review of the fantastic Hawk Mountain by Conner Habib. This was one of my favorite reads this year. Habib’s debut novel is an emotional and tense queer horror novel with an excellent plot twist and gruesome body horror.

Todd, a single parent, is at the beach with his son Anthony when he runs into a childhood classmate. Jack relentlessly bullied Todd in school, but now he is thrilled to reconnect with Todd. Todd is thrown off because they have not seen each other since they were at odds in their teens. Jack ends up sleeping on Todd’s couch and spending the night. Anthony and Jack quickly hit it off, and Jack continues to sleep over. Todd begins to question Jack’s motives and whether running into each other at the beach was a coincidence. I will share nothing more to avoid spoiling this twisty story.

I loved how dark and tense this story was. The twist about a third of the way into the book made me audibly gasp. This is not the book to de-stress; I was at the edge of my seat. Habib delivers the body horror. There is one horrifically explosive scene that I will never forget. This is a character driven story; you really get into the psyche of Todd. Flashback chapters from Todd and Jack’s childhood are interspersed in the first part of the novel. There are also some sections told from Anthony’s point of view. I was impressed at Habib’s ability to write in a child’s voice. Anthony’s sections are written in a childlike stream of consciousness. The novel concludes with a powerful, emotional ending. This is the first time a horror book brought tears to my eyes.

If you are looking for gay horror novels to read this fall you can’t go wrong with Hawk Mountain. Below are my thoughts on the gay themes in the book. Feel free to stop here to avoid some light spoilers.

Warning Light Spoilers:

Hawk Mountain focuses on toxic masculinity and the internal unrest of closeted gay men. The violence in this book is caused by society’s failure to accept gay men. For me, this book is about how being so deep in the closet can make one project and externalize their self-hatred onto others, with disastrous and extreme consequences. Reading this book, I was heartbroken for closeted people who are unable to openly be themselves, especially queer people from my parent’s generation who grew up in a time when coming out can be met with such oppression.

Beyond the Gender Binary

Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon
Published by Penguin on June 2, 2020
Genres: Biography & Autobiography, LGBTQ, Social Activists, Transgender
Pages: 64
Format: Paperback

Beyond the Gender Binary, by Alok Vaid-Menon, is an essential and informative book that can easily be read in one sitting. The 64-page book is published by the Pocket Change Collection, which puts out concise books that propose solutions to create needed change in our communities. Alok Vaid-Menon is a gender non-conforming writer who eloquently explains how our society lives under a fabricated gender binary that is harmful to gender non-conforming people.

The first half of the book covers Alok Vaid-Menon’s experiences with accepting their gender non-conforming identity. The second half of the story features rebuttals to common dismissals and arguments used by people who refuse to acknowledge gender non-conforming people. Vaid-Menon’s writing is so clear and logical, and their wording is perfection! They poke holes in the “gender binary” fallacy that our society constructs and upholds. I want to include some of my favorite quotes. There are quotable lines from every page in this book, so selecting my favorites was challenging.

“How are you supposed to be believed about the harm you experience when people don’t even believe that you exist?” (p. 17)

“I learned about gender through shame. In so many ways they became inseparable for me.” (p. 19)

These two quotes make me so sad.

“I remember the first day I wore a dress in public. I was twenty years old, but I had never felt more giddy and carefree when I walked out of my front door. I stopped thinking about my body and focused on the things around me. It felt like a reunification of my mind, my body, and my spirit—for the first time in a long time, I was able to be completely present with myself and the world. I had so much more energy and motivation. There was a quiet there, a sense of peace in my body, which had for so long been full of anxiety.” (p. 25)

I haven’t had the experience of feeling or being gender non-conforming. But this quote is the closest I’ve gotten to understand how damaging the gender binary is to trans or gender non-conforming people.

“That’s the thing about being an LGBTQIA+ kid—you often don’t have the luxury to come into yourself on your own terms because other people have made up their minds for you.” (p. 23)

I relate to this. Growing up as a boy I learned what things I was supposed to like. Any interests that could be labelled as gay or feminine I had to hide or suppress. Even now in my late 20’s I am learning to be comfortable enjoying the music, books, and movies that I actually enjoy.

“We divide billions of people into one of two categories and tell them that this is the way things are. We emphasize and exaggerate the differences between these categories and minimize the differences that exist within them. We forget that there is more variety within the categories of women and men than between them. We forget the ways in which we once deviated from the norm. We forget that humans have never perfectly aligned with these norms.” (p. 31)

This quote really opened my eyes to how absurd the gender binary is.

“Using gender neutral language isn’t about being politically correct, it’s just being correct.” (p. 47)

Yes! I wish more people understood this.

“They used to define sex as what was reflected on an individual’s birth certificate. Once that was changeable, they made the definition our genitalia. Once we could change those, the definition switched to chromosomes. Now that there is increasing evidence that chromosomes do not always necessarily align with sex, they are suggesting genetic testing. This is not about science—this is about targeted prejudice.” (p. 51)

We’re now in a time where high school athletes will have to undergo genetic testing to define their sex. We are living in a dystopian novel.

This book should be read by everyone. It is a great gift for anyone with an open mind or willing to learn about gender non-conforming people. The rebuttal section has inspired me with so many excellent counterpoints for the next time someone says something inaccurate or harmful concerning gender. Reading this book makes me hopeful for a future where a child’s toys are not selected based on gender, pronouns are used correctly, and gender reveal parties don’t exist.

The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Published by Tom Doherty Associates on March 17, 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Gay, Humorous
Pages: 305

This is possibly the most wholesome book I’ve ever read! TJ Klune’s feel good fantasy novel takes place at an orphanage for magical youth on a magical tropical island. This story features a loveable found family and an endearing gay romance. The predictability of the story did not bother me because the characters were so likeable. Save this book for a gloomy day, I guarantee that it will cheer you up!

The protagonist, Linus Baker, is a lonely British man in his 40s. He is a case worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth where he travels to different government sanctioned orphanages, housing magical children, to ensure regulations are being followed. Linus is an extremely by the book employee. Because of his consistent track record of impartiality his superiors assign him a special assignment. He is sent to Marsyas Island to see an oversee a classified orphanage. The children housed there include a boy that can turn into a Pomeranian, a wryvn, a gnome, a sprite, an amorphous blob, and Satan’s son. Yes, the antichrist. The orphanage is run by Arthur Parnassus, a quirky middle-aged man who is passionately protective of the children. The children and Arthur end up challenging Linus’s rigid nature. Linus finds himself working less by the book as he becomes more attached to the children and especially Arthur.

The children in this story are so cute! My two favorites were Sal and Chauncey. Sal turns into a Pomeranian whenever he is scared or startled, which leads to many adorable scenes. Chauncey is an amorphous blob with an unknown origin. His dream is to become a hotel bellhop. I hope that one day I’ll have a dream/goal that I’m as passionate for as Chauncey is about the bellhop profession. The charming and humorous style of the Klune’s writing reminded me of a famous TERF’s prose (a.k.a. J.K. Roachling). Klune includes excellent positive themes in the story. My main takeaway is those that are different than society’s norm should not be isolated or hidden away but celebrated and included.

As I mentioned the plot is very predictable. Most readers will likely see the climatic twist a mile away. But the appeal of the book is the wonderful children and Linus’s positive character development. The predictable plot can be overlooked.

What are my Comfort Story Recommendations?

A few weeks ago, I was disturbed and enraged when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Normally I can tune out the news when needed, but that day was a struggle. I had an overwhelming sense of heartbreak for the people of childbearing potential who have lost a basic human right because they no longer have access to important healthcare. I was also afraid of what other rights we may see taken away next. It is insane that my husband and I had a conversation about what would happen if same-sex marriages were no longer nationally recognized. While we luckily live in Connecticut where same sex marriages will likely always remain in place, would my husband’s permanent residency still be valid if our marriage was no longer federally recognized? Alas, these are dark times here in the US. I needed some time to escape and relax with comforting books and tv shows. I want to share a list of content that has helped distract me from the current shitshow in the states.

One of my reading resolutions for 2022 was to read more feel-good books. Below is a list of wholesome content that I enjoy. Two of the items are not books, but book adaptations so I think it counts! It’s interesting that in my late teens and early 20’s I gravitated towards darker books and tv shows. But in my late 20’s I’ve grown appreciation for feel good stories. In these dark times we no longer need to turn to fiction for horror. Reading offers a refuge when things become overwhelming. I’m not suggesting we all ignore our problems and read 3 books a day (though I wish I could), but there’s value in taking a break to immerse ourselves in comforting stories.

Camp by L.C. Rosen – Camp takes place at a queer summer camp for teens. Randell, a musical theater enthusiast, remakes himself for the upcoming summer. He creates a new identity “Del”. Del is a buff, straight acting jock, who has no interest in musicals. Randell / Del has made this transformation to catch the attention of Hudson his crush, who is only into “masc” guys. While the moral of the novel was obvious from the start, I was surprised at how invested I became in Randell and Hudson’s romance. This is an excellent YA book that exposes the problems of toxic masculinity in the gay community.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – I’ve already recommended this book a few times on the blog, but once more can’t hurt! This is an excellent enemies-to-lovers romance between Alex, the son of the president of the United States, and Henry, the Prince of England. The characters have excellent banter that ratchets up the sexual tension. I cannot wait for the release of the movie adaptation!

The Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers – I’ve only read the first two books in The Wayfarers Series. This is feel-good science fiction with a diverse and super loveable cast of characters. Chambers’ feature beings of different species working together while celebrating their cultural differences. Each book focuses on a different group of characters, but all within the same universe.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson – Mistborn is the first novel in a fantasy trilogy. I wouldn’t call this story feel-good; it takes place in a dark, violent world where likeable characters die. But this is certainly an excellent escapist read. Sanderson’s worldbuilding makes this an immersive story, without being overly complicated like other fantasy novels. I loved the magic system and many of the characters. I think a fair comparison is Brandon Sanderson’s writing is the fantasy book version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Heartstopper on Netflix (adapted from Alice Oseman’s books) – My husband and I binged Heartstopper in one weekend and loved it so much. This series is superior to all the other queer teen tv shows I’ve seen (especially Love Victor, ugh). The story follows the romance between Charlie an out gay teen and Nick, a rugby player coming to terms with his bisexuality. Unlike many other shows the show makes it clear that the problems Nick and Charlie face stem from society’s failure to accept queer people, not from being queer. I cannot recommend this show enough!

Hunter x Hunter (adapted from Yoshihiro Togashi’s manga) – This year I’ve had the pleasure of discovering the wonders of anime. Currently I am making my way through Hunter x Hunter. This anime follows Gon and his young friends, who are hunters, licensed professionals who seek fantastical items, on a series of whimsical adventures. While Hunter x Hunter has some dark themes, Gon’s overwhelmingly optimistic spirit and innocence make this count as wholesome content. Gon and Killua’s friendship is everything and Hisoka is an excellent villain. I’ve only watched through the Greed Island arc so please no spoilers!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Published by Simon and Schuster on June 13, 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Women
Pages: 400

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (4 out of 5)

I devoured The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Evelyn Hugo is a wonderfully complex character. She is driven, calculated, and stubborn. The story of her rise to fame was tough to put down. This is the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump. Unfortunately, my reading experience was diminished by too high of expectations (thanks a lot Bookstagram).

Evelyn Hugo is a major bombshell Hollywood actress from the 1950’s to 80’s. Off the screen Evelyn was frequently in the tabloids because of her tumultuous love life, which included a whopping seven marriages. In the present-day Evelyn selects a seemingly unknown journalist, Monique, to conduct her first interview in years. At their first meeting Monique is shocked when Evelyn tells her she doesn’t want her to write a magazine article, but instead wants to share her entire life story, to be written as a tell-all book. Monique cannot turn down this career-changing opportunity, but she also wonders why Evelyn selected her to write her biography. The novel then follows Evelyn’s retelling of her scandalous life including the story behind each of her seven marriages.

This is my favorite story that focuses on the price of fame. Evelyn’s story is so salacious and fun to read. Reid includes gossip articles interspersed between chapters of the book, which I thought was a nice touch. Comparing Evelyn’s true story with what was reported in gossip columns showed how she excelled at controlling her public image. She even hides her ethnicity to appeal to the mainstream. Evelyn is Cuban, but has herself remade in appearance, accent, and name to pass as white. Reid writes Evelyn as a morally ambiguous character. I respect her drive and determination to be a famous and successful movie star. But I am also frustrated by her repeatedly choosing to damage her relationships to further her career. She denies herself romantic relationships with people she loves in favor of toxic marriages that grow her stardom. I also enjoy how Monique is influenced by Evelyn’s story and changes over the course of the novel. Lastly, the story has LGBTQ representation, which I always appreciate.

Don’t be mistaken, this is a great book, but I question whether it deserves all the 5-star reviews on Goodreads. It is impossible to avoid this book’s massive hype. So unfortunately, I was expecting a lot. Have high expectations ruined your reading experience? Some of the book’s twists were predictable. Also, the formula of telling the story of each of Evelyn’s marriage becomes a bit repetitive by the end. By the fourth marriage I was thinking: we get it; Evelyn marries to advance her career, not for love. And sometimes I was irked by Reid’s blatant teasing of the reader. Many chapters ended with lines like this: “I have no idea that in less than a week, Evelyn Hugo will finish her story, and I’ll find out what this has all been about, and I will hate her so much that I’ll be truly afraid I might kill her.” I admit these lines were effective because I kept reading, but they also felt like cheap tricks. My husband says that these lines read like a 11-year-old’s first attempt at creative writing(!)

Despite this book being overly hyped, it is worth the read. This is the perfect choice for a light read at the beach or while on vacation. Evelyn Hugo is certainly an unforgettable character.

Her Body And Other Parties

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Published by Graywolf Press on October 3, 2017
Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Stories (single author), LGBT, Women
Pages: 245

Her Body and Other Parties, by Carmen Maria Machado, was a thoughtful birthday gift from my husband. This short story collection has many of my favorites: weird plots, beautiful writing, and layered themes. Machado’s stories focus on women and crimes committed upon their bodies. There is a wide variety of story formats and genres throughout the collection. One of the weirdest stories, Especially Heinous, features episode synopses of the first 12 seasons of Law & Order SVU. The main characters’ names: Benson and Stabler, remain the same, but Machado introduces supernatural and science fiction elements that become progressively wilder. Reading Especially Heinous reminds me of time I’ve spent reading episode synopses of shows on Wikipedia. Another one of my favorite stories was Real Women Have Bodies where a dress shop sells dresses with human souls sewn into the fabric. And in Eight Bites a woman makes the horrifying decision to surgically remove a portion of her GI tract to decrease her appetite and have a thinner figure. As a foodie this story was highly disturbing. The pressure placed on women to maintain a certain figure leads this character to sacrificing one of life’s greatest pleasures: eating.

But the standout of this anthology is The Husband Stitch. If you do not have the time to read this entire book, I implore you to make time to read this one story. It is a literary feat that deserves multiple readings and enthusiastic discussion. You cannot read this story without thinking about the horrendous possibility that SCOTUS may soon overturn Roe v Wade. The story follows the life of a married woman and eventual mother. The woman wears a green ribbon around her neck. She never removes the ribbon, and its purpose is not revealed until the story’s conclusion. This ribbon is the only part of her body that is off limits to her husband. The husband can’t stand not knowing the secret of the ribbon. I loved The Husband Stitch so much. I want to share my interpretation of the story (mind you this is a man’s interpretation of a story that is very much centered on women’s issues). Spoiler Warning for the Remainder of the Review!!!

I believe the ribbon represents the woman’s privacy. This was the one piece of her body she kept off limits from her husband. It was only for her. And like many straight males, the husband can’t stand part of his wife’s body being off limits to him. Even though the wife freely gives every other part of her body to her husband, he’s unsatisfied. At the end of the story the wife finally relents and allows the husband to untie the ribbon. Her head falls to the floor, and she dies. Are women really living if men have control over their bodies?

The husband stitch scene was hard to stomach. A husband stitch is an extra stitch the doctor puts into a women’s vagina after vaginal tearing from childbirth. The extra stitch is meant to create more tightness for the husband’s sexual pleasure. This is vile. Minutes after giving birth the wife helplessly listens to her male doctor and husband decide to surgically alter her body, without her consent. This reminds me of all the recent news stories of red states creating legislation that limit women’s access to abortions. These news stories are often accompanied by images of solely male politicians signing the bills that limit women’s access to healthcare.

There is a scene from the woman’s childhood when she spots a toe mixed in with the produce at the grocery store. She is insistent that she saw a toe, but no one takes her seriously. Her father explains that the male shop owner would never allow toes to be mixed in with his produce. This reminds me of how women are often not believed or taken seriously when they bravely come forward to share stories of sexual assault.

Afterparties: Stories

Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So
Published by HarperCollins on August 3, 2021
Genres: Asian American, Fiction, Literary, LGBTQ, Short Stories
Pages: 272

Hey, you! Stop reading this and go add Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So to the top of your TBR…Welcome back! This short story collection is perfection. These nine stories center on Cambodian American characters living in California. Many of these stories feature queer characters, which was my main motivation to read it. I learned a lot about Cambodian history and culture and was blown away by So’s writing talent. So has mastered bringing out a range of emotions in his readers. A few times, while reading a single page, I found myself laughing and then suddenly heartbroken.

The stories feature Cambodian Americans that are the children of refugees. One story focuses on two daughters and their mom running a doughnut shop. Each night a mysterious man visits, only to buy an apple fritter and sit in silence, leaving the pastry uneaten. Another story features a down on his luck high school badminton coach and struggling grocery store owner trying to get a much-needed win by beating his star player. The story that inspired the collection’s title takes place at a drunken wedding afterparty where two brothers try to expose their dubious uncle for neglecting to gift money to the bride and groom. In my favorite story, The Shop, a gay son works at his dad’s car shop after failing to find a job after college.

So does a great job of creating a cohesive collection with many overlapping themes. The most prominent commonality I noticed was every character had inherited trauma from their parents. From 1975 to 1979 between 1.5 and 2 million Cambodians were killed in a genocide under the communist leadership. The number of people killed equaled about a quarter of Cambodia’s population. The characters in So’s stories are the children of the refugees that escaped to America to avoid losing their lives. Even though the children were not present at the genocide their lives are heavily impacted by the events. Another part of Cambodian culture that is featured in the stories Maly, Maly, Maly and Somaly, Serey Somaly is the Buddhist belief in reincarnation. The queer characters in this collection have the added pressure of seeking acceptance from their families. The Shop was my favorite story, not just because the main character is gay, but So perfectly captured the loss of direction some young adults experience after college. All of So’s characters are flawed. I found some, especially the main character in Human Development (what a prick)to be highly unlikeable. But these unlikeable characters felt authentically human, so the stories were still a pleasure to read.

Unfortunately, I am going to end this review on a sad note. Anthony Veasna So tragically passed away at the age of 28, due to an accidental drug overdose. The literary community has lost a great talent too soon. While it is sad that So will not get a chance to share more beautifully written stories with the world, I am comforted that his voice will live on through this magnificent short story collection. Do your self a favor and read Afterparties.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Published by Hodder & Stoughton on March 16, 2015
Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, LGBTQ
Pages: 608

My reading preferences have always favored character driven stories over plot driven. Becky Chamber’s The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet introduced me to some new favorite literary characters. The crew members of the Wayfarer are so loveable. The diversity of the characters and differences in their cultures drives many of the book’s conflicts and interactions.

The story begins with the arrival of Rosemary Harper, a newly hired clerk with a mysterious past, to the Wayfarer. The Wayfarer is a ship that tunnels for wormholes throughout the galaxy. The ship has a multi species crew that is highly diverse. They are led by the human captain Ashby Santoso. The three other humans on the crew are Artis, an algaeist, and Kizzy Shao and Jenks, both technicians. Dr. Chef, the ship’s cook and physician is a Grum, which is a species that starts life female, becomes male in the midlife, and ends as something in between. Ohan the navigator, is a Sianat pair, which is a Sian infected with a virus that gives them navigational abilities in the sublayer where wormholes are made. The ship’s communications are run by Lovelace, or Lovey, the ship’s AI. And my favorite character is the pilot Sissix, an Aandrisk. Aandrisks are reptilian and are not monogamous, very casual with sex. The crew is offered a job in a new region of the galaxy with a high price point. The journey will be dangerous because the area is known for high conflict.

All my favorite things about Becky Chambers book have to do with the amazing characters and their relationships. The crew of the Wayfarer is a tight knight found family. I appreciated how Becky Chambers includes characters with a range of pronouns. For example, Ohan is referred to as “they”, because with their virus they are a pair. This is a queer friendly book because it takes place in a future where use of non-binary pronouns is the norm. My favorite part of the story was falling in love with the members of Wayfarer’s crew. Different types of relationships are featured including inter-species romance and some brilliantly written friendships.

My one complaint about the novel was the main plot was a bit simplistic. There was nothing about the main story that was unique. Luckily, I loved the characters so much the plot didn’t really matter.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was a fun adventure. I’m happy to see there are more installments in the series. I am eager to get find a copy of the next book to see what’s in store for the delightful Wayfarer crew.

Red, White & Royal Blue

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on May 14, 2019
Genres: Fiction, Gay, LGBT, Romance
Pages: 432

Red, White & Royal Blue was my biggest reading surprise of the year. I’ve never had any interest in the romance genre, but after seeing Casey McQuiston’s gay rom-com recommended all over Bookstagram and Booktube I decided to give it a try. Less than halfway through the book I was fully invested. My husband had to endure me rambling on about Alex and Henry’s dramatic romance and how amazing the book was. I have discovered a new favorite book.

Alex Claremont-Diaz, first son of the United States, and the UK’s Prince Henry are rivals. After the boys have a messy altercation involving a cake their two families agree to force Alex and Henry to fake a friendship to improve U.S/U.K. relations. However, the enemies become eventual lovers when Alex and Henry find themselves in a secret romance. They both have reasons to keep the relationship a secret. Alex fears the relationship will hurt his mom’s odds at being reelected in the upcoming presidential election. And Henry is not allowed to be out of the closet because his elders believe it would tarnish the royal family’s reputation. But as their feelings grow stronger keeping the relationship a secret becomes more challenging.

My favorite part of the novel was the perfectly written banter between Alex and Henry. Their flirty exchange was written perfectly. The emails they share between each other, including quotes from historically queer characters, are especially cute. Many of Alex and Henry’s friends are fantastic allies. Red, White & Royal Blue is a feel-good, wholesome queer love story. When so much of queer fiction focuses on trauma, stories like this are refreshing.

I appreciated how the story focused on Alex’s professional life, instead of solely his love life. In your 20s every career decision seems critical because your professional life is just beginning. Alex was concerned his relationship with a member of the British royal family would ruin his ambitious goal of becoming an American senator before 30. I related to this strongly. Two years ago, I decided to move out of state with my partner for his doctorate program’s internship. We moved before I was able to secure a new job. I was worried that I was compromising my career for my relationship. Fast forward to today and I am happily married to my best friend and my career is moving in a positive direction. Young professionals have decades of time to develop their careers. We need to normalize making shifts in our career goals. It is freeing when you realize that changes in your professional plans are not failures, especially when they are for the love of your life.

My only (tiny) criticism of the book is I was not sold on the sex scenes. This wasn’t a huge drawback for me. Sex scenes in books are not my favorite. Steamy bedroom scenes are not McQuiston’s strength if literary smut matters to you. I found these scenes to be awkwardly written. The writing was almost muddled. It felt strangely asexual.

Nonetheless, Red, White & Royal Blue was a beautiful book that I can see myself reading again! Alex and Henry’s relationship is brilliantly written. I was glued to the pages as they turned from enemies to lovers. I definitely plan on reading more gay romance books in the future. Please give me some recommendations in the comments!

The City We Became

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin
Published by Orbit on March 24, 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, LGBTQ
Pages: 448

My favorite fantasy series to this day is the Broken Earth Trilogy, by the prolific N. K. Jemisin. I was eager to read Jemisin’s newest book The City We Became, but perhaps my expectations were set too high. In this urban fantasy, cities are living beings and are represented by human avatars. After New York City’s primary avatar falls into a coma, five new avatars, one for each New York City borough, are awakened. The novel contains plenty of social commentary, highlighting each of the boroughs and including Lovecraftian references. Jemisin’s story is a tribute to New York, which she clearly loves.

Jemisin is the queen of worldbuilding, and here she has crafted an interesting world where cities are living beings. Each city is defended by an avatar, a human embodiment of the city. Some cities reach a point in their growth where they begin to awaken. The time of awakening is crucial, and the city will either come alive or fail (like Atlantis). Once a city dies, so does its avatar. A sinister outside force is threatening New York City because it is close to waking up. This enemy appears in multiple pale, white-colored forms, including Lovecraftian inspired monsters. At the start of the novel, the avatar of New York City, assisted by the avatar of San Paulo bests the enemy in a fight. But the primary avatar overexerts himself in the battle and goes into a coma in an unknown location. Once he goes missing five new avatars come into power, one representing each of New York’s boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island (Jemisin is clearly not a Staten Island fan). The novel focuses on the avatars finding each other and working together to battle the enemy. This is the first book in a planned trilogy by Jemisin.

There were many things I loved in The City We Became. Jemisin’s writing is exceptionally vivid. The action scenes played out clearly in my mind. I also appreciated the diversity of the characters, with plenty characters of color and from the LGBTQ+ community. For me, the best and most developed character was the Lenape lesbian woman, Bronca, AKA the Bronx. Bronca’s art curating career was fascinating. I could have easily read an entire novel focused on her character. Jemisin includes lots of creative details that made the novel so much fun. One clever example is that Manhattan fights enemies by throwing money at them, because one of the borough’s biggest industries is Wall Street. I also enjoyed how Jemisin reworked Lovecraftian monsters. If you are not aware, H.P. Lovecraft has made a huge impact in science fiction and fantasy, but he held largely disgusting racist ideals. Having the “pale” Lovecraftian monsters empower white racists in NYC was a way of giving a nod to the beloved Lovecraftian monsters, while also pointing out their creator’s flaws. This reminded me of the excellent HBO show Lovecraft Country (based off the novel I have yet to read). The ending of The City We Became, was not what I expected. Without spoiling anything, I feel that Jemisin made a bold statement, clearly defining her own version of New York. I imagine New Yorkers will be strongly polarized in their reactions to the book’s conclusion.

I really wanted to love The City We Became more than I did. Unfortunately, there are some flaws that prevent me from strongly recommending this to fellow readers. While Bronca was great, most characters were not fully developed. For me, the book almost reads as a movie script, more than a novel. The action scenes are well described and ready for the big screen, but character development is lacking. The New York avatars are like a more diverse version of The Avengers. The end of the story felt rushed, and some character motivations were not clear. Hopefully Jemisin will provide more explanation in the subsequent books. If you are a fan of Jemisin, or you are looking for a fun, quick-reading fantasy novel, this is worth the read. If you have yet to read Jemisin’s masterpiece: The Broken Earth trilogy, I strongly suggest you start there instead.