Hi Wild Ones! This was a month for epic fantasy (Kushiel’s Mercy), and books with a polyamorous leaning (the Scientific Method series). Actually, they both have a polyam element, even though it’s extremely mild and very background in Kushiel’s Mercy. But Love as Thou Wilt is a core tenant of the world of Terre d’Ange, and they mean it. It’s one of the things I love about that series.
Hi Wild Ones! So much here for you to pick from. This month had some very unexpected down time. I spent half the time reading, and the other half catching up on movies.
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Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey
Amazon (print, audiobook, and ebook)* ~ Apple (ebook, audiobook) ~ Barnes & Noble (ebook, audiobook, and print) ~ Google (ebook and audiobook) ~ Kobo (ebook)
This is the second book in the Imriel trilogy, Kushiel’s Legacy. It’s a long, detailed look at love, duty, and what we owe ourselves when it comes to making choices for our lives. There’s a lot of adventure here, but it also gets really heavy in the way that Carey does so well. The story got so deep, and I loved all the introspection. I always enjoy visiting this world, and I enjoyed this book, too.
The King’s Delight by Sarah Honey
Amazon (print and ebook)*
A fun, light, kinky royal romance that was so cute I just breezed through it. I really enjoyed Leo and Felix, and they kept me company on my lunchtime reads for a few days.
Red, White & Royal Blue
Amazon Original Video
I laughed, I swooned, I cried. I really enjoyed this one a lot. It was everything I wanted in a gay rom-com, or just a rom-com period. I wound up loving Alex and Henry and when I started I wasn’t really expecting that. Definitely recommended if you’re looking for the warm fuzzies.
Bros
Amazon Original Video
And then I watched Bros, which couldn’t have been more different, but was also perfect. It’s full of queer history and lived experience and the awkwardness of finding someone who’s nothing like what you thought you were going to find. I deeply loved them in the end for all their realness. Definitely recommend watching.
Love Again
Amazon Original Video
After that came Love Again, which went how I thought it would in some ways but was still a heartfelt revelation on love and loss. Prianka Chopra was so beautiful to watch. I could look at her face all day. And it reminded me how much I do love Celine Dion. Compelling and unexpectedly witty.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! Happy 4th, if you’re in the US. If not, I hope your summer/winter is going well. I’ve finally gotten some time to post a new recs post. I finished that super long novel I mentioned last time and really wanted to share it with y’all.
*Denotes an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission from sales using this link.
Kushiel’s Scion by Jacqueline Carey
Amazon (print, audio and ebook)* ~ Apple (ebook) ~ Apple (audio) ~ Barnes & Noble (print, audio and ebook) ~ Chirp ~ Google (print, audio and ebook) ~ More Stores ~ Kobo (ebook and audio)
This was the looong book I mentioned before – and it really is long. It is so, so worth it though. First: some background: this is the first book of the second trilogy set in Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel universe. The Kushiel world is a fantasy re-imagining of France filled with beautiful people who just love each other and strive to enjoy all of life’s pleasures. When they’re not fighting for the crown and fending off invasions, of course. That quote comes from an article introducing the first book of the first series, Kushiel’s Dart, with some basics on the world and characters. Kushiel’s Dart focuses on Phedre, a young lady who’s a kinky, queer, courtesan spy. Yeah, it’s complicated. There’s politics and intrigue and adventure and sex (queer and het) and kink in the whole series. It’s a massive fantasy world with a deeply sexual element to it where the sex is integral to the story in surprising ways.
Kushiel’s Scion is the beginning of Imriel’s story, a young noble man coming of age and dealing with a traumatic and traitorous history at the same time – along with his own sadistic and dominant nature. It’s a gentle beginning to his story, which gets a lot more intense in the relationship area in the second book (I’ve already started reading that one). Scion has great characters, fun intrigue, and a lot of adventure. It’s a great read.
I highly recommend the world of Kushiel to anyone who likes really epic fantasy. Dart would probably be the best book to start with, but Scion can stand alone and is a great book in its own right. Either way, pick one of them up if you want to get lost in an epic read.
Smiley
I absolutely loved this. A wrong-number voicemail connects a hot bartender and a sentimental architect. It’s a lovely queer odd-couple show that’s hot, sweet, and full of other characters (both queer and het) that I really enjoyed. It’s great for when you want something light and fun with a great ending – although I hope there’s another season because one little thing felt unresolved for me with some side characters. Overall it was a lot of fun.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!