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[bornitereads]

Reread: Feb 2024

So I did indeed immediately read this again right after making my first post about it hahahaha.

The romance is just so nice. Like who doesn't want to nail a pale and prim Brit to the mattress? Maybe just a me thing 😅. And the magic is still so good, such an interesting part of the story! Needless to say I really love this book. And I found out Marske is making it a series, the next one is after this about lesbians (I think) so that'll be interesting to read. Stay tuned! Especially since I might just read this again 😂

A Marvellous Light - Freya Marske

Read: Oct 2023

I loved this book. The magic, the gay shit, it was all so wonderful. The book is set in like Victorian/Edwardian Britain, which lead to that repressed British upper class gay longing thing. "He can't possibly like me in that way" kind of thing. Well surprise girlie he does, and there are some sex scenes. Not too scandalous if I remember correctly. But then again I don't particularly find sex scenes scandalous, so it might just be me.

I loved the world building! Each layer that was revealed was more intriguing than the last. Starting with the Magical/Mundane government liaison office. Such a good idea. Like it would make sense that a magical world nested within our own mundane would have some government contact situation. But it was really lore the magical world building that had me enchanted. Don't get me wrong the book makes the magical people seem like complete douches in that "I'm much too rich to talk to you" kind of way. There wasn't much in the way of poverty in magical world, not in regards to money and property, but there was a magical poverty as in the less magic you have the more you are looked down on. Which is...pretty bad. But there's a lot of charming parts of the magic beyond this. Especially with the land magic. Not to spoil it but it's so good.

You know I think I might just have to read this book again now haha.

Info: Tor; 2021

#a marvellous light #freya marske #fiction #fantasy #gay fiction #queer fiction

[bornitereads]

The Duke & I - Julia Quinn

Bridgerton Book 1

Read: Feb 2024

I finally got around to starting the Bridgerton books. I decided I would read them after watching the first season of the Bridgerton show. But it took until I chanced upon this copy in one of the community library boxes near my home before I actually did.

I thought the show was better honestly. My SIL informs me that this book was kind of bad in comparison to even the other books. Things I liked about it were all the things I enjoyed in the show, which was nice. It made it enjoyable. But the show maybe captured these aspects better. Or maybe it was just because it was visually nice? I might be conflating the two.

The thing I didn't like was the stark whiteness of the book. The show did a great job with making the British setting less hideously white, but I found that lacking in this book. I wonder if it's something from the show only or if Quinn added it in later. My SIL tells me Quinn did a lot of finding out and adding in the subsequent books. Which is backed up in some of the author interview things in the back of this edition.

I'm intrigued, and I liked season two of the show, so I will continue on reading them. Slowly in all likelihood however haha.

Info: Avon Books; 2000

#the duke & i #julia quinn #bridgerton #daphne's story #fiction #romance #historical fiction

[bornitereads]

The Rise and Reign of the Mammals - Steve Brusatte

Read: Feb 2024

Brusatte has previously wrote a book in this same vein about dinosaurs. Which is where I first encountered his writing. I liked the dinosaur one, so when I saw this new one about mammals, I immediately bought it. I like paleomammaology, in that I like learning about all the funky dudes that came before us. I do not like studying mammal teeth, which comprises a large part of the field of study. Brusatte goes over the teeth thing in this book, which is fine and necessary, but it did give me flashbacks to my uni course about it.

The book gives a long picture from the very first mammal ancestors till now. I learned a lot from it, even though I've studied paleontology. There's always more to learn. Which is a joy for me.

Info: Mariner Books; 2022

#the rise and reign of the mammals #steve brusatte #non fiction #paleontology #paleomammology #science

[bornitereads]

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl - Andrea Lawlor

Read: Feb 2024

So this is a very very queer book. Like it's the only label I can make stick in mind. The reason being is the titular Paul is a shapeshifter, not like into animals, but like within his own form. Taller, shorter, thinner, thicker, long dick, short dick, no dick, small tits, big tits, highest femme to lowest butch Paul does it all. So whether he's a gay boy cruising, or a gay girl u-hauling, he's the right shape. If you've noticed I'm using he/him I am following the author's lead in this regard and I'm not sure what the point was with it but I feel very much there's a point.

Anyways this is one of the books that is telling a story but the form of the story seems incomprehensible. It's telling you about this person's life but like there's no storyline, it's just a telling of this part of it. I feel confident saying the problem that was being overcome (such as it were) was just the character himself. The Paul at the start of the book is not the Paul at the end of the book. These kinds of books kind of frustrated me I guess. Like where are we going? What is the point? It often seems the point is to just watch this person stumble around life. And in Paul's case I mean truly stumbling through life. Paul is such a flake, completely unreliable. He's less so at the end but like how and why I could not tell you. So little is explained, everything is the journey but nothing is the end. No questions are answered.

This book is interesting in its own way. It is pretty spicy with the sex. I mean a shapeshifting 20 something is gonna use that power to get off. The lesbian sex scenes are really something. Since it's set in 1993 it is also kind of sad at times. And the lack of cellphones was funny to me since I also remember only having landlines. There are also these weird story interludes which kind of relate to the narrative at that point, but kind of don't? It's like fairytales to explain how Paul is a shapeshifter? I'm really not sure.

Info: Vintage Books; 2017

#paul takes the form of a mortal girl #andrea lawlor #fiction #queer fiction #gay fiction #trans fiction #lesbian fiction #like ? on the last three tags #but it is one hundo percent queer

[bornitereads]

Bound in Blood - David Thomas Lord

Read: Jan 2024

So the subtitle for this book is "The Erotic Journey of a Vampire." Which implies a certain amount of smut. I thought it was going to be much smutier than it was. Which was kind of a disappointment ngl 😅. That aside, I enjoyed the take on vampirism, which was most of the usual stuff, sunlight & stakes, strength, speed, glamour. A big new one was that vampires will die if they don't make a new vampire before their 100th vampire birthday. This was a major plot point, in the end. Another thing was that vampires could get erections, but only if they had recently drank blood. This lead to a lot of sex starting with vampire soft dick until the vampire started drinking, and then started fucking. There was also a connection with the moon, like werewolves kind of, where their vampiric power was at its height during the New Moon. Oh one of my faves, that had me cackling, was that unicorn horn (yes the mythical unicorn) was completely deadly to vampires. So funny. Sadly the vampires hunted them to extinction. The one I'll mention is that they gain better nourishment from blood if the victim resembles them more. For instance the main character is a fit 20-something man, so his best choice is to prey on the same.

Which brings me to things I didn't like. This whole prey on what you're similar too, made for a lot of obsession about the state of a man's body. Those not in the right category were looking down on by the main character. It was rather cringey. I really didn't like it. It was giving major gay body issues vibes. And kind of the thing with vampires is that blood, any blood will do. But this was all to set up steamy encounters between "classically hot" gay guys. Which only worked sometimes. Like maybe the character was suppose to be a complete douche. But I wasn't getting that vibe. I was getting, "isn't it hot?" and "woe the main character is in a bad place, feel bad for him." I did not. Even when it was clear he had been completely hoodwinked.

And again, the "erotic journey" thing was way less erotic than advertised. Although would more gay sex had made up for everything else? I have my doubts.

Info: Kensington Books; 2001

#bound in blood #david thomas lord #fiction #fantasy #vampire fiction #gay fiction

[bornitereads]

The Unifying Force - James Luceno

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 19

Reread: Jan 2024

The finale!! Luceno really popped off with this book wow. So much action. The big battles were sometimes so confusing because there was a lot going on but it all came together at the end. It starts with the scales tipping in favour of the bad guys, like really badly, but the living planet really saves their asses. Nothing like religious turmoil to ruin what should have been a victorious battle. The good guys rally and bring the fight to the Coruscant system, where Zonama Sekot has made its glorious apperance. Troops are landed on Coruscant to retake it, including the Skywalkers and the Solo twins. The way Luke goes into a Force trance and just murders his way to the Yuuzhan Vong throne room is wild. Same goes for Jacen who becomes a conduit for so much pure Force energy that he ages five years in minutes. But he also just fucks up the power behind the throne guy so hard that way. Lots of weird Force things here to go through which I enjoyed.

And let's not forget the Galactic Alliance deploying biological weapons against the Yuuzhan Vong. Some of the government wanted to genocide their way out of the war. Sadly this turned into a weapon against the good guys when the Yuuzhan Vong realized that Zonama Sekot's life was genetically similar and thus susceptible to the agent. Luckily it didn't all end in tragedy.

The war is won and Zonama Sekot reveals that it's the child of the real Yuuzhan'tar (not Coruscant, but the actual homeworld of the Yuuzhan Vong) and it claims it's wayward children? Siblings? Anyways, it wants to rehabilitate the Yuuzhan Vong and reconnect them to the Force, since Yuuzhan'tar cut them off from it when it exiled them for being evil.

It was a fitting end to the series. Tragic on lots of levels. But our heroes overcame many, many hardships to get to the end and most came out stronger. And Leia realizing she needed to formally finish her Jedi training, but that's in the next book(s) I just like it a lot haha. I think many people were hoping for a more crushing victory against the Yuuzhan Vong, but I think this way made more sense. And involved a lot less slaughter. Three cheers for the Galactic Alliance! Now to pick up the pieces.

Info: Del Rey; 2003

#the unifying force #james luceno #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #fiction #science fiction #sci fi

[bornitereads]

The Final Prophecy - Greg Keyes

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 18

Reread: Jan 2024

The penultimate book of the New Jedi Order series! You know when I started my reread of NJO I thought I could finish it before the end of 2023. Lol, did not happen. I could have if I applied most of my free time to reading, but sometimes a bitch needs to also do other things.

Anyways, two storylines here. One with Wedge Antilles and his military operation in Bilbringi. An operation which goes south fast because the Yuuzhan Vong have finally started disrupting communications by destroying holonet relays. The other storyline is all about the Yuuzhan Vong. Discontent on Yuuzhan'tar (Coruscant), evidence from Zonama Sekot pointing to Yuuzhan Vong origins, Nom Anor making prophecies he thinks are bullshit. In the end three Yuuzhan Vong are extracted from Coruscant by Tahiri and Corran Horn and go to Zonama Sekot. Revelations are had, betrayals are made, Nom Anor is an absolute dick.

I like the focus on the Yuuzhan Vong in this book, the introduction of more nuance into them as a species was a wise call imo. They are not a monolith, and I appreciate the depth that was added to them. I also liked that when they arrived at Zonama Sekot they landed very far from the other Jedi already on planet. It gave the Yuuzhan Vong characters time to process Zonama Sekot without influence. It was also nice to have, like, second? third? rank characters have their time without anyone of the Skywalker lineage involved.

Info: Del Rey; 2003

#the final prophecy #greg keyes #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #fiction #science fiction #sci fi

[bornitereads]

Force Heretic III: Reunion - Sean Williams & Shane Dix

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 17

Reread: Jan 2024

Last book of the Force Heretics trilogy! All the plotlines are set up for the final two books of the New Jedi Order. Luke succeeds in his quest, only to have Zonama Sekot confront him in the guise of his father! Creepy to say the absolute least. Luke & Co. were searching for Zonama Sekot because it's a living, sentient planet. There are hints at it having some kind of connection to the Yuuzhan Vong, beyond several attacks upon itself by them. Which is my the Jedi are there. Zonama Sekot is now a major, important character for the remainder of the series.

Nom over-plays his hand in his plotting against the Yuuzhan Vong regime. He moved too quickly in the wrong directions. He got caught up in revenge on his former peers instead of keeping his eye on the proverbial pie.

Han and Leia deal with Yuuzhan Vong threats to communication in the Galactic Alliance. They encounter some weird life forms out on a rogue planet. It was very, very sci-fi of Williams and Dix. One of the more interesting things is Tahiri's internal struggle between her Jedi and Yuuzhan Vong selves. When Jaina tries to help her via the Force, she integrates her two selves. Thus becoming basically a whole new person. Well now wholly new, but radically changed.

This book gave a sense of water just before reaching a narrowing of the flow. The story is funneling together, speeding up for the end game. Which makes sense, obviously, two books left!

Info: Del Rey; 2003

#force heretic iii: reunion #sean williams #shane dix #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #fiction #science fiction #sci fi #force heretic trilogy #force heretic

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Force Heretic II: Refugee - Sean Williams & Shane Dix

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 16

Reread: Dec 2023

I have a lot of love for this one since we go back to Bakura. For those not in the know, Bakura is the planet setting for the first of the Star Wars EU (Legends) books: Truce at Bakura. It was the first EU book I read after my grandmother gave it to me out of a box of books she got from a neighbour who recently died. So I have a lot of love for Bakura. Plus I found the Ssi-ruuvi to be such interesting villains. And they are indeed back! As Han and Leia's question this book is what are the Ssi-ruuvi doing during the war and chaos? The answer is trying to invade Known Space again thanks to their new rainbow scaled, non-binary supreme leader. So on the nose! Rainbow coloured? Non-binary? Dinosaur-like? We would love to see it, but leader of an evil xenophobic empire not the tea. But what we do love to see is said leader getting blindsided and killed by a slave revolt.

Luke & Co. are in Chiss space on their continuing quest. The Chiss are kind of assholes about literally anybody even looking in their general direction, so you can imagine the drama. And Nom is still stirring the revolution pot on Coruscant.

Where in Remnant the stories were well balanced for me, this one was completely in favour for Leia and Han's plotline for me. Obviously I have personal attachment to the story, but it overshadowed the other two lines in my mind. I guess we all take different things away from the same stories.

Info: Del Rey; 2003

#force heretic ii: refugee #sean williams #shane dix #force heretic trilogy #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #fiction #science fiction #sci fi

[bornitereads]

Force Heretic I: Remnant - Sean Williams & Shane Dix

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 15

Reread: Dec 2023

So there are basically three plot lines in this book. What Han, Leia, Jaina, Jag, and Tahiri are doing; what Luke, Mara, Jacen, Saba, and Tekli are doing; and what Nom Anor is doing on Coruscant/Yuuzhan'tar (RIP other Yuuzhan Vong characters but Nom is the only one that is important in this book). It's concise in the way that it didn't feel cumbersome. All three lines have structure and plot momentum.

Han and Leia's feels more worldbuildy and/or nostalgia round-uppy than the other two. Again it didn't feel forced, it flowed and fit the larger narrative, but it also was like let's answer some questions people might have about things that we haven't touched since their original books. For instance the question in this book was, what are the Yevetha doing during all this war and chaos? The answer is suffering genocide, because of course it is. The poor Yevetha, they never got to have the rehabilitation story so common in Star Wars.

Luke and Mara are off on a heroic quest to the Unknown Regions, but first a stop in the Imperial Remnant! Surprise it's under attack! Something I just learned about this story arc is that Ben was originally slated to go with them, but was cut out for some reason. I think it would have made sense to have the two Jedi Masters bring their kid along. Especially if they're heading out of the active war zone, even if that journey may be dangerous. I mean just put him in a capsule like Grogu in The Mandalorian, surely Lando could have built an indestructible one for them. You know since he's manufacturing war droids for the war effort and all.

Lastly Nom Anor is getting up to some shady shit. Basically he becomes involved in the brewing religious revolution that's brewing amongst the lower classes of the Yuuzhan Vong. A matter of pure survival for him, but a much needed influx of brains, strategy, and driving force for the heretic revolutionaries. The cracks have finally started to show up in the Yuuzhan Vong.

Luke's and Nom's plots are the main story for the NJO now. Leia's Galactic Alliance work is only tangentially important to the plot at large. Still all three weave together nicely. I think having both Williams and Dix work on this trilogy was a benefit to it.

Info: Del Rey; 2003

#force heretic i: remnant #sean williams #shane dix #force heretic trilogy #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #fiction #science fiction #sci fi

[bornitereads]

Destiny's Way - Walter Jon Williams

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 14

Reread: Dec 2023

So much happens in this book! The title references destiny as it's a nod at the destiny of the good guys beating the bad guys as it were. On the nose when you think about it. But sometimes Star Wars is just like that. Han and Leia go to the Imperial Remnant on a diplomatic mission. Which is really a sign the the New Republic is on its last legs. In fact it fully exits the galaxy at the end of this book, becoming the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances. Which considering the blundering around in the dark the New Republic does for basically it's whole life, is probably a good thing.

The Solo twins are reunited which is touching, and Luke knights a bunch of, at this point, battle vets. Naming Jaina the Sword of the Jedi. Which is totally badass although it's framed as a huge weight on her shoulders, which it is. To be fair the Force made Luke do it. A new council is set up, half Jedi, half others. Which is not a way to run an order, but bless Luke for trying.

This book ends with a war turning battle, guess who wins? But it's really quite good, and nicely done. Brain child of that beloved Admiral, Ackbar. Jaina kills the Yuuzhan Vong war master while stuck to the floor during it, so I mean sword of the Jedi title officially earned. You go girlie (she's my favourite Solo child).

Info: Del Rey; 2002

#destiny's way #walter jon williams #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #fiction #science fiction #sci fi

[bornitereads]

Traitor - Matthew Stover

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 13

Reread: Dec 2023

This one was pretty interesting. It chronicles Jacen Solo's captivity with the Yuuzhan Bong and his mentoring under an Old Republic Jedi living with the Yuuzhan Vong. There's a lot of Force philosophy between the two Jedi. Mostly which amounts to is the Dark side evil because it's inherently evil or evil because of the way people use it. A cyclical argument as old as time. But this is mostly the bits in the lulls. There's some great action in this one. Jacen once again actually doing cool shit instead of being angsty as all hell. Due to some torturous methods he gains a semi-sense of the Yuuzhan Vong in the Force, and consequently almost completely and single handedly destroys an important Vong project. The other great bit of action is the last stand of Ganner Rhysode. Jacen gives him Anakin's lightsaber (his brother's and not his grandfather's) and he goes out in a blaze of glory so big even the enemy canonized him. Lots of world building into the Yuuzhan Vong and what they are doing too Coruscant, which they call Yuuzhan'tar. This is fun and gives insight into the bad guys.

Mostly I just was happy Jacen wasn't being annoying.

Well less annoying anyways.

Info: Del Rey; 2002

#traitor #matthew stover #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #fiction #science fiction #sci fi

[bornitereads]

Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand - Aaron Allston

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 12

Reread: Dec 2023

Part 2 of Enemy Lines is pretty good! I liked Rebel Dream more, but that's more personal taste I think. Rebel Stand was still good. The Wedge stuff is still great! Especially when he out smarts the Yuuzhan Vong commander by throwing a Super Star Destroyer at him. The part that kind of lost me was Luke's mission to occupied Coruscant. It was a showcase of what is happening on the city-planet, but also some weird ass Force stuff was happening. A dark side cyborg was blundering around trying to dip into the dark side force nexus under the old Jedi temple. It was a little strange honestly. But Jedi are going to Jedi no matter what haha.

Info: Del Rey; 2002

#enemy lines ii: rebel stand #rebel stand #aaron allston #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #enemy lines duology #fiction #science fiction #sci fi

[bornitereads]

Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream - Aaron Allston

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 11

Reread: Dec 2023

So I really liked this one. In fact the I enjoyed the whole of the Enemy Lines duology. This one is centered on Wedge Antilles and the aftermath of the fall of Coruscant. It has a lot of military strategy stuff, which I found interesting since we get a lot of Jedi and "rouge" agents type stuff but less so on the coordinated military response stuff. So this book is about Wedge regrouping and refocusing on kicking Yuuzhan Vong ass. There's also lots of Jaina stuff too as she gets back into the military swing of things after Myrkr and Hapes. It's almost about her depression, her belief that she'll eventually die during the war. She's still up and fighting though so it's kind of a duality. Another thing I liked about this was the dawning realization that the New Republic is basically dead, but the need to continue the fight still is pressing. It's like the old Rebel Alliance team is getting back together to encourage and grow insurgencies against the Yuuzhan Vong. And to coordinate military action despite the lack (or just despite) of civilian government. It's a pretty bad sign that things have gone poorly to say the least.

Anyways Wedge does kick some serious ass and it's really awesome.

Info: Del Rey; 2002

#enemy lines i: rebel dream #rebel dream #aaron allston #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #enemy lines duology #fiction #science fiction #sci fi

[bornitereads]

Dark Journey - Elaine Cunningham

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 10

Reread: Dec 2023

Following the hideously bad, but ultimately successful, mission to Myrkr, Jaina Solo is having a hard time because she believes her brothers are dead. She has a captured Yuuzhan Vong frigate and she's not afraid to fuck around with it. The survivors of the mission and some of the survivors from the fall of Coruscant end up on Hapes, where the politics are politicking.

This one is really about Jaina and her grief and her being mired in the mud of the Dark side. Kyp Durron does a lot of work helping her through it. Sure there's a lot of things that also happen in this book, but it's still about Jaina finding her way. Hence the title.

Things I liked the most: Ta'a Chume getting blind sided twice in a matter of days. Jaina basically laughing off her offer for the throne, good. Tenel Ka snapping up the throne from under her grandmother's nose, chef's kiss.

Info: Del Rey; 2002

#dark journey #elaine cunningham #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #fiction #science fiction #sci fi

[bornitereads]

Star by Star - Troy Denning

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 8

Reread: Nov 2023

Denning said this is one is going to have so much crazy shit in it. And he wasn't lying. New Jedi hunting beasts, voxyn, are on the scene and the young strong Jedi Knights go on a mission to Myrkr to kill the voxyn queen. It's a hard mission and many of them perish. Including Anakin Solo. RIP little Solo, we knew you so briefly. Meanwhile the invasion of Coruscant starts. Traitors try to kidnap Ben Skywalker, but fail thanks to his Uncle Han and Aunt Leia. Lots and lots of people die.

It's an very action packed and tense read, especially the voxyn mission parts. But the fall of Coruscant doesn't lack for action either. The war is going badly for the New Republic, very badly. In fact I would say that this is essentially the death blow for it. Oh sure it lingers for a couple books, but it's really over.

Info: Del Rey; 2001

#star by star #troy denning #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #fiction #science fiction #sci fi

[bornitereads]

Edge of Victory II: Rebirth - Greg Keyes

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 7

Reread: Nov 2023

While the first Edge of Victory book was one story about Anakin on Yavin 4. This one has many plotlines. And not all of them converge at the end. It's kind of like a bunch of separate novellas all put together. All the major characters are in the book, including Anakin and Tahiri after their trauma inducing time on Yavin 4. Jaina is getting tricked into attacking a civilian Yuuzhan Vong target. Jacen is being annoying again, fighting with his father. In happier news however Mara gives birth to her and Luke's son, Ben. Not before almost dying first though.

I couldn't really remember what happened in this one. Which in a series this long is no surprise, but the best bits stick out. And no bits here stuck out. I remember liking it at least. But again it didn't stick so just one of the lag points of the series.

Info: Del Rey; 2001

#egde of victory ii: rebirth #greg keyes #edge of victory duology #star wars #the new jedi order #njo #fiction #science fiction #sci fi