#Before We Disappear

[satan-wishes-he-was-me]

50 ways to say goodbye, train//history is all you left me, adam silvera//a little life, hanya yanagihara//motion sickness, phoebe bridgers//before we disappear, shaun david hutchinson//original photo//the victim card, maya karli//last night at the telegraph club, malinda lo//guilty conscience, 070 shake//before we disappear, shaun david hutchinson

#now i’ve started making these i can’t stop #losing a friend and hating them and hating them and hating them but god #missing them and loving them so fucking much it kills you #web weaving #phobe bridgers #before we disappear #web weave #history is all you left me #adam silvera #last night at the telegraph club

[gimmequeerbooks]

Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson (review/rec)

Genre: Historical Fantasy

My rating: 7/10

Alright, now we’re on to books that maybe not everyone know about! Shaun David Hutchinson has been one of my favorite authors since I read one of his first books, We Are The Ants, when it came out in 2016. I will probably be reviewing each of his books at some point or another as nearly all of his books are about LGBTQ+ people and only a handful of his main characters are ever hetero cis and as a bonus he usually includes people of color and/or queer people of color, and disabled people to his stories.

This one features two boys, Jack and Wilhelm, both of which are gay. Other queer or potentially queer characters to note include Ruth and Jessamy they are both lesbians or possibly bi. Lucia, presumably a woman, also often wears men's clothing.

Jack and Wilhelm work as assistants for rival magicians at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific World’s Fair Exposition in 1909. Jack, a talented thief, assists the Enchantress and at times steals tricks from other people for her to perform. At the fair, he sees Laszlo, an amazing magician with impossible tricks. After some digging, he discovers that behind it all is a boy named Wilhelm, and he can perform a real sort of magic and that he does not assist Laszlo by choice. The pair fall in love, and Jack must find a way to free Wilhelm but in doing so he will turning his back on the Enchantress, the woman who took him in when he had nowhere else to go.

The thing that I really love about Hutchinson’s works is that the focus is never really on the fact that the characters are gay or queer. Instead, the characters typically just accept how they are and move on with the story. He doesn’t write coming-out stories or anything like that. So, I would say that this story is actually about manipulation and abuse, trust, found homes, and what freedom means.

See, while Laszlo is an absolute piece of shit, abusive “guardian” to Wilhelm that is definitely not above horrendous acts, the Enchantress is not wholly in the clear either. She uses Jack and while both seem to care about their wards in some sort of way, neither treat Wilhelm and Jack well. The dichotomy between the two magicians is something to behold. Wilhelm also has to trust Jack with a lot of secrecy, that he will stay safe as they go behind the Enchantress’s and Laszlo’s backs, and that Jack knows what he’s doing and can help Wilhelm escape. Jack has to put his trust in Wilhelm that he knows what’s best for himself and that his friends will pull through for him. Both Jack and Wilhelm have to define for themselves what home is and what it would like if they were to leave the magicians. To them, leaving would mean stepping away from everything and everyone they know.

Seeing Jack and Wilhelm as foils for each other through the lens of what their freedom looks like is was interesting to see as well. Jack is practically required to be devoted to the Enchantress mentally. He is allowed to have a life and friends outside of his job, but he is constantly at the Enchantress’s beck and call. He’s ready to risk his life for her, follow her around the world, and do whatever she asks out of both gratitude and admiration. Wilhelm on the other hand, is trapped physically. He doesn’t like Laszlo at all, but he has no choice other than to do as he’s been ordered. Both are under some sort of confinement by the adults that raised them, but in different ways.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. However, I will admit that Wilhelm and Jack were possibly a little too perfect to each other. We didn’t get to see them mess up with each other often, but again, I don’t think that that was the point of the book, so I’m not too upset.

I wouldn’t say that it’s the very best of Shaun David Hutchinson’s books, that would probably go to his memoir, Brave Face, but more on that at a different time. Before We Disappear was a solid book and a good read.

I should mention that this book does come with a fair number of trigger warnings such as: physical abuse, emotional abuse, and gaslighting. All of which are listed on his website. The physical abuse can be quite graphic at times. There is also some racism and homophobia.

#lgbtq+ books #booklr #books and reading #queer fiction #queer books #queer #gay books #Before We Disappear #shaun david hutchinson #lgbtq+ #book review #book recommendations

[leafonsidewalk]

- Before We Disappear

#booklr #book quotes #before we disappear #shaun david hutchinson #book quote #love quote

[sarcasticsouthernbookworm]

Unpacked this baby at work the other day and it just screamed Wesper to me so of course I had to read it, pretty cute too

#before we disappear #reading challenge #Shaun David Hutchinson #the wesper vibes though #and they’re named jack and wilhelm

[razreads]

Hatred is like a fire. It will spread within you, consuming everything indiscriminately.

Shaun David Hutchinson, Before We Disappear

#razreads #book quote #shaun david hutchinson #before we disappear #hatred #dislike #forgiveness #queue have a good day now

[bookcoversonly]

Title: Before We Disappear | Author: Shaun David Hutchinson | Publisher: HarperTeen (2021)

#books #Before We Disappear #Shaun David Hutchinson

[aurorawest]

Reading update:

Look, I am clearly on a mission to read every mlm book written, AND I love a lovable rogue, AND I love magic, AND I love the World’s Fair. That said, this book didn’t grab me the way I thought it would? It was a solid read, but I never feel head over heels for it the way I expected to. I think part of my issue with it was that Hutchinson was deliberately anachronistic with the acceptance of queer relationships, which is not something I have a problem with in theory, but it just didn’t really work for me. That said, it was a lovely book, and I really liked all the characters.

DNFed this after 12 pages. It read like crap fanfiction. It was like...you know that dude you know, who thinks he’s really great at writing? And you read his thing because you’re nice, and it’s just like...oof. Someone should have knocked you down a peg or two before you self-published this.

And then I DNFed this one, too! I was so bummed—the premise sounded so fun: real life partners have a home renovation show, and also have to solve crime. But then, the main character is ALSO a YA author, and his boyfriend is ALSO an actor, and the murder took way too long to happen, and what made me nearly throw this book across the room (a mere 10 pages after I grit my teeth and said to myself “It’s not that bad, I’m going to soldier through it”) was a pointless, rambling, utterly obnoxious aside about the main character’s writing process. Quote: “More recently, I’d taken to writing on my mobile phone, using Microsoft’s Word app.” OH my FUCKING GOD DUDE JUST STOP. Literally this is where I put the book down. He goes on for a solid two pages about his writing process.

Whew well after the two-DNFs-in-a-row fiasco (I can count on one hand the number of books I’ve DNFed in my life, so that was a bad experience), I had to choose something I knew I’d love. Thank you Cat Sebastian, who’s never written something I haven’t adored. This is a sequel and we get to hang out with James and Leo again. I still love them, I still love the setting (post WWII), I love how queer the mystery is. I hope we get another book.

Then my copy of Nona The Ninth came, and I knew I’d be seeing spoilers since I was too lazy to block anything, so I read it. I...didn’t love it? There was stuff that I loved so so SO much, but then there was also stuff that I’m just predisposed to not like, which is a personal taste issue. I would have liked things to be a little clearer at the end. I appreciate that Muir doesn’t baby her readers and just tosses them into things, but I kept waiting for that moment where I Got It, as I did in Gideon and Harrow, and it never came. I know this book wasn’t planned as a separate book, and was split out from Alecto The Ninth, which is maybe part of the issue? That OH SHIT moment was maybe always in Alecto. But of course, even if I didn’t love the book, Muir’s writing is amazing. Read this for the Sixth House, if nothing else.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. It was a fun premise—kind of a queer Back to the Future. Unfortunately I found the main character incredibly obnoxious. The point of this book, I think, was to teach him that the world doesn’t revolve around him, and that also, being queer in 2022 is really different than being queer in 1985, and that people who lived through unaccepting or less accepting eras carry that baggage. Except I just continually wanted to smack him for accusing everyone of homophobia or being a coward. Also the author 100% copped out on the time travel stuff, which was lame.

I did love the 80s nostalgia though.

Currently reading:

The first thing I noticed when I cracked this book open was that Enfield, UK was included on the map. My wife is from Enfield, so that made me grin. I think she’s going to read this solely for the fact that it’s largely set in Enfield. I’m only about 100 pages in but I’m liking it so far—it’s an alternate history type book where clocktowers control the flow of time, and it centers on a young mechanic who meets a clock spirit. I enjoyed Tara Sim’s City of Dusk a lot, so I picked this one up after I read that.

Captive Prince Brainrot. Jord and Aimeric 😭😭 And I’m even having feelings about Ancel??? And Berenger? I’m totally reading these out of order, because I’m saving The Summer Palace for last.

#before we disappear #shaun david hutchinson #cloaked in shadow #ben alderson #renovated to death #frank anthony polito #the missing page #cat sebastian #nona the ninth #tamsyn muir #spin me right round #david valdes #timekeeper #tara sim #the summer palace #cs pacat #reading tag

[the-sky-the-stars-the-sea]

So, Newsies fans … I got a book recommendation for you.

Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson.

It’s sooooooooo good. And very gay.

It’s based in 1909 (so 10 years after the newsies’ strike) at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific World’s Fair Exposition. (Yes I thought you all would like it because it’s based in Newsies-ish Era and it’s gay haha)

The two main characters are both sixteen: Jack, a boy who was taken in by a woman who calls herself the Enchantress when he was younger, and works as her assistant and is a really good thief; and Wilhelm, a more reserved boy who was kidnapped by age four by a thief named Teddy, and tries to see the best in everyone—and has a special ability.

They meet because they’re at the Fair since both the Enchantress and Teddy have their own magic shows, and over time, Jack and Wilhelm fall in love, even with all the dangerous circumstances involved.

It’s such a good book that’s really well written. In my opinion, this romance should take Romeo and Juliet’s position as best love story in history. Their best friends are lesbians (who are very connected to the plot as well). The character development is amazing. And there are quotes that just made my heart melt like nothing else.

So please, read this book, and then come talk to me about it.

#Newsies #92sies #livesies #before we disappear #book recommendations #you will not regret reading this book

[hear-the-ocean]

Before We Disappear book review

Spoiler-y review of Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson

Summary (pulled from goodreads) :

The Prestige meets What If It’s Us in Before We Disappear, a queer ahistorical fantasy set during the 1909 Seattle Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition, where the two assistants of two ambitious magicians find themselves falling in love amidst a bitter rivalry designed to tear them apart.

Jack Nevin’s clever trickery and moral flexibility have served him well his entire life—making him the perfect assistant to the Enchantress, one of the most well-known stage magicians in early-twentieth-century Europe. Without Jack’s steady supply of stolen tricks and copycat sleight-of-hand illusions, the Enchantress’s fame would have burned out long ago—not that she would ever admit it.

But when they’re forced to flee the continent for America, the Enchantress finds a new audience in Seattle at the 1909 Alaska–Yukon–Pacific World’s Fair Exposition. She and Jack are set to make a fortune until a new magician arrives on the scene. Performing tricks that defy the imagination, Laszlo’s act threatens to overshadow the Enchantress and co-opt her audience. Jack has no choice but to hunt for the secrets behind Laszlo’s otherworldly illusions—but what he uncovers isn’t at all what he expected.

What makes Laszlo’s tricks possible is, unbelievably, a boy that can seemingly perform real magic. Wilhelm’s abilities defy all the laws of physics. His talents are no clever sleights-of-hand. But even though Laszlo and Wilhelm’s act threatens to destroy the life Jack and the Enchantress have built, Jack and Wilhelm have near-instant connection. As the rivalry between the Enchantress and Laszlo grows increasingly dangerous and dire, Jack finds he has to choose between the woman who gave him a life and the boy who is offering him love. It's a new star-crossed romance about the magic of first love from acclaimed author Shaun David Hutchinson.

Review:

This was an incredible adventure to read. Looking at the cover and thinking it was teen or at least YA, I was unprepared for how dark it got. Our main characters are both living in abusive relationships. The theme of abuse is a strong one and is quite heavy. I think it did a good job of showing different types of abuse and the victims' reactions to it.

There was also a theme of found family and figuring out what you want in your future, freedom, and finding a home in the person you love. Both our characters go through great arcs where they learn and grow. Watching them connect, protect, love, and understand each other was delightful with an undercurrent of unease because they are unsafe and in danger.

Honestly I didn't think it would end in anything but tragedy but I was glad to be wrong. Given how heavy and tense the story was, the ending went smoothly without any problems which I feel like was an opportunity missed. With a story like this, I think the last act should have also been tense, messy, and scary. But I guess given how much hell our characters went through, they at least deserved an easy end.

I spent the entire book terrified of them getting caught or getting hurt or any other horrible things and so I think it was expertly written. I felt all the emotions of the characters and thats why I was so on edge most of the time. It was super easy to just fly through the book, I think I read it in 2 sittings. The author is great at evoking emotion in readers which was true with this book and his other book I previously reviewed, We Are The Ants.

What I loved was that the concept of homophobia was completely taken out. Our main characters are 2 gay men and our side characters are 2 sapphic women, both who get together romantically. The author makes a note of it in the end acknowledgement that it's a fantasy because homophobia existed in real life of course but a fantasy gave him full control to get rid of it in his story. What was not gotten rid of was the period typical racism and sexism but I guess nothing can be perfect, humans and their bigotry will remain no matter what. Racism and sexism also played a role in the story so there was that as well.

The villains of the story were interesting. One was terrifying and the other charming and enchanting. Teddy, the terrifying one, was physically abusive and a monster, and there was no humanity in him. In that regard maybe he was a bit stereotypical and one dimensional but I know monsters like him exist. My only issue was a line towards the end that tried to humanize him by saying he was someone who's bad decisions made him a monster and implying he may have been good before but not once do we see him do one good or even a neutral deed so that line kinda fell flat.

The enchanting one, appropriately named The Enchantress, was emotionally abusive, narcissistic, and manipulative. Yet she had more to her character than Teddy. She felt real. There was a complexness to her. We do see her do some good and very much bad and it makes her a believable character and a great villain. I was less afraid of her than Teddy even though her cunning would definitely make her more dangerous, since you would never see her coming. Teddy was dumb but physically dangerous. When the novel starts, we are told that The Enchantress captivates everyone and easily makes them like her and I found that to be (annoyingly) true. You can't help but like her or be charmed by her even though you see how much of a horrible person she is. To me, she was the most interesting and the most complex character in the novel.

Overall I think I loved this novel more than We Are The Ants.

#book review #before we disappear #shaun david hutchinson #books and reading #bookblr #booklr #books #writing portfolio #my writing #my reviews #fantasy novel #lgbt #mlm books #wlw side romance #sapphic #diverse cast #disability rep #no homophobia

[thescarletheiress]

"I'm not a good person, Wil, but I want to help you if you'll let me."

- Jack Nevin

...so I've started Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson... and these characters own my whole heart 🥺💕

#before we disappear #shaun david hutchinson #jack nevin #wilhem #why is nobody talking about this #this book!!!!!! #it needs more hype #they are supposed to be rivals and have to meet in secret???

[illustration-alcove]

Valentina Remenar’s illustrated book cover for Shaun David Hutchinson’s Before We Disappear.

#shaun david hutchinson #before we disappear #book covers #american literature #valentina remenar

[laurensarah717]

FINISHED

omg I graduated. Holy shit.

I've spent the last week doing, obviously, worthwhile things.

... I've read 2 books, went to a concert, and watched all that Netflix had to offer when it comes to Young Royals, Heartstopper, and Never Have I Ever. Now I'm reading Before We Disappear and I am thriving. I forgot how intense and completely I could feel things. Pride is coming and I'm looking forward to celebrating for much longer than a month.

#before we disappear #heartstopper #young royals #never have i ever

[vlockenturm]

I can't make the darkness disappear but I can hold your hand so we won't get lost in it.

#light #darkness #before we disappear #helpful #fuck you

[polter-heist]

Dp x Dc prompt 7

(most likely a limital!amity park)

a feud between Amity Park residents and the Justice League but it's one sided.

any time an Amity Parker goes out of town and ends up in a location where the Justice League gets called or any member gets called, an Amity Parker Will Take Care Of It.

Amity Parkers have dropped-kicked Lex Luther, ganged up on the Joker, punted Mister Mind, and more.

The Justice League and Villains are desperately trying to find out What Their Problem Is for different reasons.

When confronted, the answers vary but a concerning consistency is "If our dead teenage superhero can take care of world-ending threats by himself, we can take care of the little things."

#this one isn't very good I'll admit but. it's special and fun. to me. #the JL probably didn't even *know* about amity #maybe cause of John labelling it as ''Don't Fucking Touch'' #it be really funny if this was how the JL learned about Amity #if we go the ''no mans land Amity'' route then it might be more interesting #also i firmly believe that two of those Amity residents were Sam and Jazz #Sam was at a gala held by the Waynes and one of the rogue gallery decided to fuck around and find out #and before any of the waynes could even disappear to suit up Sam just Went For The Kill #and Jazz? #We Don't Talk About What Jazz Did To The Joker #but anyways *throws this prompt into the void* have at it #polter prompts #dp x dc #dc x dp #dp x dc prompt #dc x dp prompt #dp x dc crossover #dc x dp crossover #danny phantom #amity park #amity park citizens #liminal!Amity Park

[razreads]

A dream of roast chicken can no more fill an empty belly than a dream of what will never be can fill an empty heart.

Shaun David Hutchinson, Before We Disappear

#razreads #book quote #before we disappear #shaun david hutchinson #dreams #illusions #reality #seize that tuesday #queue have a good day now

[dankzombiereviews]

Book thoughts: Before we Disappear

1.75 ✰

The romance is this book did NOT make up for all of its other shortcomings. The way that there was so much abuse from the authority figures that both of the boys were fine with??? Like they were saying "yeah it kinda sucks but whatever"? if you want to leave and have a means to leave, then leave! you literally have magic! and you're in love with guy and you hate it there but you don't want to go through with leaving?????? ik stockholm syndrome is real but it was driving me nuts

the plot was basic, the magic system wasn't terrible but wasn't really explained very well

#book review #before we disappear