Books and comics read in January 2021
Sunday, 7 February 2021 13:11![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
usuallyhatsGirl, Serpent, Thorn - Melissa Bashardoust
The Secret Journal of Beatrice Hassi Barahal - Kate Elliott
Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Two
Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Three
The Once and Future Witches - Alix E Harrow
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain - Nghi Vo
Storm of Locusts - Rebecca Roanhorse
The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution - Deborah Harkness
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong
The Inconvenient God - Francesca Forrest
Common Bonds: An Aromantic Speculative Anthology - ed Claudie Arseneault
Black Sun - Rebecca Roanhorse
Miranda in Milan - Katharine Duckett
Bitch Planet: Extraordinary Machine
Alice Payne Arrives - Kate Heartfield
Alice Payne Rides - Kate Heartfield
The Once and Future Witches
I tend not to like witch books as much as I think I'm going to, but I really enjoyed this book about three witch sisters in late 19th century America bringing ancient power back to the world. The worldbuilding was great and the characters were really well developed, and I liked that it didn't underestimate the complexity of the situation: it's not just the case that everything can suddenly be made OK. Old established power structures aren't overturned that easily, but they can be resisted.
I don't think it entirely avoided the whiff of gender binary nonsense that often comes with stories about ~women's magic, but it made a solid attempt and I respect what it managed to do.
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain
Nghi Vo's previous novella didn't quite work for me as much as I wanted it to, but this one was an absolute gem: the story was exactly the right size for the form, not a word was wasted, and it was witty, rich and had plenty to say. Highly recommended and definitely going on my Hugo ballot.
The Secret Journal of Beatrice Hassi Barahal - Kate Elliott
Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Two
Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part Three
The Once and Future Witches - Alix E Harrow
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain - Nghi Vo
Storm of Locusts - Rebecca Roanhorse
The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution - Deborah Harkness
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong
The Inconvenient God - Francesca Forrest
Common Bonds: An Aromantic Speculative Anthology - ed Claudie Arseneault
Black Sun - Rebecca Roanhorse
Miranda in Milan - Katharine Duckett
Bitch Planet: Extraordinary Machine
Alice Payne Arrives - Kate Heartfield
Alice Payne Rides - Kate Heartfield
The Once and Future Witches
I tend not to like witch books as much as I think I'm going to, but I really enjoyed this book about three witch sisters in late 19th century America bringing ancient power back to the world. The worldbuilding was great and the characters were really well developed, and I liked that it didn't underestimate the complexity of the situation: it's not just the case that everything can suddenly be made OK. Old established power structures aren't overturned that easily, but they can be resisted.
I don't think it entirely avoided the whiff of gender binary nonsense that often comes with stories about ~women's magic, but it made a solid attempt and I respect what it managed to do.
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain
Nghi Vo's previous novella didn't quite work for me as much as I wanted it to, but this one was an absolute gem: the story was exactly the right size for the form, not a word was wasted, and it was witty, rich and had plenty to say. Highly recommended and definitely going on my Hugo ballot.