Category: LGBTQ

51miBYV+mkL

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Posted on by Michelle Huss
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4.5 Stars (4.5 / 5)

Guide Series #1
What a delightful novel this turned out to be! Having caught some preview chapters prior to the book’s release, I knew that The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue would be a fun and flirty romp through 18th century Europe. What I didn’t expect, was the deep and meaningful issues that it would address: the stigma and persecution of homosexuals, the strong prejudice against black and biracial individuals, and the restricted roles of women in society.

Monty is a young lord, set to inherit a dukedom, with a proclivity for members of both sexes, in a time when sodomy was not only considered sinful, but was illegal and could land you arrested or worse. Percy is the biracial son of a gentleman, raised in polite society but never fully accepted by it. And Felicity is a bright young woman in a man’s world, interested in medicine in a time where a woman’s role was limited to embroidery, entertaining, and childbearing. All three feel a need to quietly rebel (or in the case of Monty, loudly and overtly rebel) against the lot given to them. And through it all they are thrust into an high-stakes adventure through regency Europe.

This is a story about not fitting the mold, and finding your place in the world. It’s about challenging expectations and dealing with the fallout. And it’s about being who you are, despite what the world may think of you. I truly adored this book, and I recommend it for anyone who appreciates the challenges that come with being different.

51miBYV+mkL

Romancing the Werewolf by Gail Carriger

Posted on by Michelle Huss
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4 Stars (4 / 5)

Supernatural Society #2 (Parasolverse)
I always have a hard time reviewing Novellas. The stories always feel too short and leave me generally unsatisfied. While I wish Romancing the Werewolf were longer, it did exactly what I wanted it to do: brought us the reunion of Lyall and Biffy from the Parasol Protectorate Series, something that fans have been waiting for for a long time. If you haven’t already read the Parasol Protectorate, this story will not hold the same meaning to you as it does to the rest of us. It was great to finally see these character’s get there happy ending. It was sweet and endearing and I loved every moment of it. I just wish there could have been more!

Carriger’s trademark wit and humor abounded in Romancing the Werewolf. I particularly enjoyed getting to look at werewolf dynamics through the eyes of an Alpha, if a new and somewhat odd one. Set at christmastime, it was a great quick read for the holidays.

51miBYV+mkL

The Summage Solution by G. L. Carriger

Posted on by Michelle Huss
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4 Stars (4 / 5)

San Andreas Shifters #1
I’m not quite sure where to start with this book. What starts off as a pretty sexy romance that’s flirty and fun (without seeming to be much else), morphs into a heartwarming and deep story about learning to love yourself and finding comfort in the love of others. Having read Carriger’s other work (published as Gail Carriger), I was a little surprised at how plot light the beginning of the novel seemed. I had resigned myself that this would be a cute and fun romance with little substance, but was surprised to see my expectations suddenly shattered about two-thirds of the way through the book. Suddenly, I started to see the world building that was meticulously threaded throughout the novel and how it was coming together. I was amazed (and a little horrified) at the plot line that threaded this series with her previous works (they initially seem essentially unconnected).

I really enjoyed the new mythology created for this series. Its new and interesting, and I love the way that it all came together. The dialogue was witty and crass, and I loved that! With most of Carriger’s work set historically, it was a nice change to have a more modern attitude and language (cursing abounds). I don’t think you will be hit with the full impact of the world building unless you have read her other work, but you’ll enjoy it just the same.

It should be noted that The Summage Solution is not for everyone. At its heart, this book is a paranormal gay romance, and quite a sexually explicit one at that. But if you’re okay with that, you’ll find a story that’s beautiful and heartwarming. A story of love and acceptance; growth and change.