As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

book review

“‘Til Darkness Falls” by Pearl Love

by

Genre: M/M Mystery Romance Length: Novel   THIS FANTASTIC mystery starts off in the historical past, with a prince falling in love with a slave in Ancient Egypt. The prince is forced into a marriage, and the soon-to-be princess is furious that the prince loves a slave, so she not only arranges the death of the slave, but curses them to misery for all eternity, compelling them to live their hopeless tale throughout the ages. The only caveat: she has to be there in every one of their incarnations to ensure their unhappiness, or she gets damned for all eternity. … Read more

“Song of the Navigator” by Astrid Amara

by

Genre: Gay Science Fiction Length: Novel TOVER IS one of Harmony Corporation’s best navigators. The cochlear implants they inserted in his brain are designed to help him hear minute spatial frequencies, so he can send shipments through interdimensional space with the vibrations of his voice. For his impressive work, he’s given everything he wants: fame, fortune, and an aviary full of exotic birds. Unfortunately, during another one of his many parties, Tover’s ripped away from his charmed life by a group of rebels, and forced to work against his own company. In the midst of an economic battle, Tover’s eyes … Read more

B. A. Brock’s Best Books of 2015

by

Best Books of 2015, in no particular order. They are novels I read in 2015, but weren’t necessarily published that year. Usually I try to do ten top books, but I couldn’t decide which one to leave out, so it’s eleven. Most are speculative fiction, because of my review work with QSF, but there are a few exceptions. Blue on Black by Carole Cummings Review: “Blue on Black” by Carole Cummings Channeling Morpheus by Jordan Castillo Price “Channeling Morpheus” by Jordan Castillo Price The Lightning-Struck Heart by T. J. Klune “The Lightning-Struck Heart” by T. J. Klune Zenith by Arshad … Read more

“Channeling Morpheus” by Jordan Castillo Price

by

Genre: Urban Paranormal M/M Romance Length: Novellas   CHANNELING MORPHEUS is a series of ten novellas. It focuses on a vampire hunter, Michael, and a vampire, Wild Bill, who fight to stay together. Sometimes the forces that pull at them are other vampires and humans, and sometimes it’s their own natures. Michael’s on a revenge mission to kill every bad vampire. And despite his love, sometimes Bill sleeps with one eye open, because he knows there are no bad or good vampires, or humans really–they’re all killers–and it’s only a matter of time before naive Michael comes to the same … Read more

“The Secret King: Lethao” by Dawn Chapman

by

THEIR SUN is dying, and Kendro, King of the Aonise, has to evacuate his people from their planet. With merely a handful of ships and resources, the Aonise take off into space, in search of a new home. A space opera, brimful of battles, futuristic technology, and an epic plot, The Secret King: Letháo is the beginning of a beautiful saga. There are plenty of wonderful things to say about this novel, but for me, the world-building of the Anoise was the most interesting. We get tantalizing tidbits of their biology and psychology throughout the novel, and the following is … Read more

“Becoming Omega” by Wolf Specter, and “Top Dog MPREG” by Angel Knots

by

Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance Length: Novellas I have a guilty pleasure—mpreg. Believe me, I know the psychological implications of being interested in this sort of kink, and I’d probably agree with most of what would apply to me, but that doesn’t change the fact that I love it. I’m sure everyone knows what mpreg is at this point, but for those that don’t, mpreg is male impregnation… and I can’t even say it’s fantasy, because there are actually dudes who get pregnant these days. However, in most mpreg, there’s an element of fantasy, and because it’s also a kink, there … Read more

“Meatworks” by Jordan Castillo Price

by

Genre: MM Urban Science Fiction Length: Novel THE CHARACTERIZATION of Desmond Poole in Meatworks by Jordan Castillo Price is some of the best protagonist work I’ve seen in a while. Desmond Poole is a punk, a drunk, and a dirty asshole. He’s disabled and living off the government (though not well), and his ex, Jim, is his social worker. At this point the faint of heart should probably put the book down. It’s not the rest of our problems if you thought you liked it gritty but then realized that you were a pansy. If you do stick with it, … Read more

Review: “Zenith” by Arshad Ahsanuddin

by

Genre: Bisexual Science Fiction Length: Novel   COMMANDER MARTIN Atkins of the Confederation Navy is grounded after an Earth orbit rescue attempt goes bad. As he’s sitting around, cooling his heels, he’s approached by a civilian entrepreneur about a secret mission to create a starship, and travel to Alpha Centauri. Who could say no to that? Certainly not a pilot and explorer like Atkins. Edward Harlen and his sister have their own reasons for joining the project, but as the days get closer to launch, everyone begins to wonder about the super siblings’ motives. The lines are drawn when people … Read more

Review: “Burning Intuition” by Makenzi Fisk

by

Genre: Lesbian Paranormal Mystery/Thriller Length: Novel   MINNESOTAN POLICE officer, Erin Ericsson, travels to Canada to catch a criminal that fell through US cracks. Lily is a killer who is just getting started in her killing career—she’s only a teenager. Besides her trusty knife, the same one she stole from her dead mother who died of suspicious circumstances, Lily uses fire to wreck havoc, and instill terror in her victims. No one is safe. Not Erin or Erin’s loved ones. Not her own family. Not even her friends, including the girl she meets in school, and her family. She’s a … Read more

Review: “The MCB Quarterly” by MacLeod, Sparks, Dair, Collins, Coatsworth, and Ander

by

Genre: LGBTQ+ Literary Magazine Length: Anthology   A GREAT anthology, and the first volume of what I expect will be a successful quarterly magazine. The magazine features short LGBTQ+ works, and within that category, the genres are limitless. In this issue there was horror, literary fiction, humor, drama, and so much more. There was even art in the form of book covers, and interviews—something for everyone. I would like to review a few of the highlights of this anthology, and Fascimilie by Mina MacLeod was one of the stories that stood out for me. Great writing and a truly haunting. … Read more