Week 34

I’m branching out, a little, maybe. I’m going to start trying to include more of the books I read, even if they’re not “serious” reads, because seriously, who gives a flying fuck about that?

This week: Across The Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire; The Henchmen of Zenda by K.J. Charles

#52) ACROSS THE GREEN GRASS FIELDS by Seanan McGuire

It’s really no secret that I love Seanan McGuire’s writing, and her Wayward Children series especially.

This book I would say is a strong offering. It doesn’t advance the main plot in any way, and has a slight disadvantage in that it introduces a brand new character, but in my opinion it quickly overcomes those elements.

I’m writing this review actually quite a few days (maybe over a week?) after finishing this book, and that’s interesting, because I find myself thinking back with exceeding fondness to the characters and the world. Regan, our protagonist, is an intersex girl who has never quite fit in with our world’s understanding of gender. When she ends up in the magical Hooflands, she is able to begin a new life, filled with both danger and excitement.

I don’t even particularly care about horses (I, unlike Regan, was not a “horse girl”), but I found myself pretty easily sinking into this story and enjoying the Hooflands. I got caught up in the magic and the danger of the world, and liked unravelling the aspects as the story got going. As it ended, too, I felt the unfairness of (mild spoiler) Regan having to return to the world of her birth.

If I had one criticism, it would be that the novella-length is a little limiting to the scope of what this book is doing. I found the depiction of prejudice between the various subtypes in the Hooflands to be interesting, and I wish it had gotten more time to fully develop. My favourite characters were the two she meets near the end, and I would have liked more time to be spent with them.

All in all, though, a good addition to the series!

#53) THE HENCHMEN OF ZENDA by K.J. Charles

So, I have never read the Prisoner of Zenda, nor seen any of the movies depicting the story. In fact, I didn’t really have any concept that it existed before I picked this up.

Regardless, I really enjoyed it! I found the story pretty easy to follow without having the background knowledge, and I feel like I still got to appreciate the twisting of a traditional narrative.

Like, even if I’ve never read the original, I still appreciate that the author took it and made it gay (and also more critical of the hero).

If that sounds like the kind of thing you’d be down for, you’ll probably enjoy this book! Very similar to reading types of fan fiction that I enjoy, if that’s a selling point. I also have to hand it to this book for a) having a really interesting female character at the centre and b) having its main couple be casually non-monogamous.