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Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume Two
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A fantastic collection of fairy stories retelling some of the childhood favourites from an LGBTQIA+ pov. The style chosen to write these stories in may not be for everyone but I for one enjoyed their content and their filling of a gap in the inclusiveness of literature generally. As a beginning piece in providing reading material for all, this is a definite plus, but it is also something that needs working on and improving, those coming after will surely be able to improve.
  
Wynonna Earp  - Season 1
Wynonna Earp - Season 1
2016 | Sci-Fi
10
8.9 (8 Ratings)
Storyline (4 more)
Acting
Characters Development
Reference to History
LGBTQIA+ Inclusion
Wynonna Earp - Season 1
Wynonna Earp - Season 1 is highly recommended ✔️

Throughout the first Season of Wynonna Earp, we are able to gain an extensive insight into the lives of Waverley and Wynonna Earp; sisters. They are cursed and teach us of the importance of family, but also of following yourself independently.

Emily Andras has beautifully captured a storyline that will follow Wynonna and Waverley for many more seasons. Despite being siblings, their upbringings and characteristics are vastly different which permit an addictive dynamic.

The LGBTQIA+ inclusion is a thing that is uncomparable to anything else that has been broadcasted on such a significant platform. We are able to follow Waverleys discovery of her own identity, and understand the significance of self acceptance.

In regards to the storyline itself, and the correspondence between Western History, Wynonna Earp references the lives of the notorious Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.

To conclude, Wynonna Earp - Season 1 and its consequential seasons are highly recommended, the storyline, historical reference and chemistry between the cast makes this series unmissable.
  
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alex (68 KP) rated Release in Books

Jul 16, 2017  
Release
Release
Patrick Ness | 2017 | Children
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Great plot (2 more)
split narrative to give it some spice
LGBQTIA+ representation
Very simple concept (for the main narrative) BUT well executed (0 more)
Love, heartbreak and a meth addiction.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Similar to his earlier book 'The Rest of Us Just Live Here', Patrick Ness switches betweens a main narrative and a parallel narrative within the same world, with an unexpected cross between the two at the end. I brought this book and finished it the day after, an easy read but one full of very real characters battling with homophobia and the inevitability of growing up and change. With this book I only hope more diverse LGBTQIA+ representation occurs throughout literature.
  
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Dracoria Malfoy (690 KP) is asking for a recommendation

Jul 22, 2017  
Recommend Me
Ay sup peeps! I'm here in India, ridiculously bored, and I need some good YA novels to read. Also, I don't want boks about "Miss Slightly Popular and Her Crush that Obviously Likes Her but for Some God-Forsaken Reason She Doesn't Know" NO. I need books about LGBTQIA+ characters. Characters who break stereotypes. Characters from different religions. I don't care about their gender. I don't care about the genre (Unless it's mystery. I cannot stand mystery.) Please. I need some good books.

Also, I'm pretty well-read, s give me books you don't think I've heard of. Or John Green. I'm always ready to cry. Always. (HP REFERENCES FTW)
     
Radio Silence
Radio Silence
Alice Oseman | 2017 | Young Adult (YA)
8
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Minority Representation, fun formatting (0 more)
Great LGBTQIA representation in a YA novel
Representation MATTERS. Don’t let anyone tell you different. The two main characters in this book are GLBT – and asexual, which is a rarely-seen demographic. One of them is a WOC! And that’s IMPORTANT. We need representation of minorities in books, movies, TV, media – wherever it can be seen. So all those kids growing up, thinking they’re weird, or the odd ones out, or broken, can see themselves on the screen and realize that other people are going through the same things. That it’s NORMAL.

I also love the different formatting the author uses when representing texts, or phone calls, or the podcast that the kids create.



Read my full review at https://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com/2017/08/26/book-review-radio-silence/
  
They Both Die At The End
They Both Die At The End
Adam Silvera | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (22 Ratings)
Book Rating
Good characters both the main and side.. (1 more)
Good themes that make you think about them long after the end.
'Insta-love' but I'll forgive it in this sense. (1 more)
The title isnt wrong :'(
Death-Cast was a clever idea but I'm glad it's not real
Gosh I'm trying to figure out what to say about this book. It's LGBTQIA+ Friendly which is a big plus for me (I want to find that more in literature.) Adam Silvera has a way of writing that I like, I want to check out more he's written. I am not a big fan of 'insta-love' but it was ok in this instance.
I like books that make you think about them and wonder about your own existence. I liked the themes of how interconnected humanity is. I'm glad death-cast isnt real, but it was a clever idea. I didnt expect that much going into it because I dont read a lot of young adult novels, I was pleasantly surprised.
  
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Merissa (11646 KP) created a post

Feb 20, 2023  
THE HONESTY OF TIGERS by David Bridger

Living his life again. Same person, same fishing village, same years. But this time the world shows him a different face.

Ken Jackson builds traditional boats in a small Cornish fishing town, where everyone might not have heard everything about everyone else, but if they haven't, it isn't for the want of listening. Which complicates matters for Ken, because he has a secret: he's living his life all over again.

It sounds like a dream come true. He's got the chance to make things right for his loved ones, and to avoid all his old regrets. But the past is never that simple. Ken's second life opens his eyes to different sides of people and places, and what's a man to do when his hopes and dreams and carefully laid plans are ripped apart?

 #WitchLit
 #Fantasy
 #LGBTQIA+
 #Romance and
 #Relationships

https://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/?n1=publications&id=383&fbclid=IwAR32m_OEV3t24jhpHabbJEYZRSLYkqzgMAeZcm7eTKDCTaFDWvZIz5XEcgM
     
Rent: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical
Rent: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical
Jonathan Larson | 1996 | LGBTQ+, Music & Dance
4
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
AIDs Representation (1 more)
LGBTQIA+ Representation
Hated All The Characters (0 more)
Great Representation, Horrible Characters
I have never seen the musical Rent nor have I ever seen the movie (though I heard it is not as good and different from the musical). Therefore, my rating is based solely on this book and because of that, I may not be able to understand or enjoy it as much as I would have if I had watched the movie or musical first.

First off, I loved that the book (or rather, musical) was set during the AIDS crisis and showed LGBTQIA+ representation. I think that is fantastic because (a.) we are lacking in our current day representation of LGBTQIA+ characters (though, we are slowly beginning to have this become the norm.) and (b.) the AIDS crisis was not a good time in history. The American government was not doing much to help with this crisis and seemed to sort of sweep it aside. Now, I was not alive during the beginning of this crisis and therefore have learned from sources and not with my own experiences, but not much was being done and this was mostly because this was originally considered a “gay disease” and, sadly, people in the past have not treated the LGBTQIA+ community with the respect they deserve. Instead, because this was considered a “gay disease” it was considered unimportant and therefore the AIDS epidemic was ignored. Luckily, today we have better people who are trying their best to find a cure.

Second, while I extremely enjoyed the representation and awareness this book (or musical) brought I did not enjoy most of the characters. While I do believe that characters should have flaws (after all no one is perfect and that is part of what make us human) I did not appreciate the way the characters in the book seemed to make excuses. Especially the fact that they used others difficulties to try and better themselves. Not to mention, most of the characters seemed to accentuate their poorness and use it as a way to better themselves. One scene that really got to me was when Mark was starting to film a homeless person. He did save them from the police but even they said “My life’s not for you to make a name for yourself on” and “Hey artist you gotta dollar? I thought not,” (Pg.38). It literally stated that these people who claim themselves to be “artists” use this as an excuse to exploit others.

Another huge part of what I did not appreciate about this book would be the harmful relationship that most of the characters seem to be in. Most of these relationships seemed too toxic and seemed to revolve around awful and sometimes disgusting circumstances.

Maureen (Cheater) + Joanne = 💔

Maureen and Joanne were repeatedly arguing, breaking it off, then getting back together. Now, that alone already seems like it’s not a healthy foundation for any relationship but then we find out that Maureen is a HUGE cheater. Mark himself told Joanne that she used to cheat on him when they were together and even had a bit of evidence that she was doing it again.

Roger (Past Drug Addict) + Mimi (Drug User) = 💔

Now, Roger is one of the many characters in this musical to have AIDS and because he is a past drug user we can infer that he got AIDS from drugs, or from his ex-girlfriend. Anyway, his goal before he dies from AIDS is to write one last song so that his life could mean something. To make sure that his life was worth it (to have glory), and I actually admire him for that. Lots of people would give up and I think it’s amazing that he wants to continue to try to make his life worth living. However, Mimi comes in and started to spark a flame (or light a candle) with Roger. There’s just one problem. Mimi is a drug user. Plus, it seems like she is trying to get Roger to get back on drugs. Definitely not something a healthy and loving relationship would have.

Benny (At least 30yrs.) + Mimi (Younger than 19) = 💔

Now, this has to be the most disgusting relationship in the book. While I don’t mind couples having age differences I am one-hundred percent NOT behind underage people dating men who are at least thirty, if not forty, years old. This was revealed when we got told that Mimi use to date Benny before she met Roger. Mimi was nineteen when she met Roger and if she had a prior relationship with Benny she was most likely eighteen or under.

Finally, I wasn’t very happy with the ending of the book. Mimi’s sort-of “death” scene just wasn’t my thing. It seemed to be that the situation as a whole seemed too excessive. She was dead, then she was back, then she was dead again, and she managed to come back because Angel told her too. While Mimi is a main character and main character deaths are extremely sad this story was supposed to make people more aware of AIDS and it just seemed to be too fanciful for me. This is an extremely deadly disease and just because someone told you that it was not your time to die yet does not mean that you are not going to yet pass. However, this is fiction and this does happen.

Would I Recommend? No. I really enjoyed the representation this showed within the LGBTQIA+ community and the awareness it would bring to people about the AIDS crisis, but I thought the story itself was bad. The characters, in my opinion, were not written well and I especially did not enjoy their actions or choices.
  
The Dead and the Dark
The Dead and the Dark
Courtney Gould | 2021 | Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Captivating look at the supernatural and the pull of family
In Snakebite, Oregon, teenagers keep disappearing or turning up dead. Things just seem off. The locals blame Brandon and Alejo Ortiz-Woodley, two former Snakebite residents who are back in town. They now host a popular ghost hunting show and travel the country with their daughter Logan. Wanting to clear the family name, Logan winds up joining forces with Ashley Barton, whose boyfriend was the first to go missing. Ashley is sure she can feel his presence guiding her around Snakebite. But as the two team up, they discover some pretty terrifying and dangerous things about Snakebite.

I loved this book so much. Sometimes it feels like I read similar books over and over. Not this time. Gould’s book is original and spellbinding. This is such a dark and ominous read. Gould truly brings you into Snakebite, the supernatural, creepy, and quite unwelcoming small town. It’s atmospheric and spooky. I could not put this book down!

DARK is filled with LGBTQIA representation, between Logan’s dads, the fact that she’s an out lesbian, and her own burgeoning friendship (and more) with Ashley. I loved everything about all of it.

This book is part horror story, part exploration of the meaning and depths of darkness, and part look at family dynamics. It’s an extremely well written ghost story with a sapphic love interest. It really doesn’t get much better than that! (It’s so good, read it—and it’s a debut!)

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
  
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Merissa (11646 KP) created a post

Apr 7, 2021  
Look it!
The cover for Blood Pact with City Owl Press is Revealed.
This is the latest in Courtney Maguire's Youkai Bloodlines Series, a.k.a., gay Japanese vampires. *wiggles eyebrows* You know you want it.
 
About the Book:
In Hiro’s world, youkai are a supernatural story used to scare children into obedience, and to keep men out of back alleys and brothels. Until Sakurai Hideyoshi walks through his door with a fantastical tale of a samurai who had killed a thousand men and drank the blood of his enemies, a man that lived in darkness but sought beauty to keep it at bay.

A story both terrifying and romantic…and completely ridiculous.

Unless it is true.

Convinced something softer lurks behind Hideyoshi’s hard mask, Hiro follows him home. And discovers the story is real.

Only instead of the blood of his enemies, it is innocent blood taken.

Hideyoshi tells him never to return. Yet after Hiro’s mother is mortally wounded, Hiro runs back to the one being he knows with the power to save her. When Hideyoshi can’t, Hiro begs him for the next best thing: the power to avenge her.

As Hiro becomes youkai, he faces a new threat, something darker, older, and far more dangerous. With Hideyoshi at his side, Hiro must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice--and what he’s willing to do--to protect this new life before he loses everything for a second time.

If you like Bella Forrest, P. C. Cast, AJ Tipton, or Anne Rice, you will love this beautiful dark paranormal fantasy romance.

Publisher: City Owl Press (May 4, 2021)
Releases on: May 4, 2021
Genre: LGBTQIA Dark Historical Paranormal Romance
Language: English
ASIN: B091V1P3FT
ISBN: 9781648980831

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://mybook.to/BloodPact
B&N: https://smarturl.it/Youkai2BN
Kobo: https://smarturl.it/Youkai2Kobo
City Owl: https://smarturl.it/Youkai2CO
Add it on Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/3b3jec53