Hello, Limerence: An Explicit, Beautiful Trainwreck

 

Author: Momo Yamaguchi

Genre: Humor and satire, queer fiction, POC Literature, romance (?), Japanese literature, adult fiction

Publisher: Mariner Books

Format: Ebook (NetGalley Copy)

Release Date: August 18th, 2026 

TW: violent fantasies (including murder, and shoving things up orifices) sexual assault, rape, death of a family member, isolation (pandemic related), homophobia (slight)

When the blurb compared this to Fleabag, they weren't kidding.  A ridiculous and relatable romp, Hello Limerence isn't for everyone, but for the ones who click with it, they'll love it. 

But first, the plot:  Mika is a 25 year old salarywoman in Tokyo Japan.Stuck in a dead end job, she seeks escape in romance and sex, desperate to lose her virginity. When she meets Tyler, a Japanese American expat, and another man, she does proceed to lose her virginity, but that isn't enough. Obsessed, or experiencing limerence if you prefer, she spirals when Tyler doesn't reciprocate her feelings. Together with her best friend Mika, she tries to navigate her 20's in modern Tokyo, even through a pandemic and a really shitty boss, which she murders in elaborate fantasies. Can Mika find true love, or will she be in limerence for the rest of her life?

The best part of the book was main character, Mika. She is an incredibly relatable 20 something, self-obsessed and chronically online, trying to find herself in our world. This novel is written in first person POV, so readers are in her head the entire time, and are privy to her wild and vivid revenge fantasies, and every sordid detail of her lust driven insanity. As a former 25 something, she's painfully realistic, including the chronically online obsession with social media and her need to find her true self. I also appreciate her perspective as a Japanese woman and her critiques of Western imperialism and her own culture. She's a mess, but a mess with potential past the solipsism.  (I also resonated hard with her jobless status later in the novel.) I love the messy queer representation as well; but to go into that would be spoilers, so I will not. 

I also like the tone. Mika's perspective is a roller coaster ride, one minute she'll be calling herself a 'loyal ho,' and the next minute she'll be mourning the death of a family member. Her sardonic tone can be a bit much sometimes, but I enjoyed it. I especially loved the fantasies, which were patenly hilariious and insane. 

The setting is a bit less vivid; I never forgot that we were in Tokyo but a large chunk of the later  parts of the book takes place in her apartment because of a (satirical) COVID-like pandemic. I wish that the setting was fleshed out more, but I understand why it wasn't. 

Hello, Limerence is a graphic and raunchy read, which isn't for everyone. Be prepared to read about close examinations of the body, and also to read gory fantasies against misogynists. However, if you can move past these roadblocks you will get a raw character portrait of a complex and morally grey character. 

Final rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded up to 4)  

Drink paring: Darjeeling, for the darkness and floral bite 

 

A Fate Worse Than Drowning: A Tight, Terrific Novel

 

Author: A Fate Worse Than Drowning

Genre: Horror, Historical Fiction, Queer Fiction, Gothic Horror

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Format: Ebook (NetGalley Copy)

Release Date: July 21st, 2026

TW: torture (on page), sexual assault (on page), murder (on page), misogyny (both period typical and modern), death, spousal abuse, gore, mention of slavery (allusion to)

Give me a book with either: sacred cannibalism, deals/living with an extra-planar entity , tea and queerness. This book has two of the three, and I predictably wanted to drown in this book. What a gripping reading experience.

But first, the plot. in 1809, Elle (Mary Eleanor) and her sister Liney (Caroline) live alone on a desolate bit of land called the Devil's Island, in the Halifax harbor. New arrivals, they've run from two dead parents and a man who is after their fortune. On the island, after killing the previous lighthouse keeper, Elle tends to the lighthouse, which guides sailors away from their watery graves. Or, at least that's what she tells her sister she's doing. In reality, instead of saving sailors, Elle is tasked with using the demonic powers given to her from a deal with the devil to sacrifice souls. Which, is rather easy, when there are choppy seas and deep caverns. Elle must do this, to keep her sister and herself safe, or the devil may come after her sister next. Liney dreams of a wider world. Sickly her whole life from childhood asthma, she sits caged; first with her family (forced to marry a man when she loves women), and then with her beloved sister. Elle will do anything to protect her, except let her go. The fragile peace of this island is interrupted when the devil demands an increase in souls, and a beautiful woman washes up on shore. Now, will Elle sacrifice this girl, and take away the only person that Liney truly loves? 

The characters are one thing that made this story for me. Elle and Liney are such realistic siblings, and their bond is a major motivator and draw. I believed that they were siblings. You also get to see both of their POVs, as this book is first person with dual perspectives, and their personalities really shine through. Elle is intense and driven, but also suffocating, whereas Liney is at first, relatively passive, but extremely curious and capable when she allows herself to be. I also love the side characters; Douglas and Bridget especially, but due to spoiler reasons, I'll not mention them further.

The characters are amazing, but what really made this book for me was it's tight prose and plotting. Every twist and caveat was foreshadowed, and make me go 'oh, that's clever' multiple times. Expository dialog and prose was natural and easy to read. The prose is also vivid enough, especially with sensory descriptions, that I could taste things like the hibiscus tea and smell the dying fish. I also appreciate American slavery being mentioned aas a terrible force of supernatural evil, but I wish there was POC rep; but I understand why there wasn't.

There is a romance in this book, but the scenes stop at kissing and fade to black; the romantic relationships add to the story and the characters, but romance isn't the end all be all. This book is  about queerness and sisterly love and the urge to destroy those who've wronged you; about the seductive temptation of power and the suffering it brings. Mind the trigger warnings; and you'll have a wonderful read with a bittersweet ending. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Final Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Drink Paring: Dark heavy roasted da hong pao for the dark seas, or hibiscus tea for deals with the devil

The Secret Courtesan: A Basic But Fun Feminist Tale

 

 

 

 

Author: Kerry Chaput

Genre: Fiction, historical fiction, feminist literature, magical realism (slight) romance elements

Publisher: She Writes Press

Format: Ebook (NetGalley Copy)

Release Date: February 10th, 2026

TW: torture (on page), sexual assault (attempted and on page), murder (on page), misogyny (both period typical and modern), death, stalking/surveliance

The Secret Courtesan was above all else, a timely but still fun read. 

But first the plot: Mia Harding, an Art historian, is having an ethical crisis. She's been told to authenticate a statue dredged from the depths of a Venetian canal, or face career destruction. The sculpture is of a woman in climax, and as the foremost expert in  Italian women's history in art , this should be a simple affair. Say that this male artist, was the author of the sculpture, and be set for life. However, Mia is sure that there's something about this statue that would rock the art world, and refuses. However, this is only half of the story. 

The second POV of this book concerns Sofia, a Venetian courtesan in the Renaissance with an artist's talent and soul. When Sofia's  patron sells her contract, she has to rekindle a man's darkness, and make him paint. Will she be able to stay true to her own soul?

I am of two minds about this book. Mia's story wasn't really impactful. I suppose that is because she did a really dumb thing that seems to be the only reason why she's truly scared of her boss. Her character felt real in that she experienced all too real sexism, but that's all that she left me with. Her romance with her male colleague, a history professor who desperately wanted to hear her out, left me similarly cold. Also, the ending to her story felt too convenient near the end, even if the ending was neat enough. 

I was here for Sofia's story. Venice as it was in the 1600's was fascinating and was described with suck vivid colour by our courtesan artist. Her story felt so much more real, and visceral. I felt her sadness and rage at not being able to practice her art. I felt the weight of those beautiful gowns trapping her. I read this for her story, and was glad to do so. She stuck with me whereas Mia's character fell flat. 

All in all, this novel was worth the read, especially if you like  historical fiction. Just be mindful that a portion of the book might not be to everyone's tastes.

 Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the ARC! 

Final Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded to 4) 

Drink Paring: Qimen black tea for the dark Venice canals 

Hemlock: Wild Women and Family Trauma

 

Author:  Melissa Faliveno

Genre: LGBTQ+, Fantasy, Adult, Horror, Fiction, Gothic Horror

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Format: Ebook (NetGalley Copy)

Release Date: January 20, 2026

TW: Animal death (on page), suicidal ideation (on page) cheating, homophobia, alcoholism, gore (on page), addiction (alcoholism), discussions of religion that may be triggering

I was very affected by this book, and it will stick with me for a long time. (And there's more devouring, yay!)

But first, the plot: Sam, recently unemployed and living in NYC, is trying to start the next chapter of her life. Recently sober, she returns to Hemlock, her family's cabin in the wilds of northern Illinois. She is determined to fix it up, sell it and give the money to her father, and move on. She hasn't been back since her mother disappeared, and that unresolved trauma isn't the only thing that's followed her to these woods. Will she be swallowed by her addictions? Or perhaps turn into something else, something more monstrous?

The prose was the standout of the book. However, the characters were almost as strong, and I am so glad I got to follow them throughout this journey. Sam is a broken, complex, morally grey woman. She is also an unreliable narrator; which heightens the tightrope tension of her growth. I love how distinctive her voice is, even through third person limited. Sam is a character you can see in front of you, a real person with flaws and darker parts of her personality.There were a few times during the novel that I was screaming at her to try something different, or for her not to do what she was doing. Her family were unspoken characters, notable in their absence, and that reflected on Sam too. 

I enjoyed and appreciated the realistic queer and indigenous rep (although as I am a white cis woman, I encourage you to read critiques from reviewers of those groups). The queerness also extends into the sex scene that happens later in the book, which was unsettling to read but also good to read, for me. This is not a romance; this scene is pivotal but not in a romance way. The scene and Sam's nonbinary-ness do play a huge part in the book's themes, and it well woven into everything else. 

The supporting characters were great too, with particular mention towards Lou Ann and Stephen, but for spoiler reasons, I wont go into them.

The imagery of the novel is the true standout. The language really sold the isolation and darkness (both metaphorical and physical) of the Northwoods. When the imagery turned into darkness and horror, it was a natural thing, like the sun setting. There are certain scenes that will stick with me forever because of that. (The truck scene in particular)

Mind the trigger warnings, please. But if you're looking for a harrowing meditation on addiction, religion, family and queerness set in the middle of nowhere, with scenes that stick, this book is for you. It definitely was for me. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!  

Final Score: 4 of 5 stars

Drink Paring: Green hojicha, for the leaves of the forest, and a slight dark smokiness

 

 

The Blackstone Chair: Extremely Gory and Creepy Fantasy

 

Author:  Waqas Khan

Genre: Fantasy, Adult, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Grimdark (the protagonist can't change the system, and the setting tends towards darkness)

Publisher: Victory Editing Co-op

Format: Ebook (NetGalley Copy)

Release Date: January 24, 2026

TW: gore, body horror (grafting of body parts onto skin), torture (broken bones, jabbing with hot pokers), rape and sexual assault (threatened), cheating, slight homophobia (alluded to), murder, animal death (undead rat), sexism/misogyny, child death (flashback, on page), pregnancy, birth

The Blackstone Chair is a book about horrible people trying to avoid a horrible fate. It was a difficult read for me. I still really liked parts of it, however and think it might be worth someone’s time.

But first the plot. Ciaran Ryker is the Darkling Prince, heir to the Blackstone Chair. he lives in the lap of luxury and is about to be married to a noble and powerful woman. There’s just one problem. Ryker does not want to be the heir;  as the heir is the next person in line to die feeding the Blackstone Chair. The King’s life force gets sucked out to grow darkroot; the plant that makes necromancy possible, and therefore enables the Ryker family to stay in power. Ciaran is said to have a while before he perishes, but when that turns out not to be true, Ciaran, his uncle Romney and his squire Martigan flee together for one last desperate meeting with the deposed kings of the tundra like south.   

First off, all of the Rykers are bastards, and that includes the main character. I hated Cirian as a protagonist. He was an incredibly complex character, and his upbringing definitely showed through the pages, but as he kept getting into worse and worse situations and continued to be absolutely horrible to the people around him, I found that I didn't really want him to succeed. He is arrogant, cowardly, and mean, fitting for such a setting. If the narrative was getting me to hate him, it succeeded. 

But Ciaran is a peach compared to the rest of his family. They all scrabble like rats in the dark trying desprately to avoid the chair, and none of them are redeemable  at all. I enjoyed reading about Menshe Ryker, as he was definitely my favorite villain, as he was competent and ruthless, as well as a mastermind. He was always two steps ahead for most of the novel, and I liked being drawn along with Ciaran into his schemes.  

My favourite character was Ciaran's arranged wife, Kathrine. She was a delight to read about, even as she also did some horrible things. I sympathized with her, as she was effectively shipped off to marry a dead man, leaving behind a man she loved. I was rooting for her and was disappointed that she was de-emphasised in the end. I hope she gets more time in the sequel. 

The novel is in third person limited, so it holds you away from the characters and really adds to the bleak setting. The setting was a character in its own right, and was definitely the best part of the book. In this world, undead do all of the labour where the Rykers rule. Naturally there are a lot of discontented peasants which come into play later. There are also unique gods and enough distinction between cultures that it doesn't feel like the stereotypical European fantasy setting. 

The thing that made me keep reading was the world-building. I love the concept of people not wanting power because is not really power, it's a cage. I love seeing the effects of extreme propaganda on the sacrifice for slaughter. I loved that the magic here was much more real than a lot of other books, using plants instead of more esoteric things. It made the magic feel visceral. 

There wasn't the only thing in the book that was visceral. There is gore galore, torture and various other things that might turn someone's stomach. This is not very tame, and you can be blindsided if you're not prepared as a reader. Sex however, is de-emphasised, although childbirth is shown on screen. There wasn't any romance here, but the world does have and talks about sex. Also, there is a lot of misogyny, so be aware. 

In my copy, there were a few typos, and repeated sentences; I assume that will be corrected when the book is published.  

All in all, despite everything, I want to read the sequel, just to see how these people end up. I also want to explore the worldbuilding a bit more, and see if there are more systems of magic that can be just as real. 

 If you like bleak settings, with realistic magic systems, and can stomach all of the content warnings, I'd give it a shot! Just be prepared to roll your eyes at the main character.   

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Final Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up to 4) 

Drink Paring: 1985 ding dong oolong, for the darkness and licorice flavor 

The Halls of the Dead: Bloody Gothic Brilliance

 

Author:  S.M. Harrow

Genre: Queer fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Gothic Horror, Adult, erotic elements but not romantasy

Publisher: Avon and Harper Voyager

Format: Ebook (NetGalley Copy)

Release Date: August 18th, 2026

TW: (taken from the front of the book,  which I love) cannibalism, gore, murder, drowning, miscarriage, death in childbirth, self-harm-induced magic, depression, suicidal ideation, possession and loss of autonomy (added) bugs/pests, period typical misogyny, child abuse 

So, this settled in my stomach, and wouldn't leave. I have a favorite type of book, and it's a book with queer adults engaging in sacred cannibalism. 

First, the plot: In almost like our world Victorian London,  Irene practices necromancy, a banned magic in her world. Together with St. John of the Crypt, her undead husband/servant/ mentor, they resolve to resurrect Irene's lover and wife Agnes who has been killed for practicing necromancy. They do succeed, but Agnes comes back with a devouring hunger, and the magistrate who killed her is prowling around the three, looking for a reason to send Irene to an asylum.

I love the characters so much. Irene is driven and damaged, and a true delight to read. I love the way that she  cares about both Agnes and her magic with a fierce grasping love. St John is also great; I love his perspective as a man who's lived for centuries, and his affection for Irene and Agnes is understandable and appreciated. 

The worldbuilding is subtle, but I love it. Magic exists in this world, and there are forbidden arts that people don't have access to. I love that necromancer's in particular can live on as soul-books. However, I was unclear if this magic was hereditary or could be learned; I assumed it was hereditary.

The language was vivid, and I do appreciate how descriptive it was; the novel is split into three POVs, so be aware (again, I'm not typical, I was able to keep all three in my head, but be prepared to track back if you need to). 

The explicit sex scenes are lovely. There is both a threesome and a scene between Irene and Agnes which I will not go into for spoiler reasons, but suffice to say they were both well written and in character. I loved the way it was very woman-centric. The sex enhances the story, but can be glossed over if that is a deal breaker, this isn't a romantic, as all three of the protagonists have feelings for one another of some sort. 

 This book is incredibly gory and intense. Hunger as cannibalism is a central theme, along with the aftermath of violation and abuse. If you're into that catharsis like I am, you'll enjoy this.   

 Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC! 

Final Rating: 5 Stars

Drink Paring: Shui Xian black tea, sweet and dark 

The Red Winter (Deluxe Edition) A Perfect Debut

Author: Cameron Sullivan

Genre: Horror, Queer Fiction, Adult, Fantasy, romantic and sexual elements but not an erotica, Historical Fiction, Literary fiction

Publisher: Tor Books

Format: Ebook (NetGalley Copy)

Release Date: February 23rd, 2026

TW: Murder, cannibalism, sexual assault (implied) xenophobia, homophobia, religious torture, pedophelia (alluded to), rape threats

This book reached in, pulled out my still beating former Catholic heart and bit into it. And I fucking loved it. 

But first, the plot: Sebastian Graves is a millennia old (at least) Magician (one of many titles) a monster hunter and exorcist who has access to both arcane human magics and the power of Spirits. Spirits are most of myth and the gods of our world including the Christian God. Pacts can be made with them, for protection and power.  Sebastian has one of those Spirits (a demon) in his head, Sarmodel. They have immense power as a demon but also the need to feed on life force and other fluids and food (including human meat). Sebastian has this hunger as well. When a client of one of his previous cases (and a former lover, named Antone) sends his son asking for his help, he can’t refuse. A Beast is haunting Baron Antone’s family, especially his son Jacques. Can Sebastian keep his hunger in check? 

Sebastian is a marvel of a character. A man who holds no truck with the Almighty, due to the Guest in his head, you can feel his aching for love, for a true purpose seeping out of every page. I also love Sarmodel more than is probably healthy and their relationship is a black hole, where they consume each other. I felt the difference in Sebastian’s love for Antone, which was playful and bittersweet. Antone and the BeastI will not mention due to spoilers but they were amazing as well. Lydia, Sebastian’s sucubus familiar is captivating in her own way, and her interlude chapters are a treat. 

Speaking of interlude chapters, I love the way this book is structured. There are 3 different storylines all being recollected in the far future, and I had no trouble following them, unlike some other reviewers. (No shade on them, I am decent at keeping track of shifting times, but if you aren’t, be prepared to flip back to the beginning of the segment to find where you are.) There is also liberal use of footnotes ala the Bartimaeus Sequence; and is what drew me to the book in the first place. The footnotes here like in the Sequence are snarky and informative and clever and I really enjoyed them, although they rubbed some people the wrong way. I loved the language of this book, I actually had to look some words up (and was encouraged to by some of the footnotes) which immersed me in the world even more.

The book takes place mostly in 17th century France, as Sebastian tells Jacques how he met his father. The initial hunt is based on the Beast of Gèvaudan, an event that actually took place in real life. The setting is just as harsh and wild as that implies. I appreciate that the author doesn’t shy away from the grimy parts, and this book is positively coated in grime and blood and meat and death. And sex. 

Oh boy is there sex. None of the sex scenes are explicit, but sex is used as a threat and as a means of sustenance and a way to seal bargains. It is not erotica but it is still sexually charged. I enjoyed it in a way that you would enjoy looking at an oil slick on a pond, as an Ace person, and these sex scenes were well done if harrowing.

It’s like someone wrote this book explicitly for me. It has all of my favourite elements, intricate magic systems with just enough mystery to imagine the gaps, gods who are twisted reflections of humanity, a troubled monster of a bisexual man who is ultimately good, and a silk voiced seductive demon who loves this man to the point of consumption. This is queer horror fantasy at its best, and I am so glad to have read it. 

Mind the trigger warnings people, this is an incredibly gory and terrifying read, but if you let it show you its heart, you’ll be as captivated as I was (I devoured it in one day.) I eagerly await more of Sebastian’s adventures and hope (but not pray) for a sequel. I will probably be buying this for my own collection.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Tor, for the ARC!

Final Rating: 5 stars

Drink Paring: Shui Xian black tea, dark and steaming