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 as 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

Queen of Faces (Deluxe Edition): A Wonderful Premise, Slightly Shaky Execution

 

 

Author:  Petra Lord

Genre: Dystopia, Queer Fiction, Teen Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance (but not romantacy), Dark Academia, People of Color (Fantasy)

Publisher: Macmillian Children's Publishing Group

Format: Ebook (NetGalley Copy)

Release Date: Feburary 3rd, 2026

TW: murder, genocidal acts (explicit), parental abuse and abandonment, mutilation, suicide. racism

 

I loved this book, and am glad it exists for teens to read. However, I have a few problems with it. 

But first the plot (taken from the back of the book): "Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. But Ana can’t afford to escape it, even as the wealthiest in Caimor buy and discard expensive designer bodies without a thought. When she fails to gain admittance to the prestigious Paragon Academy—and access to the healthy new forms the school provides its students—her final hope implodes. Now without options, Ana must use her illusion magic to try to steal a healthy chassis—before her own kills her. But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor's smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith. With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of renegades: an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters—and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for."

The characters are probably the best part of  this book. Anabelle isn't a chosen one; she's flawed and reckless and sometimes a but dumb. However, instinctively, I  do like her. She's great to read about, and I want to see her succeed. I feel her pain and her entrapment. 

I love Wes. I cannot expand on him due to spoilers, but I must say, that his exploration of his identity and inherent queerness was great to read. Nima and Mr. Nameless were less flushed out, but still fun to read about, and I can't wait for the book to focus on them all more. 

I have a few issues however. For one, certain anachronistic phrases (tonkatsu,) and discussion of those topics (discussion of favourite manga) weakened the worldbuilding for me. These words are inherently tied up with modern japan (especially manga) and don't really fit in a fantasy setting that seems to be based in 1920's England. This is a shame, because I love the idea of being able to swap bodies and all of the horrific implications and gender freedom that implied, but that was overshadowed by the choppy worldbuilding. I also wish that queerness was explored a bit more, as most of the characters are genderqueer, but I understand that the dying is more important. 

For two, there isn't much academia in this Dark Academia book. There's one class, and some small explanation of the magic system, but I didn't know most of the professors at the end of the book. I was fine with this but be warned. 

There is no sex/spice in this book, only kissing, and a brief love triangle. It was fine. 

But overall, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the sequel.  

Thanks to Macmillian Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Final Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4 Stars

Drink Paring: Wild Da Hong Pao oolong, roasted and dark 

Book Review-The Mercy Makers: Vivid, Maybe Too Vivid For Some

 

 

Author: Tessa Gratton

Genre: Political Fantasy, Erotica (queer-forward), Adult,  

Publisher: Orbit Books

Format: Ebook (NetGalley Copy)

TW: murder, racism against a minority group, imprisonment, death penalty, colonialism

The Mercy Makers is a book you have to devote time to. It's a luxuriating read, packed with politics and meditations on the nature of empire and what one will do to break or uphold a system 'for the greater good.' The characters are as layered as the language, but sometimes that language occludes connection. 

First, the plot. Iriset is the daughter of The Black Cat, an underground smuggler, murderer and general ne'er do well. She is also, Iriset, is Silk, a genius Designer, a person who can manipulate the fundamental forces  of her world by basically making intricate diagrams and applying them to people. However, in her society, human alteration is forbidden, and she as Silk skirts the line. Until, that is her father gets captured and sentenced to death. Iriset, in keeping her identity secret has gotten a golden opportunity to infiltrate the palace as a handmaiden to the consort of the Hungry God, one half of the ruling government of her kingdom, to save her father.

The language is my favourite part of this book. Certain metaphors have stayed in my head since I completed it, even if it takes me a second to decipher them. However it is very florid language, so be warned. The language lends itself to the political intrigue as well, covering it like wrapping paper, with double meanings. But even the language can be exposition-y, but still a delight to read.

The magic system, likened to building a structure benefits from the language. I also love the magic system; it’s incredibly unique.

The characters however suffer. Iriset has a competent arc, however, the language holds her apart. The consort and her brother are even further from the reader. I wonder if this was intentional as they are like gods. I commend the author if so. 

On that note, I appreciate that queerness can exist in this setting but still is restricted by the convictions of the empire. I liked that there seemed to be consideration of multiple axises of oppression as well.

This book is not a romantasy. It is a political queer fantasy with erotic elements. There is a lot of sex, and Iriset relishes in it with both binary genders allowed in the empire. As an Ace person who leans towards women, my eyes glazed over the PIV scenes but even they were well written. 

It seems that if this book clicks with you, you will love it. It clicked with me and I can’t wait to see the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the ebook!

Final Rating: 4 stars

Drink Paring: Osmanthus oolong while gazing at the moon

  

Book Review-The New Eve: A Rough Read

 

Author: Moussa Ould Ebnou 

Translated By: Paul Roochnik

Genre: Dystopian adult queer literature 

Publisher: Iskanchi Press

Format: Ebook (NetGalley copy)

TW: sexual torture, conversion therapy, forced transition, state brutality, parental death

 

The New Eve is alien. Ironic for whom the title of the book alludes to, but a thought provoking read nonetheless. 

The book concerns two cis (?) gendered lovers, Adam and Mandi, trying to find each other after their mandated sex-times, and avoid capture by the state. Otherwise, men and women have completely separate spheres of life, and live apart from one another. Same-sex relationships are the norm. There is a third gender as well who bridge the gap between both worlds.

The setting was the most intriguing part of the book for me. It was so unique and made enough sense that I was able to immerse myself in it. The feeling of the last few chapters in particular showed what a gendered city would look like and was fascinating.

However, I cannot decide whether this book is queer affirming or not. A significant portion of the book takes place in a conversion camp. Adam in particular earns a happy ending through this conversion which rubbed me the wrong way. And for such a queer narrative, the same sex relationships were de-emphasized until the end as a neat bow. 

I think the ambiguity comes from this being a translated text from Arabic and French. The author is Mauritanian so I fully acknowledge I may be missing out on how transgressive this actually is. I do not agree with the book’s conclusion however.

I also wish we also could’ve spent more time with Maneki aside from the conversion camp scenes as her last chapter was one of my favorite parts of the book. 

Ultimately, I enjoyed my experience but heed those trigger warnings and your own cultural biases; this is a hard read and might not be to your tastes.

I hope that this author’s other works become translated. 

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the book!

 

Final Rating: 3 Stars

 

Drink Paring: Mint green tea, sharp and cutting