Category: Book Reviews

new blog post: Spooky Season Nonfiction to Add to Your TBR Spooky Season Nonfiction to Add to Your TBR
Book Reviews

Spooky Season Nonfiction to Add to Your TBR

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

Since the Reanimator Mysteries sit firmly on the morbid side of research, I have acquired and read a lot of nonfiction books that are great for the Halloween season, so I thought I would share them with you in case you need a hit of spookiness before October ends or year ’round. All links below are affiliate links, so I get a tiny kickback if you buy anything with them.

  • Eaters of the Dead by Kevin J. Wetmore- a fantastic look at cannibalism and man-eating creatures from ancient legends to pre-modern folklore to our pop culture creatures. Wetmore sheds light on where these creatures come from and what in our psyche makes us fear being eaten or becoming man-eaters.
  • Calling the Spirits by Lisa Morton- a look at seances and what we now call mediumship throughout history. While far less morbid that Eaters of the Dead, Morton does a great job of linking past to present and how the rise of women in Spiritualist communities really cemented mediumship in pop culture.
  • Trick or Treat by Lisa Morton- Morton is very into the spooky, apparently. This is an overview of Halloween from its ancient influences to holidays or traditions that overlap and led to our modern Halloween. It dispels some Victorian myths about Halloween and creates a clearer picture of how it came to be in the US.
  • The Book of Halloween by Ruth Edna Kelley- Behold the originator of many of the myths. I read this before Morton’s book, and it was interesting to learn what Kelley got wrong. This Halloween book has a lot of poetry and fun tidbits like recipes from the early 1900s. It is not historically accurate, but I think it paints of fun picture of what people thought about Halloween in the early 20th century.
  • A Haunted History of Invisible Women by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes- A look into how the lives of women shape ghost stories and how those ghost stories get their lives incredibly wrong. It sheds light on the lives of people often left in the margins and totally left out of their own stories after death. Hieber and Janes have a second book out America’s Most Gothic, which I haven’t read yet but am looking forward to reading soon.
  • Vampire Forensics by Mark Collins Jenkins- This is sort of a how to spot a vampire book. It’s very accessible and what I found particularly interesting about it is the forensics behind it. Many signs of a vampire are actually normal parts of decomposition, and that is mainly what Jenkins explores. If you want to be a vampire expert like Gwen, highly recommend it.
  • Ghostland by Colin Dickey- I loved this book. It’s a fascinating read about the archetypes of ghost stories and how ghost stories are akin to fairytales in America. Dickey does a great job connecting the dots when it comes to trauma, warnings, sociological upheaval, and the proliferation of ghost stories. Oh, and of course, capitalism.
  • Over My Dead Body by Greg Melville- This was SO GOOD. It’s a book about cemeteries and how they are a reflection of the society that created them. It goes into fascinating depth about how cemeteries in America have evolved over the centuries and where they might be going in the future. For those who think cemeteries are merely hallowed ground, Melville shows they are so much more than merely plots of land. The audiobook is stellar and great for a commute read.
new blog post: 10 Books to Add to your TBR 2025 Edition Pt. 2 10 Books to Add to your TBR 2025 Edition Pt. 2
Book Reviews

10 Books to Add to your TBR 2025 Edition Pt. 2

Kara Jorgensen2 Comments

In the past, I would make a best of list for books I read, but I hate holding off on talking about my favorite reads. Instead, I plan to make a few of these posts throughout the year as I find books I loved. You can read the first installment here. The links below are affiliate links, so I get a tiny kick back if you purchase through that link.

  1. Turning the Tables by Andrew P. Haley- If you like food history, this is a really interesting nonfiction book about how the rise of the middle class in cities in the mid 1900s led to the restaurant culture we see today. It goes into how “ethnic” cuisine rose above stuffy French food, how dining habits changed, why tipping culture exists, etc.
  2. The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter by Yatsuki Wakatsu- If you like Oliver from my Reanimator Mysteries books, you will love the main character of this manga series. A workaholic accountant gets accidentally transported into a magical world, and instead of becoming the traditional hero, he decides to continue his workaholic ways as an accountant for the magical realm. He runs afoul of people in power, and he finds himself the target of help from a magical knight who decides he needs to save the workaholic from himself. This manga scratches so many book itches for me.
  3. “Ark” by Veronica Roth- This one is less than 50 pages, but it is so good. The world is about to get hit with a dinosaur extinction level asteroid, so as the planet is being evacuated, scientists race to catalog and preserve plants in Svalbard. Samantha prepares to stay behind until she gets to talking with an older scientist who studies orchids. I don’t want to give too much away, but I found this story surprisingly poignant and lovely despite the bleakness of the set-up.
  4. The Duke at Hazard by K. J. Charles- Technically, this is a sequel, but it can be read as a standalone or out of order with The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting. The Duke of Severin has lived a very sheltered life of privilege, and he is itching to get away from his life (and relatives for a time). A bet with his cousin combined with being robbed of a precious ring during a clandestine meeting with another man is the perfect cover and reason to leave. For a month, he will live like a normal person, though he isn’t sure how one does that or how to find the man who stole his family ring from him. That is, until he runs into a gentleman whose family has been ruined for years who doesn’t recognize him but is willing to help. Together, they set out to find the robber, give Severin experience, and perhaps, rescue his new love’s reputation along the way.
  5. The Memory of the Ogisi by Moses Ose Utomi- a caveat for this is that it is the third and final book in the series. I really liked this series, and if you read all three in close proximity, I think it would really highlight the cyclical nature of societies that Utomi is getting at. I wouldn’t say the ending of the series is good, per se, but it does what it sets out to do and it’s interesting. The whole thing is a fascinating and rather brutal look at how knowledge and propaganda shapes histories and society.
  6. Copper Script by K. J. Charles- a policeman ends up becoming intrigued by a graphologist who reads his cousin a little too well only to realize the man’s talents are far realer than he expected. As Aaron tests Joel’s skills, they become embroiled in a case of corruption and murder that becomes far more than they bargained for, especially as they fall for each other against all odds. A bonus is that the one MC is an amputee, and there is quite a bit of hurt-comfort and intrigue going on.
  7. All Systems Red by Martha Wells- this is the first book in the Murderbot Diaries, and I am recommending this as sort of “read the series” recommendation. Murderbot is a security bot who has hacked its government module (aka now it has free will) and spends the majority of its time doing it’s job as little as possible and watching Netflix in its head. Wells does a really good job portraying autism and sex-repulsed asexuality through Murderbot, and the series is fun, well done, and tugs at the heart as we see Murderbot truly come into itself.
  8. Eaters of the Dead by Kevin J. Wetmore Jr.- Eaters of the Dead is a nonfiction/academic book about cannibalistic monsters that appear across the world and in fiction. As someone who writes about monsters and the occasional bit of cannibalism, I found this book incredibly interesting. Wetmore talks a lot about the root cause of creatures like ogres, Grendel, ghouls, etc. along with Eastern vs. Western views of funerary practices and how that plays into different views and anxieties surrounding the dead and cannibalism. Highly recommend if you want to get a deeper understanding of monsters.
  9. The Summer War by Naomi Novik- a rather short book packed with a ton of action about three siblings grappling with their place in the world where they are at endless war with the fae. There’s magic, queer pining of a side character, fae trickery, and so much love and caring. I listened to the audiobook of this in one day and absolutely loved it.
  10. Conquering Writer’s Block by K. M. Weiland- while I found this book to contain a lot of things I already know, I thought it would be useful to those who are earlier in their career. Weiland provides a grounding perspective and some good advice as to how to stay on track or get into good habits. Sometimes, when things get stressful, it’s good to have a reminder of what to do, especially in a book that’s less than 100 pages, so you can read it periodically to reset your flailing brain.

new blog post: 10 Books I'm Excited About in 2025/26 10 Books I’m Excited About in 2025/26
Book Reviews

10 Books I’m Excited About in 2025/26

Kara Jorgensen4 Comments

This week I thought I would make a little post about some books that I am really looking forward to that are coming out later this year or early next year. You will notice that the list skews toward traditional publishing, but this is because many indies do a very short preorder period or don’t announce their release dates that far ahead of time. Disclaimer: all links to the books are affiliate links, so if you purchase anything, I get a small kickback.

  1. Pantomime (#1) by L. R. Lam- If this book sounds familiar to you, it came out years ago and is being re-edited and released. This book was one of my absolute favorites when I read it in college. You have an intersex, trans MC who runs away from their family and societal expectations to join the circus and discover themselves. Throw in a dose of magic, romance, and danger, and Pantomime is a must-read. Out 9/9/25
  2. To Clutch a Razor (#2) by Veronica Roth- I have been on a bit of Veronica Roth short book/story kick, and I am dying to get my hands on this one. You have magical Chicago filled with Slavic magic and creatures, a queer MC, horrific family obligations, and a cast of intriguing characters, and this series is un-put-down-able. Out 9/16/25
  3. What Stalks the Deep (#3) by T. Kingfisher- I absolutely love this series. It’s horror that is gross yet intriguing without being too scary for chickens like me. The main character is a nonbinary soldier in the 1800s, and in this edition, Alex is headed to America to go to a spooky mine that is probably filled with horrors. If you enjoy Jordan L. Hawk’s books, I highly recommend this series. Out 9/30/25
  4. America’s Most Gothic: Haunted History Stranger than Fiction by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes- I absolutely loved their first book, A Haunted History of Invisible Women. This volume goes into the parts of the Gothic that titillate us and explores the real history that is potentially far spookier and fascinating. Hieber and Janes have a lively style that is all at once informative and entertaining. Out 9/30/25
  5. All of Us Murderers by K. J. Charles- Maybe I am biased but I don’t think K. J. Charles has written a bad book yet. This one takes us to a Gothic manor where a fight over a young ward’s hand turns murderous and scorn queer lovers reunite. It sounds chef kiss and messy, and if you are into Gothic vibes, the cover for this book is right on the money. Out 10/7/25
  6. A Mouthful of Dust (#6) by Nghi Vo- The Singing Hills Cycle is one of my favorite series, and this one sounds a little similar to the K. J. Charles book in terms of creepiness of houses. Chih is trapped in the house of a sinister magistrate in a town where famine has hit hard and the things beyond and within the walls are growing hungry. If you like lush yet economical stories, Vo’s work is top knotch. Out 10/7/25
  7. The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow- We have a lady knight, a historian, and time doing weird shit to ensure she plays her role. This is based off a short story Harrow published a few years ago that I absolutely devoured. I am dying to get my hands on this, especially because I have been in a medieval mood, so I hope this scratches that itch. Out 10/28/25
  8. A Wild and Hungry Place by E. E. Ottoman- It has been quite some time since Ottoman published, and I am so excited. His books are filled with trans characters, rich descriptions, and stories that tug at the heartstrings and soul. This one has a woman trying to break a curse, a man with a garden full of poisonous plants, and a ghost woman. What else could one want?
  9. The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman- I am including this one because it was originally scheduled to come out in November but was pushed back to January of 2026. This is a retelling of “Bisclavret” by Marie de France, and as a Marie de France fan, I am so in. Of course, this book is queer, has werewolves, knights, kings, magic, and so much more. Out 1/26/26
  10. Through Gates of Garnets and Gold (#11) by Seanan McGuire- If you haven’t read The Wayward Children series, now is the perfect time to start. Nancy, who is the MC of book one, finally is getting her own book! I am so excited to return to the Halls of the Dead with Nancy and the misfit crew from the school for wayward children. This is one of those settings that sounded so intriguing even though we saw little of it, and I look forward to what McGuire creates in this one. Out 1/6/26
new blog post: 10 Books to Add to your TBR 2025 Edition Pt. 1 10 Books to Add to your TBR 2025 Edition Pt. 1
Book Reviews

10 Books to Add to your TBR 2025 Edition Pt. 1

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

In the past, I would make a best of list for books I read, but I hate holding off on talking about my favorite reads. Instead, I plan to make a few of these posts throughout the year as I find books I loved. The links below are affiliate links, so I get a tiny kick back if you purchase through that link.

  1. Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire- this is the tenth book in the Wayward Children series, but I think this one can be read out of order. The story follows a Russian girl who was born without an arm who was adopted by an American family who tries to change/fix her. She falls into a water world and finds that she is capable of far more than her adopted parents ever thought she could be while still staying true to who she is.
  2. Two Friends in Marriage by Jackie Lau- once again, this is the third book in the series, but they can be read out of order. This story is a queer MF romance where both characters are queer! We have a demisexual FMC and a bisexual MMC. I loved how both characters are queer and stay true to themselves throughout the story. It was just super sweet to watch this marriage of convenience become a romantic and sexual relationship as their emotional intimacy builds.
  3. 10 Things that Never Happened by Alexis Hall- after getting a concussion while having an argument with his asshole boss, a man fakes amnesia in order to keep his coworkers from being fired, but when his boss takes care of him after his head injury (which is real, unlike the amnesia), he finds the man is far more complicated and caring than the jerk they all know at work. It’s very much gay, reverse Overboard, but I loved it.
  4. The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alex E. Harrow- a short story packed with so much post apocalyptic goodness. An old knight arrives in town with his hawk to slay the woman who has turned into a demon only to have her lover (and the town memory-keeper) step in. It’s about love, subverting regimes that want you dead, and so, so much more in a very concise package.
  5. The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar- it’s the tale of two sisters, magical willow trees, and a river of grammar. The story is short but has so many layers. Magic is grammar, grammar is magic, both are words, meaning, etc. It is fascinating and beautiful. I highly recommend the audiobook version as the author and her sister play the music for it and sing as well. It is immersive and gives a fuller experience than just reading it.
  6. When the Earth was Green by Riley Black- a nonfiction book that is about how plant life evolved over eons. What I particularly love about Black’s books is that she weaves history, science, and narrative in such a seamless way. This is the opposite of a dry textbook. If you’ve ever wondered about plant life evolution, especially in the very distant past (think dinosaurs and before humans), this is a great place to start. There are also cool illustrations peppered throughout.
  7. Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau- a workaholic woman who is feeling unfulfilled by her life eats some dumplings and ends up in a time loop. This story is sort of a Ground Hog Day meets 50 First Dates where the main character has to figure out how to get out of the time loop while slowly falling for the man she meets nearly every day in the loop.
  8. Don’t Sleep with the Dead by Nghi Vo- a loose sequel to her retelling of The Great Gatsby, The Chosen and the Beautiful, this story returns to Nick twenty years after the end of the last story. He is facing his own demons in magical New York City alone, or is he? When he hears Gatsby’s voice in his ear, he goes looking in the shadows. It’s a story of unrequited love, desire that borders on gluttony and greed, and fantastically grotesque creatures.
  9. A Gentle Madness by Nicholas A. Basbane- even though this book was published in the 1990s, it was a fantastic nonfiction read about the world of book collecting. I think I liked it because it takes place before the digital age, and we get to see the world of trading, collecting, and how the world’s most famous book collections came to be. Basbane also talks a lot about bibliomania, and the history of book collecting.
  10. Death in the Spires by KJ Charles- because this is a mystery, I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s a historical murder mystery that takes place in the late 1800s at Oxford where seven friends met and became embroiled in the death of one of their best friends. A decade later, Jem sets out to figure out once and for all how his friend died and who killed him. As with all KJ Charles books, the texture of the world is rich, and the characters are complex and wonderful (even when they’re awful).

new blog post: 2025 Releases to Add to Your TBR 2025 Releases to Add to Your TBR
Book Reviews

2025 Releases to Add to Your TBR

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

Before we get into the post, I want to mention that The Reanimator’s Remains has been nominated in the Indie Ink Awards for best friendship, best setting, LGBT+ rep, mental health rep, disability rep, and neurodivergent rep. If you’d be willing to vote for TRR in at least the mental health, disability, and/or ND rep categories, I would be eternally grateful. You can vote here.

We are getting closer and closer to 2025, and of course, I’ve already started to make a list of books I want to preorder. Since I was compiling that list, I thought I would share it with you all and tell you why I’m excited for each book (books are listed by release date, not excitement level).

A few disclaimers, most, if not all, of the books listed below are trad pub. This is because most indies don’t list their releases until a month or two before they come out. Therefore, I don’t have titles or listings for most of the indie books I’m excited for in 2025. I will post more about them later in the year. Also, the links used below are affiliate links, meaning I get a tiny kickback if you order anything.

  1. Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire- 1/7/25 The Wayward Children series is an auto-buy for me. In this installment, we have Nadya’s story where she falls into a watery world where she is accepted by the river and its people. I can already feel the brackish water of the river and the cold world of a drowned girl.
  2. Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite- 3/18/25 An intergalactic murder mystery aboard a library ship filled with souls and borrowed bodies with an older female detective with queer leanings? Yes, please. I loved Waite’s sapphic historical romances, and I think she will do a fantastic job writing a scifi, cozy mystery.
  3. Don’t Sleep with the Dead by Nghi Vo- 4/8/25 This is sort of a loose sequel to The Chosen and the Beautiful where Nick Calloway (yes, from The Great Gatsby) realizes Gatsby is still following him. Whether he or Gatsby are human is up for debate. This version of the Roaring Twenties is filled with magic, fae, and monsters, and with all of Vo’s books, it’s very queer.
  4. The Influencers by Anna-Marie McLemore- 4/15/25 A critique of influencer culture, mommy bloggers, and the ramifications of commodifying your children’s lives overlaid with a murder mystery, The Influencers sounds amazing. Knowing McLemore, the book will also go into race, gender/sexuality, and the ethics of all of the above.
  5. When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley- 4/29/25 This book is illustrated by an absolute fantastic artist I’ve been falling for a while, and I am DYING to get my hands on this book. With a merman, Coney Island, queer romance, a Latinx MC, and an 1910s setting, what more could you want?
  6. Time Loops and Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau- 5/6/25 Ground Hog Day meets 50 First Dates in a time looping romance featuring magic dumplings, a workaholic spinning her wheels, and the man who appears throughout her repeated day that might be the key to getting un-stuck. He forgets her every day, but is there a chance he might remember her?
  7. A Letter from the Lonesome Shore by Sylvie Cathrall- 5/6/25 The final/second book in the Sunken Archive duology follows Sophie and Vyerin as they venture to an underwater city to see if they can find their siblings. The first book was so good, and I’m very curious as to whether or not this book will be told in letters again or if we will get to see E. and Henry again. There’s also the ominous threat of something even more terrifying than missing siblings.
  8. These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa- 5/27/25 A trans MC descended from the god of death must fight to the death in order to receive a favor from the gods and rescue their family. Death, magic, gladiator-style fighting, and queer and trans characters? This is always up my alley.
  9. Vesuvius by Cass Biehn- 6/3/25, I have been following the progress of this book/author on Twitter for like 2 or 3 years. The story takes place in the days leading up to the eruption of Vesuvius where two boys have their fates intertwined and apocalyptic visions become reality. It’s marketed as sort of a YA Song of Achilles, and I am ready to have my heart ripped out and stomped on.
  10. The Memory of the Ogisi by Moses Ose Utomi- 7/15/25 This is the final book in the Forever Desert series. What I love about this series is how we see history that we watched the characters live through get twisted and turned into something completely different by future generations. Each book is a novella, but there is so much world-building and history crammed into a small package.
  11. Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher- 8/19/25 I love T. Kingfisher’s books so much, and the fact that this is a Snow White and Rose Red retelling involving a poison-maker just sold it even harder. To top it off, we get a mirror world that will be *chef kiss* for texture.
  12. Cemetery Boys: Espíritu by Aiden Thomas- 9/16/25 I have been waiting SO LONG for this sequel. Cemetery Boys is a queer YA featuring a trans MC and his brought back from the dead boyfriend (sound familiar?). In the sequel, we have more magical mayhem and monster lurking in the shadows.
new blog post: 10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2024 Edition Part 2 10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2024 Edition Part 2
Book Reviews

10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2024 Edition Part 2

Kara Jorgensen4 Comments

Most years I put out a list of books I greatly enjoyed from the first half of the year some time in June. This year, I decided to do it early because, besides needing a blog for this week, I have read a lot of good books lately, so I’m thinking of making this something I do more than twice a year (and often forget to do in December). The books listed below are not in any order of favoritism, but I will provide reasons for why you should pick up my ten favorite reads of 2024 thus far.

(All of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase something, I get a little money back, just as an FYI)

Here is part 2 of this endeavor! Check out part 1 here.

  1. You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian- Cat Sebastian’s books are always like a warm hug, but I particularly enjoyed Eddie and Mark’s dynamic. Eddie is a young baseball player who got traded and immediately fell into a batting slump (and had a tantrum on tv, oops). Mark is asked to write articles about him in the paper to help restore his image, but Eddie quickly realizes Mark is going through a rough time of his own. It’s a book about grief, loss, new beginnings, and of course, baseball. There’s also a cute, wayward dog and a grouchy old man as side characters- two of my favorite things.
  2. The House of the Red Balconies by AJ Demas- In a fictionalized ancient world, we have Hylas, an engineer, who has just arrived in Tykanos to work on the local aqueduct only to realize there is far too much politic-ing going on than he can deal with. While the governor drags him around from tea house to tea house every night, he finds respite in his new neighbor, Zo. Zo is a dancer at the tea house who is dealing with chronic illness while trying to find a steady patron to give him some semblance of stability. Hylas and Zo compliment each other so well, and the way Hylas cares for Zo is lovely.
  3. A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall- This book is very different from anything I’ve read, and I loved it. It’s an epistolary novel written in letters between the siblings of two people who have gone missing along with those people’s diary entries. The story takes place in an undersea world with a historical/steampunk-ish flare. This story is an introduction to a lush, fantasy world, and I cannot wait to see what Cathrall comes up with in book 2.
  4. When Among Crows by Veronica Roth- This story is under 200 pages, but it is packed with story. We have a magical Chicago, complete with all sorts of creatures (banshees/llorona, zmora, strzygi, Baba Jaga, human warriors, and more). I was pleasantly surprised to realize the MC was queer, and if you like Felipe from my books, the MC in this one will appeal to you. At its heart, it’s a story about atonement, forgiveness, and new beginnings. You know a novella is good when you wish it was longer.
  5. The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark- This book is also barely above 200 pages, but as with all of PDC’s books, it is phenomenal. We have an undead assassin sent to kill someone only to find out the target is seemingly a younger version of herself. Of course, she dips but not before grabbing the young woman. They go on a night long quest to figure out who set her up, what magic yoinked her younger self to the present, and why someone was trying to make her kill herself. The whole story is set against a festival, which just heightens the world-building intricacies and decorates the world in the best way. It’s also funny as hell.
  6. Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher- This is my first T. Kingfisher book, and let me tell you, I get it now. This book was equal parts funny, sweet, and intriguing. We have a stoic knight whose god is dead and thinks of himself a bomb that could blow at any time falling for an anxious perfume maker with a weasel cat. There’s political intrigue, a murderer who decapitates people, gruff paladins, and so much interesting world-building. I am officially hooked.
  7. The Heroine’s Journey by Gail Carriger- We have our first nonfiction book for this round of books. If you are a writer or do literary analysis, I highly recommend taking a look at this one. I had never really heard of the Heroine’s Journey during literature classes, only the Hero’s Journey, so this provided A LOT of much needed insight. Carriger is a writer but also an academic, so she provides a ton of insight, examples, and breakdowns that are not only great for new or experienced writers but academics too.
  8. The Pairing by Casey McQuiston- This is a VERY queer second chance romance between two people who were friends to lovers to not on speaking terms to friends to lovers again. It’s a romance between two people others might deem pretentious but I, as a low key pretentious person, loved. Really, they’re two people very passionate about art and food who don’t make others feel bad while still steeping in their passions. I adored the way McQuiston played on the 1800s European tour debauchery in a very modern setting.
  9. Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall- WftF has recently been rereleased, and I listened to it as an audiobook, which means it came with Chasing the Light as well. The two stories together are a wonderful juxtaposition. WftF is about Edwin, who is still grappling with his partner dumping him after ten years together, having his world shaken up by a flood that leads him to Adam. CtL is the story of his ex, Marius, finding love, and along the way, we get more about why he broke it off with Edwin. The stories (and the side short stories) intertwine beautifully, and I loved seeing them grow while still loving each other after all that time. It is book 2 in the Spires series, but it can be read on its own.
  10. Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton- This is a nonfiction book that discusses the intersectionality of race and gender in regards to transgender identity. The book is horrific in its content, but it is a must read if you are trans or like to read academic texts on gender. As someone who is into medical history as well, the first chapter is eye-opening and reframes a lot of what I already sort of knew about medical history in the US. I highly, highly recommend this one.
new blog post 10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2024 Edition Part 1 10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2024 Edition Part 1
Book Reviews

10 Books to Add to Your TBR 2024 Edition Part 1

Kara Jorgensen2 Comments

Most years I put out a list of books I greatly enjoyed from the first half of the year some time in June. This year, I decided to do it early because, besides needing a blog for this week, I have read a lot of good books lately, so I’m thinking of making this something I do more than twice a year (and often forget to do in December). The books listed below are not in any order of favoritism, but I will provide reasons for why you should pick up my ten favorite reads of 2024 thus far.

  1. Spear by Nicola Griffith– If you enjoy Medieval or Arthurian fantasy with a queer twist, Spear should be on your tbr. It is under 200 pages, but there is so much crammed into such a small book. The writing flows so smoothly, and while it reads as more authentically Medieval than many Arthurian retellings, it feels very modern while simultaneously being true to the time. Yes, the Middle Ages were diverse; get over it.
  2. The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo– I am a Nghi Vo stan. If they write it, I will read it, and while you do not need to read the Singing Hills Cycle books in order, you should still read all of them. The Brides of High Hill was deliciously South-East Asian Gothic with little flourishes of Bluebeard-esque stories while being obviously grounded in Asian myths and folklore. Vo’s books are all at once beautiful and horrific with plenty of twists and surprises, and this one was no different.
  3. The Shabti by Megaera C. Lorenz– I received this one as an ARC, and now, Megaera is on my autobuy list. The Shabti is a historical-paranormal romance set in the 1930s between a washed up fake medium trying to go straight(ish) and an Egyptology professor with a ghost problem. Hermann and Dashiel are adorable together, and the side characters and titular ghost/object are all delightful.
  4. Refusing Compulsory Sexuality by Sherronda J. Brown– A really fantastic nonfiction book about asexuality, acephobia, compulsory sexuality and how that all intersects with anti-Blackness, racism, the patriarchy, etc. I think you should read Angela Chen’s ACE first if you aren’t familiar with asexual scholarship, but Refusing Compulsory Sexuality really puts all the pieces together in a concise way.
  5. We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian– Cat Sebastian is one of those authors who continually rips my heart out with how loving and cozy her books are, and We Could Be So Good is no exception. A reporter falls for the owner of the newspaper’s son and realizes Andy is far deeper than he seems. Andy and Nick are just so good for each other, and the side characters really make the story shine.
  6. The Reluctant Heartthrob by Jackie Lau– Technically, this is the second book in series, but I think they can be read out of order. The female main character is autistic with face blindness, and the male main character is an actor who prefers to stay out of the limelight. They are delightful together, and as with all Jackie Lau books, there is so much good food and heat to go with it.
  7. Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire– If the Tardis and an antique shop had a baby, it would be the setting of this story. You do have to read at least the book before this one to understand fully what’s going on, but this whole series is chef kiss if you enjoy portal fantasies and misfit kids finding where they truly belong. I love stories where we get to revisit a character and have them grow even more than the previous book allowed.
  8. Ivy, Angelica, Bay by C. L. Polk– If Claudia is your favorite character in Interview with the Vampire, I think you’ll love Ivy, Angelica, Bay. Once again, this is technically a sequel, but it can be skipped (though you should read St. Valentine, St. Abigail, St. Brigid because it’s also fantastic). We have a witch fighting capitalism and gentrification and so much more.
  9. Threads of Life by Clare Hunter– If you’re a crafter, especially someone into needle crafts, I highly recommend Threads of Life. Hunter talks about the sociological, political, cultural, and feminist issues that surround needle crafts. She talks about the shifting gender roles behind them as well as the ways people are lost to history yet their great works remain. She also touches upon Palestine and other disenfranchised and threatened people/cultures.
  10. The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi– This one is super short (under 100 pages), but Tutu goes through so much in such a limited amount of time. It’s a story about how empire destroys and defangs the people it colonizes and turns them against each other. I’m really interested to see how what happened in book one plays into book two’s plot.
new blog post: my 10 top reads of 2023 My 10 Top Reads of 2023
Book Reviews

My 10 Top Reads of 2023

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

I have a love-hate relationship with so many end of year wrap-up posts, but I do want to give a shout out to some books that I really enjoyed this year. I decided to cut it off at ten books to avoid completely overloading the post, but I hope you will find some new books or authors to add to your to-be-read pile. The books mentioned below are not in any particular order.

  1. Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse- a Western novel set in a post-apocalyptic-ish setting where angels rule over humans and two sisters much work together to survive and solve a murder.
  2. Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire- I love a Wayward Children book, but I especially loved this one. It takes place outside the school and follows a young woman who is forced to grow too fast due to the adults in her life. There’s also a magical store, ala the House of Many Ways.
  3. Dark Archives by Megan Rosenbloom- a nonfiction book about the history of books bound in human skin. If you like Caitlin Doughty’s books or books about death that are socially conscious without being salacious, this one is for you.
  4. This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone- this was probably the hot book of the year, but I really loved it. Sapphic enemies to lovers between two time agents of opposite sides of a time war changing history and leaving each other puzzle sounds weird, but it was phenomenal.
  5. The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw- a horror story with a mute, terrifying mermaid who teams up with a nonbinary plague doctor to survive and save a village of children from monsters with human faces. It’s very much a medical horror story, and I loved it.
  6. Yellowface by R. F. Kuang- if you have been on writing Twitter long enough, a lot of what goes on in this book should be familiar to you. A white woman writer steals a dead Asian author’s book, descends into madness, and commits other atrocities along the way. *chef kiss*
  7. Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue by Cat Sebastian- two professional baseball players realize they’re more than teammates or bench buddies when one gets injured an the other gets feelings. Very cozy and comforting.
  8. Over My Dead Body by Greg Melville- another nonfiction book about the dead, but this time it’s about how cemeteries influence society and how society influences cemeteries. I really loved how much Melville goes into how people of color, the poor, indigenous people, and other marginalized groups are affected even in death.
  9. Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir- I never thought I’d be raving about the himbo-ification of a princess, but here we are. Muir turns the princess in a tower trope on its head with a princess who takes matters into her own hands. Perfect for fans of The Princess Bride.
  10. She Loves to Cook & She Loves to Eat by Sakaomi Yuzaki- this is a sapphic manga series about two neighbors who bond over their love of cooking and eating. The series is a sweet slow burn as these two navigate friendship and perhaps more. In more recent volumes, we also get more friends and neighbors to add greater depth to the story.
new blog post: September 2023 Wrap-up post September 2023 Wrap-Up Blog
Book Reviews · Monthly Review · the reanimator's soul

September 2023 Wrap-Up Blog

Kara Jorgensen2 Comments

In September, I finally feel like I found my footing again. With all my major book launch/release prep out of the way, I am looking forward to The Reanimator’s Soul coming out October 24th, in time for spooky season. As a recap, here were my goals for September:

  • blog weekly
  • monthly newsletter
  • read 8 books
  • maintain mental health by gaming, reading, or crafting when necessary
  • stay on top of grading
  • Edit The Reanimator’s Soul

Books

My goal was to read 8 book this month, and I read 8 total.

  1. The Dragon’s Betrothed (#1) by Meguru Hinohara- 4 stars, a blocked up writer returns to his family home only to find out he is supposed to be a dragon’s bride. Hi-jinks ensue as the dragon tries to persuade him to give him a shot and it eventually becomes steamy.
  2. The Dragon’s Betrothed (#2) by Meguru Hinohara- 4 stars, see above.
  3. Night Spinner (#1) by Addie Thorley- 3 stars, an ex-soldier finds her loyalties cannot so easily lie with her old troops after falling in with a band of Robin Hood-like deserters. I found the world-building to be… meh, and while the tone is YA, the ages feel very off for the story.
  4. Akata Woman (#3) by Nnedi Okorafor- 3 stars, a young woman finds she is far more than she appeared and must steal back a mystical book to appease a spider god that threatens to destroy her world. While I enjoyed this, I found the world-building to be all over the place compared to previous books.
  5. Fangs by Sarah Anderson- 4 stars, cute vignettes between a vampire and a werewolf, very fluffy.
  6. Mammoths at the Gate (#4) by Nghi Vo- 4 stars, Chih returns to their monastery to find their home a mess as the head monk has died and the relatives want more than the monastery can give. A wonderful look at grief and the transformative power of love and devotion.
  7. Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir- 5 stars, Princess Bride meets Adventure Time as a princess saves herself with the help of a sassy pixie. Hilarious and weird.
  8. The Candles are Burning (#6) by Veronica G. Henry- 4 stars, a horror short story set in the South, featuring a recent widow who must trick the devil to save her soul. Very atmospheric.

Admin/Behind-the-Scenes Stuff

  • The Reanimator’s Heart made it to the final round of BBNYA 2023!
  • The Reanimator’s Heart was the queer romance book club pick at Meet Cute Bookshop
  • I ran a sale on The Reanimator’s Heart and a Bookbub ad
  • Finished playing Venba and Assemble With Care (both are available on Steam)
  • Finished writing the last little bit of The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Edited The Reanimator’s Soul twice/two rounds
  • Proofread The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Prepared and sent out ARCs for The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Formatted the paperback interior for The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Contacted my cover designer for the paperback cover for The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Got my covid booster
  • Did a bunch of event admin stuff for work
  • Beta read someone else’s book

Blogs Posted

Writing

Writing and editing went really well, which always scares me a bit. In my defense, The Reanimator’s Soul was a book that I spent a lot of time on, so the “done” draft ended up being fairly clean. When I keep going back and fiddling, I make less of a mess for myself at the end of the process. Another thing that I think worked in my favor for the editing process was that a) I enjoy editing, especially since I edit as I go. b) I made of list of things I needed to add/tweak as I finishing the book up, which made it far easier to go back and run through.

I’m not going to lie, I really like this book. The emotional arcs for Felipe and Oliver are as important as the mystery. There’s a bit less action than the last book, but I feel like that’s to be expected and is ultimately good for balance since I don’t want the feel of the books to be too homogenous/identical. It’s about coming to terms with being chronically ill/disabled, realizing you can be loved as an autistic person without changing who you are, setting boundaries, and how medicine can uphold white supremacy. Sadly, these things don’t look sexy on a marketing picture, so I rarely get to talk about them, but those are the core things the book is about.

Hopes for October

  • Post/market consistently before The Reanimator’s Soul releases October 24th
  • Do all the paperback setup for The Reanimator’s Soul once I have the final cover
  • Have a great launch for The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Write side/follow-up story for my newsletter subscribers (TRM #2.5)
  • Get ball rolling on the audiobook of The Reanimator’s Soul
  • Read 8 books
  • Send out my October newsletter
  • Finish putting together my Halloween plastic canvas village sets (I have one building left and need to hot glue others together)
  • Decide if I want to do anything NaNoWriMo related in November, despite it being a month from hell for me usually (aka is Kara feeling masochistic)
10 queer books to read after pride month 10 Queer Books to Read After Pride Month
Book Reviews

10 Queer Books to Read After Pride Month

Kara Jorgensen1 Comment

Somehow I forgot to write a post about books to read during Pride Month leading up to it, but we should be reading queer books all year long. Before the month ends, here are some queer books I read within the past six months that you should check out now and after June is over.

  1. She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat by Sakaomi Yuzaki- This is a super cute sapphic manga featuring an office worker who loves to cook and a truck driver with a large appetite. When Nomoto cooks more than she can eat, she invites her neighbor, Kasuga, over to share it and kicks off their friendship. And as the women get closer, they realize their relationship might be more. It is an ongoing manga series.
  2. The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw– a horror novella about a mermaid and a nonbinary plague doctor who stumble upon children in the woods who are being preyed upon by “gods.” It’s a story about the inhumanity of humans and the brutality (and beauty) of nature. The story is also a horror riff on what should have been the aftermath of The Little Mermaid. It was phenomenal.
  3. This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone- I don’t care that this was all over Twitter and Tiktok; it was so good. It’s a novella told from the perspective of two time-hopping agents who are working for opposite factions in a time war, order and chaos. As the two agents start leaving letters for each other, they grow dangerously close. The story is so well woven and layered that it kept me on the edge of my seat ’til the end.
  4. The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz- This is a young adult graphic novel about a young woman who disguises herself as a man in order to inherit her father’s title after his death. When she returns to the capital, she is supposed to be keeping a low profile, but the allure of fashion and the princess’s gala is too much to resist. She is attracted to the princess’s activism and passion draws her to her, but she may not be able to keep her secret much longer. This story was so cute, and I loved the way Muniz balances a Regency-esque style with modern devices like a Nintendo Switch.
  5. The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles- If you liked Poldark but wish he was gay and less… him, this one is for you. Joss and Gareth have been secretly meeting, though they don’t know each other’s names. After breaking up, they quickly realize they are neighbors as Gareth moves into his late-estranged father’s house in the town where Joss runs the local smuggling ring. Can an uptight baronet and a smuggler figure out what his father was up to before Gareth ends up paying for his crimes? Gareth and Joss are great compliments for each other, and I loved them immensely, even if I wanted to smack their heads together.
  6. A Novel Arrangement by Arden Powell- As soon as Elizabeth and Arthur get engaged, there is friction between her and his best friend, Coxley. Determined to find a truce, Elizabeth and Coxley try to become friends and find that sometimes a love triangle can become why choose? There’s also a boudoir painting, magic, and blackmail. I loved how 2/3 of the main characters are creative types, and the dynamic between the three of them is absolutely lovely.
  7. Sword Dance by AJ Demas- I haven’t read many historical romances set in an Ancient Greek-esque setting, but I absolutely loved it. Damiskos is a disabled ex-soldier who stumbles into a party at an old friend’s house that is more than it seems. The person who draws his eye is eunuch and sword-dancer, Varazda, but they are more than they seem. Drawn together against a common enemy, Damiskos and Varazda must work together to solve a murder and prevent something far worse. Once again, I loved their dynamic, and I adored the novelty of this story being set in the ancient world. This is the first book in a trilogy, so we get a happy for now ending.
  8. A Garter as a Lesser Gift by Aster Glenn Grey- This story is a retelling of Gawain and the Green Knight but set during WWII. It still has that stylized quality of a Brenton lais during parts of it, which I loved. Briarley, Grey’s Beauty and the Beast retelling is one of my absolute favorite queer books of all time, and this story feels similar, though a little less dramatic. In this case, we end up a polyamorous, why choose situation between Gawain and his illustrious hosts.
  9. Last Gender by Rei Taki- is a three volume manga series about Bar California, a queer sex club where members can explore who they are. The volumes are broken down into vignettes about each character where we learn more about specific flavors of queerness, including aromantic, bisexual, queer, transgender, gender nonconforming, etc. At times, it feels informational rather than character driven, but I enjoyed the ways the stories wove together and how we get to see more sides of Japanese queer culture.
  10. A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow- This is the second book in the Fractured Fairytales series (and you should read book one for context) where we find Zinnia universe hopping and rescuing princesses until her actions start to break the multiverse. When she stumbles into the wrong fairytale and ends up face-to-face with Snow White’s Evil Queen, who is also quite a hottie by the way even if she is a bit evil, she begins to question everything she knows about fairytales. This series also has a chronically ill, sapphic main character and queer side characters.