REBECCA LANGHAM
  • Home
  • Rebecca Langham
    • Bio
    • SERIES: The Outsider Project
    • Novellas
    • Interviews
    • Contact
  • KARA RIPLEY
    • About Kara
    • Romance Stories
  • ceLEStial book reviews

review: sisters of the vast black by nina rather

30/8/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Review originally published in Aurealis Magazine. 

Genre:
Sci fi
Queer content?:
Yes. F/F. 


​Sisters of the Vast Black teases readers with a futuristic world, a disconcerting mosaic of cultures, planets, and political developments of which we only see the edges. This, however, is the reality of most people and groups, their lives irreparably damaged by the machinations of higher powers, yet never directly engaging with those powers.

The Earth Central Governance, a once imposing and oligarchic force, has become obsolete in a galaxy peppered with colonies that stretch into the most remote corners of known space. Obsolete, that is, until a new religious regime lends its support to the ECG, reigniting Earth’s desire and propensity for inter-planetary dominance. As nuns dedicated to the administering of rites and healing in areas beyond the reach of Earth’s floundering government, the small crew of the Our Lady of Impossible Constellations prefer to focus on what good they can do for others, and for their ship. But as the Church works to re-establish androcentric control over orders such as theirs, simultaneously bolstering the ECG, such micro-level concerns dissolve.

Intriguing, complex and convincing, Rather’s characters build and secure the quality of this story. The sisters, each driven or haunted in their own way, gently invite readers into their world of deep space. In particular, Sister Gemma’s budding romance with a female engineer aboard another vessel, coupled with the Mother Superior’s disquieting origin story, hold the reader in place throughout a generally slow-paced narrative. This is not a novella that relies upon fireworks or explosions, but rather excellent characterisation and provocative worldbuilding.

The ship that protects the Order of Saint Rita must also be counted among these vibrant and fleshy characters. Though living creatures as space ships has become a common trope, Rather’s exploration of the breeding and manipulation of these ships introduces a fresh and somewhat unsettling perspective. She illuminates the paradox of human relationships with environments, the simultaneous love for, and abuse of, the natural world.
​
Sisters of the Vast Black is a strong debut from an author well-worth following in the future.

0 Comments

REVIEW: EVE OF ERIDU BY ALANAH ANDREWS

22/3/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
This review was originally published in AUREALIS MAGAZINE.
Young Adult
NIL Queer Content

_______________________________


‘Birth. Delivery. Dedication. Harvest. Pairing. Transfer. The six milestones in life…’




Most societies impress expectations upon their young adults, pre-requisites for the ultimate rite of passage. In Eridu, however, those expectations include the need to suppress all intense emotions, to maintain only tenuous connections with others, and to actively maintain a repressive hierarchy.

Alanah Andrews’s dystopian tale follows a few defining months in the life of Eve, an adolescent on the cusp of adulthood. For years Eve has seemed the ideal student: obedient, productive and, most importantly, unfeeling. Unfeeling, that is, until her ‘brother’, Luc, fails the harvest and as happens to all of the unworthy, is culled--his consciousness permanently separated from his body. As Eve experiences grief for the first time, she begins to question the indoctrination she has faithfully adhered to her whole life. Told in first person and present tense, readers are softly drawn, just as Eve, into a brave new world of emotion and societal intrigue.

With narrative devices reminiscent of Orwell, Huxley, and Collins, Eve of Eridu explores complex themes whilst distilling some of sci-fi’s best tropes to make them palatable for a younger audience. Transhumanism, distorted socialism, and stoicism are at the forefront of the story, but the book also explores hints of a futuristic style of totalitarianism. Eve of Eridu engages readers on an intellectual level, asking them to face questions about the nature, consequences, and, limitations, of our own humanity, whilst also keeping readers thoroughly entertained.
​
This book will appeal mostly to young adult readers, but there’s more than enough stimulation here to keep readers of any age interested in the fate of Eve, Luc, and the underground city of Eridu.

​Buy it HERE.

0 Comments

NEW RELEASE: WINTER MASQUERADE BY KEVIN KLEHR

21/1/2020

0 Comments

 

Title: Winter Masquerade
Author: Kevin Klehr
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: January 20, 2020
Heat Level: 2 - Fade to Black Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 32800
Genre: Fantasy, LGBT, Romance, fantasy, gay, party, musicians, mythical creatures, trial, judge, alternative universe

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis


Ferris wakes on the Sea Queen, an enchanted cruise ship sailing on a chocolate sea. He has no idea how he got here, but he desperately wants to go home to his boyfriend.

The alchemist is the only person who can help Ferris, but he’s been kidnapped. The ransom is high tea with scones and jam.

Meanwhile, the passengers are gearing up for the Winter Masquerade, a ball where love and magic reign.

With a murderous musician, an absent boyfriend, and a mystical party, Ferris soon learns that Wednesday is not the day to fall in love.

Excerpt


Winter Masquerade
Kevin Klehr © 2020
All Rights Reserved

Pitch black. Then candlelight. One lonely flame lit the face of a plump-faced man in a robe.

“How did I get here?” I asked.

“That’s not important right now,” the monk replied. “It’s where you’re going.” He reached for a journal, which sat on the stool to his right, and set the candle in its place. He flipped several pages and held it to the flame. “Are you fond of voyages?”

I shook like nervous prey. “I really need to know how I got here.”

“You’re a troubled man in need of rest and recreation. And a healthy dose of self-reflection.”

“But—”

“I wish you’d stop asking questions. You’ve never bothered listening to those who’ve responded.”

Harmonious chants filled the silence. These men’s voices calmed me, even though a dozen questions still needed answering.

Another light appeared coming from a round window. I shuffled toward it. There I was in the dark on the other side. I lay sleeping.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet the Author


Kevin lives with his husband, Warren, in their humble apartment (affectionately named Sabrina), in Australia’s own ‘Emerald City,’ Sydney.

His tall tales explore unrequited love in the theatre district of the Afterlife, romance between a dreamer and a realist, and a dystopian city addicted to social media.

His first novel, Drama Queens with Love Scenes, spawned a secondary character named Guy. Many readers argue that Guy, the insecure gay angel, is the star of the Actors and Angels book series. His popularity surprised the author. The third in this series, Drama Queens and Devilish Schemes, scored a Rainbow Award (judged by fans of queer fiction) for Best Gay Alternative Universe/Reality novel.

So, with his fictional guardian angel guiding him, Kevin hopes to bring more whimsical tales of love, life and friendship to his readers.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Vimeo

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Blog Button 2
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    ABOUT C.B.

    CURRENTLY ON HIATUS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDY AND WORK. 

    Book reviews, Author Q&As and more as shared by an Australian lesbian. My core interests lie in genre fiction: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror etc.
    ​
    My aim is to help provide more exposure to those books that  may not fit neatly into the usual "lesfic" boxes (EG: pansexual women who engage with different aspects of their sexuality, non-binary characters, books with very little romance etc.) or books that don't conform to the most popular tropes that tend to dominate the LGBTIQ+ publishing world.

    That said, I'll put up pretty much any review that I'd like to share. Most will have some sort of rainbow content, but not all. I am a reader who likes to talk about books -- that's really what this little corner of the web is for, to talk about books.

    ​Email: celestialbooks [AT] rebeccalangham.com.au


    Archives

    August 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    July 2016

    Categories

    All
    1. # Submit A Book
    Ace Rep
    Action/Adventure
    Anime & Manga
    Anthologies
    Australian Author
    Author Q&A
    BDSM
    Beneath The Surface
    Bisexual
    Bisexual F/F
    Bisexual M/F
    Bisexual M/M
    Blog Post
    Book Review
    Book Trailer
    Book Updates
    Comic Books/Graphic Novels
    Contemporary Fiction
    Cops
    Crime Fiction
    Dystopian
    Fade To Black
    Fairy Tales
    Fantasy
    F/F/F
    Five Stars
    Gender Neutral
    Give Away
    Guest Blog
    Historical Fiction
    Horror Novels
    Intersex Characters
    Journalists
    Kara Ripley
    Lesbian Sci Fi
    Literary Fiction
    Love Triangle
    M/M/F
    M/M Fiction
    MPREG
    Mystery
    Mythology
    New Release
    NineStar Press
    Non Binary
    No Pairing
    Pansexual
    Paranormal
    Pirates
    Polyamorous
    Post-Apocalyptic
    Release Day Blitz
    Religious Themes
    Reviews By Kaelan
    Reviews By L.A.
    Reviews By Rebecca
    Romance Novels
    Science Fiction
    Self-Published
    Space Opera
    Speculative Fiction
    Spy Stories
    Superheroes
    Third Gender
    Thriller
    Time Travel
    Trans Rep
    Urban Fantasy
    Vampires
    Western
    Wolves
    Writing
    Young Adult
    Zombies

    RSS Feed

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.