REVIEW: CARMILLA & LAURA BY S.D. SIMPER

12/2/2019

REVIEWED BY L.A. ASHTON

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pairings: F/F

Queer Rep: Lesbian

Warnings: Violence, some gore

Synopsis

In the late 19th century, Laura lives a lonely life in a schloss by the forest, Styria, with only her doting father and two governesses for company. A chance accident brings a new companion, however – the eccentric and beautiful Carmilla.

With charm unparalleled and habits as mysterious as her history, Carmilla’s allure is undeniable, drawing Laura closer with every affectionate touch and word. Attraction blossoms into a temptation Laura fears to name, a tantalizing passion burning brighter than the fires of hell. But when a mysterious plague begins stealing the lives of young women in her home and the village beyond, Laura wrestles to reconcile the truth – that the gentle, fragile woman she loves may be a monster cast out of heaven.

General

“Carmilla and Laura” is a retelling of the classic vampire novella “Carmilla” written by J Sheridan LeFanu. If one thing is certain, it is the love S. D. Simper feels for the original. This story was crafted dearly and devoutly, the essence of the original sewn between lines and pages while casting light on the queer relationship we all want to see. The prose is gorgeous—perfectly fitting and a joy to read—and the story and pacing are a sight for a sore heart. Anyone interested in vampires, sapphic tales, or just plain pretty writing should be giving this novella their attention.

Plot

I don’t want to ruin how the story unfolds. The synopsis does an excellent job of encapsulating the story, and it is told in an interesting and rewarding manner. I was always ready for more words, more Carmilla, more Laura. Every scene was a treat, as it didn’t meander or drag out unnecessarily. It was succinct without feeling rushed, atmospheric without dragging on.

Setting

This author knows how to write. She twists the natural and opulent around the reader’s mind without a fuss, painting vivid pictures and sweeping them off to this secluded setting. I was at ease while reading; I could practically feel the sunlight on my skin and hear the rustle of the trees. I sensed the loneliness that surrounded Laura in her mansion of a home, and felt the cloud of warmth and vibrance Carmilla carried with her.

Characters

I love both the female leads. Even Carmilla, whose affection could be seen as calculating or over the top, felt genuine to me. I don’t know how the author did it—underpinned her flamboyant nature with enough truth that we could feel it—but she did. Perhaps it was because of what Laura could see. Laura was our lifeline, our eyes and hearts. I so badly wanted the best for her. I wanted her to have her most happy ending, and to be free of all the things that shackled her. She was an intensely relatable character, and seeing her receive love was completely fulfilling.

I can’t recommend this novella enough. I recommended before I had even finished it, and then I recommended it some more. It really is a sweep-you-off-your-feet tale. It has hope and light and edges of darkness and shared turmoil. It feels like being swept into an intimate waltz with love and death, and I enjoyed every step of the dance.

My Rating: 5 stars!

S D Simper’s official site is here, and her twitter is this way.

Note: I am an Amazon Associate and I am using affiliate links. These do not affect you or my reviews.

Buy From Amazon (and available to read free with Kindle Unlimited!)

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review: princeless - Raven the pirate princess by jeremy whitley

6/1/2019

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Genre: fantasy (comic book)

Pairings: f/f

Queer Representation: cis lesbian

Warnings: none

Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by Anon.

Okay so I don’t generally like comics. I’d much rather make the images in my head than let them be made for me on the page (and comic reading slows me down, so I can’t read as fast as I would like). But wow, was this worth it!

Book one covers the story of Pirate Princess Raven, out for revenge against her brother and fathers who thought she was better off locked in a tower, guarded by a dragon, than inheriting her father’s pirating business. We get to see Raven collect her motley crew, get a decent number of origin stories, and get the first hint of romance (yay!) between Raven and Sunshine.

The comic has all the good stuff. Action. Adventure. Kissing. Various body sizes. More than one skin tone. Solid voice. The crew are diverse and three dimensional and oh-so bingeworthy. We’ve got a chemist (yay!) who loves to make things explode, a mapmaker with an axe to grind, a half-elf thief/dancer (YES PLEASE), and ‘the muscle’, a Brienne of Tarth character, for the Game of Thrones fans out there. Raven herself is a pirate princess I would follow anywhere. Seriously, sign me up for the next voyage.

The art style as well (by Rosy Higgins and Ted Brandt) is detailed without being overwhelming. It flows well with the writing and the panels aren’t so overwhelmed with detail that you get bogged down in looking (and then get distracted from the story).

I promptly went and bought the second book after finishing the first. I’d suggest buying the whole series, because it is really hard to put the comic down. High tension on the high seas for sure. BUY IT!

You can snag your own pirate princess and her crew of misfits here in paperback and here in ebook.

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NEW RELEASE: FINDING AURORA

24/12/2018

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Title: Finding Aurora

Author: Rebecca Langham

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: December 24, 2018

Heat Level: 1 - No Sex

Pairing: Female/Female

Length: 20500

Genre: Fantasy, royalty, magic, action, fantasy, fairy tale

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Synopsis

Aurora Rose slumbers in the city of Oldpass, a cursed kingdom once allied with Grimvein. The victim of a malicious spell, she is powerless to control her own fate. At least, that’s how the story goes.

Now, as Grimvein faces attack, Prince Amir has been tasked with the life-threatening rescue of Aurora, his parents hopeful he will marry the princess and secure safety for their kingdom. Talia, the strongest spellcaster in the known lands, protects and guides the prince in his quest to save a woman that threatens to change their lives forever.

In finding Aurora, the pair will realise the truth about themselves and each other, coming to understand just what—and who—they really want in life.

Excerpt

Finding Aurora

I doubt there was even one person in Grimvein who hadn’t heard the story of the sleeping princess. There were those who claimed she’d died a century ago and the curse was merely a story to maintain hope of her well-being. Amir and I knew better. Somewhere beneath the layers of magic and goddess-knew-how-many demonic guardians in Oldpass, Princess Aurora Rose slept. The problem was getting to her.

“Looks like the map was accurate.” Amir tucked the frayed parchment inside his leather vest and then stepped closer to the colossal boulder in front of us. “This entry is well concealed. Most people would walk right by without realising.”

I had to agree. We were deep within the forest to the east of Oldpass. The path we’d been following for over a week had disappeared hours earlier, replaced by mossy undergrowth and grasses. The sweet scent of drenched wisteria had been overpowering, though not as overpowering as the menacing darkness that seemed to swallow natural sounds one would expect to hear in such a place. No birds twittering. No dripping condensation. Not even so much as a rustling branch. If not for Amir’s orienteering skill and the importance of our quest, I’d have turned back.

“Does it open the old-fashioned way, Highness?” I indicated the door with my chin. Embedded in the rock and camouflaged, the ingress was almost unnoticeable, but we could make out the bevelled edges.

I sensed no magic surrounding the rock formation, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t any. I might have been one of the strongest casters in the five kingdoms, but I was still mortal. There’s only so much one person confined by flesh can know. Or see. Or do.

Amir ran his hand through his shoulder-length black hair. His rather wonderful, lustrous, shoulder-length black hair.

“Let’s see.” He pressed both his palms against the smooth surface, bracing his feet against the leaf-covered ground. Something whirred deep inside the boulder and clicked as though a latch had been released. He stepped back as the rectangular slab skulked off to the side, like a sword disappearing into its sheath. “It appears the answer would be yes, it does open the old-fashioned way. Sort of.”

“I must admit, I had my doubts.”

“As did I,” he replied, scratching at the stubble on his chin. In all the years I’d been acquainted with the prince, he’d always been clean-shaven, and the rugged growth on his face, as charming as it looked, seemed to irritate him more and more. “It seems too convenient there could be an underground passage that would take us beneath the outer walls.” His hands held on to the rock as he leaned forward, peering inside. His soft leather boots gripped his defined calves as he did. “It’s quite dark in here. Do you have that magnificent bauble of yours?” He withdrew from the opening and turned to face me.

I gaped at him. “Prince Amir, the moonbeam stone is no mere bauble. And yes, of course I do. I’ll let the honour of first entry be yours.”

He bowed slightly, his hand over his heart. “Why, thank you, caster.” He returned his attention to the opening. “In we go.”

I followed him closely as we left the fresh air and crunching leaves of the forest behind. Inside, the darkness was thick and the air acrid. I slipped my moonbeam stone out of a pouch clipped to my belt. With a thought, I willed it to life. A soft yellow light emanated from the stone.

“Oh no,” I said. As though the enclosed room had heard me, the door behind us slid outward from its cavity, closing fast and hard.

“It seems we’re trapped.” Typical Amir. Always so calm. He walked around the room. “But surely there is a way from here into the tunnel. This must be a kind of annex.” I admired the fact that no matter how hopeless or scared Amir might have felt, he was always able to focus on the task at hand, putting his feelings aside until a more appropriate time presented itself.

“Mmmhmm.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, willing away the tension that had taken up residence there. I grabbed the small flask attached to my belt, just above my left hip. The water soothed my throat and afforded a distraction from the momentary sense of panic.

“Talia, I need your help over here,” Amir said. His voice was steady, but the shade of his cheeks betrayed bubbling anxiety.

“Yes, Highness.” I took one more sip of water from my flask, clipped it onto my leather belt, and wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. By the goddess, that place was hot. I wondered if we might have found the first level of the underworld rather than the subterranean passageway into Oldpass.

“That’s twice in as many minutes,” Amir said, gently elbowing me as I joined him. “I keep telling you to stop calling me that. We’ve been travelling together for over two weeks. The formalities are unnecessary by now, wouldn’t you agree?” He smiled, and I couldn’t help but smile back. As the Leading Caster of Grimvein, I’d been assigned to help Amir on a journey the public needed to believe he’d taken on his own. So far, my magical services had been of little use, aside from starting a few campfires when we were especially impatient to eat our evening meal.

“Yes, Highness.” I bit my lower lip. “Amir. Sorry, it’s a force of habit.”

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Meet the Author

Rebecca Langham lives in the Blue Mountains (Australia) with her partner, three children, and menagerie of pets. A Xenite, a Whovian and all-round general nerd, she’s a lover of science fiction, comic books, and caffeine. When she isn’t teaching History to high schoolers or wrangling children, Rebecca enjoys playing broomball and reading.