Recent reading

[luzula]

The Martians by Kim Stanley Robinson
Reread. Short story collection wherein KSR writes fanfic of his own books, including fork-in-the-road AU:s. Actually most of the stories here are AU:s, even those that don't actually need to be in order to tell the story they're telling. They're AU:s in subtle details that you might not even notice if you haven't read the books recently; in some stories characters from subtly different world backgrounds actually meet and talk past each other about something that's different. Huh. My take on this is maybe that he wants to show that the future is always in flux? Anyway, if you like the Mars books you're going to like this as well. I like the 100-page-long story about an expedition that climbs the wall of Olympus Mons; it is very KSR.

A Fashionable Indulgence by K J Charles
I venture into the world of published M/M. This is a regency romance about a guy whose dad is from the gentry but who was brought up among political radicals; he is called back to take a place in society by his grandfather who's lost his other grandsons. Then he's torn between different desires and loyalties. I do appreciate that there even is a political angle; it's a nice change from Heyer books which rather look down on the lower classes. I also like that there's a plot aside from the romance. On the whole, I enjoyed this but it didn't blow me away; might try more by the same author.

Comments

[glitteryv]

FWIW, I think that A Fashionable Indulgence is the less interesting of all three books of that series. The second one (A Seditious Affair) ups the ante as far as the whole political aspect is concerned.

Personally, my fave is the 3rd one (A Gentleman's Position) because of the consensual power imbalance (the pairing is boss/employee) + competence kink.

You might want to check out Think of England (tw: racism) by the same author too.

KJ also has several books with POCs as the MCs--which is pretty rare for M/M historical romances.

(Basically, I've become a fan of hers and can't wait to, hopefully, one day read an F/F by her.)

:) #IvegotALLtheMMrecs #LOL

[luzula]

Ha ha yes, I know you have all the M/M recs. *g* Thanks for the input!

I notice now that I didn't even comment on what I thought about the romance in the book. I mean, I liked it fine? And I thought the sex was well written. But I think I was actually more interested in other aspects of the plot.

[glitteryv]

*Takes a bow* ;)

To me, the romance was a mix of soft and predictable. Mind you, I read Book 2 first then, Books 1 and 3 (as per someone's rec.)

[riverlight]

I found A Fashionable Indulgence enjoyable, but not quite as compelling as some of her other books. The next book in the series, though—A Seditious Affair—is one of my absolute favorites, so if you get a chance, I suggest going for that one too. It's even more overtly political, with a character who's a self-professed radical atheist. I found the characters much more likable and relatable, much more adult, which helps.

[luzula]

Second rec for this book! Thanks, I'll probably give it a try. : )

[falena]

I'm thirding the rec, fwiw.

I second the rec for "Think of England" too.

[luzula]

Good to know, thanks! : )

[baronjanus]

There is some KJ charles in my literature tag!

[luzula]

*goes to check the tag*

Thank you, it's good to get more opinions! : )