Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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I love inappropriate moments. They’re my favourite moments.

The Raven Scholar: The Eternal Path Book #1 by Antonia Hodgson

March 26, 2026 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

Petty grudges are an excellent spur to action. ― Antonia Hodgson, The Raven Scholar “Fascinating,” the emperor said, rubbing his mouth as he took in her appearance. Fascinating was another of those court words, like astonishing, and remarkable, but even worse. Never fascinate an emperor. ― Antonia Hodgson, The Raven Scholar Neema Kraa is happy with her job as an imperial junior archivist and calligrapher. She is proud of how much she has achieved on her own. That’s what people say when they learn of […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Mystery Tagged With: Antonia Hodgson, autistic rep, Classism, exes to lovers, folklore, found family, Loners & Outcasts, nepotism, nobility, reluctant hero, Winner Takes All, wrongfully accused

carmelpie's CBR18 Review No:17 · Genres: Fantasy, Mystery · Tags: Antonia Hodgson, autistic rep, Classism, exes to lovers, folklore, found family, Loners & Outcasts, nepotism, nobility, reluctant hero, Winner Takes All, wrongfully accused ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

I’m crying because I was just in a bloody battle. I hated every second of it and I would not recommend it to a friend.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

October 18, 2024 by carmelpie Leave a Comment

“Studying for what?” “Um. Everything? My future,” Gabriel said. Arthur’s instinct was to laugh, but he managed to keep himself in check. “You’re studying for life? For your life? Is there a—is there a how-to guide for monarchs? Tips and tricks for subjugating the masses? Prevent a revolt in ten easy steps?” ― Lex Croucher, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love “If you wanted to come and find me, I’ve actually been pretty stationary. You know. Nearly dying.” ― Lex Croucher, Gwen & Art […]

Filed Under: Fiction Tagged With: arranged marriage, Arthurian legend, Camelot, cbr16bingo, enemies to friends, England, English Royalty, forbidden love, gay romance, lesbian romance, Lex Croucher, medieval england, queer romance, reluctant hero

carmelpie's CBR16 Review No:80 · Genres: Fiction · Tags: arranged marriage, Arthurian legend, Camelot, cbr16bingo, enemies to friends, England, English Royalty, forbidden love, gay romance, lesbian romance, Lex Croucher, medieval england, queer romance, reluctant hero ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

James looked like a consumptive heroine from a painting, the kind that dies beautifully.

Dark Heir (Dark Rise book 2) by C.S. Pacat

July 17, 2024 by carmelpie 7 Comments

CBR16 Bingo: Dun Dun “What a pity you have two saviours and they’re both useless.” ― C.S. Pacat, Dark Heir They called him the king’s blade in the shadows, though none knew the deeds that he was tasked to perform, or guessed that while many of the king’s victories were celebrated in the sun, they were won in the dark. ― C.S. Pacat, Dark Heir There was something impossible about his beauty. He suited the sunset, as if he was part of the light that […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction Tagged With: anti-hero, antihero, Book Exchange 2023, c.s. pacat, cbr16bingo, fated romance, hero's journey, queer romance, reluctant hero, the Chosen One, victorian england

carmelpie's CBR16 Review No:63 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction · Tags: anti-hero, antihero, Book Exchange 2023, c.s. pacat, cbr16bingo, fated romance, hero's journey, queer romance, reluctant hero, the Chosen One, victorian england ·
Rating:
· 7 Comments

Enter the IKEA-verse

FINNA by Nino Cipri

March 25, 2024 by carmelpie 7 Comments

“Of course Jules was alive, they had never faced a challenge whose ass they couldn’t kick, and they had the stores of righteous rage that all retail employees collected.” ― Nino Cipri, Finna “It’s okay,” Jules said. They looked….not calm, exactly, but not scared. They looked, as they had for most of their trip, thrilled that they weren’t getting misgendered while answering customers’ stupid questions about how much weight a towel rod could really hold. ― Nino Cipri, Finna Ava works at LitenVärld and she […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Science Fiction Tagged With: evils of capitalism, exes, multiverse, nino cipri, novella, reluctant hero, retail hell, soul sucking job, transgender characters, wormholes

carmelpie's CBR16 Review No:28 · Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction · Tags: evils of capitalism, exes, multiverse, nino cipri, novella, reluctant hero, retail hell, soul sucking job, transgender characters, wormholes ·
Rating:
· 7 Comments

The meter of the poem fired his blood until he was a molten core. The hammer’s song was a charm for living, a way to keep singing himself into existence.

The Winter Knight by Jes Battis

January 29, 2024 by carmelpie 2 Comments

The word eôel meant home turf. People trust home. Through years of investigation, her grandmother had learned that what people told you depended on where you talked to them. Lies for every space, but occasionally a truth snuck its way in.” ― Jes Battis, The Winter Knight When she had interviewed him, she’d traced a discreet rune on his phone case. It was sketchy magic, but it should have given her access to the phone’s GPS. The problem was that it wasn’t working. His location […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Featured, Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: Arthurian legend, Camelot, Jes Battis, king arthur, Knights and knighthood, medieval fantasy, Medieval Fiction, murder mystery, mythology and legends, queer author, Queer characters, queer fantasy, reluctant hero, trans character, Urban Fantasy, Vancouver

carmelpie's CBR16 Review No:8 · Genres: Fantasy, Featured, Fiction, Mystery · Tags: Arthurian legend, Camelot, Jes Battis, king arthur, Knights and knighthood, medieval fantasy, Medieval Fiction, murder mystery, mythology and legends, queer author, Queer characters, queer fantasy, reluctant hero, trans character, Urban Fantasy, Vancouver ·
Rating:
· 2 Comments


Recent Comments

  • Madame Anna
    on I accidentally started an alien smut series, and now I can’t stop!
    You need to read the prequel series! Ice Plant Barbarians. It's awesome and explains everything before Lauren's Barbarian! I'm sure...
  • Jennifer
    on These Things are Like Potato Chips
    I agree with you about the ending, however I'm referring to your review.
  • Zirza
    on Another Group of Old Friends That All Actually Hate Each Other
    I feel ya! I liked this book but there are a lot of things that I had to overlook. It's...
  • Zirza
    on What will people think of us 100 years from now?
    Interesting! As someone who went on a bit of a McEwan bender some 10-15 years ago I wonder how it...
  • Jacob
    on What an absolute waste of a great book cover.
    I feel the same way. Super frustrated with the story right now after the third sister just died. Was looking...
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