Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Lights Go Down

Hairspray and Switchblades by V. Castro

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Read as part of CBR15Bingo: Bodies, bodies. The book features a commentary about bodies, especially with regards to shapeshifting.  Shapeshifting is a popular trope in horror. It has its origins in Greco-Roman mythology (thanks Wikipedia!) but there are versions of it in a lot of other cultures. In contemporary horror, I’ve seen in featured several times in Latinx novels. It’s centered in this one. Shapeshifting is also sometimes used to tell a broader story about transformation. Maya, the central character here, is a stripper, as well […]

Second time is a charm

Nimona by N.D Stevenson

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I first read Nimona by N.D Stevenson in 2019 (but my version had their dead name). My main takeaway from this recent read was how the theme itself has not changed, but our perceptions of it might have. I know mine did. I didn’t even know what a dead name was four years ago. It would never have occurred to me that it is harmful to misgender or dead-name someone. In those few years, a lot has happened, and I hope I have grown past […]

Is this the final Grishaverse book? I hope not

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

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4.5 stars CBR13 Bingo: Fauna (dragon, wolf, falcon and fox on the cover) In this second part of the King of Scars duology, the stakes are ridiculously high, pretty much as soon as we start off. The book starts pretty much immediately after the end of King of Scars, and if you’re not caught up with all the books in the Grishaverse so far, this review will probably spoil things for you. Continue at your own risk. Nikolai Lantsov has made some peace with the […]

Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! Sardines!

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

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Do I like Nimona? Honestly? I am not sure. Let me start at the beginning: Nimona is a girl who invites herself to become the sidekick of Lord Ballister Blackheart, the infamous, has a pretty cool metal arm, villain of the village. Of course, nothing is black and white; there is a side story about Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and why Lord Blackheart became evil but also why Sir Goldenloin is the “hero,” plus our Nimona who is an “impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for […]

Myth, magic and monsters — what can be bad?

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This was my first foray into Ilona Andrew’s popular “urban fantasy” series, and it was a fun ride—like Jim Butcher’s Dresden files with a little more sex and a lot more kapow, if possible! Gunmetal Magic is apparently a spin-off from the main series, and is centered on the story of Andrea Nash, best friend of the serie’s main character and all-around badass Kate Daniels. Andrea is definitely no slouch, and has an interesting backstory that calls to us from the very first pages. Andrea and […]



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