Review Time! - The Sigil by Shakeil Kanish and Larissa Mandeville

Title: The Sigil

Author: Shakeil Kanish, Larissa Mandeville


Genre: Young Adult (New Adult crossover appeal,) Fantasy, Witches(-ish,) LGBTQ+ (relationships: M/M, side M/F, refs to F/F)

Buy with Amazon.com

Nerd Church - The Only Valentine I Ever Got

 

The only Valentine I've ever actually received was when I was five or six years old.

It was on the back of half a birthday card, which I still oh-so-clearly remember the flowers on, and I believe was written in red pencil. 

It was definitely some form of pencil - maybe my brain just made up the red part, I dunno.

Comics Wrap-Up - To Give You and Me the Ability To Scream Our Voice

 

It's Thursday. It's 2020. Let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Everything is once again in the 'other stuff' category for which we will #BlameLoki (with good reason, this time!)

Everything is also really Queer this week - which, of course, I'm here for. And that's also partly Loki's fault 😉

From My TBR: 15 Young Adult and Middle Grade Books By Black Authors

 

(Warning: this post references racism and police brutality)

There are three important reasons for me writing this post:

1. Black Lives still Matter.

2. It's always a good time to highlight diverse books.

and 3. There are so many amazing Black creators out there, who don't always get the recognition they deserve.

So here's a small selection of some of the Young Adult (YA) and Middle Grade (MG) books on my TBR list that were written by Black authors.

For those of you who don't know the book-blog lingo - a TBR is a 'to-be-read' list. Mine is immortal and cannot be stopped. Send help.

For those of you who are British like me, and/or haven't heard the book blogging term, Middle Grade books are those aimed at (roughly) ages 8-12, or 8-14, depending who you ask.

(Quick disclaimer: obviously, I haven't read these books, just their synopses, so I don't know what they're like in terms of content, quality, etc.)

I hope you find something to add to your own TBR, and remember to support Black authors, and other Black creators.

There're so many talented Black authors out there who deserve our attention!

Friday Fics Fix - Pride Fics Fest: Queer Canon!

Welcome back to Pride Fics Fest dearest nerdlets!

This week we're gonna look at those oh-so-amazing canonically Queer characters and relationships, and fanfiction that celebrates that.

For those who don't know, canon is the official stuff that's actually in the book or TV series or film or whatever, explicitly...

...as opposed to stuff where you have to scramble around in the sub-text, or stuff which fandom picks up and Queers all on its lonesome ;)

Let's start with the horror masterpiece I will never shut up about: 2009's unapologetically Queer Megan Fox film, Jennifer's Body.

In 2009, there was a girl named Jennifer Check, and in 2019 I rec'd Big Red by spheeris1 - a fic that is essentially a love letter to this under-appreciated film.

(Seriously, I'm never gonna shut up about this film! I love it so much!)

Comics Wrap-Up - Such A Surreal Place To See

It's Thursday, the world is all kinds of messed up, we def. need another portion of superhero and comics-y goodness!

Month In Review(s) - April 2020

(Warning: this post discusses Covid 19/Coronavirus, and Anxiety)

April 2020.

Um... yeah... 

(I know it's the 13th of May - I'm disorganised, and you all know this.)

OK, plus side: I had fewer panic attacks this month!

I mean, I still had panic attacks, and a butt-tonne of Anxiety, but I had slightly less of it! Woo!

(Small victories, dearest nerdlets, small victories.)

Friday Fics Fix - Witches Loving Witches

'Ginny started to laugh. The Death Eater stopped walking. He was speaking angrily now, growling or snarling something.'

Argh, how do I explain this week's fic?!?!

Well, for a start, it turns out good F/F fics are like buses - nothing for ages, then they come along one after the other.

Comics Wrap-Up - Stealing Kisses From Your Missus, Does It Make You Freak Out?

It's Thursday, we're all still in need of some superheroes, so let's get some comics-y goodness!

And once again this week, everything I have for you is in the 'Other Stuff' category, for which we will blame Loki.

Friday Fics Fix - Some Happy Super-Sapphics For #LesbianVisibilityWeek

'“Nobody’s going to bother you if you’re sitting with us,” she promised. “I mean, they’ll probably say plenty, but Alex has this look that I swear could kill a man.”'

This week marks the first Lesbian Visibility Week an awesomely inclusive campaign to celebrate and support Queer people who ID as Lesbian, and Queer women in general.

So I figured fanfiction is Gay af, but also has some work to do when it comes to Queer girls (male Queer people and relationships tend to be written about more.)

So what better than to rec a fic this week which celebrates Lesbians and Queer girls?

Nerd Church - Watching 'Orange Is The New Black' In Lockdown

(Warning: this post discusses Coronavirus/Covid 19, and prison, and references drugs and death.)


You know all those shows that you just don't get around to for whatever reason? 

Orange Is The New Black was one of those for me.

So what better series to start when we can't go out, than one where they can't either, y'know? 

The UK is in Lockdown - we can only go out for specific reasons, which does currently include 1hr exercise, provided we practice social distancing, so we're better off than some.

Comics Wrap-Up - Maybe We Can Find A Place To Feel Good

It's Thursday, we still need superheroes, so let's get some comics-y goodness!

Friday Fics Fix - HP Halloween Begins!

'Malfoy looks shocked, like a deer caught in headlights, nowhere to run and just staring wide eyed at Ron, pushing Harry towards him. Suddenly Hermione realises what Luna meant: the bet.'

It's October! Which means a whole month's worth of Harry Potter fanfiction, 'Friday Fics Fix' posts, here at Dora Reads!

(Because that way I can avoid Halloween-themed fics and therefore hopefully avoid reading things I can't un-read. 😅)

Comics Wrap-Up - I Couldn't Bear The Thought of Leavin' Her

It's Thursday! Time to get your cape and cowl and enjoy some superhero-y goodness!

Comics Wrap-Up - Troubled Love and High-Speed Noise

It's Thursday. I have no idea how we got so far through the week. Let's get some superhero-y goodness!

Review Time! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Watersnakes by Tony Sandoval

Title: Watersnakes

Author: Tony Sandoval

Genres: Graphic Novel, Fantasy*, Young Adult, Magic Realism, LGBTQ+ (F/F), Horror*, Ghost Story* (*ish) 

Amazon: UK – USA

Friday Fics Fix - In 2009, There Was a Girl Named Jennifer Check

'Because there is blood. And there is black stuff all over the floor.

And Jennifer is eyeing her like a dog does a bone, paws twitching and lips being licked.'

A decade ago, there was a film about two high school girls. And one of them ate boys.

And because it was unapologetically about Queer girls (this film is so Gay,) and because it was at least ten years ahead of its time, it was hated by critics and went unnoticed by the public for too long.

I've seen reviewers (mainly dudes, might I add,) talk sh** about it recently, of course, but the fact remains: this film is a f**king Queer Classic!

Review Time! - Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

Title: Tipping the Velvet

Author: Sarah Waters

Genres: Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+ (see below for rep,) (Modern) Classics, Romance(-ish)


Amazon: UK - USA

Friday Fics Fix - Girls' World

'"Maybe it’s not—," Ava started. A cone of flame whirled through the air. "Okay, maybe it is Mick."'

On International Women's Day, I think it's only appropriate to feature a fic about two of my favourite Queer female characters!

(I realise the link is maybe a little tenuous. But I don't actually care. I'm going with it 😎)

Comics Wrap-Up - For The Strong-Willed When The World Gives You A Raw Deal

Superheroes, anti-heroes, and girls kissing! Let's get going my nerdlets!