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Sleek and streamlined, this is a story optimized for speed. It's a quick read, but not a vapid one. The characters are deftly rendered in minimalist strokes and the plot moves forward quickly and inexorably, like an endurance run. Crossing the finish line is well worth it.

Zoe Storm writes a great transition-romance story today, and this is one of her earliest forays. Which is to say: it's simple, straightforward, and well-executed. It's light on the startling insights into the human condition but the characters are well drawn, the conflicts paced nicely, and the plot pays off in a wholly satisfying way. It's an early work, but it's still a solid creative effort.

Villaneuve draws some deft characters with maddening hangups crashing into each other's lives, wanting to connect while not wanting to want to connect because they have so many other bigger priorities. It's profoundly satisfying to see them get over themselves.

(Also there are girls kissing which is my only barometer of quality any more.)

This book series started as a jokey premise but it grew into something much more and in its third installment it is blossoming into incredible colour, incisive commentary, and challenging themes. Greaves continues to deliver powerful plotting, charming prose, and fascinating character portraits.

I'd say I cannot wait to see where this goes but I'm going to have to wait regardless.

I love this series and honestly have trouble remembering what's in Book One and what's in Book Two, it all squishes together in a big ball of awesomesauce.

This feels like one of those jokes that went too far and then struck gold. It takes a very niche story trope—there's a secret conspiracy feminizing young men into girls!—and turns it on its ear—a trans girl discovers the conspiracy and accidentally-on-purpose gets herself "captured." But then it peoples this whacky story with a raft of deftly-drawn and inescapably human characters, a labyrinthine backstory, and a compelling day-to-day progression of multiple plotlines. And the end result is one of the most incisive examinations of dysphoria ever produced. I cannot recommend this book (and its sequels) highly enough!

Storm takes this absolutely absurd premise and makes it work—the protagonist is believable, the plot development inevitable, the unfolding revelations and romance are beautiful. There is no small measure of humour, as well, and deep wells of compassion for all of us humans stuck in such an absurd world as this. A truly marvelous book.

I love novellas and I wish there were more of them in the world. This light read follows a "tea monk" on a spiritual journey where they meet a robot and they learn things. It's cozy, it's quaint, it's a joy to read.

A lovely example of the genre "okay they're both in love but they're too stupid to realize it." Obliviousness is one of Storm's most finely-honed specialties, and she wields it like a painter a brush and a surgeon a scalpel. The characters are well put together, and I have an especial love for the protagonist's unquestioningly supportive family. I am confident I will go back and read this one again.

Auto-returned to the library. Back in the hold queue for me...

Can't believe this absolute unit of a book doesn't have many reviews. Tons of vibrant characters, loads of twisty plots, and all presented in incisive and delightful prose. It's MASSIVE and took me literal months to finish, but it's so worth it!

I'm still digesting this one, but I massively enjoyed reading it. The characterization and worldbuilding are top-notch and done with an exceedingly deft hand.