A.C. Buchanan

Spellcasting On is a quick read and the first in a new sapphic trilogy, but in Andi's typical lyrical style, there's a lot of brilliant story packed into it's pages.

I always leave Andi's books feeling I've been gently exposed to a broader world-view and gifted with insights into the lives and hearts of robust, often damaged, yet altruistic characters. They feel like friends from page one and I love being allowed to share their days.

The setting for this book is wonderfully cosy. A yarn shop show more is an inspired and personal choice by the author, with a bell over the door that I felt was made to welcome me too.

There's a lot of self-examination woven into this narrative. It's a captivating read with moments of humour but don't come looking for a fluff piece. I think the author has found the perfect balance between entertainment and serious reflection. That's how it felt to me, anyway. Memories of trauma, healing and careful steps beyond self-imposed boundaries were written sensitively then blended into the story in a manner designed to appeal to hearts and minds.

I liked the romance arc too. Slow to develop, yet fizzing with anticipation. Juno and Lane have little in common but both showed a lovely willingness to teach and learn from the other.

There's still a lot left unfinished from this story so I'm looking forward to returning to Upper Hutt and Riverbank Yarns.

•○●○• •○●○• •○●○• •○●○•

"All Juno had actually needed was someone who was as passionate about their thing as Juno was about hers." show less

Morgan lives in an intentional community of neurodivergent and mostly queer people in a rambling old mansion. Oh, and ghosts. Lots of ghosts. But when something starts scaring the ghosts, Morgan and the gang realise they have to help them.

This offbeat (sub)urban fantasy novel is affirming and supportive and just plain adorable.

I'll be honest, I really want to live with Morgan and their housemates. I absolutely love the writing. I love the inclusiveness. I love the found family and sense of show more community. What I didn't love was the editing – and I don't just mean typos, though there were typos. What I found distracting were the continuity errors (someone has many brothers at one point and then is an only child a few chapters later) and the sagging middle.

With a more thorough edit, this could be a really amazing novel. In many ways, it still is … just not quite as good as it could have been. show less

What a lovely science fiction novella! It’s a quiet story, and a short read (I read it in under an hour). Because of that, this review will be a bit shorter than normal.

Vonika’s an autistic engineer who chose to immigrate to an alien planet. She has built a career and life for herself there, complete with a marriage to an alien woman. In Temia, older citizens go through a process where they transition away from individuality and towards a group consciousness. Vonika is still deciding show more whether or not she’s willing to go through the process when she begins to get flashes of memories that don’t belong to her… At the same time, Temia is on the brink of war with a neighboring country, so Vonika’s life may be changing in more ways than one.

This Other World is intimately focused on Vonika’s life. While she is effected by larger events and affects them in turn, This Other World is no the sort of story that has a large scope or a heavy focus on action. It’s the sort of book I’d imagine would be perfect for curling up with a cup of tea on a cold day.

Vonika never felt like she fit in on Earth, and she still doesn’t really fit in in Temia. But as one of the only humans in the nation, her differences are presumed to be a feature common to her species and she finds herself more readily accepted. I can’t speak as to how her autism is portrayed, but I’ll note that this is own voices – the author is autistic as well.

I suggest This Other World for anyone looking for charming sci-fi novella with a bit of a mystery element.

Originally posted on The Illustrated Page. show less

Laurel Windflower comes from a family of witches but so far her real powers evade her. Sure, she can cook up some potions and stuff but feels rather like her life is going nowhere.

Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.com/2020/10/succulents-and-spells-by-andi-c-buchanan.html