This collection really does just that so well. And it's good to remember the humanity in all people. It's heartbreaking and tragic and sad.
And it's a collection I'd recommend more folxs read.
It was an interesting read and I'm glad I read it. It also made me crave more stories in the furry fandom with characters that have some variants equivalent of HIV/AIDS. Not for drama (thought that could be interesting), but as a way to expose more people to the idea of living with HIV/AIDS.
Poem's aren't usually my thing, but I respect the hell outta the author. I hoped there'd be at least a little light somewhere in this body of work, but it's mostly--and understandably--down or outright depressing.
"HIV Isn't Poetic: Poems on Life with HIV" by Johnathan W. Thurston-Torres (Published by @fenrispublishing.bsky.social )
Overall: 8/10
This is an emotional collection of poems focusing on being gay and living with HIV in the modern day. It's a heavy read.
Starting another offshoot. This time for shorter works.
But we'll see if I get there...
Over all 6*/10
Still, overall, this book was okay. I enjoyed the epilogue and liked seeing a little more than the show gave. The conflict was much better in book 2 and I cared more about the characters and their outcomes here. I am looking forward to seeing more of them in a few books...
Additionally, I did watch the TV series first, and I feel the emotional impact of the scene at the end of episode 5 was bigger in the series than at either point in the book. But that's probably more about the additional production one can put into a TV series.
I was able to acclimate to the voices eventually, but it was super distracting at first.
Something I don't think I mentioned last time is the narrator was almost distracting. In book 1, he attempts a Bostonian accent for Kit and he sounds more like he has a mouth full of marbles. Book 2, Ilya sounds more like a comical vampire than Russian.
...while the second is more about the narrative social and put on these two men and how they feel they must conform to it.
Motivations are deeper in book, as well, which makes the conflicts feel more present, too.
Overall, the second book was better than the first, but not my much. Book 1 was front loaded with plotless sex while book 2 was back loaded with plotless sex.
But I felt this story worked better. Book 1 was more about homophobia in the sport and the fear of coming out...
Book 12 of 2026
"Heated Rivalry" by Rachel Reid
(Audiobook narrated by Tor Thom)
The second book in the Game Changers series.
All their careers, Shane and IIya have been rivals on the ice, but these two hockey stars have a secret...
Still, it was really nice almost getting back to form. I'm curious to see what the next floor looks like. And excited for the floor after that. But it will take time to get there. Heh.
Overall, 8/10.
The theme of this book: war games.
This one felt like we were slightly getting back to basics, but some of the mechanics had to take front seat over some RPG elements.
Like, levels are mentioned, but rarely is a level enough to just scare someone. Then again, the crawlers are also terrifying.
Book 11 of 2026
"This Inevitable Ruin" by Matt Dinninan
Book 7 in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.
As the saying goes, war is hell. And now, Carl and Donut are Warlords in the Faction War. This is gonna be... Fun.
Again, this wasn't a bad book. And I understand it's a commercial success. I feel it was lacking some substance.
Overall 6/10
The Gay Book Club at work is going over the second book next month, so I'll still be checking that one out.
Because of this, it results in the plot being more about Scott's desire to remain closeted while also wanting this relationship with Kip. Which is a decent story. But then what was the point of bringing in hockey? Why isn't Scott a big shot CEO?
And while this book also does have more stakes than the show--we're told about casual homophobia in the sport--we don't see it. Scott talks about his history with it to Kip, but the times we see Scott on the ice, there's next to nothing.
There's one ice fight because of a random f-slur.
The first half of the novel has so much sex that doesn't impact the story.
Sure, it fits in the scene, but a fade to black could do the same in almost every instance.
One or two porn scenes, sure. I'll give it to you. But after a while, I was checking out.
This was... Okay.
Yes. I watched the TV series first. Yes. I still read the first book first. XP
So I had an idea of what I was getting into.
And I think I am not really the target audience for this series.
Book 10 of 2026
"Game Changer" by Rachel Reid
Book 1 of the Game Changers series
What happens when a professional closeted hockey star falls for the sexy, very-out, boy next door? Will they be happy?
"To the ones who taught me how To feel worthy of being loved"
Since it hasn't yet been revealed elsewhere, this is the dedication in The Modern Pleasuremage.
*I don't use 7, I force up or down. So while I want to say this is a 7/10, I'm calling it 6*/10.
It also took much longer to hit me in the feels, this book, but it did happen. And boy was it a hard hit when it did...
While this wasn't my favorite, I'm excited to read the next book. I thought I was looking forward to this next thing before... now, I'm buzzing with excitement.
Overall 6*/10
While the plot kept my attention, the card battle system took away from the RPG aspect I really enjoy. There weren't as many call outs to levels or stats except for the monsters. I know our MCs are badass, but I want to be able to understand how they are still growing and getting more badass.
Book 9 of 2026
"The Eye of the Bedlam Bride" by Matt Dinninan
Book 6 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.
The next floor has an new gimmick: Card Battles. This, mixed in with new characters and... exciting quests, makes you wonder what ELSE is in store for Carl and Donut.
The book club scam has taken an exciting new leap forward. I got one today from a "curated literary platform and newsletter" that, unusually, offered a link to its website. I'm in edits, so obviously I took the opportunity to procrastinate. /1
Oh! I forgot to mention!
Also as the series goes on, the books keep hitting me harder and harder in the emotions. This one got me almost bawling during my flight.
Yay crying in public!
I find as the series moves on, it slides further away from parts of the RPG aspect that really pulled me in at the start and is slowly feeling more and more like fantasy. Not completely, but still.
I still have questions; I'm still engaged. I still am excited to read the next book.
8/10
