books about war – Equal Opportunity Reader

[REVIEW] Manhunt, by Gretchen Felker-Martin

the cover of Manhunt, depicting two plums caught in a net, one bitten, is displayed on a tablet lying on a hardwood floor. A can of pepper spray, a pocketknife, and a defense strap can also be seen.

(Buy this book here.) (EDIT: I tend not to read other reviews before I write my own, and it’s come to my attention that there are a lot of trans readers and writers that have very pointed #ownnormal critiques of this book. In the interest of practicing what I preach, before you read this review,Continue reading “[REVIEW] Manhunt, by Gretchen Felker-Martin”

[REVIEW] First Blood, by David Morrell

A tablet displaying the cover of First Blood is held up in front of a leafless fall tree at twilight. The cover depicts a lone man standing in shadow, looking towards a light.

(Buy it here.) I remember thinking, the first time I watched the Sylvester Stallone film Rambo: First Blood, that it wasn’t what I expected at all. I expected a dumb, violent, muscley action flick. It is all of that, but wrapped around a surprisingly empathetic portrayal of a scared young Vietnam vet with PTSD usingContinue reading “[REVIEW] First Blood, by David Morrell”

[Review] In Every Mirror She’s Black, by Lola Akimade Akerstrom

(Buy this book at Bookshop) It feels like it’s been 935 years since the last time I wrote a book review but I couldn’t let any more time go by without telling y’all about this one. Work, weddings and war. I lived abroad in 2 different countries over 15 years and I heard this constantly.Continue reading “[Review] In Every Mirror She’s Black, by Lola Akimade Akerstrom”

[REVIEW] Deaf Republic, by Ilya Kaminsky

(Click here to buy this book) So you know that adage, the one that says something like if a book doesn’t grab you in the first few pages then don’t read it, it doesn’t have anything to say or it isn’t well-written? I never pay attention to it. And I’m glad I don’t, because ifContinue reading “[REVIEW] Deaf Republic, by Ilya Kaminsky”

[Review] The Dragon Republic, by R.F. Kuang

An ebook showing the black and white stylized Chinese culture-influenced cover of The Dragon Republic lays flat on a wooden table. A big black bowl of tan tan mien, or spicy pork and sesame noodles, is in the background.

(Buy it on Bookshop here.) I spent the first quarter of this Poppy War sequel trying to remember why I liked the first book. Main character Rin is probably the most despicable hero I’ve ever encountered. Sure, she’s a fire-wielding martially-trained shaman-powered genius badass who singlehandedly won a war. She’s also a genocidal maniac.(If you’veContinue reading “[Review] The Dragon Republic, by R.F. Kuang”

[REVIEW] This Is How You Lose The Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

ID: A black tablet displaying the cover of This Is How You Lose The Time War(sky blue background with red and blue cardinal birds reflecting each other surrounded by title text). The tablet is held in front of a leafy green bush by a black woman's hand.

(Buy it from Bookshop) This may be the unlikeliest romance novel I have ever read. Red and Blue are super soldiers in the time war, traveling across the 4th dimension bending history through sheer violence. Somehow, they begin a mocking correspondence, taunting each other while busy sinking Atlantis and riding with Genghis Khan to manipulateContinue reading “[REVIEW] This Is How You Lose The Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone”

[REVIEW] Survivor, by Octavia Butler

A tablet displaying the cover of Survivor(a woman trapped in a green tree with a furry blue man growing from the top of it, on a red background) held in front of metal stakes chained together standing in the grass

(UPDATE, May 11 2021: I just found out that the Afro-Speculative bookshop Sistah SciFi has this title available as an ebook! Find it HERE and enjoy!) (This novel is out of print. Find other works by Octavia E Butler HERE.) This novel was originally published in 1978. It’s been out of print since 1979–unlike allContinue reading “[REVIEW] Survivor, by Octavia Butler”

[REVIEW] The Powder Mage Trilogy, Brian McClellan

A maroon book cover displayed on a black and white hand-held tablet. The tablet rests on a wooden table with a variety of large Korean food dishes--soup, rice, side dishes-- laid out on it.

(Find it HERE.) I think all serious readers have their comfort reading habits, right? When I need words but my powers of concentration are low, I read poetry. When I feel the need to wrap up in creativity like a blanket, I find a long fantasy or sci-fi series and immerse myself in another worldContinue reading “[REVIEW] The Powder Mage Trilogy, Brian McClellan”

[REVIEW] Freedom Is A Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine and the Foundations of a Movement, Angela Y Davis

(Find it HERE.) Back in March, my favorite radical independent publisher Haymarket Books made several titles available for free as a contribution to keeping the world mentally occupied and socially engaged during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns. I downloaded them all and immediately started reading this collection of speeches and interviews from Angela Y. Davis, famouslyContinue reading “[REVIEW] Freedom Is A Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine and the Foundations of a Movement, Angela Y Davis”

[REVIEW] Battle Ground, Jim Butcher

(Buy it HERE.) transcript of actual footage of me reading this book⠀sips wine⠀“Oh…this is a *fighting* book.”⠀longer sip⠀“Wait…is that gonna…are they gonna…OH SHIT!!”⠀gulps wine⠀“Is that (character we haven’t seen for several books)? That’s (character)! And they have big powers now? Go off, (character)! Get it! Hit the…OMG WHAT? Did that just happen?”⠀downs wine, pours newContinue reading “[REVIEW] Battle Ground, Jim Butcher”