Genre: low fantasy
Queer Representation: cis lesbian
Warnings: none
Review
I admit, it’s been a hot minute since I last posted a review. Authors have really broken trust in the past few years, and it’s hard to continue to review when I keep getting emails from authors saying You just didn’t get it or I disagree…
That’s a lot of emotional labor, and borderline abusive, and it really sucked the fun out of reviewing. But that also wasn’t fair to the amazing books I’ve been reading, that deserve discussion (and to be fair, authors, you’re always welcome to email, just not to criticize reviews. I’m not writing them for you.)
With that said, let’s get to what is probably my favorite low fantasy to date – HIGH TIMES IN THE LOW PARLIAMENT
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KEEP HUMANS PASTORAL
SUPPORT FAIRY HEGEMONY
FAIRIES RULE FOREVER
Or so says the ‘pro-fairy’ graffiti in the Assembly Hall of Parliament.
Lana Baker is a mouthy scribe who loves the ladies, which ends up getting her shipped off Low Parliament for work. This is a punishment for her, absolute hilarity for us. Parliament is, of course, dysfunctional and constantly arguing, and so the real magic happens with the friends Lana makes behind the scenes, namely Bugbite, a grumpy fairy, and Eloquentia, the hot human who is clearly Lana’s destiny and who can apparently enchant bees.
Lana has to functionally flirt her way through politics, love, friendship, and maybe also saving humanity. That’s more or less the plot in this little novella and trust me it’s enough. I actually flagged page 9 on my first readthrough, as I believe this page is a better synopsis of the book vibe than anything I could write:
Lana had a connoisseur’s taste for admiration, but Cora laid it on a bit thick, leaning over the table and making admiring noises over every stroke of the pen. Lana could hardly fault her; she was awfully handsome, after all. But when Lana had finished the letter, stamped the corner with her mark, folded it close into a tight package, and addressed it with a flourish, that’s when the price came.
“Would you run it along to Ludgate for me?” Cora laid her good hand on Lana’s wrist and leaned close. “As a favor, one scribe to another?”
“Well, now,” Lana said. “I might be persuaded.”
“I’ll make it worth your time.”
Cora slid round to Lana’s side and slipped her fingers featherlight up Lana’s thigh. A lengthy negotiation followed, flavored with wine and cushioned with lips soft as promises…..
(skip a bit for brevity)
Cora pulled away. She grazed her lips across Lana’s cheek and nibbled her earlobe.
“Take it to Ludgate, yes?” she whispered.
She didn’t wait for an answer. When Lana opened her eyes, the hem of her short skirt was just disappearing out the door.
“Kisses will be your downfall,” the landlady said.
I mean, come on. Kisses are the downfall of all of us. The book also has Lana and a fairy getting high off of yeast, and numerous breast jokes:
Lana slapped her chest.
“Everything that matters is right here.”
“Your tits,” said Bugbite, grinning.
Indeed, Bugbite. Indeed.
I have nothing else to add. I don’t give star ratings anymore but I did, this would get them all. Crude sexual humor, politics, lesbians, and breast jokes. It’s nice that we have gotten to a point in lesbian literature where we don’t have to be serious all the time. It’s great to have fun, and that’s what this book is. Fun.
Grab a fairy, some hallucinogenic yeast, and copy of the book here.
