J.S. Fields

Author & Scientist

Review: Saints Astray by Jacqueline Carey

This is a review for the second book in the duology. To read the review for SANTA OLIVIA, click here.

Genre: science fiction: urban

Pairings: f/f

Queer Representation: cis bisexual, cis lesbian

Warnings: none

Review

Freshly escaped from Santa Olivia, Loup and Pilar are two hot young women on the run from the US government. One is part genetically-engineered wolf, the other quite buxom. That’s… basically the plot.

The sequel to SANTA OLIVIA sends the duo first south to Mexico, where they meet a group of other wolf-hybrid escapees. They’re all men, of course, which further isolates Loup. After a both exciting and depressing vacation with people who finally get her, but will never really know her, Loup and Pilar decide to take a job offer as Super Secret Agent Bodyguards.

The agency that hires them wants them to go through rigorous training first, which Loup aces but Pilar struggles through. Pilar works through her inferiority complex (and finds out she’s got killer aim with firearms) and the two then proceed through a number of celebrity bodyguard jobs. There’s more cute language, ear blowing, licking, and adorable endearments. I like mush with my action. So too, apparently, does Carey.

While Pilar and Loup are out being Super Agent Bodyguards, an investigation into Outpost 12 (Santa Olivia) rages through the US government. Pilar and Loup eventually use their newfound fame as bouncers for a rock band (no, seriously) to drum up public support to free the outpost, and run into some old friends along the way. There’s yet more kidnapping, a deeper look into the science of Loup, and a lot of Pilar reading fashion magazines.

SAINTS ASTRAY is a more than worthy sequel to SANTA OLIVIA, and once again strikes a great balance between mushy love and ‘shoot em in the face’ action. Again, if you can get the audio version, do it, as the reader is amazing and those mushy scenes are about a billion times hotter when they’re being read to you.

You can become a Super Secret Agent Bodyguard by buying the paperback here, ebook here, or audiobook here.

Review: Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey

Genre: science fiction: urban

Pairings: f/f

Queer Representation: cis bisexual, cis lesbian

Warnings: none

Review

A border town between the USA and Mexico is cut off by the US government as a base to run genetic experimentation trials. The goal: a wolf-human hybrid trained for military operations.

Unfortunately the residents of Santa Olivia were not given a choice about being trapped inside their small town and tensions run high. The only way out is to win a boxing match against a military-ranked boxer in monthly competitions–something none of the residents have ever done.

Things go awry, as they must, when one of the wolf-men escapes the military compound and is sheltered by one of the townspeople. His legacy of their short time together is a daughter with extraordinary strength and speed, and a deep desire to avenge her older brother, who died in a rigged boxing fight that should have won him his freedom.

SANTA OLIVIA is, hands down, my favorite lesbian science fiction book. Though billed as nothing of the sort, the book follows the life of Loupe Garron from her early childhood idolizing her brother, his death, and her eventual superhero style vigilanteism with a ragtag group of orphans as they fight back against the military occupation.

Embedded in the story is a sweet and powerful romance between Loup and Pilar–a busty, slightly older orphan girl. The two come of age as Loup comes fully into her supernatural powers and it is their love for one another that eventually sets Loup free, both from her past and for her future.

The book is written in the same acute pacing that Carey uses in most of her books (another favorite of mine is STARLESS). The romance line is thrilling and sensuous, and numerous lines comparing sex to good quality tequila are just downright hot. There’s a lot of whispering and ear blowing and voluminous bouncing and it’s just really good, okay?

“I bet Coach Roberts would pay you decent money to train a few of his best guys in secret,” she said. “That could be a real job for you, baby. One you’d like.” She licked Loup’s earlobe. “We could get an apartment.”

Loup squirmed. “It’s still living in slow motion.”

“Living with me?”

“Not you.” She shook her head. “Sparring with normal people.”

“Oh.” Pilar blew in her ear, smiled when Loup wriggled again. “It’d be nice, though. Nice big bed. No more getting carpet burn from fooling around on the floor of the choir room.”

There’s plenty of sappy mushy talk and also solid action and a disturbing plot that, even though it came out in 2009, could very well be today. The Santitos gang of orphans are the best ragtag crew the town of Santa Olivia could ask for, and there’s just enough science to bring about wonder, without getting bogged down into the weeks of genetic tinkering.

You can infiltrate Santa Olivia and meet a wolf-woman in ebook here, paperback here, and audio here.

If you have the opportunity to get the audiobook version, I would recommend that in addition to the print, as they are uniquely different experiences.

To read the review for the second book in the duology, SAINTS ASTRAY, click here.

Review: The Dreaming Stars by Tim Pratt

This is a review for the second book in a series. To read the review for THE WRONG STARS, click here

Genre: science fiction: space opera

Pairings: f/f, m/nonbinary

Queer Representation: cis pansexual/bisexual (unclear), nonbinary

Warnings: space lesbian delight!

Review

The crew of the White Raven returns! Still coming down from the high of taking out an Axiom facility, there’s some emotional cleanup to do.  Elena’s onetime friend and definite megalomaniac Sebastian has to be de-brain spidered, Callie has a funeral to attend (her own), and they all need a job. Of course said job takes them into Axiom territory where they discover the hilarious truth of the galactic overlords and what they’re doing in their stasis capsules of death and destruction.

THE DREAMING STARS is the second book in the Axiom series, and, predictably, has a slower start than the first as emotional cleanup needs to happen after the shattering revelations in THE WRONG STARS. The action doesn’t take off until the back quarter of the book when the crew finds an actually inhabited Axiom station and a swarm of murderbots that are attempting to eat the galaxy. There’s some intrigue in the ship as well, with a funny shimmer that keeps stalking Callie that no one else can see.

Although the action part of the book is at the very end, the first three quarters of the book are not wasted on filler and fluff. THE DREAMING STARS is a true middle bridge book, and spends much needed time expanding Callie’s character in particular, as well as ‘I’m-going-to-kill-you-in-seventy-ways’ Sebastian, and cyborg Ashok.

Elena doesn’t get as much screen time as I would have liked, but there are numerous scenes between her and Callie that are beyond adorable, and it is the build up of that relationship, in particular, that kept me engaged with the narrative. It’s rare in a space opera (outside of THE LONG WAY TO A SMALL, ANGRY PLANET) that we actually get to remain in romance spaces after the pair has gotten together. The pacing of THE DREAMING STARS gave the relationship between Elena and Callie time to breath and develop, and the sidebar adventure where Callie goes to her own funeral and Elena chats with Callie’s ex-husband is priceless.

As with THE WRONG STARS, there is plenty witty space opera banter that gives that television feel to the book (really, Witty Banter should be a full on space opera trope if it isn’t already). In fact, the best banter is usually between Callie and Elena, and serves to give us glimpses into their relationship. Some favorites:

(Remember: Elena is the one who was in cryosleep for 500 years)

Callie frowned. She’d heard of New York–it was a common setting in historical fiction, like Rome and Constantinople and Paris–but… “What’s New Jersey?”

“New Jersey! Just across the river from New York, but a million kilometers away culturally? Butt of endless jokes? Their state bird is an inferiority complex?”

“Huh?” Callie said. “Before my time. It’s probably part of the Eastern Innundated Area now. They do scuba tours to look at the submerged ruins.”

“Ugh. The future is the worst. Nobody gets my jokes.”

“Truly you bring us the wisdom of the ancients.”

“Ancients, huh? I am young and vigorous. You’re the one who tapped out last night.”

(and another. Remember again, Elena went into cryosleep before humanity really colonized anything outside of Earth)

“We may be eaten by space monsters.”

“Yes, but before that happens, I will get to stand on another planet.” Elena snuggled in closer. “We should have sex on Ganymede. And then we should have sex on Owain. We should collect various celestial bodies. I like collecting things.”

You can get your own access to the Axiom’s war games here in paperback and here in ebook here.

Review: Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

Genre: contemporary thrillers/light horror

Pairings: f/f

Queer Representation: cis lesbian, cis bisexual

Warnings: gore

Review

(from the jacket)

Seven years ago the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a documentary bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend.

It was lost at sea with all hands.

Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a tragedy.

Now a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greater hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.

Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves.

Okay so first off, if you can, you should get a signed copy of this book, because sometimes Grant/McGuire draws creepy little fish in it:

because she is also, quite possibly, a ravenous mer-person.

Second, you should get this book because holy balls is it amazing.

The premise starts a little silly, with a group of documentary film makers who make their money off of bogus films, much like on the old Discovery Channel (THE TRUTH ABOUT BIGFOOT, anyone?). Except when the company decides that mermaids are the next big thing and send out a boat to get some footage of… ocean? Probably? Anyway, the boat never comes back.

But because cell phones and such, some of the video feed that was being recorded does get sent, and it shows some terrifying mermaid-looking things eating the crew.

The public can’t decide if it is a hoax or not. Imagine Entertainment knows very well it isn’t a hoax, but has to let the public chill a bit before it can do its very first ever real documentary.

Fast forward some number of years. Victoria’s sister died on the original voyage and she’s determined to return to the location and get some closure. Luckily she is one of a handful of mermaid/ocean/sound experts that Imagine Entertainment scouts for its next voyage, which is how Victoria finds herself on a massive boat with professional hunters, a gajillion scientists and, eventually, killer mermaids.

INTO THE DROWNING DEEP has an ensemble cast and multiple POVs, however the head hops move the narrative along instead of repeating events, which means the tension and pacing don’t get sacrifices in the name of introspection.

There’s some fantastic rep in the book, from fluent users of American Sign Language (two of whom are deaf), queer people, and an autistic lead character.

The mermaids themselves are…well downright terrifying, and their few POV spots are like icy fingers on your spine. The science in the book is strong and concise without devolving into technobabble. It really feels like you are listening to scientists bicker, and the description is so precise that it’s hard not to reach out and want to touch mermaid hair, or run screaming for your life as one of them launches over the side of your boat/armchair. Grant/McGuire is clearly familiar with academic life, and little throwaway lines like below cement the worldbuilding:

“I may not have credibility, but I have tenure, and that’s more than I can say for you.”

“Ex-girlfriend used to talk about the Serranko series like they were sex toys,” said Olivia. “I sort of memorized their product catalog for pillow talk. Which means they still send me catalogs. Paper catalogs on this thick, glossy paper that you know costs almost a dollar a page. It’s amazing. It really is science porn.”

And the romance line, oh, the romance line. I never knew how badly I needed science nerd romance until I saw this:

“Uh, hi,” said Tory.

“Hello,” said Olivia, cheeks coloring faintly pink. She paused before asking, “Did your science go well?”

“Oh. Uh, yes. Very well.” Tory resisted the urge to rub the back of her own neck. She was here for science–she was here for Anne–not for some schoolgirl crush on a woman who couldn’t stop bleaching her laundry.

Honest.

—

“No offense, hon, but you flirt like it’s a form of espionage and you’ll be executed if you get caught.”

INTO THE DROWNING DEEP may end up being my gateway into horror/thriller books, since I was enthralled with the story from the start. If you’re looking for science in your contemporary thriller/horror, some decent humor, and lesbians on boats (an exciting new subgenera!), you can pick up INTO THE DROWNING DEEP in paperback here, ebook here, and audio here.

Killer mermaids sold separately. Hopefully.

 

Review: After the Eclipse by Fran Dorricott

Genre: thriller/horror

Pairings: f/f

Queer Representation: cis lesbian, cis bisexual

Warnings: implied child rape, abduction

Review

In 1999, during a solar eclipse, Cassie Warren’s little sister is abducted and never heard from again. Now a journalist, Cassie returns to her hometown in 2015 to confront her past. Another girl goes missing, however, just before another solar eclipse, and the similarities are too much for Cassie to ignore. With the help of her ex girlfriend Cassie falls back down into childhood memories, determined to unravel the mystery of her sister’s disappearance in time to save both herself, and the latest victim.

AFTER THE ECLIPSE is an abduction thriller with some light horror elements and a number of well-worn tropes. Much like ALICE ISN’T DEAD in terms of pacing and thrill level, AFTER THE ECLIPSE also pairs tropes with a lesbian protagonist in a delightful splash of trope subversion.

The book reads smoothly and the pacing is excellent. Although the book employs all the elements found in ‘young girl kept in captivity by older male pervert’ tropes, the rape is merely alluded to and is never on page nor discussed. The horror elements are never overwhelming and blend well with the tension.

Cassie is a very sympathetic protagonist whose motivations are clear. Her romance with her ex girlfriend is three dimensional and just about perfect. The small number of POV sections with Olive (the kidnapped younger sister) are touching and hopeful and help round out the entire narrative.

The ‘who-done-it’ tropes are perfectly executed in the book, leading the reader into sureness of the abductor, just to pull the rug out at the two thirds mark. The plot twist is unexpected and perfect, and the ending both melancholy and rewarding.

The small details are particularly engaging, such as Olive’s mood ring and Cassie’s obsession with the ring’s origins and its sudden appearance on the new victim. Though the plot and structure of the book are familiar, the small elements and inclusion of a lesbian protagonist, along with the outstanding pacing and tension, make the book an unforgettable read.

You can help search for Olive in the ebook here, paperback here, and audio here.

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