SF Bookclub

Image: Book Cover The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt was uneven. It had some clever concepts; I loved the chapter titles. But the execution was not always effective. The first half, particularly, reminds me of a 1970s/80s romance novel where Stockholm syndrome seems to be the drive that pushes the heroine to the hero. The second half was filled with VERY explicit sex that seemed pointless. And, no real spoiler, but it seems to be the first in a series as there were MANY unresolved plot points. It is like the story just stopped half way through. I don't know that I care enough about anyone (but Vex, the Dark Lord's assistant) to pick up the sequel. That said, it was entirely readable and fine for a beach read.

I've read most of Rebecca Roanhouse's novels, and have enjoyed them all. So I was looking forward to Roanhouse's _River of Bones and Other Stories_ and was not disappointed. In this excellent collection, she infuses Native American mythology and concerns. The collection opens with Roanhorse's first published short story, “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™" which explores the commodification of Indigenous People's identity for entertainment and self-aggrandizement. Other highlights include "The Boys from Blood River" about cowboy vampires and "A Harvest of Beating Hearts" about a sapphic serial killer. "White Hills" made me deeply uncomfortable, but I think that was the point. How much "Indian" blood/identity is "too much" to pass for white? To BE white? To be white ENOUGH for the White Hills Country Club? Overall, this is an excellent collection about identity and the supernatural, which is where Rebe...