Review: The Coven of Zora #1

Rising by L.D. Valentine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rough around the edges but a delightful story with likeable characters and an engaging plot

Rising (The Coven of Zora #1) by L D Valentine is a queer fantasy novel about a multiracial group of gay young adults who each control a different element and use spells.

The book centers on Xavier, an 18-year-old gay Navajo guy whose introduction into the world of magic involves watching a demon kill his uncle, and it almost killing him. Xavier controls fire and becomes the leader of his coven of 6 males witches, all of whom are gay. He struggles with magic and feelings of self-worth, inadequacy, and trust issues.

After Zora recruits him and the others, they train a bit then begin going on demon-killing missions, and it’s on one such mission that Xavier meets Alexander Kiras, Scion of House Asmodai, one of the four major demonic houses.

Alexander reveals he’s been killing off witches before a full coven could form and is intrigued how he missed Xavier’s coven; he also expresses his carnal interest in Xavier. Alexander then begins a cat and mouse game with Xavier and his coven, leading to a final confrontation between him and Xavier.

I liked Xavier a lot and thought he was Black until he mentioned being Navajo. I also thought Nate, Danny, Max, and the other characters were interesting but not as fleshed out as they could be. Also, the relationship between Xavier and Adam, who controls water, was okay but came off as a bit tacked on.

But it was nice to see a group of queer superheroes on the page.

My biggest complaints and what I feel keep this from being a 5-star book are the clunky dialogue and sentences and the ending which was very anticlimactic and abrupt. However, these issues were only minor, and I can’t wait for the next in the series to be released.

I give Rising (The Coven of Zora #1) 4.0 (rounded up from 3.8) stars. Definitely check this out if you enjoy action-packed fantasy with diverse queer leads.

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Review: Cute Mutants Vol. 5

Cute Mutants Vol 5: Galaxy Brain by S.J. Whitby

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Had low expectations going into this, but was pleasantly surprised.

Galaxy Brain is the fifth entry in SJ Whitby’s Cute Mutants series and things go from bad to worse when humans declare war on mutantkind. Then a Bible-obsessed artificial intelligence named Michael gains sentience, enslaves the world, and tries to wipe out mutants as it believes they are an abomination.

While this book was the darkest in the series, there was a ton of hope to be found within its pages. I loved this book focused less on relationship drama, which was my issue with Vol. 4, and dealt more with moral/ethical questions and the toll war takes on you.

I also loved how much more action-packed this was than the previous two books in the series and how deftly Whitby dealt with the issues of grief, loss, betrayal, and finding hope in the darkest of times.

I thought the plot went off the rails a bit toward the ends, but not so much that it detracted from my overall reading experience. I also thought the ending was bittersweet, as a main character dies.

Though this book could serve as the series finale, Whitby left things open enough for a sequel.

My biggest complaint is how easily everyone forgave Emma for putting them in suspended animation and using their powers for an entire year without their consent.

I also thought Dylan forgave Emma too quickly for taking away her powers, and I thought Emma was a giant jerk throughout this book and tipped toward Mary Sue territory power wise and how everyone overlooked her crappy actions.

I enjoyed the world building in this book and the back story we got on mutants and how they’ve always been around in one form or another.

If Whitby continues the series, I struggle to see how they can up the ante without going into comic book levels of conflict and the associated ridiculousness that would bring.

But even given Galaxy Brain’s faults, I loved it and bought the other spin-off books in the series and will read them in due course. I give Cute Mutants Vol. 5: Galaxy Brain 5.0 out of 5.0 stars and can’t recommend it enough.




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Review: Cute Mutants Vol. 4

Cute Mutants Vol 4: The Sisterhood of Evil Mutants by S.J. Whitby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Sisterhood of Evil Mutants by SJ Whitby is the fourth entry in The Cute Mutants Series and is decidedly darker than the previous books. Volume four finds Dylan and company in West Haven, a clandestine refuge for mutants.

And while Whitby introduces several new characters, they reduce most of them to either cannon fodder or bit players, which was a shame.

I also didn’t like Whitby’s choice to split the Cute Mutants into two groups later in the book, as it robbed the story of the camaraderie and group dynamics that made the previous books so fun to read.

Dylan, Dani, Emma, Alyse, and newcomer Feral (a hybrid of Wolverine and Beast from the X-Men) form the first group and begin robbing banks connected to DainTree, the in-universe version of Google/Amazon. They then donate that money to various charitable causes to improve the PR of Mutant kind, after a group of Mutants claiming to be affiliated with Dylan and the Cute Mutants carry out a terrorist attack on Washington DC.

The second team; that stays behind in West Haven; comprises Lou, Maddison, Gladdy, and Katie.

This could have worked if there were chapters following the second group. Instead, readers only follow Dylan’s group, leaving you wondering about the safety of those back in West Haven.

I enjoyed the political intrigue within West Haven and wished we saw more of Dylan and Dani locking head with Mystic and Far Sight, members of the council that decide what issues to bring up for votes, before the group split.

Dylan’s interaction with memory-erasing therapist Ray, were also nice to read as while they talked about Dylan’s trauma and other issues, Ray also gave them cryptic clues to the dangers hiding in West Haven and the machinations of the council.

It was also nice that we finally learned the mystery behind Emma, her powers, and her parents you in this book. Though, I predicted the plot twist near the end and thought the ending edged into Deus ex machina territory with how several characters’ deaths were reversed, like it was nothing.

Overall, while I did like this book, it wasn’t as fun as the previous ones and it has become clear to me anyone who isn’t Dylan or in their immediate friend circle doesn’t matter, which is sad as it was the OG team that initially drew me into the series.

I will read the next in the series, but I’ll lower my expectations re: other characters getting their time to shine.
I give Cute Mutants Vol. 4 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.




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Review: Cute Mutants Vol. 3

Cute Mutants Vol 3: The Demon Queer Saga by S.J. Whitby

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Demon Queer Saga by SJ Whitby is the third entry in the Cute Mutants series and picks up where book two left off.

Now running Jinteki Industries, Dylan and company have turned the evil corporation into a force for good, creating a haven for mutants and their families. However, they must contend with Abigail Tanner, a member of America’s Extrahuman Military Intelligence Department (EMID), that seeks to take control of the Cute Mutants and their operations.

Dylan also has to deal with the pressures of being a mutant leader and role model; and Violet, who’s obsessed with Dylan, can teleport and turn her fingers into blades, and whose stated goal is to kill Dylan.

If that weren’t enough, the Cute Mutants also must fight off Quietus, a group of religious fanatics whose goal is the extermination of all mutants.

Though this book is darker than the previous one, I loved how Whitby depicted Dylan’s reactions to the pressures of leadership and their moral struggles with how to handle the threats of Violet, EMID, and Quietus. I also loved the evolving mystery behind Emma and her powers, and those of the other Cute Mutants.

As with the previous book, Whitby introduced more mutants. However I did feel Lou was once again pushed to the sidelines in favor of showcasing the new mutants and Dylan and her friend group.

It was nice to see Dylan and the others maturing a bit, but I still thought some of their actions stretched my suspension of disbelief, given how dangerous they know the people after them were.

If I had any other criticism it’s that while several characters died in the ensuing fights with EMID and Quietus, I felt like Dylan and the other main characters were never in any danger due to plot armor.

I was also high-key angry the book ended on such a massive cliffhanger. Thankfully the next book is available, otherwise I’d be hella pissed.

I give Cute Mutants Vol. 3 5.0 out of 5.0 stars, and highly recommend it. If you liked the first book, I strongly suggest buying the rest in the series as they only get better.




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Review: Cute Mutants Vol. 1

Cute Mutants Vol 1: Mutant Pride by S.J. Whitby

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Cute Mutants Vol. 1: Mutant Pride by SJ Whitby is the first entry in the Cute Mutants series of YA fantasy novels about a group of teens who gain superpowers after kissing the same girl at a party.

Initially, I found Dylan’s personality off-putting, but slowly I came to love her geeky adorable ass and the rest of the Cute Mutants.

I did think the pop culture references were a bit much and sometimes came off as a crutch for lack of worldbuilding/characterization. And because it’s told in first person with Dylan as the POV character, a lot of the other characters come off a little flat, especially Dani who’s barely in this first book.

However, I did like all the characters, and they acted like how teens are supposed to act: reckless, arrogant, and messy.

This is especially true when it came to the relationships. Lou and Dylan are best friends turned lovers who are the other’s only friend. And when the cute mutants get their powers and Dylan befriends them, Lou’s jealousy was understandable, if a bit over the top.

Likewise, the love polygon between Dylan, Lou, Alyse, and Dani felt authentic without veering into soap opera territory.

I loved that Dylan and many of the other Cute Mutants were LGBTQ+ and how organically Whitby incorporated that into the mutant plot.

Another thing I loved was how the characters had to face the consequences of their actions and deal with real world moral and ethical decisions. So often in stories like this, issues like mortality, collateral damage, and interference from police/government agencies are either ignored outright or severely downplayed.

My biggest complaint is that the book’s antagonist, Tremor, was very two-dimensional and at times was outright cartoonishly villainous in his motives and actions.

That said, I liked this book a lot and already bought the next in the series. I highly recommend this book if you like YA books with sarcastic geeky humor and diverse queer characters.

I give Cute Mutants Vol. 1: Mutant Pride 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.




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