Crush by Carrie Mac

• Hardcover: 106 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (May 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551435217
• ISBN-13: 978-1551435213
• List price: $14.99
• I finished this book on Jan. 29

So, okay. Here's the thing. I'm bee and I'm an internet addict. I know this, anyone who's met me knows this (and anyone reading this is probably one too.) The other day at work the internet went down like 25 minutes before quitting time. Nightmare. This book was sitting on my desk and so I started reading it. There you have it.
The book was sitting on my desk because it is part of the Orca Soundings collection and I am going to create a display of them soon. Orca books are specifically designed to be appealing to kids and cover a wide range of hot topics. They are very low reading level, short and use simple vocab. They are, in other words, what we in the business call hi/lo (high interest/low reading level). Their topics range from graffiti to sports to crime to drugs and even prostitutes (that word makes me think of this: funniest song about hookers ever!) So, because I send kids away with them all the time I thought I should probably read one. (Leave it to your girl bee to find the only one about lesbians).
So, yeah. Lesbians. Hope is a hippie kid who grew up in a commune with hemp wearing, no meat eating, madly in love with each other parents. They ship her off to NYC to hang with her druggie, bitchy model sister when they decide to go on an anniversary trip. In short order she meets a young mother who wants to take her in as a nanny (and is, shockingly, a lesbian) and a pretty girl. She is crushing on the pretty girl and of course this raises the "Am I gay?" questions and Hope is pretty freaked out. In a matter of 106 pages our Hope is out and proud and kissing on the dreadlocked object of her affections. Being that it is short and a low reading level, the novel sort of works itself out like a Babysitters Club book or something, except I don't think the BSC ever outed anyone. There are lots of plot holes and of course all of Hope's problems wrap up painfully easy (not to mention how the problem that the girls live in two different states is never addressed). But I'm not mad, this is all more or less to be expected.
Reading this was like a jolly rancher: It's sweet and strong, over quick and leaves a vaguely weird taste in your mouth (don't worry, it doesn't turn your tongue green). I'm glad we have them and I think they are good for reluctant readers. Just as long as you don't pick them up expecting Shakespeare.

Wide Awake by David Levithan

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (September 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375834664
• ISBN-13: 978-0375834660
• List Price: $16.95
• I finished this book on Jan. 16

An Open Letter to David Levithan
Dear Mr. Levithan,
Please figure out how to make the beautiful things you write turn into real life. If even half of the things that happen in your books existed in real life (like acceptance, Sound of Music Drag Reviews or Infinite Darlene) the world would be a much cooler place. Please get on top of that stat.
Thank you,
The Management (bee)

Seriously: I effin love this man. He is magic. If DL were to somehow meet and create an intellectual love child with Francesca Lia Block I would experience a joygasm of epic proportions.
Oh, plot? Okay. In the future: First gay Jewish president is voted in ---> election contested ---> the people make a stand. That's all you get. Effing read it.
What is so amazing here are the characters. Jimmy and Duncan are a sweet gay couple with an amazing group of friends that the story centers around. Levithan always has these amazing characters that might be floating off in the peripheral of the story that you're like dying to have lunch with. For me, in this story, it's Gus. He says some amazing things, I love the way he speaks. Also: there is a young man who hates his parents (because they won't let him be Jewish) who unleashes a hilarious tirade on how they are the apotheosis of suck. Love. It. Oh, also: a boy named Sue and his transsexual dad. Oh! And someone says that someone else is "rainbow sprinkles" I frocking love that! I wish someone would say that about me.
So, yeah, this got a seal of approval from me, and I would give it two if I could. I told like six people about how much I loved this today, totally unsolicited. I believe that when you are a librarian you are allowed to be a crazy person about books you like. Either way, you can look forward to more DL book reviews because I have ordered all his books for the library.

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

• Hardcover: 832 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (December 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385730306
• ISBN-13: 978-0385730303
• List Price: $17.99
• I finished this book on Jan. 14

You may remember that I read the others in this series and have been eagerly awaiting this book for some time now. Also, let me say that these book have the coolest titles and covers. Double extra points and a cherry on top for Ms. Bray. To catch up, read my reviews of the other two books: here and here.
So: in the last book our heroine, Gemma, bound the magic of the realms to herself and promised to make an allegiance with the other forest folk. Let me stop here and tell you a story: the other night by b/f and I went grocery shopping and while I was picking out lean cuisines he threw a frozen pumpkin pie in the cart. Me: "What's that for?" Him: "Our faces." What he really meant was we were going to cook a whole pie, not offer any to our pals, and hoard it and eat it like the dirty pie sluts we are. Selfish pie. Cause you know if you start offering it out then it's gone before you know it and then...no pie. Do you see where I'm going with this? That's right, Gem begins to feel less and less like sharing. Other characters in this book work hard to gain Gemma's good graces by being completely untrustworthy. Not to mention that out of all the nogoodnicks to choose from Gemma picks the worst (Circe, the big bad from the previous book who is now imprisoned) to seek help from and she gives her power. Boo! Another boo? One of my favorite characters totally bites it. Balls. Also: things don't necessarily go the way you think they will in the end, but either way it's satisfying.
On the plus side: there is kissing with Kartik (mmm, forbidden Indian...nutritious and delicious.) Also, the girls seek to create lives for themselves outside of the narrow roles that their culture expects them to play. I love this. Someone becomes an actor. Oh! And someone comes out of the wardrobe (worst gay related - historical fiction joke ever? the world may never know). Hint: it might be someone who is very beautiful and who you thought only loved herself. So, with making one of the characters gay Ms. Bray has successfully covered all teen "problem novel" issues plus written a fantastic historical fiction/fantasy series that is not only deep and beautiful but it looks great on a shelf. Well done. I say: seal of approval to you!
p.s. this is my 100th book review on this site. thanks for reading!

Someday This Pain Will be Useful to You by Peter Cameron

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (September 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374309892
• ISBN-13: 978-0374309893
• List Price: $16.99
• I finished this book on Dec. 28

The title of this book comes from an Ovid quote: "Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you." I like the title, and I like the cover. It was one of the books in our new order and it intrigued me.
In this book our hero is James, who lives in NYC and works in his mother's gallery. He is a probably gay, antisocial genius. He's been accepted to Brown (didn't get into Yale) but of course he doesn't want to go. Supporting characters include his sister: Gillian (with a hard G) who is having an affair with a married professor, James' mother who is just coming off her third divorce and runs the gallery where James works. James' grandmother, Nanette, is the only family member who he can relate to. In fact, she is the only person who actually makes sense.
James has a crush on one of his older co-workers at the gallery and he sort of fakes the guy out and is accused of sexual harassment. Oh, and he's in therapy. And his therapist is kind of lame and the sessions don't seem to really go anywhere.
One neat thing about this book is that James is obsessed with vocabulary and proper usage of grammar. He is very concerned about expressing things properly, and I love this. (Remember how sexy I think good vocab is?)
Firstly: this book reminds me a lot of Catcher in the Rye. Young man has to face facts, make a decision regarding school. He has one family member whom he relates to and loves. And, accordingly, I feel about it the way I feel about that book. I liked it, I was on board. However, it was a quiet story and I am sort of looking for more in a book. Like explosions, you know? Or sex. Either way I liked the character and the prose, so all in all I'm a fan.
Anyway, here's Peter Cameron's site. I would definitely be interested in reading something else of his. If you want to read the first chapter of this book, go here. (Coincidentally, that's why I took this home like an eager puppy, because I peeked at the first few pages.)

The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375836578
• ISBN-13: 978-0375836572
• List Price: $8.95
• I finished this book on Dec. 3

So, Mr. Levithan is the scribe of other booknerd reviewed books. One I really like, and another that got the coveted bee seal of approval.
Anywho: in addition to having a great title, and am amazing cover, this book is in free verse. Fucking rad. It is poems from a huge variety of high school students. It is a dozen stories from all different points of views. It is song lyrics, anguished cries for help, and love letters.
The books starts and ends with a poem about a young gay couple: Daniel and Jed. These couples are mentioned throughout the book in other people's poems, and the book finishes with them as well in a poem that makes me all mushy inside. Some of the other poems include a girl who retaliates by wailing a bully in the schnoz with a lunch tray and another from the bully in question. There is a girl with an eating disorder, a lesbian musician with unrequited love. My favorite is the girl who writes all the amazing phrases on desks, lockers and walls and then the reaction from others. Some of the choice phrases: YOU ARE HAPPY EVEN IF YOU ARE AFRAID TO ADMIT IT, YOU ARE FOOLISH IN YOUR UNHAPPINESS, and the ever popular: YOU ARE IMPLICATED
I confess that I'm not entirely sure how one is supposed to read some of these poems, and I often found myself sort of singing them to myself in my head (yeah, I know that makes me sound like a wacko. whatever, I stand by it.) There are four sections and they give different points of view. If you really pay attention, or maybe take notes, you can figure out who everyone is and how they are related. That is very cool, but even separate, each character is interesting.
Did I mention that I saw Mr. Levithan speak once and I thought he was dreamy? (Maybe I do think all intelligent gay men are dreamy, but that doesn't make him any less so.) Either way, this didn't disappoint and I can't wait to read more of his stuff.
I wouldn't suggest this for just anyone, but I am sad for those who wouldn't appreciate it. It is honest, sad, sweet, hopeful and beautiful.

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316011274
• ISBN-13: 978-0316011273
• List Price: $7.99
• I finished this book on Nov. 17

Okay, this is why I love writing this blog. I did not realize that the green guy on the cover had as much significance as it does until i did my research for you, my lovelies. Oh, what? Maybe I should tell you what the book is about first. It's about a teen boy who is transgendered. And he only gets to dress up at night so he calls himself Luna. So, moth on the cover for the whole coming out of a cocoon thing and it's a Luna moth. Awesome.
So, here's the thing, Liam (or Luna) obviously has a really hard life not being able to be who he knows he really is. Not to mention that his dad is all about the male chauvinism. But, what this story is really about is Reagan, Luna's younger sister. Reagan is the only one who is in on the secret for their whole lives. She feels like Liam/Luna is her sole responsibility. Because of this she does not feel like she has any part of her that is for herself. She is so out of the loop that when a boy, Chris, begins to flirt with her and asks her out she totally has no idea how to react. Things progress with Chris, though, but Reagan's new life as a member of society with a possible boyfriend are put on hold by her concerns for Luna. As Luna becomes more unhappy with her life as a boy and more determined to transition to a female form, tension mounts. Then, some crazy shit goes down.
The whole time I could not honestly predict what was going to happen, and when the end came I was sort of tearfully happy about it. Also, their dad is a super-douche. I mean it. His super powers include: telling horrible jokes, and being a goddamn homophobic asshat. Also, their mom was not too cool either. She was a bitch, actually, and I feel she probly should have dumped that dad. Argh.
Either way, I thought that the characters of Reagan, her brother and their best friend Aly were all very realistically created. I also sort of like Chris, except there was one scene in which he acted totally out of character for just about any high school boy. Oh well, can't win 'em all. Anyway, this was a powerful and moving story about a girl who is under a tremendous amount of pressure from her family and her brother's horrible struggle. This should be in any library and could probly be read by middle school kids (though they might not understand the whole bloke in a dress thing).
P.S. I am Spartacus! This is Booknerd's 100th Entry. Woot! Thank you for those of you who check in regularly. And, if you got here accidentally by looking for gay porn, stay and hang out a while. I'm nice!
Also, leave me messages on Meebo and talk to me when I'm actually there. I promise I'll be funny and nice :)

Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (April 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525469176
• ISBN-13: 978-0525469179
• List Price: $7.99
• I finished this book on July 23

I'm not sure where I first heard of this book. It may have been from one of the many blogs I read, or from some list of gay teen books or even when I saw the author in Fairport at the Teen Book Festival. I didn't see Ms. Myracle's whole presentation but I thought she seemed funny and cool.
Anyway, because I have read many different YA books about gay boys and not so many about the ladies, well, I figured it was really my duty to do so. You know, to be fair. And cause I love the gays.
So, anyway: Lissa and Kate have been best friends for a long time. The kind of best friends I am always jealous of because the seem to get along so well. Anyway: shit goes sour when Kate gets snookered at a party and the girls kiss. A lot. Then, nearly busted, they stop snogging and Kate ignores Lissa, who slips away. Now they aren't talking, resulting in appropriate sturm und drang.
Did I mention that Lissa's parents are dead and she lives with her well intentioned Uncle who kinda sucks at parenting, leaving her to take care of her younger sister? Cause, you know, she needed more problems. Oh, and she's trying to figure out how to have lucid dreams. Or something.
I felt that the devices used in the story were kind of obvious; and while it's not groundbreaking I am still not mad at it. It's a simple story of a girl trying to figure out her sexuality. Some of the characters were interesting, and it was a quick easy read. I'm not sure this is making or breaking some kid's coming out or anything, but it's a good story nonetheless. And extra points for the cool cover. If you stare at it long enough it looks like the blue hearts are moving. Or maybe that's just me.
This did not touch me the same way that Annie on My Mind did, and that is certainly the most popular lesbian YA book I have heard of. For those interested, I suggest checking that one out as well. Here is a list of other gay themed books, and of course, there are lots more out there. Here's another list geared totally toward gay YA. For good measure here's links to resources for gay teens and local LGBT youth groups.

bee's random ramblings

So, my astute lovelies, you've probably noticed that this post isn't a book review. And you'd be right. It's a love note from me to tell you that I will be out of town a lot during the rest of the month. I'm going on two separate trips to Florida, and will have only sporadic internet access.
I mention this because I like to think you'll miss me. The real moral of the story is that I won't be on my meebo chat so if have something really important to say you can e-mail me (check out my profile for the address).
In other news: I have been asked several times lately how I choose what to read next. Mostly, I choose based on two things: recommendations from friends/colleagues, or book reviews. I read lots and lots of book reviews at my job. Anywho: up till now I have collected titles of books I wanted to read on little post it notes (have I mentioned that I'm a school supply junkie? check out this cryptic quiz of movies made out of office supplies. it's good times.) Because the post it's have been taking over my life I have begun to make an actual list that I won't loose. You can peek at it here, please note that it's just a random listing of some of the post its I've collected with titles i want to check out. Also note that I hate capitalizing things. I'm not sorry. Feel free to give me more suggestions, I'm always looking.
Okay, one last thing to share with you: I totally stalk where people come from to get to my site and what search terms lead people here. Some of them are hysterical and I will now share them for your amusement.

• schmoozing geek
• what happens in the champagne room (no sex, that's what, son!)
• gay bum sex (heehee! I can't imagine why!)
• how to get an awesome ponytail (I'm number 2 - that cracks my shit up!)
• werewolf sex room (okay, that's too weird even for me)
  
• foxy librarian (that's me!)
• naughty greek gods
• homosexual priests
• inappropriate behavior
  

There are actually tons of ones about these two things: gay porn and man ponytails/80s hair.
So, if you've come here accidentally while looking for porn please stick around even though there is no boobage or naked men (but you know, there are some books about gay sex) If you've come here trying to find how to have an awesome 80's man-shag maybe, um, you should reconsider that look. Just sayin' So, lovely reader...how did you get here? (perv)
The moral of this post: I'll be on vacation but I promise I'll be reading a lot (finishing up my challenge books!) and I'll post when I can! p.s. pretend like you miss me!

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 23, 2006)
• ISBN-10: 0375835318
• ISBN-13: 978-0375835315
• List Price: $16.95
• I finished this book on Mar. 29

So as you might remember my lovelies, I loved the last book by David Levithan that I read. I would also like to compare this one to desserts, but there's too much to say. I also read this one in one comfy recliner sitting as it deserves: it is quick and sweet.
Nick meets Norah at a bar after his queercore band is done playing. He sees is ex-girlfriend approaching and asks Norah to be his girlfriend for 5 minutes, to which she replies by kissing him. So, this is like the first chapter, and you know I'm a smitten kitten. Anywho, turns out Norah is just getting over a breakup too, but these two end up spending the night together. They see punk bands, watch a lesbian/tranny burlesque review of The Sound of Music, and make out quite a bit. There is also plenty of hearty cursing, and I am a girl who loves cursing.
The book is written by Levithan and Rachel Cohn, who apparently are buddies, and will be coming out with another book. Why do I not have any friends with which to write books? So unfair. Either way, the book is written in alternating chapters from Nick and Norah's points of view. Levithan wrote Nick's part and Cohn wrote Norah's. Love. It. I like books like this, written from different perspectives, it's neat to get to see the different character's first hand takes on what is going on. Alex Sanchez's Rainbow Boys does this with three main characters, very interesting, but I think I liked it better here. Also, you might remember that the gayest book ever employed this technique between naughty priests.
This book shows us only one whirlwind night between these two. It's what I imagine that Before Sunrise movie was like, only with cool people, and less angst (I totally didn't even see that movie and am currently talking out of my bum). Anyway, check out the saucy cover action, complete with good font choices. There is also a fun website where you can make your own playlist. I feel, unfortunately, that I am not hip enough for that, having not recognized many of the bands mentioned in the book.
All in all it was a tasty treat, a brief love story, a fun read.

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (May 10, 2005)
• ISBN-10: 0375832998
• ISBN-13: 978-0375832994
• List Price: $8.95
• I finished this book on Mar. 24

Wow, I'm currently trying to think of my favorite type of candy right now so that I can compare this book to it. Hmm, chocolate truffles? candy apples? chocolate covered cherries? Honestly, I think I am in love. Once upon a time I sat down before class to read a book having no idea what it was about. I read the whole thing sitting there in the hallway at school with rapt attention. When I finished I was borderline weepy. That book was Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block (who I am also in love with) and the comparisons don't end there, my friends.
But I digress. I'm not sure how to tell you about this book so that you will get how wonderful, how delicious it was. Paul lives in a sort of wonderful version of the way the world should be, where gays and straights and in betweens are accepted for the most part. In his high school the quarterback of the football team is a 6"4' transvestite named Infinite Darlene, and the clubs at school include the quiz bowling team and a school cover band competition (Dave Matthew's covers, of course). Anywho, like the title says, Paul meets a boy and there is loving and losing and romance ensues. The prose reminds me of Weetzie because of its originality and beauty. It is almost its own descriptive language. I heart the characters and I wish I lived in this town. Not everything is dreamy and perfect, of course. Paul has a friend who lives a town over who's parents cannot accept his sexuality. But of course, there is a sugary sweet ending that makes me think of gorgeous and decadent desserts.
First off, I want to be in a cover band competition. I read this one in one sitting, and if you intend to read it, that's the way I recommend it. It's not long, and it' s a bit like sitting down and enjoying a big glass of delicious wine. (Coincidentally, that's the absolute limit of times I can say the word delicious in one post, I think) I dunno, this book just really got me, I would be lying my foolish face off if I said I wasn't all misty at the end. I would like to share with you a quote, "I find my greatest strength in wanting to be strong. I find my greatest bravery in deciding to be brave." That was one of many passages that I had to re-read. Sometimes, in books I find things so beautiful I have to look at them again and let them wash over me a bit. There were many of those in this one.
I am excited to read more of David Levithan's books, and he is slated to be at the book festival too. It appears that his website has not been updated for a while, but it does have excerpts from his books, so that's fun. I also friended him on Myspace.
That's all for me, I'm going to go moon over this book elsewhere.

Blood Brothers by Michael Schiefelbein

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books (October 1, 2002)
• ISBN-10: 1555837298
• ISBN-13: 978-1555837297
• I finished this book on Feb. 21

Let me paint a picture for you, boys and girls. Imagine me (diminutive librarian wannabe) looking for fun vampire books to inter library loan. Blood Brothers comes up and the way I understand it is that it's a vampire book about gay boys. Now, I heart vampires, and I love the gays, in other words, I'm so there. So, I order it. Now imagine me going to pick it up and getting a load of the gayest cover ever!!! I mean, really kids, this cover is not joking around at all. The title might as well have been Gay Porn. Needless to say, I was embarrassed to check it out, and I am never embarrassed about stuff like this. Folks, I chuckled about this one all the way home. Which I feel is healthy, because everyone should have a laugh at their own expense once in a while.
So, okay, now let me tell you this: I get it home and start to read (how can you not?) and...it's not about vampires. I was a little annoyed at this, but I must say that the plot was really not bad, even though there was no creatures of the night. Turns out that every other book by this guy is a vampire book and I'm an idiot. What it is about is Spanish monks. Seriously. Their names are Juan Ramon and Bernardo. No, really. So anyway, Juan Ramon's parents were brutally killed in front of him when he was a wee boy. The guy behind the killing is his father's business partner Esteban (seriously). Juan Ramon lies out a Count of Monte Cristo style revenge plot, centered around getting to Esteban through his monk son, Bernardo. Things don't turn out the way he planned, of course, because they fall in love.
The book is written from the points of view of both men, in alternating chapters. Juan Ramon's chapters reminded me a little bit of the narrator Frank, from The Postman Always Rings Twice, not big on emotion and a bit vulgar, but sort of likable. In my head I kept trying to set this book in the past, but then a computer would show up and it would ruin my mojo. I guess I don't think of monks running around on trains in Spain in 2007.
To be honest, the book also raised some interesting ideas of God and chastity and sin. The problem of sexuality for the monks was more about temptation and celibacy, not the fact that they were homosexual. I did have a little problem with the end because one of the characters does something so against what the previous 200 pages has told us about him. But I can't really dog it too much, I was, after all, expecting vampires.
I wouldn't recommend this for anyone offended by man love (obviously) and if you are new to gay literature, I wouldn't start here. This is more a gay harlequin romance than literature, per se. There are a lot of good gay YA books out there that aren't too graphic. Those interested should read Geography Club by Brent Hartinger or Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez. The latter is written in the same style as Blood Brothers, with different characters narrating in different chapters. For the latest gay news online check out The Advocate or AfterElton.com.

A Distant Soil: Coda by Colleen Doran

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Image Comics (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158240478X
• ISBN-13: 978-1582404783
• List Price: $17.99
• I finished this book on Jan. 8

Oh my, boys and girls. Let me tell you a story about A Distant Soil. Here's me on my big comfy chair with a blanket and one to two purring snuggly kitties. I'm reading A Distant Soil: The Aria (Book 3) and I'm starting to get close to the end. I say to the kitties "Gee, I'll bet there's like a cheesy wrap it up quick ending because I'm getting close to the end of the book and there's still a lot going on." The cats nod and go back to sleep. Then they wake in fear at my screams of anguish when I get to the end of the book and it wasn't the end! I had no idea. I had taken books one through three from the library. Since it was all they had I assumed it was a trilogy. Anyway, I had to wait quite a while for my order of the fourth book to come in.
While it definitely sated my hunger temporarily it was not the quenching drink of great graphic novel goodness I was hoping for. This is mainly due to the fact that it's still not the last book and worse...the final book is not out yet. Boo to that.
The story of this graphic novel as best as I can relay it is thus: Seren is the embodiment of a God on his planet, but is at best a figurehead and at worst a slave to the sadistic politicians that make up the hierarchy. He leads a double life, that of the Avatar, and that of a leader of the resistence against the heirarchy. He travels to Earth and recruits two human youths who are the children of one of Seren's teacher. This makes them half of his race, and they turn out to be exceptionally powerful beings. With the help of other human fighters they try to take on the Heirarchy. Craziness goes down, however, and they end up cutting off Seren's beautiful man ponytail.
So the story is amazing, though I realize my description makes little to no sense. This particular volume wasn't my favorite so far though, I must admit. This is probably because the relationship between Seren and D'mer is my favorite part and they were apart for the whole book. I had to take solace in D'mer hitting on the super uncomfortable Kovar. One thing I do like about these books is that everyone is beautiful and almost naked all the time (mmmm, cartoon sex). They are funny and sexy ( I'm totally into man on man action!). I really could cry and laugh on the same page. The illustrations are amazing and I love pretty much everything about it. The only reason this doesn't get the Bee seal of approval-love is because it's not the effin end to the story. The moral of the story is, though, that you should read it.
Check out the site here