Susan Smith

A novel about history, sex, drag, paganism, death, and the formation of family. Using an ancient myth reset in the queer community in Buffalo, New York, Smith explores gender fluidity, sexual diversity, and the deeper questions of love and identity that make us who we are. Dr. Rosalind Olchawski is an expert on Shakespeare, Nineteenth century poetry, and being the best friend you've ever had. She's been described so often as 'warm' that she's come to think of herself as a sweater or a pair of mittens. Set up on a blind date at a drag club in downtown Buffalo, Rosalind is mesmerized by the performance of the drag king Taryn. Can a grown woman go mad over a girl who looks like a boy? One night of adventure threatens to tear down everything Rosalind has come to believe about herself, but she discovers the soul behind the girl's handsome face and cannot look away. The connection between them is irresistible, and Rosalind is drawn into a world of love, sacred madness, witchcraft, and gender transgression. Can love and magic hope to change the course of Fate?

Of Drag Kings and the Wheel of Fate

Tess

This book took me a week to read. (that's long for me) I had to stop and take breaks to read other stories. I found it took more energy than i expected to read this book. It wasn't the story-line - that was awesome and memorable and by the end of the book i loved the plot; with the seers and reincarnation and priestesses... i really liked that whole theme. The souls coming back throughout time to meet up again and trying to have some control over how the fates thought things should end up. very cool. i probably should give it more stars for just that, but like i said, i struggled to get into it for some reason.
So even though it was just 'ok' for me, i think the skill of the author and the plot if you fancy that, is definitely worth checking out. i'm glad i didn't give up on it, but was still glad when i got to the end.

if i had to guess what got me hung up, it might have been the dramatic writing style. which was very beautiful and poetic, but was very detailed and at times droned on as theater is wont to do. my advice would be not to start this book if you are in the mindset for a mindless read that flows like water. This one is more like the rapids and will expect a little more attention out of you.

regardless, i got into the story enough by the end, to have already ordered the sequel, Burning Dreams. by the end of the first book, i got good enough at being able to skim the wordy parts and just inserting 'blah blah blah' in their place. (i know, it's blasphemous and probably makes the author cringe at the total disregard for her hard work). but i like the characters and the story enough to do that through another of her books, though now that i know what to expect, maybe i wont have to.

Of Drag Kings and the Wheel of Fate

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