Kam Reads & Recs
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kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
Kam Reads & Recs
@kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
180 followers 250 following 360 posts
She/They. Avid reader and book reviewer. Focuses on SFF, horror, romance, and nonfiction. Also posts about video games and TTPRGs. Profile pic by notjessdraws
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kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer is now live. A slow read, not because of the quality of the prose, but because the ideas can take some getting used to if one is not a historian. Very interesting - and timely.

#bookreview #nonfiction #history #booksky 💙📚

Full review here:
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: Inventing the Renaissance: The Myth of a Golden Age Author: Ada Palmer Genre/s: nonfiction, history Content/Trigger Warning/s: mentions of war, plague, famine, racism, antisemitism, fascism,...
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November 28, 2025 at 1:43 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of How to Be a Saint by Kate Sidley is now live. A decent overview of canonization that recognizes the Church's hypocrisies. Just wish it had a bit more meat on its bones than it actually has.

#nonfiction #history #religion #booksky 💙📚

Full review here:
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: How to Be a Saint: An Extremely Weird and Mildly Sacrilegious History of The Catholic Church's Biggest Names Author: Kate Sidley Genre/s: nonfiction, history, religion Content/Trigger...
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November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Wayfarer #1) by Becky Chambers is now live. The low stakes and the bald-faced exposition of themes (as opposed to developing them across the story) via character convos are just not for me.

#bookreview #scifi #booksky 💙📚

Full review here:
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarer #1) Author: Becky Chambers Genre/s: science fiction, cozy science fiction Content/Trigger Warning/s: violence Summary (from author's website):...
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November 7, 2025 at 2:56 AM
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lntpblk.bsky.social
Last Nov 4, Cebu was ravaged by Typhoon Tino. I want to help my friends rebuild their homes bc this gov't won't.

All the most relevant details are in the pics but don't hesitate to DM me here or shoot an e-mail at borgobear@protonmail.com for questions!

6 SLOTS OPEN!

[COMMERCIAL RATE ON REQUEST]
graphic for emergency commissions that features three characters. the graphic reads: "Emergency Commissions. Help us rebuild after the typhoon." "On November 4, Typhoon Tino hit the island of Cebu and left so much destruction in its wake. Since I have a bit more time now, I’m offering a huge discount on my commissions. The profit of which will be used to help my friends and communities with rebuilding their homes and lives." "FULLY COLORED ART FLAT COLOR BACKGROUNDS ONLY NO EXPLICIT OR HATEFUL REQUESTS NO DESIGNING, PROVIDE REF PAYPAL, WISE or GCASH ONLY!" A graphic with sample art as well as a table of rates. The table has these rates per character: "Bust Sketch - USD 20, Bust Inked (Smooth) - USD 30, Bust Inked (Textured) - USD 30, Half Body Sketch - USD 30, Half Body Inked (Smooth) - USD 40, Half Body Inked (Textured) - USD 50, Full Body Sketch - USD 50, Full Body Inked (Smooth) - USD 60, Full Body Inked (Textured) - USD 80" A little green square has this sentence: "DM ME FOR MORE INFO!"
November 7, 2025 at 2:06 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of Big Fan (Big Fan #1) by Alexandra Romanoff is now live. A sweet little romance that creates a tidy emotional arc without overstaying its welcome.

#romance #novella #booksky 💙📚

Full review here: kamreadsandrecs.tumblr.com/post/7992490...
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: Big Fan (Big Fan #1) Author: Alexandra Romanoff Genre/s: romance Content/Trigger Warning/s: discussions about childhood poverty; alcoholism (implied, off-page); cheating Summary (from author's....
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November 4, 2025 at 2:34 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My October reading wrap-up, c/o @thestorygraph.com ! REALLY loved The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes, in particular.

#booksky 💙📚
A graphic of my reading stats for October, as produced by Storygraph. I read 5 books, 1,927 pages, and gave an average rating of 4.4. My three highest rates reads were The Works of Vermin by Hiron Enmes, The Salvage by Anbara Salam, and These Wicked Devices by Matthew Plampin. Average book length was 349 pages, and average time to finish was 5 days. 100% of my reads were fiction, and 100% were in digital format. A graphic produced by Storygraph, showing the covers of the books I read in October and the corresponding ratings I gave them. Books include: Fragile Animals by Genevieve Jagger (4.0), These Wicked Devices by Matthew Plampin (5.0), The Salvage by Anbara Salam (5.0), The Eyes of the Queen by Oliver Clements (3.0), and The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes (5.0) A graphic produced by Storygraph, showing a calendar of my October reads: when I started and finished them, and how long it took.
November 3, 2025 at 4:00 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes is now live! I LOVED this book, especially the prose and the worldbuilding. This isn't for everyone, but It worked for ME, and I'm glad I read it.

#bookreview #fantasy #darkfantasy #booksky 💙📚

Full review here:
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: The Works of Vermin Author: Hiron Ennes Genre/s: fantasy, dark fantasy Content/Trigger Warning/s: body horror; child labor; indentured servitude; corruption; state-sponsored murder; sex work;.....
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October 30, 2025 at 5:24 AM
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jensfoell.de
That’s a fantastic comparison, because the reason they added lead to gasoline was just to increase convenience a tiny bit, and they’ve poisoned the world in the process.

The good news is: Impossible as it may seem, we banned it worldwide and its bad effects are now mostly gone.

Makes you think.
October 29, 2025 at 7:10 AM
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stewarthotston.com
spellcheck is getting worse because there's a subtle predictive thing being added to most examples of it that takes it from post hoc correction to in situ changes which are often the worst bullshit.

Today's example - I tried to write 'I am in bed for' and it corrected it to 'I am in Bedford'
October 21, 2025 at 9:53 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of The Eyes of the Queen (Agents of the Crown #1) by Oliver Clements is now live. Not a bad historical thriller, but characterization could've been better, and the writing lacks a certain je ne sais quoi.

#bookreview #historical #thriller #booksky 💙📚

Full review here:
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: The Eyes of the Queen (Agents of the Crown #1) Author: Oliver Clements Genre/s: historical, thriller Content/Trigger Warning/s: death; murder; assassination; descriptions of bodily functions...
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October 21, 2025 at 5:49 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of The Salvage by Anbara Salam is now live! A thoroughly enjoyable horror novel that slowly creeps along while tackling the horrors of classism, religious zealotry, and discrimination.

#bookreview #horror #historical #booksky 💙📚

Full review here:
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: The Salvage Author: Anbara Salam Genre/s: horror, historical Content/Trigger Warning/s: death by drowning (off-page); a massacre of indigenous people (off-page); slavery (implied); death of...
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October 17, 2025 at 7:54 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
Currently at a work-related event and trying not to roll my eyes at the way this bureaucrat is marketing my country’s labor and resources to colonizers.
October 16, 2025 at 6:50 AM
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rahaeli.bsky.social
The Catholic Church requires bishops to submit their resignation to the Pope when they turn 75 and the Pope chooses whether to accept it or not and as much as I hate having to hand anything to the Catholic Church, they are kinda on to something
hammancheez.bsky.social hammancheez @hammancheez.bsky.social · Oct 10
Dems building a bench of senators younger than 75 challenge fail
ericmgarcia.bsky.social Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · Oct 10
Janet Mills's campaign account just posted this video of her saying that she just announced her campaign against Susan Collins. #MESen. Mills, 77, is expected to jump in the race against Collins. She would face Graham Platner, Jordan Wood and Dan Kleban.
October 10, 2025 at 9:14 PM
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motherjones.com
Lawyers have been publicizing a new term to describe ICE's racially targeted detainments: a “Kavanaugh stop.”

Mother Jones reporter Pema Levy explains in this new video:
October 10, 2025 at 3:59 PM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of These Wicked Devices by Matthew Plampin is now live. A much better read, imo, than Maiden of Florence, mostly because it's not afraid to play around with the historical narrative if it improves the story.

#bookreview #historical #booksky 💙📚

Full review here:
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: These Wicked Devices Author: Matthew Plampin Genre/s: historical Content/Trigger Warning/s: childbirth (off-page), death of a child (off-page), depiction of mental illness, period-accurate...
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October 10, 2025 at 7:43 AM
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cristianfarias.com
While we were sleeping:

A federal judge in Oregon has blocked the Trump administration from deploying any federalized National Guard—Texas, California, the state’s own—in Oregon.

That’s big news. Even bigger: She’s decided to hold a trial on the merits. That is: She’s putting people under oath.
Screenshot of court order, which reads in part: “A combined hearing on the preliminary injunction motion land a trial on the meries under Rule 65(al(2) is set for October 29, 2025l before the Honorable Judge Karin J. Immergut, in Courtroom 13A, beginning at 9:00 a.m.”
October 6, 2025 at 12:42 PM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of Fragile Animals by Genevieve Jagger is now live. Totally not a horror or paranormal romance novel, but still intriguing enough that I stuck around to the end - if only so I could find out what happened to Noelle.

#bookreview #litfic #booksky 💙📚

Full review here:
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: Fragile Animals Author: Genevieve Jagger Genre/s: literary fiction Content/Trigger Warning/s: homophobia; religious trauma; self-destructive tendencies; self-harm; blood; gore; parental...
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October 6, 2025 at 10:45 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
#readingwrapup for September, c/o #storygraph

#booksky 💙📚
A summary of my September reading stats, covering the number of books I read (7), the number of pages I read (2,408), and the average rating I gave (3.71). It also shows the covers of my 3 highest rated reads (Poets Square, Exhibit, and Wish You Weren’t Here), the average book length (339 pages), and the average time to finish (4 days). There are charts showing the ratio of fiction vs nonfiction books I read; the genres of the books I read; the number of pages per day that I read; and the ratio of digital vs. print books that I read. A graphic c/o Storygraph, showing the covers of the books I read in September and the star ratings I gave them. Katabasis: 3.5 stars. Wish You Weren’t Here: 4.0 stars. Exhibit: 5.0 stars. Poets Square: 5.0 stars. The Indio & The Impaler: 3.5 stars. The Maiden of Florence: 2.5 stars. Just One Taste: 2.5 stars. A calendar c/o Storygraph showing the books I read in September and how many days it took me to finish each one.
September 30, 2025 at 11:12 PM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent is now live. This reads like the book equivalent of ultra-processed food: delicious, but not necessarily nutritious, so to speak.

#bookreview #romance #booksky 💙📚
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: Just One Taste Author: Lizzy Dent Genre/s: romance Content/Trigger Warning/s: death of a parent Summary (from publisher's website): Olive Stone is about to spend four weeks in Italy with the...
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September 30, 2025 at 1:29 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of The Maiden of Florence by Katherine Mezzacappa is now live. An uninteresting first half, hampered by a lack of character development and a good plot, gets in the way of the second half of the novel, which is rather decent.

#bookreview #historical #booksky 💙📚

Full review here:
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: The Maiden of Florence Author: Katherine Mezzacappa Genre/s: historical Content/Trigger Warning/s: rape; sexual harassment; miscarriage; death of a child; period-accurate child labor;...
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September 26, 2025 at 4:57 AM
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smallpitch.org
Friends! We now have a Bookshop.org affiliate store. All proceeds go toward financing #SmallPitch (website hosting fees & online pitching platform tools, i.e. SpreadSimple and Make) + we promote small press books!

If you're looking for your next read and want to support us, use the link below ⬇️
#SmallPitch Bookshop
#SmallPitch is an online pitch event aiming at connecting authors with small/indie publishers. All proceeds from your purchases here will go toward supporting the event's fees (website hosting & o...
bookshop.org
September 24, 2025 at 4:18 AM
kamreadsandrecs.bsky.social
My #review of The Indio & The Impaler by Wincy Aquino Ong is now live. Not bad, but Dracula might've been too weighty an antagonist for this tale. Plus: could've used a more judicious editor. YMMV for sure.

#bookreview #historical #mythologyandfolklore #Philippineliterature #booksky 💙📚
Kam Reads and Recs
Title: The Indio & The Impaler Author: Wincy Aquino Ong Genre/s: historical, mythology and folklore, Filipino literature Content/Trigger Warning(s): historically accurate portrayals of the corruption....
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September 24, 2025 at 1:10 AM
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aliumfungus.bsky.social
do not abandon what you love
the night is long
and the horizon is far
but joy has a way of returning
🫀
September 20, 2025 at 3:46 AM
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littlestpersimmon.bsky.social
I been posting about how banning porn is a symptom of fascism for years, however its infuriating to see children of the empire ignore the natural conclusion of censorship on porn, which is already happening now!! I shouldn't have to tout "this could happen to you!!" At every turn!!
September 20, 2025 at 6:29 AM
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littlestpersimmon.bsky.social
Being anticensorship and hating the plastic bubble wrap of making every single piece of art and every social media site sanitized will make you insane because you'll see people fight tooth and nail for cartoon porn but then all of a sudden when its Palestinians posting about genocide its "ummm"
September 20, 2025 at 6:17 AM