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Series Review: The Kingston Cycle by C.L. Polk

Greetings and welcome to Reviews That Burn: Series Reviews, part of Books That Burn. Series Reviews discuss at least three books in a series and cover the overarching themes and development of the story across several books. I'd like to thank longtime Patron Case Aiken, who receives a monthly shoutout. This episode discusses The Kingston Cycle by C. L. Polk.  Full Audio Here    In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a World War, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own. Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be enslaved to his family's interest or to be committed to a witches' asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn’t leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family, but even after...

I Sexually Identify As An Attack Helicopter by Isabel Fall

“I Sexually Identify As An Attack Helicopter” takes the premise in its title seriously to produce a really cool story which raises, answers, and then raises more questions about gender and identity in a way that feels exploratory, respectful, and bold.

I love how this story takes itself so seriously within the text, in a way that can only be produced by understanding just how ridiculous the premise is, and leaning into it.

For anyone lucky enough to be unaware of the reference, one of the troll responses to meaningful and complex discussions of gender identity is that someone people will say something about identifying as an "attack helicopter", as if that would invalidate someone being trans, or whatever identity is being discussed.

This story uses that mockery to dive deep and explore the implications in a really amazing and moving way, I found myself thinking about the way I understand gender, how it is performative and also intrinsic... Seriously, read this story, I've included the link below.

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