July 22, 2019
Indie Superhero Summer, Jenn Recommends
Jenn Recommends… Cinnamon Blade: Knife in Shining Armor by Shira Glassman - #IndieSuperheroSummer
This a short little book, so my recommendation of it is going to be, as well.
Listen, I don’t typically gravitate toward novellas. Nothing against the form, really, just—lack of availability at libraries, the desire to spend more time in the story, etc. typically keeps me from diving into them. Still, this one had been on my radar for a while, because well, f/f superheroes? I mean, I think I’m kind of obligated to give it a try, aren’t I?
This book really does shine as an example of the strength of the novella, though. The story is exactly as long as it needs to be, no more no less, and gives us a tidy escape into a sweet, spicy universe where women save women, and then take them out on snarky, adorable dates, and who doesn’t want some of that in their life? And sure, there are a lot of things about the book where, if it had been expanded into a novel, I would have liked to delve deeper into. Character backstories are fleshed out enough to be satisfying as a chunk, but would need to be further developed if we were committing to really spending a lot of time here. But if you’re looking for a quick escape from your humdrum day, something that will leave you satisfied without the need to emotionally invest in an epic read, this will absolutely fill that niche. And let’s be honest, there are times that you really need that. Sometimes, committing to a whole novel just feels exhausting. Honestly, if that’s the case, this is the perfect read.
One thing to be aware of going in, though, is that this is primarily a romance story with a superhero backdrop. The Amazon page does make this really obvious, so it’s not like there’s going to be a lot of confusion, but if you’re hunting for a book that is primarily a superhero adventure with romantic elements, well, this isn’t the choice for you. Sometimes, though, even for a massive fan of the genre, I do like to break it up with something where the focus isn’t on end-of-the-world stakes, and this little book served that fix perfectly. Adorable, swoony, and smart. This is the first Shira Glassman book I’ve tried, but it definitely will not be the last. Make sure you check it out.
Cinnamon Blade: Knife in Shining Armor
Every time Cinnamon Blade, crime fighter making up for a bad past, rescues the sweet and nerdy Soledad Castillo from bad guys, the two women’s chemistry grows stronger. Now that she’s finally asked Soledad out, sparks fly – but is a normal date even possible in a city threatened by aliens and vampires on a regular basis?
Spicy f/f romance starring a bi Jewish superheroine
