Review: The Seventh Pleiade

Author: Andrew J. Peters

Title: The Seventh Pleiade

Published: Bold Strokes Books, 2013

Genre: YA, Historical Fantasy, Ancient Greece, LGBT (gay)

Relevant Challenges: Reading Through Time, We Read Diverse Books, LGBT Reading Challenge, Dive Into Diversity

This book wins points with me straight away by being YA fantasy set in Atlantis. Greek myth has been a big draw for me ever since I read my Enid Blyton bowdlerised versions, and carried me through Xena (so predicable), Classical Studies at school... right up to an MOOC last year.

What is different, and incredibly engaging, about this particular version is that it deals in detail and a complex manner with sexual and romantic relationships between boys and men in Ancient Greece. For the young hero, Aerander, it's not as simple as falling in love: boy romance is to do with masculinity, and politics, and the commitment to family. The mixture of his strong, real feelings and all the baggage they come with was probably my favourite part of this book. Another of my weaknesses, after all, is politics and power... and romance.

The fantasy elements and world building are fantastic, too. It's difficult to go into too much detail without spoilers, but the dual worlds, above and beyond, the way the central mystery (some disappearing young boys) becomes bound up with the mythology and Aerander's quest, are brilliantly done.

Highly recommended. I would have loved this book if it wasn't LGBT, just as a great fantasy adventure in a setting I love, but the politics of love and sexuality in it made it a unique read and had me absorbed far into the night. I can't wait for another book in this series. ---

Eleanor Beresford is the author of the Scholars and Sorcery series of LGBT YA fantasy novels. FInd out more here.

2015 Reading Challenges

Rather than a Goodreads total, I am going to amuse and challenge myself this year by signing up to a range of reading challenges this year. I've already posted about , but here's a list (and  Pinterest board) of others I'm signing up to:

• "Reading Through Time" historical fiction challenge
• Curvy Heroine reading challenge
• Clocks, Cogs, and Mechanisms steampunk reading challenge
• We Read Diverse Books (monthly challenges) (#WeReadDiverseBooks and #WRDB)
• Graphic Novels and Manga challenge, Modern Age level
• Aussie Authors Challenge (#aussieauthor) at the Wallaroo level
• Dive Into Diversity (#diversitydive)
• Vintage Mystery Bingo - Golden Age
• Read Your Freebies (I am so guilty of not doing this)
• Fairytale Retelling Challenge ( #fairytaleRC - Big Bad Wolf level)
• And, as already blogged about, the LGBT Reading Challenge (#LGBTChallenge 2015)

I am totally allowing myself crossovers between the challenges. Also, that new Scribd subscription is going to come in handy. I am only aiming for 10-12 books in each category, too. But they should add to be variety of my reading. I'm also not entering for any giveaways: this is for my own amusement.

Also, seriously, I did show self control. You should have seen my original list.

Joining the LGBT challenge 2015, and pledging to read 10+ QUILTBAG books this year, and review them on my blog.  I'm choosing Omnivorous Bookglutton rather than YA Devourer as my pledge, because I don't want to split hairs over what books are "properly" YA.

I also pledge to release 5+  QUILTBAG works this year, from novels to shorts to AMVs. We'll see how that goes. ;)

Sign up here to join in the fun. There will be monthly challenges and themes.

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Eleanor Beresford is the author of the Scholars and Sorcery series of LGBT YA fantasy novels. Find out more here.