I really liked the characters, the premise, the romance and the plot for this book. It went a different way to how I was expecting but it was a good plot twist. The historical setting was something that normally would have put me right off this novel but the LGBTQ+ elements kept me hooked.
It is a story about the trans man Silksmith, an aerial scarf acrobat, and Rudolph, a bearded intersex girl. It is made quite clear that the Silksmith is a trans man born in a time where surgery did not exist, and that Rudolph is an intersex woman, despite neither of them using these words to describe themselves.
The thing which dragged down this story for me was the writing. I don't have a problem with poetic or flowery language, but this book was a perfect example of using ten words when one would do. This made it difficult to read and I had reread several parts before I understood it. However, it is also never really spelled out and like I said the writing is quite poetic and weird at times, which might add to that confusion. I had to reread some parts when I got confused, but after paying close attention I understood what was going on quite well.

The story is quite easy. Rudolph wants to find a rich husband to settle down with, so she can live in peace and comfort. The Silksmith lives for the circus and his art. But then Rudolph realizes that she is in love with the Silksmith live gets more and more complicated.
I really liked the ending and I have to say this was a lovely diverse short story, but there was also quite a lot of sex. I mean seriously, a lot of sex. I urge people to read these scenes properly despite the urge you may have to skip them as this is when you learn most about the characters identities and how they felt within their own bodies.
This story is very short, but you get a good view inside Rudolph's mind and you also learn to love the Silksmith. The ending especially was written very well and was one of the parts of the story I enjoyed the most, coming a close second to the romance which I enjoyed it a lot.

I really liked the characters, the premise, the romance and the plot for this book. It went a different way to how I was expecting but it was a good plot twist. I liked the setting and I liked how the Silksmith was a trans man and Rudolph was an intersex woman and both of these representations seemed to be handled alright, considering the historical setting.

The thing which dragged down this story for me was the writing. I don't have a problem with poetic or flowery language but this book was a perfect example of using ten words when one would do. This made it really difficult to read and I had reread several parts before I understood it. If this hadn't been an ARC (and really short), I probably would have DNFed it after the first chapter.

As much as I loved the concept, the writing turned me right off. The narrative itself is excessively-wordy and far too elaborate, with run-on sentences that are full of similes and metaphors. Navigating the narrative was a chore, when it should have been a pleasure. Oddly enough, the dialogue was almost too barren and coarse by comparison, as if two different people wrote each piece.

I am sure a more patient reader might find some enjoyment here, but it simply was not what I was looking for.

I misunderstood what the book was about. I review lesfic for my blog and this book didn't fit into my review category. Im sorry.

Where to start... well, let's start at the beginning. I chose this book for three reasons: (1) I've been trying to broaden my QUILTBAG horizons beyond the B, G, Q and T and this story has an intersex character; (2) the LT3P website listed bondage in the content notes. How am I to resist bondage? I'm not made of stone!; (3) the cover. That cover is sexy.

Within the first chapter I knew. Even though it's only six chapters these were the longest six chapters I've muddled through in recent memory.

My primary issue is the writing style. It's showy, ostentatious and hard to follow. Example:


Just as he had commanded attention during his act, he stole the center of gravity in the room from me, at once an older more illustrious star illuminating the belt of homely detritus scattered around us.





I mean, YAY for Pine for being master and commander of the English language but what? There is purple and there's... whatever exceeds purple. Sentences filled with metaphors, some of which were, admittedly, really beautifully crafted, but is it necessary for every sentence to be a quarter of a mile long and riddled with metaphors? Purple done well and with a purpose I can do, but this? Apparently, I've found my purple limit.

There's an odd juxtaposition between the grandiose writing style and the dialogue, like going from champagne to Schlitz. It's jarring especially when considering we're supposedly reading this from Rudolph's first person perspective. Why does she think like Margaret Thatcher yet talk like Eliza Doolittle?



Cheers to that.

All the flowery words and ambiguous prose got in the way of this story, IMO. Though without them and the numerous sex scenes this novella would've been more along the lines of a pamphlet. So, there is that. There's little relationship or character development and the plot itself is dull. My inability to understand what motivates these characters, understand their connection or understand their actions precluded me from connecting to them.

The gist is Rudolph is intersex with a beard and insists she's a "girl". Not a lady or a woman, a girl. Why she finds the differentiation necessary IDK. Of course, she joins the carnival with the primary objective of finding a suitable husband. How the two are related continues to elude me. She almost immediately meets, and is swooning over, the silksmith. We never learn his name which shouldn't have surprised me since we didn't learn Rudolph's name until the mid-thirtieth percentile range. IDK if it's a D/s thing or he refuses to tell her or if he just keeps forgetting or if it's an attempt to foster intrigue. I just don't know.

The silksmith's fondness for endearments... *sigh* I like and endearment as much as the next person but most have the one go-to endearment for their beloved. I'm not sure if he feels like one endearment is for quitters or if there's some sort of memory issue at play because he calls her poppy and puffin and poinsettia and pumpkin and Christ, I can't remember them all. Why do they all start with 'P'? WHHHHYYYYY??????? Is there some sort of significance?




I'm assuming this a historical novella, but yet again, I'm not sure because there's nothing to indicate when or where it takes place. Considering the content and descriptions of this circus it could be historical or AU. Who the fuck knows? And at this point, I have zero fucks to give. I am T-I-R-E-D.

There is a significant amount of sex and not a lot of bondage. Figures. And guess what? There were some seriously awkward descriptors of the sexy times. I mean, to each their own but... ewww. Since when is the word "chew" sexy? I could go on but... on second thought, no. No, I really can't.

The cherry on top of this awkward AF sundae was the ending. It was strange and slightly depressing. Of course it was.

I truly feel like a bitch in a china shop writing a bomb review on the release day of a new author, but truly nothing worked for me. I won't deny that Pine can turn a phrase, but I felt like I needed a magic decoder ring to understand this novella's vague and muzzy prose and that more than anything else frustrated me.

I can't recommend this novella nor can I envision reading something else from this author in the future.






An ARC was provided by NetGalley.

This is a well written story/short novel, which covers the gender identity topic currently much discussed, in a fictional romance setting. Personally I found the the ratio of explicit (very explicit) content to story was a bit too high, and I would have liked it to have more story. It reads more like a short story than a novel. The blurb seem to elude to more of a story than this contains.

I hope this book finds the right audience, unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the style of writing nor the tone.The blurb sounded really interesting of mixing gender ideals/roles but due to its writing, I couldn't connect. I got to the 25% mark and DNF. I hope this book finds the correct pitch.

I cannot review this story without spoilers, something I'm normally loathe to do, so consider yourself warn before continue to read my musings....

Here's a little bit of information I wish I'd known prior to selecting this story. It might have helped with my initial confusion. The Silksmith’s Girl, is a trans m/intersex f historical romance...

The bearded lady is very much, intersex? I think as there's no mention of either character transitioning. Yet both he, the Silksmith, and she the bearded lady have female and male parts.

I'm a huge fan of erotic romances, but judging by the blurb., I didn't expect so much explicit MM sex. Four fingers in the Silksmiths backdoor while also sucking his clit.

My 3 star rating is due to the story being well edited, and for the author capturing my attention with something unique, despite much of the story not appealing to me. I'm honestly hope this story finds its target audience.

Requested book in error. Didn't realise it involved two penises! Will not be reviewing.