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Bearly a Lady
Zelda McCartney (almost) has it all: a badass superhero name, an awesome vampire roommate, and her dream job at a glossy fashion magazine (plus the clothes to prove it).
The only issue in Zelda’s almost-perfect life? The uncontrollable need to transform into a werebear once a month.
Just when Zelda thinks things are finally turning around and she lands a hot date with Jake, her high school crush and alpha werewolf of Kensington, life gets complicated. Zelda receives an unusual work assignment from her fashionable boss: play bodyguard for devilishly charming fae nobleman Benedict (incidentally, her boss’s nephew) for two weeks. Will Zelda be able to resist his charms long enough to get together with Jake?
And will she want to?
Because true love might have been waiting around the corner the whole time in the form of Janine, Zelda’s long-time crush and colleague.
What’s a werebear to do?
The only issue in Zelda’s almost-perfect life? The uncontrollable need to transform into a werebear once a month.
Just when Zelda thinks things are finally turning around and she lands a hot date with Jake, her high school crush and alpha werewolf of Kensington, life gets complicated. Zelda receives an unusual work assignment from her fashionable boss: play bodyguard for devilishly charming fae nobleman Benedict (incidentally, her boss’s nephew) for two weeks. Will Zelda be able to resist his charms long enough to get together with Jake?
And will she want to?
Because true love might have been waiting around the corner the whole time in the form of Janine, Zelda’s long-time crush and colleague.
What’s a werebear to do?
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2017
12 people are currently reading
2109 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Khaw
126 books2,930 followersCassandra Khaw is an award-winning game writer.
Their recent novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a British
Fantasy, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker
Award finalist. Their debut collection Breakable Things is now
out.
Their recent novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a British
Fantasy, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker
Award finalist. Their debut collection Breakable Things is now
out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
October 22, 2019
okay, so the weirdest thing just happened. i read a book about a bisexual british were-bear with a vampire roommate and a crush on a werewolf whose love life becomes complicated by the arrival of a fae prince and some lingering feelings for one of her female co-workers at vogue.
and i loved it.
like, howling at the moon loved it. (okay, full truth - i loved 97% of it - the ending kind of blows up into a crazy mess, and i wish this went on for another couple hundred pages, but whatever). TL recommended this one to me, and i read it after i fell hard for the author’s free tor short: These Deathless Bones: A Tor.com Original, which was a viciously dark sorta-fairytale that delighted me, so i figured i’d give this a shot, even though it is as tonally different as two works could possibly be.
i’m typically allergic to romance in books, and i’ve tried to, but never gotten into urban fantasy, so i figured paranormal romance and me would never get along, since it’s just urban fantasy with more kissing. but this one is absolutely paranormal romance, and it is funny, funny, FUNNY! it’s also only 100 pages or so, so it doesn’t have much in the way of actual on-page hookups, but there are definitely romantic themes, and they didn’t make me roll my eyes even once!
part of it is the humor - much humor at the expense of conventional vampire/werewolf tropes, and the particulars of awkward british mannerisms, but it’s also filled with genuinely charming characters. the banter between zelda and zora is simply adorable; the love-teasing appellation of “paddington,” the loyalty that results in mouthpunching a rude, speciesist dude - it’s a lovely bond they share.
it’s also a celebration of the plus-size woman; a kodiak were-bear-sized woman -329 pounds with h-cup bazongas, which makes my back hurt just thinking about it, but i appreciate the curve-love, although one of the characters appreciates it in a much more colorful way:
there’s plenty of gentle pokes at the expense of those love/hate genre-superstars twilight and fifty shades - her werewolf paramour is named jake, and she invokes her inner goddess and turns into a total babbling dummy bear whenever she’s in a room with that washboard-ab-having puppy, although it must be noted that he doesn’t bring any collars or leashes on their date.
even though it’s so short, it manages to take a stab at worldbuilding, explaining the deeply-ingrained animosity between vampires and fae, some dustings of info about the nature of/legislature around/courtship rituals between shapeshifters in her particular conception, and i like the obstacles zelda faces (grooming, adjusting her spatial perception, wardrobe malfunctions, getting booped on the nose, and - most humiliatingly - territory-marking) during her "time of the month.”
basically, i want more.
sooooooo, please write more!
***************************************
if she can take paranormal romance - a genre that is not my cuppa - and make it as genuinely funny and charming as this AND also triumph when it comes to the dark and creepy, like her free tor short These Deathless Bones: A Tor.com Original, then i am VERY interested to read her take on lovecraft, who makes my brain barf, just to see if she can go 3/3.
review to come.
come to my blog!
and i loved it.
like, howling at the moon loved it. (okay, full truth - i loved 97% of it - the ending kind of blows up into a crazy mess, and i wish this went on for another couple hundred pages, but whatever). TL recommended this one to me, and i read it after i fell hard for the author’s free tor short: These Deathless Bones: A Tor.com Original, which was a viciously dark sorta-fairytale that delighted me, so i figured i’d give this a shot, even though it is as tonally different as two works could possibly be.
i’m typically allergic to romance in books, and i’ve tried to, but never gotten into urban fantasy, so i figured paranormal romance and me would never get along, since it’s just urban fantasy with more kissing. but this one is absolutely paranormal romance, and it is funny, funny, FUNNY! it’s also only 100 pages or so, so it doesn’t have much in the way of actual on-page hookups, but there are definitely romantic themes, and they didn’t make me roll my eyes even once!
part of it is the humor - much humor at the expense of conventional vampire/werewolf tropes, and the particulars of awkward british mannerisms, but it’s also filled with genuinely charming characters. the banter between zelda and zora is simply adorable; the love-teasing appellation of “paddington,” the loyalty that results in mouthpunching a rude, speciesist dude - it’s a lovely bond they share.
it’s also a celebration of the plus-size woman; a kodiak were-bear-sized woman -329 pounds with h-cup bazongas, which makes my back hurt just thinking about it, but i appreciate the curve-love, although one of the characters appreciates it in a much more colorful way:
”Sex is about contact, after all. Grabbing. Clenching. Kissing. Biting. Where’s the pleasure in gnawing on bones?”
there’s plenty of gentle pokes at the expense of those love/hate genre-superstars twilight and fifty shades - her werewolf paramour is named jake, and she invokes her inner goddess and turns into a total babbling dummy bear whenever she’s in a room with that washboard-ab-having puppy, although it must be noted that he doesn’t bring any collars or leashes on their date.
even though it’s so short, it manages to take a stab at worldbuilding, explaining the deeply-ingrained animosity between vampires and fae, some dustings of info about the nature of/legislature around/courtship rituals between shapeshifters in her particular conception, and i like the obstacles zelda faces (grooming, adjusting her spatial perception, wardrobe malfunctions, getting booped on the nose, and - most humiliatingly - territory-marking) during her "time of the month.”
basically, i want more.
sooooooo, please write more!
***************************************
if she can take paranormal romance - a genre that is not my cuppa - and make it as genuinely funny and charming as this AND also triumph when it comes to the dark and creepy, like her free tor short These Deathless Bones: A Tor.com Original, then i am VERY interested to read her take on lovecraft, who makes my brain barf, just to see if she can go 3/3.
review to come.
come to my blog!
April 19, 2018
I picked this up for two reasons. The author is a badass, and who DOESN'T love Prada-wearing were-bears?
Seriously, Khaw has writing chops if she can turn a Devil Wears Prada/chick lit/candy-coated plus-sized fashionista who has the hots for all the wrong supernaturals into something *I* really enjoyed.
I mean, it's rom-com and talking about *feminine issues* and having *that time of the month* I.E., turning into a Kodiak Bear, and alllllll about hooking up with that special someone(s). And yet I chuckled throughout the novella! :)
It ain't one of Khaw's dark, blood-soaked, ultra-sick lovecraftian genre mashups, but she's got me hooked from now to eternity. I'm following this one around like some super fanboy stalker from now on. :) (or at least, I'm going to devour everything she writes from now on) lol TRUST. I totally TRUST her.
Seriously, Khaw has writing chops if she can turn a Devil Wears Prada/chick lit/candy-coated plus-sized fashionista who has the hots for all the wrong supernaturals into something *I* really enjoyed.
I mean, it's rom-com and talking about *feminine issues* and having *that time of the month* I.E., turning into a Kodiak Bear, and alllllll about hooking up with that special someone(s). And yet I chuckled throughout the novella! :)
It ain't one of Khaw's dark, blood-soaked, ultra-sick lovecraftian genre mashups, but she's got me hooked from now to eternity. I'm following this one around like some super fanboy stalker from now on. :) (or at least, I'm going to devour everything she writes from now on) lol TRUST. I totally TRUST her.
Read
June 20, 2017Another novella coming from yours truly. A LGBTQIA rom-com featuring a bi woman of colour :)
pre-order!
any goodreads reviewer wanting a review copy, let me know !
pre-order!
any goodreads reviewer wanting a review copy, let me know !
June 23, 2017
This is my first read in more than a week and it didn't disappoint. JUST LOOK AT THAT COVER.
We have a funny heroine that has zero filter. I didn't expected that because I thought it would be serious!paranormal. I like the tone of the story. It hits you on the right spot. The writing rivals Gail Carriger's trademark quirkiness along with Zen Cho's outrageous characterization. It's the perfect short story to get you out of a reading funk.
We have a bisexual fat woc for a main character. I really love the nod to chick-lit at the end. Overall, this is such a rambly review, but I'm glad I picked up this book.
We have a funny heroine that has zero filter. I didn't expected that because I thought it would be serious!paranormal. I like the tone of the story. It hits you on the right spot. The writing rivals Gail Carriger's trademark quirkiness along with Zen Cho's outrageous characterization. It's the perfect short story to get you out of a reading funk.
We have a bisexual fat woc for a main character. I really love the nod to chick-lit at the end. Overall, this is such a rambly review, but I'm glad I picked up this book.
July 24, 2017
Zelda McCartney is a werebear with a vampire roommate and a job working for Vogue in this paranormal chick-lit novella. (I really hate the term, but it's deliberate and there's an afterword talking about it). She's got a busy life, between managing her once-a-month Kodiak problem, a challenging workplace and trying to drum up a love-life around those issues. The drama comes when her work and personal lives clash head-on as she has to bodyguard (babysit) a visiting fae while she's trying to kick off a relationship with her werewolf neighbor and sort out her feelings towards a female co-worker.
I really enjoyed Hammers on Bone by this author and I was intrigued to see what she could do in such a completely different genre. I'm left wanting more, so that's a win for the author and publisher, but what I want more of is not just a continuation of this story. I want more in this story. I found the author's Big Idea post on John Scalzi's blog very illuminating, but I really didn't get all of that coming through in the text itself. The beginnings of it certainly.
Additionally, in such a small space there isn't really a lot of time for exposition, so I really don't understand "the rules" of the paranormal in this world, and what does come through takes a back seat to the relationship drama going on. One of the more interesting things in urban fantasy/paranomal romance is the interface between the fantastical and the mundane and how that's dealt with, but that's barely (hah!) mentioned here.
But all that being said, if my main complaint about a book is that there should be more of it, then that's easily fixed. The author just needs to write more in this series :)
I really enjoyed Hammers on Bone by this author and I was intrigued to see what she could do in such a completely different genre. I'm left wanting more, so that's a win for the author and publisher, but what I want more of is not just a continuation of this story. I want more in this story. I found the author's Big Idea post on John Scalzi's blog very illuminating, but I really didn't get all of that coming through in the text itself. The beginnings of it certainly.
Additionally, in such a small space there isn't really a lot of time for exposition, so I really don't understand "the rules" of the paranormal in this world, and what does come through takes a back seat to the relationship drama going on. One of the more interesting things in urban fantasy/paranomal romance is the interface between the fantastical and the mundane and how that's dealt with, but that's barely (hah!) mentioned here.
But all that being said, if my main complaint about a book is that there should be more of it, then that's easily fixed. The author just needs to write more in this series :)
April 11, 2018
Having really liked Hammers on Bone, I was intrigued to find out what else Khaw had written. This novella couldn’t be any more different! Instead of a Lovecraftian film noire investigation we are offered a LGBTQIA urban fantasy chick lit - possibly scarier stuff :O)
The author however does something very smart. She took all the much-abused tropes of the genre and amplified them to great effect. For instance, “interest in clothes” becomes a job at Vogue run by fairies, the ‘weight and menstruation’ issues become being a were-bear and having to change with the Moon, the BFF is an opinionated vampire, and the possible love interest is of course ... a werewolf. I ended up really enjoying this. Zelda is a great character, full of contradictions, messy in her behaviour and relationships, but totally relatable in a weird way. Just wanted more.
P.S: Khaw’s afterword where she explains her take on chick lit is also a great addition!
The author however does something very smart. She took all the much-abused tropes of the genre and amplified them to great effect. For instance, “interest in clothes” becomes a job at Vogue run by fairies, the ‘weight and menstruation’ issues become being a were-bear and having to change with the Moon, the BFF is an opinionated vampire, and the possible love interest is of course ... a werewolf. I ended up really enjoying this. Zelda is a great character, full of contradictions, messy in her behaviour and relationships, but totally relatable in a weird way. Just wanted more.
P.S: Khaw’s afterword where she explains her take on chick lit is also a great addition!
August 11, 2017
This is a completely unique and amusing novella about a werebear, a woman that shapeshifts into a bear once a month.
The dialogue and rhythm of the book are fantastic and I found myself laughing out loud a few times. Zelda is a completely unconventional lead protagonist 1) being 329 pounds, 2) being accepting of her build, 3) being bisexual, and 4) I don't recall her ethnicity being explicitly called out but as she's part of the brown bear species and the cover doesn't have a white lady on it I take Zelda to be non-white.
She's British, the story takes place in London, and she also has a hilarious vampire, Zora, as her roommate and best friend.
Most shapeshifting books I've read have a darker theme and are focused on the shapeshifting itself. This does not. Instead, this book is focused on Zelda's love life...and she just so happens to sometimes turn into a bear.
The tone of the book is light-hearted and fun. Zelda is juggling her interests in three different people at the same time, 2 male and 1 female, and it's up in the air on who she'll pick...though it's hinted at pretty clearly which of the attractions are lust and which is love (plus attraction) so we know who to root for even though it's not obvious if it'll happen.
The characters are all uniquely drawn and I was rating this around 4.5 stars until the end which dropped it down to the high 3s...I felt the story sort of petered out and finished too quickly. Another chapter tacked on at the end would've made the book for me. Also, the chemistry with the two men was strong but felt less electric with Janine, the female love interest. I just wanted more of her and Janine in the end, really.
Overall, it's a fun little book and Zelda's character and humor make this worth the read.
The dialogue and rhythm of the book are fantastic and I found myself laughing out loud a few times. Zelda is a completely unconventional lead protagonist 1) being 329 pounds, 2) being accepting of her build, 3) being bisexual, and 4) I don't recall her ethnicity being explicitly called out but as she's part of the brown bear species and the cover doesn't have a white lady on it I take Zelda to be non-white.
She's British, the story takes place in London, and she also has a hilarious vampire, Zora, as her roommate and best friend.
Most shapeshifting books I've read have a darker theme and are focused on the shapeshifting itself. This does not. Instead, this book is focused on Zelda's love life...and she just so happens to sometimes turn into a bear.
The tone of the book is light-hearted and fun. Zelda is juggling her interests in three different people at the same time, 2 male and 1 female, and it's up in the air on who she'll pick...though it's hinted at pretty clearly which of the attractions are lust and which is love (plus attraction) so we know who to root for even though it's not obvious if it'll happen.
The characters are all uniquely drawn and I was rating this around 4.5 stars until the end which dropped it down to the high 3s...I felt the story sort of petered out and finished too quickly. Another chapter tacked on at the end would've made the book for me. Also, the chemistry with the two men was strong but felt less electric with Janine, the female love interest. I just wanted more of her and Janine in the end, really.
Overall, it's a fun little book and Zelda's character and humor make this worth the read.
April 12, 2018
Sooooo different from the other works I've read by this author, which she referred to as Splatterpunk. This novella is funny, and, oddly sweet, as a bisexual werebear tries to go on a date, with less than stellar results.
October 11, 2017
This was so much fun! A bisexual werebear paranormal romcom with a fat woman of color as the main character? I couldn't resist. And this definitely lives up to that premise.
June 25, 2024
While I think the main character concept is a nice idea, a lot of things didn't work for me in this novella.
The writing style with the unnecessary parentheses, full stops for emphasis and lots of interjections seems very forced. Usually I enjoy it when authors play around with dialects, creole or unusual punctuation, but in this case it doesn't sit right with me.
Another thing I don't enjoy is that Zelda is bisexual, but nevertheless almost all of her time fantasizing about sex is spent on men. That's a pity.
Last but not least, I did not at all enjoy the demeaning way Zelda's body was described. How having a bigger body was a nuisance to work around in several scenes. That's just not something I like to read.
The writing style with the unnecessary parentheses, full stops for emphasis and lots of interjections seems very forced. Usually I enjoy it when authors play around with dialects, creole or unusual punctuation, but in this case it doesn't sit right with me.
Another thing I don't enjoy is that Zelda is bisexual, but nevertheless almost all of her time fantasizing about sex is spent on men. That's a pity.
Last but not least, I did not at all enjoy the demeaning way Zelda's body was described. How having a bigger body was a nuisance to work around in several scenes. That's just not something I like to read.
July 18, 2017
Thank you, Book Smugglers Publishing, for my eARC of Bearly a Lady by Cassandra Khaw and the chance to read and review the book early.
I love Bearly a Lady and the main character Zelda McCartney. This book is funny, cute and sexy. It is impossible not to enjoy the characters and their banter, chemistry, and tension. I love the world Cassandra Khaw has created, with shapeshifters, vampires, and fae etc., and I want to see more of it. Seriously, give me more of both the main ship and the world. Not to forget, the book is also really feminist and calls out bullshit like no other. We deserve to see more of that, especially in romance.
“I breathe in. Calm. I am above all of this. I am a werebear. I am a goddess. I am a woman, large and in charge, a captain who is in control of her ship. This is nothing. I am above this.”
Zelda is a fat, bisexual werebear, a woman of color, and the most amazing book character ever. She works at Vogue and is a fashionista, which is honestly just the coolest. However, what makes her so amazing is the fact that she embraces herself and her body. Zelda’s confidence is incredible. To see a woman owning her body, her looks, her fashion sense and being “I’m a goddess” is so great because we need to tell women that that’s how you’re supposed to feel about yourself. You loving yourself is the most beautiful thing and I love it when we get to see female characters doing just that despite their insecurities, insecurities we all have. There is also, of course, Zelda’s love interest(s). Truly, there is only one that counts (squeals over them and their cuteness) but throughout the novella, we get to see Zelda with a couple of potential matches which makes the endgame that much sweeter. This is an f/f romance and I selfishly want more.
The ending, though sweet and happy, was way too short for my taste and that’s partly why I want a sequel. However, I also feel like a sequel is wanted because there are a lot of unanswered questions for me. At first, I wasn’t sure whether Janine was human or some supernatural being, and the whole mechanics of how humans interact with the supernatural beings and who is allowed to know and not know about their existence was really something I wanted to know more about.
“Long story short, cross-species romances are rare and occasionally fatal. Antelope and crocodile? Nope. Wolf and dog? Horrible, horrible idea.”
I would recommend Bearly a Lady to everyone who loves romance and the paranormal. I love the fact that we get to see shapeshifters and vampires in an “everyday” environment and not in some sort of bubble where the rest of the world doesn’t seem to exist. If you’re craving a book that is sweet and hilarious and also nails the perfect blend of all things supernatural and fashion, look no further, Bearly a Lady is just for you.
I love Bearly a Lady and the main character Zelda McCartney. This book is funny, cute and sexy. It is impossible not to enjoy the characters and their banter, chemistry, and tension. I love the world Cassandra Khaw has created, with shapeshifters, vampires, and fae etc., and I want to see more of it. Seriously, give me more of both the main ship and the world. Not to forget, the book is also really feminist and calls out bullshit like no other. We deserve to see more of that, especially in romance.
“I breathe in. Calm. I am above all of this. I am a werebear. I am a goddess. I am a woman, large and in charge, a captain who is in control of her ship. This is nothing. I am above this.”
Zelda is a fat, bisexual werebear, a woman of color, and the most amazing book character ever. She works at Vogue and is a fashionista, which is honestly just the coolest. However, what makes her so amazing is the fact that she embraces herself and her body. Zelda’s confidence is incredible. To see a woman owning her body, her looks, her fashion sense and being “I’m a goddess” is so great because we need to tell women that that’s how you’re supposed to feel about yourself. You loving yourself is the most beautiful thing and I love it when we get to see female characters doing just that despite their insecurities, insecurities we all have. There is also, of course, Zelda’s love interest(s). Truly, there is only one that counts (squeals over them and their cuteness) but throughout the novella, we get to see Zelda with a couple of potential matches which makes the endgame that much sweeter. This is an f/f romance and I selfishly want more.
The ending, though sweet and happy, was way too short for my taste and that’s partly why I want a sequel. However, I also feel like a sequel is wanted because there are a lot of unanswered questions for me. At first, I wasn’t sure whether Janine was human or some supernatural being, and the whole mechanics of how humans interact with the supernatural beings and who is allowed to know and not know about their existence was really something I wanted to know more about.
“Long story short, cross-species romances are rare and occasionally fatal. Antelope and crocodile? Nope. Wolf and dog? Horrible, horrible idea.”
I would recommend Bearly a Lady to everyone who loves romance and the paranormal. I love the fact that we get to see shapeshifters and vampires in an “everyday” environment and not in some sort of bubble where the rest of the world doesn’t seem to exist. If you’re craving a book that is sweet and hilarious and also nails the perfect blend of all things supernatural and fashion, look no further, Bearly a Lady is just for you.
March 11, 2018
Zelda is a werebear who lives with her best friend and vampire, Zora, and works at fashion magazine that's not as fabulous as she thought it would be. After lusting after her werewolf neighbor and high school crush for too long, she finally lands a date with him. The only problem? Her fae boss is making her work as a bodyguard for her seemingly charming nephew because Zelda's the only werebear she can latch onto on such short notice.
This short book had me cracking up starting with the opening chapter. I even had a dream that I was a newly christened werebear running with a weretiger and a pack of werewolves after reading a few chapters before going to sleep. It's not the bodice ripper that many of us romance lovers look forward to reading, but I can promise you that this novel will knock your socks straight off. It's a humorous romance novel that I hope becomes a full fledged series because I'd love to see more of Khaw's take on paranormal entities. I love comedy and romance, so it's always fun when it meets and becomes a hilarious book like this.
I love that Zelda is a plus-size woman and that it takes a solid stab at representing the hardships that comes with that. She's judged for her size and there are moments that people openly gawk at her for it. Plus, there's a tense moment where seating isn't created with plus sized society in mind, which can cause embarrassment as well as more public judgement. It's a short, light, and fun story, so it doesn't go in depth on this topic. However, there's enough there that people who have no personal experience with this gets the idea. Zelda is also a bisexual woman of color. Again, the story doesn't go in depth on her experiences as a woman of color or as a bisexual woman, but it's definitely touched upon.
There's a small amount of world building, which includes key information about the supernatural communities that we see throughout the story. We learn information on how being a werebear works in a modern society as well as information on werewolves, vampires, and fae and how they each interact with each other and how they are each kept out of public knowledge. I would love to see a series come out of this, but if it doesn't, I will still be happy because I love the story and how funny it was as well as how it also worked to be relatable.
This short book had me cracking up starting with the opening chapter. I even had a dream that I was a newly christened werebear running with a weretiger and a pack of werewolves after reading a few chapters before going to sleep. It's not the bodice ripper that many of us romance lovers look forward to reading, but I can promise you that this novel will knock your socks straight off. It's a humorous romance novel that I hope becomes a full fledged series because I'd love to see more of Khaw's take on paranormal entities. I love comedy and romance, so it's always fun when it meets and becomes a hilarious book like this.
I love that Zelda is a plus-size woman and that it takes a solid stab at representing the hardships that comes with that. She's judged for her size and there are moments that people openly gawk at her for it. Plus, there's a tense moment where seating isn't created with plus sized society in mind, which can cause embarrassment as well as more public judgement. It's a short, light, and fun story, so it doesn't go in depth on this topic. However, there's enough there that people who have no personal experience with this gets the idea. Zelda is also a bisexual woman of color. Again, the story doesn't go in depth on her experiences as a woman of color or as a bisexual woman, but it's definitely touched upon.
There's a small amount of world building, which includes key information about the supernatural communities that we see throughout the story. We learn information on how being a werebear works in a modern society as well as information on werewolves, vampires, and fae and how they each interact with each other and how they are each kept out of public knowledge. I would love to see a series come out of this, but if it doesn't, I will still be happy because I love the story and how funny it was as well as how it also worked to be relatable.
June 12, 2017
*4.5 stars*
Sparkly, effervescent fun, like Bridget Jones with shapeshifters! I utterly adored Zelda's voice and her were-bear power, and I loved the way she took pride in her size and strength. I had a couple of tiny nitpicks with her treatment of Janine, but they were small and subjective, and I really enjoyed the whole story. In fact, it absolutely saved me on one particularly stressful weekend! This novella is a fabulous mix of witty British chick-lit with paranormal romance, and I'd love to read more stories set in this world.
Sparkly, effervescent fun, like Bridget Jones with shapeshifters! I utterly adored Zelda's voice and her were-bear power, and I loved the way she took pride in her size and strength. I had a couple of tiny nitpicks with her treatment of Janine, but they were small and subjective, and I really enjoyed the whole story. In fact, it absolutely saved me on one particularly stressful weekend! This novella is a fabulous mix of witty British chick-lit with paranormal romance, and I'd love to read more stories set in this world.
May 17, 2024
Possibly 3.5. I enjoyed this book - it was a lot of fun, and it read bloody fast. Extremely quick, actually, especially after just DNFing a book because it was moving at a glacial pace.
I loved Zelda, I loved Zora, I loved Janine. At some points, I really loved the unique voice, the interesting language construction...at others, it was a bit of a parentheses overload, and a lot of didn't seem to like it needed to be in brackets. Then there was the strange bits of dialogue where the use of full stops to emphasise (i.e. "Shut. Up.") was employed in a really strange way - would that I could go back in time to have highlighted some of these, but alas. Mostly it seemed under-edited, which may be the first book where I've really noticed a lack of strong editing.
The story was fun, and sweet, and lovely. It had the right amount of dramatic tension. I do wish more room had been given to the climax. Not enough time was spent there, it all seemed rather rushed and like it could do with 50 more pages. I was glad of what note it ended on, but the restaurant scene in particular became a confusing list of things happening that I just could not picture or make sense of.
There were also some London-details that didn't ring true. Olive Garden for instance - apparently, thanks to Google, I've found out there is in fact an Olive Garden here...singular. In Southfields, i.e. the arse end of nowhere in London terms. Never heard of anyone going there (neither Olive Garden, nor Southfields, let's be honest). Pepper spray - which is illegal in the UK. Referring to black people (presumably British black people) as "African-American". Hitachi Magic Wands are kind of a small detail, but believe me, they are not available in the UK (thanks to our goddamn plug sockets being too strong and frying them - weep for us). This might not have bothered me if the rest hadn't been pretty accurate, and this being a short enough book that they stood out. What can I say, I'm a nitpicker.
Okay, I'm actually really grouchy this evening which may be why I'm moaning. Because actually, I did really enjoy this book. It was the right-side of sweet, and despite UF not being my bag (oh, at all), I really liked how it was deployed in this book. Time of the month transformation? Genius. Not finding clothes that fit for that? Such a good detail, especially for the werebear that wants to remain fabulous even when covered in fur. The relationships between the women were all really realistic, and full of love. Small spoiler but, I particularly liked the fact that Zelda and Janine's "silent agreement" was only actually a presumption Zelda had made.
I'll be hunting down some of Khaw's other work, and prepare myself for a very different flavour. Though, I'd love to see more rom-com fantasy like this out there. I freaking love rom-coms, I freaking love SFF - I want more!
I loved Zelda, I loved Zora, I loved Janine. At some points, I really loved the unique voice, the interesting language construction...at others, it was a bit of a parentheses overload, and a lot of didn't seem to like it needed to be in brackets. Then there was the strange bits of dialogue where the use of full stops to emphasise (i.e. "Shut. Up.") was employed in a really strange way - would that I could go back in time to have highlighted some of these, but alas. Mostly it seemed under-edited, which may be the first book where I've really noticed a lack of strong editing.
The story was fun, and sweet, and lovely. It had the right amount of dramatic tension. I do wish more room had been given to the climax. Not enough time was spent there, it all seemed rather rushed and like it could do with 50 more pages. I was glad of what note it ended on, but the restaurant scene in particular became a confusing list of things happening that I just could not picture or make sense of.
There were also some London-details that didn't ring true. Olive Garden for instance - apparently, thanks to Google, I've found out there is in fact an Olive Garden here...singular. In Southfields, i.e. the arse end of nowhere in London terms. Never heard of anyone going there (neither Olive Garden, nor Southfields, let's be honest). Pepper spray - which is illegal in the UK. Referring to black people (presumably British black people) as "African-American". Hitachi Magic Wands are kind of a small detail, but believe me, they are not available in the UK (thanks to our goddamn plug sockets being too strong and frying them - weep for us). This might not have bothered me if the rest hadn't been pretty accurate, and this being a short enough book that they stood out. What can I say, I'm a nitpicker.
Okay, I'm actually really grouchy this evening which may be why I'm moaning. Because actually, I did really enjoy this book. It was the right-side of sweet, and despite UF not being my bag (oh, at all), I really liked how it was deployed in this book. Time of the month transformation? Genius. Not finding clothes that fit for that? Such a good detail, especially for the werebear that wants to remain fabulous even when covered in fur. The relationships between the women were all really realistic, and full of love. Small spoiler but, I particularly liked the fact that Zelda and Janine's "silent agreement" was only actually a presumption Zelda had made.
I'll be hunting down some of Khaw's other work, and prepare myself for a very different flavour. Though, I'd love to see more rom-com fantasy like this out there. I freaking love rom-coms, I freaking love SFF - I want more!
June 26, 2017
***4.5 Stars***
Many thanks to Cassandra Khaw for providing me with a eGalley of Bearly a Lady in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
I'll have a mini review for Bearly a Lady on my blog LairOfBooks later today but gahhhh! why is this only a novella?!?!? I need MORE! This was the perfect start of summer read filled with diversity. I'm in love with the main protagonist Zelda a plus sized bisexual fashionista Werebear *heart eyes* I'm going to need more paranormal rom-coms in my life *grabby hands* :)
Many thanks to Cassandra Khaw for providing me with a eGalley of Bearly a Lady in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
I'll have a mini review for Bearly a Lady on my blog LairOfBooks later today but gahhhh! why is this only a novella?!?!? I need MORE! This was the perfect start of summer read filled with diversity. I'm in love with the main protagonist Zelda a plus sized bisexual fashionista Werebear *heart eyes* I'm going to need more paranormal rom-coms in my life *grabby hands* :)
September 9, 2023
The cover is pretty and Zelda was an interesting character, but that’s about it.
June 21, 2017
An egalley was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Bearly a Lady was such a funny and lovely novella. It has lots of content even though it's a novella. I loved every second of it and you all will enjoy it when you pick it up BECAUSE OFC YOU HAVE TO PICK IT UP!!
→ Bi woman of color as MC
→ She's also a werebear!!!
→ Her roomie is a vampire, and they have the best relationship wow
→ Her neighbor is a werewolf who works at a zoo and she has had a big crush on him for so long
→ She works at Vogue and she's such a fashionista I loveeee it
→ She also crushes on her coworker, Janine
→ There are so many great scenarios and characters in this book
I would like maybe a romance for Liz? She sounds so awesome. Also for Zora. AND EVERYONE REALLY? I'm so ready to see more of these characters.
Bearly a Lady was such a funny and lovely novella. It has lots of content even though it's a novella. I loved every second of it and you all will enjoy it when you pick it up BECAUSE OFC YOU HAVE TO PICK IT UP!!
→ Bi woman of color as MC
→ She's also a werebear!!!
→ Her roomie is a vampire, and they have the best relationship wow
→ Her neighbor is a werewolf who works at a zoo and she has had a big crush on him for so long
→ She works at Vogue and she's such a fashionista I loveeee it
→ She also crushes on her coworker, Janine
→ There are so many great scenarios and characters in this book
I would like maybe a romance for Liz? She sounds so awesome. Also for Zora. AND EVERYONE REALLY? I'm so ready to see more of these characters.
dnf
August 16, 2017DNF at 9%
The beginning of this book made me uncomfortable. It felt like the reader was being encouraged to laugh at the MCs fatness. I asked around for reviews written by fat reviewers & found this one, which confirmed that this was likely going to be my reading experience for the rest of the book:
https://smallqueerbigopinions.wordpre...
I may give this another try at some point, but am DNFing for now.
The beginning of this book made me uncomfortable. It felt like the reader was being encouraged to laugh at the MCs fatness. I asked around for reviews written by fat reviewers & found this one, which confirmed that this was likely going to be my reading experience for the rest of the book:
https://smallqueerbigopinions.wordpre...
I may give this another try at some point, but am DNFing for now.
July 19, 2017
Khaw's sense of humor, which underlays her Rupert Wong novellas, is on full display here, but, in a change from her usual style, mated to a bubbly and fun paranormal romcom with a gloriously and unapologetically fat werebear protagonist navigating love and desire for a few different possible love interests.
It took me about an hour to read, and it never stopped being both fun and funny, and it's sweet without being saccharine.
It took me about an hour to read, and it never stopped being both fun and funny, and it's sweet without being saccharine.
June 22, 2017
Thank you Cassandra Khaw to the moon and back for the eARC!
I wouldn't have known about this book if not for Sil from The Book Voyagers, so thank you as well!
Bearly a Lady immediately captured my interest from the prologue, where we meet Zelda in the form of a bear. I absolutely adored reading from the first person POV of Zelda, a werebear who turns a bit, well, hairy (and beary) once every month. She also works at Vogue as a temp, although keeps her werebear heritage under wraps. The author writes a whimsical, paranormal romantic comedy that can be silly sometimes, but charming all the way.
"'If the world knew that there were werebears out there, werebear women with needs, then maybe, just maybe, we might be able to get an entire line of clothing made exclusively for the chic shapeshifter, and I wouldn't have to -'
'There is not enough latex in the world to fit over your bear butt.'"
The dialogue in this book is absolutely hilarious as Zelda juggles her at-first nonexistent love life. Good thing she has a roommate Zora to help her out for setting a date with a childhood werewolf acquaintance/neighbor, Jake. At the same time, she's nursing a crush on her coworker Janine, who is absolutely gorgeous and kind (they have the best rapport) but has no idea about the supernatural world. Add in a fae royalty who she has to protect and you have all kinds of trouble brewing. Endgame ship though? My absolute fave. (Hint: it's not the cliche one.) ;)
This novella was a super quick read, and even quicker by the amount of dialogue that drives the story. I was looking for a cute paranormal romance read after seeing Zelda described as a "werebear/fashionista" and was not disappointed! Bearly a Lady is full of great aspects such as body positivity, calling out a character for ableist terms, bisexual rep for Zelda, and slamming down the usual tropes that surround the paranormal genre. Although most of the characters have some form of paranormal abilities, many of the issues they discuss are very relevant to us not involved in the supernatural world. Honestly, the words "paranormal rom com" should be enough for readers to want to pick this one up! With a gorgeous cover, a witty werebear struggling to juggle her love life, and satisfying conclusion, Bearly a Lady is a novella that captured my heart.
I wouldn't have known about this book if not for Sil from The Book Voyagers, so thank you as well!
Bearly a Lady immediately captured my interest from the prologue, where we meet Zelda in the form of a bear. I absolutely adored reading from the first person POV of Zelda, a werebear who turns a bit, well, hairy (and beary) once every month. She also works at Vogue as a temp, although keeps her werebear heritage under wraps. The author writes a whimsical, paranormal romantic comedy that can be silly sometimes, but charming all the way.
"'If the world knew that there were werebears out there, werebear women with needs, then maybe, just maybe, we might be able to get an entire line of clothing made exclusively for the chic shapeshifter, and I wouldn't have to -'
'There is not enough latex in the world to fit over your bear butt.'"
The dialogue in this book is absolutely hilarious as Zelda juggles her at-first nonexistent love life. Good thing she has a roommate Zora to help her out for setting a date with a childhood werewolf acquaintance/neighbor, Jake. At the same time, she's nursing a crush on her coworker Janine, who is absolutely gorgeous and kind (they have the best rapport) but has no idea about the supernatural world. Add in a fae royalty who she has to protect and you have all kinds of trouble brewing. Endgame ship though? My absolute fave. (Hint: it's not the cliche one.) ;)
This novella was a super quick read, and even quicker by the amount of dialogue that drives the story. I was looking for a cute paranormal romance read after seeing Zelda described as a "werebear/fashionista" and was not disappointed! Bearly a Lady is full of great aspects such as body positivity, calling out a character for ableist terms, bisexual rep for Zelda, and slamming down the usual tropes that surround the paranormal genre. Although most of the characters have some form of paranormal abilities, many of the issues they discuss are very relevant to us not involved in the supernatural world. Honestly, the words "paranormal rom com" should be enough for readers to want to pick this one up! With a gorgeous cover, a witty werebear struggling to juggle her love life, and satisfying conclusion, Bearly a Lady is a novella that captured my heart.
September 4, 2017
This was an entirely different experience to These Deathless bones - it's actually really exciting when I find an author I love who can speak in such different voices but maintain such high quality.
"You're not plus-sized. Well, you are. For a human. But you're also actually quite a small bear."
This is a fairly short novella, but it builds up an interesting world - one full of were-creatures (including pandas!) and leafy fae, and vampires who will sacrifice dates with two bisexual firemen to help a sister out - and who doesn't like that? It's on the frothier side of urban fantasy, but that's a hell of an entertaining place to be when it's done well, and it's done well here.
I do hope we end up with a full sized novel series, because while this was a really fun read, I'd love to see where Ms Khaw could take the story given the space to play with it.
"You're not plus-sized. Well, you are. For a human. But you're also actually quite a small bear."
This is a fairly short novella, but it builds up an interesting world - one full of were-creatures (including pandas!) and leafy fae, and vampires who will sacrifice dates with two bisexual firemen to help a sister out - and who doesn't like that? It's on the frothier side of urban fantasy, but that's a hell of an entertaining place to be when it's done well, and it's done well here.
I do hope we end up with a full sized novel series, because while this was a really fun read, I'd love to see where Ms Khaw could take the story given the space to play with it.
August 8, 2017
An outrageously fun combination of chicklit, the supernatural, and workplace minutiae. I'm tempted to say I wish it was longer but I suspect the length is actually perfect: the joy and surprise never wear off, and the end is quick and satisfying. That said, I am 100% here for a series of novellas set in this world. Please, Book Smugglers?
August 2, 2024
I have really been looking forward to reading to this book, because:
1. Cassandra Khaw
2. Werebears
3. Bisexual protagonist
4. I expected Romance-Urban Fantasy mix, which kind of my bad, but also that's how it's shelved on GR! The author calls it their attempt to write a Paranormal Chick-Lit though which is so much closer... *sigh* The tags on GR are going to be my undoing...
I ended up hating it because:
(There will be some spoilers in this part...)
1. The protagonist Zelda was supposed to be a body-positive heroine but instead she kept fat-shaming herself. I wasn't a fan of how this whole area was handled.
2. Abs. Abs. Abs. ... The way the male love-interests were described did nothing for me and I therefore couldn't understand Zelda's lust after them. This wouldn't be a problem if there wasn't so much of it.
3. I could use a bit more lusting and actual feelings for the female love interest. I have no clue why Zelda cares about her, apart from enjoying being smashed in Scrabble?
4. The way sexual assault is handled here... I mean, it's kind of questionable whether the book even realises that what it describes is sexual assault. Yeah, I'm talking about Benedict here who uses his glamour to get it on with... everyone with boobs? Yet after trying to use his glamour on Zelda, she sets him up with her close friend and only realises this was a bad idea after seeing he's not that handsome under his glamour?! Yikes!
There are also no repercussions for his actions.
5. There is no real plot. I am an advocate that book doesn't have to have action plot if it has a good (in this case) romance, but... nope. That was not here and as a result there was really nothing I can praise in this book? Even the writing was clunky which is something I'm not used to from Khaw.
So, overall, appreciate this attempt from Khaw to branch into different genres, but it's pretty clear it didn't work out. Which I think they also know because they didn't make another attempt since.
*trying really hard to come up with something nice to say*
The cover is nice!
BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
1. Cassandra Khaw
2. Werebears
3. Bisexual protagonist
4. I expected Romance-Urban Fantasy mix, which kind of my bad, but also that's how it's shelved on GR! The author calls it their attempt to write a Paranormal Chick-Lit though which is so much closer... *sigh* The tags on GR are going to be my undoing...
I ended up hating it because:
(There will be some spoilers in this part...)
1. The protagonist Zelda was supposed to be a body-positive heroine but instead she kept fat-shaming herself. I wasn't a fan of how this whole area was handled.
2. Abs. Abs. Abs. ... The way the male love-interests were described did nothing for me and I therefore couldn't understand Zelda's lust after them. This wouldn't be a problem if there wasn't so much of it.
3. I could use a bit more lusting and actual feelings for the female love interest. I have no clue why Zelda cares about her, apart from enjoying being smashed in Scrabble?
4. The way sexual assault is handled here... I mean, it's kind of questionable whether the book even realises that what it describes is sexual assault. Yeah, I'm talking about Benedict here who uses his glamour to get it on with... everyone with boobs? Yet after trying to use his glamour on Zelda, she sets him up with her close friend and only realises this was a bad idea after seeing he's not that handsome under his glamour?! Yikes!
There are also no repercussions for his actions.
5. There is no real plot. I am an advocate that book doesn't have to have action plot if it has a good (in this case) romance, but... nope. That was not here and as a result there was really nothing I can praise in this book? Even the writing was clunky which is something I'm not used to from Khaw.
So, overall, appreciate this attempt from Khaw to branch into different genres, but it's pretty clear it didn't work out. Which I think they also know because they didn't make another attempt since.
*trying really hard to come up with something nice to say*
The cover is nice!
BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
July 19, 2017
Bearly a Lady is a fun, bubbly romcom about a plus-sized werebear looking for love among a group of potential love interests. I've been anxiously waiting for this story for months since Khaw first spoke of it on twitter and I'm thrilled with what I got. I devoured it in less than an hour and by the end of it, I was hungry for more. I think I'm not alone when I say I'd love to a sequel in the future.
August 12, 2021
3.5 rounded up.
This was absolutely ridiculous AND tons of fun. I cracked a smile more than a few times at some of the lines in this genre-bender. If you're looking for something short and silly, this should hit the spot. (While silly, much of the writing is very smart)
The story would have benefited from a bit more length, but it was still plenty of fun. This was certainly a more positive read for me than The All-Consuming World, more in line with how I felt about These Deathless Bones- which means I will definitely be checking out more of Khaw's writing in the future. 🥳
This was absolutely ridiculous AND tons of fun. I cracked a smile more than a few times at some of the lines in this genre-bender. If you're looking for something short and silly, this should hit the spot. (While silly, much of the writing is very smart)
The story would have benefited from a bit more length, but it was still plenty of fun. This was certainly a more positive read for me than The All-Consuming World, more in line with how I felt about These Deathless Bones- which means I will definitely be checking out more of Khaw's writing in the future. 🥳
July 22, 2017
A fun premise but a little disjointed in its execution -maybe could have benefited from having tighter editing or more space to explore the worldbuilding? I loved the humor, the concept, and the characters' potential.
September 11, 2017
Cassandra Khaw's Bearly a Lady is the 3rd publication in the Book Smugglers' Novella Initiative. It looked amazing and the blurb —with its Devil Wears Prada meets Bridget Jones meets Teenwolf vibe with bonus Fae — made it sound like it would be just too much fun! And the blurb absolutely delivered. This book reminded me so much of the late nineties/early oughts chick lit I loved and provided me with the same happy feelings at the end of the book that they did. And like many of the books I loved at the time, Bearly a Lady hides some crunch amid the fluff.
I loved Zelda and her roommate Zora. There is an unconditionality to their friendship, that allows for a lot of good-natured ribbing, that has some actual bite to it, without it leading to a crisis between them. Khaw created a fun mix of well-known tropes and new twists upon them for both her were-creatures and vampires, which all come out through the interactions between Zelda and Zora.
The third supernatural addition to Khaw’s world are the Fae, who both are and aren’t exactly what you expect them to be. When Zelda is assigned to be Benedict’s — “just Benedict" — personal bodyguard, we are introduced to him as everything we’d expect the Fae to be: beautiful, glamorous, perfect, and powerful. But Zelda quickly sees through this facade and I really liked how she takes charge of the situation and turns it to her advantage.
What made the romance element in Bearly a Lady so delightful was the bi representation, which as awesome. There is no hand-wringing about Zelda’s sexuality, but more about who she likes the most. Zelda is out and comfortable in her sexual identity, even if she is sometimes a little startled at her own desires and her expressing those out loud.
Bearly a Lady was a complete and utter treat, one that left me craving more: more of this world and more of Zelda. Fingers crossed that Cassandra Khaw will take us back there in the near future.
This novella was provided for review by the publisher.
I loved Zelda and her roommate Zora. There is an unconditionality to their friendship, that allows for a lot of good-natured ribbing, that has some actual bite to it, without it leading to a crisis between them. Khaw created a fun mix of well-known tropes and new twists upon them for both her were-creatures and vampires, which all come out through the interactions between Zelda and Zora.
The third supernatural addition to Khaw’s world are the Fae, who both are and aren’t exactly what you expect them to be. When Zelda is assigned to be Benedict’s — “just Benedict" — personal bodyguard, we are introduced to him as everything we’d expect the Fae to be: beautiful, glamorous, perfect, and powerful. But Zelda quickly sees through this facade and I really liked how she takes charge of the situation and turns it to her advantage.
What made the romance element in Bearly a Lady so delightful was the bi representation, which as awesome. There is no hand-wringing about Zelda’s sexuality, but more about who she likes the most. Zelda is out and comfortable in her sexual identity, even if she is sometimes a little startled at her own desires and her expressing those out loud.
Bearly a Lady was a complete and utter treat, one that left me craving more: more of this world and more of Zelda. Fingers crossed that Cassandra Khaw will take us back there in the near future.
This novella was provided for review by the publisher.
June 30, 2017
3 1/2 stars
First and foremost a big thank you to Book Smugglers who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review! You ladies are the best!
Confession time: I don't read a lot of romance, and I've never picked up a "chick-lit" book. (Not that I have anything against these genres at all.) I do, however, read urban fantasy, which is romance and horror's weird love-child. When the author talked about her influences at the back of this book I really appreciated the roadmap, while much of this might be familiar territory for many readers.
Okay, so if I'm not a romance reader then why was I so keen to pick this book up? Two words: Bisexual werebear. I'm so sold. When I was reading I was also pleasantly surprised that the main character is also of a more, ahem, robust body type than you usually see depicted in stories like these. In fact, the writing Khaw did in respect to body image, fat shaming, and self-esteem was my favorite part of the book. You get to see this woman struggle with her size and how she is perceived by others. And, without giving too much away, the more her self-image improves, the better she is able to see not only herself but others around her. I loved that.
The novella is a bit choppy, jumping from scene to scene without much transition, and some characters come and go so swiftly it can be hard to tell who is important and who is not. I particularly liked the roommate and the love interest (though it would be cheating to tell you who that is). I was a little surprised that for a romance this novella is fairly tame in the sex department - if you're looking for super steamy this is not the place, however it is quite sweet. All in all it's a lovely meringue of a novella with some great things to say about body image stirred into the mix. I'd certainly give Cassandra Khaw another read in the future.
First and foremost a big thank you to Book Smugglers who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review! You ladies are the best!
Confession time: I don't read a lot of romance, and I've never picked up a "chick-lit" book. (Not that I have anything against these genres at all.) I do, however, read urban fantasy, which is romance and horror's weird love-child. When the author talked about her influences at the back of this book I really appreciated the roadmap, while much of this might be familiar territory for many readers.
Okay, so if I'm not a romance reader then why was I so keen to pick this book up? Two words: Bisexual werebear. I'm so sold. When I was reading I was also pleasantly surprised that the main character is also of a more, ahem, robust body type than you usually see depicted in stories like these. In fact, the writing Khaw did in respect to body image, fat shaming, and self-esteem was my favorite part of the book. You get to see this woman struggle with her size and how she is perceived by others. And, without giving too much away, the more her self-image improves, the better she is able to see not only herself but others around her. I loved that.
The novella is a bit choppy, jumping from scene to scene without much transition, and some characters come and go so swiftly it can be hard to tell who is important and who is not. I particularly liked the roommate and the love interest (though it would be cheating to tell you who that is). I was a little surprised that for a romance this novella is fairly tame in the sex department - if you're looking for super steamy this is not the place, however it is quite sweet. All in all it's a lovely meringue of a novella with some great things to say about body image stirred into the mix. I'd certainly give Cassandra Khaw another read in the future.
March 21, 2018
Bearly a Lady, on the other hand, is supernatural chick lit comedy. Zelda Joshua Andreas McCartney is a werebear, which is hard on all sorts of things, like underwear and dating. Her best friend and roommate Zora is a vampire. And she has, thanks to Zora’s pushing, a hot date with a very sexy werewolf she’s been lusting after for a very long time. And she’s still got a bit of a crush on co-worker Janine. Then her employer assigns her to act as a bodyguard to her visiting nephew, an arrogant, entitled fae lordling with full-tilt glamour. It’s Bridget Jones for the fantasy-reading woman, and it is as different from Khaw’ dark fantasy as it can be and still occupy the same broadly-defined genre.
There’s a lot of good stuff in here about female friendship, and some pointedly cautionary advice for the modern female wereperson who wants to have a bit of romance in her life. It’s a delightful change for this author, who says in her afterward, and with perfect truth, “Because there’s a place and time for darkness and grim ruminations, and there’s a place and time for bisexual werebears with killer wardrobes and a soft spot for pastries.”
There’s a lot of good stuff in here about female friendship, and some pointedly cautionary advice for the modern female wereperson who wants to have a bit of romance in her life. It’s a delightful change for this author, who says in her afterward, and with perfect truth, “Because there’s a place and time for darkness and grim ruminations, and there’s a place and time for bisexual werebears with killer wardrobes and a soft spot for pastries.”
November 9, 2020
I downloaded this as an ebook, and I didn't realize that it was a novella when I started it - it doesn't start off structured like a novella at all. We get some excellent world-building, we meet the characters, what feels like rising action begins - and then suddenly it's over. It felt like the author started writing a novel, and then just ran out of steam. Which really frustrated me, because the beginning was so promising!
The tone is kind of Sophie Kinsella by way of Buffy, but with a queer plus-size protagonist (plus-size for a human, as her roommate clarifies at one point, but, when she shape-shifts, actually quite a small bear). Which sounds terrific, and it mostly was! It's charming and fun and self-aware enough to feel fresh and original, but before we really get a chance to find out much of anything about the characters, and before much of anything is really resolved, you're at the acknowledgments page. Gah. I'm really Cassandra Khaw will make a more sustained foray into this very specific genre she's dreamed up, because I would love to see more of it - with a bit more commitment and a more rigorous edit.
The tone is kind of Sophie Kinsella by way of Buffy, but with a queer plus-size protagonist (plus-size for a human, as her roommate clarifies at one point, but, when she shape-shifts, actually quite a small bear). Which sounds terrific, and it mostly was! It's charming and fun and self-aware enough to feel fresh and original, but before we really get a chance to find out much of anything about the characters, and before much of anything is really resolved, you're at the acknowledgments page. Gah. I'm really Cassandra Khaw will make a more sustained foray into this very specific genre she's dreamed up, because I would love to see more of it - with a bit more commitment and a more rigorous edit.
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