In mid-21st-century Kansas City, Dora hasn't been back to her old commune in years. But when Dora's ex-girlfriend Kay is killed, and everyone at the commune is a potential suspect, Dora knows she's the only person who can solve the murder.
As Dora is dragged back into her old community and begins her investigations, she discovers that Kay's death is only one of several terrible incidents. A strange new drug is circulating. People are disappearing. And Dora is being attacked by assailants from her pre-transition past.
Meanwhile, It seems like a war between two nefarious corporations is looming, and Dora's old neighbourhood is their battleground. Now she must uncover a twisted conspiracy, all while navigating a deeply meaningful new relationship.
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I hadn't seen June in years, not since I left the commune.
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(Tachyon Publications, 12 March 2024, e-galley, 176 pages, copy from the publisher via NetGalley)
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I wanted to read These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart because I loved the title so much. Dora is trans. I haven't read many books with trans characters. I liked Dora a lot. She's determined to find out what happened to Kay, even when people make it clear they don't want her to investigate she refuses to back down, dragging up the past and revisiting old memories she thought were long buried. This is a short book but never felt like a short read if you know what I mean. I was gripped from start to finish. I had a good time reading this book and would recommend it.