LGBTQ+ Comics and Graphic Novels

We’re back with another LGBTQ+ recommendation post! Today’s is full of cute, fun and quick comics and graphic novels that you can fly through! – Sasha and Amber ❤

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

A SUPER adorable and heart-warming story about two boys falling in love. The side characters in this series are incredible too and you might recognise some of them from Alice’s other books!

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki

A graphic novel that asks us to consider what happens when we ditch the toxic relationships we crave to embrace the healthy ones we need.

You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez

An all-new origin story for Aquaboy, in which a teen comes to terms with both his power, his sexuality and his future. A gorgeous comic about identity, friendship and magic!

DC: Bombshells

The most badass DC comic you will read. Batwoman, Wonderwoman, Mera, Harley Quinn and more iconic female superheroes fight the Nazis as well as a new superhero threat. 90% of the leading ladies in this novel are sapphic, with a sprinkling of sapphic side characters too.

Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy

Canon HarleyIvy is possibly my favourite thing that has ever happened. In this miniseries, which I really need to read soon, Harley and Ivy battle heroes and villains alike while they explore their relationship and unpack past trauma

Batwoman: Elegy

Lesbian Icon Batwoman battles a madwoman known only as Alice, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, who sees her life as a fairy tale and everyone around her as expendable extras.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret – at night he puts on dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!

On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

An inventive world, a breathtaking love story, and stunning art come together in this new work by award-winning artist Tillie Walden.

Always Human by Ari North

This is a story about nanobots, genetic engineering, and two girls falling in love. No matter how technology changes us, we’ll always be human.

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft. Filled with representation, acceptance and love!

 

 

Giant Days by John Allison

These stories follow a trio of chaotic girls as they try to navigate their way through university.

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill

A charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons.

Bloom by Kevin Panetta

A delicious recipe of intricately illustrated baking scenes and blushing young love, in which the choices we make can have terrible consequences, but the people who love us can help us grow.

The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag

In thirteen-year-old Aster’s family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn’t shifted . . . and he’s still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be.

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

Two friends embark on a journey at their pumpkin-patch workplace to have the best time possible before they go off to college. 

Interview with Kelly Yang, author or Parachutes

I had the pleasure of asking author Kelly Yang a few questions about her new novel, Parachutes, out June 25 in the UK. Parachutes is one of my favourite novels of the year so far and I so encourage you to pick it up! You can read my review here, and I’m also hosting a giveaway for a copy of it on my Instagram, @midnightb00ks 🙂

Hi Kelly, thanks so much for answering my questions! Could you start by telling us a little about you?

I’m Kelly Yang, the New York Times bestselling author of FRONT DESK, and the winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature. Parachutes is my debut young adult novel.

If you were to describe Parachutes in five words, what would they be?

Gripping, emotional, raw, modern, feminist

What was your initial inspiration for Parachutes and how did it evolve from there?

My inspiration for Parachutes was my 13 years living in Hong Kong and teaching parachute kids! I was fully immersed in their world and all the complications and drama that come with having a lot of wealth. Parachutes was also mirrored on my own experience with sexual assault as a young law student at Harvard Law School.

What was the most difficult thing about writing Parachutes, and what did you enjoy the most? 

The most difficult thing about writing Parachutes was writing in dual POV. It was like writing two novels and then combining them, so it was an incredible challenge. I often joke that the book almost killed me! The most enjoyable thing about writing Parachutes was writing authentically from two strong, dynamic girls’ experiences going through the same heart-wrenching issue. 

Can you talk a little about the topic of sexual assault dicussed in Parachutes?

Absolutely. I hope that Parachutes shines a light on rape culture and the roles played by many, even at the highest levels of institutions, that allow it to perpetuate. I hope teens understand what it is and how it can happen to any of us, so they are better equipped to deal with the world and to change it!

On a lighter note, is there anything particular you’d like to see if Parachutes was adapted to screen? 

I hope the sisterhood of Dani and Claire and the female camaraderie remain! To me, Parachutes is a celebration of what can happen when women come together!

What’s a piece of advice you’d give any aspiring authors reading this?

Keep writing! And don’t give up! It took me 17 years to find the courage to write Parachutes. Be patient with yourself and read, read, read!

What books inspire you as a writer?

Speak and Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson really inspired me when I was writing Parachutes. I also loved Allegedly by Tiffany Jackson. 

With Parachutes out now, what do you hope readers take away from your novel?

I think the biggest takeaway from my novel is how complex sex is. I really hope Parachutes can be a conversation starter about sex and consent – what it is, what’s it like when you don’t have consent, what happens when you lose control. We need to start having these conversations about our bodies and our rights with teens early, before they get violated, so they don’t get violated. If Parachutes is able to help start some of these critical conversations in families and schools, I think it can be a real gamechanger. 

Finally, are you currently working on anything you might be able to tell us a little about? 

I’m working on more middle grade and YA! I’m very excited that the highly anticipated sequel to my debut novel FRONT DESK, THREE KEYS, releases in Sept! 

 

Parachutes by Kelly Yang

This is one of my favourite books of the year and I really encourage you to pick it up, thanks for reading my review! I also have an upcoming interview with the author so keep an eye out!!!!! Sasha ❤

Parachutes by Kelly Yang is an absolutely wonderful book that immediately gripped me and wouldn’t let me go. It’s a powerful story of two girls who have more in common than they think that discusses sexual assault, racism and privilege. I am just so wowed by this visceral and stunning book.
Parachutes is absolutely amazingly written. It is tear-jerking, beautifully emotive, full of personality. It is lyrical yet so easy to read through on and get swept away on. You will completely lose yourself in the story and characters.
The two narrators, Claire and Dani are such amazing and loveable characters. They are flawed but they recognise their mistakes and grow from them. They are both so so brave and I loved their budding friendship – their intersecting storylines were absolutely amazing.
I am so inspired by Dani and Claire, and also Ming and Florence and Nancy and Bree and even Zach. The entire central cast is built up of such unique and interesting characters that really stood out from the page.
Parachutes talks about racism in schools and both inside and outside the Asian community, both the acts of racism that are obvious but also discussing the microaggressions that Asians and people of colour face on the daily, especially immigrants such as the Parachutes in this book. This book also has sexual assault as a very central topic – I thought this was handled and discussed incredibly well – in a raw and painful way, but with so much emotion and importance behind in.
Parachutes discusses important subjects but is also about friendship, solidarity and has loads of funny, inspiring and beautiful moments.
Kelly Yang is so talented, her prose is gorgeous, her plot incredibly woven, the stakes so emotional and the characters so relatable and loveable.
I wish I had more to say but I don’t have enough words to describe this important, powerful, inspiring and moving novel that absolutely blew me away. I really encourage you to pick it up.

Books with Bisexual Characters

Hi all! Back with some more LGBTQ+ recommendations, and today is all about books with bisexual main characters! We hope you enjoy! – Sasha and Amber ❤

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

When coming up with recommendations for this post, this is the first one that popped into my head, and I think it is absolutely BLASPHEMOUS that Sasha has yet to read it. It follows Evelyn Hugo, a hollywood star and surrounds the story of her life, and her seven husbands, along with her one true love.

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova 

Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires; and her whole family vanishes into thin air.

I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn

A series of texts and emails sent between best friends Ava and Gen, as they head off to their first semesters of college on opposite sides of the country. From first loves to weird roommates, heartbreak, self-discovery, coming out and mental health, the two of them document every wild and awkward moment to each other.

People Like Us by Dana Mele

When Kay and her friends find a dead body floating in the lake at their school, things start to get weird. They get even weirder though when she recieves a series of emails from the dead girl.

The Herd by Andrea Bartz

An incredible book about an all-female working space and feminism that goes downhill when the founder of the company goes missing.

The Boy in the Red Dress by Kristin Lambert

This book follows Millie, who is helping her Aunt run a speakeasy; Millie is left alone running it one night when a dead body from her best friend’s past shows up. The police are quick to assume that Marion was the murderer, but Millie is certain he didn’t do it; and she’s determined to find the real killer.

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

If you haven’t read this graphic novel yet, what are you doing?!?! This is an adorable, heartwarming book about boys falling in love and Nick coming to terms with his sexuality.

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

At turns heartbreaking and joyous, I Wish You All the Best is both a celebration of life, friendship, and love, and a shining example of hope in the face of adversity.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Does this book really need explaining? Probably one of the most well-loved books within the community, this follows a group of six misfit criminals who go on an impossible heist.

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

Adam Silvera reminds us that there’s no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.

Far From You by Tess Sharpe

It’s been four months since Sophie’s best friend, Mina, died in what everyone believes was a drug deal gone wrong – a deal they think Sophie set up. Only Sophie knows the truth. And now she’s out of rehab, and determined to find Mina’s killer.

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman

When bodies start to appear in the woods, the locals become downright hostile. Can the teenagers solve the mystery of Four Paths, and their own part in it, before another calamity strikes?

The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake

A stunning coming-of-age story about mental health, self-discovery, family, friendships and shipwrecks.

Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland

A.M. Strickland’s imaginative dark fantasy features court intrigue and romance, a main character coming to terms with her asexuality, and twists and turns as a seductive mystery unfolds that endangers not just Kamai’s own soul, but the entire kingdom …

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett

In a community that isn’t always understanding, an HIV-positive teen must navigate fear, disclosure, and radical self-acceptance when she falls in love–and lust–for the first time.

Havenfall by Sara Holland

A safe haven between four realms and the girl sworn to protect it—at any cost. Bestselling author Sara Holland pulls readers into an enchanting world where both power and peril lurk behind every door.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse…

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

An enthralling story about magical books and libraries, unexpected alliances, sorcery, magic and love.

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

A show-runner and her assistant give the world something to talk about when they accidentally fuel a ridiculous rumor in this debut romance.

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White

From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes a new fantasy series re-imagining the Arthurian legend, set in the magical world of Camelot.

Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen

A poignant and deeply relatable story about friendship, self-acceptance, what it means to be a Real Teenager. Late to the Party is an ode to late bloomers and wallflowers everywhere.

The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska

The Wicked Deep meets A Curse So Dark and Lonely in this gripping, dark fairy-tale fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island city.

Let’s Talk About Books Tag

Hi everybody!! Today we’ve got a super exciting post because it’s a tag that our amazing friend, Emily, from @ashortbooklover created with Emma from @nverjudgeabook!! Sasha and I are both going to give our individual answers to each prompt. Let’s get right into talking about some awesome books! – Sasha and Amber ❤

 

The hyped book you can’t wait to read

Amber’s Answer: Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Cinderella Is Dead

 

 

 

 

 

Emily has been telling both Sasha and I how incredible this book is, and honestly, I’ve never wanted to read a sapphic cinderella retelling so bad, Plus that cover is to die for!!

 

Sasha’s Answer:

Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas

Cemetery Boys

Can I say the same one? Jk! I’m SO excited for Cemetery Boys. I just preordered this and it looks AMAZING, plus Amber read and eArc and loved it! It has so much I love – gays, pining, ghosts, magic! 

 

The important book you’ve read (or is on your TBR)

Amber’s Answer: Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

Felix Ever After

 

 

 

 

 

A gorgeous book that tackles gender identity, self-acceptance, sexuality, harassment and so much more in such an enlightening way.

 

Sasha’s Answer:

Slay by Britney Morris

Slay

That’s a difficult question, but the first that comes to mind is Slay. Slay was such an amazing, important book that I’d definitely recommend everyone picks up. It discusses race, identity, relationships and more in such an important way at the same time as being impossibly fun to read. What a gem of a book.

 

An upcoming book by a LGBTQ+ author that you’re really hyped for

Amber’s Answer: Who I Was With Her by Nita Tyndall

Who I Was with Her

 

 

 

 

 

This is a contemporary about two girls who are dating in secret and the journey of one of them when the other suddenly dies and she has to grieve for a love that nobody else even knew existed.

 

Sasha’s Answer:

Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power

Burn Our Bodies Down

I LOVED Wilder Girls, and I can’t wait for Rory’s next GAY thriller! Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot’s questions about what came before. No history to hold on to. No relative to speak of. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along.

 

A book on your TBR that you think will be a 5 star read

Amber’s Answer: Iron Heart by Nina Varela

Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)

 

 

 

 

 

I’m BEYOND excited for this book, which is the sequel to Crier’s War. I cannot wait to see the relationship between Crier and Ayla develop; and by the tiny teasers that Nina keeps releasing, I think it might just end us all.

 

Sasha’s Answer:

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

The Priory of the Orange Tree

EVERYONE has been recommending this to me for SO LONG, and I’m finally reading it this June. SO hyped. This a f/f adult fantasy novel, and I am prepared to love all 800 pages of it 

 

The book hangover book

Amber’s Answer: Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper and Fire #1)

 

 

 

 

 

Girls of paper and fire, as you most likely know, is actually mine, Sasha’s and Emily’s favourite book, and also how we initially all became friends :)) But, while it is the book I will always go to when I’m in a reading slump, it is also the book that never fails to hit me with a book hangover, EVERY, SINGLE, TIME, because it’s just THAT good :))

 

Sasha’s Answer: The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White

The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

This is one of my FAVOURITES, and the author recently confirmed that Guinevere is bi so that makes it 10000 times better. It’s a re-imagining the Arthurian legend, set in the magical world of Camelot.

 

An upcoming book by a Black author that you’re excited for

Amber’s Answer: Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

Honey Girl

 

 

 

 

 

This book sounds PHENOMENAL, and although I’m sad it got pushed back to next year, I think I’m going to love it so much!! It’s “A refreshingly timely and relatable debut novel about a young woman whose life plans fall apart when she meets her wife.”

 

Sasha’s Answer:

Eight Pieces of Silva by Patrice Lawrence

Eight Pieces of Silva

I actually don’t know much about it, apart from the fact that it’s a sapphic thriller, but that’s honestly enough, and it’s out this August so keep an eye out! From the multi-award-winning author of Orangeboy, an addictive mystery that refuses to let you go long after you turn the final page. Can Becks piece the jigsaw together and find her sister before Silva loses herself?

 

The book you’d recommend everyone to read

Amber’s Answer: The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante

The Grief Keeper

 

 

 

 

 

One of my all-time-favourite books that I feel never got the recognition it deserved is this stunning #OwnVoices sapphic book about mental health, immigration, family, friends and love. Seriously, please go and read it!

 

Sasha’s Answer:

Girl Serpent Thorn by Melissa Barshadoust

Girl, Serpent, Thorn

I can’t shut up about this book right now! I’m actually hosting a giveaway on Twitter for it if you’re interested! Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Barshadoust quickly cemented itself as one of my favourite books of all time. This lush modern fairytale mixed myths, magic and amazing character dynamics to become a stunningly unique story that I’ll never forget.

 

A book that surprised you recently

Amber’s Answer: Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran

Queen of Coin and Whispers

 

 

 

 

 

After Sasha DNF’ed this one (which is extremely rare for her) I decided to give it a go because it still sounded amazing to me, and I FELL IN LOVE. I devoured it, rated it 5 stars and immediately put it on my favourites shelf!!

 

Sasha’s Answer: Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Clap When You Land

This book was the first I had ever read in verse, and I ended up loving it so much!! It’s sapphic, heart-wrenching, fast-paced and it was so interesting to read!!

 

An upcoming book by a POC author that you’re really hyped for

Amber’s Answer: Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee

Forest of Souls (Shamanborn, #1)

 

 

 

 

 

If you follow me on twitter. you’ll know that I have been very obnoxiously pterodactyl screeching about this book since I first discovered it’s existence, and Sasha was INCREDIBLY, over-generously, kind enough to gift me her arc copy, which I have read twice already, and yeah, another all time favourite 🙂

 

Sasha’s Answer:

Lobizona by Romina Garber

Lobizona (Wolves of No World, #1)

Okay all I know is sapphic, Latinx magical realism but I plan to preorder this ASAP. Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who’s on the run from her father’s Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida. As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it’s not just her U.S. residency that’s illegal. . . .it’s her entire existence.

 

A book you think would make a great film or TV series

Amber’s Answer: The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth

The Falling in Love Montage

 

 

 

 

 

I think this book would make the most adorable film! It’s the perfect rom-com about lesbians falling in love, so.. basically a better version of every het rom-com that’s already out there!!

 

Sasha’s Answer:

Break The Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli

Break the Fall

Break the Fall has the perfect structure for a movie, it combines the excitement of sport and the olympics with the important topic of sexual assault and solidarity along with beautiful friendships and a dash of romance! I just NEED IT!!!!!

 

Thank you so much to Emily for the tag!! We’re tagging absolutely anyone who feels like doing this!

Books with Major Non-Binary Characters

Hiya, Sasha here! I recently realised I have more non-binary friends than books I have read starring non-binary people, and I did not like that ratio. I want to read more books centering around non-binary people, and while I’m looking for books that seem up my street, why not compile all the books I can into a blog post? The books on this list either have a main character who is non-binary or a non-binary love interest, and I hope we can all find a few books that seem like our genre 🙂

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they’re thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. At turns heartbreaking and joyous, I Wish You All the Best is both a celebration of life, friendship, and love, and a shining example of hope in the face of adversity.

Spellhacker by M.K. England

In Kyrkarta, magic—known as maz—was once a freely available natural resource. Then an earthquake released a magical plague, killing thousands and opening the door for a greedy corporation to make maz a commodity that’s tightly controlled—and, of course, outrageously expensive.

The Mermaid the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

The Mermaid the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda Hall was a lyrical, swashbuckling and adventurous story of pirates, first love, magic and empathy. With a romance between a high-ranking Imperial lady and a genderfluid pirate at its core, The Mermaid the Witch and the Sea was woven with gorgeous lore and stories, exciting adventure and action and a prevailing theme of making your own destiny in a world that never puts the odds in your favour.

Our Bloody Pearl by D. N. Bryn

The ocean is uncontrollable and dangerous. But to the sirens who swim the warm island waters, it’s a home more than worth protecting from the humans and their steam-propelled ships. Between their hypnotic voices and the strength of their powerful tails, sirens have little to fear. That is, until the ruthless pirate captain, Kian, creates a device to cancel out their songs.

Behind the Sun, Above the Moon by Brooklyn Ray

A Queer anthology featuring stories inspired by magic and the cosmos, a vast and beautiful place where planets, stars, comets, entire galaxies even, live without borders, specifications or binaries. Stories will span science fiction, science fantasy, contemporary, fabulism and magical realism.

Finna by Nino Cipri

When an elderly customer at a big box furniture store slips through a portal to another dimension, it’s up to two minimum-wage employees to track her across the multiverse and protect their company’s bottom line. Multi-dimensional swashbuckling would be hard enough, but our two unfortunate souls broke up a week ago. Can friendship blossom from the ashes of a relationship? In infinite dimensions, all things are possible.

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu

This is a stunning graphic novel about witches, disability, magic, relationships, love and found family. Everything about this story is inclusive and makes you feel so seen. The art style is to die for, and the characters and plots are so interesting and cute!

Graham’s Delicacies by Mina Waheed

Six people and three love stories all in one bakery.

Moth & Whisper by Ted Anderson

Everyone knows that the two greatest thieves in the city are the Moth and the Whisper. Very few know that the Moth and the Whisper disappeared six months ago. And what nobody knows is that the new Moth and Whisper are actually one person pretending to be both of them. One supremely skilled but uncertain young genderfluid thief: Niki, the child of the Moth and the Whisper.

American Hippo by Sarah Gailey

Years ago, in an America that never was, the United States government introduced herds of hippos to the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This plan failed to take into account some key facts about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two.

Grease Bats by Archie Bongiovanni

So, no one told you life was gonna be this gay! Grease Bats stars Andy, a trans genderqueer individual who is both tough and loving, and their BFF Scout, an all-feelings-all-the-time mistake-maker.

Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller

Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper-class and the nobles who destroyed their home.

The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta

For Teodora DiSangro, a mafia don’s daughter, family is fate. All her life, Teodora has hidden the fact that she secretly turns her family’s enemies into music boxes, mirrors, and other decorative objects. After all, everyone in Vinalia knows that stregas—wielders of magic—are figures out of fairytales. Nobody believes they’re real.

Ana on the Edge by A. J. Sass

Twelve-year-old Ana-Marie Jin, the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion, is not a frilly dress kind of kid. So, when Ana learns that next season’s program will be princess themed, doubt forms fast. Still, Ana tries to focus on training and putting together a stellar routine worthy of national success.

Euphoria Kids by Alison Evans

Ever since the witch cursed Babs, she turns invisible sometimes. She has her mum and her dog, but teachers and classmates barely notice her. Then, one day, Iris can see her. And Iris likes what they see. Babs is made of fire.

Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee

Gyen Jebi isn’t a fighter or a subversive. They just want to paint. One day they’re jobless and desperate; the next, Jebi finds themself recruited by the Ministry of Armor to paint the mystical sigils that animate the occupying government’s automaton soldiers.

The Black Tides of Heaven by J. Y. Lang

Mokoya and Akeha, the twin children of the Protector, were sold to the Grand Monastery as children. While Mokoya developed her strange prophetic gift, Akeha was always the one who could see the strings that moved adults to action. While his sister received visions of what would be, Akeha realized what could be. What’s more, he saw the sickness at the heart of his mother’s Protectorate.

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore

To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees, and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town.

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

Odd-mannered, obsessive, withdrawn, Aster has little to offer folks in the way of rebuttal when they call her ogre and freak. She’s used to the names; she only wishes there was more truth to them. If she were truly a monster, as they accuse, she’d be powerful enough to tear down the walls around her until nothing remained of her world, save for stories told around the cookfire.

What We Left Behind by Robin Talley

Toni and Gretchen are the couple everyone envied in high school. They’ve been together forever. They never fight. They’re deeply, hopelessly in love. When they separate for their first year at college—Toni to Harvard and Gretchen to NYU—they’re sure they’ll be fine. Where other long-distance relationships have fallen apart, theirs is bound to stay rock-solid.

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Riley Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. The thing is…Riley isn’t exactly out yet. And between starting a new school and having a congressman father running for reelection in uber-conservative Orange County, the pressure—media and otherwise—is building up in Riley’s so-called “normal” life.

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Welcome to Andover… where superpowers are common, but internships are complicated. Just ask high school nobody, Jessica Tran. Despite her heroic lineage, Jess is resigned to a life without superpowers and is merely looking to beef-up her college applications when she stumbles upon the perfect (paid!) internship—only it turns out to be for the town’s most heinous supervillain. On the upside, she gets to work with her longtime secret crush, Abby, who Jess thinks may have a secret of her own.

Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake

Mara and Owen are about as close as twins can get. So when Mara’s friend Hannah accuses Owen of rape, Mara doesn’t know what to think. Can the brother she loves really be guilty of such a violent crime? Torn between the family she loves and her own sense of right and wrong, Mara is feeling lost, and it doesn’t help that things have been strained with her ex-girlfriend and best friend since childhood, Charlie.

Blanca and Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

The del Cisne girls have never just been sisters; they’re also rivals, Blanca as obedient and graceful as Roja is vicious and manipulative. They know that, because of a generations-old spell, their family is bound to a bevy of swans deep in the woods. They know that, one day, the swans will pull them into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl, and trap the other in the body of a swan.

Even If We Break by Marieke Nikjamp

FIVE friends go to a cabin. FOUR of them are hiding secrets. THREE years of history bind them. TWO are doomed from the start. ONE person wants to end this. NO ONE IS SAFE. Are you ready to play?

A Boy Called Cin by Cecil Wilde

On the search for a cup of coffee before the guest lecture he’s giving, Tom spies a tired, half-frozen young man who looks even more need of coffee than him. On impulse, he buys the man a cup—but an attempt to strike up conversation ends in the young man walking off, seemingly put off by Tom Walford—the tabloids’ favourite billionaire—buying him coffee. But when he reappears in Tom’s lecture, all Tom knows is that he doesn’t want the man slipping away a second time.

Somebody Told Me by Mia Siegert

After an assault, bigender seventeen-year-old Aleks/Alexis is looking for a fresh start―so they voluntarily move in with their uncle, a Catholic priest. In their new bedroom, Aleks/Alexis discovers they can overhear parishioners in the church confessional. Moved by the struggles of these “sinners,” Aleks/Alexis decides to anonymously help them, finding solace in their secret identity: a guardian angel instead of a victim.

At The End of The Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson

Tommy and Ozzie have been best friends since second grade, and boyfriends since eighth. They spent countless days dreaming of escaping their small town—and then Tommy vanished. More accurately, he ceased to exist, erased from the minds and memories of everyone who knew him. Everyone except Ozzie.

Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz

Fifteen-year-old Kivali has never fit in. As a girl in boys’ clothes, she is accepted by neither tribe, bullied by both. What are you? they ask. Abandoned as a baby wrapped in a T-shirt with an image of a lizard on the front, Kivali found a home with nonconformist artist Sheila. Is it true what Sheila says, that Kivali was left by a mysterious race of saurians and that she’ll one day save the world?

LGBTQ+ Sci-fi & Dystopian books

Hi all! This post is filled with queer sci-fi and dystopian books, and is sure to fill up your tbr ;)) Enjoy! – Sasha and Amber ❤

Spellhacker by M.K. England

In Kyrkarta, magic—known as maz—was once a freely available natural resource, but now it’s owned by a big corporation. Diz and her three best friends run a highly lucrative, highly illegal maz siphoning gig on the side. Their next job is supposed to be their last heist ever.

Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor

A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher’s chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog — donning the moniker Technician — to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner’s tyrannical laws.

I Hope You Get This Message by Farah Naz Rishi

Seven days. Seven days. The Earth might end in seven days. When news stations start reporting that Earth has been contacted by a planet named Alma, the world is abuzz with rumors that the alien entity is giving mankind only few days to live before they hit the kill switch on civilization.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow

Can a girl who risks her life for books and an alien who loves forbidden pop music work together to save humanity? The two embark on a wild and dangerous road trip with a bag of books and their favorite albums, all the while making a story and a song of their own that just might save them both.

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

An outsider who can travel between worlds discovers a secret that threatens her new home and her fragile place in it, in a stunning sci-fi debut that’s both a cross-dimensional adventure and a powerful examination of identity, privilege, and belonging.

Always Human by Ari North

Always Human is a beautifully drawn graphic novel about a developing romance between two young women in a near-future, soft sci-fi setting. Always Human is drawn in a manga-influenced style and with an incredible color palette that leaps off the page!

On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

Throughout the deepest reaches of space, a crew rebuilds beautiful and broken-down structures, painstakingly putting the past together. As new member Mia gets to know her team, the story flashes back to her pivotal year in boarding school, where she fell in love with a mysterious new student. Soon, though, Mia reveals her true purpose for joining their ship—to track down her long-lost love.

Crier’s War by Nina Varela

Impossible love between two girls —one human, one Made. A love that could birth a revolution. Set in a richly-imagined fantasy world, Nina Varela’s debut novel is a sweepingly romantic tale of love, loss and revenge, that challenges what it really means to be human.

The Long Way To a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space-and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe-in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading. . Thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more. Something epic. Something romantic. Something that could change the past and the future.

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Welcome to Andover… where superpowers are common, but internships are complicated. Just ask high school nobody, Jessica Tran. Despite her heroic lineage, Jess is resigned to a life without superpowers and is merely looking to beef-up her college applications when she stumbles upon the perfect (paid!) internship—only it turns out to be for the town’s most heinous supervillain.

The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie

For Cassandra Leung, bossing around sea monsters is just the family business. She’s been a Reckoner trainer-in-training ever since she could walk, raising the genetically-engineered beasts to defend ships as they cross the pirate-infested NeoPacific. But when the pirate queen Santa Elena swoops in on Cas’s first solo mission and snatches her from the bloodstained decks, Cas’s dream of being a full-time trainer seems dead in the water.

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

Odd-mannered, obsessive, withdrawn, Aster has little to offer folks in the way of rebuttal when they call her ogre and freak. She’s used to the names; she only wishes there was more truth to them. If she were truly a monster, as they accuse, she’d be powerful enough to tear down the walls around her until nothing remained of her world, save for stories told around the cookfire.

Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy

When Ari crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword from its ancient resting place, she is revealed to be the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. Then she meets Merlin, who has aged backward over the centuries into a teenager, and together they must break the curse that keeps Arthur coming back. Their quest? Defeat the cruel, oppressive government and bring peace and equality to all humankind.

Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson

Henry Denton has spent years being periodically abducted by aliens. Then the aliens give him an ultimatum: The world will end in 144 days, and all Henry has to do to stop it is push a big red button. Only he isn’t sure he wants to.

Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie

A young pilot risks everything to save his best friend–the man he trusts most and might even love–only to learn that he’s secretly the heir to a brutal galactic empire.

Docile by K.M. Szpara

There is no consent under capitalism. Docile is a science fiction parable about love and sex, wealth and debt, abuse and power, a challenging tour de force that at turns seduces and startles.

A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe by Alex White

Boots Elsworth was a famous treasure hunter in another life, but now she’s washed up. She makes her meager living faking salvage legends and selling them to the highest bidder, but this time she might have stumbled on something real–the story of the Harrow, a famous warship, capable of untold destruction.

The Disasters by M.K. England

Hotshot pilot Nax Hall has a history of making poor life choices. So it’s not exactly a surprise when he’s kicked out of the elite Ellis Station Academy in less than twenty-four hours.

The Last 8 by Laura Pohl

Clover Martinez has always been a survivor, which is the only reason she isn’t among the dead when aliens invade and destroy Earth as she knows it.

The Names We Take by Trace Kerr

Never leave someone behind: it’s a promise easier made than kept, especially when seventeen-year-old Pip takes the headstrong twelve-year-old Iris under her protection in the wake of an earth-shattering plague.

Fragile Remedy by Maria Ingrande Mora

Sixteen-year-old Nate is a GEM—Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue created by the scientists of Gathos City as a cure for the elite from the fatal lung rot ravaging the population. As a child, he was smuggled out of the laboratory where he was held captive and into the Withers—a quarantined, lawless region.

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

Greta is a duchess and crown princess—and a hostage to peace. This is how the game is played: if you want to rule, you must give one of your children as a hostage. Go to war and your hostage dies.

Twisting Fates by S.M.A

After decades of war, a battered Earth begged the Routine—our most powerful artificial intelligence—to take control of the solar system and unite humanity. Now, forbidden lovers must help the AI solve the mystery of a rising threat:

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives in the center of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire only to discover that her predecessor, the previous ambassador from their small but fiercely independent mining Station, has died. But no one will admit that his death wasn’t an accident—or that Mahit might be next to die, during a time of political instability in the highest echelons of the imperial court.

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

Seventeen-year-old Ana is a scoundrel by nurture and an outlaw by nature. Found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09, Ana was saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09—one of the last remaining illegal Metals—has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him.

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

Esther is a stowaway. She’s hidden herself away in the Librarian’s book wagon in an attempt to escape the marriage her father has arranged for her–a marriage to the man who was previously engaged to her best friend. Her best friend who she was in love with. Her best friend who was just executed for possession of resistance propaganda.

The Fever King by Victoria Lee

In the former United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Álvaro wakes up in a hospital bed, the sole survivor of the viral magic that killed his family and made him a technopath. His ability to control technology attracts the attention of the minister of defense and thrusts him into the magical elite of the nation of Carolinia.

The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling

A thrilling, atmospheric debut with the intensive drive of The Martian and Gravity and the creeping dread of Annihilation, in which a caver on a foreign planet finds herself on a terrifying psychological and emotional journey for survival.

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

There are no more monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. With doting parents and a best friend named Redemption, Jam has grown up with this lesson all her life. But when she meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colours and claws, who emerges from one of her mother’s paintings and a drop of Jam’s blood, she must reconsider what she’s been told.

The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum

Ryann Bird dreams of traveling across the stars. But a career in space isn’t an option for a girl who lives in a trailer park on the wrong side of town. So Ryann becomes her circumstances and settles for acting out and skipping school to hang out with her delinquent friends.

The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James

Lowrie and Shen are the youngest people on the planet after a virus caused global infertility. Closeted in a pocket of London and doted upon by a small, ageing community, the pair spend their days mudlarking for artefacts from history and looking for treasure in their once-opulent mansion.

Dreadnought by April Daniels

Until Dreadnought fell out of the sky and died right in front of her, Danny was trying to keep people from finding out she’s transgender. But before he expired, Dreadnought passed his mantle to her, and those secondhand superpowers transformed Danny’s body into what she’s always thought it should be. Now there’s no hiding that she’s a girl.

Finna by Nino Cipri

When an elderly customer at a big box furniture store slips through a portal to another dimension, it’s up to two minimum-wage employees to track her across the multiverse and protect their company’s bottom line. Multi-dimensional swashbuckling would be hard enough, but our two unfortunate souls broke up a week ago.

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen

Caleb Michaels is a sixteen-year-old champion running back. Other than that his life is pretty normal. But when Caleb starts experiencing mood swings that are out of the ordinary for even a teenager, his life moves beyond “typical.” Caleb is an Atypical, an individual with enhanced abilities. Which sounds pretty cool except Caleb’s ability is extreme empathy—he feels the emotions of everyone around him.

All The Lonely People by David Owen

Everyone tells Kat that her online personality – confident, funny, opinionated – isn’t her true self. Kat knows otherwise. The internet is her only way to cope with a bad day, chat with friends who get all her references, make someone laugh. But when she becomes the target of an alt-right trolling campaign, she feels she has no option but to Escape, Delete, Disappear.

Dare Mighty Thing by Heather Kaczynski

The Selection meets The 5th Wave in this heart-racing debut duology about a girl competing for a spot on a mysterious mission to the outer reaches of space. THE RULES ARE SIMPLE: You must be gifted. You must be younger than twenty-five. You must be willing to accept the dangers that you will face if you win.

Forest of Souls by Lori M Lee

Hi everyone! Today I’m very excited to bring you my review of the incredible Forest of Souls by Lori M Lee as a part of the ‘Hear Our Voices Book Tour’! I absolutely ADORE this book and it is one of my new all-time favourites, I hope you love it too! Pre-order now and you can get your hands on some stunning pre-order prizes!! And make sure to pick it up, release day is June 23rd – Amber ❤

Sirscha Ashwyn comes from nothing, but she’s intent on becoming something. After years of training to become the queen’s next royal spy, her plans are derailed when shamans attack and kill her best friend Saengo.

Have you ever just felt so connected to a book, even before you’ve read it, so much so that you already know it will be a new favourite? That’s exactly how I felt with Forest of Souls, from the moment I discovered it, I had been yelling about the cover and how amazing it sounded, so when Sasha told me she’d managed to get her hands on an arc and wanted me to have it, I literally cried.

This book is PHENOMENAL. There is no other way I can describe it. Lori M Lee creates such a luxurious, encapsulating world, so vivid that if I had the artistic skills, I could draw it from memory. This book is dark, spooky, captivating and unforgettable.

Our main character, Sirscha, is such a badass lead to this book. She’s a nobody, and the people around her are not about to let her forget that any time soon; but her determination to become the queen’s shadow keeps her going and pushing through. I love Sirscha’s resilient, stubborn and powerful nature, she’s so strong and fierce that you instantly fall in love with her.  When Sirscha discovers new information that she thinks will give her a better chance at becoming the queen’s personal spy, she takes off from a mission with her best friend Saengo, but it ends up with Saengo dead after a shaman attack.

When Sirscha restores Saengo to life, she sets off a ripple of powerful magic that is felt by shamans everywhere. But shamans are outlaws in Thiy and imprisoned by the queen, so when the Spider King, the enforcer of peace between the kingdoms, she has to go. We witness Sirscha and Saengo go through a tough journey together, one where they learn lots about each other, and themselves. Sirscha and Saengo’s friendship is so beautiful. I love a platonic f/f friendship with 2 strong, independent women and that exactly what their friendship is; yet they’re also each other’s confidant and only people they feel that can open up to.

The world building and imagery in this book is so vivid and beautiful. I love reading about Asian characters and settings, and while this book is not set in an Asian-inspired setting, rather in a Western-medieval fantasy setting, Sirscha and many of the other characters are Asian themselves and I love the contrast it creates. The horror elements in this book are incorporated so well and it’s something I hadn’t really read before. I loved how there was an underlying theme of creepiness throughout the book; it made the whole book more intense and enticing. The magic system in this book is also so unique, and I cannot wait to see more of it develop in book 2!

The dead wood was one of my favourite aspects of this book; it’s creepy, dark and utterly thrilling to read about. The dead wood is controlled by the Spider King, who keeps it so that the souls living inside it don’t escape, however people have been whispering about it expanding and the possibility that the Spider King is losing his control over it. So when he announces that Sirscha, untrained and only newly aware of her powers, as the only living soulguide in living history, is to be the one to restrain the souls, she’s astounded. Sirscha is confused, horrified and scared about the revelation that she is a shaman, even more so that she may be one of the most powerful to live; so she focuses all of her feelings into being able to control her powers so that she can save Saengo.

This story is jam-packed with action, political intrigue and deadly magic. Everything about this book draws you in and tangles you in a web that you cannot escape, forcing you to continue reading and find out where the story is going. The plot is fast paced and filled with rich world building and incredibly complex characters that you’re sure to not forget any time soon. I read this book in December of 2019 and then again in February 2020 and will most definitely be picking it up around release day, I have not stopped screaming about it since; it’s definitely one you’ll be adding to your favourites list!

 

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Sapphic Book Recommendations For Every Genre

Hi everyone! Back again with another sapphic recommendation post, is anyone surprised? Today we’re bringing you sapphic books for every genre!! Hopefully this is helpful and has some recommendations for anyone and everyone 🙂 -Amber & Sasha

PS: Not all of these recommendations have f/f romance, but they all have main characters who are sapphic!  🙂

If you like YA Fantasy, we recommend: Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan, We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia, The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco, The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski, Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst, Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran, Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore, Dangerous Remedy by Kat Dunn, Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells, Ash by Malinda Lo, The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis, The Mermaid the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokunda-Hall and Havenfall by Sara Holland.

Looking for Adult Fantasy, we Recommend Dragon Essence by Niamh Murphy, The Witch Sea by Sarah Diemer, The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samanth Shannon, The Unspoken Name by A. K. Larkwood, Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger, Our Lady of Wolves by Sarah Diemer, Seven Blades in Black by Sam Sykes and Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff.

For Romance, we recommend: Marriage of Unconvenience by Chelsea M. Cameron, Life Begins With You by Erica Lee, Just Married? by Natasha West, The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth, Keeping Her Secret by Sarah Nicholas, How Sweet the Sound by Evelyn Dar, No One Needs to Know by Amanda Grace, Something To Talk About by Meryl Wisner and Anyone But Her by Erica Lee.

If you’re looking for Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, we recommend: The Other Side: A Queer Witch Anthology by Melanie Gillman, The Dark Wife by Sarah Diemer, Missing, Presumed Dead by Emma Berquist, These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling, All the Bad Apples by Moira Fowley-Doyle, Perfectly Preventable Deaths by Deidre Sullivan, Colorblind by Siera Maley and The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman.

If you read Contemporary, we recommend: The Space Between by Michelle L. Teichman, Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown, On The Outside by Siera Maley, We Didn’t Ask for This by Adi Alsaid, The Prom by Saundra Mitchell, Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli, Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake, Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett, The Henna Wars by Adiba Jairgirar, Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen and The Love Hypothesis by Laura Steven.

If you’re looking for Mystery/Crime/Thriller, we recommend: People Like Us by Dana Mele, A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo, Echo After Echo by Amy Rose Capetta, The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka, Sadie by Courtney Summers, The Truth About Keeping Secrets by Savannah Brown, Alice & Freda: A Murder In Memphis by Alexis Coe, Holy Hell by Elizabeth Sims and The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters.

If you like reading Graphic Novels/Manga, we recommend: Bury the Lede by Gaby Dunn, On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden, Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden, Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson, The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy by Jody Houser, Bombshells by Marguerite Bennett, Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu, Giant Days by John Allison and Cirque Arachne by 再田 ニカ.

If you’re interested in Dystopian books, we recommend: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow, The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan and Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block.

If you want some sapphic Horror, we recommend: Wilder Girls by Rory Power, Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant, The Red Tree by Caitlín R. Kiernan, Bleeding Earth by Kaitlin Ward, As I Descended by Robin Talley, Blood Countess by Lana Popovic and The Daylight Gate by Jeanette Winterson.

Looking for a Historical Fiction? We recommend: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters, Blood Countess by Lana Popović, The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Dread Nation by Justina Ireland and Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco.

If you want some Sci-fi, we recommend: Tarnished Are The Stars by Rosiee Thor, On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden, The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie, Crier’s War by Nina Varelas, Spellhacker by M.K. England,  The Weight of The Stars by K. Ankrum, This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone and Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee.

For Middle Grade, we recommend: The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake, Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee, Starring Kitty by Keris Stainton, One True Way by Shannon Hitchcock, Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender and Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake.

Hopefully there’s something here for everyone! If we missed a genre or you want some more recommendations for a genre, feel free to comment below and we’ll try our hardest to find some books for you! ❤

Fifteen Reasons to Read Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Hey all! Today we’re bringing you a super fun post! As I’m sure everyone and anyone who has ever seen our blog knows, Sasha and I are HUGE fans of the Girls of Paper and Fire series by Natasha Ngan, so we thought we’d put together 15 reasons why you should read it! – Sasha and Amber

 

1.Sapphic Excellence

The f/f romance in this book is just – *next level*. The two girls are both so precious and loveable separately, and together they are strong and able to help each other and make each other better. Not only are they both badass warrior survivors, they’re also SO BEAUTIFUL together.

Lei and Wren from 'Girls of Paper and Fire' (author: Natasha Ngan ... credit: pinktofu_art

 

2. Diversity

This book is packed with diversity!! It’s set in an Asian-inspired world, the cast is built up of POC, the author is a disabled QPOC and throughout book 1 and 2 there are plenty of LGBTQ+ characters.

3. Feminism

The theme of feminism in Girls of Paper and Fire is such a powerful one. It is set in a society with clear sexism and men in power but it’s a story of women refusing to be silenced, standing up for themselves and starting a revolution. The second book especially is a story about dealing with being a survivor, and all the different ways people handle that.

4. Characters

Each character in this book will make you fall in love with them, with a couple of exceptions of course! The group of paper girls are all so unique and their backgrounds are so interesting to read about. The friendships throughout book 1 are heartwarming and unexpected. In book 2, the cast of new characters are witty, funny, kind, protective and generally so loveable!

5. Important Topics

This book covers lots of important topics – don’t forget to check out the trigger/content warnings before picking it up! But it covers topics such as abuse, sexual assault, rape, self harm and much more in such a mature way, It’s absolutely heartbreaking to read at times, but I think it’s great that the topics are addressed and spoken about, rather than just swept under the rug.

6. Exciting Plot

The plot of this book will have you on the edge of your seat. It will get to a part where your heart rate has just about returned to normal, and then BOOM. Without giving anything away obviously, there are certain parts of the plot that actually make me want to hurl the book at the wall. It will certainly keep you gripped as you’re reading it.

7. Will Make You Cry

Are we the only ones that love books that make you cry? If you’re a weepy person, Girls is bound to make you cry – from both sadness and happiness. No matter how many times we’ve read this book/series, it still makes us cry and we always turn to our group of friends for support lol.

8. Banter + Found Family

So many of the friendships in this series are so witty and banter-filled, it hilarious. The way some of them interact and talk to each other is so funny and you will literally laugh out loud at points. Not only that, but the found family trope in this book is truly — *chef’s kiss*

9. You Can be Mine and Amber’s BFF

Really, this is the key point of this post. Read it, chat to us about it and cement our friendship forever. I followed Amber on Twitter because her display name was something like “girls of paper and fire stan.” and now look at us.

10. Gorgeous Cover

Have you SEEN the cover for Girls of Paper and Fire? It is absolutely stunning, and the cover for Girls of Storm and Shadow may even be MORE beautiful – and it’s definitely very sapphic… I cannot WAIT to see the cover for Girls of Fate and Fury…I wonder what colour it will be…

Just look at the power these covers EXUDE

Girls of Paper and Fire: Amazon.co.uk: Ngan, Natasha ...Girls of Storm and Shadow (Girls of Paper and Fire): Amazon.co.uk ...

11. #OwnVoices

We always want to read and support #OwnVoices books because we know how personal and difficult they can be for authors to write and quite literally put their heart on a page for readers. Lei is a queer Asian woman who is a survivor of sexual assault, and so is Natasha Ngan, making the representation so much more beautiful and important.

12. Varied PTSD Representation

This is one thing that we truly love about this book and appreciate the most. All of the paper girls are forced to sleep with the king, and the way their PTSD displays itself is different in every character. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!!! There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to react or cope with emotional trauma, and we love Natasha for pushing that.

13. Gorgeous World + World-building

At times, it feels as though you’re actually standing right there beside the characters, which is both terrifying at times but mainly mesmerising. The rich Asian-inspired world created by Natasha is SO easy to visualise, Amber even created a ‘visuals while reading girls of paper and fire’ thread on twitter, which you can see here.

14. Easy to Grasp Magic System

The magic system in this book is super easy to grasp the concept of; so if you’re new to fantasy or find it difficult to understand super complex magic systems, this is definitely okay for you! Not only is it easy to understand, but it is also so vivid, descriptive and beautiful ❤

15. Beautiful Friendships

Especially in book 2, the friendships in this series will make you cry – like actually sob. All of the characters fit together so well and in book 1, the way the friends rally together when they need it most is so beautiful. Each and every single character in this series (with 2 or 3 exceptions) are TO DIE FOR, they’re all our babies and we just want to protect them ❤