Lgbtq Books - Tumblr Posts
LGBT+ Fantasy/Fiction Books and TWs
1. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell-
(Fantasy, Witches, Vampires, kind of Harry Potter-y, Romance, TW for mention of suicidal ideation/self-destructiveness, abandonment, foster care, neglect, murder/violence, gun violence and relationship issues in the second book. It has some heavy topics but is written in a pretty light tone.)
2. Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston-
(enemies to lovers, about the son of the President and the Prince of England getting into a fight, they have to fake a friendship to fix their PR situation, TW for being publicly outed and semi-graphic sex scenes, also often politically charged discussions)
3. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller-
(Ancient Greece, demigods, exile, TW for war/violence and tragedy, homophobia, bad parenting)
4. The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic-
(It’s about the mafia/college sports and happens to have a compelling queer storyline in the process. Demisexual main character and other gay characters. (slow burn, it’s a trilogy and the romance doesn’t happen in the first book) TW for a lot of things, it’s about kids from broken homes and the mafia so there is abuse, self harm, murder, police intervention, organized crime, drug use, assault, rehab, all kinds of weapons, manipulation, slurs, etc. The second book has mentions of r*pe (not extremely graphic but it is mentioned a handful of times and there is one semi graphic scene), and torture. It is a great series but it has heavy content and is not light reading if you go in unprepared.)
5. The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune -
(MLM, fantasy, found family, heartwarming romance, magical creatures)
6. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman-
(MLM, graphic novel, slow burn, coming out TW for anorexia, self harm, suicidal ideation, homophobia)
7. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater-
(Fantasy, about a secret private school, slow burn)
8. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera-
(Bisexual Latino characters, whole story takes place in 24 hours because at about midnight- aka the start of the book- they get a phone call saying they’re gonna die, TW for death, family in hospital, violence, police intervention, and foster care)
9. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo-
(queer characters (but no romance in the first book, TW for graphic depictions of violence, ableism, mention of abuse, mention of sexual slavery and assault, imprisonment)
10. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (Historical Fiction Romance, Travel/Journey, Best Friends to lovers, MLM characters. TW for abuse, homophobia, racism, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, depiction of epileptic seizures, gun violence, and discussion of insane asylums)
11. In Deeper Waters by FT Lukens-
(Royalty, kidnapping, MLM characters not being released until April but it looks great)
12. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz-
(coming of age story, MLM, TW for violence/injury, surgery, transmisogyny, homophobic violence)
14. We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra-
(coming of age, friendship and romance)
15. Love and Other Curses by Michael Thomas Ford-
(magical realism, a curse about falling in love)
16. More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera-
(MLM main character, YA, “it's about a boy who is considering a memory-alteration procedure to forget he's gay because leading a life as a straight teen would probably be way easier for him. It's about science versus nature, friendship, sexuality, and a quest for happiness.” About the happy ending and how even bad moments lead to good. Hopeful but despairing. TW for medical procedure to erase sexuality, internalized homophobia, homophobia from others, depression)
17. I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver-
(Nonbinary main character, nonbinary muslim side character, romance/love and building a family out of people you care about. About finding your voice. TW for coming out and misgendering, family rejection/struggle)
18. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour-
(WLW, moving out and coming of age, self-discovery and childhood romance, TW for loss, depression, loneliness)
19. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness-
(Contemporary, about the normal people’s lives while living among Chosen Ones. Family/coming of age/acceptance story. TW for monsters, apocalypse, violence/explosions, anorexia, anxiety attacks, unrequited romance)
20. Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz-
(Dystopian story about a teenager struggling with their gender identity, TW for abandonment, oppressive government, outlawed homosexuality)
21. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas-
(trans main character, hispanic characters, paranormal YA mystery with MLM characters)
22. Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat-
(Bisexual main character, TW for kidnapping/stockholm syndrome, abuse, sex scenes)
23. Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey-
(fantasy, MLM, supernatural)
24. Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda by Becki Albertalli-
(romance, MLM, coming of age, TW for a closeted boy being blackmailed)
25. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel-
(WLW, graphic novel, coming of age, TW for csa, pedophilia, teacher/student relationships, none explicit if my memory serves correct)
26. George by Alex Gino-
(Trans girl, slice of life, coming out story, TW for deadnaming, homophobia, transphobia)
27. Afterworlds by Scott Westerfield-
(WLW, supernatural, fantasy)
28. Witchmark by C.L. Polk-
(MLM, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, mystery, Alternate universe post WW1, TW for murder/war, depression/angst)
29. The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling-
(WLW, Sci-Fi Horror, dystopian future, fictional planet, TW for psychological/emotional horror, toxic relationship, death)
30. The Culling by Steven Dos Santos-
(MLM, Dystopian Fantasy under a totalitarian, extremely cruel government. People must undergo ‘the trials’ in order to work for a government task force- if you fail at any of the trials you are forced to participate in the Culling, where the member has to choose a family member of theirs to die. TW for death, extortion, brutal violence, murder, totalitarian government)
31. Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley-
(MLM, about a court case regarding the main character and his best friend- deals with breaking points in friendships and how people and perception change. TW for biphobia, gay bashing, legal trial, abuse, knives, violence)
32. Ziggy, Stardust, and Me by James Brandon-
(MLM, Gay main character, historical fiction (Vietnam war), about a character dealing with his alcoholic father and family issues who creates a fictional world to cope where he can be out and openly himself. Coming of age. TW for bullying, alcoholism, institutionalized homophobia, familial homophobia, conversion therapy, war mentions)
(this list is a WIP and anyone can add to it! If I need to add TWs or further explanations let me know!)
Bisexual books out in May 🩷💜💙
Books listed:
A Swift and Sudden Exit by Nico Vincenty
It Ain't Over Til the Bisexual Speaks by Lois Shearing, Vaneet Mehta, etc
The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee
The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller
Bisexuality: The Basics by Lewis Oakley
Til Death Do Us Bard by Rose Black (Hardcover edition)
Road to Ruin (Magebike Courier, #1) by Hana Lee
Blood Remains by Cathy Pegau
The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown Garner for Gold (Lustrous Divinity, #2) by Catherine Labadie
The Last to Pie (Pies Before Guys Mystery #3) by Misha Popp
The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe
Smoke and Steel (Scions and Shadows) by Dax Murray
Fake Dating a Witch (Bewitching Billionaires #1) by Brigid Hunt
A Girl Can Dream by Emily Barr
The Ride of Her Life by Jennifer Dugan
A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C. Higgins
Meet Me in Berlin by Samantha L. Valentine
The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin
We Were the Universe by Kimberly King Parsons
Evocation by S.T. Gibson
Adrift by Sam Ledel
Don't Be a Drag by Skye Quinlan
This is not an exhaustive list so please do let me know of the books I missed 💖
Underrated LGBTQ+ Books That I Highly Recommend
I’ve researched queer books many times, and most of the time, I see the same selection. While I understand why these same books come up (because they are really good books), I would like to take the time to recommend some less popular LGBTQ+ books.
Anger Is A Gift, by Mark Oshiro
Where do I begin with this book? Everything about it is fantastic: the writing, the characters, the story, and the way it all comes together into one big novel sandwich! I had an amazing time reading this book, and there were a few times where I was nearly pushed to tears. This book doesn’t just deal with queer identities. It also covers racism, police brutality, and much more. If you like books that feel very real, then this is definitely a good one to look up.
Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry
This book is just....amazing. I wholeheartedly believe that this book has no flaws. Once again, everything about this novel just comes together so well, and it all combines into this beautifully written creation. This book also deals with some very heavy topics, such as conversion therapy, and I recommend reading the synopsis thoroughly before reading it. However, if you are able to, I highly suggest reading this novel!
The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
This book took everything that I love about scary stories and made it gay, and I love it. The way that the story flows in this particular novel is just fantastic, and when I first read it, I breezed through it in about a day. From what I can remember, I do believe that there are some triggering topics in this book, so do read the synopsis and any triggers listed. If you do get the chance to read this amazing book, I guarantee that you will love it!
Pretty much any Alice Oseman book
I wholeheartedly love all of the books that I have read by Alice Oseman, and while I haven’t read all of them, I have read a few. The two that I decided to mention on this list are Radio Silence and I Was Born For This, since I don’t see them actually being recommended anywhere. Honestly, though, any book by Alice Oseman is worth reading, as her writing is amazing. I have also read Heartstopper, and I am planning to read both Solitaire and Loveless. If you have never heard of Alice Oseman, I highly recommend checking out any of her books!
Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
This series has brought me to the brink of tears too many times. The first time I read this book, I was not expecting this many feels, but I am not complaining. Honestly, everything about this duology is just so comforting, in a weird way. The way it’s written, paired with the relatable protagonist and a gripping story was just so great, and I would sell my soul to read this book for the first time again. I can distinctly remember the feelings I felt during specific moments of this novel, and it reminds me how much I loved it. If you’ve never read the Darius The Great duology, I highly recommend doing so!
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Ah yes, I’m ending it off on the beloved Mo Dao Zu Shi. To be honest, I have only just read the first volume of this novel, since the other two volumes have not been released in English where I live. However, I do plan to purchase the other two volumes when I get the chance, because this novel was just so good! The characters, the beautiful artwork, and especially the gorgeous writing, all of it was amazing. This book is absolutely worth reading at least the first volume of, since that’s all I have to speak on at the moment.
Thanks so much for reading! I hope this list was helpful to anyone who wanted some new LGBTQ+ book recs!
So I think I made a post about getting a new book like last month. It's called iris Kelly doesn't date. I'm basically finished reading it I have like 40 pages left. It is in a collection of 3 books and I got the last one first. So my mum bought me the other 2 so now I get to read them next. Even tho I read them out of order, they are still sooo good. And so gay.
I cant wait to start reading them omg
I don't think smut scenes are supposed to make you cry but clearly Rainbow Rowell didn't get the memo because "If I want him warm, I have to do it myself" and "I can see him, even when I cant, even with my eyes closed- I know him too well" and "Is this was people do? Get as close as they can and then push closer? Burn each other into every gap? And then what? Then just tomorrow and more?" and "Just kiss me for the sake of kissing me" and "I want my sheets to smell like you" and "Be gentle with me...even though you don't have to" and "Don't say please. Why not? Because you don't have to. I'll give you whatever you want" and "I couldn't break him if I tried. I won't try" and "Is this what he wants? Is this what I'm allowed to take?" and "I was never magic" and "Is this magic? Is this enough?" And now I'm sobbing.
*•°LOVELESS°•*-Alice Oseman
°•Book review!•°
Hii my space readers!!! How are you?? Todayyy im gonna talk about loveless! And it will be SO MANY SPOILERS!
TWS: toxic relationships, sensitive themes, existencial crissis, mental breakdowns.... I think?
OKAY I ADMIT. I FORGOT TO WRITE IT BEFORE😭😭😭 I FINISHED THIS BOOK LIKE A WEEK AND HALF AGO. Buuut i hope you like it anyways!<3
---°•*sinopsis*•°--
The book tell us the story of a girl called Georgia, who never fell in love, had a crush or kissed anyone before, But even with all this, she tries to believe that she will find "The one" one day. Well, the book talks about discoveries and shows us Georgia's process of self-acceptance as an aromantic and asexual person. The autor deals with the topic in a light way and with impeccable writing! in addition to many references to musicals and pop culture.
Noowww my vison of the book and story!
Well, frist of all. Me, as an aroace person, was not only able to identify a lot with Georgia's story, I even managed to understand myself more! Since there are many things in the book that I needed to hear, so much so that I could understand that no, there is nothing wrong with me. Besides, it brings such a beautiful reflection of how a friendship is as important as a romantic relationship! like wow this is so beautiful. I needed to hear this so much.
Futhermore, it is very interesting how we approached how the environment in which we live influences us. I see that a lot of people have the mistaken idea that aroace people don't fall in love because they "experienced a bad environment" or that "they didn't find the right person" or they are even labeled as sick by others. What is a big lie!
As seen in the book, Georgia lived in a healthy and happy family, in which romantic relationships were always highly valued and encouraged. And she herself also dreamed a lot about relationships, maybe because of the influence of her family, even so, she mentions in the book that even if she liked to imagine a future marrying someone, she couldn't think of a specific person for that, it was like if it was just a distant dream. Georgia also took refuge a lot in romantic media to feel better about herself. But well, falling in love is very different and I TOTALLY understand when she says that dreaming about love is MUCH BETTER than living in love. like the idea of love in theory is really cool but imagining yourself living it is agonizing (I totally understand you Georgia, I'm like that too😭😭😭😭😭)Besides, when I saw Georgia on the first few pages realizing that she never really liked the guy she'd "liked forever" and freaking out because she realized she invented a crush, it was so incredible and liberating since this has happened to me so many times, I thought I was crazy because of that. This book represented so many feelings I've had and I can say with certainty that it helped me a lot in my discovery and acceptance of being an aromantic person. Just like Georgia, when you spend your whole life longing for something and that's when you realize for the first time that you just can't fit into that something. immediately And as if a feeling came that the world had ended. and following this process of georgia as a character was just liberating. It's beautiful to see, besides this book has an ending that in my opinion is very mature and realistic, it wasn't just a "hi, now that I realize I'm LGBT I love and accept myself". it was an "okay" ending, now that I understand more about the subject and myself I can feel a little better about it. I hope that with time I can be as confident with myself as other people who have come out for a longer time and I'm going to work hard for that!" For me, this was the perfect ending to the book. I really loved it very much
So this book took me a long time to read, because I could only read it during school breaks and when I get home I pass out from sleep. besides being Alice's longest book. Besides, I like to write on page footers and mark them with post it notes (besides being dyslexic, which slows down my reading a lot). but even then I didn't feel like it was a difficult read.
Okay i think my favourite characters are Sunil, Jason, and the Georgia's Cousin (i wanna be like her when i get older. Like selling my paintings for too much money. And be a artist. Shes iconic.)
Okay, when the misfortunes in the book started (I mean the part where Georgia decided she was going to date Jason, her kissing Rooney and Pip watching, etc.) I almost scream in the middle of the classroom. (I cryed internally) like, my god, Georgia, you are aware that you can't like it, STOP FORCING YOURSELF TO HAVE A CRUSH, GIRL DON'T DO THIS AS IT ALWAYS GOES WRONG *CRYING A LOT* (alert from my own experience shouting) but at the same time i understand that is all part of the denial of self aceptance (i think happends with almost everybody who is in this self discover process lol) I had a freak out as big as when She and Rooney kissed while they're drunk, but like SHE KNEW THAT HER BEST FRIEND LIKED THE GIRL AND ALSO THE GIRL ALSO LIKED HER BEST FRIEND. (AGFGGFRGGRRRRRRSKDKSKSKIM GOING CRAZY SKSKSKKEKEKE) I felt betrayed along with Pip. but everything worked out in the end AMEM.
And talking about Rooney, I CONFESS, at first it took me a while to get used to Rooney, but as the book went on it seemed like I became friends with her along with Georgia. I love it. It's really cool to see that she is a deep character and that she has her reasons for being the way she is.!🌷
conclusion! This is a WONDERFUL work!!!!! It makes you rethink your entire life together with the characters. (which I generally love) and it's a great read for people in the process of accepting that they are aroace! The message of the book is: no, you have nothing wrong! It's not because society shoves it down your throat that you need to love someone romantically that you become invalid when you don't!!! you are valid legend! Don't let anyone put you down! and the other message is, value your friends. a true friendship is as lasting and valid as a marriage. love is love, regardless of its aspect! and there is no love more important than another. Your friends are also your family.
Aaannnddd is it! I hope you all like it! I
If you have already read it, agree or disagree with my opinion, you can comment! I would love to see more views on such a beautiful work! Besides, if I said something stupid, please correct me! Also, please excuse for my orthography errors. English is not my frist lenguage and I am not very confident in my moral abilities to write in English. A little kiss on your hearts, my space readers! Take care of yourself!🌷💖😸
God’s Gender in Contextual Theology: Should We Preserve the Biblical Text in Light of New Age Interpretations?
By Bible Researcher Eli Kittim 🎓
I’m all for women’s rights, and I admit that in heaven there is no gender (Gen. 1:26-27; Mk. 12:25). I also know that many members of the LGBTQ+ community have been **reborn** in God. It’s also true that the masculine form of God is sometimes added to the English Bible translations, as Bruce Metzger argues.
However, from a textual perspective, I disagree with the idea that every name of God in the Bible means God/dess in its original language, as some feminist theologians contend. Although conventional Jewish theology doesn’t ascribe the notion of sex to God, it’s clear that the gender of God in the Tanakh is presented with masculine grammatical forms & imagery. For example, in the Hebrew Bible, Elohim is masculine in form. Also, when referring to YHWH, the verb vayomer (“he said”) is definitely masculine; we never find vatomer, the feminine form. In Psalms 89:26, God is explicitly referred to as “Father”:
He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father,
My God, and the rock of my salvation.
In Isaiah 63:16, God is directly addressed as “our Father":
Thou, O Jehovah, art our Father; our
Redeemer from everlasting is thy name.
The same holds true in the Greek New Testament. For example, Κύριος (Kyrios) is a Nominative Masculine Singular noun which means “Lord.” Θεὸς (Theos) is a Nominative Masculine Singular noun which means God. In Luke 1:68, the definite article ὁ (ho), which refers to the God of Israel (ὁ θεὸς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ), is a Nominative Masculine Singular (he). None of these phrases referring to the Lord (ό Κύριος) or to God (ό Θεός) have feminine forms in the original Koine Greek. Even the incarnated God is said to be male (see Rev. 12:5)!
However, many modern Bible translations furnish us with new additions, paraphrases, and grammatical forms that clearly deviate from the Biblical texts. They do not remain faithful to the original biblical languages in preserving their literal meanings. For example, there are numerous modern Bible translations——such as the NLT, the CEV, and the NRSV——which attempt to reword the original texts by adopting gender-neutral language. This is not simply a benign translation philosophy based on a feminist biblical interpretation, but it can also be seen as a tool for political activism in trying to change gender perceptions and alter the Bible’s authorial intent. This is theologically dangerous because when we tamper with the Bible’s grammatical structures we gradually lose the precise words of the revelations as they were given in their original forms. According to Wayne Grudem, the translator’s job is to translate the original language accurately and precisely rather than to offer opinions regarding gender-related questions.
The doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration——the notion that each word was meaningfully chosen by God——supersedes the cultural milieu by virtue of its inspired revelation. Therefore, the language from which the text is operating must be preserved without additions, subtractions, or alterations (cf. Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19). Accordingly, it is incumbent on the Biblical scholars to maintain the integrity of the text.
For example, since the mid-nineteenth century, the New Testament was not only significantly changed by the Westcott and Hort text but it has also been evolving gradually with culturally sensitive translations regarding gender, sexual orientation, racism, inclusive language, and the like. Contextual theology has broadened the scope of the original text by adding a whole host of modern political and socioeconomic contexts (e.g. critical theory, feminist theology, etc.) that lead to many misinterpretations because they’re largely irrelevant to the core message of the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus!
The length the men in the book I’m reading will go to to not admit to themselves that they’re both Bi and in love with each other is astounding
hi everyone! this survey is going really well, i have about 14 responses so far which i am really excited about!!!!
if more people respond that would be wonderful and if you don’t want to, you can reblog or share to queer friends!!! i love looking through the answers and i would love to turn this into a book sometime! my main idea is to either depict through photography or art your interpretations of queerness and put the responses on one page from each person, and the drawing or photo on the other page! i don’t have much of a timeline for this because i don’t know how fast it will spread, but it is going great so far!
lots of love to everyone!
- meatyliver aka maddie
hi, i am working on a future interview type project where i display queerness with art. please share or take the survey if you are lgbtq! this is a serious survey, please treat it as so
PLEASE buy books from trans and nonbinary authors!
It's really fucking sad to me that, like, 60% of the top selling transgender and transgender studies books on Amazon CA are anti-trans, fear mongering bullshit from TERFs, bitter conservative doctors who don't want to treat trans people, whiny cis male professors who all think that they're embattled like Jordan Peterson, and journalist who think that respecting a trans person's identity and pronouns is an attack on there free speech and beliefs.
It's fucking sad.
EDIT for some trans and nonbinary authors to check out:
Tobi Hill-Meyer
Alok Vaid-Menon
Ivan Coyote
Florence Ashley
Mia Violet
Maia Kobabe
Julia Serano
Sinclair Sexsmith
Laura Kate Dale
Georgina "Gigi" Kiersten
S. Bear Bergman
Mx. Nillin Lore
Orlando Silver
Jamie Raines
LGBTQ+ and books moodboard
BRIAN’S BOOKSHELF | SEPTEMBER 2021
So, I recently rediscovered my love of reading and delved head-first into the LGBTQIA+ genre, specifically looking for books written by members of the community. Considering I read 9 books last month, I’d say I was pretty successful.
(Note: Boyfriend Material was actually a re-read this time, but I’m very much looking forward to the sequel, Husband Material, which is expected August 2022.)
My TOP THREE for the month were: One Last Stop (wlw, found family, queer and trans POC characters that I absolutely L-O-V-E-D), Cemetery Boys (mlm, trans Latiné lead, truly the *perfect* October read), and The Witch King (mlm, trans lead, BIPOC side characters, modern fantasy aspects that worked really well, PLUS a sequel - The Fae Keeper - slated for a May 2022 release).
I also really enjoyed The Darkness Outside Us, The House in the Cerulean Sea, and The Charm Offensive. 4/5 stars for all of them, very solid books.
I struggled through the first half (yes, 200+ pages) of Winter’s Orbit, but found the second half to be much better, I zoomed right through to the end. I never really got into We Are The Ants, which I’m fairly certain is the oldest book on the list, but I ultimately did finish it.
Book recs: Queer science fiction, part 1
There is a lot of queer sf out there, and I read a lot of sf. When I started working on this list, I quickly realized it was impossible to include all that I've read and enjoyed in one single rec post. Thus, this is the first of so far three queer sci-fi book rec posts.
A note: queer here does not necessarily mean "guarantee of an f/f or m/m ship with a happy ending", but rather simply a significant presence of queerness. Some of the books feature no romance but has a same gender attracted/trans/a-spectrum lead, or features an m/f relationship with bisexual, trans or aro/ace characters, or simply features a world-building which is heavily queer inclusive in ways that don't always compare to our own ideas of sexuality and gender. I have however disqualified works where the only queer presence is along the lines of "gay best friend" or a blink and you'll miss it confirmation that never comes up again.
Previous book rec posts:
Really cool fantasy worldbuilding, really cool sci-fi worldbuilding, dark sapphic romances, mermaid books, vampire books, many worlds: portal fantasies, many worlds: alternate timelines, robots and artificial intelligences, post- and transhumanism, alien intelligences
For more details on the books, continue under the readmore. Titles marked with * are my personal favorites. And as always, feel free to share your own recs in the notes!
The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley*
Dietz is a soldier in the war between Earth and Mars - to travel to the battle front, she and her fellow soldiers are broken down into light to be able to quickly travel across space. But something keeps going wrong with Dietz's travels; her memories don't match up with the mission briefs, as she experiences time itself turning in on itself. Is she going mad? Or are the things she's learning skipping through time the truth - and the war that's stealing her life the lie? A mindfuck of a book that's scathing in its critique of fascism and war. Features a sapphic lead but no romance.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk and Robot duology) by Becky Chambers
Novella. Long ago, robots, upon gaining sentience, simply laid down their work and walked into the wilderness. Long after, a tea monk looking for purpose follows after them into the wilds, where they come across one of the robots seeking its own sort of answers. While not plotless, this story focuses more on character and vibes over plot. Also has a nonbinary main character and features conversations on gender between human and robot.
Meet Me In Another Life by Catriona Silvey*
Thora and Santi are strangers, brought together by a coincidence and torn apart just as abruptly when tragedy strikes. But this is neither the first nor the last time they meet - again and again they encounter each other, as friends, lovers, enemies, family, every time recognizing in each other a familiarity no one else carries. But with every new life, a mysterious danger grows ever closer, forcing them to find out the truth of their connection. This is a puzzle-box of a story that goes some entirely unexpected places in a very wild ride, featuring a bisexual co-lead.
The Archive Undying (The Downworld Sequence) by Emma Mieko Candon
In a world where AI gods sometimes lose their minds and take entire populations down with them, Sunai was the only survivor when his god went down. In the 17 years since, he has wandered on his own, unable to either die or age, drowning his sorrows in drink and men. But his attempts to flee his past comes to a stop as he is forced back into the struggle between man and machine. Featuring some pretty wild world building and narrative techniques, this book will definitely confuse you, but it is worth the experience.
The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart
January Cole works security at the Paradox Hotel, last stop for tourists heading for the timeport, which allows them to travel to and witness any moment in time. But years of proximity to the timeport has left its damage on January, making her unstuck in time, letting her relive memories of her dead lover even as her sanity slips away bit by bit. As she starts witnessing proof of a horrible crime in the hotel that no one else can see, January must race against her own mind, a killer, and time itself to solve it before it's too late.
A Fractured Infinity by Nathan Tavares
Hayes Figueiredo is a struggling film-maker who wants to finish his documentary, whose life gets turned upside down when handsome physicist Yusuf Hassan enters his life, claiming an alternate version of him is a great inventor who’s sent a mysterious device to their universe. As Hayes gets drawn deeper into the conspiracy - and his feelings for Yusuf intensify - he has to decide just how far he’s prepared to go to win the life and the love he wants. Featuring a very gay and very morally dubious lead, this is a creative and strange read.
Bridge by Lauren Beukes
When she was little, Bridge and her mother Jo used to play a game - one where they traveled to other worlds, inhabiting the bodies of their other selves. Now Jo is dead, and as Bridge is cleaning out her apartment she finds a strange device: a dreamworm, the very thing that supposedly makes inter-dimensional travel possible. Suddenly faced with the possibility that multiverse travel is real, Bridge is struck by a different question: could her mother still be alive? Scifi spiced with a healthy dose of body horror and some absolutely wild twists, Bridge also features a bisexual lead (however this is a blink and you’ll miss it moment) and a nonbinary co-narrator.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers series) by Becky Chambers
Rosemary Harper just got a job on the motley crew of the Wayfarer, a spaceship that works with tunneling new wormholes through space. With a past she wants to leave behind, Rosemary is happy to travel the far reaches of the universe with the chaotic crew, but when they land the job of a life time, things suddenly get a lot more dangerous. A bit of a tumblr classic in its day, this is a cozy space opera with an episodic feel and vividly realized characters and cultures. While pretty light on romance and focusing found family, there is a main f/f relationship.
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
Life on the lower decks of the generation ship HSS Matilda is hard for Aster, an outcast even among outcasts, trying to survive in a system not dissimilar to the old antebellum South. The ship's leaders have imposed harsh restrictions on their darker skinned people, using them as an oppressed work force as they travel toward their supposed Promised Land. But as Aster finds a link between the death of the ship's sovereign and the suicide of her own mother, she realizes there may be a way off the ship.
Ninefox Gambit (The Machineries of Empire trilogy) by Yoon Ha Lee*
Military space opera where belief and culture shape the laws of reality, causing all kinds of atrocities as empires do everything in their power to force as many people as possible to conform to their way of life to strengthen their technology and weapons. It’s also very queer, with gay, lesbian and trans major characters, albeit little to no romance.
The Left Hand of Darkness (Hainish Cycle) by Ursula K. Le Guin
1969 classic. Genly Ai is an emissary sent to the planet of Winter, meant to help facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But he's unprepared for Winter's citizens, who spend much of their time genderless or switching between genders, making for a culture wildly different from that Genly is used to.
Too Like the Lightning (Terra Ignota series) by Ada Palmer*
Centuries in the future, humanity has deliberatly engineered society to be as utopian as possible, politically, socially, sexually, religiously. Written in an enlightenment style and featuring questions of human nature and whether it’s possible to change it, and what price we’re prepared to pay for peace, this book is simultaneously very heavy and very funny, and written in a very unique style. While still human, the society presented often feels starkly alien.
The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley
This book fucked me up when I read it. It’s weird, it’s gross, there’s So Much Viscera, there are literally no men, it has living spaceships and biotech but in the most horrific way imaginable. Had I to categorize it I would call it grimdark military sf. It’s an experience but not necessarily a pleasant one.
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling*
Possibly one of the most unsettling books I’ve ever read, and definitely the most claustrophobic. Gyre, a caver on an alien planet, ventures into the dark and dangerous underground, guided only by a woman who has no compunctions on using and manipulating Gyre as she sees fit to obtain her secretive goals down in the caves.
Escaping Exodus (Escaping Exodus series) by Nicky Drayden
While my feelings on Escaping Exodus were mixed, it cannot be denied that the dynamic between the two leads and the way they go from childhood best friends to enemies on different sides of a class and power struggle is very delicious. It also features some really cool worldbuilding of living, alien generation spaceships and the human culture that has developed inside them.
The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky*
The Doors of Eden is something of an experiment in speculative biology, featuring versions of Earth in which various different species were the one to rise to sentience, from dinosaurs to neanderthals. Now, something is threatening the existence of all timelines, dragging multiple different people and species into the struggle, among those a pair of cryptid hunting girlfriends and a transgender scientist.
Ascension by Jacqueline Koyanagi
Ascension follows Alana Quick, an expert Sky Surgeon who stows away on a spaceship in hopes of landing herself a job. But the ship and its crew are in deeper waters than she expected, facing threats emerging from a whole other universe, all of them searching for the same person: Alana’s spiritually enlightened sister. Undeniably a bit of an odd read, Ascension is also very creative and features polyamorous lesbian relationship.
Contagion (Contagion duology) by Erin Bowman*
Young adult. After receiving an SOS, a small crew is sent on a standard search-and-rescue mission. But what they find are not survivors awaiting help, but an abandoned site, full of dead bodies and crawling with something... monstrous. No romance, but features one sapphic co-lead and one who can easily be read as demisexual (however this doesn't show up until book two, which has more romance).
A Memory Called Empire (Texicalaan duology) by Arkady Martine
Mahit Dzmare is an ambassador sent to the center of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire, where she discovers that her predecessor has died. Trying to protect her home, an independent mining station, from being taken over by the empire, Mahit struggles to find out the truth of her predecessor's death while carrying the voice of his ghost in her head, guiding her as best he can. Light on the romance but does feature a sapphic relationship.
The Outside (The Outside trilogy) by Ada Hoffman*
AKA the book the put me in an existenial crisis. Souls are real, and they are used to feed AI gods in this lovecraftian inspired scifi where reality is warped and artifical gods stand against real, unfathomable ones. Autistic scientist Yasira is accused of heresy and, to save her eternal soul, is recruited by post-human cybernetic ‘angels’ to help hunt down her own former mentor, who is threatening to tear reality itself apart. Sapphic main character.
Dawn (Xenogenesis trilogy) by Octavia E. Butler*
After a devestating war leaves humanity on the brink of extinction, survivor Lilith finds herself waking up naked and alone in a strange room. She’s been rescued by the Oankali, who have arrived just in time to save the human race. But there’s a price to survival, and it might be humanity itself. Absolutely fucked up I love it I once had to drop the book mid read to stare at the ceiling and exclaim in horror at what was going on. Queer in the sense that the Oankali doesn't follow human ideas of gender and relationships, which is mirrored in their romantic relationships with humans. It is, however, pretty dark, with examinations of agency and consent, so enter with caution.
Remnant by Kate Genet
One day, Cass wakes up and finds everyone else is gone. Not dead, just gone, leaving her in a world which nature starts taking back with a dangerous, unnatural speed. But as she tries to survive this new normal, Cass realizes she may not be alone after all - but who else is out there, and are they a threat?
The Scorpion Rules (Prisoners of Peace duology) by Erin Bow*
Young Adult. Featuring a dystopian future in which an AI forcibly keeps world peace by holding the children of world leaders hostage. If anyone attempts to start a war, their child will be executed. Greta is one of these children, kept in a school with others like her. But things start to change one day when a new, less obedient hostage arrives. A unique, slowburn take on the YA dystopian craze, also featuring a bisexual love triangle.
Iron Widow (Iron Widow series) by Xiran Jay Zhao
Young adult. Zetian is a citizen of Huaxia, where mecha aliens are constantly trying to breach the Great Wall. To keep them at bay, couples of men and women pilot so called Chrysalises, giant transforming robots. But the pilots are not equal - the women almost always die, sucked dry by their co-pilots. When Zetian sets herself up to become a concubine-pilot, she does so with the plan to assassinate the male pilot who caused her sister's death. Features a polyamorous main relationship.
Bonus AKA I haven't read these yet but they seem really cool:
Survival Instincts by May Dawney
Lynn Tanner has been surviving the post-apocalypse alone with only her dog for a long time, trusting no one. But when she's forced to travel the dangerous remains of New York City alongside another woman, her priorities are challenged. Is staying alone really the best way to stay alive?
These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs
When con-artist Jun Ironway gets her hands on possible proof of the powerful Nightfoot family, controllers of interplanetary travel, committing genocide, she has in her hands a chance of taking them and their monopoly down. But the family and their allies won't go down easily, and sends two brutal clerics to stop her.
Everfair by Nisi Shawl
A neo-victorian alternate history, in which a part of Congo was kept safe from colonisation, becoming Everfair, a safe haven for both the people of Congo and former slaves returning from America. Here they must struggle to keep this home safe for them all.
I just finished The seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
It was amazing.
a lot of people told me it was good, but I didn't expect it To be that good
Great books where the Main character is a writer
The following books are great reads about different struggles and events a writer can face during his career
1. Less by Andrew Sean Green
Arthur is a failed novelist about to turn fifty. A wedding invitation arrives in the mail: his boyfriend of the past nine years now engaged to someone else. He can’t say yes--it would all be too awkward--and he can’t say no--it would look like defeat. Thus begins an around-the-world-in-eighty-days fantasia that will take Arthur Less to Mexico, Italy, Germany, Morocco, India and Japan and put thousands of miles between him and the problems he refuses to face. What could possibly go wrong?
2. Misery by Stephen King
Paul Sheldon, author of a bestselling series of historical romances, wakes up one winter day in a strange place, a secluded farmhouse in Colorado. He wakes up to unspeakable pain (a dislocated pelvis, a crushed knee, two shattered legs) and to a bizarre greeting from the woman who has saved his life: "I'm your number one fan!"
3. Wonder Boys by Michael Gabon
In his first novel since The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Chabon presents a hilarious and heartbreaking work—the story of the friendship between the "wonder boys"—Grady, an aging writer who has lost his way, and Crabtree, whose relentless debauchery is capsizing his career.
Hi! I wrote a book! If you like fantasy, mysteries, snarky magicians and lots of queer characters, it might be one for you!!
It’s not out yet, but it’s well on its way and I’m very excited! The Winding is the first book in an urban fantasy series, set to be published by the lovely folks at Literary Wanderlust. For now you can keep an eye out here and on aliiveswrites on Instagram for updates.
But what is The Winding about?
Set in the city-state of Frettchen, one of the central powers of the Lower Lands, the story follows Mikalai Gloucester, a disgraced former bodyguard. For the past six months, Gloucester has been in prison for an unknown crime he can’t remember committing. A chance at freedom and finding out the truth arises, but it comes at the cost of working for the very man who locked him up in the first place. Desperate times call for desperate measures, however, and soon Gloucester finds himself on the hunt for a would-be assassin. The investigation quickly goes awry and Gloucester is tossed down a rabbit hole of magic, mayhem and mysterious immortal beings. Before long it’s more than just his freedom on the line, but the future of an entire city and everyone in it.
Meet the characters of my upcoming novel!
Who’s Who: Mikalai Gloucester
Gloucester is the main character of The Winding, a disgraced security agent with a bone to pick and a mystery to solve. Things aren’t going well for him at the beginning of the story, where we find him glumly staring up at the ceiling of his prison cell: he’s lost his job, his freedom, his home, his boyfriend and even seemingly his memory, as he can’t for the life of him remember the crime for which he’s been imprisoned.
The life of a bodyguard suited Gloucester, who is the sort of person accustomed to fading into the background and even prefers it that way. Though clever and funny, he’s also shy and quite uncomfortable in the spotlight. He certainly didn’t ask to be caught up in the middle of a brewing war between the powers that run the city of Frettchen and a world of magic he never even knew existed. He doesn’t like to run from a fight, though, especially when standing up against the odds is the right thing to do.
Oddly, of almost all of the characters in The Winding and its sequels, Gloucester was one of the most recent to be conceived in my mind. Many of the supporting cast had been bouncing around my brain in one form or another for years, but the story itself didn’t really come together until this quietly sassy fellow showed up in a dream one night, along with a basic plot that would become The Winding.
Meet the characters of my upcoming novel!
Who’s Who: Zane Zephyr
Zane Zephyr, the young owner of Zephyr Clocks, was quite literally minding her own business when a black-suited security agent named Gloucester walked into her life. Next thing she knows, she’s tangled up in a mess of political intrigue and magical kidnapping. It just so happens that the world of magic hiding in the shadows of Frettchen’s streets isn’t as new to her as it is to Gloucester...
Zane is a character that I will always hold close to my heart. Not only because she is smart, funny and kind, but also because she’s unashamedly asexual. As an ace person, characters that reflect this aspect of myself are still few and far between in the wide world of fiction. Aro/ace characters like Zane are especially hard to find and are often still misconstrued as traumatized, cold or somehow lacking. Zane is none of these things. She is vibrant, passionate and proud of who she is.
Meet the characters of my upcoming novel!
Who’s Who: Cassus Finch
Red haired, green eyed and heartily freckled, Finch (Cassus to his friends, of which there are few) is a resourceful and quick-thinking practitioner of magic. The son of a hedge witch and a magician, he was raised to know magic as an integral part of life. He's quick with a smile and a joke, but dangerous if crossed. He has multiple tattoos, including one of a sun on the left side of his brow, though whether it has magical uses or is just a bold fashion statement is hard to say. Also hard to say: just how trustworthy he is.
For a long time as the story of The Winding percolated in my brain, Finch didn’t have a name. I’d given him the placeholder title of ‘Young Bad Guy’ (to go with his father ‘Old Bad Guy’). Once I started properly writing, he not only gained an actual name, but a much more complex personality and role in the story. There’s a spark between him and Gloucester, but sometimes playing with fire just gets you burned.