The last week before Halloween is going HARD – we have TWELVE new releases hitting the shelves tomorrow!
(Books are listed in order of pub date, then Adult SFF, Adult Other, YA SFF, YA Other, MG SFF.)
Genres: Horror, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MCs
Published on: 27th October 2022
Unspeakable contains eighteen Gothic tales with uncanny twists and characters that creep under your skin. Its stories feature sapphic ghosts, terrifying creatures of the sea, and haunted houses concealing their own secrets. Whether you're looking for your non-binary knight in shining armour or a poly family to murder with, Unspeakable showcases the best contemporary Gothic queer short fiction. Even dark tales deserve their time in the sun.
A brilliant collection of queer horror originally funded on Kickstarter, now being (re?)released with a JAWDROPPINGLY gorgeous new cover! Talk about heart eyes!
Genres: Horror, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MCs
Published on: 27th October 2022
Goodreads
Unthinkable: A Queer Gothic Anthology collects nineteen original Gothic tales primed to unsettle and entertain.
From a Southern Gothic tale of destruction and revenge, to haunted houses and cursed lovers, to an eco-Gothic saga, Unthinkable’s tales present undying themes of love and tragedy, life and death, all suffused with queerness.
Following on from the success of its predecessor Unspeakable: A Queer Gothic Anthology, Unthinkable features stories from a fresh batch of authors, showcasing the depth and breadth of queer Gothic literature.
Edited by Celine Frohn and featuring an introduction by A Dowry of Blood author S.T. Gibson, Unthinkable promises to haunt the reader long after the final page has been turned.
A companion collection to Unspeakable – I love the escalation from unspeakable to unthinkable! Does that mean the stories in Unthinkable are even scarier…?
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Agender MC
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
Nghi Vo's Hugo and Crawford Award-winning series, The Singing Hills Cycle, continues...
"A remarkable accomplishment of storytelling."—NPR on The Empress of Salt and Fortune
Wandering cleric Chih of the Singing Hills travels to the riverlands to record tales of the notorious near-immortal martial artists who haunt the region. On the road to Betony Docks, they fall in with a pair of young women far from home, and an older couple who are more than they seem. As Chih runs headlong into an ancient feud, they find themself far more entangled in the history of the riverlands than they ever expected to be.
Accompanied by Almost Brilliant, a talking bird with an indelible memory, Chih confronts old legends and new dangers alike as they learn that every story—beautiful, ugly, kind, or cruel—bears more than one face.
BOW DOWN FOR THE QUEEN! Nghi Vo is an auto-buy author for me, and I couldn’t be happier that we’re getting a new story in the Singing Hills setting!!! Plus, ALMOST BRILLIANT IS BACK!
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Science Fantasy
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
In Empire of the Feast, we awaken with Riverson, 32nd ruler of the Stag Empire, as he attempts to govern without the memories of his previous lives. To survive the ever-sharpening gears of war, he will need to mend the political schisms threatening to tear his empire apart while maintaining the erotic rituals holding off the eldritch horror known only as the Rapacious.
A Science Fantasy empire built on sex magic? AND it’s queer??? I got to read this early and can promise that it’s delicious, weird, and will leave you hoping for more from this author and this setting!
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy
Representation: Latina MC
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
From the author of A Taste of Sage comes another charming and engrossing novel in which a young woman must navigate her family’s expectations, the demands of her job, a new love, and a secret about her magical identity.
Larimar Cintrón works hard at three things: her job as brand manager for Beacon Café, a New York based corporate bakery chain; taking care of her parents and her abuela; and hiding that she’s a ciguapa—a mythical creature of Dominican folklore with long, straight hair and backward feet. Larimar may be a ciguapa only during full moons, but she feels like an outsider in her family the rest of the month too. Her love of ’90s punk rock music and style further sets her apart. But when her best friend introduces her to Ray, a bakery owner and fellow punk rock lover, Larimar thinks she may have finally found someone with whom she can be her true self.
As Beacon Café's brand manager, Larimar oversees all new location openings, including its newest in New Jersey, which could be the project that finally lands her a coveted promotion. But when she discovers the location is right across from Ray’s bakery, Larimar is torn between impressing her boss and saving Ray’s business. As she continues to grow closer to Ray, and as the new store’s opening looms, she struggles to hide the truth about herself and her job. But embracing her magical nature may be the only way Larimar can have everything she wants.
I don’t know how prevalent the SFF elements in this are, but I’m always excited for Latin American mythology (which I don’t know nearly enough about)! Plus, this sounds genuinely cure and fun???
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
First, there was a trunk. Inside the trunk was an egg, and inside the egg was…
Well, it certainly was not a chicken.Miss Mildred Percy, former wallflower and current adventurer, is now in charge of a dragon. Along with Mr. Wiggan and Mrs. Babbinton — our stalwart companions from the first volume of Miss Percy’s adventures — she embarks on a journey across Wales, in search of the mysterious Nyth y Ddraig, or Nest of Dragons.
But traveling with a young dragon in an unfamiliar land proves more difficult than anticipated. Between angry mobs, midnight rescues, and recalcitrant sheep, they battle (figuratively) their way across the countryside, defend themselves against enemies old and new, and discover something remarkable hidden in the mountains of Wales.
I will always show up for dragons, and have to confess to an irrational delight that Miss Percy is heading to Wales in this instalment (I’m half-Welsh, and can confirm that Wales is very much dragon country!)
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Nonbinary MC
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
A queer, Beauty-and-the-Beast-inspired novella
Heron thought ey wanted to be with handsome, charming Tiel—but the relationship hasn’t quite lived up to eir expectations. With Tiel’s confidence comes a tendency to be overbearing, and now he wants Heron to leave eir farm life behind and move to town with him. And Heron can’t figure out how to explain to him that ey doesn’t want that.
When an accident strands Heron’s mother at a castle rumored to belong to a family of mages, Heron rushes off to make sure she’s all right—only to find the castle occupied by a single man who isn’t a mage at all. Prone to hiding behind his long mess of hair, the mysterious Theomer possesses a long-neglected, semi-magical garden. A job tending it is Heron’s perfect opportunity for some time away from Tiel while ey decides what to tell him.
Heron did not plan to be drawn in by Theomer’s attentive gaze and understated sense of humor. But as an undeniable bond forms between them, ey’s soon going to have a much bigger choice to make…
This is the second queer Beauty and the Beast retelling (that I know about) this month! We are being SPOILED!
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: M/M
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
A reluctant necromancer, a man killed before his time, and the crime that brings them together.
Felipe Galvan’s life as an investigator for the Paranormal Society has been spent running into danger. Returning home from his latest case, Felipe struggles with the sudden quiet of his life until a mysterious death puts him in the path of the enigmatic Oliver Barlow.Oliver has two secrets. One, he has been in love with the charming Felipe Galvan for years. Two, he is a necromancer, but to keep the sensible life he’s built as a medical examiner, he must hide his powers. That is until Oliver finds Felipe murdered and accidentally brings him back from the dead.But Felipe refuses to die again until he and Oliver catch his killer. Together, Felipe and Oliver embark on an investigation to uncover a plot centuries in the making. As they close in on his killer, one thing is certain: if they don’t stop them, Felipe won’t be the last to die.
This almost slipped past my radar, but thankfully a few different (awesome) people flagged it for me! And all insisted that it’s a fabulous book, so I will definitely be pouncing on it!
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
The Atlas Paradox is the long-awaited sequel to Olivie Blake's New York Times bestselling dark academic sensation The Atlas Six—guaranteed to have even more yearning, backstabbing, betrayal, and chaos.
Six magicians were presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. Five are now members of the Society.Two paths lay before them.
All must pick a side.
Alliances will be tested, hearts will be broken, and The Society of Alexandrians will be revealed for what it is: a secret society with raw, world-changing power, headed by a man whose plans to change life as we know it are already under way.
"The Atlas Six introduced six of the most devious, talented, and flawed characters to ever find themselves in a magical library, and then sets them against one another in a series of stunning betrayals and reversals. As much a delicious contest of wit, will, and passion as it is of magic...half mystery, half puzzle, and wholly a delight."—New York Times bestselling author Holly Black
Sigh. I initially said I wasn’t going to read Paradox, because the ending of the previous book pissed me off so much…but I’d kind of like to know if this series will live up to its ‘queer dark academia’ rep by making any of the queer subtext of book one textual in book two.
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: M/M
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
A stunning queer fantasy perfect for fans of Carry On and A Marvelous Light.
After manifesting thorned magic and nearly destroying his hometown, Kieren Belltower is summoned to join the Magic Service—an institution in charge of magical affairs—and start an apprenticeship with a high-ranking magician. But instead of the mage assigned to teach him, Kieren is greeted by his haughty and annoyingly handsome senior apprentice Esten, who clearly has more important things to do than chaperone some newbie. Their teacher has disappeared on a secret assignment, leaving Esten no instructions other than a warning not to trust a soul. But as Kieren’s unruly magic proves too dangerous to leave unattended, Esten has no choice but to involve him in the matter.
Together they retrace their teacher’s last known mission—an investigation into the illegal use of magic and its connection to the devastating phenomenon called sludge, which has plagued the country for weeks. But as Kieren and Esten grow closer, they uncover a plot that thrusts their lives into danger and threatens to shatter everything they know about magic and the world they were born into.
“Packed with adventure, swoony romance, and of course, magic. This book will enchant you!”— Adriana Mather, NYT Bestselling author of How To Hang A Witch
I’m a sucker for a gorgeous cover, okay? Okay. Plus, I’ve only heard absolutely glowing praise for this book from early readers!
Representation: Sapphic MC, bisexual Asian-American secondary character, queer Black secondary character, nonbinary secondary character, bi/pansexual tertiary character, background M/M
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
It's been a wild year for Sideways Pike. After forming a coven with the three most popular girls in school and developing a huge crush on a mysterious stranger named Madeline, Sideways' Halloween was ruined by finding out that Madeline wasn't trying to make out with her, but to steal Sideways' specter, the force that gives witches the ability to cast magic spells. From Madeline's perspective, it's not her fault: after a doomed relationship with one of the creepy near-identical Chantry Boys turned into a witch hunt, they took her specter, so, really, she's only borrowing Sideways' until she can recover her own and punish the Chantrys.
The specter-less Sideways is in a horrid, distracted mood, unable to do magic and with part of her consciousness tied to Madeline's, on the lam as she uses Sideways' specter to hunt Chantrys. The other Scapegracers are much jollier, heading into the winter holidays having set up shop as curse crafters for girls in their school who've been done wrong by guys. When Sideways—through Madeline—gets a flash of how to track down both her foes at once, she asks the Scapegracers to help entrap them, only to be told her plan is unsafe and unwise. So if she's going to find Madeline, her only ally is Mr. Scratch, the inky book demon currently inhabiting her as life support until she gets her spectre back.
Sideways is used to being an outcast loner, and is desperate to do magic again, so she's not going to let little barriers like facing a betraying crush and a family of six demented witch hunters practically alone stop her. But she and her trusty stolen bike are in for a bumpy ride...
Hands down one of the best book of the year – even better than the first book in the trilogy! If you’re looking for queer witches, prose that sizzles and sears, and/or magic that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, you NEED to be reading this series!
You can read my review of The Scratch Daughters here!
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Lesbian MC, hijabi-wearing MC
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
There’s nothing hijabi alien hunter Abyan wants more than to graduate from Carlisle Academy and finally rid the Earth of aliens, the Nosaru.
Everything is going to plan until the Nosaru kill one of Abyan’s squad mates. To make matters worse, the school admins replace her elite squad member with a sub-par new recruit, Artemis. Despite Artemis failing every test—and bringing the team down with her—their cutthroat instructors refuse to kick her out.
Together Abyan, Artemis and the rest of the team unravel the mystery of why Artemis is actually there, what the Nosaru really want, and what Carlisle Academy has been hiding from them all.
The reviews for this one have been more mixed, but I’m still willing to give it a go!
Genres: Fantasy, Portal Fantasy
Published on: 25th October 2022
Goodreads
When the improbable road leaves Avery and Zib in the land of Air and at the mercy of the Queen of Swords, escape without becoming monsters may be impossible. But with the aid of the Queen's son, the unpredictable Jack Daw, they may emerge with enough of their humanity to someday make it home. Their journey is not yet over; the dangers are no less great.
Listen, I will always read anything and everything by Seanan McGuire, under any and all of her pennames!
Will you be reading any of these? Let me know!
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