Today Every Book a Doorway is SIX YEARS OLD AND COUNTING!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I really can’t believe I’ve managed to keep blogging this long, that I somehow built my own little niche of the internet into something I’m this proud of. I love knowing that I’ve made a space for other readers with my wildly weird (and weirdly specific!) Venn diagram of interests and preferences to come and find out about books they might like. I remain astonished that I now have a network of other bloggers, readers, and even publicists and authors who know who I am and are interested in my opinions. I’ve seen myself quoted on author websites, publisher pages, and even inside a few books!

NOT 100% SURE HOW I GOT HERE, BUT YOU’RE SURE STUCK WITH ME NOW, FOLX!

As is OFFICIALLY tradition, I am celebrating my blogiversary with Pride Flag recs. Rainbow Reads came up with the original tag, and it is exactly what you’d expect; a recommendation for every stripe in the (original) Gilbert Baker pride flag themed around what those colours represented, plus the new brown+black stripes for QBIPOC.

I actually went a little bit further, and added the stripes from the Daniel Quasar flag shown below – so, not just brown+black, but the trans colours as well!

And because I’m me and this is Every Book a Doorway, each book is SFF, AND a Crescent Classic.

(I mean – le duh.)

Now let’s (finally!) get to what you’re here for: THE BOOKS!

PINK – SEXUALITY

The Mercy Makers (The Moon Heresies, 1) by Tessa Gratton
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Bisexual brown MC, secondary fat brown sapphic character, minor nonbinary character, minor trans character
Published on: 17th June 2025
Goodreads

A talented heretic must decide between the pursuit of forbidden magic, or the ecstasy of forbidden love—either way, her choice will upend the world, in the start of a sweeping, romantic epic fantasy trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Tessa Gratton.

Can an empire trip and fall on a mere strand of silk?

Iriset is a prodigy and an outlaw. The daughter of a powerful criminal, she dons her alter ego Silk to create magical disguises for those in her father’s organization, but she longs to do more with her talent: to enhance what it means to be human by giving people wings, night-sight, and other abilities; to unlock the possibilities of gender and parenthood; to cure disease and even to end mortality itself.

Everything changes when her father is captured and sentenced to death. To save him, Iriset must infiltrate the palace and the empire’s fanatical ruling family. There, she realizes she has a chance—and an obligation—to bring down the entire corrupt system. She'll have to entangle herself in the lives of the emperor and his sister, getting them to trust and even to love her. But love is a two-way street, and Iriset’s own heart holds the most mysterious and impenetrable magic of all.

This is a perfect book. I love absolutely everything about it. But one aspect of it which I particularly want to think about and talk about and bang the drum about is its approach to sexuality. Because, among all the other things this is, it’s an extremely sexual book! As in, there is quite a bit of sex in it, some quite graphic, but also, sexuality is a thing which permeates every page. Sex and desire and pleasure are all presented frankly, openly, unashamedly, and while I’ve seen that before, a) it’s rarely as well done as it is here, and b) it’s always been in a sort of ‘sex is natural, why make a big deal of it?’ way. Here, sex is – celebrated? Revelled in. It’s natural, yes, but it’s also something to enjoy. Bodies are something to enjoy, in Iriset’s world; you’re meant to actively enjoy having one. I don’t know how to articulate it, but it made this sex-repulsed ace very teary (in a good way!) It felt like – as if there’s a spectrum: there’s all our weird shames and hang-ups about sex, and beyond that is a perfect neutrality, and beyond that is sex-positivity. And beyond that is Mercy Makers.

It’s not just that our main character like sex; sexuality is woven throughout the story’s setting. This is a culture where same-sex encounters or relationships are nothing to bat an eye at, but any pairing that could potentially reproduce is regulated. Regulated! The high priestess of the empire gives her divine husband a magic orgasm every day! There’s a theological argument between sects of the priesthood, and the sexiest one wins, and that makes sense within the theology! IT’S ALL EXTREMELY COOL.

Also, because it delights me: Gratton mentioned in their newsletter a while back about how sexuality affected the design of the cover. ‘SWORD IN CHALICE VIBES’, INDEED.

RED – LIFE

Metal from Heaven by August Clarke
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Sapphic MC, multiple lesbian secondary characters
Goodreads

For fans of  The Princess Bride and Gideon the Ninth: a bloody  lesbian revenge tale and political fantasy set in a glittering world transformed by industrial change – and simmering class warfare.

He who controls ichorite controls the world.

A malleable metal more durable than steel, ichorite is a toxic natural resource fueling national growth, and ambitious industrialist Yann Chauncey helms production of this miraculous ore. Working his foundry is an underclass of destitute workers, struggling to get better wages and proper medical treatment for those exposed to ichorite’s debilitating effects since birth.

One of those luster-touched victims, the child worker Marney Honeycutt, is picketing with her family and best friend when a bloody tragedy unfolds. Chauncey’s strikebreakers open fire.

Only Marney survives.

A decade later, as Yann Chauncey searches for a suitable political marriage for his ward, Marney sees the perfect opportunity for revenge. With the help of radical bandits and their stolen wealth, she must masquerade as an aristocrat to win over the calculating Gossamer Chauncey and kill the man who slaughtered her family and friends. But she is not the only suitor after Lady Gossamer’s hand, leading her to play twisted elitist games of intrigue. And Marney’s luster-touched connection to the mysterious resource and its foundry might put her in grave danger—or save her from it.

H. A. Clarke’s adult fantasy debut, writing as August Clarke, Metal from Heaven is a punk-rock murder ballad tackling labor issues and radical empowerment against the relentless grind of capitalism.

It is probably some kind of ironic to pick Metal From Heaven for the Life prompt/stripe, because Marney, the main character, is really Not Invested in staying alive. She’s not suicidal or depressed (although wow is she traumatised!) but she doesn’t care about dying at all, so long as she takes Chauncey with her.

But the book. The book is so very alive. It crackles and burns and hisses, vivid and electric, so fiercely and vibrantly and viciously alive that it’s like neon in a black-and-white world. I don’t think I can describe it any better than that. If you’ve read it, you know exactly what I mean; if you haven’t, you should go get yourself a copy IMMEDIATELY.

My review!
My (more ‘professional’) review for Ancillary Review of Books! (beware spoilers!)

ORANGE – HEALING

Lovequake by T.J. Land
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Brown pansexual MC, disabled trans love interest, secondary sapphic Nigerian character, minor Nigerian asexual aromantic character, M/M, secondary F/F
Goodreads

No one knows what to make of Sunday.

He’s handsome. He’s stylish. He’s got endless amounts of cash that he splashes around like water.

But there’s something just a little bit wrong about the way he talks – like he’s never had a conversation before – and the way he walks – like he expects walls to simply get out of his way. Though his hair and beard are immaculately groomed, he never brushes the former or trims the latter. And he talks to the sky.

All of which are very solid, sensible reasons for Zip Fletcher, cheerfully rude Welsh sex worker, not to develop a crush on him.

Zip is, however, not a sensible man.

LOVEQUAKE is an M/M + F/F romantic scifi adventure set against the backdrop of a quintillion-year-old cosmic war.

Lovequake is both literally a story of healing – it’s the story of an ancient cosmic horror recovering from a long-ago injury – and is incredibly healing as a story. I first read this book at an absolutely terrible time, and it was the only thing that had been able to make me laugh. It has made me laugh, and grin like a fool, and kick my feet, and flap my arms, every time I’ve read it since. It’s such unbelievable FUN, but also thoughtful and meaty and quite deep in places. You need to have a taste for the totally ridiculous occasionally, though in my opinion I think it’s done wonderfully. And good luck not falling in love with every member of the cast, because they are, all of them, PHENOMENAL.

And it is currently available FOR FREE over on Smashwords!

YELLOW – SUNLIGHT

A King's Trust (Heart-Mage Trilogy #1) by S.E. McPherson
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Bi/pansexual autistic MC with ADHD, M/M/F polyamory
Goodreads

Fantasy | Romance | LGBTQ+

The spare becomes the heir and, on his path to the throne, discovers magical intrigue, a secret society pulling political strings, and not one, but two loves of his life.

I cannot articulate, even to myself, why King’s Trust fits the Sunlight stripe, but I feel in my gut that it does. I think maybe because it flooded me with so much JOY as I read it; it was like having a little sun in my chest. This is a polyamorous romantic fantasy (fantasy romance? Romantasy?) set in a fairly generic fantasy kingdom, where the second (autistic, with ADHD) prince become crown heir after his older brother dies. This is very bad, because he is not at all kingly material. Also, his dead brother’s fiance thinks he murdered his brother, for some strange reason. There are a number of plotlines, smaller and larger, mysteries and twists and secrets and reveals. The relationships, romantic and platonic, just SHINE. I need the sequel so bad!

GREEN – NATURE

Susurrus on Mars by Hal Duncan
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi, Science Fantasy
Representation: M/M
Goodreads

This novella-length collection of Erehwynan Idylls offers readers an indulgent and weird agglomeration of randy boys and revelations, as the embodiment of a small breeze--actually the gene-spliced child of the gods Zephyros and Ares--flirts and seduces fleshlings on a terraformed future Mars. Hal Duncan's acclaimed style is both alethic and erudite and offers a fresh telling of philosophical musings and classic Greek mythology for 21st century readers.

"This densely lyrical novella combines science fiction, Greek mythology, botany, philosophy, and erotica into a resonant whole..." - Publishers Weekly

Hal Duncan is one of my favourite authors no one ever seems to have heard of, and Susurrus on Mars is a great place to start with his books, imo. The writing style’s somewhat experimental (not 100% sure that’s the word I want), but I never found it hard to follow; it’s an exploration of a far-future Mars, and a found-family that forms there, via the interested surveillance of a young wind god. One of the things I really love about this novella is how it’s woven through with the mythological origins of different plants – like how Narcissus became the flower, and Daphne a laurel tree. Makes it a perfect fit for the Nature stripe of the flag!

TURQUOISE – MAGIC

Domesticated Magic by Wendy Palmer
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Trans MC, queer love interest, M/M
Goodreads

Mateo Taurasi and his family fled their island home when their people turned to sorcery. Mateo’s own magic is tame but it’s still banned in the Vaeringan Empire...and his family still use it every day in their cosy teahouse. The last thing they need is an Imperial barging in to catch them at it.

Luckily, Jonas just wants to offer them a trade deal too good to resist. As hard as he tries, Mateo begins to find the cheerfully charming Jonas too good to resist, too.

But an unfairly attractive Imperial is not Mateo’s only problem. Rumours of sorcery loose in the city mean trouble for the Taurasi. With Jonas caught up in the mess, Mateo must investigate.

His family already lost their world once. Mateo can’t let them lose again. Not even if it costs him the man he really wishes he didn't have feelings for.

c/ explicit transm/m sex scenes

Magic is – probably not very surprisingly! – fundamental to every aspect of Domesticated Magic; Mateo’s people left their home because of it; the country that accepted them as refugees has banned magic, which affects, you know, how they live their lives; and yet they use it daily. The sharing of magic is fundamental to their culture and religion, even. The main mystery of the book is finding out who is misusing it. It even becomes quite important to the romance. It’s in every part of the story!

Plus, the magic system itself is just – so incredibly impressive. It’s so simple, but it’s elegantly simple, perfectly simple. Genius!

BLUE – HARMONY

A Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Sapphic Jewish MC, sapphic Jewish spouse, polyamory, queernorm world
Goodreads

A literary descendent of Ursula K. Le Guin, Ruthanna Emrys crafts a novel of extra-terrestrial diplomacy and urgent climate repair bursting with quiet, tenuous hope and an underlying warmth. A Half-Built Garden depicts a world worth building towards, a humanity worth saving from itself, and an alien community worth entering with open arms. It's not the easiest future to build, but it's one that just might be in reach.

On a warm March night in 2083, Judy Wallach-Stevens wakes to a warning of unknown pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay. She heads out to check what she expects to be a false alarm—and stumbles upon the first alien visitors to Earth. These aliens have crossed the galaxy to save humanity, convinced that the people of Earth must leave their ecologically-ravaged planet behind and join them among the stars. And if humanity doesn't agree, they may need to be saved by force.

But the watershed networks that rose up to save the planet from corporate devastation aren't ready to give up on Earth. Decades ago, they reorganized humanity around the hope of keeping the world livable. By sharing the burden of decision-making, they've started to heal our wounded planet.

Now corporations, nation-states, and networks all vie to represent humanity to these powerful new beings, and if anyone accepts the aliens' offer, Earth may be lost. With everyone’s eyes turned skyward, the future hinges on Judy's effort to create understanding, both within and beyond her own species.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

It probably wouldn’t be wrong to use Half-Built Garden for the Nature stripe, but I think it’s a better fit here. Because the central question of the book is: can sapient life exist in harmony with nature, or not? Nature’s important here – but the book is about harmony. The aliens are convinced that technological species have to leave their planets, or else destroy themselves. The main character and her community completely reject that premise – but humans aren’t a single community, and there are a bunch of other factions with a bunch of other opinions (of course). This is such a stunning book, and it fills me with so much hope for the future. As Seanan McGuire said on the cover, this ‘deserves to be the first contact novel that defines a generation.’

My review!

PURPLE – SPIRIT

So You Want To Be A Robot: 22 Stories of Science Fiction and Fantasy by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Portal Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy, Horror, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Queer and neurodivergent MCs
Goodreads

“Divergent characters find themselves in startling situations in this debut collection of unconventional sci-fi and fantasy stories... A sparkling sequence of tales that bends and flips familiar ideas and fantastic visions.”—KIRKUS REVIEWS ⭐ review [1st Edition]

Set aside traditional norms and the gender binary in this updated collection of twenty-two stories by Nebula Award finalist Merc Fenn Wolfmoor.

Here you'll find robots and cyborgs exploring their own forms of personhood; lose yourself in wildly imaginative landscapes and dystopian worlds; follow assassins, sentient shadows, sorrowful ghosts, and all forms of monsters. Dare to feel everything—from the brightest joy to sorrow and the rainbow of emotion in between.

Yet even in the darkest moments, there will always be hope.

---“The stories are all crafted with the deft and loving touch of an author who knows firsthand what it is to live in their characters’ skins. Each piece in this unmissable collection shimmers with bright explorations of love, loss, and the quest for hope.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ⭐ review [1st Edition]

Gods, this collection is so incredibly…soul-feeding. I’ve come back to it over and over. Wolfmoor’s imagination is breathtaking, and the prose! Excuse me while I swoon. But much deeper than that… This book brims with the sense that anything is possible. ANYTHING. When I’m feeling deeply grey and numb, So You Want To Be A Robot wakes me up, brings the colour back. Brings the MAGIC back. When my sense of wonder grows ragged, this is the book I reach for. It always works.

My (mini) review!

TRANS – A TRANS LEAD AND AUTHOR

The Story of the Hundred Promises by Neil Cochrane
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Trans MC, nonbinary MC
Goodreads

A queer, deconstructed version of the  “Beauty and the Beast” fairy tale

Trans sailor Darragh Thorn has made a comfortable life for himself among people who love and accept him. Ten years after his exile from home, though, his sister asks him to reconcile with their ailing father. Determined to resolve his feelings rather than just survive them, Darragh sets off on a quest to find the one person who can heal a half-dead the mysterious enchanter who once gave him the magic he needed to become his true self. But so far as anyone knows, no one but Darragh has seen the enchanter for a century, and the fairy tales that survive about em give more cause for fear than hope. In lush and evocative prose, and populated with magical trees and a wise fox, The Story of the Hundred Promises is a big-hearted fantasy suffused with queer optimism.

Toss out the idea that this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling; that’s only accurate by the loosest of definitions. What it is is a soft, dreamy, emotional story exploring gender and what it means to be ‘different’. It’s a story that’ll make you ache, but also make you smile; it’s magical and optimistic, even if parts of it hurt. Charlie Jane Anders called it ‘the trans fable the world needs right now’, and I think that’s even truer than it was when Hundred Promises came out in 2022.

QBIPOC – A BIPOC MC AND AUTHOR

The Iron Below Remembers by Sharang Biswas
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Brown gay MC, M/M, queernorm world
Goodreads

Set in an alternate version of the British Isles where South Asian imperial interest colonized much of the globe thanks to their advanced technology, Professor Laxman Yadav is dating Saviour, one of the world’s most famous superheroes, while also investigating possibly the most important archeological find of all time. Equal parts pulp caper and meta-textual academic text, this novella leans as heavily on footnotes as it does on explorations of queer romance.

AHHHH, HOW DO I CONVEY HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS??? It’s the kind of novella only Neon Hemlock would publish (that is a compliment), deeply weird and wild and EXUBERANT with its own oddness! It’s set in a UK that was colonised way back by a fictional Asian empire, and the main character is a professor in that empire’s history, but don’t worry about it being all Proper Academia and very dull, because instead it’s bright and witty and funny and my GODS, it is so very gay. (Also a compliment.) Oh, and this professor? Is dating one of the world’s biggest superheroes. Superheroes are a thing. It all fits together way better than you might expect, up to and including the magical archaeology!

Happy Blogiversary to ME, and happy Pride to everyone!

If you’re curious, you can find my previous years’ recs below;
Year One!
(I missed celebrating year 2!)
Year Three!
Year Four!
Year Five!

And if you do your own Pride Flag recs, PLEASE let me know so I can come see!

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