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I didn't realize that world watercolor month is this month! How fun 😄

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Meet the Scholarly Pursuits Authors: Lyonel Loy and Lucy K. R.

So so happy to share that the Kickstarter campaign for Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer Anthology of Cozy Academia Stories has reached our minimum funding goal! And we’ve got 8 days to go – so the sky’s the limit on hitting our stretch goals, getting our backers more goodies, and raising the pay for our authors. Learn more on our campaign page!

We’re now aiming for our first stretch goal at $16,000! At this level, all backers will receive the cover art as an image file (for personal use only!!), and we will double the amount we’re paying our contributors!

A huge thank you to every single person who has backed so far, and to those who helped spread the word – we couldn’t have done it without you.

Author: Lyonel Loy (he/him) Biography: Lifelong maladaptive daydreamer, finally working up the courage to write those daydreams down. Spends time cosplaying as a Responsible Adult With A Job.

Story Title: What We Call Ourselves

Excerpt: 

Cold Ash’s scones have the consistency of under-fired bricks.

“That looks delicious,” the waif gushes, as they always do; Cold Ash’s belly twinges with something like sympathy pains. “It must smell delicious too! I do wish we could smell it.”

“Nothing that says you can’t.” Cold Ash points out. More than enough has been written about shades, but nothing about being a shade; Cold Ash had switched up his line of questioning after months of fruitless prying on the name and fate of the poor waif. “You can see it, and touch it too if you focus. Hear it, if I do this—”

Cold Ash thonks a scone against the countertop.

Disturbingly, it both squishes and thuds.

“Here,” he urges, “take one each and think very hard about smelling it. We could do a paper on the results, and I’ll list you both as co-authors.”

-

Author: Lucy K. R. (she/her) Biography: What is there to be said for a person such as Lucy K.R.? Her mother remembers her requesting a cookie, and when she was denied amending “What about two cookies?” Her friends once observed her, when startled in a haunted house, to scream, run face-first into a wall, and then yell “Sorry!” Her future wife, she claims to have met “soul-first”, having collaborated in art and writing before ever meeting as individuals. Among the line cooks of her restaurant, it is said she performed Ylvis’s “What Does the Fox Say” at a Christmas karaoke party without ever glancing at the screen. In her dojang, she was heard to pronounce a fondness for sea salt, as it “May have touched a shark once.” When she briefly majored in bass performance, while alone in the practice rooms she would write musical themes for her characters rather than drilling etudes, until she could not escape her love of stories any longer. They say all these things and more, but to meet her “soul-first”, you need look no further than “I Am For You” from And Seek (Not) to Alter Me, “The Hollow Mass” from She Wears the Midnight Crown, or “The Three Mic’O’Tears” from Aim for the Heart, all available from Duck Prints Press.

Story Title: Caffeine and the Unsleeping

Excerpt: 

There are many talents Vladimir once had that he has become rusty in through the years. Flirting, however, has never been among their number, but isn’t that why he came to school in the first place? To try new things? To broaden his horizons?

“My name is Vladimir,” he says, halting and uncertain as he hugs the binder to his chest. “And I would like to apologize again for my outburst.”

“Ben,” says the man, his lips curving up to reveal a broad grin full of slightly crooked and deeply human teeth. “And honestly, it was just good to have something to think about for the shift. Do you, uh, want a pastry? While you’re reading? On the house.”

“I thank you for your concern,” Vladimir replies. “However I am unable to partake.”

“Gluten free?”

“Vampire.”

“Ah,” says Ben.

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"Queer Muslims Exist. Always Have Been."

Spotted in Boston. 🤗🕌🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

If you haven't read any queer Muslim narratives, here's some suggestions:

We Have Always Been Here - Samra Habib

In Sensorium: Notes For My People - Tanaïs

Hijab Butch Blues - Lamya H

Blood Orange - Yaffa

Heaven Looks Like Us - ed. George Abraham & Noor Hindi

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A Big Gay Kinky Market: This Friday in Troy

This Friday, August 8th, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., join me and around a dozen other vendors for a kinky market at Refuge in Troy, New York! In addition to having vendors, this event also has a show, DJ, demos, and more – it’s gonna be a great night, I’m a little sorry I’ll be stuck behind my vending table.

Schedule:

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.: Market Hours w/ Tunes by DJ Lovely Candela + Zero Proof Sensual Elixirs by Richard Cruz + Food Provided by Mimi’s Queer Shack

6 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Mask Only Hour

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.: Flogging & Harness Demos by Miss Adah Vonn of Less Dead Studio

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.: Bootblacking by Care of Curseten

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.: Tie & Tease by Tantra with Tara

8 p.m. – 9 p.m.: Performance by Tachy Cardia + Badheart Burlesque

So whether you want to do some shopping, learn some new skills, or take in a show, why not come say hi in Troy on Friday?

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❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Happy Pride 🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵

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Meet the Scholarly Pursuits Authors: Lyonel Loy and Lucy K. R.

So so happy to share that the Kickstarter campaign for Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer Anthology of Cozy Academia Stories has reached our minimum funding goal! And we’ve got 8 days to go – so the sky’s the limit on hitting our stretch goals, getting our backers more goodies, and raising the pay for our authors. Learn more on our campaign page!

We’re now aiming for our first stretch goal at $16,000! At this level, all backers will receive the cover art as an image file (for personal use only!!), and we will double the amount we’re paying our contributors!

A huge thank you to every single person who has backed so far, and to those who helped spread the word – we couldn’t have done it without you.

Author: Lyonel Loy (he/him) Biography: Lifelong maladaptive daydreamer, finally working up the courage to write those daydreams down. Spends time cosplaying as a Responsible Adult With A Job.

Story Title: What We Call Ourselves

Excerpt: 

Cold Ash’s scones have the consistency of under-fired bricks.

“That looks delicious,” the waif gushes, as they always do; Cold Ash’s belly twinges with something like sympathy pains. “It must smell delicious too! I do wish we could smell it.”

“Nothing that says you can’t.” Cold Ash points out. More than enough has been written about shades, but nothing about being a shade; Cold Ash had switched up his line of questioning after months of fruitless prying on the name and fate of the poor waif. “You can see it, and touch it too if you focus. Hear it, if I do this—”

Cold Ash thonks a scone against the countertop.

Disturbingly, it both squishes and thuds.

“Here,” he urges, “take one each and think very hard about smelling it. We could do a paper on the results, and I’ll list you both as co-authors.”

-

Author: Lucy K. R. (she/her) Biography: What is there to be said for a person such as Lucy K.R.? Her mother remembers her requesting a cookie, and when she was denied amending “What about two cookies?” Her friends once observed her, when startled in a haunted house, to scream, run face-first into a wall, and then yell “Sorry!” Her future wife, she claims to have met “soul-first”, having collaborated in art and writing before ever meeting as individuals. Among the line cooks of her restaurant, it is said she performed Ylvis’s “What Does the Fox Say” at a Christmas karaoke party without ever glancing at the screen. In her dojang, she was heard to pronounce a fondness for sea salt, as it “May have touched a shark once.” When she briefly majored in bass performance, while alone in the practice rooms she would write musical themes for her characters rather than drilling etudes, until she could not escape her love of stories any longer. They say all these things and more, but to meet her “soul-first”, you need look no further than “I Am For You” from And Seek (Not) to Alter Me, “The Hollow Mass” from She Wears the Midnight Crown, or “The Three Mic’O’Tears” from Aim for the Heart, all available from Duck Prints Press.

Story Title: Caffeine and the Unsleeping

Excerpt: 

There are many talents Vladimir once had that he has become rusty in through the years. Flirting, however, has never been among their number, but isn’t that why he came to school in the first place? To try new things? To broaden his horizons?

“My name is Vladimir,” he says, halting and uncertain as he hugs the binder to his chest. “And I would like to apologize again for my outburst.”

“Ben,” says the man, his lips curving up to reveal a broad grin full of slightly crooked and deeply human teeth. “And honestly, it was just good to have something to think about for the shift. Do you, uh, want a pastry? While you’re reading? On the house.”

“I thank you for your concern,” Vladimir replies. “However I am unable to partake.”

“Gluten free?”

“Vampire.”

“Ah,” says Ben.

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Have you used your local library’s services within the last year? Whether that be visiting in person or using online resources, like Libby.

- Yes

- No

- I don’t have a local library

- I mainly use my university’s library services instead of my local library’s

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oh yes I fuckin love telepathy.

also:

two-person love triangle/secret identity shenanigans

mc is a stupid idealistic martyr

queer af

characters who aren't white

Jewish characters

Yall should tell me what non-genre elements will make you pick up (or strongly consider) a book.

Los míos por ejemplo:

magic circus/carnival settings

mc that uses blood magic, especially if treated or revealed to be morally neutral in the end

disabled magic users or scientists (no cure mf)

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HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Here’s a list of some of my favorite Queer media, and even though I’m a film and series account I decided to add my favorite books as well.

If you’d like to add your own favorites in the comments and tags please do!

Films: 🎥🏳️‍🌈

Wildhood (2021)

Nimona (2023)

Red, White and Royal Blue (2023)

To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything (1995)

The Old Guard (2020)

Fire Island (2022)

But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)

Strange World (2022)

The Birdcage (1996)

Your Name Engraved Herein (2020)

Hearts Beat Loud (2018)

The Handmaiden (2016)

Dirty Computer (2018)

BL Series: 💻🏳️‍🌈

To My Star (2021-2022)

Our Dating Sim (2023)

Roommates of Poongduck 304 (2022)

Jack & Joker (2024)

Century of Love (2024)

ThamePo (2024)

KinnPorsche (2022)

The Heart Killers (2024)

Manner of Death (2020)

Jack o’ Frost (2023)

Pit Babe (2023-2025)

Between Us (2022)

Perfect 10 Liners (2024)

The Next Prince (2025)

Books: 📚🏳️‍🌈

The Rowan Blood series by Kellen Graves (mlm, queer-normative society)

The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater (mlm)

The Feverwake series by Victoria Lee (mlm)

The Iron Widow series by Xiran Jay Zhao (bi, polyam, FMM)

Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas (gay, trans)

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldtree (wlw)

The Final Strife by Sarra El-Arifi (wlw, trans, queer-normative society)

Legendborn Cycle series by Tracy Deonn (wlw, mlm, nonbinary)

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (mlm)

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (wlw)

Winter’s Orbit / Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell (mlm)

Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore (trans)

All That’s Left In The World by Erik J. Brown (mlm)

Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei (mlm)

Pet / Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi (queer, trans)

The Tea Dragon Society series by Kay O’Neill (mlm, queer-normative society)

A Psalm For The Wild-Built duology by Becky Chambers (agender, queer-normative society)

Silver in The Wood duology by Emily Tesh (mlm)

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (trans, mlm)

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon (sapphic, If I remember correctly)

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds (wlw)

The Lesbiana’s Guide To Catholic School by Sonora Reyes (wlw)

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne (wlw)

Raybearer duology by Jordan Ifueko (queer, asexual)

A Dowry of Blood by S.T Gibson (bi, polyam, FFMM)

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We have ten titles on our list for today! Which ones are you going to be taking a second look at?

Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala Delacourte Press

Danika Dizon is a natural problem-solver. Thanks to her private investigator mom and mystery author dad, she's equipped with the skills to offer guidance to anxious classmates who come to her for a tarot reading between classes. For a price, of course.

But when one of her clients vanishes shortly after they're dealt a death card, the girl’s younger sister Gaby begs Danika to figure out what went wrong. Danika takes on the case, thinking it's the perfect way to prove to her parents that she should be an official investigator in the family’s detective agency.

What starts off as a compelling challenge quickly devolves into something darker as Danika and Gaby peel back layer after layer of the secret life the missing girl has been living. A life that those involved would do anything to keep from being revealed…

The Education of Kia Greer by Alanna Bennett Knopf Books for Young Readers

Growing up in the public eye, Kia would gladly give up her privileged life as the daughter of a reality star for the freedom to find her own way—go to high school parties, gossip with the drama club, apply to college, make mistakes, and fall in love like any other teen.

Then she meets Cass, and he offers a glimpse at the ordinary life she craves. But Cass is a rising star in his own right, and what starts as something sweet and undefined soon becomes a magnet for rumor and speculation—as if first love wasn’t messy enough on its own.

The pressure of the spotlight takes its toll, chipping away at Kia’s sense of self, pushing and pulling and reshaping her—body and mind—to fit the expectations of everyone around her. But what does Kia want for herself? And can her fragile new relationship survive the fallout?

Eliza, from Scratch by Sophia Lee Quill Tree

Eliza Park’s senior year will be perfect: She’s going to be salutatorian, give a tear-jerking graduation speech in front of her parents, and enjoy her last year with her equally ambitious best friends. But when a scheduling mishap enrolls her in Culinary Arts, Eliza is suddenly the most clueless person in the class. Her typical title of star student belongs to the aggravatingly arrogant Wesley Ruengsomboon, a charming Thai American boy whose talent in the kitchen leaves Eliza both awed and annoyed.

With her rank on the line, Eliza’s only hope is to snatch the midterm cooking contest win from Wesley, however improbable that may be. Add in the flavor of her grandmother’s Korean recipes, the heat of being class partners with Wesley, and the sweetness of unexpected feelings—and Eliza must now rebuild everything she knew about success, love, and what it means to be herself, from scratch.

Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand and Tara Anand HarperAlley

All Nitasha’s parents want is for her to be the perfect Indian daughter—something she is decidedly not. Everything she does seems to disappoint them, especially her mom. They just don’t get that she’ll never be like her doctor older brother. To make matters worse, she’s never quite felt like she belongs at school either, and lately, her best friend, Ava, and her crush, Henry, seem to be more interested in the rich new girl than in her.

Alcohol takes the edge off, but when that doesn’t work, Nitasha turns to cutting. She can’t stop asking herself: Will she ever be enough for her friends or her family? Or even for herself?

This authentic and powerful teen graphic novel shines a light on how harmful the stigma of mental illness is and how lifesaving a community that is honest about mental health can be.

Get Real, Chloe Torres by Crystal Maldonado Holiday House

Chloe Torres’ birthday has always marked the end of summer—but as she turns eighteen and prepares to leave for her freshman year of art school, it feels like the end of more than that. It’s the end of her adolescence, which means it’s time to leave the past behind… but can she really let go of the two estranged best friends she left there?

NOPE. Chloe decides to take one more shot at healing the friend breakup she’s always regretted: planning the bucket-list trip neither girl can say no to. She’s taken care of everything: the car, the hotels, and concert tickets to see their favorite boy band’s reunion show in Las Vegas—stage seats, so close they can fangirl right in front of the boys’ faces. But first, her ex-BFFs have to say yes.

And to say yes, they’d all have to be talking… which they haven’t done since Ramona kissed Chloe, and everything imploded.

But with some clever finagling (and some undignified begging) Chloe gets them all on board. Of course, being in a car together for two weeks brings back old feelings… a lot of old feelings… and soon enough, Chloe wants Sienna, Ramona wants Chloe, and everything is on fireeeee.

This sizzling summer adventure from YA star Crystal Maldonado is a hilarious and heartfelt romcom with a little something for everyone: fat positivity, sapphic romance, a blazing love triangle, ADHD representation, a diversity of Latine identities, a once-in-a-lifetime roadtrip—and the perfect it’s-finally-happening kiss.

Home Has No Borders Edited by Samira Ahmed & Sona Charaipotra HarperTeen

From first crushes to first heartbreaks, complicated family dynamics to community relationships, this powerful collection of stories explores race, class, culture, language, and the very idea of home as both a place and a feeling.

Edited by Samira Ahmed and Sona Charaipotra and featuring some of the most acclaimed, bestselling South Asian authors writing for teens today—this is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it means to be South Asian.

The Legend of Sensei Tsinelas by Jason Tanamor Ooligan Press

Between a tsinelas-wielding superhero, a major social studies project, and take-out boxes of adobo and lumpia, seventeen-year-old Filipino American Victor Dela Cruz isn’t sure how to get through high school without the help of a radioactive spider. Despite his attempts to assimilate into his mostly white Portland high school, Victor has always felt like an outsider. He likes to think high school is his superhero origin story, and all he needs now are some superpowers.

His very own supervillain, Clint Robertson, Cleveland High’s golden boy, and a major project about his ancestry make Victor wish he had the power of invisibility. But when he witnesses his boss at the food truck slinging his trusty tsinelas to stop a thief in his tracks, Victor sees his chance to find the acceptance he’s always craved. He believes he's found a hometown superhero, and he plans to convince his peers that the owner of Filipino Feast is secretly an undercover vigilante.

From the author of Love, Dance & Egg Rolls, Jason Tanamor's poignant narrative is a testament to resilience, reminding us that true strength and pride are found in embracing the rich tapestry of our own identities.

Of Earthly Delights by Goldy Moldavsky Henry Holt & Co.

Aspiring artist Rose Pauly is not happy moving from her home in New York City right before her senior year of high school. But on her first miserable day in Connecticut, she meets Hart Hargrove. The two share an immediate, undeniable connection.

Hart introduces Rose to his slice of paradise–the immense private garden nestled behind the Hargrove family mansion. There, the two spend a fever dream of a summer together. But as their bond blossoms into love, Rose can't shake the feeling that all is not as it seems.

When Rose uncovers the truth about the garden, she's forced to question how genuine her love story truly is. But Hart can't bear to lose Rose, and he will stop at nothing to save their relationship.

Posing haunting questions about beauty and desire, this is an atmospheric and darkly romantic tale that will enthrall readers.

The Romance Rivalry by Susan Lee HarperCollins

She’s read every romance…except her own…

Irene Park loves romance novels—so much so she’s made a career of them as an online book reviewer with a massive following. But Irene’s real life dating story? Non-existent. So when she starts her freshman year of college, she sets her sights on finding true love using the one thing she really understands…romance book tropes.

If only it were that easy.

Enter Aiden Jeon, Irene’s online book review rival and biggest nemesis. When Aiden challenges her to see who can find love-by-trope first, he becomes the one person standing in her way to getting everything she wants both professionally and personally, too. So when the competition takes an unexpected turn, forcing the two of them to have to partner in the ultimate trope, fake dating, Irene is not prepared for everything she believed about romance, and Aiden, to flip on its head.

As Irene tackles the challenges of college life, struggles to figure out what she really wants for herself, all while trying to win the race for love, Irene realizes the answers may not be found in a romance novel. Happily Ever Afters seem so easy on page. But for Irene to find her ultimate HEA, she’ll have to get her nose out of the book and become the main character of her own story.

The Singular Life of Aria Patel by Samira Ahmed Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Aria Patel likes stability, certainty, predictability. It’s why she’s so into science. It's why she dumped her boyfriend before they went to different colleges because the odds were that something would go wrong, eventually. In a life that’s already so chaotic, why obsess over complicated relationships and shadowy unknowns when the scientific method gives you direction and a straight path to avoid all the drama.

But there’s no avoiding anything when Aria finds herself suddenly falling through parallel universes and there’s no formula that can save her. She can’t explain why she’s been waking up in a new reality almost every day, or why Rohan, and a poem from her English class, seem to be following her through every new life.

As Aria desperately attempts to find a way home, she eventually ends up stuck in a parallel world very similar to her own. She cherishes this new version of her family, and she finds herself unable to deny the yearning she has for Rohan…but it’s not her life or her Rohan. It belongs to another Aria, another girl, and unless Aria can get back home, she’ll have taken this happiness away from someone else forever. And she may never find her own.

This whirlwind novel from New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed will whisk you through worlds unknown, all while putting a multiverse spin on one of BookTok’s favorite tropes: second chance romance.

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Celebrate Friendship Day with 8 Queer Romanceless Books We Love

Every year, the first Sunday of August is celebrated in the US as Friendship Day! We’re celebrating by compiling a short list of our favorite queer books that highlight friendships and don’t include romance. The contributors to the list are Linnea Peterson, boneturtle and/or turtle, Nina Waters, May Barros, Shadaras, and Alex.

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Journey Home by May Barros

Amara e Luiza are two witches that live in a queerplatonic relationship. When Luiza decides to embark on a journey throught the galaxy in a quest for the lost fortress of Laura, the Dragon Queen, she ends up finding more than expected, while Amara follows her footsteps, hoping it’s not too late.

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Lucy, Uncensored by Mel Hammond & Teghan Hammond

Lucy imagines college as more than a chance to party with other drama nerds and be roommates with her best friend Callie. College will be her fresh start. For the first time, she’ll be able to introduce herself as Lucy to people she hasn’t gone to school with since kindergarten. Plus, she happens to live an hour away from one of the most prestigious theater programs in the country. She’s always dreamed of going to Central, but when she finally has a chance to visit, it’s not what she imagined. 

While Lucy and Callie are on their campus tour, two kids from their high school make the typical transphobic comments Lucy’s gotten used to in her small town. She starts to worry that her dream school might end up being High School 2.0. What if she belongs somewhere else? Somewhere that she can truly have a fresh start? 

When Lucy finds a beautiful school with a great theater program on a list of the most LGBTQ+ friendly colleges, it seems like fate—except that the school is hundreds of miles away. And there’s something unexpected about it: it’s a women’s college. As far as she can tell, they’ve never admitted a trans woman. Will they let Lucy in? There’s only one way to find out: road trip! 

-

Common Bonds: An Aromantic Speculative Anthology ed. by C.T. Callahan, B.R. Sanders, Claudie Arseneault & RoAnna Sylver

Common Bonds is an anthology of speculative short stories and poetry featuring aromantic characters. At the heart of this collection are the bonds that impact our lives from beginning to end: platonic relationships. Within this anthology, a cursed seamstress finds comfort in the presence of a witch, teams of demon hunters work with their rival to save one of their own, a peculiar scholar gets attached to those he was meant to study, and queerplatonic shopkeepers guide their pupil as they explore their relationship needs and desires. Through nineteen stories and poems, Common Bonds explores the ways platonic relationships enrich our lives.

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Road to Arcadia by Cailin Clothier

Kai Gilling, a transgender wanderer traversing the American West, has to trek hundreds of miles in his beat up Jeep, in order to reach an urban legend rumored to be the only settlement still thriving.

*

It’s a Wasteland, baby. In the uncomfortably not-so-distant future, the world has been ravaged by natural disasters, water shortages, and public apathy. People like Kai Gilling have flocked to the desert (once known as the American West) in hopes of finding a better life. After picking up a pair of siblings, the three come across a strange woman who claims to have a map to Arcadia, an urban legend rumored to be the only city thriving in the wreckage of the old world. Will they keep their hearts set on an oasis in the desert–even if it’s just a mirage? Or will they be tempted by something else

-

Scrap Metal Angel by Nicola Kapron

Reality, tiny and fragile, is cut off from the sea of chaos and nightmares that surrounds it by seven Gates. One of them is open—and has been since the Stone Age. Through that opening, strange creatures and energies slip through. Some are malevolent. None are harmless. And all of them must be kept a secret. 

Every hidden magical world needs a shadowy clean-up crew. Adrian Somer is a Gatekeeper, sworn to protect the cosmic Gates, to defend reality from the unknown entities that exist beyond them, and to help those whose lives are affected by magic. 

When a grieving sorceress starts punching holes in reality to try and resurrect her murdered fiancé, Adrian must turn to a ghost from his past in order to save the city, and perhaps the world—even if that means digging up someone he thought was safely buried: the twin brother he killed eight years ago. 

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Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault

Adèle has only one goal: catch the purple-haired thief who broke into her home and stole her exocore, thus proving herself to her new police team. Little does she know, her thief is also the local baker. 

Claire owns the Croissant-toi, but while her days are filled with pastries and customers, her nights are dedicated to stealing exocores. These new red gems are heralded as the energy of the future, but she knows the truth: they are made of witches’ souls. 

When her twin—a powerful witch and prime exocore material—disappears, Claire redoubles in her efforts to investigate. She keeps running into Adèle, however, and whether or not she can save her sister might depend on their conflicted, unstable, but deepening relationship. 

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Flight & Anchor by Nicole Kornher-Stace

Young SecOps operatives 06 and 22 were about to be sent out for their first military engagement. Just a few years earlier, they were child refugees of a corporate civil war; Stellaxis modified them into supersoldiers.

But 06 and 22 have escaped their prison barracks and entered a city they can barely remember. In the dead of winter, they sleep in an abandoned shipping container and scavenge for resources.

The Director of the Stellaxis supersoldier program knows that 06 and 22 are gone, where they are, and that she has no easy way of retrieving them. The Director also knows that if she sends anyone after them, there will be a bloodbath–or at least a great deal of bad press.

But all operatives’ days are numbered. 06 and 22 must make a terrible choice: their freedom or each other.

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The Murderbot Diaries Series by Martha Wells

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety. 

But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern. 

On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid—a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is. 

But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth. 

Find these books on our Goodreads book shelf or buy them through the Duck Prints Press Bookshop.org affiliate page.

Come join our Book Lover’s Discord server to chat books, fandom, and more!

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Here's a remade masterpost of free and full shakespeare adaptations! Thanks @william-shakespeare-official for this excellent post. Unfortunately, a lot of the links in it are broken, so I thought I'd make an updated version (also I just wanted to organize things a bit more)

Antony and Cleopatra: ~ Josette Simon, Antony Byrne & Ben Allen - 2017

As You Like It: ~ At Wolfe Park - 2013 ~ Kenneth Brannagh's - 2006

Coriolanus: ~ NYET Alumni - 2016 ~ Tom Hiddleston - 2014 ~ Ralph Fiennes - 2011

Cymbelline: ~ Michael Almereyda's - 2014

Hamlet: ~ David Tennant - 2009 ~ Ethan Hawke & Diane Venora - 2000 ~ Kenneth Branagh's - 1989 ~ BCC's Part One & Two - 1990 ~ Broadway - 1964 ~ Christopher Plummer - 1964 ~ Laurence Olivier's - 1948

Henry IV: ~ BBC's Part One & Two - 1989 ~ The Brussel's Shakespeare Society's - 2017

Henry V: ~ The BBC's - 1990 ~ Laurence Olivier's - 1944

Julius Caesar: ~ Phyllida Lloyd's - 2019 ~ The BBC's - 1979 ~ John Gielgud - 1970

King Lear: ~ The RSC's - 2008 ~ Laurence Olivier - 1983 ~ The BBC's - 1975 ~ James Earl Jones - 1974 ~ Orson Wells - 1953

Love's Labour's Lost: ~ Calvin University - 2016

Macbeth: ~ Stockbridge Drama Society's - 2019 ~ The RSC's - 2019 ~ Antoni Cimolino & Shelagh O'Brien's - 2017 ~ Ian McKellen & Judi Dench - 1969 ~ Sean Connery - 1961

Measure for Measure: ~ Hugo Weaving - 2019 ~ The BBC's - 1990

The Merchant of Venice: ~ Al Pacino - 2004 ~ Trevor Nunn & Chris Hunt - 2001 ~ The BBC's - 1980 ~ Lawrence Olivier - 1973

The Merry Wives of Windsor: ~ The Royal Shakespeare Company's - 1982

A Midsummer Night's Dream: ~ Oliver Chris & Gwendoline Christie - 2019 ~ City of Columbus's - 2018 ~ Julie Taymor's - 2014 ~ The Globe's - 2013 ~ The BBC's - 1988 ~ Lindsay Duncan & Alex Jennings - 1986

Much Ado About Nothing: ~ Shakespeare in the Park - 2019 ~ Kenneth Branagh - 1993 ~ The BBC's - 1984

Othello: ~ The BBC's Part One & Two - 1990

Richard II: ~ David Tennant - 2013 ~ Deborah Warner's - 1997 ~ The BBC's - 1978

Richard III: ~ Ian McKellen - 1995 ~ Laurence Olivier - 1955

Romeo and Juliet: ~ Simon Godwin's - 2021 ~ The BBC's - 1988 ~ Laurence Harvey & Susan Shentall - 1954

The Taming of the Shrew: ~ Ontario production? ~ American Conservatory Theater - 1976 ~ Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor - 1967 ~ Mary Pickford & Samuel Taylor - 1929

The Tempest: ~ Gregory Doran's - 2017 ~ The BBC's - 1988

Timon of Athens: ~ Barry Avrich's - 2024

Troilus and Cressida: ~ Audio Production ~ This one I found on youtube? - 2016

Titus Andronicus: ~ Anthony Hopkins - 1999

Twelfth night: ~ Texas Shakespeare Festival's - 2015 ~ Alec Guinness, Joan Plowright & Ralph Richardson - 1970

Two Gentlemen of Verona: ~ Katherine Steweart's - 2018 ~ The BBC's

The Winter's Tale: ~ Antony Sher - 1999 (Warning: they don't have a bear...)

Bonuses:

Time Loop Hamlet! (A personal fav of mine)

Rock Opera Hamlet???

Shakespeare animated tales

The Complete Works Of Shakespeare Abridged comedy

Romeo and Julieta: A Día de los Muertos Love Story

There’s also many other Latine Shakespeare adaptations listed in this archive

MacChef, a retelling but well... in a kitchen!

Overly Sarcastic Productions' zoom performances of Julius Caesar and Macbeth

From the original post:

A Midwinter's Tale, about a man trying to make Hamlet.

Russian Hamlet here

Here's Scotland, PA, the 2001 modern Macbeth retelling.

Rave Macbeth for anyone interested is here.

This one is the Taming of the Shrew modern retelling.

The french Romeo & Juliet musical with English subtitles is here!

Here's the 1948 one,

the Orson Wells Othello movie with Portuguese subtitles there

A Lego adaptation of Othello here.

Here's commentary on David Tennant's Richard II

[duckprintspress]

epic lesbians 🐺🩷🦊🏳️‍⚧️🌈

(SHE/HER for both characters)