#Themed Book Recommendations

[marsadler]

Hello! I wrote a book and I think y'all will like it. It's for fans of Good Omens, Hannibal, Angels Before Man, and all the queer people who deserve financial compensation from the catholic church.

I present to you:

FIRST CREATION, a high heat queer horror novella with a trans angel MC and a queer demon LI!

FIRST CREATION is a love letter to fallen angels, to finding your place in the world, to connecting to religion in a way that works for you. To touch and peaches, and surviving horrible things, to finding a place to be holy if God won't give it to you. (it's also nasty, and about cannibalism and shame and guilt, too)

It's a 22k word (98 page) novella that you can read in one (or two, or three) sittings.

You can find it on Amazon and itch.io here to read an actual synopsis and look at reviews. You can also find content warnings at the bottom of my website: (I definitely encourage you to read them before you buy!)

Here's also some unhinged ao3 tags for fun

[nyvane]

the thing that hits me with both the poppy war trilogy and babel is that at certain point of those books, sometime before finale you KNOW what must happen in the end. you might not like it. but doesn't change the fact that it is pretty clear where those stories are going. i am not the smartest cookie about plot twists, i usually don't see them coming. but here... there was such an suffocating inevitability to what was to come and it was perfect.

[liesmyth]

All your TLT posting is making me questioning if I should try it.. The only thing i'm worried is that I don't want to start a series and then finding out in the third bookthat the author made the antiheroic genderbent mao protagonist throw the metaphorical atomic bomb on the japanese because the author is an american descendent of a Chang Kai Shek general and wanted to absolve the yankees to grant herself a career (it worked greatly). So should i still try TLT as an olde commie? Love your blog btw, please continue reblog all those TLT fan art they look great! Thanks!

whew lowkey glad I couldn't get past the first book in that other series. anyway *clears throat*

If you like LESBIANS, Locked Tomb is the fandom for you. If you like BONES and FAILWOMEN and ARE ANGRY AT GOD, Locked Tomb is the fandom for you. If you like BAD JOKES and SHITTY MEMES, we have those in spades. If you love EXCELLENT FANART and DIVORCES that last TEN THOUSAND YEARS and LOCKED ROOM MURDER MYSTERIES, if you think EVIL COUGARS are SEXY, if you think PLUTO totally COUNTS as a PLANET, Locked Tomb is the fandom for you!!!!

[here's the rest of the tlt manifesto on ao3, podficced by @/wilfriede ]

On a serious note! I think TLT is definitely informed by leftist politics, and it has many themes that lend themselves to juicy interpretations on top of a really meaty worldbuilding and characterisation. Also the fanart SLAPS. And if you read the books you can check out my fics which, not to brag, are some of the weirdest I've ever written! featuring such tropes as: "bodyswapped man sucks his own dick" "vagina dentata" "ritual sex to have a baby during a mass death event" "in-universe academia" and "orphan girl meets her parents for the first time and they suck"

tldr please read the locked tomb <3

[lilareviewsbooks]

4 SFF Books For (Humanities) Nerds

Hey guys! I know I promised this like, last year, but life got in the way :( But now I can finally present to you - my list of books for humanities nerds!

To put it simply, these are books I think broach topics that are close to the humanities nerds' interests - sociology, history, art, anthropology, political sciences... And sure, they could be considered "boring", but if you're into the humanities - you'll have a ball with them! (and, of course, anyone can enjoy these!)

The Goblin Emperor, by Katherine Addison

5 stars | 446 pages | standalone, but there are spin-offs | queer side character

This is the book that spurred this list, so, if you want a longer review, I have it on my blog. But suffice it to say that The Goblin Emperor is a fairly long and detailed account of what happens in the court of a country of elves when the youngest, unfavoured and half-goblin son of the king ascends the throne. This book is masterful. It seemlessly weaves in personal and political concerns as we follow Maia, the newly crowned emperor. The writing style is slow - we follow the emperor's every day life. We are with him when he rises in the morning until when he wakes up. It waits for something to happen, and is quiet and slow. It's absolutely delightful: despite his politicking, Maia is mostly and more ardently concerned with kindness. He wants to treat people fairly. This not only makes for a sweet main character, it also means the book is a fascinating character study, as well as an incredible feat of world-building. I think nerds will enjoy its slow and traquil pace, its dedication to politics, language and customs of this world and its charming main character.

A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine

5 stars | 462 pages | completed duology | queer main characters

For a sci-fi twist, I think A Memory Called Empire is the way to go. The duology follows Mahit, a citizen of a small satellite of the Teixcalaan Empire, who is chosen as the next ambassador for her home. She must journey to the capital with a very important mission - find out why her predecessor mysteriously disappeared. Again, what there is to enjoy here is lush, expansive world-building. The Teixcalaani feel so, so real. Every little detail was thought of, from their language to their smiles. It's truly impressive, and the prose, I remember, is also beautiful, making these details pop out even more. This is also incredibly political, as Mahit descends into the belly of the beast, so to speak, in search of answers. But it is framed by a pretty straight-foward murder mystery, which might be fun for people used to mystery stories. And the second book broaches first contact! - it's just so much fun! I also have a longer review for this series, if you would like more details! Nerds will be drawn to the expansive world-building, attention to detail, and reflections on empire, memory and legacy.

Elder Race, by Adrian Tchaikovsky

4 stars | 201 pages | standalone | no one's queer, I don't think :(

This one might be a good pick for veterans of SFF - it has a fun gimmick! You must've heard the phrase "any science advanced enough in undistinguishable from magic", attributed to Arthur C. Clarke. This book takes that concept and runs with it. For Lynesse, a princess in a medieval society, Elder Nyr's "giant tower" is magical, and he, a magician. For Elder Nyr, an anthropologist come from a different planet, his interests are scientific, and his "tower", a spaceship. The fun of the novella is that we flip-flop between these two people's perspectives, so that half the story is a sci-fi, and the other half, a fantasy. I found this story to be unique, and to understand its place in the speculative genre quite well. It defies expectations and conventions in a creative way that I think nerds familiar with them will enjoy!

The Traitor Baru Cormorant, by Seth Dickinson

5 stars | 399 pages | uncompleted series | queer main characteres

Another good bet is The Traitor Baru Cormorant, the first installment in the Masquerade Series, which is not finished yet. It follows Baru, who, as a child, watches her country be colonized by the Masquerade Empire. She vows revenge, and to destroy the empire from the inside out. In this installment, she is finally trusted to be sent as an Imperial Accountant to Aurdwynn, a famously ungovernable territory... This one is very, very brain-y. It's dense political fantasy, and I admit I had some trouble following the economics, sometimes - that was never my strong suit!! The tapestry of betrayals, alliances and twists is rich, intricate and realistic. People have diverse interests, are multi-faceted individuals, and yet have a reason to be acting they way they are acting. This makes for satisfying plot lines, and incredible twists. I still haven't recovered from what the first book did to me, to be honest. Nerds, if you want to be dazzled and made to work for it, pick this one up. The Traitor Baru Corumorant will have you scratching your chin, thinking hard and having a lot of fun with (yay!) economics and accounting!

I have a couple more of these if anyone is interested :) And as always, if you need a book rec, feel free to send me an ask!

[a-study-in-dante]

Halfway through A Hundred Years of Solitude and still not sure what the hype is about. Hoping for a grand epiphany during the remaining pages because e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e. I know who's read it absolutely loved it and can't recommend it enough. I'm really trying to find something mind-blowing about it but reading it feels more like a chore than anything else and I'm so sad about it

Would love anyone's input (spoiler-free for now) on why it's a defining book though I'll try to come up with an answer myself

[pied-piper-pluto]

as much as i love themes and symbolism something was bugging me about the way they are talked about on here sometimes and i just made a connection between that and how in the moe database book the author talks about the use of deep and emotional storylines being a moe element... theres something to that i think

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

Lord of the Empty Isles

sci-fi/fantasy

set on a supposedly utopian planet recovering from a climate crisis, where bonds between people are able to be seen and manipulated (by some people)

follows a young man whose brother was cursed and killed by an infamous outlaw 5 years ago, and he’s finally able to curse him back - but it rebounds, as he’s somehow fatebound to the outlaw

to find a cure and save them both they have to team up, and he quickly finds out that the resources the outlaw is stealing go to the thousands of people neglected on prison planets, and he has to go against what he thought was right to help them

no romance, aroace MC, focus on platonic relationships

arc from netgalley, out june 6

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

booklr, arise!! the porch light is lit, a writer calls for aid!!

i need your best ~haunted house~ book recs, please! adult books only (no YA or middle grade), the weirder and more fucked up the better, bonus points for funny, more bonus points for queer. super niche bonus points if haunted house in space or with weird aliens and/or fungus involved somehow (haunted spaceships/stations probably count).

i've already got THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and JUST LIKE HOME on my list, and i'm throwing LEECH on there for good measure! i've read MEXICAN GOTHIC, too.

thanks for playing!! looking forward to your recs!!

[sluttypatrickstar]

i have seen a lot of people on the post about not reading exclusively children’s books express that they don’t know where to start with adult fiction and/or are worried about it containing dark and graphic content. i was exactly the same as a teenager and i would like to list some beginner Grown Up book recommendations!

first, though, to help you look for yourself – what do you like and want in books? if you like fantasy and dragons in children’s lit, there’s more of that in adult fantasy! if you like mythology stuff, there’s more of that in adult fantasy as well as mythology retellings! if you know what you like, just keep looking for it, and if you’re worried about the content, storygraph has user-added content warnings for books. 👍

now for some specific recs:

sarah gailey (though check the TWs). i really enjoyed american hippo + magic for liars was super readable!

starter villain by john scalzi. read this last month, super easy read, very fun and silly

black water sister or spirits abroad by zen cho. i always feel transported to another world by these two books

discworld by terry pratchett. i fucking love discworld. so easy to read. if you don’t know where to start there are whole guides to help you! i personally started with going postal. it’s getting close to december which is also the perfect time for hogfather

dial a for aunties and/or vera wong’s unsolicited advice for murderers by jesse sutanto. absolutely breezed through these, funny and silly crime capers

anything by becky chambers. cozy and thoughtful sci-fi, very character-driven. if you like found family go here

the murderbot diaries by martha wells. action romps about a robot bodyguard. very relatable if you are socially awkward

legends and lattes by travis baldree. if you want cozy fantasy this is what you want

there’s so much more than this but i tried to keep it to lighter stuff that i think is easy to read and would be a good starting place. it can be kinda scary to go from one corner of the bookstore (children’s lit) to The Whole Place, but there is genuinely so much waiting for you and it does not have to be dark or scary

[desdasiwrites]

"You! You can’t just walk in here! This is a crime scene!”

“That would explain the dead bodies, then,” she replied. He blinked dumbly, and she sighed. Wasting good sarcasm was annoying.

– P. Djèlí Clark, A Master of Djinn

[cirrus-grey]

I know it's kind of the point, the passions of man versus the indifferent cruelty of nature, but it is amazing to me how much the Whale in Moby Dick just does not give a fuck.

The whole book sets it up as this malicious, intelligent demon that has it out for humans and wants to kill them all, and then when the Pequod finally catches up to it it's just... puttering along, enjoying the weather, having a grand old time. Even after they attack it and it destroys one of the boats it just kind of sits in the water nearby swatting at debris with its tail and ignoring them. Even at the end, the final destruction of the ship and deaths of all the crew, it kind of just has this attitude of like. Hey. You. I thought I told you to fuck off. Like -

Ahab: From Hell's heart I stab at thee!

The Whale: Oh, not you again. 🙄

[starrynightsxo]

THE SILENT PATIENT BOOK REVIEW

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Very perceptive book, I felt that the author really captured the feelings and emotions of the characters in a collected and almost mysterious way. Didn't see the plot twist coming but when I think about it, it's not that far fetched. The writing was really good and had me engaged mostly as well. Definitely recommend to all as even though I'm not a thriller girl, it appealed very much so!

SPOILERS AHEAD

The flashbacks were so unexpected I have to say that's for sure. I liked how it's done as Alicia's diary and his thoughts too. It's crazy how he brings the Kathy and Gabriel stuff together.

Overall, I enjoyed.

[adriles]

"your violence is unspeakable now " ive always committed grievous acts of violence and war crimes . You are just mad at me for killing someone who matters

[meat-loving-meat]

Songmaster is so interesting to me because it’s absolutely DRIPPING with queer desire despite being written by notorious homophobe Orson Scott Card. It was one of those novels I read as a confused tween who was extremely interested in anything queer (but who couldn’t yet understand the source of that fascination), and it truly left twelve-year-old me completely baffled.

I had no idea what to make of it—it was the first novel I read that devoted more than a sentence to the actual act of gay sex, yet at the same time the narrative seemed morally opposed to any kind of sexual desire? Characters who expressed any sexuality at all were often executed, tortured, castrated, and even pushed to suicide. It was violent, it was bleak, and it seemed to revel in exploring the ways that imbalances of power manifest sexually (everything is about sex etc. etc.). At age twelve I kind of just shrugged and moved on with life—some books were just weird—but now I’m really tempted to give it a reread because what the actual fuck was going on in that novel

[deathlonging]

the urge to read lone women vs the repulsion of usamerican literature abt white people brought on by its ubiquity. time to reread our share of night