#author: roanna sylver

[duckprintspress]

Celebrate International Non-Binary People’s Day with Books by Non-Binary Authors!

Today, July 14th, is International Non-Binary People’s Day. Last year, we put together a post featuring our favorite books with non-binary characters. This year, we changed it up by highlighting books we loved written by out non-binary authors! We hope you’ll take a peek at the works we’ve listed here and other stories created by these awesome folks! The contributors to this list are: Shea Sullivan, Nina Waters, Sanne, May Barros, Shadaras, Tris Lawrence, Meera S. and two anonymous contributors.

Iron Widow (Iron Widow series) by Xiran Jay Zhao

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine

Nimona by N.D. Stevenson

How to Love: A Guide to Feelings and Relationships for Everyone: A Graphic Novel by Alex Norris

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

Chameleon Moon (Chameleon Moon series) by RoAnna Sylver

Gamechanger (The Bounceback series) by L.X. Beckett

The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg

Foxhunt (Foxhunt series) by Rem Wigmore

An Accident of Stars (Manifold Worlds series) by Foz Meadows

A Taste of Gold and Iron (Mahisti Dynasty series) by Alexandra Rowland

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Melissa by Alex Gino

Once & Future (Once & Future series) by A.R. Capetta

When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey

Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare by Yuhki Kamatani

Providence Girls by Morgan Dante

Soulstar (The Kingston Cycle series) by C.L. Polk

Who are YOUR favorite non-binary authors?

[queer-book-character-tournament]

Characters, book, and author names under the cut

August Landry/Jane Su - One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Susan Arkshaw/Merlin St. Jacques - The Left Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

Jude/Pixie - Stake Sauce Arc 1: The Secret Ingredient is Love (No, Really) by RoAnna Sylver 

Paul Fleischer/Julian Fromme - These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

[ben-learns-smth]

international day against queer hostility reading list recs

based on books I've read and books that are on my (physical) tbr. focused on nonfiction bc there were only like 6 non-queer fiction reads in the past 4 years and that's too long for a post. please add more, if you have more recs!

ENGLISH (different translations available for some)

None of the Above by Travis Alabanza

essays on being nonbinary. somewhat literary yet often down to earth writing style.

genderqueer by maia kobabe

graphic novel tracing the author's journey of self discovery regarding their genderqueer identity

ACE: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen

well researched essays based on interviews with and extensive research of different experiences of people on the asexual spectrum. it also includes a chapter on aromantic experiences

Rethinking Gender by Louie Läuger

if you're new to the idea of gender as a social construct/issues the trans and genderqueer community faces this is where to start! an introduction and guide to gender as a social construct, making space for different genderqueer identities and all of it with lovely illustrations that help guide understanding. offers prompts to question your own relation to gender (as in a social concept & as in your own gender identity)

To Be Seen. Queer Lives 1900-1950 by Karolina Kühn & Mirjam Zadoff

Before We Were Trans: A new History of Gender by Kit Heyam

Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding by Maia Kobabe

fiction recs based on my more recent reads & (physical) tbr

elatsoe by darcie little badger (aroace mc but it's not about elatsoe being aroace; 10/10 friendship rep)

breakaway series by e.l. massey (lots of deconstructing internalised queer hostility)

common bonds by roanna sylver, c.t. callahan, b.r. sanders & claudie aresneault (short stories about experiences of aromantic ppl)

all the things they said we couldn't have by t.c. oakes-monger (trans joy stories)

on a sunbeam by tillie walden (queers in space, cute lesbians & nonbinary people)

GERMAN (translations possibly available)

[un]sichtbar gemacht by katharina kroschel & annika baumgart

well researched essays on aromantic and asexual expieriences, history and facts. great place to start when new to the topic!

all die brennenden fragen by henri maximilian jakobs

all the (inappropriate) questions cisgender people tend to ask genderqueer and trans people answered from the perspective of a sarcastic trans man

gender-kram by louie läuger

german (and original) version of "rethinking gender", see above for a description. very helpful introduction, but also good for those who think they know everything (or themselves)

eine frau ist eine frau ist eine frau by phoenix kühnert

autobiographical essays on being a trans woman. sometimes emotional, sometimes snarky or sarcastic

ich bin linus: wie ich der mann wurde der ich immer schon war by linus giese

autobiographical essays on being a trans man. vulnerable, emotional and informative writing

freunde lieben by ole liebl

To Be Seen. Queer Lives 1900-1950 by Karolina Kühn & Mirjam Zadoff

fiction recs based on my more recent reads & (physical) tbr

wasteland by christian vogt & judith c. vogt (first german novel to use multiple sets of neutral pronouns and using a gender neutral/inclusive language, batshit ya/na dystopian sci fi fantasy but FUN)

paradiesische zustände by henri maximilian jakobs (a trans man reflects on his journey of self discovery. there's a lot of fries mentioned)

blutbuch by kim de l'horizon (literary work about a genderqueer persons reflection on their identity and family history)

[namedafterflowerstournament]

Botanic Tournament : Roses Bracket !

Green Group

Round 1 Part 1 Poll 1

Rosie's drawing in an Art Nouveau style was made by RoAnna Sylver, Chameleon Moon's author, digital artist and colorist.

Submissions still open here

[wordwings]

9 People You Want to Know Better

Thank you for the tag @olive-riggzey! You can find her post here.

Current Book I'm Reading: Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver (audiobook), The Seep by Chana Porter (e-book) and Activestills: Photography as Protest in Palestine/Israel by multiple authors (physical book).

Last Song I Listened To: The Grand Finale by FIZZ, the final song of their amazing debut album The Secret to Life.

Currently Watching: Re-watching Elementary with my partner (we've watched everything except the final season before so now we're finally watching it all). A real comfort show!

Currently Playing: I've been playing Wargroove while listening to my audiobook, and I started another playthrough of Disco Elysium together with my partner (I need to bring him into my obsession).

Current Fic I'm Reading: I've been making my way through @bluecatwriter's Dracula fics and just caught up on everything in @astrangergivingthestrangewelcome's Strange Wonders series (also Dracula).

Next On My Watch List: My partner and I really need to get back to watching For All Mankind because I cancelled our Apple TV subscription for next month (we have till the 12th). Sometimes the brain just needs a simple detective show though, you know!

Current Obsession: Dracula... the hyperfixation is enduring. I just love each of the protagonists so much!! Literally feel like I'm gonna explode just thinking about it. Time to read more fanfic...

Tagging: @pandoricprinxe, @scifimagpie, @mjparkerwriting, @surroundedbypearls, @amarajlynn, @reeseweston, @andromeda-grace, @dear-mortality and @caxycreations.

[lyssachiavari]

One month from today, One World, the last book in my debut series, The Iamos Trilogy, will be published by Snowy Wings Publishing.

This has been a series that's meant a lot to me emotionally. It's also the first YA series that was ever published to feature a canon, on-page demisexual protagonist (Isaak), and it was one of the first to feature an asexual protagonist (Nadin). Bringing their story full circle has been an incredible experience and I can't wait for everyone to read it!

(And I'm so excited that my publisher managed to schedule the release of the last book to take place during Ace Week!)

Here's what one of the first early readers, RoAnna Sylver, author of Chameleon Moon, had to say about it.

[booksandtea]

Hey I’m back at it again to do a cover reveal of RoAnna‘s work because I adored reading Stake Sauce and her work is super inclusive. This is a short story collection which you can pre-order now for a special early price, links can be found further in this post.

Life Within Parole, Volume 2 is best read after Chameleon Moon and Life Within Parole, Volume 1. You’ll have also met the characters in The Lifeline Signal too. But theres no harm in you keep reading to see the cover for it, is there?

I love the composition for this cover and the colours used!

Another fabulous thing about this cover is that its designed and drawn by RoAnna too!

Synopsis:

Parole is full of danger—and secrets.

The deepest of them make up intricately interconnected stories. Damaged survivors finding each other, stitching their lives together in the harshest of places, forging precious bonds amidst the flames. Gradually growing trust, love, and understanding between found families. But there’s no escaping this place, its deadly realities, or its predators. A brutal capture. A hellish withdrawal and fragile recovery. A harrowing escape. A breakneck sprint across a haunted, poisoned wasteland.

Life and death, trust and betrayal, choking smoke and breaths of fresh air—all of these are just part of life within Parole.

If nothing else, add it to your Goodreads shelf now.

As mentioned earlier in the post if you pre-order you get it for a cheaper price of £2.29 ($2.99). It can be pre-ordered from Amazon, Books2Read, and Gumroad. I would recommend picking it up from Gumroad as you can also get high quality version of the art for an extra dollar.

Where to find RoAnna Sylver:

Kraken Collective Books | Twitter | Goodreads | Website/blog | Amazon | Gumroad

Cover Reveal: Life Within Parole, Volume 2 by RoAnna Sylver Hey I'm back at it again to do a cover reveal of RoAnna's work because I adored reading Stake Sauce and her work is super inclusive.

[justloveromance]

Women in Queer SFF: RoAnna Sylver on a treasured favorite character

Women in Queer SFF: RoAnna Sylver on a treasured favorite character

Throughout September, we’re celebrating Women in Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy here on Just Love, including interviews and guest posts from some amazing authors! Today we’re joined by RoAnna Sylver, author of the fantasy novel Chameleon Moon and more, as she talks about one of her favorite queer female characters, and healing with the power of story. She’s also written a gorgeous poem to accompany her…

[kyokosasagawa]

trans-friendly authors for all your trans-friendly needs, for those who like fantasy and need a reprieve from JKR’s bs

well that tweet was fun, huh! of course, that means a return of the jkr alternative posts. please read something other than harry potter, i beg of you

childrens lit

rick riordan - inevitable recommendation for a harry potter fan. canonical genderfluid character over in Magnus Chase. strong supporter of diversity in childrens literature. neurodivergent, lgbt characters, racial diversity, religious diversity, etc.

YA-to-Adult

neon yang - queer and nonbinary author who usually write short stories  but recently debuted with a novella series called the “ Tensorate ” which is an epic fantasy

kamatani yuhki  - manga author who is X-gender. they’ve created a few LGBT works, including Nabari no Ou which is a ninja fantasy where an intersex character is one of the main characters.

shira glassman -  bisexual jewish author of the “mangoverse” which is an LGBT fantasy series involving magic

roanna sylver - author of the chameleon moon series which is a dystopian fantasy world where hope is the main focus

Short story anthology recommendations (where you can find EVEN MORE authors to read by reading their short stories!)

maiden, mother, crone: fantastical trans femmes - fantasy anthology about, well, trans femmes

glittership -  podcast turned ebooks of lgbtq sci fi/fantasy. something for everybody

vitality magazine - queer magazine with different genres

[cobra-creampuff]

Happy STS! What books or other media have shaped the way you think about writing the most? What did they teach you?

Okay, not gonna list books/media, but authors/directors instead. Louis Sachar, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, David Fincher, Guillermo del Toro, Jordan Peele.

Sachar in particular is absolutely the pinnacle, in my opinion, of weaving together an intricate and unweavable narrative. Every time I read or watch HOLES it sends me into fits of divine inspiration NOT joking. It also is like- You know when you see a work of art that is So Good in a very particular type of way that feels unreachable? Sachar's work is the opposite of that. It's the GOAT, but in a way that makes it clear that mastery like this can be achieved with practice and diligence to the work.

Fincher I also like for intricate storytelling, as well as his skill with building suspense (something I am currently struggling with in Curse The Messenger).

I love and aspire to Gaiman's mastery of build-up pay-off, especially how he can build an entire book (or 30 minute cold open) into a single, succinct line that simultaneously means half a dozen things and also one precise thing, all shining a spotlight on the themes of the piece and also sometimes being a pun. I 100% do this, I go into every work looking to do it, and I do it because of him. Entirely.

Pratchett and Adams I admire and try to emulate for their particular flavor of satire, as well as their zany metaphors. I don't really write comedy - I don't think I'm built for it - but I think sardonics and absurdism can both have an effective place in any genre. I really like to utilize comedic tools in tragedy, I think it's incredibly effective and also makes the material more readable, and those in particular happen to be my favorite and in my opinion are the most versatile without being trite or quickly dated.

I love the way del Toro's genre fiction is also - kind of inescapably - High Art TM. He takes the campiest and/or grittiest possible concepts or subjects and depicts them with Elegance. I'm also always a slut for a story that is dark not from the absence of light, but from the smallness of it. Metaphorically speaking. He's just really great at tragedy that isn't a bummer. Peak.

Peele. How does he do it. Everything he makes is at once impeccably subtle and completely blatant. Everything he makes is at once terrifying and hilarious. (I think much horror-comedy either swings wildly back and forth between the two, or else is not actually scary at all.) His storytelling is also really tight like Sachar and Fincher, but imo has a more natural and realistic feeling to it. I also just really vibe with his concepts. I didn't really get Us (judging from its reception, that's absolutely a me problem), but Get Out and NOPE both have a message/allegory that I really believe in or identify with or however you'd describe that kaskfls. I hope one day my work will communicate its ideas just as well.

Honorable mentions to AJ White, Chuck Tingle, Joy Demorra, RoAnna Sylver, Harley LaRoux, Alice Scott, Magen Cubed, Rebecca Sugar, Joseph Fink, and the McElroy brothers for showing me I really can make whatever the hell I fucking want to and no matter what it is it can still be Good TM and I can still Make It TM - as well as that Making It TM can mean whatever kind/level of success is right for me.

Wonderful question, Marigold! Thank you!

[rainwindandstars]

Queer Book Recommendations part 2!

Here’s the promised second part of my book recommendations! This time we have mostly fantasy books! I’ve included a short summary for each book, along with what I liked most and who I think would enjoy a book the most, and of course which kind of representation there is, though I’ve probably forgotten some. And this time there are even covers, because they are gorgeous :) The books are in no particular order. Some of the authors have tumblrs, I’ve added those I know of as well in case you want to follow them. That said, have fun reading!

(Link to part 1)

Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault (Fantasy)

This is a cute fantasy heist/detective book about a thief, Claire, (who is also the baker Claude by day) and a detective, Adèle having to work together to find and save the city’s magical people who are used as a power source by a scrupulous company. Friendship and found family are important themes in this book, and it has a French-inspired setting which I found refreshing! Read this if you like baking puns and want to read a queerplatonic spin on the enemies-to-lovers trope!

Rep:  Claire is allo aro and genderfluid, Adèle biromantic demisexual. Claire is also fat, and it’s treated respectfully and positively. Other rep includes non-English neopronouns, disabled characters and a queerplatonic relationship!

Not Your Sidekick (Sidekick Squad) by C.B. Lee ( @authorcblee) (YA fantasy)

This is the first book in a YA series about a group of teens living in a (somewhat dystopian) town where superheroes are a part of daily life. This one is mainly about Jess, the daughter of two superheroes, who accidentally starts an internship at her parents’ nemesis company- though she also gets to work with her crush, Abby, there. And she soon discovers that there is more to the superhero and supervillain system than she thought. The following books are also really good! Read this if you like teenage superheros having adventures! 

Rep: Jess is bi, Vietnamese and Chinese, and her friends include a Black trans boy and a latina a-spec girl. They are the main characters of the following books. 

Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver ( @thesylverlining) (Fantasy)

This book takes place in the city of Parole, whose inhabitants have a wide variety of superpowers. It is cut off from the outside world, burning and falling apart, and also under constant surveillance. I don’t usually like books with dystopian/grim settings, so I put off reading this for a long time, even though I heard a lot of praise for it. But despite the setting it’s actually really hopeful and uplifting. The plot centers around how the characters are resisting, not giving up and most importantly sticking together. They are all super interesting, diverse and often very relatable. Read this if you want to read a really well written, character focused book! 

There’s a second book set around a group of characters outside Parole (but with connections to the characters in book one) where we learn more about what’s going on in the rest of the world. There’s also a bunch of short stories!

Also: All books by RoAnna Sylver are currently (June 2021) free on their itch.io! 

Rep: Lots! Polyamory and QPRs, ace, aro, sapphic, gay, bi, transfem, transmasc and nonbinary characters, and also several disabled characters. Notably, one of the MCs has anxiety and panic attacks and it’s incredibly realistically written. 

Stake Sauce  Arc 1: The Secret Ingredient Is Love. No, Really by RoAnna Sylver (Urban fantasy)

This is a paranormal fantasy- we follow a group of former firefighters who try to live their life five years after a traumatic  work accident killed one of their friends/one character’s fiancé and nearly killed and left one of them, Jude, disabled. But Jude is convinced that it wasn’t just an unlucky accident, he knows he saw a vampire attack and kill their friend. And he is determined to never let anything like that happen again, and tries to be a vampire hunter. Tries, because he still hasn’t found any vampires. But things get complicated when he meets Pixie- a young, cute vampire who doesn’t want to bite anyone and is nothing like the monsters Jude is hunting. I love this book, and the second one a lot! The way the characters deal with grief and trauma, how they can strain relationships even with people who are very close is written very sensitive and realistic while still being optimistically written. Read this if you want friendship and found family as major themes!

There’s also a second book and a short story collection which is usually patreon-exclusive but is currently free on itch.io!

Rep: Jude is an autistic, grey aroace trans man, has PTSD and is an amputee. various flavours of queer (nonbinary, wlw, mlm, some polyamory, a-spec) and neurodivergent.

The Black Tides of Heaven (Tensorate) by J.Y. Yang (Fantasy)

This is a Asian-inspired Fantasy revolving around Akeha and Mokoya, the twin children of the Protector, the ruler of their country and their struggle to find and keep their agency while their mother wants to use them in her political schemes- especially Mokoya, who has prophetic powers. The worldbuilding here is fantastic, though most things are only hinted at and not described extensively (it’s a fairly short book). Gender identity is one important topic- children in this world don’t have a gender assigned at birth but get to choose their gender when they grow up, something Akeha struggles with a lot. Other important themes are familial relationships, especially between siblings and different ways of rebellion against an absolutist ruler. Read this if you like magical siblings!

Book one of the Tensorate series follows mostly Akeha, while book two follows Mokoya. Books three and four follow other characters and have an unusual writing style, being written as a journal and an extended monologue respectively.  

Rep: All children are presumed nonbinary, and choosing a gender that doesn’t fit your birth sex and transitioning are treated as completely normal, so while there are characters that would be trans in our world, it’s qiite different in this world. There are all kinds of queer relationships, including some polyamory!

The Queen of Cups by Ren Basel ( @renniequeer) (Fantasy)

This is a short fantasy novellette about Theo, a young captain who goes to the mysterious Oracle, an ageless woman living on the beach, to have their fortune told and to get a blessing for their ship before their first voyage and the adventure of this first voyage. The story is short enough that writing more about the plot would spoil too much, so I’ll leave it at that. Even though it’s really short, this story has interesting worldbuilding and is beautifully written. Read this if you want a heartwarming and exciting little story!

Rep: Theo is nonbinary and autistic (with synesthesia!) and is in a QPR with a trans woman. There are lots of queer minor characters.

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie ( @annleckie​) (Fantasy)

This book follows two storylines- the first one is about a troubled kingdom whose patron god is weakening as the throne has been taken by an usurper. Eolo, a young trans man is trying to help the true ruler reclaim his kingdom and discovers an important secret. This storyline has lots of political intrigue, drama and suspense. The second storyline begins in the far past, and recounts the life of an ancient rock deity who is also the narrator. This storyline deals more with concepts, like religion and mythology, language and imagination, with some very interesting ideas. I liked how the gods aren’t just superpowered humans, but powerful, truly inhuman beings (there’s a god who is a swarm of mosquitos!). Read this if you like nonhuman narrators and lots of flashbacks! 

Rep: Eolo is a trans man, and I think most characters are POC.

The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg (Fantasy)

This fantasy novella is set in the Birdverse and centers around two trans elders- Uiziya, a trans woman who transitioned years ago and has always been accepted by her people, and a nameless trans man who only transitioned very recently and struggles a lot with the rigid gender roles of his people. Together they go on a journey to seek out Uiziya’s aunt, so she can teach Uiziya how to weave from death, something Uiziya has waited for for decades. The language here is very lyrical and evocative, and the story is mystical and deep. And while it is quite dark at times, overall it’s still a hopeful book. The desert setting is also really cool! I especially loved the perspective of the nameless man, who could finally transition and now struggles both with the people who still see him as a woman, and the people who accept him but expect him to now fit in with the other men- which he doesn’t. I think this perspective is something that’s sorely lacking in most other books with trans narratives. Read this if you want interesting magic with older trans people!

There are also a bunch of short stories in the Birdverse, so check them out if you want to read something shorter by the same author!

Rep: Uiziya is also fat and dark skinned, there’s also some polyamory, sapphic characters and a nonbinary autistic child.

Lifelode by Jo Walton (Fantasy)

Lifelode is a pastoral fantasy, set in a small village where polyamory is the norm (families are usually two women and two men and all their children). The central story is mostly about the daily life of one family, while the larger plot is only in the background. This book also has really interesting worldbuilding- time passes differently in different places, and one character can see people’s past and future. The beginning of the book can be a bit difficult to understand because of this but it’s really worth it to stick with it! Read this if you like cottage core and polyamory!

Rep: Polyamory, and one minor f/f relationship.

The Trans Space Octopus Congregation by Bogi Takács (Fantasy/Sci-Fi)

This is a short story collection, and the title accurately shows how weird and queer these stories are. They have widely varying topics, both fantasy and science fiction- sentient octopuses, resistance against alien invasion, a failing memory archive… Frequent themes are nonsexual kink, Jewish faith, community, disability and, well, all forms of queerness. Read this if you want unconventional queer short stories!

If you enjoy weird queer poetry, Bogi has also published a collection of eir poems, called Algorithmic Shapshifting 

Rep: too much to list, but nonbinary and Jewish people the most.

[queer-book-character-tournament]

Characters, book, and author names under the cut

Luc O'Donnell/Oliver Blackwood - Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Jude/Jasper/Felix - Stake Sauce Acr 2: Everybody's Missing (Somebody) by RoAnna Sylver

Daisy Wells/Amina El Maghrabi - Death Sets Sail by Robin Stevens

Jake Fischer/Alex Angelides - Diamond Ring by KD Casey

[ryttu3k]

End of the year book asks! Which I'm just... going to fill out. Original post here.

1. How many books did you read this year?

As of posting this on December 15th, it's 36, with a note that I am including zines over 100 pages. Will update at the end of the year! Edit: 38!

2. Did you reread anything? What?

Reread Gideon and Harrow the Ninth in preparation for Nona's release!

3. What were your top five books of the year?

Okay. I am going to categorise.

Favourite novel: Tamsyn Muir - Nona the Ninth

Favourite novella: Becky Chambers - A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

Favourite series: Seanan McGuire - Wayward Children

Favourite anthology: Xenocultivars - Stories of Queer Growth

Favourite zine: Archive of the Odd (available here, only read issue 1 so far but I have issue 2 purchased and ready to go!)

Favourite unexpected addition to my reading list: Bram Stoker - Dracula

Other favourites of note: Travis Baldree - Legends & Lattes, RoAnna Sylver - Stake Sauce 2 and Life Within Parole vol 2, Freydis Moon - Exodus 20:3

4. Did you discover any new authors that you love this year?

Read the Wayward Children series, would be quite happy to look into more of Seanan McGuire's writing!

5. What genre did you read the most of?

I am sitting comfortably in my SFF hole, thank you.

6. Was there anything you meant to read, but never got to?

*laughs in excessively long TBR*

7. What was your average Goodreads Storygraph rating? Does it seem accurate?

4.32, which seems pretty solid!

8. Did you meet any of your reading goals? Which ones?

I did, averaging three new reads a month!

9. Did you get into any new genres?

Is 'gothic horror that is actually all about The Power Of Friendship' a genre?

10. What was your favorite new release of the year?

Nona the Ninth Nona the Ninth I cannot reiterate how much I goddamn adore Nona the Ninth. Sob.

11. What was your favorite book that has been out for a while, but you just now read?

Dracula has been out for. A while lmao

12. Any books that disappointed you? 13. What were your least favorite books of the year?

Mm. I don't like naming names because I can totally see people enjoying it, but there was one novel in particular that I felt didn't quite stick the landing. I gave it a 6/10 rating.

14. What books do you want to finish before the year is over?

I'd like to get in Where The Drowned Girls Go (the last Wayward Children book currently out, the next one is due in January!), which will be easy enough because it's a novella, and probably one other. Edit, 16th December: Done!

15. Did you read any books that were nominated for or won awards this year? What did you think of them?

I got into the Wayward Children series, most of those either won or were nominated for the Best Novella nebulas, and which won this year's Best Series. This Is How You Lose The Time War won that category for the Hugos, Nebulas, and Locus in 2020; Binti: Home and Night Masquerade were also nominated for Hugos.

Also I feel Dracula's probably won a few awards. Probably.

16. What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?

Oh, hm! I don't know, most felt like a suitable level of hype.

17. Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

Dracula. Dracula. I expected to read it as like, a pivotal vampire/horror novel that I felt lowkey obligated to get through but I fucking loved it. At least part of that was the Dracula Daily experience but damn, I really liked that book.

18. How many books did you buy?

.......significantly more than I actually read. Awkward laughter at my Kobo account.

19. Did you use your library?

I did!

20. What was your most anticipated release? Did it meet your expectations?

Nona the Ninth, and it absolutely did. I knew I would be goddamn deceased after it and I very much!! was!!

21. Did you participate in or watch any booklr, booktube, or book twitter drama?

No drama here!

22. What's the longest book you read?

The Harrow reread is the only one that tops 500 pages, although both the Gideon reread and Nona are in the 400s.

23. What's the fastest time it took you to read a book?

I mean I can knock out a novella in an hour?

24. Did you DNF anything? Why?

Nope!

25. What reading goals do you have for next year?

Read more novels. I read a lot of novellas and anthologies this year!

[fuckyeahasexual]

My mom actually reminded me of this week which is quite wholesome. Since GLADD is celebrating trans awareness as well as TDOR this year, I wanted to do one of my fav things and talk about books. This post is about my fav trans books so if you are in the mood for a new read I hope this helps. :) 

All Time Favorite: 

Dreadnought (and it’s sequel) has not only the own voices quality when it comes to trans representation being included, but the plot is too intertwined with the experiences of being trans and being a part of -- or pushed -- out of a superhero community. 

Runner Up:

If I Was Your Girl is the winner of a Stonewall Book Award and several others. This contemporary book has a lot of heart, and while I don’t remember it’s plot as in detail as the last I remember feeling like it was a gift in a way. Insight to a very ‘less complicated’ (as I believe the author says in the back) trans experience I do not share. This book probably has the only acknowledgments that I remember that are incredibly important to include because they take that ‘less complicated’ narrative and reminds us that non-fictional people are so much more complicated and diverse.  

Mixed Format Honorable Mentions: 

Did you know in Watch Dogs Legion you can just find trans aces walking around doing their own things until you ask them to fight against a police state? Watch Dogs Legion’s representation is at one level very throw away text based and at another level an innovative clever choose your own adventure hero experience. I just get this little spark of joy when I see a random character and the bio is like ‘Had Gender Affirming Operation’, “Looked for Trans Friendly Therapy” or “Purchased a They/Them Pin”. It’s not Ubisoft’s first trans character but the random endless amount of trans playable/non-playable characters in WD:L reminds me how just anyone can be trans and that’s beautiful to me. 

There’s also Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver and my books that both always seem to include ace and transgender characters if not trans ace character within them all. There’s Unburied Fables which is a-spec focused charity anthology with several fairytale retelling that are about trans characters. And I wish more of Anne Chivon’s poetry was in print so I could show you really kick ass nonbinary poems too.

That fact that big and small trans awareness efforts are being done across the media landscape (including emoji now) makes me so hopeful that people will hopefully someday soon stop pretending that there’s not enough of us to matter.

Did you know the creator of the transgender flag Monica Helms also wrote novels? I haven’t read any of them, I just think that’s so cool and fantastic. I think I haven’t read them because nothing will top the listed reasoning for making the trans flag’s stripes mirrored so that no matter how you fly it the flag is still right symbolizing that there is no one way to be trans. Sorry for the longer post than planned but say can I say -- Trans is beautiful. 

[soulsharingsistas]

Cover Reveal: STAKE SAUCE ARC 1: THE SECRET INGREDIENT IS LOVE, NO, REALLY! by @RoAnnaSylver @KrakenColl

Cover Reveal: STAKE SAUCE ARC 1: THE SECRET INGREDIENT IS LOVE, NO, REALLY! by @RoAnnaSylver @KrakenColl

Today I’m helping reveal the cover for STAKE SAUCE ARC 1: THE SECRET INGREDIENT IS LOVE, NO, REALLY! It’s a fun, creepy, and dark-but-hopeful serial about queer punk vampires and the humans who love them, from RoAnna Sylver, author of the CHAMELEON MOON series. STAKE SAUCE releases October 31st, 2017 from The Kraken Collective!Check out the cover and learn more below – including how to pre-order…

[lgbtqreads]

Hey. First of all. I really admire you and what you're doing. And I hope you have a great day <3

Second of all. Do you know anything anything with nb ace people. (And, sorry if this is too specific. It's alright if you dont find anything like that. But something with at least one nb person in the relationship and they're both Ace. Or a poly relationship with Ace and nb rep). Also, qprs with at least one nb person would be great. Thank you!

Honestly just something that fits one of these descriptions would be enough. But if you don't find anything, that's fine too. Thanks <3

Thank you <333 And hmm, I'm pretty sure one of the main characters in The Lost Coast by AR Capetta is nonbinary and on the ace spectrum, and that also describes the love interest in their upcoming The Heartbreak Bakery. (Not for nothing, but it's funny that I know even more authors who ID as ace and nonbinary as I do books.) I keep wanting to say Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault, but IIRC that MC is bigender and aromantic but not asexual, and similarly, Dithered Hearts by Chace Verity has a polyam relationship where one is nonbinary and another is trans and aromantic, and Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver has a polyam relationship where one is trans and one is ace, but that's still not quite there. I would start with The Lost Coast!