#leslye penelope

[yourfavebooklrsfavebooklr]

4.5 stars

I’ve been exhausted and in one hell of a reading slump so I honestly didn’t know if I’d make it through this one- until I started it and it drew me in within a chapter. Clara is an incredible main character and  I like that we actually see her picking fights and making decisions she shouldn’t- she feels real. I also really loved the rest of the cast. The plot was incredibly engaging and had some twists and turns at the end that I hadn’t expected but were really well-executed. The magic system with the enigmas was so cool and I loved how internally consistent it was. Also, the writing style managed to be fun and engaging while still giving the book a historical vibe, which I appreciated.

I’d recommend this to people looking for some good historical fiction or anyone looking to read about a fun, magical heist.

[nzbookwyrm]

June 2024

[geekynichelle]

I just finished reading The Monsters We Defy yesterday, and I really enjoyed it. I especially loved the friendship between Clara and Zelda, hence why I decided to do this. I might try them again (with the others?) at some point. Black and White version below the cut.

[graphicpolicy]

Award-Winning Creators Rodney Barnes and Vashti Harrison headline Virtual “Summer Camp” for Creatives

Award-Winning Creators Rodney Barnes and Vashti Harrison headline Virtual “Summer Camp” for Creatives #virtuouscon

If you’re a writer or artist looking to level up their skills, the Virtuous Con Summer Workshop Series is exactly what you need. Brought to you by Virtuous Con, the popular virtual comic book, fantasy, and sci-fi convention, this exclusive virtual program, scheduled to run from July 5 to July 30, 2023, will bring together an award-winning group of creators from fiction and graphic novels to work…

[shy-fairy-levele3]

Book Haul Week of June 4-10th 2023

[mktilghman]

Summer is the perfect time to launch FEARLESS SUMMER

Summertime launch for FEARLESS SUMMER. First up, @BackwaterBooks, May 4-- with @monashroffwrite, @ElizaKnight, @MC_Vaughan, @AlyssaRobertsWr, @christi_barth, @MKHaleAuthor and #LeslyePenelope. Can't wait! @champagnebooks

Now that the paperback edition of FEARLESS SUMMER has been released, it’s time to celebrate. Plans are still in the works for a launch in Chincoteague, the setting for FEARLESS SUMMER. In the meantime, here are the dates for book signings beginning in May. Thursday, May 4, 6:30 p.m., at Backwater Books, Ellicott City: I am so excited to be signing books with some of my favorite (and so…

[francesderwent]

love when the moral of a fantasy story is “consulting with demons is so bad you guys”

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

Does fantasy historical fiction exist?? That’s just fantasy

I mean I don't know what else you'd call books that incorporate fantasy elements into real world historical time periods and events, like Nghi Vo's Siren Queen or Leslye Penelope's Monsters We Defy

[duckprintspress]

Celebrate J.R.R. Tolkien’s Birthday with 54 Queer Fantasy Books!

Today, January 3rd, is J.R.R. Tolkien Day—the day we celebrate the legend’s birthday. It’s hard to imagine the fantasy genre without Tolkien’s influence on it. That’s why, we figured, what better way to celebrate than by having an adventure with an awesome fantasy book? And, as this is the first time we’ve done a queer fantasy rec list, our reccing crew got very excited, with the result that this is one of the longest lists we’ve ever posted. We asked our contributors for great queer, fantasy recommendations, and boy, did they deliver! We collected a list of whooping 54 titles, all thanks to Sanne, Kelas, Shadaras, Nina Waters, Shea Sullivan, E. C., Adrian Harley, Alex, D. V. Morse, Zel Howland, Shannon, Dei Walker, Linnea Peterson and an anonymous contributor.

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Fire Logic by Laurie J. Marks

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho

The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang

The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison

The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Witch King by Martha Wells

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Heaven Official’s Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

The Husky & His White Cat Shizun by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou

Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

Devil Venerable Also Wants To Know by Cyan Wings

Ruin of Angels by Max Gladstone

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell

Ash by Malinda Lo

Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley

Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner

Reforged by Seth Haddon

The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling

The Bone Doll’s Twin by Lynn Flewelling

Umineko: When They Cry by 07th Expansion

The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce

Witchmark by C.L. Polk

Lord of Eternal Night by Ben Alderson

These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling

The Brilliant Death by A.R. Capetta

Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha

First Test by Tamora Pierce

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Weak Heart by Ban Gilmartin

The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett

Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

What are your favorite queer fantasy books?

You can find all these books on our Goodreads bookshelf of queer fantasy books.

Did something here spark your curiosity? You can buy it through the Duck Prints Press Bookshop.org affiliate shop. 

So many books means so much to talk about! Come, join our Book Lover’s Discord server to chat with us about aaaaaall the books!

[nzbookwyrm]

[mssarahmorgan]

Book 58 of 2024: The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

Clara can talk to ghosts. She uses this gift to help people out, when she can--although far too many people end up taking deals with spirits that come at enormous cost (every Gift comes with a Trick). Just like Clara herself did years ago, at her most desperate hour. Now Clara's being offered a new deal: steal a magical ring from a gangster's opera singer girlfriend, and the spirit known as the Empress will erase her old bargain (both Gift and Trick) and those of anyone who helps her. So she puts together a crew of oddballs with useful Gifts, and they start working on a heist. This is a fantastic fantasy, set in Prohibition-era DC, with an all-Black cast. The stakes are high, the characters are vividly drawn, the worldbuilding is rich and interesting--I loved this one.

What to read next: Siren Queen, by Nghi Vo, for another rich and emotional Jazz Age fantasy that's all about deals with devils.

[keyofjetwolf]

"Some folks say it wasn't just being born with a caul that made Clara Johnson ornery as a red hornet, it was being born at the crossroads."

- "The Monsters We Defy", Leslye Penelope

[bookclub4m]

Episode 204 - Cozy Fantasy

It’s episode 204 and time for us to talk about the genre of Cozy Fantasy! We discuss what makes something cozy, romantasy, breakneck cozy fantasies, how much fantasy people need in their fantasy, and more!

You can download the podcast directly, find it on Libsyn, or get it through Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast delivery system.

In this episode

Anna Ferri | Meghan Whyte | Matthew Murray 🦇 | Jam Edwards

Things We Read (or tried to…)

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell

Comparison between US and UK covers

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree 

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

Sorcery and Small Magics and Maiga Doocy

The Baker & the Bard by Fern Haught

Howl's Moving Castle by Dianne Wynn Jones

Howl's Moving Castle (film)

Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe

Other Media We Mentioned

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Matthew meant “solarpunk” as the genre that this is often described as

Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

Episode 202 - A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children)

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Canadian residential school system

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

LoadingReadyRun

The House Witch by Delemhach

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu

Moonstruck, vol. 1: Magic to Brew by Grace Ellis and Shae Beagle

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill

The Tea Dragon Society Card Game

Balatro

Links, Articles, and Things

What Counts as Cozy Fantasy?

In Defense of Low-Stakes Fiction

Iyashikei

“portraying characters living out peaceful lives in calming environments, and is intended to have a healing effect on the audience”

11 Cozy Fantasy by BIPOC Authors:

Every month Book Club for Masochists: A Readers’ Advisory Podcasts chooses a genre at random and we read and discuss books from that genre. We also put together book lists for each episode/genre that feature works by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Colour) authors. All of the lists can be found here.

VenCo by Cherie Dimaline 

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi

DallerGut Dream Department Store by Mi-Ye Lee, translated by Sandy Joosun Lee

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim

The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

The Fae’s Bride by R.L. Medina

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa, translated by Louise Heal Kawai

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

Give us feedback!

Fill out the form to ask for a recommendation or suggest a genre or title for us to read!

Check out our Tumblr, follow us on Instagram, join our Facebook Group or Discord Server, or send us an email!

Join us again on Tuesday, December 17th it’s time for our “best books of the year” episode!

Then, on Tuesday, January 7th we’ll be discussing the genre of Cultural Studies!

[carolinawrenn]

Favorite books of 2023

In no particular order: The Dispossessed, Ursula K. LeGuin

Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Translation State, Ann Leckie

Giovanni's Room, James Baldwin

The Bedlam Stacks, Natasha Pulley

Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury

Spear, Nicola Griffith

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, Shannon Chakraborty

Ithaca and House of Odysseus, Claire North The Monsters We Defy, Leslye Penelope

And a bonus non-fiction: The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present, Ronald Hutton

So, what books did you read and love in 2023? Tagging @randomcat1832, @feelinglikecleopatra, @alltheworldsinmyhead, @oneofthewednesdays, @heavensfargardens, @pyrrhlc, @totchipanda, @genuineformality, @cameliawrites, @saritasoyyo, @wylanvanfeck, @bastetsbard and anyone else who wants to share! (I read several of these based on recommendations from you all, so thank you!)