#pegasi and prefects

[magussanctorium-if]

Introducing: The Cobalt Snakes House

Hailing from the affluent Espersland Republic, the wealthiest nation of Pentagiim, the Cobalt Snakes House is known for their enduring patience and generous nature, often taking first during any Field Work event. Lead by the quiet elegance of House Leader Sumiel Tidewood and the cunning wit of Vice-Leader Fisvanna Sailswift, the Cobalt Snakes make for an unassuming and often underestimated house laying in wait for the time to strike and often blowing their competition out of the water.

The students of the Cobalt Snakes House has proficiencies in Light Magic Studies and Tactics courses. With fish being one of the Espersland Republic's main exports, many are often well-versed with polearms, such as lances and spears. With the land being a natural pegasi breeding spot and with pegasi being the only animal able to catch a sailing ship over water, many are also proficient with aerial combat.

It's common sense for the Cobalt Snakes House to have the best accommodations and supplies money can buy, often rivaling the luxury of the Fern Bears House. The Cobalt Snakes also has the highest number of commoners in their house, with most commoners attending The Magus Sanctorium being part of the Cobalt Snakes, thanks to the massive funding the Republic provides for their House's scholarship program. Notable students include: Fisvanna Sailswift, Rumik Gullcaller, and Koraith Sandblade.

House Roster:

House Leader: Sumiel Tidewood (she/her)

Status: Nobility. Daughter of the Republic's late First Chair.

Strengths: Polearms, Strategy, Transmutation || Weaknesses: Axes, Leadership, Illusion

Weighted Grade Point Average: 4.75 || Letter Grade: A

Vice-Leader: Fisvanna Sailswift (she/her)

Status: Nobility. Daughter of the Republic's current First Chair.

Strengths: Armor, Axes, Enchantment || Weaknesses: Calvary, Transmutation, Arithmancy

Weighted Grade Point Average: 4.00 || Letter Grade: B+

First House Officer: Afthel Scalesun (they/them)

Status: Nobility. Child of a noble family.

Strengths: Bows, Illusion, Calvary || Weaknesses: Leadership, Swords, Evocation

Weighted Grade Point Average: 4.98 || Letter Grade: A+

Second House Officer: Rumik Gullcaller (he/him)

Status: Nobility. Nephew of the Republic's Second Chair

Strengths: Heavy Weapons, Calvary, Abjuration || Weaknesses: Swords, Divination, Aerial Combat

Weighted Grade Point Average: 3.75 || Letter Grade: B

First House Prefect: Sylus Wavebrook (he/him)

Status: Commoner. Part of the scholarship program.

Strengths: Swords, Aerial Combat, Divination || Weaknesses: Heavy Weapons, Magical Lifeforms, Enchantment

Weighted Grade Point Average: 4.45 || Letter Grade: A-

Second House Prefect: Koraith Sandblade (they/them)

Status: Nobility. Child of the Republic's Third Chair.

Strengths: Evocation, Polearms, Strategy || Weaknesses: Abjuration, Heavy Weapons, Runes

Weighted Grade Point Average: 3.35 || Letter Grade: B-

~

Faculty Advisor: Professor Yavin Bowstride, Head of the Divination Department (he/him)

House Student Body Size: Large

[birlwrites]

I was going through your dark lord wip tag because I was in the mood for Lore etc and I noticed that you've talked about all of the other Black family members, but you've only very rarely mentioned Andromeda, in both answers to asks and in ttdl itself. So I was wondering if you could tell us about her? I'd like to know how you think of her. Is it spoilery to reveal if we'll get to meet her sometime in atfhv?

we probably will meet her at some point but she'll be a very minor character because i had to stop somewhere - but yes i have plenty to say about andromeda!!

as far as the cousins go, growing up, andromeda, being the oldest second oldest bella it doesn't *matter* we're *twins* second oldest, was generally the Voice Of Reason. she was very sensible, which is exactly why regulus and sirius always, Always fell for it when she told them bullshit stories about pegasi actually being normal horses who jumped off cliffs and flapped their legs really hard until they sprouted wings. all horses can do this, it's just that most of them don't want to. unicorns sacrificed their ability to sprout wings in exchange for other magical powers. regulus and sirius believed this for years. along with much other bullshit andromeda made up

she was close with her mom and the rosier side of the family, and while she and bellatrix were very close, they weren't inseparable the way regulus and sirius were. she was a slytherin prefect, and prefect meetings were how she met ted - eventually they were paired together for rounds, at which point andromeda's already-flagging devotion to her prefect duties completely bit the dust, and their rounds were not what i would call Productive. rather, that was weekly (or twice-weekly!) Secret Date Time

also, i'm not saying that andromeda running off with a muggleborn was part of what inspired bellatrix to dive even deeper into blood purity as a sort of revenge on her not-sister, but i'm not Not saying that

andromeda knew she was going to leave for a long time before she did it - first she was working up the nerve, and then she was just planning it. she pulled away from her family a bit, but slowly enough that people just thought she was growing into a more reserved adult than she'd been as a child (which is exactly what narcissa Actually did). it took years, which is a good moment for me to say that in this universe, andromeda didn't run away straight after graduating from hogwarts - she did it several months after turning 20, shortly after the conclusion of the summer social season, to be exact

she'd been out of hogwarts for years (and keeping up a secret relationship with ted the whole time, secret in the sense that she'd met his entire family and was acquainted with his friends and Nobody Was Allowed To Breathe A Word To Anyone Who Didn't Already Know), she'd laid the groundwork to leave and like. find employment, and at that point, after years of looking for a way to make it all work, she was ready to go

she didn't *want* to leave, i should say - but the political climate in britain was swinging back towards blood purity, and her family would never accept her relationship with ted, and she spent a long time coming to terms with the idea that she didn't want to live her life stuck in a family like that

and she chose her moment carefully - right after the summer season ended, so her family wouldn't have to deal with it during the season, and by the winter solstice banquet, it would hopefully have mostly blown over. that meant her only options were times when narcissa was at hogwarts for her final year, but if anyone could skate through That social situation and come out the other side unscathed, it would be narcissa, and also andromeda was just done waiting for a perfect moment that would never come. she figured if narcissa reached out to her, she'd apologize for the timing - then narcissa never did.

andromeda doesn't want to be controlled - that's not to say that she's this wild person who's all over the place and doesn't want to plan ahead of think about the future. just the opposite, actually. it's that she's very confident in and resolute about her own ability to create a good life, and she doesn't want to be told she's doing it wrong for stupid superficial reasons. she didn't leave with the intention of cutting herself off from her family (although she did fully expect that *they* would cut her off) - it was more about setting a boundary and making clear that she's in charge of her own life. and if house black couldn't handle that, too bad for them

she and bellatrix have the same voice, but also they don't. bellatrix talks faster and sounds more lively, and andromeda talks more slowly and has settled into her voice more - people who know them both are often surprised to realize that it's not that bellatrix has a higher voice and andromeda a lower one, it's just that they use their voices differently. first impressions of her are that she's pretty mellow, but she's actually just very good at planning out how to do what she wants, in such a way that it means that if andromeda gets sharp or aggressive, it's because something's gone wrong in her plan and she's pissed because now she has to use brute force to make it work

but also andromeda is just. ruthless about her priorities. she wasn't always, but she decided to be around when she decided to leave. if she got caught up thinking about side concerns (my sisters will be upset; i won't be around to try to sway my family away from blood purity; i'll miss my mom; etc), she'd never get what she actually wanted - which was her own life going the way she wanted it to

she hasn't been a target for recruitment into the order because dumbledore doesn't think she cares much for the greater good, and he's not wrong, although he's not totally right - andromeda cares very much about the war. she cares about making sure ted and nymphadora (who's almost 4 atm) will survive it. she won't go into the fights and put her life on the line, because she has people she's decided to be there for, and she's not going to change her mind on that, especially not if dumbledore tries to do it for her. (but, like, she'd be willing to support from a non-combat role, so dumbledore is partly wrong)

the main reason that i don't talk about andromeda much is simply that her absence has made much more of an impact on regulus than her presence has. she left when he was 9, and while they spent summers at black manor together, andromeda was the least likely of the sisters to spend time playing with her kid cousins, especially as she grew more set on leaving. she left around the same time as arcturus and melania's deaths, and orion ascending to the lordship, and then sirius diving into a heap of blood traitors at hogwarts - it was a time of so much turmoil that andromeda leaving isn't even really its own separate Event in regulus's brain. just a part of those couple of years.

there's 'the before times,' when they spent summers at black manor with their grandparents and their cousins including andromeda, and 'the after times,' when they spent summers in london, only visiting their other family, and also regulus barely saw sirius, which, ngl, he cared about much more than he did about andromeda leaving

she's living her best life, tbh - or rather, her best life possible under the circumstances. she doesn't even know sirius was disowned; she avoids the society pages, because when she used to read them, they just made her incredibly sad. she certainly doesn't know sirius didn't end up in slytherin

(also, while i'm rambling, it's not that none of her family reached out after she left - it's just that the letters she got were just trying to persuade her to come back, as opposed to attempting to keep in touch. once she married ted, the letters stopped immediately, except for the one informing her she'd been disowned. neither of her sisters wrote to her - they were both reeling, and pissed off, and intending to give her the silent treatment when she came back, and then she Didn't.)

[kanna-ophelia]

Hey, Eleanor Beresford is one of my pen names. I wrote this a few years ago. I’ve made it free for a few days. You can read it if you want to see some of my original stuff.

Don’t really know what else to say--I loved writing these books, they got me through some really hard times. Golden age boarding school stories are one of my other big fandoms, it’s set in Cornwall in the 1930s in an alternate history in which everyone has a certain amount of magic power and aristocracy is linked with elven descent and more magic power. It has flying horses and horsey lesbians and hockey and True Love. I kind of will always love you.

I haven’t released a new book in the series for a while, so it’s currently languishing deep down on Amazon’s ranking, but it was once #11 in  the very specific niche of YA Coming of Age LGBT Fantasy and they can’t take that memory from me. XD . There’s two novels about Charley and Rosalind and a novella about Kitty. 

Releasing it might give me a kick in the pants to release the book about Esther (my most beloved side character), Cecily and Kitty, which has been 90% complete for years. I suddenly lost all my confidence in my writing, but thank you, Good Omens fandom, for bringing it back.

[walpurga-nacht-academy]

Isle of Phantasmagoria

Located near the Isle of Sages, the Isle of Phantasmagoria is the home of Brocken and Walpurga Nacht Academy. Considered a site of great magical energy, its culture and history were largely shaped by the multitude of unusual events that have taken place there. 

Geography & Population

The Isle is rather small, being only about 33 square kilometers in size, and being for the most part overtaken by vegetation with only a few particular spots being inhabited by humans. It has a mild climate where the winters are comfortably cold and the summers tend to be humid, but pleasant. The lowest temperature recorded on the isle was -10 degrees Celsius, while the highest was 25 degrees. It seems to be primarily characterized by an autumn and spring aesthetic, with winter and summer passing by rather quickly. Precipitation is an unexpected phenomenon, with warm showers starting without warning and ending just as quickly. The flora is surprisingly diverse with a variety of flowers and plants being native to the island, yet its famous fertility means that anything planted here is likely to take root. The same cannot be said for the fauna, as mammals tend to be quite small in numbers. Instead birds and fish seem to be rather plentiful which has influenced the gastronomy of the place as well. 

In regards to demographics, humans are the majority, with a smaller number of beastmen and other races living there. Fairies, however, are unfamiliar to the Isle and have never settled there as far as records show. Currently the island population is 18,738.   

Culture

Despite its small size, the Isle is a place teeming with customs and festivals, making for a very lively atmosphere. Its people are famous for their hospitality and easy-going nature so many sailors who had the fortune of being washed onto its shores ended up taking residence there. The Isle has been ruled by the Tauros family since olden times, though their exact aristocratic title is unknown. 

Origin Myth

Locals often claim that the very first inhabitants of the isle were pixies, small little fairies that would command the weather and welcome in the seasons with their dances and songs. They were said to fly above in the sky and sprinkle drops of dew on every flower and stem to help them grow and bloom. Due to this the earth became so fertile that when the first humans stumbled upon the island, they were able to plant anything there and even the smallest seed would produce bountiful harvest. 

Modern science has discredited this claim as the product of intoxication at the hands of a type of mushroom unique to the isle. It seems that consumption of the fungi causes one to experience potent hallucinations which require a few days to wear off. It is most likely that the locals consumed the mushroom and in their haze, aided as well by the refraction of light, they mistook the native Sylphs living on the isle for pixies due to their seemingly colourful appearance.

Interestingly enough those very mushrooms have been shown to help fertilize and make the soil richer in nutrients. Mushroom rings are thus quite common on the island, and it is considered bad luck to uproot or cause them harm. 

The King on the Bald Mountain

A mythological figure that is said to have ruled over the island back in ancient times. Locals claim that the King would wake up every year and along with his congregation of witches would torment the souls of the townsfolk of Brocken. Though it is a popular folktale on the isle, the existence of such a creature is still under question as very few sources can be found regarding its authenticity. 

Wine

The most popular alcoholic beverage on the island. Wine is considered the official drink of Phantasmagoria and is present at every celebration as a result. Due to the extensive orchards that have made the isle famous, wine from this place is considered a luxury and one of the most expensive brands in Twisted Wonderland. Every year, the Tauros mayor donates a huge casket of wine for the Cydalise Rite.

Thistles and Orchids

The official flowers of the isle. It is said that back in ancient times, the flowers of the island were blessed by fairies so they were able to walk and dance together in harmony. The flowers were also rumoured to be the favorite of the first Tauros mayor and his wife, and thus they were emblazoned everywhere. Official letters from the island all sport a stamp with a drawing of a thistle and an orchid intertwined. 

During wedding ceremonies it is considered traditional to have the venue decorated with these flowers so that it would bring the newlyweds good luck.  

Ostrich, Hippos and Elephants

Characters in the popular “Dance of the Hours” play. It is unknown how exactly the legend came about to exist, as none of the animals are native to the island. The Tauros mayor who is credited for the creation of this story said that the image came to him as he was napping in a ring of mushrooms in the Golden Pasture. The play became such a success that it was made an important part of the Cydalise Rite. 

A point of consternation for the locals is deciding which one of the three animals should become known as the official representative of the Isle. This debate has been going on for at least 1.000 years and is no closer to being resolved.     

Festival

The Cydalise Rite 

The most anticipated event of the year, the Cydalise Rite is the festival that celebrates summer and good luck. The Rite is said to have existed for centuries, its main purpose being to cause disruption and merriment so that the King on the Bald Mountain and his minions would be driven away from the homes of the locals and back on the Bald Mountain where they would be caged in by magic. Though few believe in the legend anymore, since the construction of the Selene mansion and later the Walpurga Nacht campus has demystified the area, the festival continues to be held every year in honour of that old tradition. 

In the past it used to involve a parade of horses going through the main street of Brocken, following the path through the forest and heading straight into the Pasture where the event-goers are able to enjoy a little masquerade play called the “Dance of the Hours”. It is a romance piece about three sisters (an ostrich, a hippopotamus and an elephant)  who wander into the palace of alligators by mistake. As they try to escape the dangerous place, the middle sister falls in love with the leader of the fearsome group and vice versa. The play ends in a marriage, after which all the spectators are invited to join the dance to celebrate future good tidings. A huge casket of wine is broken open by the mayor’s wife for all to enjoy. The festivity lasts until dawn when all those present are given special lanterns lit with magic crystals found only on the island and proceed to return to the town in a column singing in celebration for the coming of a new day. 

Ever since the founding of Walpurga Nacht however, it seems that the task of leading the parade of horses through Brocken has been awarded to the students as a show of good faith on the town’s part. The leader of the parade is usually the Prefect of Monarchia, who, along with her dorm members, lead a blessing of unicorns and Pegasi dressed in the dorms’ colours. Due to the rarity of such creatures on the island it has become one of the most anticipated sights during the Rite, with people usually gathering around the parade route to take pictures and sing loudly.      

History

Few historical sources detailing the early history of the island remain, however from what historians have been able to piece together it seems that the island has existed for a long time. The main argument in favour of this theory are the large animal bones that have been discovered all over the island, and which are believed to belong to a primitive species of dragons that has since gone extinct. The first settlements on the island precede the discovery of magic around the world, but the first concrete piece of evidence that proves that the isle had been inhabited for a long time are the mentions of the annual meeting of witches on the Bald Mountain to honour their King. References to this event can be found in the grimoires that the Eight Witches have passed down to their followers, along with several anonymous texts written by natives of the island. 

More recent discoveries have also found a journal kept by a member of the ruling Tauros family, which mentions that these annual meetings would cause great havoc among the population of the island. Among the effects he described were the “raising of foul ghouls from the depths of the earth, the theft of souls from among [our] village and the horrific calls of harpies, vultures, imps and firewomen as they danced around his monstrous figure.” In response to the threat posed by the emergence of the King from the mountain every year, the townsfolk would be forced to keep vigil together at night and guard themselves from the evil spirits with lanterns powered by pure magic.

Years later, another Taurous aristocrat would mention the commercial exchange that had taken place between them and a member of the famed Selene family of magicians in regards to ownership of the mountain. Having acquired property rights over the site, the Selene noble built a mansion at the very top and restricted all outside access to it. This building would later fall into disrepair once the aristocratic family fell from power and were forced to abandon most of their dwellings. Another member would repurpose it later and transform it into an education center, rather elevated to the rank of international boarding school and institute for magic.  

Notable Locations

Brocken

The only large settlement on the island. A pleasant town that is considered a wonderful tourist spot, Brocken is well-known for its welcoming attitude and laid-back atmosphere. The people there enjoy a ‘stress-free’ life in which they work, eat and sleep at their own pace. Siestas are recognized officially on the island as mandated periods of rest.

The town’s economy revolves around fishing, vinification, agriculture and tourism. It is a popular spot for location weddings and something of a cultural landmark due to the existence of places such as the Bald Mountain and the Golden Pasture. Tourists who often come here are able to make use of special programs which offer them housing, food and the opportunity to participate in some of the town’s vinification and fishing business.  

Because it is difficult to gain access to the island, Brocken has become rather isolated from the rest of the world. Thus its technology is considered old-fashioned by modern standards so things like television, mobile phones and cars are quite rare and seen as luxuries.

The Bald Mountain

One of the most well-known landmarks and the home of Walpurga Nacht Academy. The mountain is perhaps the oldest point of interest on the island, and legend has it that it was and still is the prison where a King of demons is said to slumber. Every year he would awake for one night to cause havoc on the island, aided by his congregation of witches. 

Now the mountain is associated with Walpurga Nacht, a world-famous institute of magic. 

Due to old legends and rumours surrounding the mountain, locals are known to keep away from it for fear of being cursed. Among the most popular beliefs is that anyone who dares come across the school at the top of it will be immediately struck mad. This is a concept that has been inherited since ancient times when the Eight Witches were said to dance in revelry in that spot and their fury at being glimpsed by strangers was so great they would curse them in retaliation.

The Mad Mage’s Tower

An old derelict tower, hidden far into the wilderness. It is said that there once lived an old magician whose years of isolation had driven him mad so he enchanted the objects around him to come to life and do his bidding. Though the mage had long since died, the objects still seem to be capable of sentience and continue moving around unhindered. Sylphs can be seen circling the highest point of the tower at dawn and dusk. 

Another rumour regarding the tower is that the magician might have had once a goblin apprentice that as revenge for the poor treatment he received bashed his head in with a rock during the middle of the night. 

The Golden Pasture

An idyllic sight, the pasture is one of the most famous locations on the isle. Considered a natural wonder due to its extensive flora, the Pasture is a site beloved by all citizens of the Isle, but due to the increased littering among tourists has been closed off to outsiders. It is also the location where the Cydalise Rite takes place every year. 

An interesting rumour regarding the Pasture is that those who dwell in it for too long are liable to experience hallucinations. Among those, the most commonly reported sighting was that of dancing flowers, colourful fairies, spinning mushroom rings, performing goldfish, flashing lightning and, more terrifyingly, erupting volcanoes.

[poemsforpersephone]

The third and final book rec list for fans of The Last Sun!

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen has really cool empathy powers which, although not the two way bond Brand and Rune share, does remind me of the emotion reading aspect in TLS. The m/m relationship in it is also super sweet. 

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee. This one I’m recommending because the protagonist is a snarky asshole just like Rune, and the writing style is so well done. It’s m/m and genuinely such a fun and quirky book. Also the cover art is gorgeous!

Silver in the wood by Emily Tesh. This is an LGBT novella where a wild man called Tobias lives in a place called “Greenhollow,” , where, and I quote, “Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past—both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest in its heart.” So im recommending this one simply because of the involvement of secrets and troubled pasts haha. 

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. The front cover of this one gives me The Hanged Man vibes like, all the way to the bone, which is initially what prompted me to rec it on this list. But also: “Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.” Idk about the dirty magazines but the rest of it scREAMS Rune. and the main character is a lesbian!!! yay!! 

The Black Veins by Ashia Monet. “In a world where magic thrives in secret city corners, a group of magicians embark on a road trip—and it’s the "no-love-interest", found family adventure you’ve been searching for.” It’s like someone looked into my heart and picked out my deepest desire and then wrote it and gave it life. This book is super diverse and super awesome. 

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a f/f take on Dracula basically. I’m recommending it because the main character and her sister go through a traumatic event similar to the loss of the sun court, when men come and burn their home to the ground along with their people and they’re captured and taken as slaves. It’s about family, friendship and survival, and it’s beautiful. 

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco. An LGBT book where climate change deniers are the villains? ... you have my atttention. 

Prosper’s Demon by K.J. Parker. This is about a morally questionable exorcist!  It’s a satirical, interesting take on the topic of possession with a kick ass cover. 

The Wishing Heart by J.C Welker. An LGBT fantasy novel where our protag, Rebel, finds a jinni’s vessel and is thus thrust into a whole new world of trying to keep said jinni from everyone else and find a way to free her! The world building is awesome and so are the characters.

Tarnished are the Stars by Rosiee Thor. “A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher's chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog -- donning the moniker Technician -- to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner's tyrannical laws.” i have the hardbook version of this and the cover??? is so?? beautiful.

The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum. TALKING OF PRETTY COVERS. “Ryann Bird dreams of traveling across the stars. But a career in space isn’t an option for a girl who lives in a trailer park on the wrong side of town. So Ryann becomes her circumstances and settles for acting out and skipping school to hang out with her delinquent friends.”

Predatory by Brooklyn Ray. WERELEOPARDS FRIENDS!!!! god damn wereleopards im?? so happy. m/m 

The Lost Coast by Amy Rose Capetta. FOUND FAMILY QUEER WITCHES. need i say more. 

Portraits of a Faerie Queen by Tay LaRoi. The fey run amok in this one! f/f with a gorgeous front cover.

Unbroken by Brooklyn Ray. step 1: rent haunted house. step 2: fall in love with witch-turned-demon who inhabits it. step 3: profit???

The High King’s Golden Tongue by Megan Derr. This one is lovely! Nice world building with an emphasis on languages and kingdoms, and a lovely m/m romance that builds from kind-of-enemies-but-not-really to lovers. the audiobook of this is great. 

Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch. SORRY YOUR BOOK IS SET WHERE? MY HOMELAND? MY COUNTRY MY COUNTY MY HEART? we never get any attention imma go cry in the corner. its a historical fantasy m/m romance in YORKSHIRE gosh im here for it. And let me tell you... this is one fantastic book. I really, really enjoyed it.

Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner. fantasy, m/m, lotsa swords!

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst. f/f fantasy with a princess who has fire magic in a kingdom where magic is forbidden! 

Freedom’s Fate by Jennie Taylor. SPAAAAAAACE i love books in space.

Pegasi and Prefects by Eleanor Beresford. “Charley's final year at Fernleigh Manor is complicated by a runaway pegasus, unwanted Games Captainship, a dangerous new rival and, most of all, falling head over heels in love with another girl. What is a reluctant Senior Prefect to do?” catch me while i swoon.

The Necromancers Dance by SJ Himes. m/m vampire/necromancer romance, urban magic and fantasy, very fun and smooth read, a little bit insta love but not totally. 

The Star Host by F.T. Lukens. “Ren grew up listening to his mother tell stories about the Star Hosts – a mythical group of people possessed by the power of the stars.” a m/m fantasy book set to a sci fi fantasy background.

Empty Vessels by Nicholas Williams. “Lucas Mahler babysits clones all day, but he's trapped under the legacy of his body-builder father and his genius girlfriend. When Lucas tries to rise above, he's murdered. Waking up in the body of a clone, Lucas embarks on a mystery full of blood, old friends and lost loves.” idk the whole clone thing in this just always reminds me of lord tower making all the different fake versions of people he knows lmao. 

BOOKS NOT YET OUT

So, the thing is. 2020 is very close friends, and some awesome books are even closer. These below are books I’ve not read yet, since they’re not out and I am a poor ARCless girl, but they’re books you definitely want to keep an eye on.

Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. Latimer. Bisexual OCD protagonist who is a witch D: its everything i could want. 

Wild Sky by Zaya Feli. LGBT fantasy with dragons! It sounds so, so fun.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust. “A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse...”

The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos. “The Raven Boys meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, about an openly gay high school senior in small-town Georgia.” m/m fantasy which looks super sweet.

Cemetery Boys by Auden Thomas. “Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.” THIS SOUNDS SO COOL oh my god. Yes PLEASE. 

When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey. “A sly, witchy dark comedy about four teens whose magic goes wildly awry.” Magic, darkness, comedy, what’s not to love for fans of the tarot sequence??

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune. I absolutely love T.J.  Klune’s writing so I can’t wait to get my hands on this. m/m superheros!! friends!!! get excited!! I think anyone who likes how witty K.D. is will enjoy this writing style. 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. YES ANOTHER ONE this looks so good too we are BLESSED. “A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.”

Fragile Remedy by Maria Ingrande Mora. “Sixteen-year-old Nate is a GEM—Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue created by the scientists of Gathos City as a cure for the elite from the fatal lung rot ravaging the population. As a child, he was smuggled out of the laboratory where he was held captive and into the Withers—a quarantined, lawless region.” The idea of the Withers kind of reminds me of the westlands.

The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig. UHM im always here for lgbt vampires in young adult fantasy fiction. The author says that “this book is gay and filled with monsters” which also fits the last sun so i figured it belongs on the list lmao. 

Ruinsong by Julia Ember. “In a world where magic is sung, a powerful mage named Cadence is forced to use her power to torture her country’s disgraced nobility at her ruthless queen’s bidding.”

[biandlesbianliterature]

Do you by any chance know of wlw books and boarding schools?! I’ve already read People Like Us and immediately fell in love with it!! Even anything similar to it would be amazing

Yes! I haven’t read People Like Us, so I don’t know how the tone compares, but here are the wlw boarding book stories I know.

The only ones I have read and can recommend are: 

As I Descended by Robin Talley (Macbeth retelling--dark and creepy) 

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert has some (flashback) boarding school scenes

Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy (as a teacher)

SuperMutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki (Comics. Many characters, at least one of whom is a wlw—I would say she’s the main character, but her story isn’t the majority of the book)

Ones that I haven’t read:

Without Annette by Jane B. Mason

Girlhood by Cat Clarke

Bluebell Hall by Kayla Bashe

Pegasi and Prefects (Scholars and Sorcery #1) by Eleanor Beresford

Carry The Sky by Kate Gray (as a teacher)

Crush by Jane Futcher (this book and onward look like they’re depressing/tragic, just to warn you)

The Chinese Garden by Rosemary Manning

Claudine at School by Colette

The Child Manuela by Christa Winsloe

I also made a Goodreads list, if you want to add more or vote for your favourites!

[papercats]

Here’s some good lgbt (again with a focus on lesbian books bc I’m a lesbian so if i dont say anything specific about it in the list assume its f/f) books I read this year Ver 2.0  this time on my book blog...Previous years post (x)

I actually read a lot of lesbian fiction this year, I will try to include only stuff that I absolutely loved and/or I don’t see talked about in these kind of lists! Also, if you want content warnings about any of the books dm me. 

-The Crimson Empire Series by Alex Marshall: Okay this is the real reason I’m bothering to make this write up I’ll own up to it! It’s so GOOD. I think its the first really successful casual no misogyny/heteronormativity fantasy setting I read. Most stuff I read that tried this ends up just adding in some strong female character(tm) and a blink-and-you-missed-it mention of some side character being gay. But not here. Most of the main characters in this are women...and most of the cast is also lgbt. The man character is a bi woman who also happens to be a 60 year old badass and I love her. There are other characters that are bi lesbian or gay of varying importance (there are a million pov characters and some of them are spoilers so im being vague here). And also there are trans characters. I literally never seen trans characters in fantasy except in indie lgbt publications. AND beyond that its just such a good series, its incredibly fun. There is a lot of political intrigue and a lot of action and a lot of weird dark magic. It's also hilarious and made me laugh out loud multiple times which is very rare for books! Also, it’s a trilogy and it gets gayer each book. Like, the gay content is growing geometrically by the page count, trust me. 

Rest under the cut!

-Last Words from Montmartre by Qiu Miaojin translated by  Ari Larissa Heinrich this is very different and much more literary than the rest of the list. It’s a Taiwanese classic from what I understand, and it’s also the authors suicide note. I won’t pretend to understand this book, it’s written in letters which the author tells us can be read in any order. The author is a lesbian, and the story is said to be semi-autobiographic, but I can’t say this is lesbian fiction exactly. Not even who the narrator is is quite clear, as they seem to change gender from one letter to the next, sometimes being called by a different name. I don’t think I can do it justice in a few lines so I suggest if you’re interested you do your own research on it. It’s fascinating book, but it’s not something that everyone will enjoy, if enjoyment is even the right word for the experience of reading this book.

-When Women Were Warriors series by Catherine M Wilson: Okay I recommended it in the last years post but I read the last book this year and it was actually my favorite among the trilogy. And honestly , it deserves a second mention, it’s that good. It’s historical fantasy, magic exists but in a more mythical sense than throwing fireballs around (I’ve seen someone call it celtic fantasy, which might be more accurate). It follows the story of a young apprentice trying to become a warrior. There is a lesbian romance, but the overall plot is more about this apprentices coming of age, though the scale of the story expands widely as the books go on. 

-Letters Never Sent by Sandra Moran. This is historical fiction  very reminiscent of Sarah Waters, if you like her definitely check this out. It follows a young woman finding old letters of her death mother and learning about a side of her she never knew. It’s a dual perspective story with one for the daughter, and one for the mother in her youth. Both dealing with their own drama, though the focus is more on the mother. The story unravels slowly and though it’s not necessarily unpredictable it’s still a great read if you like historical fiction. 

-Amatka by Karin Tidbeck this is a swedish dystopian sci-fi story where words quite literally shape reality, reminscent of classics like 1984, not necessarily in content but the general feeling it gives, I’m not sure whether it’t the themes or the writing but it feels more like an old book. And I mean that in the best way possible. The main character is a lesbian, she gets into a relationship during the story, but this is very much not a romance book, it’s more about the main character slowly questioning the world she is in, and asking too many questions. I highly reccomend this one if you’re a fan of sci-fi dystopians, or want to see an unique take on the genre in a world filled with hunger games rip offs. (I was a bit confused that I couldn’t find the translator of this book, until I realized the author translated it herself. Just an interesting tidbit!)

-Pegasi And Prefects Series by Eleanor Beresford: light  board school books with just a little magic and lesbians. I found these short books to be surprisingly good and well written (sadly this is rare in lesbian fiction in my experience). The author described is as a slice of life harry potter which is pretty much it. Though there is some homophobia in these books, so be warned. The main story is concluded, and although the author teased more books in the setting there don’t seem to be updates in some time.

-The Mermaids Daughter by Ann Claycomb: This was a weird kind of melancholy book about a woman who only is relieved of her pain when she’s in the water. As were all her female predecessors, who all died young, by suicide. Her girlfriend delves into her family history in hopes to prevent her having the same fate. It’s a little mermaid retelling but that might be misleading, the main character is not the little mermaid, she’s her great great great grandaughter, or something like that. There is also the constant theme of Opera, which serves as a way to tell the story too, which sort of flew over my head. But it was still very much enjoyable. 

Short Stories and Novella

Undertow by Jordan L. Hawk : So this is a f/f novella in a long running m/m series. I can’t speak for the main series but this novella was good for its length. The setting is lovecraftian, but not quite so dark. I originally picked this up because one of the reviewers were complaining the love interests, who is some sort of mermaid-esque sea creature, had shark teeth. She’s great by the way, and so are her teeth. 

The Terracotta Bride by Zen Cho: This is a novella set in the Chinese afterlife. More specifically Malayan. The people in the afterlife receive money and items when living people burn things for them. The story explores the main character who is married to the richest man in afterlife life, and her relationship with her husbands second bride, who is not a human but a terracotta wife who her husbands relatives have burned for him.

The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz: A very simple straightforward story about an old model robot girl who owns a tea shop and a mechanic. It has a great atmosphere and I love the image of the old tea shop owned by a robot whos slowly breaking down. 

The Ape’s Wife and Other Stories by Caitlín R. Kiernan: This is a collection of excellent weird fiction short stories. I have a book by her in all my recommendation posts by this point, and I hesitated before adding this. Not all stories feaure any lgbt content, but enough of them do that it’s not out of place in this list. Though all of the stories in it are fully worth reading. My personal favorite of this collection is Galapagos, a rather disturbing story about space. 

[ask-lord-eon]

My latest creation

Introducing metal dash the ultimate robotic Pegasus she was originally going to be designed to combat robotopian pegasi but sense being banished from our home planet we’ve had practically repurpose her now she is the robotic counterpart to you guessed it rainbow dash as she is superior to her in every way possible our relationship is sisterly love.... hey machines can feel emotions and have souls too so shut up! Anyway she isn’t prefect as she is programmed to think exactly like her inferior counterpart so that leads to her getting on my nerves at times and sometimes she likes to annoy me not to mention she is just as cocky as her counterpart but nevertheless she is a force to be reckoned with oh and those thrusters are loaded with 20 count them except don’t cuz you can’t see them 20 heat seeking missiles but that’s the not only weaponry she possesses

she is also armed with a 7 barreled machine gun on both of her front hooves.

[kanna-ophelia]

so I'm twelve pages into pegasi and prefects and I'm lesbian-spotting. Miss roberts x miss Carroll anyone??????

I ADORE Malory Towers ;)

[papercats]

austen, shelley, and shakespeare!!!

Austen: 3 favourite characters? 

Idk if it’s because of the lack of a visual aid but I don’t get very attached to book characters even if I loved them while reading. There are some exceptions though (though, one of those characters is from a book I read recently, and the other from a book I’m reading now so maybe they’re not exceptions after all..)

- Libby Day from Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

- Merrycat from We Have Always Lived in The Castle by Shirley Jackson (my main blogs icon!)

- Zosia from The Crimson Empire series by Alex Marshall (though listening to the audiobook I maintain it should be spelled Zousha..But apparently it’s a real name so what do I know!!)

Actually turns out I can go on when I think about it there’s plenty of characters I like... 

Shelley: 3 characters you dislike? This is even harder! I mean there are plenty of mildly annoying characters but characters I actively dislike...hmmm..

- Deacon in Threshold & Low Red Moon by Kaitlin R Kiernan....he was just a dick and kinda homophobic too...Most of Low Red Moon all he did was making his best the plot wouldn’t move along and refusing to accept obvious facts. Also his self pity because his wife makes money and he doesnt...boo hoo....poor little man... The only good thing about him is that he made his wife look good by comparison. 

-Kathleen from The Mermaids Daughter by Ann Claycomb She’s a self admitted drama queen and if it was only that itd be fine its not like its completely unjustified but shes so completely ungrateful to her girlfriend who does so much for her. Like!! She didn’t deserve her! And then she just fucked off in to the sea which I GUESS it made sense/ she didnt have a real choice but she could have pretended to be sadder to leave her at least. Like imagine putting together an award winning opera literally jut for ur gf and she fucks off into the sea and doesnt even seem sad about it. 

-I completely forgot her name but the homophobic girl in the Pegasi And Prefect series she was terrible lmao hey at least she’s a villain unless the two above

Shakespeare: A book that made you laugh? That’s rather rare but surprisingly I have two in recent memory!

First one is A war in Crimson Embers by Alex Marshall, that I’m reading currently it makes me laugh a lot and makes me look like a crazy person laughing to herself bc I’m listening to the audiobook while walking. It’s one of those books where everyone is cracking wise all the time but instead of being obnoxious it somehow worked for me. It actually feels natural because I too make jokes at inopportune times (or at least, think about them, since half of those jokes are in the narrative head voices).

Second one is Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon like SURE it’s for kids but kids have a great sense of humor okay. Also its adorable and funny in a very innocent way that made me feel nostalgic and good. I love that book.. 

Thank you darling! 

[papercats]

Book rec: Scholars and Sorcery series by Eleanor Beresford.

There are two main novels (pictured above: Pegasi & Prefects and Elves & Escapades) and a novella (Fairies & Felicitations) in the series as of now. The series is set in a boarding school the writing is reminscent of old kids books (if you ever read old english boardng school books this might make you feel pretty nostalgic) though the characters are in their late teens. Though it’s a fantasy book the magic is pretty secondary to the simple school life drama that goes on. Every character has her own magical gift, and they’re generally something so specific that it won’t be relevant to their lives except in very specific situations. The author gives a pretty good explanation of what you can expect yourself on her goodreads:

(x)

It’s not a series that will blow your mind, but it’s a fun cute series of books starring a tomboy lesbian main character with just a little magic.