#princess malini

[trixdraws]

"𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄'𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡."

~~~

A fanart of Princess Malini from 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺𝘀 books by Tasha Suri 🔥 I'm soo excited for The Lotus Empire release. Another reason why November can't come soon enough!

And this is actually my first piece done with Clip Studio Paint! Been trying to dump Adobe for a while now but the recent AI news was the last straw for a lot of artist including me. So. Here we are.

[itmightrain]

"I thought you of all people would understand my need to be free of such things. You were the most spiritual of the three of us as a girl. Do you remember that? No devotee of the Nameless certainly, but you used to make me take you to the Mothers' shrine so you could lay jasmine blossoms and kiss their feet."

"That was before the first time that Chandra hurt me," Malini said crisply. "That ended my childhood fantasies abruptly."

He stared at her uncomprehending. "When," he said, "did he hurt you as a child?"

She sucked in a breath. He didn't remember.

She wanted to lift her hair and bare her neck. She wanted to show him how she had been hurt. To show him not simply the physical scar, but the way Chandra's cruelties large and small had flayed her sense of self until she was raw, a furious tangle of nerves, until she was forced to build herself armor, jagged and cruel, to be able to survive. But he would not understand. He had never understood. Her hurts and her terrors, which had consumed her all her life, had always been small to him. He had either never truly seen them or simply easily forgotten them.

- The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

[halcyon-hyacinth]

Regarding the priesthood's behavior in The Oleander Sword, I believe they're missing out on something important. They wish for Malini to burn, but they seem to not know that doing so would be getting rid of Divyanshi's last living scion and the throne would be left empty with no one to take charge of the empire.

I honestly don't think they care.

I think they see Malini burning as solving their problems and finishing the work of the mothers who died centuries ago. As long as they retain power and control over who takes over, Malini burning suits them just fine.

It'll complete their theology and solve the issue of the yaksa coming back (even tho it really won't).

[husn-e-bahar]

Lal Patthar (1971)

[lightsaroundyourvanity]

malini and priya are so complicated and romantic that I want to scream and hug them tightly to my chest. the doomed princess and the lost mage, locked alone in a tower together. one is a machiavellan cunt and the other is a tenderhearted killer. they’re bonded by fire trauma. they barely trust each other. they want to fuck each others brains out and they barely trust THAT. I love them most ardently.

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Fantasy Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries below:

Crier's War duology (Crier's War, Iron Heart) by Nina Varela

Impossible love between two girls —one human, one Made. A love that could birth a revolution. After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, Designed to be the playthings of royals, took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will. Now, Ayla, a human servant rising the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier. Crier, who was Made to be beautiful, to be flawless. And to take over the work of her father. Crier had been preparing to do just that—to inherit her father’s rule over the land. But that was before she was betrothed to Scyre Kinok, who seems to have a thousand secrets. That was before she discovered her father isn’t as benevolent as she thought. That was before she met Ayla. Set in a richly-imagined fantasy world, Nina Varela’s debut novel is a sweepingly romantic tale of love, loss and revenge, that challenges what it really means to be human. Fantasy, epic fantasy, science fiction, young adult, secondary world, romance

The Burning Kingdoms series (The Jasmine Throne, The Oleander Sword, The Lotus Empire) by Tasha Suri

Author of Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash Tasha Suri's The Jasmine Throne, beginning a new trilogy set in a world inspired by the history and epics of India, in which a captive princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic become unlikely allies on a dark journey to save their empire from the princess's traitor brother. Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of the powerful, magical deathless waters — but is now little more than a decaying ruin. Priya is a maidservant, one among several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, so long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides. But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire. Fantasy, epic fantasy, politics, romance, adult, secondary world, series

[krishakamal]

𝐒𝐀𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐘𝐀

— Krishna x Rukmini

SYNOPSIS : Krishna has yet to meet his Sri but that doesn't mean that he does not know her heart.

KAMAL'S NOTE : Hey guys, I'm back with another RukminiShyam fic. This is a really short one.

Sakhi = Friend, Kaki = Aunty, Priye = Beloved, Sri = Mahalakshmi/Rukmini, Saawariya = Krishna/Tall, Dark & Handsome, Jaganath = Vishnu, Jagatmata = Lakshmi.

𝐍𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 // 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄

"Why do you look so downhearted, sakhi?"

Malini asked when she noticed the princess sitting on the window seat with a frowning face. Rukmini casted her a side glance before looking outside again, showing her friend that she had done something which upsetted the princess.

Malini thought back about the past events but she could not think about anything bad enough to upset Rukmini. Rukmini was not someone who would care about small mistakes.

Malini dropped the cloth she was folding and rushed up to Rukmini, "Sakhi, did I do something wrong?"

Rukmini nodded her head in 'yes'. Her lips curled up in visible a pout.

"What is it?"

Rukmini turned to Malini, "It rained this afternoon, right?" Malini nodded her head hasitentaly, she could already guess where this was going, "But none of you called me? Mina kaki told me, she saw you, Vijaya, Ridhima playing in the rain. Without me."

Rukmini snapped her face towards the window again. To be honest, Malini did feel a little bad for her sakhi. She knows just how much Rukmini loved rain.

Malini grabbed Rukmini's hand, "Please, don't be mad Vidharbhi. You were sleeping at that time and we didn't want to disturb you. You looked too peaceful sleeping."

"Stop buttering me." Rukmini muttered under her breath, "You are not the makhan chor."

"Ohhoo." Malini teased Rukmini, "Then why don't you tell you makhan chor to make it rain again?"

"D-Don't speak nonsense." Heat rushed up Rukmini's neck and cheek, colouring her red.

If I ask them he will, right?

Time passed in a flash and it was already night. Malini had left after making sure Rukmini was not mad at her. Of course she wasn't mad, Rukmini can never be angry with her sakhis.

Stars surrounded the moon in the sky. The kingdom of Vidarbha was lightened with lamps and lanterns. In the royal palace, Rukmini sat on the bed, reading a chapter of a novel before going to sleep as per her daily routine.

Suddenly, a sweet flute music started playing. The candle flickered on the nightstand when a gush of cold wind blew past the blinds, followed by the roaring sound of thunder. The thought of raining again made her lips curl up in a smile. Madhav!

Closing the book, Rukmini dropped it on the bed and rushed up to the window, pulling back the red and golden curtains. The one sparkling was now covered in kala megha. In no time, one raindrop hit the ground, then another and then another till it started pouring and wetting everything.

Rukmini grabbed the fabric of her skirt, lifted it up, and ran out of the room. Her feet stopped when it reached the garden. Standing in the middle of the garden closed her eyes and tilted her back. She raised her hand, palms facing the sky.

Rukmini felt the cold drops hitting her golden smooth skin. She felt his love pour on her in the form of rain. In an instant her long black hair soaking all the rain. They stick to her skin like glue. A sudden burst of joy hit her heart.

The surroundings disappeared. Only the sound of rain mingling with the sweet flute and the thought of her beloved. Her body moved on its own, spinning in circles. Soft laughs escaping her heart. The long skirt and her now wet hair whirling with her. The chiming of anklets joining the moment.

Rukmini danced without any care for the world. Between the colourful flowers Rukmini bloomed like a lotus does between dirt. Spinning, Rukmini bumped into something hard. She instantly grabbed it to steady herself. As she was about to open her eyes a hand palmed her eyes and another one wrapped around her waist.

"Mm-mm. It's not the time yet, priye." He teased her.

Rukmini huffed and shook her head, "Even now you are teasing me, Madhav."

"Just wait a little more? The day is near." Madhav said with a plea hidden in his voice.

"For you, Saawariya." She replied softly.

Krishna released Rukmini before grabbing her hand in his, He started twirling her, "So, is my beloved still sad that she couldn't dance in the rain earlier?"

Rukmini laughed, following his lead, "How can I be sad when you are here?"

The garden filled with laughter of two eternal consorts. The nature, the rain and the life witnessed their Jagannath and Jaganmata relish the moment. They witnessed Krishna doing maya leela for his Sri. They witnessed Lakshmi with her Narayan. They witnessed Rukmini putting all her trust in him and going along wherever he takes her.

Time flew by in a blink of an eye and it was close to dawn. But neither of them wanted to stop. Rukmini wanted to be with him as much as possible and Krishna wanted that just as much but that was not possible and they both knew that.

"Rajkumari Rukmini!" A panicked servant called and Rukmini's hand slipped off from Krishna's. Rain gradually came to a stop.

The smile never left her face as servants crowded her, throwing a warm and dry cloth over her shoulder. They started dragging her into the palace before she caught a cold.

Rukmini looked back where Krishna was supposed to but was now empty. Then Rukmini looked in her hand, the peacock feather he left behind. Only one man dazing in her head.

Saawariya.

Madhav.

Murli.

Krishna.

Krishna.

"KANHA!" Balram shouted, snapping his brother's attention, "What are you doing here at this time?"

Balram went out for a walk because his sleep broke early only to find his brother sitting on a stone, playing flute without any break and when he called him, Krishna didn't even hear him.

"Ji, Dau?" Krishna jumped down from the stone.

"What are you doing here?"

"Prem, Dau. Prem. Aap nehi samjhenge." Krishna gave him a mischievous smile before marching towards the castle.

© 𝐊𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐋 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑, 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃 — all content rights belongs to KRISHAKAMAL. Do not plagiarize any works and do not repost or translate onto any other sites.

All the rights and credits of the characters, gifs, songs and pictures used here belongs to their rightful owners.

[sapphic-book-tournament]

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri-

Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of the powerful, magical deathless waters — but is now little more than a decaying ruin.

Priya is a maidservant, one among several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, so long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides.

But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire.

The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson-

Tomorrow, on the beach, Baru Cormorant will look up from the sand of her home and see red sails on the horizon.

The Empire of Masks is coming, armed with coin and ink, doctrine and compass, soap and lies. They'll conquer Baru’s island, rewrite her culture, criminalize her customs, and dispose of one of her fathers. But Baru is patient. She'll swallow her hate, prove her talent, and join the Masquerade. She will learn the secrets of empire. She’ll be exactly what they need. And she'll claw her way high enough up the rungs of power to set her people free.

In a final test of her loyalty, the Masquerade will send Baru to bring order to distant Aurdwynn, a snakepit of rebels, informants, and seditious dukes. Aurdwynn kills everyone who tries to rule it. To survive, Baru will need to untangle this land’s intricate web of treachery - and conceal her attraction to the dangerously fascinating Duchess Tain Hu.

But Baru is a savant in games of power, as ruthless in her tactics as she is fixated on her goals. In the calculus of her schemes, all ledgers must be balanced, and the price of liberation paid in full.

[cressida-cowper]

delilah green doesn’t care — “a clever and steamy queer romantic comedy about taking chances and accepting love - with all its complications - by debut author ashley herring blake”

written in the stars — “in her debut, with nods to bridget jones’s diary and pride and prejudice, alexandria bellefleur delivers a charming rom-com about a free-spirited astrologer who agrees to a fake relationship with an uptight actuary — with results not even the stars could predict!”

the jasmine throne — “trapped by her despotic brother within the crumbling walls of an ancient temple, princess malini dreams on vengeance. forced to disavow her birthright and her power because of her past, maidservant priya dreams of freedom. in a world beset by wild magic and turbulent uprising, their destinies will become irrrevocably tangled. and together, they will set an empire ablaze.” + the oleander sword — “the prophecy of the nameless god— the words that declared malini rightful empress of parijatdvipa— have proven a blessing and a curse. she is determined to claim the throne fate offered her. but deposing her brother is going to be a brutal and bloody fight. the power of the deathless waters flows through priya’s blood. now an elder of ahiranya, she dreams of seeing her country rid of the rot that plagues it: both parijatdvipa’s poisonous rule and the blooming sickness spreading through all living things. but she doesn’t yet understand the truth of the magic she carries. their chosen paths once pulled them apart. but malini’s and priya’s souls remain as entwined as their destinies. and saving their kingdom from those who would rather see it burn will come at a terrible price.”

pride and prejudice and pittsburgh — i cba to copy all that from the back of this one so it’s a time travel lake house type deal with a girl from two hundred years in the past and one from pittsburgh

[wondereads]

WLW Book Recommendations

Happy Pride!

Recommendations are under the cut due to the size of this post. The books listed below are:

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Crier’s War by Nina Varela

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett

Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

Seven Devils by L. R. Lam and Elizabeth May

Malice by Heather Walter

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (high fantasy)

Yes, this book is a monster, but it is well worth your time. Told from multiple perspectives spanning a huge fantasy world, an ancient evil is waking up, and humans must be prepared. This book does a great job of blending many different cultures into one narrative, and the way it deals with organized religion is better than any other book I've ever read. While this is a fantasy over a romance, the sapphic relationship in this book is top tier. It develops slowly and naturally; it's not big and sweeping like a lot of romance in fantasy, but the smaller things really come through.

Crier's War by Nina Varela (high fantasy)

In a fantasy world, humans are ruled over by automae, artificial beings that were initially created by humans but have now taken over as the 'superior' beings. Ayla's family was killed by the king, and she vows to take revenge by killing his own family, his only daughter, Lady Crier. I find the history of the automae very interesting in this book, and Crier's story in particular has a lot of good reveals. While this is an intense high fantasy, there is a bit of humor in it. Told from both Ayla and Crier's perspectives, I find it incredibly funny that a human girl is scheming how to assassinate a princess while said princess is experiencing her first crush on said human girl.

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri (high fantasy)

This book is set in a world inspired by ancient India, and tells the story of a maidservant and princess. The maidservant has a dark past that involves illegal magic and old societies, and the princess has been imprisoned by her cruel and despotic brother. This book is very much on the slower side, but some people prefer that. Similar to Priory, this book is told from multiple points of view, not just the two main characters. The unrest in the kingdom is slow and creeping but happens steadily and realistically. Also, concerning the romance, I actually quite like that the two main characters, Priya and Malini, don't exactly have a very healthy relationship.

The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett (high fantasy)

One of my favorite books, The Winter Duke is about Ekata, one of the many children of the duchy of Kylma Above. All she wants to do is leave this place and her family to pursue her dreams of scholarship, but when her family falls into a permanent sleep the day before her departure, she must step up to rule. As someone who loves political fantasy, this book is right up my alley, and yours too as long as that's something you like. I really like that this book explicitly states that Ekata has zero interest in men romantically and is only interested in women. Her romance with Inkhar definitely brings out the YA aspects of this book. Ekata is forced to grow up so quickly, it's nice to see her have a crush and get flustered over it like any teenage girl.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide (mystery thriller)

At a predominately white private school, the only two Black students are targeted by an anonymous texter, Aces. Though they have nothing in common, they team up in order to uncover Aces and protect their secrets. Plot wise, this is by far my favorite thriller I've ever read. It's tense, it'll keep you on the edge of your seat, and it discusses institutionalized racism, especially in academia, masterfully. One of the main characters, Chiamaka, has a great sideplot of coming to terms with her sexuality. However, when it comes between her safety and her romance, I love that she keeps a level head on her shoulders and always chooses the former. (There is also MLM rep in this book with the other POV character.)

Seven Devils by L. R. Lam and Elizabeth May (space opera sci-fi)

An intergalactic empire spreads across the universe, and it's up to a ragtag group of rebels to stop it. Eris was once heir to the entire empire, but she gave that up to be part of the Resistance, and one mission may be the deciding factor in the universe's continued freedom. While Eris is technically the main character, this is fundamentally an ensemble cast with multiple perspectives. This book has quite a bit of LGBTQ+ representation, including a sapphic relationship between two of the POV characters. While not a huge focus of the book, their relationship is sweet and touching.

Malice by Heather Walter (high fantasy)

Malice is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty following Alyce, the Dark Grace, who is reviled but used by all in the kingdom of Briar. Alyce dreams of escaping Briar until she starts to master her powers and meets the Princess Aurora. I will admit that I prefer the plot to the romance in this book for the most part, but the ending really gets me sometimes. Alyce's powers and her people's history are so interesting, and Aurora is a great, understanding, and kind love interest.

Stay tuned for more pride recommendations all throughout this month!

[fiefgoldenlake]

Recs for Disability Pride month (and some bonus belated recs for Pride!)

All titles link to Storygraph, which can give you a further synopsis, as well as any warnings.

Godkiller (Godkiller #1) by Hannah Kaner

Meet Kissen - the eponymous godkiller. In a world which has forsaken gods, Kissen deals with those who still prey on the public. She finds herself drawn into a quest with a young girl who is bound to a god. Along the way, they start to uncover what truly happened in their country's war against the gods. Bisexual rep, queer-normal world, main character has a prosthesis.

Iron Widow (Iron Widow #1) by Xiran Jay Zhao

Zetian volunteers herself to be a concubine pilot, to avenge the death of her sister. Giant robots, known as Chrysalises, are piloted by men, with the assistance of a female (concubine) pilot. Zetian's actions lead her to be punished by a match-up with Li Shimin, who has killed every concubine pilot who has ever flown with him. But everyone has underestimated Zetian. Poly, bisexual rep, the correct resolution to a love triangle. The main character suffers from chronic pain, mobility issues, and uses a wheelchair on occasion. 

The Final Strife (The Ending Fire Trilogy #1) by Saara El-Arifi

This is a class-driven society, and clear-blooded Hassa belongs to the ghost class, who've had their tongues cut out and hands severed by the ruling Ember class. The book follows Sylah, one of the Stolen Ember children, forged into a weapon and using drugs to cope with her past, and the beautiful and privileged Anoor. In the background, there's Hassa, keeping an eye on everything. The Ghostings communicate through sign language, and although Sylah is as fluent as possible without being a native, she can't speak it - it is a language exclusive to them. Sylah also suffers from drug withdrawal symptoms in the first book. Trans rep, wlw, mutism. 

Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse

Xiala is a disgraced Teek, charged with bringing a 'harmless' passenger to Tova. Serapio has a destiny, one which has caused him to be blinded, and he's determined to fulfill it. Blind main character (but has the capacity to be magically enhanced), queer-normal world. 

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings #1) by Mackenzi Lee (YA)

Monty is already well-versed in vice before embarking on his Grand Tour with his best friend, Percy. It isn't a problem that he has a big crush on Percy - really. But it is Percy's last chance for freedom, since he suffers from epileptic seizures, and his uncle has judged it best that he be put in a sanitorium at the end of the trip. Bisexual rep, mlm, epilepsy, period-typical homophobia, period-typical discrimination. 

Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo

If you haven't already read it and you want to know more about a world like the Court of the Rogue, definitely check this one out! The Crows are a fantastic group, and you can't help rooting for them. Leader Kaz uses a cane and suffers from PTSD - Bardugo says she was looking to create a character who was "disabled and ferocious". Queer found family, mlm amongst the main characters, limp/use of cane, PTSD. 

Bonus Belated Pride Recs The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms #1) by Tasha Suri

There's a rot spreading through the nation, which sees dying plants sprout inside people’s bodies, killing them. The Emperor is seeking to crush a rebellion, and will not tolerate any dissent. Priya does what she can to help the poorest citizens, but it's not without a cost, and she needs to keep her head down. Malini, the vengeful princess imprisoned by her own brother, has other ideas, however. Wlw. 

The Priory of the Orange Tree (The Roots of Chaos #1) by Samantha Shannon

A quest fantasy with a queendom on one side, where magic is prohibited and the throne of Inys has passed, generation after generation, from mother to identical daughter. On the other side, there be dragons. Assassination attempts, a beautiful wlw romance, another main character who reads as ace, and a gripping plot, this book is worth every one of its (almost) 850 pages. Part of a series but each book stands alone.

Little Thieves (Little Thieves #1) by Margaret Owen (YA)

Vanja is one of my favourite characters that I've encountered in years (and as a bonus, the author is a confirmed TP fan!). This is an irreverent retelling of the Goose Girl from the maid's perspective, and the concept behind the title is, "The little thief steals gold, but the great one steals kingdoms; and only one goes to the gallows." Vanja is a little thief, accustomed to fending for herself, but she comes up against a curse, an impending marriage, and a personified pocket ledger. Demi rep, queer found family. 

Finally, I read Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly, which is a story about two guys who meet hiking the PCT. One of them brought his comfort read - Alanna: the First Adventure

[itmightrain]

"Why are you in the forest with the emperor's sister?"

Bhumika has had the longest day ever

[melanielocke]

Book recommendations - Queer POC books

Some more book recommendations, this time I'm focusing on Queer PoC books, all by authors of color. All the books shown in the picture are UK editions. I generally like it when books have a UK paperback edition because they're a lot cheaper than US hardcovers, usually also cheaper than US paperbacks, and release the same week as the US hardcover. I don't think these editions are always available if you live in North America, but to those living in Europe, buying UK editions can save you a lot of money. Other parts of the world I honestly don't know which editions are easiest to come by. Only downside for UK editions is that sometimes there are some with a redesigned cover that is very ugly. Of the books shown here, only the Witchery has a different cover than the US edition but in this case I like both.

Starting with this Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

This is a duology, the second and last book was released last June and so this is a complete series. It is inspired by Greek mythology, and specifically, the myth of Medea, and follows Briseis, who was adopted and inherits an estate from her aunt whom she never met. Briseis has always been able to make plants grow, and is immune to poisonous plants, and at the estate she discovers her birth family had these same gifts, and they keep a garden with some of the most poisonous plants in the world. This book has some great characters, and Briseis was adopted and raised by two sapphic Black mothers, who also play a big role in this series. This series has also served as inspiration for the Lightwood's magic garden in Flowers Bloom

Also by this author: Cinderella is Dead, which I'd also recommend, the Vanquishers, a MG which I did not read

Upcoming books: My Dear Henry, a Jekyll & Hide retelling (3-2023); You're not Supposed to Die Tonight, a slasher horror (6-2023)

Next up is Afterlove by Tanya Byrne

This is a sapphic love story with a MC of Indian decent. At New Years's Eve, just before midnight, Ash is hit by a car and dies instantly. She gets the offer to become a reaper, who guide the city's dead to their afterlife. But Ash can't forget Poppy, her girlfriend, and will do anything to get to see her again.

I haven't seen a lot of people talk about this book, but I really enjoyed it. The main focus is the romance here, and it's more romance with a fantasy aspect to it than fantasy.

Other books by this author: there are several other older books, none of which I've read

Upcoming books: The Mermaid of Black Rock (9-2023), a sapphic book about a girl with no memory found in the sea and a girl who falls in love with her

The Jasmine Throne is the only adult series I put in this list (the rest is YA), and is a fantasy trilogy set in an India inspired world. Book 1 and 2 are out now.

Malini is a princess who is imprisoned in an old temple by her dictator brother, an emperor obsessed with religious ideas revolving women gaining purity and immortality by being burnt alive. Malini refused to burn for his sake.

Priya is a maidservant who travels to the temple every night to clean Malini's chambers. Before her land was conquered by Malini's family, Priya was a temple child, and she had passed through the magical deathless waters once, but all the temple children were murdered except a few who survived and she has to hide her past.

Malini and Priya eventually start working together, with the goal of restoring the throne to Malini's other, oldest brother who'd abandoned the throne to become a priest.

Other books by this author: The Books of Ambha duology, adult fantasy, and What Souls are Made of, a YA Wuthering Heights retelling

Upcoming books: Book 3 of the series, scheduled for 2023, currently no release date known

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas is one of my personal favorites of this year. It's the first book in a YA fantasy duology set in a world inspired by Mexican culture. In this world, the sunbearer trials are held every ten years to replenish the energy of the sol stones and keep the sun alive and evil gods at bay. Ten demigods (called semidioses) are chosen by Sol to compete in a set of trials. The winner becomes the Sunbearer and gets to replenish the sol stones. The loser becomes a human sacrifice that is necessary to replenish said stones.

Semidioses are divided in gold and jade categories, depending on if their parent is a gold or jade god. Gold gods are the most powerful gods, ruling over things like the earth, the seas, fire etc, while jade gods are considered less powerful and their children too. There haven't been any jade competitors in the Sunbearer trials in over a century, but that year, two are chosen.

Teo is the transgender son of Quetzal, the goddess of birds, and he never expected to be chosen for the trials. The other jade is Xio, the son of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck. The other 8 competitors are all gold semidioses, including Teo's best friend Niya, daughter of Tierra, god of the Earth and the twin children of the fire goddess, Aurelio and Auristela. Compared to many of the others, Teo does not have a lot of powers and will have to fight with everything he has to survive.

The fantasy world in this book is modern second world, so while everything is different from this world, there are equivalents of instagram and tiktok for example, and they have trading cards featuring different semidiose heroes.

Other books by the author: Cemetery Boys, Lost in the Never Woods, I've read both and they're very good

Upcoming books: book 2 of the sunbearer trials (expected in 2023), companion/sequel to Cemetery Boys (fall 2024), untitled book pitched as gay titanic in space (2024), Just Max (a contemporary set in college, 2024).

I don't think it's likely there'll be 3 books coming out in 2024 but that's the information I currently have

The last book in the picture is the Witchery by S. Isabelle

This book features four witches and two human boys. Logan only recently found out she's a witch and transferred to a school for witches, and so far she's no good at it. But she's taken under the wing by the Red Three, three Black witches and the most powerful witches at the school. Thalia, a greenwitch, Iris, a deathwitch and Jailah, the most powerful witch at school, want to end the curse that's plaguing their town, and want Logan's help to do it.

Every year, there's a Haunting Season during which wolves come out of the swamp and kill people. The witches can protect people, to some extent, but the Red Three want to end the Haunting Season once and for all.

This book has a total of 6 POV's, which can make it confusing but I think it worked well. All the characters were interesting, but there wasn't enough space to flesh them all out as much as I would have liked. Still, I think the story was great, and would recommend it. There's not much focus on romance, but Jailah is a lesbian which is why I included it on this list.

Other books by this author: The Witchery is her first book

Upcoming books: another book is expected to be released in 2023. I have no idea what this book is about

Let me know if there are specific recommendations you'd like me to cover next time, I think I'll make more posts like these because it's lots of fun. Also, if you've read any of the books I recommend and want to talk about it, let me know, because I don't have a lot of people to talk about my favorite books with

@alastaircarstairsdefenselawyer @life-through-the-eyes-of @astriefer @justanormaldemon @ipromiseiwillwrite @a-dream-dirty-and-bruised @amchara @all-for-the-fanfiction @imsoftforthomastair @ddepressedbookworm @queenlilith43 @wagner-fell @cant-think-of-anything @laylax13s @tessherongraystairs @boredfangirl16 @artist-in-soul @bottomdelioncourt @ikissedsmithparker

[femslashrevolution]

Popular Pairing List Update

The following pairings have more than 10 recent posts in their pairing tag, and are therefore too popular to be posted on Rarepair Thursdays:

Aerith Gainsborough x Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy)

Amelia Collins x Zoe Miller (Class of '07)

Anaïs Davis x Bobbie De Bruyn (wtFOCK)

Aninlaphat Sawetwarit x Pilanthita Kasidit (The Loyal Pin)

Anna x Elsa (Disney Princesses)

Applejack x Fluttershy (My Little Pony)

Azula x Ty Lee (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Barbara Holland x Nancy Wheeler (Stranger Things)

Bérénice Leblond x Carla Furiani (Ici tout commence)

Blaze x Kristina Corinthos Davis (General Hospital)

Buffy Summers x Cordelia Chase (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Cady Heron x Regina George (Mean Girls; Mean Girls Musical)

Cate Randa x May Olowe Hewitt (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters)

Clary Fray x Isabelle Lightwood (The Mortal Instruments)

Darcy Lewis x Wanda Maximoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Delia Ketchum x Jessie (Pokemon)

Dorcas Meadowes x Marlene McKinnon (Harry Potter)

Dorcas Meadowes x Narcissa Malfoy (Harry Potter)

Earth x Sun (23.5)

Eileen Dunlop x Rebecca (Eileen)

Eve Unwin x Suki Panesar (Eastenders)

Falin Touden x Marcille Donato (Delicious in Dungeon)

Fluttershy x Rarity (My Little Pony)

Ginny Weasley x Pansy Parkinson (Harry Potter)

Gwen Runck x Nikki (That 90's Show)

Gwen Stacy x Mary Jane Watson (Marvel Comics)

Jack Danvers x Keeley Jones (Ted Lasso)

Kristi Miller x Marielle (From)

Harper Row x Stephanie Brown (DCU; Gotham Knights)

Harumoto Itsuki x Hayashi Fuyu (Chaser Game W)

Ink x Pa (Bad Buddy)

Jamie x Marian (Drive-Away Dolls)

Jiang Zhaoyun x Lan Ze (Legend of Yunze)

Lady Hideko x Sook Hee (The Handmaiden)

Luce x Rachel (Imagine Me & You)

Margaery Tyrell x Sansa Stark (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Padmé Amidala x Sabé (Star Wars)

Prang x Warang (Love Senior)

Sabine Wren x Shin Hati (Star Wars)

The following pairings have been posted less frequently recently, and have therefore been removed from the popular pairing list:

AJ Campos x Paige Evans (Crush)

Alex Cabot x Olivia Benson (Law & Order: SVU)

Amalia True x Penance Adair (The Nevers)

Amanita Caplan x Nomi Marks (Sense8)

Ana Servín x Mariana Herrera (Madre sólo hay dos)

Anne Shirley x Diana Barry (Anne of Green Gables; Anne With An E)

Ava Coleman x Janine Teagues (Abbott Elementary)

Beca Mitchell x Chloe Beale (Pitch Perfect)

Becky Baker x Imogen Moreno (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

Bette Porter x Tina Kennard (The L Word)

Casey Gardner x Izzie (Atypical)

Deena Johnson x Samantha Fraser (Fear Street)

Eleanor Levetan x Gabbi Broussard (Do Revenge)

Frankie Bergstein x Grace Hanson (Grace and Frankie)

Frannie Langton x Marguerite Benham (The Confessions of Frannie Langton)

Héloïse x Marianne (Portrait of a Lady on Fire)

Imogen Temult x Laudna (Critical Role)

Jen Harding x Judy Hale (Dead to Me)

Jules Vaughn x Rue Bennett (Euphoria)

Keeley Jones x Rebecca Welton (Ted Lasso)

Malini x Priya (The Jasmine Throne)

Maria Hill x Natasha Romanoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe; Marvel Comics)

Riri Williams x Shuri (Marvel Cinematic Universe; Marvel Comics)

Shelby Goodkind x Toni Shalifoe (The Wilds)

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

hi makenzie! i’m currently looking for some good fantasy, do you have any specific favorites from your recent reads? 🤔

oh BOY do I!

Jade City (Fonda Lee) - the first of a ROLICKING fantasy novel unlike anything I've ever read before. the setting is stunning: the post-war island of Kekon, where technology (radio and telephones, cars and airplanes, etc) lives side by side with a magical jade that the native population has harnessed for generations to enhance their natural abilities to become fearsome combatants. the series begins with three adult siblings - Lan, Hilo, and Shae - struggling to find their places within their famed grandfather's legacy, and follows them for years as international conflict blooms and the family grows. Lee is BRUTAL writer who will kick you in the gut out of absolutely nowhere with some of her twists, but goddamn you will never be bored. I haven't read the final book yet but my hopes are HIGH.

City of Brass (S.A. Chakraborty) - also the first in a trilogy, this time centering around a secret city of djinn in 19th century Egypt. it starts as a fun romp as Nari, an adult orphan with inexplicable healing abilities that I'm sure won't be relevant to the plot at all, no sir, becomes entangled with an ancient warrior (bastard) and a naive prince (best boy, never done anything wrong in his life) and elevates into an absolutely epic political fantasy that I was heartbroken to finish. this isn't strictly "recent" but I really cannot recommend the trilogy enough!

Kaikeyi (Vaishnavi Patel) - a standalone retelling of the story of Kaikeyi, the wicked stepmother figure of the Sanskrit epic the Ramayana. this book is some of the most fun I had with a doorstopper novel all year; Patel strikes a really good balance between political maneuverings, interpersonal developments, and sprinkling in reimagined Hindu myths and legends. Kaikeyi's a blast, give it a chance!

Siren Queen (Nghi Vo) - I'm a Nghi Vo fan first and a person second, so there's no way I wasn't going to mention her most recent release. Siren Queen presents a fantastical alternate history where the rise of Hollywood film studios was presided over by sinister fey creatures, with each studio paying homage to eerie eldritch creatures in order to thrive. actors and actresses are bought and sold, changeling children roam the lots, and anyone who doesn't play along can be replaced with an uncanny replica. among all of this danger our heroine sets out to become a star, set on avoiding the stereotypical roles thrust at other Chinese-Americans. she finds success as the monstrous Siren Queen, but you KNOW she's not going to get a straightforward happily ever after in an industry that literally eats people alive.

The Jasmine Throne (Tasha Suri) - also the first in a series, the Jasmine Throne sees Totally Ordinary No Dramatic Backstory Here maid Priya ordered to look after Malini, an exiled princess banished to a haunted tower far from her tyrannical brother's court. Malini quickly reveals herself to be a much sharper political schemer than her sickly demeanor would suggest, and she enlists Priya in her plans to facilitate her own escape and overthrow her brother. this one is ripe with BODY HORROR PLANT MAGIC!

The City We Became (N.K. Jemisin) - we're once again stretching the bounds of a "recent" read, but the sequel just came out so now is the perfect time! this is a contemporary urban fantasy that asks the pressing question: what if cities that become old and powerful enough come to life, embodied in a single person who must represent and protect that city? and what if New York just had a big messy magical birth, just as its in danger from an otherworldly threat? great news - the five boroughs have also found avatars, and they're teeming up to save New York the person and New York the city.

[sunnyhvnny]

Meet Malini Sand

The bastard daughter of Qoren Martell’s wife, Malini Sand is adored by almost everyone in Dorne but after a disagreement with the Prince of Dorne and King Viserys, it is agreed that Malini will be sent to King’s Landing as not only a ward but as a Lady-In-Waiting for Princess Helaena.

She is the first of Princess Helaena’s Ladies and the only one to catch and hold the eye of Prince Aegon. She is an avid reader, seeking out knowledge anywhere she can find it. She also enjoys the pleasures and luxuries that life has to offer. Often dressing in the fine jewels that her mother sends from home and escaping into the city to dance freely. Malini enjoys the cat and mouse game with the Prince but it comes to an end after she catches him staring at her in awe as she shows the Princess and her other Ladies a dance native to Dorne. It is that night that she takes the Prince to her bed and makes him her lover.

In the histories, she is known as one of the few noblewomen that King Aegon the Second of his name had taken as a lover. She bore him two children; a son named Nymor, who her half-sister named as her heir after bearing no children of her own, and a daughter named Nymeria, who took to the seas with her mother and sailed East with no fixed location after The Dance of Dragons came to an end.