Books and comics with Butch/Masc protagonists or Love interests 🧡
I asked on IG for book recs, and these are the ones I got! Well, including a lil promo of my comic. In any case, I figured I would make a graphic for them. I love seeing recs laid out all nice.
hey quick PSA but “reading before bed to wind down” only works if you’re normal about books btw. if you aren’t you are going to end up awake at 2:52am after finishing the whole book just trust me on this one
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping - Sangu Mandanna
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 21/3/25-29/3/25 - Ebook (Thanks to Netgalley)
"If you know where to look for it, there is always a little magic in the heart of a person who loves it."
I’ll preface this review with the vital knowledge that I adored The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. That particular novel was published at pivotal time for my homesick British little heart and I have waited eagerly for Mandanna’s next novel set in this world. Magical Innkeeping did not disappoint! This book has so much heart packed into its pages.
As always, Mandanna crafts her characters with a wonderfully human touch; they are weird and flawed and occasionally batty in a delicious way. Sera, our protagonist is equal parts soft-hearted and stubborn in a charmingly real portrayal the burnt out gifted child. She’s aware that she will never live up to the potential of her past self and, as a reader, you can feel that fuelling her decision-making. It was painfully relatable and, despite the magical focus of Sera’s trouble, deeply familiar.
The extended cast of characters are just as witty and whimsical as in Irregular Witches. A lovable undead aunt, a talking fox, a pro-gardening old lady, a reenactment knight, a zombie rooster, a mischievous but well-meaning eleven-year-old boy and a young autistic girl make up the found family/supporting cast of this magical romance. I felt the disability rep, on several fronts, was handled with care and joy, letting these characters be defined by other aspects of their personality. Both Nicolas and Theo really sparkled as side-characters for me, their quirks and love for Sera making them the perfect companions. All of this was beautifully backdropped by the delicate magic system the author has constructed. It is a little hard to pin down initially, with rules remaining vague in the beginning but the way that Sera’s magic is describe was so unique and interesting that I’ve found myself thinking about it months later.
My one perhaps negative note is that, as time has passed since putting the book down, I’ve found the actual romance pairing to be a smidge forgettable. It was sweet and enjoyable but thoroughly overshadowed by the beautiful focus on Sera’s own story. I still wouldn’t say this is enough of a critique to even knock off a star or half star because this reading experience was just truly delightful. I’ve said it before but it remains true with this newest release, it feels as though Sangu Mandanna can feel when I’ll need an emotional boost the most and releases her novels perfectly in time with that—like her own dash of magic.
"To tell a story is in part to tell a lie, isn't it?"
This was my first venture into Gillig’s works and honestly I’m so happy it’s where I started!
The world-building was phenomenally constructed, with a rich sense of history and a clear functional society attached to it. The Knight and the Moth echos the dark fantasy movies and media of the 80s in its storytelling, sending the reader on an epic quest while giving you glimpses into characters lives across the map (and what a beautiful map it is!).
I’m sure that most people will come away from this book utterly obsessed with the standardly tall, brooding Roderick (rightfully so, he's brilliant), but I really think the standout humans in this book are Sybil and Maude. Sybil runs the full gamut from mild-mannered and naive to confident and self-assured, all of it driven by her determination to find her fellow diviners. It’s a beautifully handled coming-of-age story that I can’t help but admire the complexity of.
And Maude, my sweet Maude, this is a character I'd go to war for. Sure, I love a found family, but I love a self-appointed Mum who doesn't even see her own maternal instincts at play. Argh! I could rant about my love for Maude for hours, but I don't want to veer too close to spoiler territory, so just know that I am the president of her fan club and would willingly read hundreds of pages about her doing literally anything.
Notice how I said humans above? Yeah, that's because the gargoyle takes the cake in this story. He's perfect! I have nothing negative to say, only that I'm so incredibly charmed by his quirks and flaws! I'm aware Gillig described his bat-like features thoroughly, but his adorable essence softens the stony exterior in my brain.
All of this to say, I thoroughly enjoyed The Knight and The Moth. The audiobook was engaging and soothingly narrated, with distinguishable voices. I sometimes worry that masculine voices and fantastical ones can veer into the comical, which I personally find hard to listen to, but this narrator kept a nice air of realism to her tone that transported me into the world. I think it has a dark whimsy to it that I rarely find in modern storytelling and think it would be a perfect fit for fans of Labyrinth, Willow and The NeverEnding Story. Equally for readers who love the storytelling of V.E. Schwab, Terry Pratchett or Phillip Pullman.
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