#aidan thomas

[rapid-oxidization]

i'm thinking thoughts.

The Song of Achilles (Madeline Miller) // Cemetery Boys (Aiden Thomas)

[neurodivergent-fangirling]

Pride Month Books 2026 Part 2: People of Color (POC) Main Characters

Happy Pride Month! Once again, I’m celebrating by recommending books with LGBTQ+ main characters. The first three weeks will each highlight a different intersectional subcategory, and the fourth week will be for general recommendations.

This week, I want to focus on books featuring main characters who are People of Color (POC). Like my other recommendations this month, these are all books I’ve read and enjoyed that feature happy endings. Feel free to add your own recommendations in the comments and reblogs!

Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth In this high school retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, gamer girl Viola makes a deal with jock Orsino: she’ll smooth things over with his girlfriend Olivia in exchange for him dealing with the idiots on the student council. Meanwhile, Orsino explores the world of online gaming and fandom through his friendship with Cesario—Viola’s character in the gaming world. Look, I normally despise enemies-to-lovers and contemporary realistic fiction teen romance, but I absolutely adored this book. Viola is such an amazing, unapologetically ‘unlikeable’ female protagonist (yet still a good person!), and I love how this book celebrates fandom culture while also addressing the prevalent sexism and racism. Dozens of romances feature secret identities, but I appreciate that in Twelfth Night, the female character is the one with the big secret (and she has a very good reason for it initially). The Shakespeare play was already practically queer, but in this retelling, we get canonically queer characters, romance, and community.

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo Aspiring actress Luli Wei navigates a Hollywood landscape full of heartbreak and twisted fae bargains, determined to claw out place for herself in a world that closes its doors to people like her. Stardom comes with a price, and she will pay whatever it costs to live her dream. This book is positively brilliant and I loved it. While at times it might feel like magical realism, this is proper fantasy, the faery lore and studio corruption woven seamlessly together. Shoutout to the Tam Lin retelling included, although it’s not the main story. I think what I loved best were all the female friendships and mentorships, and the different ways characters support each other. It’s dark at times, but the ending was perfect.

Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas Yadriel just wants to be accepted by his family as a brujo. When his cousin is murdered, Yadriel performs a ritual and summons the wrong ghost—Julian, who has no intention of passing over just yet. There’s more than one murder for them to solve, but Yadriel may end up losing his heart in the process… if not his life. I know this was published years before Dead Boy Detectives but oh my gods, Yadriel and Julian are so Payneland-coded I just can’t handle it. The rule-follower finding his place in the world and the charismatic chaos magnet. The doomed romance. The banter. And that ending!! I mean, I saw the first twist coming, but not the second one!! And now I find out there’s a sequel coming out this fall?! Look, if you like Dead Boy Detectives, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, or any of the other fandoms I fangirl-gush about, you need to read the Aidan Thomas books.

The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa A pirate makes a deal with the Devil and the Devil comes to collect—but neither of them read the fine print carefully enough. Mar survives the wreck of their parents’ ship determined to find a way to free their father from the demonic bargain, but they also have to contend with hiding their magical powers, growing feelings for another pirate, tricky bargains offered by a charming younger demon, and the looming threat of colonialism against their people. This is a really good book. I love stories about characters who have to hide parts of themselves and struggle to find acceptance and belonging, and I appreciate stories about pirates who aren’t white dudes. I enjoyed the action, the drama, the plot twists, and the ending.

It Rhymes with Takei by George Takei The story of the actor who became one of the core crew of the original Star Trek series, and the parts of his life omitted from his previous biographies. I normally don’t read graphic novels or nonfiction, but of course I was going to read this one. There’s so much I didn’t know about his early life, and so much I never learned in school about modern queer history in America. This was a fascinating, heartfelt, and enjoyable read. It’s a testament to how far we’ve come—but also how much we could lose, and how far we still need to go. But Star Trek has always been about hope, and pushing beyond the possible.

A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland It’s a love story and a mystery. Court intrigue mixed with messy family situations, a few assassination attempts, and an interesting dissection of power and ethics and how fealty works. Plus a refreshing new take on resolving a love triangle. I enjoyed reading it. Shoutout to the general because older female characters with agency are appreciated.

Unbecoming by Seema Yasmin Two Muslim teenage girls form a guide advising others on how to find safe abortion access in post-Roe Texas, while one of them searches with increasing desperation for methods to end her own unplanned pregnancy. Very relevant. Laylah and Noor can join the ranks of Kamala Khan and Samirah Al-Abbas as heroes for young girls. Still, the grandma was my favorite character—another to add to the list of older women who shouldn’t be underestimated.

Note: The Sunbearer Trials by Aidan Thomas and Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki also belong on this list, but I already wrote them up for the Trans/ Nonbinary/ Genderqueer list last week.

What are your favorite books (or other media) that feature POC main characters? I’m always looking for more stories!

[ten-rats-in-a-trenchcoat]

it is 2:21 sleep is for the weak ta da!

Remake of something old I did that I lost somewhere.

[bigotrepellent]

*shakes you aggressivly* YADRIEL LISTENS TO CHICANO PUNK-ROCK MUSIC!!!

[cherrychapati]

please for the love of the gods read the sunbearer trials it rekindled this love for fantasy and the same joy that percy jackson gave me; it's got amazing representation, achingly happy friendships, endearing power-themed nicknames, ridiculously funny banter, a hunger-games esque plotline, amazing world building and easy to fall in love with characters. read it read it read it!!!

[shxpeshifterr]

[stonerbuckley]

i think this is one of my favorite (and one of the most understated) parallels in cemetery boys

chapter 14, page 209

chapter 20, page 276

[catlaila]

@projectliterature event 02: underappreciated — cemetery boys

     He didn’t deserve death. He didn’t deserve any of this. Julian had quite literally died protecting his friends. And Yadriel was quite certain he didn’t deserve Julian. There was no reason for Julian to help him find Miguel, but he did it anyway, and there was no way Yadriel could ever repay him.      He gave everything away and expected nothing in return.      Yadriel’s heart ached.      No, none of them deserved Julian Diaz.