#am strickland

[asexualbookbird]

CURRENTLY READING: FEBRUARY 2025

In the Ravenous Dark by AM Strickland

I remember following the hype and release of this one on twitter! And then the library never got it and it was never a priority and then I found it online for four dollars and now I am reading it :D Big fan of demons and blood and magic and pansexuality so I have hopes for this one.

[astridhobbit]

Someone on Bluesky was like, hey maybe don't rec romance novels and sexy books to people who are actively saying they don't like romance, and especially don't tag in romance authors in those discussions because it turns out that authors do NOT like having their works shat upon by people who don't enjoy them, huh, who could have foreseen.

So when IS a good time to rec romance novels and sexy books?

RIGHT NOW!

I love romance novels and sexy books and here are some of my faves:

IF YOU LIKE: young protagonists, princess/bodyguard, princess/bad boy, and excellent SF nonsense TRY: Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik. It's the first in her Consortium trilogy, and all the books are a delight. The first is princess/bad boy, the other two are more princess/bodyguard, and they are ALL great SF, great adventure, and great romance!

IF YOU LIKE: middle-age protagonists complaining about their back pain, comedy, a religious order whose whole goal is to make things better for as many people as possible, and just a whiff of horror TRY: Paladin's Grace by T Kingfisher. It's the first in her Paladin Romance series and they are all hilarious and sweet, with only a few severed heads. Hardly any. And only the one warrenmind. (Like a hive mind, but hares.) Bishop Beartongue is the very best.

IF YOU LIKE: leather, whisky, BDSM, overthrowing the patriarchy, and just, so many orgies TRY: Beyond Shame by Kit Rocha. It's the first in their Broken Circle series, and it is an EXTENDED series. They were one of my gateway drugs into romance and I do love the extended metaplot.

IF YOU LIKE: fancy British society, clever unionizing efforts, and women who know how to play to their strengths TRY: The Duchess War, by Courtney Milan. It's the first full novel in the Brothers Sinister series (there's a prequel novella called The Governess Affair) and it's fantastic. The second book in the series, The Heiress Effect, had one of the tightest plots I've ever read. Everything tied up with a bow at the end, in a way that I didn't see coming but made perfect sense as I read it. Beautiful.

IF YOU LIKE: The Mummy, Indiana Jones, pulp adventure, hidden magic, good guys who can do no wrong, bad guys who can do no good, strong women who are stronger than they think TRY: Warrior, by Zoe Archer. It's the first book in the Blades of the Rose series and every book is cover-to-cover pulpy adventure goodness. The bad guys are cartoonishly evil. The good guys are pure of heart. The second book, Scoundrel, starts with a fight/chase themed around an Olympic pentathalon. It's SO good.

IF YOU LIKE: New York City, non-lethal violence, comedy, shifters who are decent but sometimes real assholes TRY: Hot and Badgered, by Shelly Laurenston. It's the first in the Honey Badger Chronicles, but the series comes after the Pride Series. (I started with these books, it's fine.) One of my favorite depictions of shifters, in no small part because of the thought she put into how shifters behave. Like how obsessed the male lion shifters are with their hair, or how sleepy the panda shifter is. I laughed a LOT when reading these books, they're SO funny. Violent, too, but shifters heal quick.

IF YOU LIKE: blood magic, becoming a monster to overthrow the patriarchy, polyamory, disaster pansexuals, ancient Greek aesthetics TRY: In the Ravenous Dark, by A.M. Strickland. We start with our narrator waking up, hung over, clutching a mostly-empty wine skin, with her on-again off-again girlfriend, on the roof of a pagoda-like thing above a fountain, in the middle of town. She makes choices based on wine and lust and anger and I love her.

IF YOU LIKE: subby men and Domme women, found family, overthrowing the patriarchy, long journeys, BDSM, ~angst~ and ~longing~ and ~guilt~ TRY: His Secret illuminations, by Scarlett Gale. It's the first in a duology and you may have heard of it as the fantasy pegging book. I regret to inform you that there is no pegging and not even any kink in the first book. I rejoice to inform you that there is a LOT of kink in the second one, His Sacred Incantations. (And yes, pegging.) He was raised in a monastery and taught that too much joy or pleasure will make him lose his magic. She's an Amazonian warrior woman who needs some help tracking down a missing book. They have an adventure! And, just, so much angst.

IF YOU LIKE: shifters, fighting the would-be conquerors, second chances, subby men and bossy women, grumpy/sunshine TRY: The Leopard King, by Ann Aguirre. It's the first in her Ars Numina series. Book 2, The Demon Prince, is more bossy lady/subby man, along with some hurt/comfort. Book 4, the Shadow Warrior, is a lot more BDSM. Book 5, The War Priest, is angsty grumpy/sunshine and Grumpy does NOT want to like Sunshine as much as he does. They're all good fun.

IF YOU LIKE: thriller/horror with a "hang on what is HAPPENING here" vibe, second chances, fighting for freedom TRY: The AI Who Loved Me, by Alyssa Cole. This book does a great job painting a scene that is just a little bit off, then slowly and subtly going more and more *wrong*. Not too scary, even for a horror weenie like me.

QUICK NOTE: I realized as I was making this that there are not enough Black authors on here. If anyone has any recs for science fiction / fantasy romance novels by Black authors, lay 'em on me!

[maddiesbookshelves]

In honor of pride month, here are my favorite queer books of all time (in no particular order)

I Wish You All the Best

When Ben comes out as nonbinary, their parents kick them out. They are forced to go live with their estranged sister and her husband in a new town and enroll into a new school. Their plan to lay low and finish their senior year unnoticed flies out the window when they meet kind and charismatic Nathan. As their friendship grows, so do their feelings for each other...

nb MC

bi black love interest

mental illness

just beacause they're family doesn't mean they're good for you

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow

Things haven't been the same for Archie recently: his parents are fighting and his dad is acting weird, but no one is telling him anything. When he sees a colourful, crumpled paper fall out of his dad's pocket, Archie thinks he might have found the answear. Only problem? The answer might just lie at the end of the rainbow, an adventure away. Archie enlists the help of his best friends and, tohether, they set off to London to try and fix his family.

communicate with your kids dammit

coming out as gay when you have a family

gay teens

drag queens

end set during the London Pride

Beyond the Black Door

Kamai and her mother are Soulwalkers ― they can journey into people's souls when they sleep. And in each soul she visits, Kamai sees a black door. When she gets close to it, it is warm and seems to be calling her name. Her mother has always warned her: never open the black door. But when tragedy strikes, Kamai feels like she has no other choice and opens it.

really cool ways of explaining queerness in-universe

trans rep

gay rep

ace rep

bi rep

it almost has it all, y'all

Loveless

Georgia has never been in love or kissed anyone, but she's sure she'll find her person one day. As she moves to another town for her first year of university, she thinks her romance dreams might just be within her reach. But when her plan wreacks havoc into her friend group, she starts wondering why love seems so easy for other people. With new terms thrown at her ― asexual, aromantic ― Georgia is more uncertain about her feelings than ever.

aro ace rep

leabian latina rep

pan rep

he/them nb + romantic ace non-white character

Iron Widow

The boys of Huaxia dream of piloting the Chrysalises to battle the aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall while the girls they are partnered with die from the mental strain. When her sister dies under suspicious circumstances, Wu Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot to the culprit in order to kill him. But she gets her vengeance in an unexpected way — she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily.

bi rep

feminist rage

poly rep

French version under the cut

I Wish You All the Best

Quand Ben annonce à ses parents qu'iel est non-binaire, ses parents lae mettent à la porte. Iel n'a d'autre choix que d'aller vivre chez sa sœur, avec qui iel n'a plus eu contact depuis des années et son mari, puis de s'inscrire dans une nouvelle école. Son plan de finir sa dernière année de lycée en faisant profile bas vole en éclats lorsqu'iel rencontre le gentil et charismatique Nathan. Alors que leur amitié s'épanoui, leurs sentiments l'un pour l'autre en font de même...

nb protag

love interest noir et bi

santé mentale

juste parce que c'est la famille ça veut pas dire qu'ils sont bons pour toi

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow

Rien n'est plus pareil pour Archie ces derniers temps : ses parents sont en froid et son père agit bizarrement, mais personne ne lui explique rien. Lorsqu'il aperçoit un papier coloré froissé tomber de la poche de son père, Archie pense avoir trouvé les réponses à ses questions. Le problème ? Les réponses se trouvent peut-être au bout de l'arc-en-ciel, à la fin d'une aventure. Archie demande l'aide de ses meilleurs amis et, ensemble, ils mettent le cap sur Londres pour essayer de réconcilier sa famille.

parlez à vos enfants bordel

annoncer qu'on est gay quand on a une famille

des ados gay

des drag queen

la fin se passe à la London Pride

Beyond the Black Door

Kamai et sa mère sont des Marcheuses d'Âmes ― elles peuvent visiter les âmes des gens lorsqu'ils sont endormis. Et, dans chaque âme que Kamai visite, elle voit une porte noire. Lorsqu'elle s'approche, elle est chaude et semble appeler son nom. La mère de Kamai l'a toujours mise en garde ; ne jamais ouvrir la porte noire. Seulement, une tragédie se produit et Kamai ne voit pas d'autre solution que d'ouvrir la porte.

une manière super cool d'expliquer les identités queer dans l'univers

rep trans

rep gay

rep ace

rep bi

ils y sont presque tous les gars

Loveless

Georgia n'est jamais tombée amoureuse et n'a jamais embrassé personne, mais elle est sûre qu'elle trouvera sa moitié un jour. Lorsqu'elle emménage dans une autre ville pour sa première année de fac, elle est persuadée que ses rêves de romance sont à portée de main. Mais quand ses plans sèment la pagaille dans son groupe d'amis, elle commence à se demander pourquoi l'amour a l'air si simple pour les autres. Assaillie par de nouveaux mots ― asexuelle, aromantique ― Georgia n'a jamais été aussi incertaine de ses sentiments.

rep aro ace

lesbienne latina

rep pan

personnage il/iel nb + romantique ace de couleur

Iron Widow

Les garçons de Huaxia rêvent de piloter les Chrysalides pour combattre les aliens qui rôdent au-delà de la Grande Muraille tandis que les filles avec qui ils font équipe meurent de l'effort mental. Lorsque sa sœur meurt dans des circonstances suspectes, Wu Zetian se porte volontaire pour être la concubine du coupable dans le but de le tuer. Elle obtient cependant sa vengeance d'une manière inattendue : elle le tue grâce au lien mental qu'ils partagent en pilotant et émerge du cockpit saine et sauve. Pour contrôler sa force psychique aussi précieuse que dérangeante, elle est associée à Li Shimin, le pilote le plus dangereux et le plus controversé de Huaxia. Mais maintenant que Zetian a goûté au pouvoir, elle ne se soumettra pas si facilement.

rep bi

rage féministe

rep poly

[jessread-s]

✩🌈📖Pride Month Stack:

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH EVERYONE!!!

This account is a LGBTQIA+ safe space! Love is love! 

🤍🩷🩵🤎🖤❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

This year, I am celebrating pride with these fierce new reads sent to me by @fiercereadsya!

❤️Something Like Possible by @readthenfall

🧡Ode to My First Car by @rockin_robin_1

💛Court of Undying Seasons by @adrianne.strickland

💚You Don’t Have a Shot by @blonde_with_a_book

I am SO excited to start reading these books and feature them in my classroom library this upcoming school year to help my students see themselves represented in literature!

For a chance to win these books and others, click the link below to enter:

Sweepstakes

Remember to always celebrate love and uplift those within the LGBTQIA+ community, this month and every month! Be proud of who you are and know that you are loved. 

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[adriannestrickland]

Here’s the cover for my next dark YA fantasy, Court of the Undying Seasons! (Designed and illustrated by the amazing Rich Dias.)

The book is about an initiate to a school for vampires trying to get revenge before she becomes a vampire, dies trying, or, worse, falls for one. I can’t wait for it to be out in the world 5/16/23 from Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan! (With perhaps more publisher announcements to come...)

Preorder here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250832627/courtoftheundyingseasons

[starrlikesbooks]

Hey do u take requests? If u do can u pls suggest some books with lovable villains? And any villain/hero if u can pls

I feel like both "villain" and "lovable" are terms with big spectrums and personal biases attached them, but these are a few I think work!

We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen is about an actual supervillain with amnesia, and no memory of his life before or how he got powers, becoming unlikely allies and best friends with the local superhero who's apparently in the same exact situation. He's a sweetheart of a character, and their platonic relationship is perfect.

Vicious by VE Schwab has a "villain" as a main character, someone who is very much okay with intimidation, threats, and murder. He's interesting, and the lesser of two evils, though definitely still a dark character.

The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska might be cheating just a bit, because I don't know if Eva counts as a villain, but she is queen of a race of people who drown the locals every few years. This is an enemies to lovers between a cold, distant girl Queen and a plucky, cynical ballerina who's meant to be this year's sacrifice.

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth is also a bit iffy on the villain aspect. The romance here is between the hero and a universally feared girl on the wrong side of oppression, but the main villains are also super interesting in their own right.

Night Shine by Tessa Graton's main antagonist is super interesting, and there is a romance between her and the main character.

Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland really tests the boundaries for "lovable", but I know he's some people's type. There is a central romance involving him.

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller is a dark fantasy romance starring two villain types. Both the MC is morally gray/dark, and the love interest is definitely lovable but also objectively terrible.

Beyond the Ruby Veil by Mara Fitzgerald stars yet another terrible main character who is, without a doubt, a villain- but so much fun to watch. I don't know if she's "lovable", but I love her. She's in the middle of an enemies to lovers romance, and the sequel comes out early next year.

[yabookjunkies]

This is probably my favorite book so far for 2019 and was a perfect start for Pride Month and I can’t wait for you guys to read it later this fall when it is released on October 29! ⁣

Everyone has a soul. Some are beautiful gardens, others are frightening dungeons. Soulwalkers—like Kamai and her mother—can journey into other people's souls while they sleep.⁣

But no matter where Kamai visits, she sees the black door. It follows her into every soul, and her mother has told her to never, ever open it.⁣

When Kamai touches the door, it is warm and beating, like it has a pulse. When she puts her ear to it, she hears her own name whispered from the other side. And when tragedy strikes, Kamai does the unthinkable: she opens the door.⁣

A.M. Strickland's imaginative dark fantasy features court intrigue and romance, a main character coming to terms with her asexuality, and twists and turns as a seductive mystery unfolds that endangers not just Kamai's own soul, but the entire kingdom.

[starrlikesbooks]

November Book Horoscopes!

As always, more in depth horoscopes below the cut

Aries: This month is great for you mentally, Aries, but not so much physically. You're feeling especially passionate and confident, but it's hard to deal with the changes as they come, and much as you try to make plans it's going to feel near impossible to actually stick to them. Read a book about something coming to an end, and the freedom & options that comes with change.

Taurus: This is a great month for you, Taurus. The full moon in your sign connects you to your emotions and concentrates your grounded energy. You've got ease with others, and find communicating your thoughts and needs easy while also being open to new ideas. However, your own vulnerabilities could pose a problem. Try a story about rethinking goals or priorities as losses become clear.

Gemini: Gemini, you're feeling adventurous and a bit antsy this month. You're able to communicate your desires to others and are lucky with love, and you don't hesitate to go along with the opportunities and connections that arise. The problem is the amount of change and transitions coming- it feels chaotic and it's difficult to follow your own plans. Read a story about taking charge and guiding change.

Cancer: This month you're connected to your desires and feeling stubborn enough to not be shaken from them. You're open to new ideas and wants, and your introspections will bring you closer to new your desires. Read an introspective book, about taking a step back to see what there is ahead.

Leo: Your ruling planet in Sagittarius makes you feel like diving in towards adventure. Getting curious and finding interests will be easy this month, and you're able to do some emotional introspection and connect to your wants. However, it's hard to follow through on what you're planning and as change comes it feels strangely chaotic. Try a book about newfound leadership, and the support to help plan.

Virgo: This month has you exploring possibilities, adventuring, and enjoying a luckiness when it comes to love and connections. You're good at bridging the gaps between yourself and others, and smoothing down conflict. But things aren't easy to get a handle on as changes wrack through and confuse your plans. You need a book about plans becoming upended, with a new, stressful present.

Libra: This month you have an easy luck communicating with others, connecting with others, and rolling with the punches. You're feeling a bit ambitious and you may find yourself wanting to exercise your brain. However, your heart is going to be harder to focus on, as your sensitivity causes some issues. Try a book about rethinking the work and the goals and trying to figure out motivation.

Scorpio: November finds you casually confident and introspective about your wants. You're able to easily communicate and argue for what you want and what you think you're owed. However, you may have issues connecting with or winning over others. Read a book about a pause in action and dissatisfaction, but leaning into nurture with others.

Sagittarius: This month you find it easier to connect with others than you do connect with yourself. November has you finding it hard to own your power and feel confident, but you do have an ease when it comes to your connections and putting your feelings in words, and your adventurous spirit isn't diminished. Read a book about taking the next steps toward what you’ve wanted, but finding they aren’t what you’d expected.

Capricorn: November isn't a month for doing much. You've got an easy confidence keeping you from feeling too negative, but you're going to have problems communicating and an inability to stay motivated. Read a book about the past, and what sacrifices are worth it.

Aquarius: Don't push yourself this month, Aquarius. This isn't a month that's going to help you be productive or make new connections, and you'll find it hard to feel confident. But thankfully you have the connections you already had, and this month has you really feeling surrounded by love. Try a book about nostalgia and being swept back into where or who you once were.

Pisces: This month finds you easily confident and lucky with love. Your curious nature and passion are sparked by Venus and the adventurous feeling in the air. Follow your ambitions, but don't worry too much about where it leads. Read a book about choosing kindness and love to move forward, even when there are easier options.

~ Have a good month and happy reading!