Happy Pride, Readers!
It's that time of year again! Here are 5 of the best queer books I've read since the last time we celebrated Pride Month together.
These aren't necessarily new books (though some are!), just books that I read in the last 12 months and thought were swell. Maybe you'll like them, too!
The Summer War by Naomi Novik @naominovik (m/m rep)
If you like classic fairy tales that feature clever protagonists outwitting the fae, you'll like this novella. It's about a young girl who discovers she's inherited some magical ability when she accidentally curses her brother to never find love.
Cinder House by Freya Marske @fahye (polyamorous, bi rep)
Content warning for abusive family My new favorite Cinderella retelling. Being a novella, the story is told quite efficiently, trusting the reader to follow along without spelling out every single thing, and still fitting in some excellent world-building. It's a familiar story with vibrant characters you'll miss when it's done.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (nonbinary rep)
A lovely, gentle sci-fi solarpunk novella that feels like a hug, perfect for when you need to slow down. The main character, Dex, leaves the city in search of meaning and stumbles across a sentient robot of the type that has not been seen since the days of 'oil roads' and factories. The world building is deft with just the right amount of detail. Make sure you have the sequel, A Prayer for the Crown Shy, on hand - you'll want more.
The Cemeteries of Amalo by Katherine Addison (m/m rep)
This is a sequel series to The Goblin Emperor; if you enjoyed that book you'll find more to love here. This trilogy (start with The Witness for the Dead if you've already read The Goblin Emperor) follows Thara Celehar as he gets into a truly improbably amount of trouble for such an unassuming prelate. Murders, opera, airships, ghosts, and a distinct preoccupation with wearing the correct coat for the occasion; what more could you want?
Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers @pangur-and-grim (m/m rep, general pervasive queerness)
Content warning for amputation and some gore This is a tricky one to categorize, but it's queer, it's fun (content warning notwithstanding), it's fresh, and if you've ever read anything else like it drop the title because I want to know about it.
Sir Cameron is prophesied to die and end the reign of terror of the evil mage. Naturally, Sir Cameron would rather that first part not happen and so, reasoning that there is at least one other person in agreement with that sentiment, throws himself upon the dubious mercy of said mage. Hijinks ensue.
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And that's this year's list! Of course, there are MANY more queer books worth reading. Here's our LGBTQ Reads tag if you need your TBR to be even longer. Enjoy!
See more of Robin's recs