There’s nothing quite as comforting as dipping back into the cozy fictional town of Swanley, Massachusetts in Valentine Wheeler’s second installment in their Swanley Signs series, Give Way. The familiar setting and characters make falling into Kevin and Awais’ story effortless and enjoyable.
Buckle up, readers, because SJ Whitby is going to take you on an emotional, queer, action packed ride in the second installment of their Cute Mutants series, Cute Mutants Vol 2: Young, Gifted & Queer.
For all my nerdery that I ascribe to, the X-Men franchise has never been one that I’ve ever considered myself at all interested in. Until now. But they’re not really x-men, are they? No. They’re better. Who am I referring to? The new formed vigilante superheroes of Cute Mutants, Vol 1: Mutant Pride, by SJ Whitby, that’s who! Cause they’re not just new, quite literally new to their powers, they’re definitely cute, and queer, and diverse af.
Nottingham is an origin story for Robyn Hood and her queer band of misfits in Sherwood forest and it absolutely kept me engaged from the moment I started reading until the very end. There is so much to love about this story that it’s hard to find a place to even start, especially because I don’t want to ruin any surprises that the book holds.
Mooncakes, by Suzanne Walker & Wendy Xu is a magical graphic novel that will cast a spell over your heart. This self-contained story follows a diverse cast of characters and pulls the reader right into the magical setting. Walker & Xu have crafted a touching story that weaves magic into the modern realm through the tale of a capable hard of hearing witch, a non-binary werewolf learning their own innate magics, a science minded best friend, and delightfully supportive and queer grandmas.
The Queen of Ieflaria, by Effie Calvin, first in the Tales of Inthya series, is a quick and satisfying fantasy read. There is magic, LGBTQ+ inclusive world building, dragons, and court intrigue. And if that isn’t enough to pull you in, the amazing cast of female characters sure as hell will win your heart.
The Step Sister Scheme, by Jim C. Hines, is everything I want from a book – it is a fantasy story with a rich world, it’s a unique retelling of established Grimm Brother fairy tales, and it’s main cast are all strong, fiercly independant and capable women who couldn’t be more different.
Softball. It’s been a stereotypical lesbian staple for as long as I can remember. Playing for Keeps, by Carla Kincaid, is a book that addresses how softball plays a role in bringing two women together when only one of them is actually a softball player.
Depart, Depart! is an unapologetically queer cli-fi touching on the very real potential of our current climate crisis in a this-shit-could-happen-in-the-near-future plot while showcasing the hate and discrimination LGBTQA+ folks deal with even during natural disasters.
The Queerblr 