Bad Weather Mammals: Poems by Ashley-Elizabeth Best
A deeply impactful, brutally honest poetry collection about the joys and trauma of living with a disability.
I highlighted SO much of this book. The prose are stunning, the imagery is compelling, the way Elizabeth-Best plays with form elevates her words beyond the page.
For me, reading poetry is a deeply intimate act that connects the reader to the author in really vulnerable ways. In Ashley-Elizabeth's case, she takes her specific lived experiences and then cracks it open to create a connection to others in this really compelling way.
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
A Macbeth retelling, but make it gothic feminine rage. The prose are gorgeous. The pacing was consistent. The gothic descriptions of Macbeth's castle made me feel the stones beneath my fingers.
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
Long live dislikable female main characters with this flip on traditional fantasy tropes.
I love the idea of flipping the script on fantasy tropes, where our main characters are fundamentally good or working towards good. Our main character Ray, is pretty dislikable the entire time. She is selfish, and self-absorbed. She leans into being a villain so hard that she calls her guard Key "minion" regularly.
Black Tide Son by H.M. Long
Pirates and magic and storms, oh my!
An atmospheric, adventure-filled follow up to Dark Water Daughter.
Hera by Jennifer Saint
Find your inner goddess and unleash your rage with this book.
I love that Hera's story is one of feminine rage, and power.
Peter Darling by Austin (S.A) Chant
A spellbinding return to Neverland, where a grown-up Peter Pan murders a bunch of pirates and finds his true love.
This is Peter Pan like you've never seen him before, and yet, this is the truest version of Peter Pan I could ever imagine.
When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
If you love folklore retellings that are fast-paced and keep you guessing right up until the end - this book is a must read.
Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland
A lyrical Celtic folklore retelling, dense with prose and magic.
Cabbage by C.S. Fritz
A demonic garden horror story that will have you questioning miracles.
Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
A haunted Italian vacation story that left me wanting a main character with more agency.
A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock
A cozy queer horror that will either inspire you to grow a flower garden or delete your neighbour.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)by Becky Chambers
A cozy sci-fi, with low stakes and high hopes.
Finna (LitenVerse, #1)by Nino Cipri
You'll love getting lost in the multiverse in this sci-fi, horror novella.
Lies That Bind by Rae Knowles, April Yates
A sapphic erotic horror that uses sex as a weapon and salvation.
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
Them: "Critique colonialism, but make it a YA action-packed heist adventure."
Hafsah Faizal: "Hold my tea"
Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch
A compelling new adult feminist introduction to the legend of King Arthur.
An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson
This book is best read at a house party where you don't know anyone, but everyone is beautiful, relaxed and looking at you like you're their next snack.
300,000 Kisses: Tales of Queer Love from the Ancient World
If you love Greek/Roman mythology retellings, this book is for you.
Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa
A heartwarming trans/queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice that should be required reading. Oliver Bennett is the second eldest Bennet sibling who his mother and society at large refers to as Elizabeth. When Oliver is at a ball, forced into a gown, he meets Mr. Darcy who is cold and distant. However, when Oliver meets Darcy as himself later in the book, sparks fly.
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
An atmospheric, dual POV, wintery fantasy pirate adventure with a powerful female main character.