• All Reviews,  Literature

    ARC Review: These Feathered Flames

    17 April, 2021

    A young adult fantasy book both of us have enjoyed? If you know anything about us (and especially about Charlotte), you realise it must be a miracle! Or just a really good book! Read our reviews to find out what is the truth.

    But seriously, if you haven’t pre-ordered These Feathered Flames yet, this is your sign that you absolutely should. And follow Alexandra on twitter, for more info about her upcoming projects!

    When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates are decided at a young age. While Izaveta remained at court to learn the skills she’d need as the future queen, Asya was taken away to train with her aunt, the mysterious Firebird, who ensured magic remained balanced in the realm.

    But before Asya’s training is completed, the ancient power blooms inside her, which can mean only one thing: the queen is dead, and a new ruler must be crowned.

    As the princesses come to understand everything their roles entail, they’ll discover who they can trust, who they can love—and who killed their mother.

    These Feathered Flames

    Alexandra Overy

    Goodreads

    Rep: lesbian mc & li
    Release: 20th April 2021

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  • All Releases,  Book Releases,  Literature

    Book Releases: Ownvoices M/M books of January-June 2021

    15 April, 2021

    Well, actually… the term ownvoices here is used very liberally. By that I mean you will find below books with gay main characters written by gay authors but sometimes it will be for example books with gay characters written by bi authors.

    Generally, though, novels with mlm characters by mlm authors. Achillean books by achillean authors, if you will. So while the label might not always 100% match between the author and the character, those are still books written by people who understand the experience.

    This is also why I opted out of using the rainbow emoji – everyone would get one anyways.

    See also: ownvoices m/m books of July-December 2021, of January-June 2020 & of July-December 2020.
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  • All Reviews,  Literature

    ARC Review: In Deeper Waters

    14 April, 2021

    It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say we were both very excited about this next book. And it’s no little help that the cover for it is absolutely gorgeous. And you can get your hands on it in just under a week! So, without further ado, have a read of why we think you want this book!

    A young prince must rely on a mysterious stranger to save him when he is kidnapped during his coming-of-age tour in this swoony adventure that is The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Pirates of the Caribbean.

    Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family’s kingdom for the first time. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel.

    Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean.

    That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming—and secretive—as ever. But before they can pursue anything further, Tal is kidnapped by pirates and held ransom in a plot to reveal his rumored powers and instigate a war. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. And Athlen might just be his only hope…

    In Deeper Waters

    F. T. Lukens

    Goodreads

    Rep: bi/pan mc, mlm li
    Release: 20th April 2021

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  • Interviews

    Author Interview: Kelly Quindlen

    10 April, 2021

    If you’re not excited about Kelly Quindlen’s next book — an f/f rivals to lovers sports romance — then I can only assume you’ve just not yet heard about it. But no matter! Consider this to be your notice of it. It’s out 20th April, so there’s still plenty of time to preorder.

    But to tide you over in the meantime, here’s the interview we did with Kelly a few months back for you to enjoy!

    You can, of course, also follow her on twitter.

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  • All Reviews,  Literature

    Blog Tour: Malice

    8 April, 2021

    “Once upon a time, there was a villain” is frankly the only kind of a fairy tale opening I want to read from now on. But only if the fairy tale in question is as good as what Malice offers. Because it truly has it all: great characters, magic, betrayals, and a lesbian romance. I assure you, it is the fairy tale retelling of your dreams.

    So yes, we’re very excited that we’re part of the blog tour that Del Rey runs for Malice! And hey, you can actually grab yourself a signed copy of Malice right here!

    Also follow Heather Walter on twitter!

    Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who cursed a line of princesses to die, and could only be broken by true love’s kiss. You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. The happily-ever-after.

    Utter nonsense.

    Let me tell you, no one actually cares about what happens to our princesses. I thought I didn’t care, either. Until I met her.

    Princess Aurora. The last heir to the throne. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn’t bothered that I am the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. That she . . . cares for me. Even though it was a power like mine that was responsible for her curse.

    But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating – and she can’t stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it’s what can lift it. Perhaps, together, we could forge a new world.

    Nonsense again. Because we all know how this story ends, don’t we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I-

    I am the     villain.

    Malice

    Heather Walter

    Goodreads

    Rep: lesbian mcs
    CWs: past torture, lesbophobia, past suicides, blood, drug use
    Release: 13th April 2021

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  • Book of the Month,  Literature

    Book of the Month: Meet Cute Diary

    6 April, 2021

    This month’s book of the month is one you have (hopefully) heard of, but there’s never any harm in just making sure, is there? Anyway, if you’re looking for a sweet summery romance, then Meet Cute Diary will be the book for you, trust me! It’s the fake-dating romcom you’ve always been craving, only it’s even better because it’s overflowing with trans joy.

    So sit yourself down in a comfy chair, and check out why we think you should be excited about this one!

    Related: Don’t forget all releases can be found in our monthly lists here.
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  • All Reviews,  Literature

    ARC Review: The Sky Blues

    4 April, 2021

    If you follow either of us on twitter (and were following us back in December), you probably already know how much we love The Sky Blues. Personally I would have probably chosen it as my most anticipated April release, of it wasn’t for the fact that I’ve read it last year… (But I did sneak it onto our list of fav reads of 2020!) It’s a one that will make you laugh and cry, and feel absolutely loved.

    But let’s not get into details now, when you can just read our reviews below. And listen to the mix we made for the book!

    Also follow Robbie Couch on twitter! He has more exciting things for us in the store!

    Sky’s small town turns absolutely claustrophobic when his secret promposal plans get leaked to the entire school in this witty, heartfelt, and ultimately hopeful debut novel for fans of What if it’s Us? and I Wish You All the Best.

    Sky Baker may be openly gay, but in his small, insular town, making sure he was invisible has always been easier than being himself. Determined not to let anything ruin his senior year, Sky decides to make a splash at his high school’s annual beach bum party by asking his crush, Ali, to prom—and he has thirty days to do it.

    What better way to start living loud and proud than by pulling off the gayest promposal Rock Ledge, Michigan, has ever seen?

    Then, Sky’s plans are leaked by an anonymous hacker in a deeply homophobic e-blast that quickly goes viral. He’s fully prepared to drop out and skip town altogether—until his classmates give him a reason to fight back by turning his thirty-day promposal countdown into a school-wide hunt to expose the e-blast perpetrator.

    But what happens at the end of the thirty days? Will Sky get to keep his hard-won visibility? Or will his small-town blues stop him from being his true self?

    The Sky Blues

    Robbie Couch

    Goodreads

    Rep: gay mc, mlm li, trans & gay characters
    TWs: homophobia, racism, f-slur, past car accident, past death of a parent, vomiting
    Release: 6th April 2021

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  • Wrap Ups

    Wrap-up: March 2021

    2 April, 2021

    I was so close to beating Anna on things watched this month, but, once again, they came out on top. But between us, we watched a fair variety of things…I think.

    But anyway. If you want to see what we’ve read and watched and loved (or not…), then this is the post for you! Also, if you’re wanting any rec lists in particular for next month, drop a comment and we’ll see what we can come up with.

    (And Happy Easter, if you celebrate it!)

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  • All Releases,  Book Releases,  Literature

    Book Releases: April 2021

    31 March, 2021

    My cat spent the day sunbathing, meanwhile I was putting together this post for y’all. Life is what it is. But in all seriousness, there are some fabulous books coming our way next month, so I hope you are all very excited! Surely everyone can find something out of over 100 titles…

    As always, a rainbow emoji next to an author indicates they’re LGBT – if you know I made any mistakes here, feel free to let me know. And if you need some more books, you can find all our previous releases posts here.

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  • Discussions and Guest Posts

    Guest Post: LGBT Identities in Second-World Fantasy

    29 March, 2021

    Today’s post marks the beginning of our guest post series! We started having guest post slots way back when we celebrated our one year anniversary on here, but recently we’ve figured, why not expand that? So here we are!

    This post is written by Anya Leigh Josephs, author of the upcoming Queen of All (9th June), and is a fascinating look at just what goes into fantasy worldbuilding, particularly the language used to describe your LGBT characters.

    So, get yourself some lunch (or a coffee/tea/other hot beverage, depending on your time zone), and have a read of this!

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  • All Recommended,  Book Recs,  Literature

    Book Recs: LGBT Found Family

    22 March, 2021

    Let’s be honest, we all know that there is no trope better than found family. And actually, as long as we’re being honest with each other, found family as a concept is inherently gay. There’s just something about choosing your own family, that rings true to all LGBT people.

    So yeah, here I am with ten LGBT stories featuring the found family trope. Only the best for you guys!

    And hey, a lot of those titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

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  • All Reviews,  Literature

    ARC Review: The Unbroken

    20 March, 2021

    Hopefully, you’ve all heard of this book. Hopefully, you’re all as in love with the cover (and those arms! 😍) as we are. But if you haven’t heard of it, or have only been tangentially interested in it (as inexplicable as this seems to us), let us do our best to convince you that you need to get your hands on this book.

    In a political fantasy unlike any other, debut author C. L. Clark spins an epic tale of rebellion, espionage, and military might on the far outreaches of a crumbling desert empire.

    Touraine is a soldier. Stolen as a child and raised to kill and die for the empire, her only loyalty is to her fellow conscripts. But now, her company has been sent back to her homeland to stop a rebellion, and the ties of blood may be stronger than she thought.

    Luca needs a turncoat. Someone desperate enough to tiptoe the bayonet’s edge between treason and orders. Someone who can sway the rebels toward peace, while Luca focuses on what really matters: getting her uncle off her throne.

    Through assassinations and massacres, in bedrooms and war rooms, Touraine and Luca will haggle over the price of a nation. But some things aren’t for sale.

    The Unbroken

    C. L. Clark

    Goodreads

    Rep: Black lesbian mc, bi mc with physical disability due to injury, wlw side characters, mlm side character, nonbinary side character
    CWs: violence, gore, past attempted rape, threats of rape, torture
    Release: 23rd March 2021

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