Hello everyone and welcome back to the third round of Twelve Days of Bookmas, a festive series of posts where we are counting down to Christmas book recommendation style!
Be sure to check out Day 1 and Day 2 as well.
Today I am sharing three novels that are high on my TBR which feature queer characters. I picked a variety of books to hopefully help grow your TBRs!
On the third day of Book-mas I found under the tree: three queer stories
Ruinsong by Julia EmberPublished by Broadway Books, Hanover Square Press, Viking on November 24, 2020
Goodreads
In Julia Ember's dark and lush LGBTQ+ romantic fantasy Ruinsong, two young women from rival factions must work together to reunite their country, as they wrestle with their feelings for each other.
Her voice was her prison…Now it’s her weapon.
In a world where magic is sung, a powerful mage named Cadence has been forced to torture her country's disgraced nobility at her ruthless queen's bidding.
But when she is reunited with her childhood friend, a noblewoman with ties to the underground rebellion, she must finally make a choice: Take a stand to free their country from oppression, or follow in the queen’s footsteps and become a monster herself.
Why I Want To Read It
I was initially drawn to this book because of the comparison made to Phantom of the Opera. I was obsessed with that musical as a young teen and it still holds a special place in my heart. So when I became aware of a gender flipped, queer fantasy retelling of Phantom of the Opera I knew I had to have it. Plus the magic system is based off of music which I think is incredibly unique. I definitely hope to read this one sooner rather than later.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomason September 1, 2020
Goodreads
A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas's paranormal YA debut Cemetery Boys, described by Entertainment Weekly as "groundbreaking."
Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him.
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.
However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.
Why I Want To Read It
This is another one that I have been excited to read since it came out. Beyond the fact that it is an ownvoices Latinx novel is also a book about a trans boy written by a trans author. It is largely hailed as a feel good novel with loveable characters and ultimately a heartwarming story. Even though I bought this to read in October I think I will love it regardless of the time of year in which I read it.
TW: transphobia, misgendering, allusions to deadnaming, blood magic, etc…
Broken People by Sam LanskyPublished by Hanover Square Press on June 9, 2020
Pages: 352
Goodreads
“Profound and affecting.”—Chloe Benjamin
A groundbreaking, incandescent debut novel about coming to grips with the past and ourselves, for fans of Sally Rooney, Hanya Yanagihara and Garth Greenwell
“He fixes everything that’s wrong with you in three days.”
This is what hooks Sam when he first overhears it at a fancy dinner party in the Hollywood hills: the story of a globe-trotting shaman who claims to perform “open-soul surgery” on emotionally damaged people. For neurotic, depressed Sam, new to Los Angeles after his life in New York imploded, the possibility of total transformation is utterly tantalizing. He’s desperate for something to believe in, and the shaman—who promises ancient rituals, plant medicine and encounters with the divine—seems convincing, enough for Sam to sign up for a weekend under his care.
But are the great spirits the shaman says he’s summoning real at all? Or are the ghosts in Sam’s memory more powerful than any magic?
At turns tender and acid, funny and wise, Broken People is a journey into the nature of truth and fiction—a story of discovering hope amid cynicism, intimacy within chaos and peace in our own skin.
Why I Want To Read It
This arguably the heaviest novel on my list today. The story follows a man on a desperate journey to understand and accept himself. The story takes an intense and difficult at one person’s struggle with shame and self loathing. It should not be approached lightly and may not be a great read it you aren’t in the right headspace. However, it sounds promising nonetheless.
What About You?
Have you read either of these books? Do you love books that feature books or set in libraries? What is your favorite?
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