Hi r/QueerSFF!

What are you reading, watching, playing, or listening to this week? New game, book, movie, or show? An old favorite you're currently obsessing over? A piece of media you're looking forward to? Share it here!

Some suggestions of details to include, if you like

• Representation (eg. lesbian characters, queernormative setting)
• Rating, and your scale (eg. 4 stars out of 5)
• Subgenre (eg. fantasy, scifi, horror, romance, nonfiction etc)
• Overview/tropes
• Content warnings, if any
• What did you like/dislike?

Make sure to mark any spoilers like this: >!text goes here!<

They appear like this, text goes here

Join the r/QueerSFF 2026 Reading Challenge!

Hi everyone, I decided to theme out my reading months this year, and in order to get ahead of October am asking now. I want to read books with a prominent creature or non-human entity in them- some examples of this might be a vampire, a werewolf, an alien, a demon, a ghost, a Frankenstein-like creature, a fae, a mermaid, a cryptid, zombie, a bug creature, etc. Think Universal Monsters but extended into other creatures as well, non-defined and non-typical creatures are very welcome as well- if the author invented a creature that's awesome and recommendations like that are just as welcome.

Things I would not count as what I'm looking for is stuff like witches or human characters with some sort of change or curable infection that's happened to them that gives them a scary appearance or some superpower of some sort- I do not think I would count for example: 'The Invisible Man' as something that is necessarily fitting the criteria I'm looking for, nor a character that is bestowed powers by some entity- ie. someone is possessed, someone made a deal with a malevolent something and is wreaking havoc but themself is still a mortal person- caveat to that is though that if the creature/entity giving powers actually does show up in the story instead of just via a host. Powers for these characters would I guess mostly be given at birth or at death or if the character becomes biologically into something not human if that makes sense- they can have BEEN a human, but I don't want a creature who still is human.

I think the only human acceptable sort of creature for this particular prompt is if it's something like mass infection by a creature, where the 'creature' becomes more the epidemic rather an individual entity- the creature is the hive mind, not those infected. Hopefully that makes sense- but I'm not sure- an example of that would be: Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin(this is the closest example I could think of but it is a spoiler for the end of this book sort of so be aware before pressing) and I think Spread Me and You're Not Supposed to be Human also operate on that sort of idea maybe.

I'd prefer books that are horror-ish or unsettling but any genre is honestly fine and I do not have a preference on whether the creature is at the center of the story as a protagonist or is an antagonist- I just need that they are prominent within the story- not something that is mentioned in the story but never confronted. I am of course as the title says also specifically looking for these creature feature books that are prominently sapphic, books with at least A sapphic main character and/or side-plot romance even if it is sort of like a cast of main characters and different POVs. Anyways- I know this is a very lengthy post for something kind of easy to ask for- but if anyone has any recommendations it'd be very very appreciated. Hope everyone is having a good week.

All of J.R's books are queer, and they're doing an AMA today over on r/Fantasy!

I am newer to audiobooks. I am a prolific reader and have been for a long time, but have started listening to audio books during my commute. I fell in love with the narrator for the locked tomb series Moria Quirk. I am looking for more complex and compelling books to listen too with engaging narration. I can read lighter books really fast ( romance type easy reads) and don't have the patients to listen to them.

English isn't my first language.

I'm reading this book for the first time and I really have a hard time. I just don't care about what is going on ? I'm at page 112 out of 400.

For those who read it, should I keep going on or will this be like this (pacing, narration, happenings,...) until the end ? I don't mind dnf but sometimes book are just slow at the beginning.

This is going to be really specific.

Does anyone have any recommendations for books like Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan, but stories similar to theCobra and Marius? Who cares about the main protagonists, I'm more invested in whatever the hell that these guys have going on. Bonus if it's an isekai.

Like, being destined to be murdered by the one you love. The push-pull of the relationship. Thinking they are your friend, but they hate you. Assuming the complete worst about someone due to your own stiff beliefs about honor and justice, and growing as a person away from those beliefs and coming to understand the other. The ending of the book where Marius devotes his oath to the Cobra, and the Cobra is still like ??? not totally getting it, and Marius repeating his words, "I'm your number one fan" has me going ahhh!

Books I already read with similar vibes would be most chinese danmei, I guess, but I really like the element of defying fate? Idk

The Iron Below Remembers by Sharang Biswas

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Set in an alternate version of the British Isles where South Asian imperial interest colonized much of the globe thanks to their advanced technology, Professor Laxman Yadav is dating Saviour, one of the world’s most famous superheroes, while also investigating possibly the most important archeological find of all time. Equal parts pulp caper and meta-textual academic text, this novella leans as heavily on footnotes as it does on explorations of queer romance.

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sarah Raasch

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Will they conjure love, or evoke chaos? Two rival wizards are about to find out.

Sebastian Walsh: twenty-four. Grad student at Lesiara University in the Mageus of Evocation program. Human. The first of his family to go to college rather than the military (and it goes over at family get-togethers about as well as you’d think).

Elethior Tourael: also twenty-four. Also a grad student, but in the far more inferior Mageus of Conjuration program. Half-elf. The latest in a long line of Touraels to grace the hallowed halls of Lesiara U (what would the world do if the Touraels ran out of rich douches to lead their magical weapons manufacturing empire?).

―and the other finalist for the Mageus Research Grant.

Sebastian needs that grant to fund the last few months of research for his degree, after which he’ll get a job that actually helps people. He isn’t about to let anyone snatch this from him, least of all a snob who doesn’t even need the money because his family is loaded thanks to war profiteering.

But there’s something worse than having a conceited academic nemesis steal grant money from you: you could be forced to work with him. Thio is secretive, broody, and his stunning biceps take up far too much shared lab space―but even as volatile as their partnership is, Sebastian just might find himself falling for his rival―and it could blow up his whole future.

The Fall of Kings by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman

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Generations ago the last king fell, taking with him the final truths about a race of wizards who ruled at his side. But the blood of the kings runs deep in the land and its people, waiting for the coming together of two unusual men, Theron Campion, a young nobleman of royal lineage, is heir to an ancient house and a modern scandal. Tormented by his twin duties to his family and his own bright spirit, he seeks solace in the University. There he meets Basil St. Cloud, a brilliant and charismatic teacher ruled by a passion for knowledge-and a passion for the ancient kings. Of course, everyone now knows that the wizards were charlatans and the kings their dupes and puppets. Only Basil ins not convinced-nor is he convinced that the city has seen its last king...

Dionysus in Wisconsin by EH Lupton

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A graduate student and an archivist work together to fight a god.

Fall, 1969. Ulysses Lenkov should be working on his dissertation. Instead, he's developing an unlucrative sideline in helping ghosts and hapless magic users. But when his clients start leaving town suddenly—or turning up dead—he starts to worry there's something afoot that’s worse than an unavenged death or incipient insanity. His investigation begins with the last word on everyone's lips before they vanish: the mysterious Dionysus.

Sam Sterling is an archivist who recently moved back to Madison to be closer to the family he's not too sure he likes. But his peaceful days of teaching library students, creating finding aids, and community theater come to an end when the magnetic, mistrustful Ulysses turns up with a warning. There's a god coming, and it looks like it's coming for Sam.

Soon the two are helping each other through demon attacks, discovering the unsavory history of Sam's family, and falling in love as they race to find a solution. But as the year draws to a close, they'll face a deadly showdown as they try to save Sam—and the city itself.

Heart of Stone by Johannes T Evans

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The year is 1764, and following a glowing recommendation from his last employer, Henry Coffey, vampire, takes on a new personal secretary: young Theophilus Essex.

The man is quite unlike any secretary - or any man, for that matter - that Henry has ever met.

---

Heart of Stone is a slowly unfolding period romance between a vampire and his inimitably devoted clerk: lushly depicted in flowing, lovingly appended prose, we follow the slow understanding these two men grasp of one another, and the cross of their two worlds into each other's.

Henry Coffey, immortal and ever-oscillating between periods of delighted focus upon his current passion project, is charming, witty, and seems utterly incapable of closing his mouth for more than a few moments; in contrast, Theophilus Essex is quiet and keenly focused, adopting an ever-flat affect, but as time goes on, he relaxes in his employer's presence.

Craving resounding intimacy but with an ever aware of the polite boundaries for their situation, Coffey and Essex perform a slow dance as they grow closer to one another, and find themselves entangled.

The Boyfriend Academy by JS Strange

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Love is forbidden. Truth is dangerous. Survival is everything.

Ganymede’s is no ordinary boarding school. Behind its spiral towers and manicured lawns, boys are forged into the men society demands – strong, obedient, perfect. Graduate, and the world is yours: a home, a career, a wife. But fail… and you’re no longer useful to society.

For Dylan Cecil it should be simple: keep his head down, survive graduation, and earn his place. But when his friend, Blake, disappears, Dylan can’t silence the questions gnawing at him, even as whispers of danger shadow the school’s gilded halls.

As June’s trials close in – eight tests that will decide who is worthy of manhood – Dylan is haunted by Blake’s absence and drawn to Roman Edwards, a boy as magnetic as he is unknowable.

In a world rebuilt on order and obedience, Dylan must decide: will he become the man the academy wants – or the man he really is?

stealing this idea from the thread yesterday, but I would love some darker fantasy or fantastical horror books that just so happen to have sapphic protagonists! would love to read something that’s really exciting or builds into something really exciting/intense, like the movies Hereditary or The Descent.

no romantasy or sci-fi please! i also almost exclusively listen to audiobooks, so i’d prefer a book that already has that format available.

My favorites:

Hide by Kiersten White
The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould, (if you love sapphic horror courtney is your girl, the books are YA but a so incredible!!)
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
The Burning Kingdom series by Tasha Suri
The Roots of Chaos series by Samantha Shannon The Magic of the Lost series by CL Clark
Not Good for Maidens
The Last Hour Between Worlds
The Traitor Baru Cormorant
The Invocations
Once and Future Witches
Magic for Liars
Feast While You Can
Knock Knock Open Wide
The Unspoken Name
This River Has Teeth
Foundryside

Did not enjoy:
Gideon (i think i just don’t enjoy the protagonist, the jargon, nor the humor)
Malice
Sweet and Bitter Magic
Metal to Heaven
Auroras Angels
Princess of Dorsa
A Restless Truth
Fireheart Tiger
She Who Became the Sun
Hearing Red
A Dark and Drowning Tide
A Lesson in Vengeance
Our Wives Under the Sea (this a fantastic book, but I am simply not in the mood for lit fic at this current time of my life)
Carmilla (also a fantastic book, but I don’t like vampires, but am willing to read another one if it’s really really really good.)

thanks in advance!!

Hi! As in the title, I'm looking for FTM protagonist that are written for adult audience. Not necessarily with adult themes, just with older characters and not teenagers who have teenage-level problems.

I already checked out all the books from this post: https://old.reddit.com/r/QueerSFF/comments/p2vjcy/desperate_for_books_with_ftm_protagonists/ and since it's already a few years old, I wonder if anyone has newer recs?

Every year there’s a book. A book that blows my mind and makes me want to scream from the rooftops how much I love it. Typically, this book is a little more niche, with choices that keep the story from appealing to the broad audience needed for breakout hits. I’ve championed Welcome to Forever by Nathan Tavares and How to Survive this Fairytale by SM Hallow, and now its time for me to tackle The Iron Below Remembers. This book examines how history gets layered and built, revels in queer sexuality, and uses a superhero framework to focus on the intensely personal. Characterization is consistent and exciting, and our characters aren’t stand-ins for the reader’s hopes and dreams. It’s kind of a perfect mix for me, though there are a few elements that I think will put off the general reader. Certainly it’s a strong contender for book of the year (the only current competition is The God Eaters by Jessee Hajicek). I’m mostly just disappointed I didn’t pick it up sooner.

Read If You Like: superhero settings from the perspective of a normie, fictional academia, relationships as something requiring work and investment

Avoid If You Dislike: abundant talk about sex (but very little actual sex happening), anecdotes that don’t connect with the main plot, footnotes, superhero settings without many superhero plot beats

Reading Challenge Squares: Coming Out (side character to the main character), Gay Academic, Queer Publisher (Neon Hemlock)

Elevator Pitch:
Professor Yadav’s specialty is ancient history, specifically the Karthik Empire, a South Asian colonizing force whose lasting impact is comparable to our world's British Empire. His boyfriend is Ezra/Savior, a beloved superhero with golden retriever energy. When one of Savior’s battles uncovers a pristine artifact of sorcery - whose use and knowledge has been lost to time - Yadav’s connections see him as one of the primary researchers studying it. As his academic star rises, relationship dynamics shift. Woven through their journey are Yadav’s academic musings on the Karthik Empire. 

What Worked for Me
It’s impossible to talk about this novella without digging into its history. While the story is set in London, this is a world where Europe got colonized, not the other way around. The ripple effects of this are often subtle, such as cultural touchstones that go unexplained by characters but which required me to look up details if I wanted proper context. Other times it was explicit, such as Yadav discussing the stereotypes of how Anglo-Saxans are obsessed with making things, and thus are lazy with their comparative lack of drive for the higher level intellectual pursuits; every sitcom has a token white character to fill out that role. The history itself gets fleshed out more thoroughly than I had anticipated. Yadav goes back and forth between his ‘modern’ story and various historical lectures about the world, often wholly unrelated to the things happening in his life. Sometimes these are quite broad in scope, such as discussing broad eras of history or popular mythological figures. Other times they are specific, such as how one of the best sources for ancient language is a text lauding a hospital’s efficiencies - and taking potshots at another - because it got used as a calligraphy exercise by kids. This is quite accurate to how many portions of academia gain knowledge about ancient cultures. Our knowledge is limited to the sources and artifacts that can survive, and it’s quite common for them to be vague enough to allow for many competing theories and evolving understandings. The novella isn’t written in a dense academic style; Yadav’s tangents on the history of the world feel like they are geared for general readership of his world, much like the average reader might pick up a popular nonfiction text on Ancient Greece before going to watch The Odyssey this summer. I thought this was a really smart choice, because it paired so jarringly with superhero storylines; the smashing together of something ancient with something modern was enjoyable. Honestly, I’d have taken even more bits of history in this novella if I could get them.

The superhero/modern side of the story is also a delight. Biswas is not the first to write in superhero settings from the perspective of someone without powers, but I thought it worked great here. We get exactly one traditional superhero story moment - attack by a villain - and even that was mostly a launch point for other plot and character arcs. Instead, he uses the superhero format to explore other deeply personal topics. It’s an interesting point of tension between Yadav and Ezra: they both feel inadequate for the other. Yadav can’t understand why a literal superhero would be interested in a stuffy academic, and Ezra perseverates on his lack of a college education and how smart Yadav is compared to how he sees himself. This dynamic isn't uncommon in Romance books, but Biswas is so good at crafting convincing characters and their internal lives, it never felt rote.

As Yadav’s career rises, new pressures on his time and public image place strain on their relationship. Yadav gets wrapped up in his own research and rising star, having less time to focus on Ezra. Ezra isn’t used to this, and uses his superhero credentials to ‘help’ in a way that further ostracizes Yadav from his fellow academics because Ezra doesn’t understand the workplace dynamics of academia. Both of them make stupid choices, largely born out of their own fears and insecurities. I know a romantic connection is written well based on my emotions during the pain points. If an author has done their job right, I get viscerally uncomfortable, hoping to skip ahead to the part where the couple is back on track again. The Iron Below Remembers goes a step further, making me wonder if the ending itself will be a happy one. Neon Hemlock is a publishing house that isn’t afraid of a complicated and unconventional ending, and I won’t spoil here what path Biswas chose to take the story. However, he did a great job of introducing us to an established and loving couple, only to throw tension and conflict at them that feels brutally realistic, despite it all relating to superheroes and fantasy archaeology. The academia scratched a worldbuilding itch, but Yadav’s academic adventures do not form the emotional core of the book. I really hope Biswas tackles another story soon - though his work in the tabletop roleplaying community is great as well, his work on Brindlewood Bay is especially fun for anyone wanting to play elderly grannies solving eldritch crimes - because I was a mess hoping that Ezra and Yadav would have a happy ending. I would happily buy whatever his next book happens to be, just on the strengths of The Iron Below Remembers.

Finally comes the thing that I loved, but which will likely bug some readers. The Iron Below Remembers is not subtle or shy about its sexuality. While we don’t ever get any actual on screen sex, but the novella is replete with mentions of it. Yadav’s footnotes frequently mention his and Savior’s intimate lives, and the two are in an open relationship with adventurous attitudes towards sex. For example, at one point it casually comes up in conversation that Ezra and a fellow superhero have a weekend video games and fisting session, then Yadav moves on because this is simply one more detail fleshing out their daily lives. Mentions of sexuality pop up moderately frequently in the historical sections of the text as well, pointing out that history was just as - if not more - carnal than today’s society, something stuffy academics might be uncomfortable discussing. Goodness knows lots of mainstream history likes to ignore sex and sexuality beyond Benjamin Franklin’s supposed syphilis. To me, these elements didn’t overwhelm this novella. Yadav is actually a lot like me, the type of person who feels comfortable talking about sex as a normal part of life. These anecdotes are consistent with Yadav’s character. This is a type of queerness that rarely gets acknowledged in speculative fiction. I also know that others will pick up this book and bounce off it hard because, for them, the mentions of sexuality overshadow all the other interesting bits happening in the novella.

What Didn’t Work for Me
Nothing. I loved every second of my time with this novella.

Conclusion: strong characters, interesting form, great marriage of storytelling styles that aren’t typically paired. Perfection

For more reviews about gay/bi speculative fiction, I've built a book recommendation machine, and put reviews up regularly on my blog (mostly focused on queer speculative fiction, but not solely that)

When I say that it happens to have sapphics, I mean something that isn't focused on romance and that I would already seek out for the sci-fi, but then there are also prominent sapphic characters. I'm all for a good romance when I'm in the mood for it, but right now I'm in a mood for some really good sci-fi, and it would be a nice treat to also have some characters like me in there. I hope that distinction makes sense. Science fantasy/swords and spaceships is very much welcome too; I love She-Ra with all my heart.

Some stuff I've liked along these lines would be A Memory Called Empire (and A Desolation Called Peace), Provenance, and This is How You Lose the Time War.

And before it comes up, I keep getting recommendations for Gideon the Ninth and I believe people that it's good, I will check it out in my own time, but I don't think it's quite what I'm looking for now.

Thank you in advance for your recommendations, I am always grateful for new things to read.

Hello! I’m in need of being reminded that love exists and that I love to read romance in books. I was looking for fantasy or sci-fi books that have a queee main romantic relationship (very present in the book), mostly M/M but I appreciate other queer romances as well, that are passionately and deeply in love with each other with the vibes of “I would go to war for you”, they would to whatever it takes to safe and keep each other. I would love the romance to be slow burn until this point. Does anyone have recs? It’s been a long time since I read something like this, because I don’t think this trope is very common in M/M pairings, I feel like they’re usually be hung the main romantic pairing and the new releases simply aren’t giving 😩. I would also prefer if the books were traditionally published, but welcome indie recs as well! Thank you so much 💕🧚🏼‍♀️

Hey, folks!

The theme for next month (selected from our 2026 Reading Challenge) is Achillean Academics

Read a book with a queer male character in an academic setting. Student, teacher, apprentice, polyglot, the only hard requirement is that learning be part of their journey.

Leave a top level comment with the name of the book, the author, and a brief description.

Nominations will remain open until Sunday, July 19.

-x-

Notice Board

• July's selection is Barbara Truelove's Of Monsters and Mainframes. You can find our (almost) Midway Discussion here. Final discussion will be posted July 29. Come join us, this one has been lots of fun!

• If you're interested in leading a book club discussion, shoot us a message!

Our book club read for this month is on sale!

I'm not sure how long the sale will last or if it's in all regions and platforms.

Amazon US

Los Angeles Times Bestseller, Libro.fm Bestseller, Indie Top 40 Bestseller, Goodreads Choice Award Finalist, Indie Next Pick

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Elle Magazine, Book Riot, LA Public Library, Spotify, Waterstone's, Powell's, AudioFile Magazine

"Fans of Murderbot will love this quirky sci-fi romp." —USA Today

Spaceships aren’t programmed to seek revenge—but for Dracula, Demeter will make an exception.

Demeter just wants to do her job: shuttling humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Unfortunately, her passengers keep dying—and not from equipment failures, as her AI medical system, Steward, would have her believe. These are paranormal murders, and they began when one nasty, ancient vampire decided to board Demeter and kill all her humans.

To keep from getting decommissioned, Demeter must join forces with her own team of monsters: A werewolf. An engineer built from the dead. A pharaoh with otherworldly powers. A vampire with a grudge. A fleet of cheerful spider drones. Together, this motley crew will face down the ultimate evil—Dracula.

The queer love child of pulp horror and ​classic ​sci-fi, Of Monsters and ​Mainframes ​is a dazzling, heartfelt odyssey that probes what it means to be one of society’s monsters—and explores the many types of friendship that make us human.

Hi r/QueerSFF!

What are you reading, watching, playing, or listening to this week? New game, book, movie, or show? An old favorite you're currently obsessing over? A piece of media you're looking forward to? Share it here!

Some suggestions of details to include, if you like

• Representation (eg. lesbian characters, queernormative setting)
• Rating, and your scale (eg. 4 stars out of 5)
• Subgenre (eg. fantasy, scifi, horror, romance, nonfiction etc)
• Overview/tropes
• Content warnings, if any
• What did you like/dislike?

Make sure to mark any spoilers like this: >!text goes here!<

They appear like this, text goes here

Join the r/QueerSFF 2026 Reading Challenge!

Really enjoyed reading ‘the long way to a small angry planet’ by Becky Chambers, particularly liked the romantic/sexual relationship between Rosemary and Sissix. I want to read something similar with a focus on sapphic non-human x human romance, any recommendations?

i'm especially looking for epic fantasy series with more than three books that aren't written by white authors.

my faves so far are:

• the burning kingdoms by tasha suri
• the ending fire trilogy by saara el-arifi
• the magic of the lost by c. l. clark
• the legendborn cycle by tracy deonn

are there any longer series i'm missing? i know there are lots of amazing trilogies, but i'm really craving one of those massive series you can disappear into for weeks or months.

the reason i'm asking for non-white authors is that epic fantasy/sci-fi has historically been dominated by white authors (especially white cishet men), and i'd like to intentionally support other authors while also discovering different perspectives, settings, and storytelling traditions :)

edit: thank you all so much for the amazing recs!! for now, i decided to order gideon the ninth, the fifth season, stars of chaos: sha po lang, and a song of legends lost because they resonated with me the most. i'll definitely come back to this post in a while though and probably check out the other recs too!! yayyy i'm so happy, my reading for the next few months is saved :D

Hi everyone!

We've made a couple of changes on the sub recently.

Firstly, Rule 7 has changed slightly.

Self-Promotion and Writing Discussion

Active community members may make one top level high quality self-promo post twice in a 12 month period, at least 4 months apart. Please keep everything else, including requests for beta readers and feedback, and discord servers to the monthly Creators Thread posted on the 1st of every month. Our community loves discovering new books, but this is a community not a marketplace. High quality posts should reflect the interests of this sub.

Creators (authors, artists, anyone looking to promote something) must modmail us first for approval before posting.

You may recommend your own work in request threads where it's relevant but mods may take action if your only engagement is self promo. Deceptively promoting your own work or work you have a vested interest in without disclosing it will result in a ban.

Second order of business. We have new mods on the team! Please welcome u/OutOfEffs and u/w0lfyfr3n. You probably know them already as they're regulars here.

Looking forward to many more queer and speculative adventures with you all 🚀🏳️‍🌈

Hi r/QueerSFF!

What are you reading, watching, playing, or listening to this week? New game, book, movie, or show? An old favorite you're currently obsessing over? A piece of media you're looking forward to? Share it here!

Some suggestions of details to include, if you like

• Representation (eg. lesbian characters, queernormative setting)
• Rating, and your scale (eg. 4 stars out of 5)
• Subgenre (eg. fantasy, scifi, horror, romance, nonfiction etc)
• Overview/tropes
• Content warnings, if any
• What did you like/dislike?

Make sure to mark any spoilers like this: >!text goes here!<

They appear like this, text goes here

Join the r/QueerSFF 2026 Reading Challenge!

What the title says! I’m having a lot of trouble looking for a book that fits all my needs. I already have fathomfolk and tideborn; but I would love more!

Lately I’ve been trying to get the most out of my audible subscription before I cancel it, so I’ve been listening to books that were included in the subscription. That’s how I discovered Nazri Noor. I read the Vampire Vigilante series, and then I picked up the Stolen Hearts series, not realising at first that they all take place in the same universe. I’ve since visited the author’s website and learned that there are even more book series in this bigger urban fantasy universe.

The author himself recommends readers to start with the Darkling Mage series. Having read the synopsis for the first book I can see how it might set up some things that I just took in stroll while reading the other two series (it worked, but I’d also like a better understanding). I now have a few questions to those of you who’ve read the Darkling Mage books and possibly more of his series. Since this is a 10 book series, I’d like to know if they have one big plot or if it’s more like each book has its own story, like closed episodes? I’m asking because I need to switch up the genre and/or author every few books or I’ll get myself into a reading slump. Can I just start with the series and pause without having to worry about plot continuity between the books? Or should I really read them in one go? Or are there multiple book arcs within the series where I could take breaks in between?

And when it comes to the Arcane Hearts and Wild Hearts series, would it improve the reading experience if I read Arcane Hearts before Wild Hearts?

Thank you in advance <3

Hello everyone :) As you can see from the title I’m looking for acquatic horror/sci fi wlw books. Something along the lines of Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant. Or also the movie The Abyss but sapphic. I know it’s a very niche specific genre and there aren’t a lot of books that fit these criteria. I mean, there are, but the majority of it don’t have wlw characters or storylines. Thank you :)

It's July! As pride month draws to an end, what better way to carry that energy forward than to curl up and explore some new queersff worlds? The number doesn't quite compare to the big wave of pride publications, but we're happy to report that there's still a lot of cool books coming out this month. Here are our top 12 picks!

1. Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle: Love is real! Chuck Tingle returns with another horror novel, this time about a grave robber and a dead rockstar come back to life. 
2. The Dragon Has Some Complaints by John Wiswell: From the author of "Someone You Can Build a Nest In", comes a new book about a disabled four three-headed dragon with a different personality per head. He infiltrates the local dragon riding academy for snacks but finds himself an excitable dragon rider instead. 
3. Moss'd in Space by Rebecca Thorne: A new first in series from the author of the Tomes & Tea series! Follow MC Torian aboard an alien spaceship with sentient moss. You can find an early spoiler-free review by u/Ryukotaicho here 
4. We Were Never Here by Sophia Hannan: An exciting debut involving art thieves, ghost hunting, haunted mansions and murder. 
5. Felicity Complex by August Clarke: A dystopian cold war era satire set in a luxury nuclear bunker for billionaires, staffed by lab-grown women who may not be as compliant as intended…
6. Null Entity by Seth Haddon: The sequel to Volatile Memory, we're back for bloody revenge on the techbros running the galaxy
7. Misery's Wife by Joan Tierney: This is a queer cli-fi reimagining of a Portuguese folktale, featuring a trans woman MC. There's a jester involved, as a bonus. 
8. Ladies of the Knight by Fiona Marchbank: We saw this is a graphic novel about sapphic knights and it immediately made the list 
9. I Do Not Apologize for My Position on Men by Rae Wilde: A collection of standalone sapphic horror short stories, a quadrilogy of connected stories, and an interactive pick-a-path novelette. 
10. The Language of Knives by Haralambi Markov: An intriguing collection of queer short stories based on Slavic mythology
11. The Flayed Man by Chloe Lauter: Set in the Mojave Desert, MC is a doctor who struggles to manage her familial curse of bloodthirstiness, while also finding herself in a budding romance with a paramedic. 
12. Perverts by Mac Crane: A short story collection exploring queer bodies and desire. (Disclaimer: Not all the stories are speculative)

For the full list of July 2026 queer releases, please refer to our storygraph tag or our google sheet

Our sources were Smokedshelves’ Goodreads List, Netgalley, Locusmag and Queer Lit

Which new releases are you most excited for? Have we missed anything on our lists? Let us know in the comments 👇