#cadeleonian
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when you have a paper due in the morning but your boyfriend is a charming upperclassman plagued by demons and a deadly blood curse who can open portals to hell and is also your roommate
#like... :/#lord of the white hell#kiram#kiram kir-zaki#book fanart#lgbt books#ginn hale#cadeleonian#if you thought i was finished with ginn hale fanart. think again#digital#fanart#original art
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Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Cadeleonian Series - Ginn Hale
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Minor or Background Relationship(s), Elezar Grunito/Hilthorn "Skellan" Radulf, Kiram Kir-Zaki/Javier Tornesal
Characters: Elezar Grunito, Javier Tornesal, Kiram Kir-Zaki, Hilthorn "Skellan" Radulf, Atreau Vediya
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, Animal Death, Podfic & Podficced Works, Podfic, Podfic Length: 2.5-3 Hours
So I just finished devouring the Cadeleonian series by Ginn Hale over the course of, like, less than a week, and instantly went looking for fic (as you do), of which there are sadly only SIX, but one of these six is this amazing Modern AU that is both text and podfic. I haven’t listened to it yet but I just read it and I’m in love, so y’all should also go read it (in whatever form you prefer to consume it). You don’t need to have read Master of Restless Shadows for this one, but probably best if you’ve read through at least the first part of Champion of the Scarlet Wolf.
#fic recs#fanfic#cadeleonian series#lord of the white hell#champion of the scarlet wolf#elezar grunito#skellan radulf#kiram kir-zaki#javier tornesal#atreau vediya#elezar/skellan#javier/kiram
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Champion of the Scarlet Wolf - Ginn Hale
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Reading update:
So I’ve been making my way through this series after really enjoying Lord of the White Hell (the first installment). I initially didn’t intend to read Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, because I didn’t really care for Elezar in Lord of the White Hell, but when I started Master of Restless Shadows, it was pretty apparent that you needed to read all the books to understand what was happening. So I went paused on Master of Restless Shadows, picked up Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, and...omg Champion of the Scarlet Wolf is so good??? I liked it so much more than Lord of the White Hell, and I loved Lord of the White Hell!
Now I’m on Master of Restless Shadows Book 2 and it is so good but also, has just gone off the rails batshit insane, and I AM IN LOVE. 100% did not expect the turn of events that just happened, and I’m cackling and loving the hell out of it.
Anyone looking for some really good high fantasy with a healthy helping of romance should read these books. There’s a lot of political maneuvering too, especially in Master of Restless Shadows.
#lord of the white hell#champion of the scarlet wolf#master of restless shadows#cadeleonian series#ginn hale#reading tag
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After three days of nearly non-stop reading I’m finally done with Master of Restless Shadows Book 2, and now I don’t know what to do with my life… Truly a masterpiece. How do I even move on??
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My new favorite dynamic is when character A is besotted with their genius nerdy boyfriend. Example: Robin Blyth, A Marvellous Light -
“I'd like to introduce my fists to whoever taught you to stop talking about the things that interest you.”
Extra points if character A attempts to show off for their beloved. Example: Javier Tornesal, Cadelonian Series -
“Then if I remember my Mirogoth mythology correctly, the Age of the Demons came,” Javier interjected, his expression bright. Skellan got the distinct impression that he was showing off for Kiram’s benefit.
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hi!! i know this has beeb asked before but not for a while and I thought there might be some releases since then, so : any Queer High Fantasy? I've been recommended Priory of the Orange Tree before. Thank you!!
Not sure when the last time was but here’s what’s currently on my radar! (You can also find these here, and an asterisk means it’s not out yet: https://lgbtqreads.com/sff/spec-fic-by-subgenre/) I bolded some of the ones that are newer or coming out in the next few months.
MG
*Splinter & Ash by Marieke Nijkamp – NB
Sir Callie by Esme Symes-Smith – NB
YA
Female Protags
The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett
The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco – L
Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran
Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst – L,B
Inkmistress by Audrey Coulthurst – B
The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine – B
Noble Falling and Noble Persuasion by Sara Gaines
Rule by Ellen Goodlett
Havenfall by Sara Holland
*Hearts Forged in Dragon Fire by Erica Hollis
The Afterward by EK Johnston
Empirium by Claire Legrand – B
Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller – BA
These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy
The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
It Ends in Fire by Andrew Shvarts
Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria – B, A
The Third Daughter and The Second Son by Adrienne Tooley
Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells – B
The Thousand Names by Django Wexler
Male Protags
Cloaked in Shadow by Ben Alderson
The Runebinder Chronicles by Alex R. Kahler
Skybound by Alex London
So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens
Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas – T
Non-Binary Protags
Spell Bound by FT Lukens
Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller – GF
*A Hundred Vicious Turns by Lee Paige O’Brien
Adult
Female Protags
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
Tales of Inthya by Effie Calvin
The Vanished Queen by Lisbeth Campbell
Rook & Rose by M.A. Carrick
The Night and its Moon by Piper CJ
The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
*Warmongers by C.L. Clark
The Gardener’s Hand by Felicia Davin
*The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
Dragonfall by L.R. Lam
The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
From Under the Mountain by C.M. Spivey
The Drowning Empire by Andrea Stewart (Amz)
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Malice by Heather Walter
When Women Were Warriors series by Catherine M. Wilson
Male Protags
Kirith Kirin by Jim Grimsley
The Cadeleonian series by Ginn Hale
Tales From Verania by T.J. Klune
A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
*Dark Moon, Shallow Sea by David R. Slayton
Stagsblood Trilogy by Gideon E. Wood
Genderqueer Protags
*The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
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9 People You’d Like to Know More
Tagged by @blmpff thanks friend!
Last song: I binged Heartstopper last night and as usual, I immediately downloaded the whole soundtrack as I went along. Last track of the season was ur so pretty by Wasia Project.
Currently watching: King the Land (just finished, A+ romcom), Be My Favorite (ending in a few days and I’m nervous!), Jun & Jun (shockingly compelling for a low budget kbl), Laws of Attraction (my beloved current fav), Minato’s Laundromat 2 (doing some interesting stuff), Stay By My Side (perfect bl fluff).
Also starting soon: Sing My Crush, Only Friends, I Feel You Linger in the Air. Honestly y’all need to pray for me because I’m not sure I’m making it out of August alive.
Currently reading: Book 4 of The Cadeleonian Series by Ginn Hale, Champion of the Scarlet Wolf 2, which @bengiyo recommended to me. I’ve been slow on this one because my currently watching list is far too long (with no sign of letting up soon).
Current obsession: Obsession? I don’t know what you mean I am being SO NORMAL ABOUT THIS.
Tagging @waitmyturtles @williamrikers @chickenstrangers @chicademartinica @respectthepetty @neuroticbookworm @telomeke @miscellar @wanderlust-in-my-soul.
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Book Recommendations
I read fantasy almost exclusively, and in the last few years I’ve decided to mostly read fantasy with queer characters (I still read a few mainstream fantasy things, but at this point very few). I’m gay, so yes, a lot of the books I like to read feature gay male protagonists, but like my own books, some on this list strive to represent a much bigger audience. Many of these authors are themselves LGBTQ+, including trans and non-binary authors.
These are all books I’ve read and liked, and of course, there are many more books I’ve read that I’m not including here. The books and authors on this list are all also, in their own ways, influences shaping my own writing.
Classics:
Mercedes Lackey’s Last Herald Mage Series (gay fantasy): gay MC, tragic love story, ultimately beautiful storytelling that eventually lets its MC have a happily every after, if in an unexpected way. This is one of the first fantasy books ever written with a gay MC. It’s old, and as such, there are few things readers might find “problematic” from a contemporary perspective- but for those of us who lived in the “before” times, when there was literally almost *no* LGBTQ media, this book series changed everything. I cried my eyes out the first time I read it. It is still deeply meaningful to me. The follow-up series, Mage Winds, has the MC from Last Herald Mage, and his husband, show up (again in unexpected ways), and also has secondary gay characters who play a main role in the plot.
Lynn Flewelling’s Nighrunner Series (gay fantasy): gay MCs, beautiful (and decidedly not tragic) MM relationship at the heart of it, lots of spying, intrigue, and magic. It’s awesome.
Sarah Monette: Melusine. This series is very good- magic system, high fantasy, gay MC, but does also have some potentially triggering scenes (the MC is raped at one point).
Best Gay Fantasy (Fantasy writing first and foremost, but with romance thrown in sometimes):
KD Edwards: The Tarot Sequence series, starting with The Last Sun. Urban fantasy centered around a magical society organized around great houses, each of which one of the major arcana of the Tarot. The MC is gay, the last scion of a fallen house (House Sun), fighting to restore his house and understand what happened the night it fell- the night his father, Lord Sun, was murdered. It’s awesome. The whole series is lit.
Gideon the Ninth by Tasmyn Muir. Lesbian necromancers in space. It’s fucking awesome. How could you not want to read that? The sequel, Harrow the Ninth, is very much a mindfuck. It’s mostly all about Harrow dealing with some deep trauma from book 1, and Gideon doesn’t show up until nearly 2/3 through the book (but Gideon does show up- and when she does, it is so, so worth it).
Ginn Hale’s Cadeleonian Series, starting with Lord of the White Hell. I can’t say enough about this series. Hale is one of the best LGBTQ writers in the game. The second series is called Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, followed by Master of Restless Shadows. The first two series retain romance as a key element of the storytelling, but in Master of Restless Shadows (which still follows many of the same group of characters) the plot seems much less about relationships and more about unraveling the huge conspiracy threatening to set loose the destruction of the entire world. . .
Ginn Hale has another series I want to mention- because it is an astounding feat that is not read nearly enough. The Rifter Series. It was written as a serial (so shorter installments, but more books), featuring a gay man transported to a parallel world where he turns out to be the incarnation of their god- a literal messiah. They call this messiah “the Rifter”- and he wields the destructive powers of their god. There is a love story at the heart here- but it unfolds slowly, agonizingly at time, and when it finally comes to fruition it is so achingly tender and beautiful that you will cry for ages. The story itself is so complex, weaving across timelines, that at first you will be confused- then the pieces will start to slot together in your head, and then all of the sudden, the whole image of what has happened and how will come together in your head and it will shatter your entire freaking mind. And you will bow down in awe at the feet of the great Ginn Hale.
Nazri Noor: Nazri has quite a few series out- the first one, Darkling Mage, has a gay MC, although romance/relationship isn’t a big part of the story. It’s got gods, supernaturals, magic, and cosmic threats- as well as massive snark from the MC, Dustin. I love it. The follow-up series, set in the same world, are all very good. My favorite is the Arcane Hearts series, which features a gay couple as the main protagonists of the story (and which Nazri bills as being more romance- but truthfully, all of his books are very magic/action oriented, whether they have romance in them or not).
Michael Taggart: Misfit Mage series. Is this series “good?” Frankly, I think some younger gay readers will think it is cringe (the author is an older gay man, and there are moments where I can really see reflection of an earlier version of gay culture that in many ways, no longer exists). But I really, really enjoy reading it, and will keep reading it as he puts out more books. The MC is a gay guy who nearly dies, and awakens as a supernatural being able to do magic. Lots of the story involves problem-solving with magic, thinking through complex ways to condense energy, and other kinds of procedural magic type things. There is an element of progression fantasy here too, as the character gets increasingly more powerful as he figures things out. There’s a gay incubus who becomes his lover- but it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds. It’s actually sort of sweet, and I end up liking his boyfriend quite a lot. And it’s not a huge part of the book- it’s just there, while lots of magic stuff, and fighting against a bad group mages trying to kill them all, takes center stage. Award winning fiction? No. But a fun way to kill some time.
Meraki P. Lyhne: The Vargr Series. This is an odd one- it’s werewolf shifter fantasy, but set in Denmark (and written by a Danish author). The MC is gay, a young American who finds out his Danish father who he thought was dead, is actually not dead- and is a werewolf in a huge family-like pack of Vargr, or Norse werewolves. The storytelling is distinct in that it is slower- while there is an overarching plot that unfolds through the series, the focus of most chapters is on the MC and his development as a person, as an Alpha werewolf, and as a member of this strange community of werewolves. It’s fun reading, but the “flavor” of this series is very different than most American-written fantasy.
MM/Gay Fantasy/Paranormal Romance (as in, fantasy and romance are balanced evenly in the plot)
Jordan L. Hawk: The Whyborne and Griffin is a historical and paranormal fantasy series is set in the 1800′s, and is a twist on Lovecraftian mythos (done in a way Lovecraft would have hated, but which you will love). It’s got magic, love, horrors from the outside, elder gods, you know, all the good stuff. The SPECTR series is also very good (more urban fantasy).
Sheena Jolie (formerly SJ Himes): The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series, starting with the Necromancer’s Dance. Fantastic series. Urban fantasy, magical battles, and falling in love with a vampire. What’s not to like? Really great series.
Hailey Turner’s Soulbound Series, starting with A Ferry of Bones and Gold. A special forces combat mage with a dark history gets thrown into world-ending plots, gets harassed by gods, and manages to fall in love. Vampires, werewolves, gods, just about everything you could ask for. One of the best Urban Fantasy/Romance series- well, written, and best of all, the series is finished. Block of a couple weeks, and have at it!
Megan Derr: Black Magic. This is another “necromancer falls in love with a knight” story- but it’s a really, really good one. Megan Derr writes LGBTQ romance and fantasy in worlds that are inclusive- including at times protagonists that are non-binary, trans, etc.
M.A. Grant: Prince of Air and Darkness, the Darkest Court series.
Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes: Anything they’ve written together is pure gold. Try Fire and Valor, Book 1: The King’s Dragon.
Kai Butler: San Amaro Investigations (Book One: Wormwood Summer). Urban fantasy involving the Fae, and lots of Fae shenanigans. But also a fun, interesting world, and a developed Fae mythology and history.
MM/Gay Romance (as in, the romance is the driving plot of the book)
CS Pacat: The Captive Prince. This series is. . . well, it’s complicated, and potentially triggering. A prince gets overthrown, and secretly sold into slavery to the neighboring country (who are his enemies), and ends up serving the prince of that country. Of course, it’s not an accident. It’s revenge. And it gets brutal at times- the MC is whipped nearly to death in one scene (by the other MC). And yet, as their relationship unfolds, they become literally the most dramatic and well-done example of enemies to lovers I’ve ever read. This series is beloved by gay romance readers, but we also all get how problematic it is. And yes, we read it anyway.
A.H. Lee: The Knight and the Necromancer. This series is incredible- the plot is actually very deep and well developed, and the story really sustains three books. Plus, the love story that unfolds is pretty great. This is my favorite gay romance fantasy of all time.
Lee Welch: Salt Magic, Skin Magic. Victorian era MM romance with paranormal elements. MC is being held captive by his father by means he can’t explain and doesn’t understand-- all he knows is, he is trapped on their remote estate.
Michelle Notaro: The Ellewood Chronicles, starting with the Enchanter’s Flame. Is this series “good”? This is pretty much the prime example of sometimes cringe is exactly what you want. It’s sappy. The plots are there, but the found family trope, the relationships, and the romance are absolutely the formula for this series. And yet, I read every single one of them. They made me feel good. They made me happy. They let me live in the fantasy of being in a LGBTQ family full of magic, safety, and love-- while the monsters of the world are held at bay by the wards surrounding the Ellewood lands. Sometimes you don’t want heavy, you just want to read and be happy. This series is that.
AJ Sherwood and Jocelyn Drake: Their Scales and Spells series is wonderfully fun to read (dragonshifters falling in love with mages, lots of gay and non-binary characters). Both authors have a lot of gay romance titles out- all with fun elements in them. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read from both of them. Jocelyn Drake has a series coming out now that is her take on Final Fantasy XV-type story telling called the Godstone Saga- it’s an original story, but if you read it, you’ll see the FFXV influence on it. It’s nice.
Kiki Clark: The Kincaid Pack series is fun.
Mainstream Fantasy with big LGBTQ representation or storylines:
Andrew Rowe: The main character of his Arcane Ascension series is gay, although the text seems to imply that he is a homo-romantic ace, or at least demi.
John Bierce: The Mage Errant series has excellent LGBTQ representation, including both gay and lesbian side characters. The MC is not gay, but the world and the series as a whole feels very welcoming and inclusive.
Shami Stovall: The Frith Chronicles. The MC is straight, but lots of major side characters are LGBTQ+. Fantastic series, following an underdog MC who bonds with a supernatural being to get fantastic powers- the way all “arcanists” or magic-wielders are created in this world. He joins the Frith Guild, a group of famous adventurers he’s looked up to his whole life, to learn and advance, and eventually find his way to being a master arcanist- but somebody is trying to remake the world, and not in a good way. Begin with Knightmare Arcanist.
Melissa McPhail: The Pattern of Shadow and Light series, starting with Cephrael’s Hand, is one of the most complex, amazing, well-crafted fantasy series I’ve ever read. In the beginning, first book or two, it will feel like the only LGBTQ rep you see is in the form of a villain (Darshan), who is pretty literally trying to destroy the world and all living things (so, not great, yeah?). But as the story unfolds, McPhail introduces a gay love story that she takes the time to develop, and it’s fucking beautiful and heartbreaking. And then even Darshan seems to find a chance at redemption. It’s a long series... and the LGBTQ rep gets better and better as it goes on. Melissa McPhail died unexpectedly from late-stage cancer that was found too late. She still had the final two books in the series unpublished, but they were *mostly* done. Her family intends to publish what she finished. And this series is so good, so mindblowingly amazing, that it’s worth reading.
Not LGBTQ at all, but still really fucking good books:
Will Wight’s Travelers Gate series, starting with House of Blades.
Will Wight’s Cradle series. Each book gets better and better (progression fantasy). Probably the best progression fantasy ever written.
Michael Manning: Mageborn series, most of the stuff he’s written. Art of the Adept is also a good series. He has one series, Embers of Illeniel, which I do *not* recommend- it’s full of triggering stuff (rape, genocide, casual murder and mayhem... the MC is not a good guy), and is generally really dark (which the author admits to). But I enjoyed everything else he’s written.
Edward W. Robertson: most everything he’s written. I love his books. Start with The White Tree (Cycle of Arawn Book 1).
Patrick Rothfuss: The Name of the Wind. What I really want to recommend here is The Slow Regard of Silent Things, which is a transformative book to read- the MC is a person who lives in an underground labyrinth beneath a school, who is neuro-atypical, and who interacts with and sees the world in a wholely unique way. Reading the book is like a meditation, deeply moving and profound. But to make sense of it, you sort of need to understand the bigger world it is set in, which is from the Name of the Wind.
Michael Miller: The Songs of Chaos series. Dragonrider fantasy, sort of like Dragonriders of Pern. A slow start- the first few chapters were very much lowly pot boy in the presence of arrogant dragon riders and nobles who barely notice him. Once you get past that initial stage, however, the story picks up and the storytelling gets much better. The lowly pot-boy steals a dragon egg... and you can guess where it goes from there.
Brandon Sanderson. If you read fantasy, surely you have already read him.
#lgbt books#gay books#lgbtq books#mm romance#mm books#mmbooks#mmromance#lgbtqbooks#lgbtq reads#lgbtq representation
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The major problem I have with the Cadeleonian books is that it is impossible for me to just read one or even one of the pairs; as soon as I finish the one, I am compelled to reread the rest of the series.
(I just love them so much)
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A quick list of Books What I Read and Really Liked in 2022.
The best thing I read this year by some margin was Simon Jimenez's The Spear Cuts Through Water (some longer thoughts here). Just a superb, gorgeously written work of fiction that almost wholly pulls of its absurdly ambitious concept.
Everything else on this list just unranked Really Good Shit.
Grief of Stones by Katherine Addision
I like Addision's Celehar spinoffs of the Goblin Emperor better than the original book. Small scale, exceptionally observed character-based fantasy with interesting mystery plots driving the action. Celehar is the most likeable sad sack protagonist you'll come across, and it's great to see his world slowly, slowly expand in this book.
Our Colours by Gengoroh Tagame
Tagame's second all ages work is wonderfully drawn and wonderfully well observed. Older gay man and high school kid figuring himself out find (platonic) comfort in each other. Slightly melancholy but full of hope, and if bits of it have a sensibility that will piss off some tendentious purity queers, so much the better.
The Godbreaker by Mike Brooks
Brooks finishes off his God King Chronicles epic fantasy trilogy in style. Imo one of the best works of (largely) traditional epic fantasy of the past decade - uses the form perfectly to interrogate and critique some of its own pathologies (monoculturalism, racism, sexism, queerphobia) while being a ripping good time at the same time. Did not get enough attention imo.
Master of Restless Shadow: Book 2 by Ginn Hale
Another one that sticks the landing of an ongoing series, this time Hale's Cadeleonian series of 3 duologies (in reality 3 long books broken in half). Another one that didn't get enough attention from SFF audiences.
Fantasy court intrigue setup with strong queer romantic subplots, draws together the strands of 5 previous books to a satisfying conclusion.
All the Horses of Iceland by Sarah Tolmie
Short, poetic historical fantasy novella that's just a beautiful piece of writing. Have seen it get some attention but it deserves more.
A Rake of His Own by AJ Lancaster.
Semi-standalone spinoff of Lancaster's excellent Stariel series, gay romance & mystery in fantasy of manners setting, with a love interest (Rake) who's a mistake we'd all make - I’m not usually one for bad boys but unf.
The Enchanter & The Diviner by Tobias Begley
Some rough edges, but does a mashup of genres trad pubs would never touch (magic school-progression fantasy-queer romance-politics) & somehow makes it work really well. Also does well writing a protagonist with some significant anxiety issues; sensitive and realistic without pandering.
#best of 2022#sff#queer sff#simon jimenez#tobias begley#sarah tolmie#aj lancaster#katherine addison#ginn hale#mike brooks
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hii first of all, i love your art, the way you use colors and shapes is truly incredible and your figures are simply stunning <3
if it's ok i wanted to ask about the rifter series, i remember your art for it (gorgeous) and that you recommending it, so i wanted to ask from "drop everything and start reading" to "yeah u should probs read it in near future" how much you would recommend it (or are they any other books you love equally/more)
again thank you for sharing your art it's so good <3<3
oh shit this is hard to answer because the Rifter series is one of my topmost favorite m/m fantasies, absolute legendary status in my mind, but some of my friends who have tried it didn't vibe with the length or the structure for one reason or another.
if you want a lengthy slowburn romance set in a horrifyingly dark yet shockingly romantic story full of depth, loss, time fuckery, revolutionaries and assassins and a destroyer God, then yes for the love of god read it immediately. Start it today. The structure of this story really makes it something unique in my eyes, and it has just the right amount of angst and hope to make me look forward to the day when I have the time to reread it.
If that's not something you're in the mood for my other favorite m/m fantasy series are Rodrigo of Caledon by David Feintuch (not a romance, more of a tragic love story), The Last Rune by Mark Anthony (i'm only halfway through the series but love it dearly. the gay stuff is not the main focus however. deals a lot with fear of intimacy), and the Cadeleonian series by Ginn Hale (same author as the Rifter but these books are easier to get into, more focused on romance).
And if you don't want fantasy, or want more options in general I have an entire rec page for lgbt fiction complete with reviews and summaries. (I am also always open to receiving recs!)
#i am finally up to date on my recs on that page as of today#also if you are stuggling to get your hands on the Rifter (its impossible to get physical copies) shoot me a DM
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Champion of the Scarlet Wolf - Ginn Hale
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2023 Reading Wrap-Up
Is it February of 2024? Yes! Am I still going to post my favorite books that I read in 2023? Also yes!
Ginn Hale's Cadeleonian Series, the second half of which I read in 2023: Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, Book Two; Master of Restless Shadows, Book One; and Master of Restless Shadows, Book Two
This series begins with Lord of the White Hell and continues with Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, then concludes with Master of Restless Shadows. Each duology follows a different set of characters, but it's a true series so you need to read them in order. It's a toss-up for me whether I preferred Champion of the Scarlet Wolf or Master of Restless Shadows. Both are fantastic duologies. I particularly loved getting Atreau's story in Master because he's sort of an unlikable playboy-esque character in the preceding books...but wait! Turns out there's more to him after all.
After Francesco by Brian Malloy
Who would think a book about living through the AIDS epidemic in NYC in the 80s would be as funny as this book is? It will also tear your heart out and stomp on it. Also takes place partly in Minneapolis (and is by a Minnesotan author).
Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
Folklorist meets the Green Man and they fall in love. This is the first half of a duology, the second being Drowned Country, which I just finished today so can't included it on my 2023 wrap-up. All the dark and violent whimsy of the mythic past and the most brutal versions of fairy tales, plus a lovely romance.
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
Imagine the love child of Lost, Person of Interest, and Battlestar Galactica, but queer and with multiverse shenanigans thrown in (the author has cited Ender's Game as a huge influence). I don't want to say anything more than that, because I feel strongly that you need to go into this book knowing nothing. The twists and turns are so good, the main trio are wonderful, complicated characters, and the world is super cool.
The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley
In some ways the most heartbreaking of Pulley's novels. Also probably her most dreamy and magical. It's my least favorite of her books, but my least favorite Natasha Pulley book still ended up on my best of 2023 reading list.
The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley
This book awakened in me a latent love of Soviet queers. You'll see this book filed under sci-fi by booksellers, but it isn't really—it's historical fiction about a very real nuclear disaster in the USSR that was covered up for decades. Like all of Pulley's books, the characters are deeply complicated and flawed. The pleasure is really in reading the way she tells a story and her beautiful use of language, so even if you're not interested in Soviet nuclear disasters, I absolutely recommend you read this. Also, you'll probably be interested in Soviet nuclear disasters when you're done.
The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley
Haha, you thought The Watchmaker of Filigree Street punched you in the chest with feels? Get ready for the sequel, which will have you Curled Into A Sobbing Ball On The Floor™. Join Thaniel Steepleton, Keita Mori, and their adopted Waifish Victorian Orphan, Six, as they go to Japan, where things are weird, there are ghosts, and Thaniel and Mori still somehow don't understand what they mean to each other.
The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
"What if France won the Napoleonic Wars because of time travelers" shouldn't have shattered me the way this book did, but of course it's a Natasha Pulley novel so it absolutely did. Missouri Kite is the most Gay Little Man™. And Joe, poor Joe. The PINING. The YEARNING. When the reveal happens, I had to go back and read prior sections of the book and good god do they hit different. Different and SADDER. This book is my favorite of Natasha Pulley's novels.
Tommy Cabot Was Here and Peter Cabot Gets Lost by Cat Sebastian
The first two books in Cat Sebastian's The Cabots series. The books are historical fiction that follow various queer men in the Cabot family. The Cabots are one of those old money, liberal New England families—think Kennedys. Both books are about Sad Gay Men™ finding love in soft, tiptoeing Cat Sebastian fashion. Peter Cabot is a road trip romance and a bit longer, so the characters have some time to breathe.
Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly
This was probably a Stucky fic at one point, right? I mean. No shade though, truly! This was my favorite romcom that I read in 2023. It was also a comp for Strangers to Husbands, haha. I love the setting—hiking the Pacific Crest Trail—and I love the main characters, Alexei and Ben. Alexei came out to his family recently and got rejected, while Ben is from a big, accepting Portuguese family. Funny, touching, and an excellent love story.
Cattle Stop by Kit Oliver
Looks like a romcom but will stab you in the heart repeatedly. Kit Oliver has a gorgeous way with words and captures the dynamic between two people who have no idea how to talk to each other so well. I'm also a sucker for farm settings.
The Sugared Game and Subtle Blood by KJ Charles (The Will Darling Adventures)
I've read almost all of KJ Charles's books at this point, but the Will Darling Adventures are my favorites (I read the first book in the series in 2022). I love the combination of romance and action/adventure. I've never met a m/m book set in the interwar period that I haven't loved. Will and Kim are wonderful characters, and sometimes I think about what other adventures they had after book three ended.
Honeytrap by Aster Glenn Gray
An FBI agent and a GRU agent get assigned to work a case together in 1959 and they fall in looooove. There's a road trip, a family dinner, and FEELS. I'm not sure I've ever had a time skip hit me in the gut so hard. Remember how I said I love Soviet queers? Here's another example.
Wranglestone and Timberdark by Darren Charlton
What if the real dystopia isn't the zombie apocalypse, but "normal" life? I don't know if I've ever read a YA series that sucker-punched me as hard as this one. I know I've never read a zombie book that sucker-punched me as hard as this one. I don't think these books have even been published in the US (only in the UK), but if you can get your hands on them, they're worth it. Really beautifully written in a style that evokes the emptiness of the great national parks of the American west.
Honorable mentions:
The Charioteer by Mary Renault
The Scottish Boy by Alex de Campi
A Power Unbound by Freya Marske
#wranglestone#timberdark#darren charlton#honeytrap#aster glenn gray#kj charles#sugared game#subtle blood#cattle stop#kit oliver#something wild and wonderful#anita kelly#the cabots#cat sebastian#natasha pulley#the bedlam stacks#the half life of valery k#the lost future of pepperharrow#the kingdoms#some desperate glory#emily tesh#silver in the wood#after francesco#brian malloy#ginn hale#champion of the scarlet wolf#master of restless shadows#reading tag
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How do I feel when I'm soon going to become an aunt knowing I'll never be cool enough to turn into a giant polar bear or perhaps a golden eagle 😞
#cadeleonian series#master of restless shadows#ginn hale#this series had the absolutely coolest uncles I can't compete
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Hi there, new tumblr, new fandoms, and my dash is pretty dead so: pls like/reblog, and I'll check out ur blog for a follow, u know the drill
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Fandoms:
Dishonored
Bungou stray dogs
Daiya no ace
Harry Potter (specifically drarry/Slytherin centric content)
CLAMP, specifically Tokyo Babylon, tho others are also welcome
Tokyo Ghoul
Hannibal
Detective Conan / Magic Kaito
Doctrine of labyrinths
The last Herald mage
The Cadeleonian series
More that I can't recall right now but will show up on my dash at some point
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Others:
Witchcraft, especially city witchcraft
Poetry
Aesthetics, especially abandoned places, cities, peaceful pictures, others that I can't remember right now but will show up on my blog at some point
Podficcing, audio tips and the like
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Thanks heaps x
#blog hunting#dishonored#bungou stray dogs#daiya no ace#harry potter#tokyo babylon#clamp#tokyo ghoul#hannibal#detective conan#magic kaito#doctrine of labyrinths#last herald mage#cadeleonian#dande natters
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