February is going to be AWESOME over on the Patreon with new chapters of all three of my queer, cozy web novels, some new Monsterlover Monday stories, AND a bonus story for my debut eco-horror romance novella When The Rain Begins To Burn so you'll definitely want to hop over when that sale goes live (or join now and upgrade when the prices drop!) and join in on the fun! And remember, The Wayward Souls of Avalon has THREE free chapters and all of the money goes toward my Space Cat Fund - which helps feed not only my cat but helps me provide food and shelter for the strays in my complex (thanks to my Cosmonauts, I was able to build a safe haven during this -5 degree cold snap we've had!)

So, if you like slice-of-sci-fi, cozy horror, slow burn romances, boys love stories, monsterfucking, authentic queer relationships and characters, disability rep, and regularly updating books, PLEASE head on over to my Patreon and become a Cosmonaut today!

last book read + last stethoscope used, part 11

The stethoscope: Thinklabs One. I talk about this one a lot in this post (and the pics are better), but let me just say--if this thing hadn't been so expensive I would take it with me everywhere, because it is such an absolute joy to listen with it. Figured I'd pair my electronic scope with a book about a romance between a man and a sentient AI, ha.

The book: World Running Down by Al Hess, a dystopian "cozy sci-fi" novel that took me awhile to read because of pacing issues and a bit too much exposition and world-building, but it was worth my time all the same. In the wastelands of Utah, Valentine and his partner, Ace, are salvagers who travel the dangerous outskirts of Salt Lake City with the goal of earning enough money to afford a visa into the city--and for Valentine, funds for his medication and gender-affirming surgery. Their already-tumultuous lives are upended when they meet Osric, a sentient AI who has been illegally implanted into an android's body. Osric has been tasked with offering them a job that will have implications none of the three of them can fathom. This book was probably too many things at once--sci fi, fantasy, action, adventure, romance, and for that reason I had some questions about the society that were never really answered. Not sure if that was deliberate on the author's part or not. Not a perfect read, but I'm interested to read more from Hess.

Here’s your daily dose of cozy fantasy short fiction to warm your day.


In the dimly lit bedroom Jason snuggled next to Marie, watching dawn overtake the city skyline. 
“I wanted to spend my last Earth sunrise with you,” he said. 
“I’m going to miss you while you’re on Mars,” said Marie. 
Jason got up and dug through his pack, pulling out a sheet of plastic stars before standing on the bed.
He placed one on the ceiling and laid beside her. 
“Whenever you gaze up and see that star, know it’s me looking down and watching over you.”

Tonight’s read for the Trans Rights Read-a-thon.

A Psalm for the Wild Built is absolutely delightful. The story of Sibling Dex and his search for meaning in his life and his meeting with Mosscap was a beautiful story.

I teared up more than once and for the first time ever, I left a note in a ebook.

Deepfleece Cloaks now in the Black Friday Sale [ https://dustrial.net/collections/sale ]

My feelings for this book are complicated. The first time I started reading this back in 2022, was just after my grandma had passed away and I wasn’t really in the right headspace to be reading it. So I dnf’ed it. But now, having picked it back up more than a year later I really enjoyed it.

I loved Dex and Mosscap’s banter and philosophical discussions. They felt like friends even when they were just getting to know each other. One of my absolute favorite scenes from this whole book was the one at the end, where Mosscap made Dex tea and listened to them. It was really comforting.

This was cozy and really had me thinking the whole time I read it. So I think I’m gonna give this one a solid four stars. I’m looking forward to what adventures Dex and Mosscap get up to in the next one.

Reading Challenge Prompt Fills:

Alphabet challenge: P

NEW VIDEO!

Looking for a cozy vision of the post-apocalypse? A Psalm for the Wild-Built may be exactly what you need!

Some close-ups from my latest illustration commission

Cast lineup for “Love at the Milky Way Diner” 💕🍽️🛸

Play the demo here!

Come Check Out My Cozy Slice-of-Sci-Fi, BL Web Novel!

Did you know that my cozy, queer, slice-of-sci-fi BL web novel The Wayward Souls of Avalon has THREE free chapters for you to read? This is my longest running web novel, with 58 currently available chapters (there will be 80 in total, with scheduled posts going up bi-weekly all the way to OCTOBER of 2024!) that you can dive into RIGHT NOW while the series is on a holiday hiatus!

The Wayward Souls of Avalon is set aboard a space ship called The Avalon and it follows the journey of two men, Jocasta Thorne and Troy McNamara, two strangers who find themselves on a year long journey to Mars after the collapse of Earth. Featuring queer and disability rep, a slow burn romance, a cozy sci-fi setting, and spicy bonus chapters for those who are interested, this series is perfect for fans of cozy BL webcomics/webtoons, stories with realistic romance, and cats!

You can read chapters 1-3 for FREE on my Patreon which is on sale for the holidays, and get instant access to the entire series alongside TWO more cozy genre-blending web novels by becoming a Cosmonaut today! If you love cozy books and boys' love stories, you'll LOVE Wayward Souls, so come on over and give it a read! We'd love for you to come get lost in space with us!

Patreon.com/AlyciaDavidsonAuthor

obscure sorrow word needed: finding that a voice actor you've never seen has wildly different hair than you expected

Book Notes: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

This winter ended up being a season of cozy science fiction for me. I devoured Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell (amazing) and then plowed through every book in Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series. Those of you who regularly read our blog will remember Lori raving about Becky's Monk and Robot series (also amazing and cozy and full of self-acceptance and love). Well, it prompted me to get the audio-book of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, #1 in Wayfarers. Her world-building, wit, and characters are all *chef's kiss*. Of all of the probable and improbable sci-fi futures I've read, this is the one I like the most. Full of acceptance and a mingling of cultures and diverse beings who learn about each other's ways of life, it is so very satisfying to read.

Book 1 follows the motley crew of The Wayfarer, a ship tasked with making tunnels to connect one faraway place with another. When the crew (several humans from wildly different backgrounds, a reptilian Aandarisk pilot, a member of a mostly extinct species, a navigator shrouded in secrecy, and an AI) takes on a lucrative long-haul job, they're stuck together on their small vessel for almost two years. Along the way they encounter pirates, a xenophobic border control, sabotage, and more, only to reach their destination and end up in the crosshairs of a local conflict. It’s not all bad, though. They are also reunited with loved ones, make plenty of new friends, and grow closer as a crew (although begrudgingly for some of them).

The later books don't have to be read in any specific order; they're more companion novels than a series, with occasional references to characters from The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, so definitely read that first. This series is an absolute joy to read. A little bit of romance, a smattering of found family, and a whole lot of space, these slower-paced books are a warm hug, or a cozy blanket on a rainy day. They are my new favorite comfort reads, and if you love a diverse cast of characters and enjoy books about the intricacies of people and their relationships with one another, then they might be yours too!

— Becca

Verona has 99 problems—including a time machine.

the Benvolio & Mercutio Turn Back Time paperback is now available to pre-order wherever books are sold online!

Verona has 99 problems—including a time machine.

All Benvolio has ever desired is a peaceful life alongside his spirited—albeit quarrelsome—roommate, Mercutio. But as the story goes, the course of true love never did run smooth, and when tensions between the Montagues and the Capulets reach a boiling point, Benvolio and Mercutio are dragged into the mess Romeo makes of all their lives.

Then an older version of Benvolio crashes into their lives, offering the opportunity to change fate, Mercutio does as he always does—seizes the chance. There’s just one problem: no deal is without strings, and this one involves a deadly secret that Mercutio is determined to take to the grave.

What follows is a lively adventure through the ages, replete with love and heartache. Amidst the chaos, this inseparable duo will unravel the true depth of their friendship.

A riotous romp of a retelling of Romeo & Juliet. Side effects of reading may contain laughter, heartache, and a need for more. This light, sci-fi fantasy is the perfect shelf companion to The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian, Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall, and The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles.

Publication day: July 31, 2024

Genre: Adult Sci-fi Fantasy Romcom Tropes: Friends to Lovers, time travel, retelling, and they were roommates, deal with the devil

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/bmturnbacktime

Pre-order a Copy w/ a signed bookplate: https://forms.gle/qtTcP2Tgh6Vfbw3u8

Pre-order the special edition: Lou Wilham, Benny & Mercy Pre-order La Plata 2024 - Beventi

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/193907562-benvolio-and-mercutio-turn-back-time

Cover Artist Credit: @oblivionsdream

Not me daydreaming for the third time about opening a small business

i think "tv horror hostess" should be a job again that women can have!