Work Text:
Fantasy:
A Chorus Of Dragons by Jenn Lyons
Street thief Kihrin witnesses a man summon a demon, and his life changes forever. Afterall, he’s not destined to save the world. He’s destined to destroy it.
I'm sure this is no surprise that this is my first rec, as I've only been screaming about this series for two years now.
Queer!
Threesome main pair. Idiots to lovers. They're still idiots.
Ace characters!
Trans characters!
Yes, most of the most of the empire is homophobic and systemically misogynistic but part of the story arc is addressing that.
Dragons, magic, the most ends justify the means bastard to ever exist, and some really interesting discussions of morality
not letting the imminent end of the world stop important relationship discussions from happening,
The most hilariously convoluted family trees and more identity reveals than you can shake a stick at.
Footnotes!
Each book is presented as an in universe chronicle on events.
Note that there potentially triggering topics in this series, and Lyons has a Ao3 style tags on her website for all books
https://jennlyons.com/novels-2/the-ruin-of-kings/rok-ao3-guide/
Nine Worlds series by Victoria Goddard
The Empire of Astandalas spanned nine worlds held together via the Empire’s Schooled magic. The Empire Fell, and the Last Emperor collapsed into a magical coma for a century– on Zuridh. Time no longer agrees on each world. The Nine Worlds series consists of interconnected subseries.
The Hands of the Emperor: the original novel (Lays of the Hearth Fire, book 1)
An ode to deep friendship.
Fealty. ALL the fealty.
So, so many cultures created, Kip’s Islander culture and heritage is integral to his character and drives how he
By the last fourth-ish I was going “This is the most beautiful thing I have ever read” and then in the next chapter “no, this is the most beautiful thing.
Okay so this book is a brick at 900 pages in physical form. It is 100% worth it.
Greenwing and Dart: magical mystery hijinks and is my favorite of the subseries
More fealty and all the friendship
Literary analysis can save your life
Main character Jemis has the wonderful ability to stumble into the weirdest problems
And now I’m gonna let this wonderful article by Alexandra Rowland explain all the possible entry-ways to the series. https://reactormag.com/you-should-really-be-reading-victoria-goddards-nine-worlds-series/
Historical and Queer
KJ Charles entire works –mostly romance
I’ve loved everything I’ve read of hers, but I’m gonna highlight two:
Any of Diamonds by KJ Charles.
The author’s summary is the best for this one, I think:
Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes is the younger son of the Duke of Ilvar, with a bitter grudge against his wealthy father. The Duke intends to give his Duchess a priceless diamond parure on their wedding anniversary—so Alec hires a pair of jewel thieves to steal it.
The Duke’s remote castle is a difficult target, and Alec needs a way to get the thieves in. Soldier-turned-criminal Jerry Crozier has the answer: he’ll pose as a Society gentleman and become Alec’s new best friend.
But Jerry is a dangerous man: controlling, remote, and devastating. He effortlessly teases out the lonely young nobleman’s most secret desires, and soon he’s got Alec in his bed—and the palm of his hand.
Or maybe not. Because as the plot thickens, betrayals, secrets, new loves, and old evils come to light. Now the jewel thief and the aristocrat must keep up the pretence, find their way through a maze of privilege and deceit, and confront the truth of what’s between them…all without getting caught.
—summary acquired from the author’s website.
Either a heist book with kink, or a kinky romance with a heist, you decide!
I literally forgot this book was a romance novel at one point
Jerry and Alec’s relationship develops so well
The heist is glorious
Death in the Spires by KJ Charles
Charles’ first non-romance book, this is a murder mystery!
In 1895 an Oxford student was murdered. Ten years later, Jeremy Kite receives an anonymous note at his work accusing him of the murder of his best friend Toby Feynsham, and ruining his life–again. Jem becomes obsessed with finding the truth of what happened that night. As Jem tracks down his former friends, the Seven Wonders, it is soon evident that one of them must have been the murderer–and that there are more secrets than just murder.
An absolutely stunning work
The narrative alternates between the ‘present’ of 1905 and the Seven Wonders time at Oxford
I absolutely adored everything about this book. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat, the emotional connections and friendships are amazing.
The audiobook is really good too.
Hither Page by Cat Sebastion (Page and Sommers, book 1)
A jaded spy and a shell-shocked doctor team up in a sleepy English village to solve a murder.
Hither Page has been my comfort read for the past two? Years now probably.
Really, really sweet
It’s a cozy murder mystery that also manages to address PTSD
James and Leo are adorable
Badass elderly lesbians
Contains some of the absolute funniest lines I have every read