Welcome to my Summer Reading List! Only one of my titles is a 2020 novel – all others are 2021 releases, though the first 2021 release is a January release (Root Magic). Normally I would apologize here – offer some comment on backlists and how much I love reading those too – but the truth is I think 2021 is a turning point for queer adult fantasy. Almost all of these books are books I have anticipated since their PW Weekly announcements: even though their release dates are recent, I feel like I have been waiting for these books for years. So I’m excited to drown in them this summer!
It’s impossible to exist on the internet as a lesbian who loves fantasy without hearing the good news about The Jasmine Throne from all corners (including Ari’s review right here!). An epic fantasy inspired by Indian mythology, in which lesbians play the central role, written by one of my favorite authors? Yes please! This has been my Number #1 Anticipated Release of the Summer, and I can't wait to gobble it up in one sitting.
Technically, I am gearing up for a full series re-read of Marks’ Elemental Logic series, but since Air Logic inspired this reread and will end the series, it’s the one I’m listing here. The series began in 2002 with its first title FIRE LOGIC. I remember reading all three existing novels in 2014 or 2015 and loving them. The series was a rare gem at the time – a traditionally published fantasy novel featuring queer characters – and I’m excited to revisit it in this new context of QUEER BOOK WEALTH.
FOXFIRE IN THE SNOW by JS Fields
This new novella by JS Fields, published by small queer press Ninestar, promises to be very interesting. A young nonbinary person called Sorin can’t quite seem to find their place in a queendom defined by guilds and matrilineal inheritance, and when their mother goes missing, they have to deal with the consequences. I love Fields’ deft character work from their previous scifi series, so I am excited and delighted about this fantasy novella!
A wild middle grade book appears! I’m psyched to finally find the time to read this very promising middle grade titles by one of my favorite short fiction authors. Royce’s treatment of the south – with nuance, care and justice – is one I find myself constantly gravitating towards, and I absolutely can’t wait to lose myself in this book.
BLACK WATER SISTER by Zen Cho
I love being a Zen Cho fangirl and no, I won’t ever stop. Because Zen Cho writes the fiction I love! Black Water Sister has all the plot elements that I love: ghosts, anti-capitalist feels, and matriarchal family members. I can’t wait to read it!
AND WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU TONIGHT by Premee Mohamed
And lastly, a final queer novella, this time from the small press Neon Hemlock. Neon Hemlock served some great novellas last year, so I am very excited to see what their Summer Selection 2021 brings, especially this Mohamed one. The story, about sex, crime and money in a future where you can fall to a government cull for a single mistake, promises to be exciting, weird, and totally unexpected.
POSTED BY: Elisabeth R Moore is a writer, birder and grad student living in Germany. When she's not writing strange stories about scary plants, or reviewing short fiction, she can be found crocheting, hiking or biking. She tweets at @willowcabins.
