2025 Reading List

As always, this list is inspired by Marc’s yearly book lists on his Black, Whole blog.

Where possible, I’ve given direct links to local bookshops.

Stand Outs

The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang, read by Dylan J. Locke, Will Dao, and Telly Leung – Stunning, gay epic of love and desire over the ages. I love how it ties celebration of present-day queer Asian community with the history of ancient China and folklore. This was exactly what I needed, and I plan to read everything Huang writes from now on.

Cursebreakers by Madeleine Nakamura – Absolutely adored this gay fantasy mystery novel! I loved the unlikeable characters and their awkward dialogue.

The Gentleman’s Book of Vices by Jess Everlee, read by Tommy Hawthorne – Fun, gay Victorian England, with excellent voice work by Tommy Hawthorne! His character voices are distinctive without being stereotypical. He adds so much  emotion and the sass!  I will continue to look for books he narrates in the future.       

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall – Fun and silly, with a good balance of the menacing supernatural. A magical Lesbian Regency romance.     

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian, read by Joel Leslie – Excellent narration and voice work!

  

The Liberators by E.J. Koh – Gorgeous, spare prose. A beautifully complex multi-generational Korean family’s story told with such economy.

Queer Enlightenments: A Hidden History of Lovers, Lawbreakers, and Homemakers by Anthony Delaney – I adored hearing these stories. One of Delaney’s insights that I found useful was his rebuttal of the idea that gay people and queer people didn’t exist before the creation of these terms. He argues that we recognize same-gender love and desire in the past just as our historical individuals would have recognized us. 

The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller, read by Mara Wilson – The best zombie story since The Girl with All the Gifts! I love this deeply queer, fun, sexy, and horrifying book! The history and subtleties of queer cultures and dynamics are all integral to the story in a natural way, without any easy solutions. 

Candelaria by Melissa Lozada-Oliva – Another fun zombie book, but I didn’t realize that was the premise before I picked it up. Really fun, irreverent take on zombies. A multi-generational story told from multiple points of view, including an 82-year-old Guatemalan immigrant woman in the Boston area, her daughter, and her granddaughters. It’s a send-up of wellness culture and girl boss feminism.
Both Lozada-Oliva’s and King-Miller’s zombie books have plot points about bodily autonomy and the freedom to choose whether or not to have a child. Also, both writers were slam poets for a time! Found Family category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer – Just lovely all the way through, as her writing always is. I read this while I was preparing to officiate my sister Debrah’s wedding. I love thinking about love and care as unearned gifts. Hope category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett – I found myself laughing out loud at this fun alchemical murder mystery set  in a magical empire. I love the dynamic of a brilliant, eccentric, abrasive detective and their everyman assistant. The alchemical system and little intrigues make me want to learn more about this world! Disability category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar – I loved the beautiful lyrical language and linocut illustrations in this short magical novel. The unique magic system and the tender and complex relationships really drew me in. Flower on the Cover category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

The Book of (More) Delights by Ross Gay, read by the author – Down-to-earth,  beautiful writing on small moments of enjoyment. I love the way he rambles. This is a great example of how Book Bingo broadened my reading habits. I don’t read much nonfiction, but I saw this on the booklist for book bingo, and gave it a try. I’m so glad I did. Seattle Arts & Lectures category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Everything Else, in the order I read it

The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich – I love the humor of her writing and how no one is disposable. Even the most unlikeable characters have redemption arcs

Outdrawn by Deanna Grey, read by Sondra Symone & Julienne Irons

Robber Girl by S. T. Gibson, read by Abby Craden

A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess Everlee, read by Tommy Hawthorne – More delightful gay Victorian England!

We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration  by Frank Abe, Tamiko Nimura, Ross Ishikawa, and Matt Sasaki – This local graphic history was our selection for the first One Bellevue, One Book series at the Bellevue Library

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C. M. Waggoner, read by Cindy Piller

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske, read by Omari Douglas

Spellbound by Allie Therin 

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy, read by Ciaran Saward – Really fun adventure magic, gay opposites, rivals to nearly lovers?

Confounding Oaths by Alexis Hall

Only One Coffin by A. J. Truman, read by Nick J. Russo

You’re the Problem, It’s You by Emma R. Alban, read by Will M. Watt & Chris Devon

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles    

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

A Market of Dreams and Destinies by Trip Galey

Evocation by S.T. Gibson

The Masquerades of Spring by Ben Aaronovitch, read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta

A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence by Jess Everlee, read by Ell Potter 

A Terrible Village Poisoning by Hannah Henry, read by Jenny Funnell

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Book Two by Emil Ferris

The Conductors by Nicole Glover

Weird Woods: Tales from the Haunted Forests of Britain, edited by John Miller – My dear friend Jenny sent this to me for my birthday last year!

Bloodline by Jenn Alexander, read by Quinn Riley – Recommended by my friend Ryan

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World edited by Ada Limón, read by Kim Ramirez  – This year’s Seattle Reads pick! So much gorgeous language! I read the physical book and listened to this audiobook, to get the full experience.

Motherlover by Lindsay Ishihiro

Soma by Fernando Llor and Charles Dalmau

The Undertakers by Nicole Glover, read by Bahni Turpin 

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Shoestring Theory by Mariana Costa, read by Philip Bartley – I listened to this ten-hour book over two days, staying up late working on darning. I just had to know what happened! A harrowing, sweet, and funny gay fantasy novel. Examines themes of power, control, and intimate partner violence.

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Incredible Doom, Vol I & II by Matthew Bogart – Captures so well the vibe of the pre-internet BBSes! I read the first chapter in zine form years ago, and I was delighted to see the story finished!

The Councillor by EJ Beaton – I love a queer world! A  trend I’ve noticed lately is magic systems where people can manipulate a particular element. We saw it in The Weavers of Alamaxa and Daughter of the Moon Goddess, as well as in this book.

Red Heir by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey, read by Nick J. Russo – A really silly, fun, and gay quest story. Great Escapes category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Beyond the Veil by S.C. Wynne, read by Kale Williams – Monsters category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt, read by Christine Williams – Pacific Northwest Nature category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

The Hollow and the Haunted by Camilla Raines – A fun and well-written gay supernatural detective novel that happens to have a teen main character. This is classified as YA, and the writing style is lovely. Grief category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

The Blue Is Where God Lives by Sharon Sochil Washington – A slipstream, multi-generational novel about a Black family in the American South. BIPOC Historical Fiction category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Home by Toni Morrison – I listened to this in Playaway (self-contained, physical audiobook). Also, I just learned this year that Toni Morrison read her own audiobooks! I may have to revisit some old favorites! New to You Format category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Small Angels by Lauren Owen, read by Daphne Kouma, Tamsin Kennard, Rebecca Lee, and Eleanor Yates. Read in Public category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Awakened written and read by A. E. Osworth – Although all the main characters are trans, I think the most gender bendery character is the non-trans monster (no spoilers). Gender Bender category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Lesley Penelope – A Black town in Jim Crow U.S. magically resists planned destruction in a planned flooding. The flooding of Black towns through hydroelectric projects really happened, but this town is fictional. Dystopia category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Once Was Willem by M.R. Carey (Mike Carey), read by Joe Jameson – I’ve been reading Mike Carey’s work for more than a decade now, and I really love his brain! It’s fun to notice little rhymes across his work. The narration is well done, with distinct voices for each character. Resistance category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill, read by Catrin Walker-Booth -The narrator was excellent! I love how fully the narration inhabits the point of view of the lake monster from the beginning – that was what really drew me in. I really enjoyed a bit of silliness at the beginning, with how alien the monster’s thought process is. Intergenerational Friendship category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles, read by Martyn Swain – Buddy Read category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe – Censorship category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

New Masters by Shobo Coker and Shof Coker – Author from Another Continent category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Monstress Volume Eight: Inferno by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

Monstress Volume Nine: The Possessed by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

Monstress Issues 55-57 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

Saga Volume Twelve by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto, read by Jolene Kim  – A space station heist with a queer crew! Recommended by a Library Worker category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

To Sketch a Scandal by Jess Everlee, read by Joel Leslie

Heavyweight: A Family Story of the Holocaust, Memory, and Empire by Solomon Brager – My friend Apu recommended this book, and I happened to read it at the same time that I heard Tamiko Nimura speak about her upcoming family memoir, A Place for What We Lose. There were so many parallels, of how to fill in the gaps where family members don’t talk about surviving and trauma.

Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane – One of my favorite nonfiction writers, a gorgeous work. Recommended by an Independent Bookseller category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo 

To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara, read by Edoardo Gallerini, Catherine Ho, BD Wong, Feodor Chin, and Kurt Kanazawa – One Big Book category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen, read by Robin Miles

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett – Another delightful Ana and Din mystery! I love this world!

Socially Orcward by Lisa Henry and Sara Honey, read by Nick J. Russo – I love this fun, silly ace romance in a high fantasy setting!

Angel Eye by Madeleine Nakamura – I’m going to be following this writer from here on out!

The Rivals by Jane Pek, read by Eunice Wong

Yield Under Great Persuasion by Alexandra Rowland  – This silly cozy queer fantasy story gets at the problem of accepting love that I see in a lot of my gay men’s community. The main character, Tam, has an avoidant attachment style – he’s able to seek out and enjoy sex, but runs away from feelings. Over the course of the story, he learns to accept love and care, as well as his own worthiness. I love a fun and silly book that is still emotionally moving.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang, read by Nancy Wu

I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman

The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso, read by Moira Quirk

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – A spooky delight!

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Incandescent by Emily Tesh, read by Zara Ramm 

Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi 

Nicked by M. T. Anderson – Delightful and funny historical caper

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara, read by Jaime Lamchick

“Future Proof” Part One by Virginia Paine – A queer comic zine – I loved it!

“Sun Flowers” by Keezy Young  – gorgeous art, almost looks like linocut or  washed out posters from the 70s

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri, read by Shiromi Arserio

Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher – Absolutely silly and delightful!

The Necromancer’s Light by Tavia Lark, read by Kai Rubio

Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch – I love the Rivers of London series!

Reforged by Seth Haddon, read by Gary Furlong

Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell, read by Julie Lumsden, Katie Anvil Rich, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, and Jordan Waunch

Lucky Seed by Justinian Huang, read by Telly Leung

Fanfiction (Novella length or longer)

“Blackbeard & the Gentleman Rum Runner” by trieduntire

“The Pirate Baron and Bonny” by BraveLittleNippa – Ed thinks Stede is a shapeshifting cat for most of this!

“To Be the Darkness Behind Your Shining Star” by CartoonMayor

“Pins and Needles” by CobaltAugust

“The Right Spot” by Shakesqueer69

“Don’t Tell Mama” by Fyre – Stede moves to London to start a cabaret. Ed runs a cabaret across the street.

“Hewitt to Me One More Time” by the_hitcher_is_my_dad – Silly, fun, and delightful! In Flight of the Conchords universe, Murray Hewitt falls in love with the telephone ad guy.

“The Burger Ring Door” by the_hitcher_is_my_dad – Hunt for the Wilderpeople universe.

Psycho Sam and the preacher fall in love. Delightful!

“Ready for the Journey” by Deniz_B

“And There’s a Chance That Things’ll Get Weird. Yeah, That’s a Possibility” by pintpotjudas – What We Do in the Shadows (movie) Viago/Anton

“Breeches and Boots” by KalansPhantom – Ed runs an activities center for youth, and Stede offers his dressage horses as an activity.

“Lap of Luxury” by unencryptid

“Where Roses Bloom” by 1happydaiz

“You Are at the Top of My Lungs” by foxtails

“Rinse and Repeat” by YellowMustard

“Throat G.O.A.T.” by nomadsland

“Five Birthdays and a Funeral” by bizarrelittlemew

“Homeward Bound” by Mari_who

“Dissolve It in Rain” by be_alighthouse

“This Sudden Burst of Sunlight” by orphan_account

“Strawberry Sweet” by communion_nimrod

“Moonlight Becomes You” by Shalamarr

“Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago” by nomadsland – My favorite combination of oblivious Stede, self-discovery, lots of yearning, plus sweetness and learning to be a good dad.

“The Grey Lighthouse” by feriowind, read by 1happydaiz

“Baby Trapped” by aveotardis

“Late Blooms” by KalansPhantom

“Unchained Melody” by KalansPhantom

“Come on Over” by RoxyQueen – Probably my favorite humor writing for any fanfiction yet. Really fun and silly. Humor category for Book Bingo Northwest 2025

“A Yearning Inside” by Dracothelizard

“Sexy Lawyer Roommate” by LyraTalise

“Crossing Swords with the Pirate Captain” by BookknobsandBroomsticks

“Surrender to My Kiss” by KalansPhantom – Vampire Stede Bonnet and professor of pirate history Ed Teach

“I’ll Leave a Light on” by KalansPhantom 

“Unraveled and Reclaimed” by LyraTalise

“My Soul to Take” by KalansPhantom

“The Gentleman Pilot” by KizzyMeowMeow

“Off the Deep End” by serpent_and_dahlia – So silly and fun! Retired professional surfer Ed pretends he can’t swim so Stede will teach him. 

“If y’all having a bad day…” by serpent_and_dahlia 

“Even Lovers Drown” by BonnetPetit

“Prove It” by KnivesInFeet – One of the funniest fanfics I’ve read! Ed and Stede are contestants on The Great British Bake-Off

“Working with the Wrong Tags” by LyraTalise

“In Existence, Where We Lay Captive” by burberrylou

“Keep Swimming” by ghostalservice

“Out of the Bag” by suchgreatheights

2024 Reading List

I am hoping to go on a long bike tour of Aotearoa (New Zealand), and so planned to read mostly Māori and other Kiwi writers this year. That’s what I usually do when I’m planning a bike tour – try to read as much as I can about a place. It turns out that I won’t be able to make it in 2025, but it’s still a dream.

Then, I hit a deep pocket of despair for about a year. And most of what I could concentrate on reading was Our Flag Means Death fanfiction. In all, I read millions of words of fanfiction. For this list, I count anything novella-length or longer (20,000+ words) on my reading list. I read even more short stories and novelette-length pieces.

Fanfiction challenges lot of assumptions I have about writing and presenting stories. Borrowing is the foundation of fanfiction. There’s so much intertextuality among the fanfiction texts, and not just from the canon. Different threads shoot through lineages of stories. For example, there are multiple lineages where Ed is a rock star, and his band is Queen Anne’s Revenge. There are other, smaller micro-traditions, that differ on Ed’s mother’s name, whether Stede has a middle name, and so on. Some idiosyncratic phrasing is so similar that I think a new written micro-dialect of English is forming among fanfic communities.

The level of explanation, care, and softness in the community is unlike anything I’ve seen. Much of the forewarning and summary flies in the face of conventional writing, where surprise is a prized element. Tags are extensive, including warnings for content that I never would have considered a warning for. For example, some writers include content warnings any time characters drink alcohol. The summaries at the beginnings of chapters often give the entire plot away. The level of collaboration and conversation, with writers regularly replying to comments on their stories, is also different from what we expect in conventional literature.

Favorites of the Year, In the order I read them

Cataract by Callum Angus – My friend wrote beautiful personal essays about living through climate change. His prose is exact and insightful.

Better Living Through Alchemy by Evan J. Peterson – My friend of many years wrote this really fun, original, and spooky supernatural detective story. It was a complete treat! If you love Rivers of London, The Dresden Files, the Felix Castor series, or Hellblazer, you’ll really enjoy this book! 

Chappy by Patricia Grace – A multi-generational story of a Māori family, as it fractures and re-assembles across the Pacific. I love the multiple voices weaving the narrative and the long-term warmth and forgiveness in tight knit community and family bonds.

Nights in the Gardens of Spain by Witi Ihimaera – From the first paragraph, the sensory details are specific and evocative. A lot of the book deals with gay cruising scenes of the 90s and a gay father coming out. I loved the warm and tactile descriptions of gay sex, at a time when gay sex was pathologized.There were a few tropes I wasn’t delighted to read, but even so, the literary beauty of this novel is undeniable.

“Blue as Cut Sapphires and Shining Like Gold” by suchgreatheights – This Our Flag Means Death fanfic set in a modern alternate universe made my heart rush around at a time when I really needed it. I loved seeing Ed and Stede fall so deeply in love and be so kind to each other.

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa, read by Harrison Knights – This Regency-era gay romance features Oliver Bennett, a young trans man. It was just lovely throughout. I wish I had this book when I was a young adult.

After the Forest by Kell Woods – This is one of the books that snapped me out of my fanfiction-only funk. A delightful and brutal story of Gretel, and her brother Hansel, as young adults, after they escape the witch’s house. The sensory details are gorgeous and immersive. 

“Queen Anne’s Revenge: Director’s Cut” by leukozyna – Possibly my favorite fanfic. Stede’s daughter Alma is a teen fan of Queen Anne’s Revenge, and its frontman, Ed. Alma’s favorite rockstar falls in love with her dorky dad. I love the detail and character development, especially the teens chatting about their special interest. Unfortunately, this fic is restricted, so you’ll have to create an account to read it.

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera – Beautiful prose to describe a unique system of magic and cults. Set in a fictionalized South Asia, where Sri Lanka has been physically fused with India, this is an alternately whimsical and horrifying story.

Everything Else I Finished Reading

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – Hefty, multi-storyline, multi-continental epic fantasy, with queer romances

More Perfect by Temi Oh – A slow burn, with stunningly beautiful imagery. A fresh take on the Orpheus myth, set in a dystopian technocracy.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao – Future war story set in a world that incorporates elements of Chinese history. Features a polyamorous relationship and commentary on gendered violence.

The Ghost in Bone: A Felix Castor Exorcism by Mike Carey (AKA M.R. Carey) – I was so excited to see another Felix Castor book had come out! Delightful as always!

Auckland: The City in Literature Edited by Witi Ihimaera

Voyagers: The Settlement of the Pacific by Nicholas Thomas, read by Mark Robertson

The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, read by Edith Bowman, Guy Garvey, Cerys Matthews, and Benjamin Zephaniah – I loved the space taken between each of the poems in the audio version and the recorded birdsong.

The Bone Riddle by Sara E. Johnson, read by Sarah Naughton

The Theory of Everything Else: A Voyage into the World of the Weird, written and read by Dan Schreiber

The Bone People by Keri Hulme – I read this as part of my preparation for my dream bicycle tour of Aotearoa (New Zealand). I’m planning to read mostly Māori writers and other Kiwi writers as part of learning about the islands and cultures before I go. This novel is a deep and uncomfortable exploration of chosen and adopted family, abuse, community interconnectedness, and restorative justice. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, though this book was first printed in 1984, the main character is nonbinary and asexual, though those words aren’t used in the book. The character even creates gender-neutral pronouns. I’m always delighted to find queer representation where I don’t expect it.
It also makes me think about how works and creators with intersecting identities don’t often get cataloged in all of their respective identities. For example, this book is usually listed as a book with Māori characters and writer, or a Kiwi book, or a book about abuse. Even though it won the Man Booker Prize, I have not seen it in a queer, nonbinary, and/or ace reading list. Part of the problem, of course, is that the book came out forty years ago, so it won’t be top of mind. But being 130 years old doesn’t keep The Picture of Dorian Gray off those lists.

New Zealand: The Essential Guide to Customs and Culture by Lyn McNamee

The Suicide of Claire Bishop by Carmiel Banasky, read by Carol Monda and Will Damron

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix, read by Mikhaila Aaseng and Jay Aaseng

Pūrākau: Māori Myths Retold by Māori Writers, edited by Witi Ihimaera and Whiti Hereaka – This was a great way for me to learn about both Māori sacred histories and contemporary Māori writers.

Ndima Ndima by Tsitsi Mapepa

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann, read by Mark Deakins

Paper Cage by Tom Baragwanath, read by Saskia Maarleveld and Natalie Beran

Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis by Timothy Egan, read by David Drummond

Saga Vol. 8-11 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

The Last Guests by J.P. Pomare

Māori Boy: A Memoir of Childhood by Witi Ihimaera – I was surprised and delighted to find that this memoir included extended whakapapa (genealogy), sacred history, and recent history of Aotearoa (New Zealand). It’s a much broader way of thinking about memoir than I’m used to, and very interesting to me as someone who is learning about Aotearoa for the first time.

Better the Blood by Michael Bennett

These Precious Days: Essays written and read by Ann Patchett

Can You Tolerate This? Essays by Ashleigh Young, read by Saskia Maarleveld

Auē by Becky Manawatu

Poukahangatus: Poems written and read by Tayi Tibble

Pirate Enlightenment, or the Real Libertalia by David Graeber, read by Roger Davis

Bliss and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield, read by Juliet Stevenson

Tauhou by Kōtuku Titihuia Nuttall

Deacon King Kong by James McBride, read by Dominic Hoffman

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford, read by Vico Ortiz

Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn, read by Jasmin Savoy Brown

Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard, read by Jennifer Aquino

Robin and Her Misfits by Kelly Ann Jacobson, read by Eleanor McCormick

The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai, read by Priya Ayyar and Nikki Massoud

The Weavers of Alamaxa by Hadeer Elsbai, read by Priya Ayyar and Nikki Massoud

Cursed Cocktails by S. L. Rowland, read by Eric Jason Martin

Angels Before Man by Rafael Nicolás, read by Lance West

The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy, read by Jackie Maloche

Knife River by Justine Champine, read by Jennifer Pickens

The Night and Its Moon by Piper CJ

Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis, read by Katherine Press

Road to Ruin by Hana Lee, read by Natalie Naudus

The Body in The Back Garden by Mark Waddell, read by Daniel Henning

Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasure by Robert Wittman, read by Mark Deakins

I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram, read by Shezi Sardar and Brent Billings

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer, read by Jorjeana Marie

Our Flag Means Death Fanfiction

“Perfect Pretenders” by gentleblahaj

“Teach” by lucelafonde

“Wanna fly away (i don’t know where my soul is)” by ghostalservice (plantainleaf), petrichorca – A fun Animorphs universe crossover

“We Belong Awake” by suchgreatheights – I’ve been thinking about how this fanfiction defies conflict as the primary driver of plot. Instead, it’s mostly driven by self discovery, expanding mutual understanding, and deepening relationships.

“Your Name Like a Boat” by mia_ugly and soft_october

“Take Back Your Mink” and “Call It Hell, Call It Heaven” by CartoonMayor

“On the Telephone Line I am Anyone” by Dracothelizard

“Something Like Harbor” by Mxwicked (SpacemanSpiff7)

“If You Were Mine to Keep” by Pamplemousse – I love a fake relationship romance trope! This alternate 18th century where marriage between two men is ensconced in imperial law is delightful.

“Ed, Actually” by BonnetPetit – Rockstar Ed Teach, The start of this Social Media Alternate Universe fanfiction is so funny and delightful. I love the repeated refrain of “I see you. I love you. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Dressing for Revenge” and “Changed Like Midnight” by WellSussed (SaltyRecommendation3)

“We Were Lovers Only Dreaming” by KalansPhantom

“Clean Slated State” by Justkeeptrekkin

“Blood Under the Skin” by CartoonMayor – A delightful medieval universe for our favorite gay pirates

“Does the Body Good” and “Does the Body Good 2: Does the Body Even Gooder” by zemph147 – Really sweet, silly, and fun fic about our favorite gay pirate idiots in love

“Kissing Is What Lovers Do (And We’re Not Lovers)” by afterism

“This Tired World Could Change” by gangnamstiles – The opening scene is some of the best prose and character development I’ve seen in fanfiction.

“Still Burning, Still Bright When the Night Comes” by gangnamstiles

“Skinned Knees” by Skrifores

“Discreetly Yours” by BonnetPetit

“Blackheart” by angelsunaware

“Never Have I Ever…” by KatherineKrawl

“Brace Yourself and Nestle into Me” by liriodendron

“Kiss Me” by BonnetPetit

“Done Deal” by Skrifores, read by FlammableHeart – The hottest podfic I’ve heard. Modern alternate universe where Stede is still married and on a journey of self-discovery with hot glass artist Edward Teach.

“Come on and Hold Me” by weonlyhavethisonelife

“Not Pickles” by smallestchurch

“Tasseomancy” by zacharybosch, read by SD Ryan

“Deadly Propositions” by sophiecee

“Different This Time” by shipmates

“Chasing Down a Daydream” by summerlinenss, read by 1happydaiz – a Rapunzel-themed alternate universe 

“Read for Filth” by Pastor_of_Muppets – Former high school sweethearts rockstar Ed and bookstore owner Stede rekindle their romance

“Synchronicity” by ClaireGregory – Olympic divers get together 

“Just Keep Your Eyes on Me” by KalansPhantom and Pastor_of_Muppets

“The Treasure Map” by manicfanfic

“Lucky One Hundred” and “Fortune Favors the Brave” by ClaireGregory

“Baddy Zaddy” by ElapsedSpiral – One of my favorites. First person perspective puts a bit of a different feel on the story. The emotional notes are strong and the banter is really fun and funny. I have a special place in my heart for fics where Stede starts in the closet and we get to see his whole self-discovery.

“Turn on the Light” by smallestchurch

“Mid-Century Modern” by Skrifores

“Box Cake Boyfriend “ by Curupia

“A Little Restraint” by Fyre

“It Could Be for Love” by mediocrepirate

“Finish with the Good Shit” by anathxmadevice (checkmate)

“How to Date a Librarian” by OceanusK

“Surreal but Nice: An OFMD SMAU” by RoughWinds

“A Heart Unsated” by RoughWinds

“The Merry Strays of Lighthouse Sanctuary” and “Where the Daylight Begins” by xoxoemynn

“Wave Hello to the Void” by eefaevie, mxmolusca, and zacharybosch – Folklorist Stede is on the hunt for Mothman in rural West Virginia. Ed is a backwoods recluse. I really loved this story. The emotional beats felt right for a monster story, and the burn was just slow enough. Extra fun spicy bits, too!

“An Irrational Tenderness (I Am a Lighthouse)” by fluffy_miracle – Each chapter begins with a lovely passage from Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse. Art teacher Stede meets a student’s hot single dad, Ed.

“Send out the Morning Birds” by foxtails

“I Never Forget a…” by Shalamarr

“Such Joie de Vivre” by louciferish – One of the best-written fanfic I’ve read. A lot of showing, not telling, much more scene than summary, and the tension is real. Ed is a career thief, out to steal a recently recovered item from a shipwreck. He accidentally becomes the Bonnets’ nanny.

“The Space Between Us” by 1happydaiz

“Old Bae Season” by nomadsland

“It’s Only Right” by hexuponye 

“The Angriest Chicken in the Apothecary” by Ignisentis – I loved the whimsical, magical world of this one. And the spicy bits are realistic and lovely. Stede runs an apothecary alongside his chicken familiar. Unbeknownst to him, his newest patron Ed is a famous potion-brewer.

“Off the Wall” by DevilsSacramentCatering

“Strangers on a Beach” by zemph147

“Snowhere I’d Rather Be” by ManicPixieDreamDemon

“Haunted” by TheUnicornMermaid

“Home Sweet Home” by Ammy (Rennakins) and ellemzee

“My Soul Remains with You” by BonnetPetit and Tsutsuya

“Fine Wires” by Nospaceforjack

“Once a Year” by fake_geek_boy

“The Ties That Bind” by meg_ofmd

“The Slightest Touch” by AppleTeeth

“Title TBD” by Malikat22 

“Candid Moments” by meg_ofmd

“All Evidence Points to Love” by Jeannyboy

“The Lost Children of Ikatera” by PhantomEllie

“Come Back to Me” by Jeannyboy

“The Lady Anne” by debbienovotny

“Choose Your Own Adventure: Reunion!” by adhduck, CartoonMayor, ClaireGregory, CuriosCabinet, eefaevie, emi_rose, fake_geek_boy, ghostalservice (plantainleaf), knotwerk, mxmollusca, petrichorca, wardrobespierre, xoxoemynn, and  zemph147

The Bug Boys Series – “Please Bug Me” and “Bug Boys 2: Electric Bugaloo” by GayPirateAficionado

“A Latent Spring” by Deanbird & ghostalservice (plantainleaf)

“Menace: The Search for Stede Bonnet” by insane_foliage

“What Happens in the Theater Stays in the Theater” by karawrites

“Lock and Key: An OFMD Narrowboat SMAU” by thereluctantrose

“Blow the Man Down” by JavidDenkins

“New Ghosts” by HighlyExplosiveContent

“Bustin’ Makes Me Feel Good” by Space_communist

“Our Skates Mean Derby” by AnarchyAndOldLace

“Row Row Row Your Boat” series by bizarrelittlemew

“Moonstone Mage Championship” by Blakbonnet (Meowbowwow)

“Fairy Lights” by 515253545 and ghostalservice (plantainleaf)

“Catch Me When I’m Falling for You” by CartoonMayor

“Withdrawn Before the Tide” by zuzeca

“Star Crazy” by DevilsSacramentCatering

“With Ne’er a Fear of Drowning” by dekaarios

“Matching Frequencies” by ClaireGregory and inkirtis

“The Ylp’s Tale” by Cxnstellatixns, ghostalservice (plantainleaf), knotwerk, petrichorca, and veeagainst

“Running with the Wolves” and “Woken by Moonlight” by KalansPhantom

“Luctor et Emergo: The Call of Edthulhu,” “The Vacation of Edthulhu,” and “The Morning Sex of Edthulhu” by Dracothelizard

“Lazy Sundays” by WellSussed (drcfxtina)

“Bad for You” by Truetomorrow

“Don’t Be Surprised if I Fall” by weonlyhavethisonelife

“The Gentleman and the Pirate” by Caedmon

“To a Good Home Only” by fluffy_miracle

“Somewhere Beyond the Sea” by ClaireGregory

“The World Ender” by Ignisentis

“Turn Your Lamps Down Low” by Nadzieja

“Body & Soul” by sophiecee

“Out of This World” series by Frawg_Spawn

“Stedebonnet0306 Followed You on Tumblr” by ikknowplaces

“Here, Now and Forever” by geekyfrog

“Prize Every Time” by ElapsedSpiral

“Whirlpool” by Ava1on

“So You’ve Summoned a Sea Demon” by activevirtues 

“Only Fools Are Satisfied” by candiedsilkmoth, read by 1happydaiz

“Matching Spark and Flame” by bizarrelittlemew

“The Guest” by blackbeard_gay

“Up Close and Personal” by Shipmates, read by 1happydaiz

“Accommodations” by Vmarssmartrthnme

“Eight Nights” by pirate_captains_captain_pirates

“All I Want for Christmas Is…” by nocturneequuis

“A Little Bit of Love Goes a Long Way” by nocturneequuis

“Ink and Ichor” by nervous_jester

2023 Reading List

This was a year of mostly just fun reading – a lot of queer joy, magic, and silliness. You’ll see a lot more non-fiction this year, because I had a lot of time to listen to audiobooks on my long bus commute.

About halfway through this year, I decided to stop writing content warnings. As a librarian, I know that content warnings are against American Library Association ethical guidelines. I depend on readers (and for minors, parents) to discern what content they want. Readers can decide to put a book down if it doesn’t work for them. I’ll also leave the discovery and discernment to my family and friends who read these lists.

As always, this list is inspired by Marc’s yearly book lists on his Black, Whole blog.

Stand Outs

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix – This is a really fun read with deep character development and relevant social and cultural commentary. It does what it says on the tin, plus a lot more, in unexpected ways. 

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield – Absolutely beautiful. Stripped down, simple language.The deep and constant process of grief, interspersed with the unavoidable silliness of life and joy of love. The strange and irreplaceable uniqueness of a loved one. I laughed out loud at parts. 

Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway by Sara Gran, read by Carol Monda – A gritty detective story, edged with mysticism. I found this series by looking for audiobooks read by Carol Monda. I’ll add this to the list of messy detective series that I love, including the Cass Neary series by Elizabeth Hand and the Aud Torvingen series by Nicola Griffith.

On Fragile Waves by E. Lily Yu – A lyrical novel that ventures into visual poetry. A ghost story and realist fiction about Afghan refugees. I have long admired Yu’s short, speculative fiction. I was delighted to hear about this novel, which won the Washington State Book Award in 2022. In my job as a librarian, I was also honored to welcome her to read a story for our patrons.

Just Kids by Patti Smith, read by the author – I’m really glad I listened to her reading this book. It was endearing to hear her impression of Robert.

The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2022 edited by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson – It’s a little weird to include a best of anthology in my favorites list. But I found these pieces to be really fun and informative.



How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler, read by the author – Essays combining nature writing about aquatic creatures and memoir. The sea creature portions are fascinating and the memoir portions are intimate and familiar. My housemate Grace recommended this one.

High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson – This is my favorite thing that I’ve read in a long time. Good, silly fun, with original world-building! A 100% lesbian world, plus grumpy fairies. What’s not to love?

Lone Women by Victor Lavalle – A western and monster story about family and gender. Told with a lot of heart and nuance, this story stays relevant as it shows a moment of complex and precarious racial and gendered dynamics in the American West. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Minute sensory details, exquisite scene setting, and attention to gesture. Like all the best writing, a synopsis and genre descriptor won’t do justice to the work.

The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C. M. Waggoner, read by Ava Lucas – For anyone who loves Karen Memory, a very queer caper, following a scrappy protagonist. This audiobook was so much fun! Lucas’s narration is masterful – her voices are easy to differentiate and still feel natural.

Poison Ivy: The Virtuous Cycle Vol. 1 by G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara, and Arif Prianto – Lush illustrations of canonically queer anti-heroine Poison Ivy. This takes me back to the Vertigo days of comics, and I am loving it!

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez – Jimenez’s unique style slips seamlessly among perspectives. He gives voice to all the working people in this queer epic fantasy, building a world full of feeling and stories. Brutal and beautifully written. This was recommended by my librarian colleague, Megan.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng – A young boy navigates an anti-Asian hate-filled world. Artists resist repression in increasingly surprising actions. Ng’s work is delicate and full of feeling. I promise, it’s not as much of a bummer as it sounds.

Spear by Nicola Griffith – A girl in Bronze Age Wales grows up in isolation, learning to fight and use magic. A fresh, immersive take on a classic tale. Seamlessly uses well-researched historical material culture details.

The Water Outlaws by S. L. Huang, read by Emily Woo Zeller – A queer, women-centered retelling of a classic Chinese tale. Really fun and occasionally gruesome. Woo Zeller’s dynamic narration is as epic as the story.

The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle by T. L. Huchu – The third book in this series, a really fun, magical mystery set in post-apocalyptic Scotland. It was even more enjoyable because I’ve visited most of the places mentioned.

Everything Else

Tales from the Folly – A Rivers of London Short Story Collection by Ben Aaronovitch 

All These Bodies by Kendare Blake – A slow burn, fresh take on vampire lore, set in the 1950s Midwest 

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir – Okay, I skimmed a lot of this. I got to the end, but I’m still not sure what was happening for most of it. This is the third book in the Locked Tomb series. I think the series is best enjoyed by reading the first book, Gideon the Ninth, as a stand alone novel.

The Survival of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers – The sequel to Psalm for the Wild Built 

Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk – A Prohibition-era, Lesbian supernatural detective story 

Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse – A murder mystery set in a world based in Abrahamic lore, with some original twists 

Other Russias by Victoria Lomasko, translated by Thomas Campbell – Graphic journalism showing marginalized segments of Russian society

The Tangleroot Palace: Stories by Marjorie Liu

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – A magical adventure with a fellowship of rogues

Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon

Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith, read by Quyen Ngo – A surreal ghost story set in Vietnam that touches on colonization and diaspora

The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, read by Bailey Carr and others – A high school senior sets out to solve a local murder

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, read by the author 

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris, read by the author – Always a delight!

Shutter by Ramona Emerson – I liked her way of using camera models to ground each chapter in a particular place and time.

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson, read by Marguerite Gavin

What Should Be Wild by Julia Fine – I picked up this book at a friend’s book swap party. It was one of the nicest parties I’ve been to in a while – just a few people and really good conversation. This book was lyrical and dark – I enjoyed it. 

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, read by Mike Grady

The Infinite Blacktop by Sara Gran – Another delightful Claire DeWitt novel

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour

Epitaph for a Peach by David M. Masumoto – Recommended by a library coworker 

Pulling the Wings off Angels by K.J. Parker

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches  by Sangu Mandanna

Fen, Bog, and Swamp by Anne Proulx, read by Gabra Zackman

Dope by Sara Gran – I can see the beginnings of her noir detective voice, later developed in the Claire DeWitt series.

Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science by Jessica Hernandez, PhD, read by Stacy Gonzalez

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka – This was the 2023 Seattle Reads book.

Scattered All Over the Earth by Yoko Tawada – I found this charming. A slow-moving book that mostly takes place inside the characters’ heads and multi-lingual conversations. Digs into communication pathways available through each language.

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher – Scary.

Rabbits by Terry Miles

Bad Girls by Camila Sosa Villada, translated by Kit Maude

The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli, read by Benedict Cumberbatch

Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman

Any Other Name by Emma Newman

All Is Fair by Emma Newman

Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy, read by Adam Barr

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo 

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, read by Rebecca Lowman 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Nero Wolfe: The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout – I picked this up at a friend’s delightful book exchange party

Confident Women: Swindlers, Grifters, and Shapeshifters of the Feminine Persuasion by Tori Telfer, read by Jaime Lamchick

The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach

Liar City by Allie Therin

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

There Was a Crooked Man by K.J. Larson, read by Carol Monda – I found this audiobook by searching my library for books read by Carol Monda.

The Verifiers by Jane Pek

Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk by Sasha taqʷšablu LaPointe, read by the author

Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevlin – Nuanced relationships and complex understanding of power

The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill

Our Fruiting Bodies by Nisi Shawl

The Legend of Charlie Fish by Josh Rountree

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

Concerning My Daughter by Kim Hye-Jin, translated by Jamie Chang

Ukulele of Death by E.J. Copperman, read by Cara Swingline

Spring’s Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow

A Deadly Grind by Victoria Hamilton, read by Emily Woo Zeller

How to Not Always Be Working: A Toolkit for Creativity and Radical Self-Care by Marlee Grace, read by the author

My Name is Iris by Brando Skyhorse

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle – I can’t believe I’ve waited all this time to read one of Tingle’s books. As someone who was raised fundamentalist Christian, this really struck a chord with me. 

If Found, Return to Hell by Em X. Liu

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

Cryptid Club by Sarah Andersen – Delightful comics

The Silver Coin Volume I edited by Chris Hampton

Wayward Volume I by Jim Zub and Steve Cummings

Descendent by Stephanie Phillips and Evgeniy Bornyakov

A Man Among Ye Vol I-II by Stephanie Phillips and Josh George

Darkness Visible by Mike Carey and Brendan Cahill

When I Arrived at the Castle by Emily Carroll – I love Carroll’s beautiful, dark artwork and old world sensibility in storytelling. 

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz by Garth Nix

Unnatural Magic by C. M. Waggoner, read by Shiromi Arserio

2022 Reading List

This was the year of magical detectives and innovative feminist fantasy (sometimes both at the same time, when I was lucky). I spent a lot of the year finishing a master’s degree in library and information science, and then on a bike tour for four months. I read many of these books late at night in my tent in Scotland after long days cycling, hauling 100 pounds of gear. So, I was physically exhausted and craved really fun, quick reads. Everything on this list, I liked enough to read the whole thing. The many books that I started and put down stay between me and my library history.

What did you like reading this year?

Stand Outs

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke – A complete delight, with enough darkness to keep it interesting. Don’t let the high page count scare you – you’ll sprint right through it!

The Betrayals by Bridget Collins – This book is lush, gorgeous, and heady. Spoiler alert! None of the characters are trans, but much of the book reads like a trans experience. 

The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk – Polk’s rich world and vivid use of color really drew me in. The emotional depth of their characters had me deeply invested. I can’t wait to see what they’ll write next!

Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch – The first in the Rivers of London series. It’s a supernatural detective story with a lot of heart and a long through-line. I couldn’t tell you which book in the series I liked best. I just really loved the style of narration – conversational, with a strong eye for architecture. I ended up reading twelve books in this series this year (the novellas as well as the primary series). 

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman – Fun, irreverent, post-apocalyptic epic fantasy. The world is so well fleshed out, and the narrative voice is strong and enjoyable. This is a patriarchal world on the brink of becoming matriarchal.

Sabriel by Garth Nix – Unique take on necromancy – I love this world and how rooted in the body the writing is. Thanks to my buddy, poet and performance artist, Wryly McCutchen for the recommendation (go buy their stuff)!

A Country of Ghosts by Margaret Killjoy – For those interested in dreams of how an anarchist society might look, this is a nice book to have in your back pocket, in addition to The Dispossessed.

The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu – I love the elegant world building and the fresh narrative voice. A fun, unique take on s supernatural detective story that is thrilling and sometimes terrifying.

Westside by W.M. Akers – A delightful puzzle mystery. I love the narrative/antiheroine’s voice. Amazing worldbuilding.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden – A whimsical and dark story, incorporating Russian folklore.

Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher – Fun from beginning to end, a fresh take on wandering fellowship of heroes and fairytale archetypes. 

The Night Eaters Book 1: She Eats the Night by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda – Heartfelt, clever, and truly terrifying comic. A really fun and original twist on a story of grown children of immigrants relating to their parents. The gore levels were a little high for me, but the story made the nightmares worth it.

Everything Else

Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses by Robin Wall Kimmerer – This deepened my understanding and appreciation for moss. I listened to the author-read audiobook, and her voice is so warm and kind. If you’re interested in beautifully written work, I think her book Braiding Sweetgrass is also great.

The Radiant Lives of Animals by Linda Hogan

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

A Man of Shadows by Jeff Noon

Stone and Steel by Eboni Dunbar

Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone by G.S. Denning – Really fun and silly. There is an irritating transmisogynistic scene where drag is played for laughs and one slur. 

Reverie by Ryan La Sala

Storm Front by Jim Butcher – Fun supernatural noir detective story!

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers – She dedicated this book to anyone who could use a break, and it is indeed a break – an imagined kind, caring world. The plot relies on exploration, not conflict, to move it forward. A lot of the philosophical questions are ones that have been tickling my head and heart over the last couple years. Restful and lovely.

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich – Full of Erdrich’s usual fully fleshed out, funny, heartbreaking world! Her characters have the full weirdness, awkwardness, and nuance we expect from her writing.

The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Lirael by Garth Nix – At least as much fun as the first book, Sabriel

Cycling the Hebrides: Island Touring and Day Rides by Richard Barrett – I carried this book with me on the first couple months of my cycle tour of Scotland. I cut out the pages as I traveled the referenced sections, and the book grew lighter over my journey.

Noir by Christopher Moore

Moon over SoHo by Ben Aaronovitch – really delightful sequel to Midnight Riot

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik – I read the Scholomance books while recovering from COVID, in a tent on a bike tour in Scotland. I was on the other side of the world, with no energy, sleeping and readin my tent all day

The Searcher by Tana French

Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest

Abhorsen by Garth Nix

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch 

Clariel by Garth Nix

Westside Saints by W.M. Akers

Our Lady of the Mysterious Ailments by T.L. Huchu – I love the further development of the Ropa character and her casual crassness, mixed with her buoyant optimism. Huchu never lets us forget the real material needs of this character, and I find it deeply grounded in the body.

Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch 

The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea – This was the Seattle Reads book this year. Oddly enough, I read it in North Wales. I love a good multi-generational novel. This goes deep emotionally with a dense cast of characters with such economy. I laughed at times. And there were parts of the book that made me feel sick and upset me for days. I know that’s what you get sometimes with art, sometimes it’s upsetting. Sometimes that’s the point. There’s nothing wrong with that, but for me personally, I need a break from deeply sadistic scenes.

Goldenhand by Garth Nix

The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch 

Westside Lights by W.M. Akers

Either/Or by Elif Batuman 

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch 

Gentleman Wolf by Joanna Chambers

The Thousand Eyes by A.K. Larkwood 

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik 

The October Man by Ben Aaronovitch 

Hokuloa Road by Elizabeth Hand 

False Value by Ben Aaronovitch 

Amongst Our Weapons by Ben Aaronovitch 

White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton

The Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch 

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden 

Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory 

Chapter Six by Stephen Graham Jones

Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker

Snotgirl Volume I: Green Hair Don’t Care by Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung

Snotgirl Volume II: California Screaming by Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung

Snotgirl Volume III: Is This Real Life? by Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung

Hellblazer Issue 1-3: Rise and Fall by Tom Taylor and Darick Robertson – Looks like this is another reboot of Hellblazer! I really love that in this story, John Constantine only has gay relationships. The extreme nerd in me has a hard time with the conflation of the First of the Fallen and Lucifer characters, but it works fine. I love the class warfare angle, and the final couple pages are priceless.

Monstress Volume Six: The Vow by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

Monstress Volume Seven: Devourer by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran – I listened to this audiobook specifically because it’s read by Carol Monda. She has the perfect voice and great delivery for reading gritty mysteries!

The Dance Boots by Linda LeGarde Grover

What Abigail Did That Summer by Ben Aaronovitch 

Invisible Things by Mat Johnson 

The Bone Ships by RJ Barker

We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix – Really fun, especially for anyone who remembers satanic panic! Again, I found this book because I searched for audiobooks read by Carol Monda, who I first heard reading Elizabeth Hand’s Cass Neary series.

Get Yr Chapbooks!

I’m planning an international bicycle tour starting in late June! To prepare, I’m downsizing my possessions – getting rid of almost everything I can’t carry with me, including my chapbooks. I’d love to share them with anyone who’s interested before the remainders go in the recycling bin!

Do you want these chapbooks? If so, please email your mailing address to oscar DOT mcnary AT gee mail DOT com

If you can also Venmo me a couple bucks for postage and envelope, that’d be swell, but not required.

2021 Reading List

I didn’t really have a guiding principle for this year. I tried to find nonfiction with beautiful prose, and began reading Central Asian literature in hopes of biking through that part of the world in the near future. Here are the books that I ended up finishing this year. Each section is listed in the order I read them. As always, this list is inspired by Marc’s yearly booklists.

What did you love reading this year? Do you have any recommendations for beautifully written nonfiction or Central Asian literature?

Stand Outs for the Year

Hard Light by Elizabeth Hand – Darkest noir. Cass Neary, the anti-heroine, is not a character that I want to meet or invite into my home. These characters work hard to be unlikeable, and yet, I can’t help but root for them. I devour these books, even as the gory details give me nightmares. The rich layering of sensory detail, particularly smell, ground the work in the body. And the landscapes are beautifully and eerily rendered. So far, I’ve listened to three audiobooks in this series, read by Carol Monda. Her voice and performance add spot-on texture. Content warnings for every kind of violence and substance abuse.

The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood – Epic fantasy with intricate world-building that unfolds naturally. Deeply flawed, lovable characters. I stayed up way past my bedtime for a week finishing this, because I had to know what happened next.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones – Crisp prose, and tight, well-composed scenes. He writes the clearest action sequences that just fly by. It’s horror, so be ready for some gore. A good mix of psychological, supernatural, and visceral horror.

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates – A supernatural narrative of survival and connection under slavery. Coates uses believable, period prose to explore the nuances of the psychological terrors of slavery and the effects on families and communities.

A Natural History of Transition by Callum Angus – These beautiful stories were a complete treat to read. His style and evocative details add rich depth to these emotionally immersive tales. I’m friends with Cal, but I would have loved these stories even if we had never met.

Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara – A captivating mystery told from the perspectives of children. The strong narrative voice and rich sensory details made me tear through this book – I read the whole thing in 24 hours. The choice of children’s points of view allows the book to address inequities without being preachy and discuss extreme violence without being gory.

The Little Sleep by Paul Tremblay – A fun and new take on the beaten-down detective! I’ve never read a mystery novel quite like it.

Unity by Elly Bangs – This is a re-read for me, since I had the pleasure of reading this manuscript before it was published. It’s a fun, cyberpunk examination of ethics, personhood, and redemption. But there are still plenty of explosions!

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – I liked this book so much that when my ebook expired at the library, I bought it online. I had to know what happened next! This extremely creepy, beautifully written book delivers on exactly what it says on the tin, with innovative twists! Strong content warning for sexualized violence.

Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge – I loved the magic and the deep inner voice. Close attention to the senses and relationships. I hope to read and love everything she writes from here on out!

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer – This book defies easy categorization. The prose is so tenderly composed. An Indigenous botanist braids sacred histories, scientific explorations, and personal experience and relationships. I listened to this book, as an optional reading for my Indigenous Ways of Knowing class. Just go listen to it already.

The Binding by Bridget Collins – I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning because I absolutely had to know what happened next! Well-crafted and suspenseful. What happens next is always surprising and inevitable. Deep, sensory descriptions. Content warning for sexualized violence.

Everything Else

The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Witchmark by C.L. Polk

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich – I enjoyed this, but it’s far from her best work. Definitely read everything she’s written. I recommend starting with Love Medicine

Ghostways: Two Journeys in Unquiet Places by Dan Richards, Robert Macfarlane, and Stanley Donwood

A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson

The Burning God by R.F. Kuang

The Trail of the Serpent by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

Red Pill by Hari Kunzru

Winter in the Blood by James Welch

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The Fall of Koli by M.R. Carey

Monstress, Vol. V by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

Rose Gold by Walter Mosley

For He Can Creep by Siobhan Carroll

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Rosewater Redemption by Tade Thompson

The Liminal War by Ayize Jama-Everett

Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession

Desdemona and the Deep by C.S.E. Cooney

The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World  by Patrik Svensson

The Beatrix Gates by Rachel Pollack

Fray by Joss Whedon, Karl Moline, and Andy Owens

Pretty Deadly Vol 2 by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Ríos, and Jordie Bellaire

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

Fifth Business by Robertson Davies

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change by Merlin Sheldrake

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

Carpe Glitter by Cat Rambo

Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen

The Book of Lamps and Banners by Elizabeth Hand

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

No Sleep Till Wonderland by Paul Tremblay

The Salt Path – A Memoir by Raynor Winn

The Star Side of Bird Hill by Naomi Jackson

Something New by P.G. Wodehouse, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

The Blue Sky by Galsan Tschinag; translated by Katharina Rout 

The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard

Arsène Lupin by Maurice Leblanc, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice by Wilkie Collins, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

A Very Big White Elephant: New Voices in Mongolian Poetry, translated by Sh Tsog and Simon Wickham-Smith

Always by Nicola Griffith

Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater and Morgan Beem

Happiness Will Follow by Mike Hawthorne

Everyone Is Tulip by Dave Baker, Nicole Goux, and Ellie Hall

Swamplands: Tundra Beavers, Quaking Bogs, and the Improbable World of Peat by Edward Struzik

The Wrong End of the Telescope by Rabih Alameddine

The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle

2020 Reading List

Darlings, I started 2020 with grand plans to read only trans writers. Then, the libraries closed, and for a while, I subsisted off the books I could find at the Little Free Libraries in my neighborhood. Eventually, I broke down and got an e-reader. Then, I only wanted to read really fun books. Here are the books I ended up finishing. As always, this list is inspired by Marc’s annual book list.

Stand outs of the year, in the order I read them:

Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg – Beautifully written, innovative – A gritty fabulist historical caper about a London thief. The language is gorgeous, and the ongoing meta-story (don’t miss the footnotes!) is really fun. A complete delight, and I cried several times reading it.

Four Souls by Louise Erdrich – Gorgeous, overflowing with poetic detail. If you haven’t had the delight of reading Erdrich yet, I recommend starting with Love Medicine

So Much Blue by Percival Everett – Emotionally deep look at relationships in their full, messy complexity. And yet, funny. Crisp, beautiful prose.

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie – Really fun secondary world fantasy, with heady jaunts into cosmology

Fissure King by Rachel Pollack – Supernatural noir detective delight!

The Border Keeper by Kerstin Hall – Beautifully and gently unwinding plot, original and interesting cosmology, a plot that had me reading until one in the morning. The horror details do get a little horrific.

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang – This book convinced me, finally, that I do love epic fantasy. It just has to be well-written and interesting, as this book definitely is. Great character development and world-building. A magical amalgamation of a fictionalized Chinese history, from the Mandarin exams to the Opium Wars to the atrocities committed by the Japanese state against Chinese people in World War II. A content warning: details of the atrocities are pulled directly from the history, and are very disturbing.

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi – This one hit pretty close to home for me – about coming to terms with an Evangelical Christian upbringing in the South. The experience is really well-rendered.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir – A complete romp! Really fun, irreverent take on a locked mansion murder mystery, with space necromancers. I loved the brash, big dumb fighter protagonist. I stayed up past 2 a.m. on multiple nights because I had to know what happened next!

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers – Probably the only hard sci fi I’ve ever enjoyed – nuanced writing and delightful, imaginative worlds.

Everything else, in the order I read it:

Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection edited by Hope Nicholson

The Black Tides of Heaven by JY Yang

The Barrow Will Send What It May by Margaret Killjoy – A complete romp! It’s the second in a series, but this is by far more fun than the first book.

Long Black Veil by Jennifer Finney Boylan – Eerie, fog-thick prose. Immersive sensory scenes. If you’re feeling bogged down by the first chapter, skip to the second. It’s there that the storytelling begins.

Severance by Ling Ma – Gorgeous language, illustrative details, equal parts urban Romantic landscapes and suspenseful post-apocalyptic narrative. 

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

Destroyer, Vol. 1-6 by Victor LaValle and Dietrich Smith

Small Beauty by Jia Qing Wilson-Yang

Homesick by Nino Cipri – Read the last story first, and then keep reading them in the opposite of the order they were collected. The final story had some ideas that were really exciting and believable, lovable characters, shot through with flaws.

For Today I Am a Boy by Kim Fu – A coming-of-age and coming out  story of a young trans woman. The prose is beautiful. The gestures are precise, the details cut right to the bone.

Before She Sleeps by Bina Shah

Nevada by Imogen Binnie

Sovereign Erotics Edited by Qwo-Li Driskill, Daniel Heath Justice, Deborah Miranda, and Lisa Tatonetti

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson – Fun, heartfelt – if you love monsters + magical girls

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie, as read by Phoebe Judge on her Phoebe Reads a Mystery podcast – Phoebe’s reading style is so much fun! I found myself staying awake late at night to hear what happened next. I laughed out loud several times at the characters’ foibles.

Continental Divide by Alex Myers

The Complete Lockpick Pornography by Joey Comeau

Little Fish by Casey Plett

“A Vector Alphabet of Interstellar Travel” (a short story that stands alone as its own e-book  in the Seattle Public Library) by Yoon Ha Lee

Rituals, Rhapsody of Blood Volume One by Roz Kaveney

Burn the Orphanage, Vol. II by Sina Grace & Daniel Freedman

Heathen by Natasha Alterici

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor

King Rat by China Miéville

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine

Shades of A by T A Kimpton

Comics for a Strange World by Reza Farazmand

Lumberjanes Vol. I by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, & Brooke Allen

The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood

(Re-read) Crossing Midnight Vol. I by Mike Carey & Jim Fern

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle, as read by Phoebe Judge on the Phoebe Reads a Mystery podcast

In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende

When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro

Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton

The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett

Speculative Relationships edited by Tyrell Cannon

Savage Creatures by Natalie Wilkinson

Heroes of the Dawn: Celtic Myth by Fergus Fleming, Shahrukh Husain, C. Scott Littleton, & Linda A. Malcor

Silhouette of a Sparrow by Molly Beth Griffin

The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

Detective Stories Chosen by Philip Pullman

The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery: 

Sing the Four Quarters by Tanya Huff

The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide

Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey – Fun, noir murder mystery set at a magic high school. This was exactly what I needed to read at a really low point in my year.

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë as read by Phoebe Judge in Phoebe Reads a Mystery

Sourdough by Robin Sloan

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey

The Highest House, Part 1 by Mike Carey

Greywalker by Kat Richardson

Among Others by Jo Walton

The Trials of Koli by M.R. Carey

Available Dark by Elizabeth Hand

Hearts of Oak by Eddie Robson

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color edited by Nisi Shawl 

Anthropocene Rag by Alex Irvine

The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair

Drowned Country by Emily Tesh

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

“Cold Wind” by Nicola Griffith

Working for the Devil by Lilith Saintcrow

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, as read by Phoebe Judge on Phoebe Reads a Mystery

Monstress Vol. 4 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

New Horror Story in Murder Park After Dark

My new horror story, “But some of Us Are Looking at the Stars,” is now out in Murder Park After Dark, Vol. 3. Buy it here.

New Story in Dark Moon Digest

I am overjoyed to say that I have a new story, “The Zip-Top Sandwich Bag Exorcisms,” published in Dark Moon Digest. Give it a look!

Content Warning: child neglect & abuse

Story featured on Podcast, Twenty Minute Transport

Theresa Barker featured my story, “Ode to the Chicago Bulls,” on her podcast Twenty Minute Transport. Give it a listen.

The podcast has featured five other Seattle-area, speculative fiction writers this season. You can hear all of them here.