#siren queen

[chai-and-cherries]

5 Insanely Underrated (Dark) Queer Book Recs for Your TBR (No Spoiler Reviews!)

I ain’t gonna beat around the bush, folks--this post has been a long time coming. Over the past year, I have somehow stumbled into my new favorite genre, leaving the careful days of YA comforting fantasy reads behind (but not forgotten!). I used to never be one for the dark, grisly, and not so man-made horrors beyond comprehension. But with the help of time, mind devouring storytelling, and gut wrenching emotions the world loves to carve out of us all, tastes have changed! So without further ado, let me recommend 5 of my favorite (darker) queer reads of 2022. Titles are linked to official Goodreads summaries while I have included my no-spoiler reviews below.

Some of these are horror, some fantasy, some tragedy, and most a mix of the above. As the new year draws closer, if you’re feeling ready to branch out (or branch in!!) please consider giving these severely underrated titles a read. And support lesser known authors while you’re at it!

As the title of the post implies, these books tend to brew darker than your average cup ‘a joe. So please heed included trigger warnings and take care! 

1. You Will Love What You Have Killed by Kevin Lambert

(Original title: Tu aimeras ce que tu as tué. English Translation by Winkler Donald).

Genres: Adult Fiction, Horror, Canadian Literature, Queer AF

Review: If you’re not a fan of blood, gore, and every horror under the dying sun, scroll away now. Starting off incredibly strong and incredibly twisted with French-Canadian Lambert’s debut novel, You Will Love What You Have Killed, this novel is neither for the faint of heart nor some of the hard of heart. I went into this book knowing next to nothing about what was in store and left somehow feeling more empty than before. As arguably the darkest and most gory book on the list, this surrealist take on childhood rage and post-humous revenge on the town that discarded you before you had a chance to fight back is bound to haunt you long after you’ve finished it. Lambert’s own style of dark and nauseatingly twisted humor will either seal the deal for you, or leave you running for the hills. To be honest, I loathe this book as much I appreciate the queer, surrealist landscape of apocalyptic vengeance. Brownie points for being flat-out strange.

Content Warnings: if you can think of it, chances are its here. loads of death and murder, including that of children, suicide; ableism; homophobia, transphobia; pedophilia, rape, sexual abuse, explicit sexual descriptions, abortion, necrophilia; animal abuse, killing of animals; child abuse, emotional abuse and verbal abuse (by the narrator); cancer; 9/11 (comprehensive list via Ashton on GoodReads)

2. Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

Genres: YA Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi/Dystopian, Queer AF

Blurb: In this world on the brink of man-made/god-induced apocalypse, trans-boy Benji has to fight not only to survive a hellscape determined to burn itself to the ground, but also his own role in bringing about the End. Hell Followed With Us is a queer rage manifesto, the gospel for those forced to become monsters by the same society that weaponized and then condemned them for being such. White’s novel not only brought healing to a large part of my own religious trauma, but it helped me embrace the very “monster” the so called righteous would have damned. Because when the world will villianize you anyway, revolution may very well be embracing the monster within--the monster the world forced into being. This one is definitely a keeper, and definitely a re-reader. The character diversity in this book is incredible, also for the simple fact that it isn’t forced or seemingly “trying to meet a quota”, and for canonically calling out [redacted].  

Content Warnings: For a comprehensive list courtesy of the author himself, please visit his website here. 

3. Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca

Genres: Adult Fiction, Horror/Psychological Thriller, Short-Stories, Queer AF

Blurb: Shorter but no less impactful than the rest, Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is a twisted foray into the psychology of human obsession. After reading the blurb, I tried to prepare myself for the following unease and depravity I was promised. And god was that promise delivered on a silver poisoned platter. Set to the backdrop of chat forums and online messaging, LaRocca weaves a sadomasochistic love story between two women searching for deeper connection. But love isn’t exactly the right word, is it? After all, things can only get worse from the start. Suffice to say, wholesome does not live in these pages. And I need more. 

Content Warnings: animal cruelty/death, body horror, gore, mental/emotional abuse, exploration of kink, very toxic example of a dom/sub relationship.

4. Angels Before Man by Rafael Nicolás

Genres: Adult Fantasy, Mythology Retelling, Romance, Paranormal, Queer AF

Blurb: I try not to pick favorites on list recs, but as my most recent read of the year, Nicolás’ debut novel has quickly been shelved in my mind and heart’s hall of fame. Angels Before Man is a queer retelling of the fall of Lucifer from a paradise that may not be as, well, paradise as it seems. With narrative prose so poetic that epics of the ancient world come to mind, and themes of religious rebellion and queer rage reminiscent not only of other novels on this list but also the lives of countless individuals whose love warns at revolution, Angels Before Man tells the story of the greatest disobedience Heaven had to face: the creation of sin, born from the first love that turned a jealous god to rage. As ABM only released weeks ago, I sincerely hope it’s only the beginning for this book and author. Bible? Who needs her. The Word of God? I don’t even know her. I’ve got Angels Before Man. And so will my friends because I’m gifting them this heavenly-gem (heh, see what I did there?) for the holidays. 

Content Warnings: Courtesy of the author himself (list also included at start of book): Blasphemy, off-page sexual assault with related internal monologue post-incident, Self-harm, Atypical depiction of grooming, Animal death, Abuse (emotional, physical), Sexual content, Body horror, Graphic depictions of violence, Incestuous term use, Potential correlation to homosexuality being sinful, Depictions of mental instability

5. Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Magic Realism, Queer AF

Blurb: Of the 5 recs on the list, I have to be honest and say with full disclosure that this is my one cheat as I have not actually finished it yet. But as I can attest from the 60% progress I have made, along with two of my close friends who recommended her in the first place, Siren Queen is a breath of fresh air in a genre that is understandably stifling at times. Interweaving the monstrous industry of Hollywood with actual monsters, Siren Queen explores the sacrifices made and prices paid for the chance at stardom and just being seen, all while embracing the monster society demands of us. Largely character-driven, this book has been a slower read than the rest, but its commentary on workers’ rights and inequalities, among other social issues often at the forefront of WASPish-run Hollywood, has kept me engaged since the start. 

Content Warnings: racism, racial slurs, fatphobia, violence, family violence, homophobia, sexism, drug abuse, addiction.

#book recs #book recs 2022 #queer book recs #you will love what you have killed #Kevin Lambert #hell followed with us #Andrew Joseph White #angels before man #rafael nicolás #things have gotten worse since we last spoke #eric larocca #siren queen #nghi vo

[kitausu]

Book rec list of some of my favorite fantasy novels by women

(Edit: it was drawn to my attention that Alexandra Rowland is nb. My mistake!)

The Stardust Thief

A Marvelous Light

A Taste of Gold and Iron

Siren Queen

The Goblin Emperor

The City of Brass

Black Sun

Unnatural Magic

Notorious Sorcerer

Assassin's Apprentice

#kit reads books #booklr #bookblr #the stardust thief #a marvellous light #a taste of gold and iron #siren queen #the goblin emperor #rote

[aplpaca]

gave in to impulse brain and made a book rec "slideshow". anyway siren queen Good

#siren queen #nghi vo #books #book rec #i have learned that krita's text editor feature kinda sucks actually #no rating out of 5 or whatever bc star/number systems are inconsistent when i use them so u get no numbers

[lesbianboyfriend]

We barely noticed that there was nowhere for us to go. We had the fires, we had her bed, and we had the stories we told each other.

Siren Queen, Nghi Vo

#jules.txt #quotes #nghi vo #siren queen

[st-just]

He took up the whole room, and I saw flashes of the real Oberlin Wolfe then. He was a beautiful man in slim-cut slacks, but behind him, or perhaps slightly to the side, there was something far older, and far less human. I thought he was a common monster when I came in, but if that were true, it was because I had only seen a fraction of his form. He was large and knotted, like some kind of terrible tree. He was sharp-toothed, and he was very hungry.

-Siren Queen, by Nghi Vo

#quote #faerie #eldritch #Siren Queen #Nghi Vo

[le-trash-prince]

I finished up The Death I Gave Him today, and I’m starting Nghi Vo’s Siren Queen next 🤗

It was magic. In every world, it was a kind of magic. "No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers." Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill- but she doesn't care. She'd rather play a monster than a maid. But in Luli's world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes even if that means becoming the monster herself. Siren Queen offers up an enthralling exploration of an outsider achieving stardom on her own terms, in a fantastical Hollywood where the monsters are real and the magic of the silver screen illuminates every page.

#siren queen #currently reading #em post

[whilereadingandwalking]

“You must have been happy." She puffed a soft breath between her lips, shrugged. "I was free. That's better than happy. Happy came later. Are you?"  "I will be," I said firmly. "Both.”  ― Nghi Vo, Siren Queen

#nghi vo #siren queen #bookish love #bookworm #book quotes

[desdasiwrites]

– Nghi Vo, Siren Queen

#book quote of the day #nghi vo #siren queen #lesbian #fantasy #magical realism #historical fiction #Chinese American main character #book recommendations #book quotes

[wizardsvslesbians]

Reading the work of Nghi Vo has been one of the highlights of the whole dang podcasting experience for us. It’s the pleasure of finding an author with a truly idiosyncratic viewpoint, for whom Mulholland Drive and Tam Lin fit naturally together, and who effortlessly brings the audience along to share in her discoveries.

#siren queen #nghi vo #Wizards vs Lesbians

[bangbangwhoa]

books I’ve read in 2022 📖 no. 059

Siren Queen By Nghi Vo

“I'd like to see more monsters."

#books #2022 reads #siren queen #nghi vo #booklr #lit edit

[wearethekat]

July Book Reviews: Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

Hey, have I mentioned Nghi Vo is very, very good? Because she is. This seems to be set in the same Roaring Twenties as her Gatsby retelling, The Chosen and the Beautiful. Except here, instead of demonic bargains and sinister liquor, there’s a Hollywood ruled by a wild and powerful fairy court. The precise nature of who rules in Hollywood is left unspoken, but the storyline echoes Tam Lin and stories about dubious bargains. 

I also like Luli’s ruthless, ambitious spikiness, which drags her deeper and deeper into the dangerous world of Hollywood stardom. In this case, very literally dangerous-- it’s easy to lose your life, your soul, or your mind. 

An unforgiving and wild fairy tale. Recommended. 

#my book reviews #july book reviews #nghi vo #siren queen

[kitausu]

I wanted to make my end of year predictions because I have a lot of possibly favorite reads lined up for the end of the year so I want to see how much this changes over the next month and a half! I'm also just curious what other people's favorites are so far.

*Note: these are books I read in 2022, not necessarily published in 2022*

#booklr #bookblr #kit reads books #black sun #notorious sorcerer #under the whispering door #icebreaker #starless #the sunbearer trials #kaikeyi #siren queen

[never-sated]

"We understood immortality as a thing for men. Men lived forever in their bodies, in their statues, in the words they guarded jealously, and the countries they would never let you claim. The immortality of women was a sideways thing, haphazard and contained in footnotes, as muses or silent helpers."

- Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

#Siren Queen #Nghi Vo #I'm still processing my feelings about this book #But it sure had some incredible lines

[lesbianboyfriend]

She couldn’t help what she was, and I couldn’t help what I was. We were stories that should never have met, or stories that existed only because we met. I still don’t know.

Siren Queen, Nghi Vo

#jules.txt #nghi vo #quotes #siren queen

[sapphicbookoftheday]

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

Today's sapphic book of the day is Siren Queen by Nghi Vo!

Summary: "'No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers.'

Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill—but she doesn’t care. She’d rather play a monster than a maid.

But in Luli’s world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes—even if that means becoming the monster herself.

Siren Queen offers up an enthralling exploration of an outsider achieving stardom on her own terms, in a fantastical Hollywood where the monsters are real and the magic of the silver screen illuminates every page."

#lesbian #queer #sapphic #wlw #lgbtqia #lgbtq #lgbt #lgbt books #queer lit #books #book recs #booklr #book recommendations #fantasy #historical #historical fiction #historical fantasy #speculative fiction #siren queen #nghi vo

[st-just]

This place and this moment was mine, no matter what else happened. I had come to Wolfe Studios with no patron and no strength but my own. This terrible little room with the peeling linoleum was mine, from the fan that gently shifted the heat to the niche in the wall that held a forgotten saint, to the drugged and bandaged white girl sleeping on the couch. The studio which would try to devour me in a dozen different ways was mine, from the wolves to the pond I would never be able to find again, to the dust which scourged the paint from the signs. It was all mine, and as strange as it all was, as dangerous and as odd, that victory seized me and never let me go.

-Siren Queen, by Nghi Vo

#quote #glorious melodrama #Siren Queen #Nghi Vo