Yep, I know. I’ve been MIA for a minute. Life, the universe, everything. You’re not here to listen to me expound on the vagaries of fate or chaos or whatever it is that governs our path on this big, blue marble, though. You’re here to get some book recommendations – and since my prose appears to have returned, I actually have those.

A word about the title of this catch-up piece: in it, I am referring to the preferred gender identities of both characters and authors. Learn to check if you haven’t. It takes two seconds and is one of the easiest ways in the world to show another human being some respect in a shitty world.

Okay! Book time.

The Princess Will Save You (Kingdoms of Sand and Sky, Book 1) by Sarah Henning

Target Demographic: older middle grade/YA

CW: fantasy violence, threatened sexual assault

The Princess Will Save You was so popular in my local library system that when I didn’t have a chance to read it before my first hold (six moths, btw) lapsed, I had to go to the back of the line and wait another four months before I had the opportunity to shove it in my eyeballs. Now that I have, I get why the wait continues to be well nigh unto interminable, nearly a year after publication.

Princess Amarande has been trained by her father, King of Sand and Sky, as a diplomat and warrior, but when he dies unexpectedly, she discovers he made no effort to change the archaic laws that forbid her to rule without a husband. Determined to break centuries of convention, Amarande refuses to accept any of the proffered princes, and when her best friend (and true love), stableboy Luca, is kidnapped in an attempt to force her to do so, she does the one thing no one expects: she goes to rescue him herself.

This is the book that busted me out of the prose funk, friends. It’s a fantastic adventure, well-paced, exciting, and has perfect stakes and unexpected twists. Henning executes a perfect trope-flip while giving both Amarande and Luca enough individuality and quirkiness to establish them as people in whom readers want to take an interest and to whom we become attached. Kids will want to be them, and adults will want to adopt them and make everything okay.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series, The Queen Will Betray You, scheduled for release July 6th of this year. The final book in the trilogy, The King Will Kill You is tentatively scheduled for 2022.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Xiao

Target Demographic: YA

CW: Sexual assault, description of foot binding, child and spousal abuse, sci-fi violence, character death

Wu Zetian (624-705, Tang Dynasty) was the only woman to rule China.

The Wu Zetian you’ll meet in Iron Widow is based on the historical figure and doubtlessly shares her drive, ambition, and refusal to take any shit from anyone. Determined to kill the man who used her sister as a qi battery to power his mech during battle and then accepted the accolades due a military hero without so much as looking back, Zetian enlists as a Concubine, the same rank her sister held, determined to kill the murderer in turn. After that…

Zetian doesn’t expect there to be an “after that.” But there is when it turns out she’s more powerful than him. More powerful than any of the male pilots – a thing her society says should be impossible. But as Zetian soon discovers, most of what she’s been told is impossible is truth buried by centuries of misogynist lies.

There is a time for subtlety and a time to fight. As we’re all forced to take a real l0ok at the world, anyone who doesn’t acknowledge it’s time to fight… look, if Iron Widow doesn’t get you primed to find a cause or be an ally if there isn’t something that affects you directly, I can’t help you. If the way Zetian is treated by her society doesn’t induce you to take a look at the systemic misogyny and racism and xenophobia in ours, then there is a short in your brain. If it doesn’t make you want to punch Nazis, then you’re part of the problem and don’t deserve this book.

The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms: Book One) by Tasha Suri

Target Demographic: Adult

CW: Sexual assault, human sacrifice, drug addiction and withdrawal, fantasy violence

Raise your hand if you’re bored of medieval Europe analog high fantasy. Just so you know, both of my hands and both feet are up. Y’all, the world is huge. It’s huge and is full of stories. Why, in the name of chubby baby Lucifer, would you want to limit yourself to drafty castles and broadswords when there is so, so much more to discover?

So much more with lesbians, people.

I mean, honestly, what is wrong with you?

We are talking bound powers, strategic wifing, “fuck you, I will not be burned alive and by the way, I am coming for your kingdom” energy in the hands of women who have had enough and are not going to take your shit anymore. And not only are they not going to take your your shit anymore, they’re going to take your shit – meaning they’ll wrest your kingdom out of your cold dead hands.

Let me tell you how much I loved this book: a lot.

Let me tell you who should read The Jasmine Throne: everyone.

That is all.

Persephone Station by Stina Leicht

Target Demographic: Adult

CW: Sci-fi violence

Space mercs with principals are my jam.

Space mercs who happen to be members of the space alphabet mafia and become found family based on mutual love and respect and also aren’t all trying to sleep with one another is a rare thing and also my jam.

To be clear, I don’t have an issue when they are sleeping with one another. You do you, babies.

But. But. It is an unfortunate thing in society and in literature that it is still somewhat rare to find groups of women whose only relationship, sexual orientation aside, is ride-or-die chosen sisterhood. Sure, they disagree. Sure, they fight. Sometimes someone storms off. That’s what siblings do, no matter how much they love one another. But they always come back together. They can always count on one another. They’ll die for one another. More importantly, they’ll live for one another.

Persephone Station is an all-around great book. It’s fun sci-fi with all the trimmings: aliens, space bars, military bullshit, diversity, a down-on-their-luck crew that makes questionable choices. Pet snakes. Neat tech.

But, at its heart – and this is what made it 5/5 stars for me – is what I wrote above. That’s why it lives rent-free in my brain. That’s why I’m going to reread it (which I almost never do, since who has time?). That’s why I’ve been so shouty about it. That’s what makes it special. Also, look at that cover; I won’t lie, I’m a packaging whore.