10 Queer Kisses and Near-Death-Misses
Posted on February 20, 2024
by Morgan B
Are you bored with romance fiction that’s too straight and narrow? Are you looking for something with both thrills and chills? Do you want queer romance with a body count? Look no further! These reads will have your heart racing in more ways than one.
the lady's guide to petticoats and piracy by Mackenzi Lee
Swashbuckling ladies, women doctors, adventures on the high seas-who could ask for more? A standalone sequel to 'A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue', Mackenzi Lee navigates the waters of romance, trauma, and bravery with great skill.
slippery creatures by KJ Charles
The book that started me on my queer-romance-adventure journey; the phrase "romance with a body count" is taken from KJ Charles' marketing and there's a reason why. A book shop, a valuable secret, and visits from handsome strangers and threatening characters throw our main character into the midst of danger and desire.
no. 1 with a bullet by Jacob Semahn
No. 1 With a Bullet is probably the least romantic of the books on this list, but relationships are at the heart of the story. In a sci-fi setting that's disturbingly close to our own, this graphic novel investigates how misused technology can invade our privacy, spread like wildfire, and endanger our lives.
every heart a doorway by Seanan McGuire
Asexuals are sometimes stereotyped as boring, and this book helps prove that trope wrong. When children are offered an escape to magical realms and then kicked back into the real world, how do they cope? The rich tapestry of this fantasy setting pulls you in and welcomes you-no matter who you are.
amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly
Perhaps the book darkest in tone on this list, 'Amberlough' is a delight to the senses, even as the politics and espionage keeps you on the edge of your seat. Spies, smugglers, lovers, burlesque shows, intricate plans to fake one's own death, and consequences for making mistakes-this book keeps you reading until the very last page.
the secret lives of country gentlemen by KJ Charles
I'm tipping my hand here as to who my favorite author is on this list, but who could resist the family drama of 'Pride and Prejudice' mixed with the atmospheric heaths of 'Wuthering Heights?' There's mystery, swashbuckling adventure, murder, class struggle, Regency manners, and more!
patricia wants to cuddle by Samantha Allen
Sasquatch meets The Bachelor. Reality TV meets B-Movie horror. This book is pure camp from top to bottom. I loved it.
white trash warlock by David R. Slayton
The title (along with the titles of the sequels 'Trailer Park Trickster' and 'Deadbeat Druid') already had me sold, but the impressive worldbuilding really drew me in. Urban fantasy needed this fresh view of queerness, magic, and paycheck-to-paycheck characters. Also, I may be a sucker for any fantasy that incorporates tarot decks.
a marvellous light by Freya Marske
It starts with a murder and doesn't let you go until all the twists and turns are finished! If you liked the "secret magician government in London" and a "non-magician learning about magic" of Harry Potter, this queer-friendly world is for you! The world building is layered, the characters compelling, and the romance piping hot.
the last sun by K. D. Edwards
Fantasy at its finest, and the second work on this list to use the tarot arcana in an interesting way. The pacing is tight, the action gripping, and the world deep and fascinating. Atlantis is real; the tarot arcana are actual tangible beings of immense power; the politics are deadly. The main character must build his power, his family, and his love, from the ground up, and you'll be cheering for him the whole way.
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