Image by El coleccionista de instantes, via Wikimedia Commons

The summer is here Boo Boos and there’s nothing I love more than kicking back at the beach or the park with an entertaining book. In the summer, I don’t like anything too heavy but I also don’t want something that will make my brains leak from my ears. I assume you are the same way, so I’m going to be dishing out my fav queer summer beach reads for you every week. I wanted to start with Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey. If the finale of Game of Thrones left a hole in your heart, Kushiel’s Dart is the book that’s going to fill that hole. Kushiel’s Dart combines the high fantasy of game of thrones (with less rape and violence) with the kind of full on erotica that would blow the minds of any 50 Shades of Gray readers. And it’s well written too.

The book takes place in a kind of post-gay world. Although straight couples are the most commonly pairing, homosexuality is no big thang. The motto of the gods is, “Love as Thou Wilt.” Kushiel’s Dart imagines a world that you’re queer studies professors dreamed about- everyone hits on who they want to hit on, loves who they love and sleeps with who they sleep with and no one bats an eyelash.

The story centers around a female protagonist, Phèdre nó Delaunay. Like many protagonists in fantasy series, Phèdre has been marked by the gods as someone special. In her case, she is marked by the god Kushiel as an anguissette, which basically means she’s super into BDSM.

When Phèdre is taken in by political schemer Anafiel Delaunay, the stakes are high. It is through him that Phèdre meets the antagonist of the series, Melisande Shahrizai. Phèdre and Melisande love to hate each other, or hate to love each other. Either way, the emotions between the two women are at the very center of this book. Even when Phèdre is attempting to save the her homeland through intricate political maneuvering and strategic warfare, Melisande is never far from her thoughts.

Very, very few fantasy novels focus women as their main character, even more rare is the fantasy novel that balances the entire plot on two women. Although Phèdre has many straight love affairs, the main tension in the book is between two women. The love/hate relationship between the two women is satisfying and a nice change of pace if most of the books in your library focus on straight relationships.
So check it out! And let us know what you think. Kushiel’s Dart is available on Amazon or at your local library. 

The post Queer Summer Beach Reads: Kushiel’s Dart first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Image via Photopin*

BY NATASIA LANGFELDER
Lesbian.com

It’s already August and summer is flying by. But the weather is still warm and it’s prime “sit outside and read” time season. There’s still time to soak in some sun and enjoy some good queer stories.

1. “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” by Emily M. Danforth

This ‘coming of age’ novel is a refreshing departure from traditional coming of age novels. It definitely has some of the hallmark of it’s predecessors, starting with a crush on a straight girl, conservative relatives and born-again Christian disapproval. However, Cameron Post is a relatable protagonist whose personality is able to elevate the book to the next level. Danforth leads readers to places they didn’t expect to go in her debut novel.

2. “The Adaptation Series” by Malinda Lo

“Adaptation” and it’s sequel, “Inheritance” are technically for ‘young adults,’ but anyone who enjoyed “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” will love “The Adaptation Series.” Lo’s story follows protagonist Reese as she juggles government conspiracies, aliens, bisexuality and polyamory. This fast and fun read is perfect for a summer weekend.

3. “Under the Mink” by Lisa E. Davis

Lesbians, drag kings, murder, the mob- what more do you need? Davis takes readers back in time to the way our lesbian foremother’s lived in 1949. Read our review for all the reasons to read “Under the Mink.”

4. “Ammonite” by Nicola Griffith 

Imagine an entire planet, solely occupied by women- that’s what you are going to get in Nicola Griffith’s “Ammonite.” In Griffith’s carefully crafted world, women are friends, family members, enemies, lovers and parents. It’s a pleasure to read about two woman reproduction and to witness a world where women can, and have to, fill all roles- both traditionally masculine and female to keep their world running. This vision is reason alone to read this book- but Griffith also throws in intergalactic colonists who threaten this planet’s entire existence and you have a real page turner.

5. “The Argonauts” by Maggie Nelson

Maggie Nelson is an established poet and non-fiction writer. “The Argonauts” is her first treatise on her own queerness and her relationship with genderqueer artist Harry Dodge. “The Argonauts” reads like poetry and tackles issues of sexuality, long term relationships, queer parenthood, and gender.

6. “The Inheritance Trilogy” by N.K. Jemisin

This trilogy starts with it’s protagonist, Yeine, being thrown from her rural hometown into the royal palace of a bustling kingdom, that is bursting with magic and gods. Fantasy books have a huge problem with whitewashing protagonists and entire worlds. Jemisin’s world includes people of all colors and genders, which is a breath of fresh air. Okay, so here’s the thing with this Trilogy, there’s a lot of straight people sex and romance. But, by the third book, Jemisin starts playing with gender and queerness in a way that both makes sense in the story and is extremely satisfying.

Happy reading! Read any of these already? Let us know what you thought in the comments!

*photo credit: On a pink, green, and white cloud, two young women reading a book at Greenlake, with a daisy chain in a field of flowers, Seattle, Washington, USA via photopin (license)

The post 6 Can’t Miss Queer Summer Beach Reads first appeared on Lesbian.com.