A Gay Spin On Narnia and More New LGBTQ Books Out This Week

This is the latest book in the Birdverse: a queer fantasy series made up of novelettes, poems, and short stories. The first book was The Four Profound Weaves, but you can start anywhere. Stone Orphan is enrolled in the School of Assassins, awaiting their first kill to graduate. That’s where they meet Ulín, but Ulín isn’t interested in being an assassin: she’s a linguist who has been drawn to the school by the Orphan Star’s “song of despair,” which is similar to her own. Stone Orphan agrees to help Ulín learn more about the language in exchange for Ulín’s help in deciding who to kill between three men. They exchange stories, growing closer as they listen.

Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell disappeared in a forest when they were young, reappearing six months later. 15 years later, Jeremy is working as a private investigator and has been hired by Emilie to find her sister, who was lost in the same woods. He is the only one who remembers their time in a magical realm during that time — and the romance he and Rafe shared during that time. Now, he has to tell Rafe the truth about the time he’s forgotten so that they can go with Emilie to the other world to rescue her sister. This is supposed to be a heartwarming portal fantasy that’s an homage to Narnia.

This novel gives the Dark Lady of Shakespeare’s sonnets center stage. In 1591 England, Rose and her friend Cecely are accused of witchcraft and flee to a household of alchemists for safety. There, their friendship becomes romantic, and they begin selling charms and astrological readings to make money for a new life together. That’s how they meet playwright Will Shakespeare and the noble Henry, and soon the four have a complicated, tempestuous(!) relationship.

When Laurel faints in the road, he’s rescued by a fox. Shigeru, a diplomat who is actually a fox spirit, is immediately taken with Laurel. Unfortunately for him, Laurel has the opposite first impression. Besides, he’s busy trying to make the benefactor who rescued him from the army proud, even if it means giving her his life. When they’re both assigned to investigate something haunting the city, Shigeru is determined to win this handsome and grouchy man over. This is the first in a series.

The author of Surrender Your Sons and Your Lonely Nights Are Over is back with a new queer YA book, but this time it’s a contemporary romance. Ever since Grant wished on his family’s Wishing Rose as a child, he’s been cursed in romance. Now, he’s back at the Wishing Rose to help refurbish his aunt and uncle’s B&B, and he is hopeful that he can break the curse there. Unfortunately, Ben has been hired to help with the repairs — the same Ben who broke his heart years ago. As they work together over the course of the summer, though, Grant can’t help falling for him all over again.