Roar Cat Reads

Tag: sapphic

  • On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

    On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

    Genre | Science Fiction Graphic Novel
    Page #s | 533
    Publishing Date | May 2018

    Throughout the deepest reaches of space, a crew rebuilds beautiful and broken-down structures, painstakingly putting the past together. As new member Mia gets to know her team, the story flashes back to her pivotal year in boarding school, where she fell in love with a mysterious new student. Soon, though, Mia reveals her true purpose for joining their ship—to track down her long-lost love.

    An inventive world, a breathtaking love story, and stunning art come together in this new work by award-winning artist Tillie Walden.

    Goodreads

    Do you remember the moment when you realized that there are no women in The Hobbit? It was strange, right, because the story felt so natural and complete. Well, I’m here to offer you the exact opposite: On a Sunbeam, a science fiction graphic novel in which there are absolutely no men. It took me awhile to realize, since I assumed the story was simply focused on a queer group of construction workers, one of whom had flashbacks to her time at an all-female boarding school. But as we see more of the world, I’m pretty sure there are just…no men. Only women and nonbinary people allowed!

    It’s awesome, especially since the story revolves around the aforementioned construction crew (that works on giant floating buildings in a glorious tribute to “my sci-fi is cool rather than realistic”) and a mob boss family that protects an isolated planet of magical healing energy. Traditionally male playgrounds, but they aren’t missed here. Instead, we get to explore sisterhood, both biologically and found. The families here are hard won and well deserved, and I loved reading every page.

    What Makes This Book Queer?

    There are multiple sapphic romances in this book, from the lesbians who run the construction crew and must re-evaluate how they want to spend their lives together after an excitingly dangerous phase of getting to know each other. There’s a nonbinary character on the crew, and interestingly, the lack of men in this world doesn’t mean a lack of discrimination. Elliot’s pronouns are defended in a stand-up-and-clap scene that is a lesson to all feminists. And at the heart of the story is the slow burn / cut short / reunion romance between our protagonist Mia and the girl who got away back in school.

    Who Do I Recommend This Book To?

    On a Sunbeam is perfect for anyone who likes a found family narrative set in a gorgeously realized fantasy sci-fi world.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear

    Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear

    Genre | Historical Steampunk Fiction
    Page #s | 346
    Publishing Date | February 2015

    “You ain’t gonna like what I have to tell you, but I’m gonna tell you anyway. See, my name is Karen Memery, like memory only spelt with an e, and I’m one of the girls what works in the Hôtel Mon Cherie on Amity Street. Hôtel has a little hat over the o like that. It’s French, so Beatrice tells me.”

    Set in the late 19th century—when the city we now call Seattle Underground was the whole town (and still on the surface), when airships plied the trade routes, would-be gold miners were heading to the gold fields of Alaska, and steam-powered mechanicals stalked the waterfront, Karen is a young woman on her own, is making the best of her orphaned state by working in Madame Damnable’s high-quality bordello. Through Karen’s eyes we get to know the other girls in the house—a resourceful group—and the poor and the powerful of the town. Trouble erupts one night when a badly injured girl arrives at their door, begging sanctuary, followed by the man who holds her indenture, and who has a machine that can take over anyone’s mind and control their actions. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, the next night brings a body dumped in their rubbish heap—a streetwalker who has been brutally murdered.

    Bear brings alive this Jack-the-Ripper yarn of the old west with a light touch in Karen’s own memorable voice, and a mesmerizing evocation of classic steam-powered science.

    Goodreads

    Karen Memory is an action-packed adventure in a steampunk historical setting that balances “historical accuracy” with modern values with astonishing deftness. With a diverse cast of characters working in a brothel, the book is supportive of sex work while centering its plot on taking down those responsible for sexual exploitation. Additionally, our heroes are queer women, black and Native American men, and a supporting cast of transgender and multi-racial folks. It is an utter delight!

    Karen is our protagonist, a spirited young woman who pushes her way through life with confidence and level-headed acceptance. She is constantly interacting with new people in a way that acknowledges the stereotypes her white world has about them but assumes that their way of doing things is different and valid. It feels effortless, and is an excellent model of how to be historically accurate without being racist. She’s also an absolute delight to “listen” to. Her fabulous Western drawl full of colorful analogies comes through strong in the writing, and even more perfectly via audiobook.

    Priya is Karen’s love interest, a woman who has escaped a dangerous and exploitative brothel and wants to help her sister do the same. She’s far from a helpless damsel, though. Priya is the brains of the duo, fluent in multiple languages and quick to pick up most skills. Her relationship with Karen is sweet, supportive, and a little bit dashing.

    I’ve read this book twice now, and both times when it started, I was hesitant to continue. It sets itself up as a old-fashioned story about “prostitutes with hearts of gold.” But as the story unveils itself, it’s far richer and more meaningful than any trope. I highly recommend!

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Abida Jaigirdar

    Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Abida Jaigirdar

    Genre | YA Contemporary Fiction
    Page #s | 352
    Publishing Date | May 2021

    Everyone likes Humaira “Hani” Khan—she’s easy going and one of the most popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they invalidate her identity, saying she can’t be bi if she’s only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she’s in a relationship…with a girl her friends absolutely hate—Ishita “Ishu” Dey. Ishu is the complete opposite of Hani. She’s an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for college. But Ishita agrees to help Hani, if Hani will help her become more popular so that she stands a chance of being elected head girl.

    Despite their mutually beneficial pact, they start developing real feelings for each other. But relationships are complicated, and some people will do anything to stop two Bengali girls from achieving happily ever after.

    Goodreads

    I have been reading a surprising amount of fake dating books lately (yay!) and this is one of the best. Hani and Ishu get to know each other through pretending to date – before that, they were schoolmates with only one shared class, a cultural similarity that actually drove them away from each other, and a lack of awareness as to each other’s compatible sexuality. As they spend time together, they start to like each other, but they’re teenagers and it’s awkward! I loved every page of this quick read, and I highly recommend it to any other fans of the fake dating trope.

    As I mentioned earlier, both Hani and Ishu live in Ireland, but their families moved there from India. When the book starts, they stayed away from each other to avoid the stereotype of “you go together.” But as they start to date, it is a joy to watch them realize how nice it is to be around someone who understands their culture, family, and values. Although Hani’s family are Muslims and Ishu’s family are non-religious, they get each other in a way their fellow classmates can’t (or don’t, since their classmates are racist little ****heads). And before I move on from this, it was so lovely to read about a queer affirming Muslim family; Hani is already out to her parents before the book begins, and they support her relationship with Ishu from start to finish.

    The only thing that felt like a bit of stretch was just how horrible Hani’s friends are. They belittle her culture and her sexuality. In fact, their refusal to believe she is bisexual (“how do you know if you haven’t kissed a girl?” UGH) is what prompts her to claim she is dating Ishu. They are the worst! Although I am prepared to believe that teenagers can truly be that awful, I found it hard to stomach the thought that Hani could not see how terrible their treatment of her was. Regardless, it was a delight to watch her stand up for herself and finally put them in their place.

    In addition to terrible friends, we get unhealthy families. Ishu’s parents live vicariously through their daughters’ success, and Ishu and her older sister have always been at each other’s throats for their approval. Until the book begins, anyway, when her older sister drops out of college and becomes the black sheep of the family. I really liked watching Ishu navigate this new relationship – first with suspicion, and then with gratitude.

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating is a cute, fast read that is perfect for anyone wanting a light-hearted, PG-rated sapphic romance.

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!

  • The Girl from the Sea by Molly Ostertag

    The Girl from the Sea by Molly Ostertag

    Genre | Graphic Novel
    Page #s | 256
    Publishing Date | June 2021

    From the author of The Witch Boy trilogy comes a graphic novel about family, romance, and first love.

    Fifteen-year-old Morgan has a secret: She can’t wait to escape the perfect little island where she lives. She’s desperate to finish high school and escape her sad divorced mom, her volatile little brother, and worst of all, her great group of friends…who don’t understand Morgan at all. Because really, Morgan’s biggest secret is that she has a lot of secrets, including the one about wanting to kiss another girl.

    Then one night, Morgan is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie. The two become friends and suddenly life on the island doesn’t seem so stifling anymore.

    But Keltie has some secrets of her own. And as the girls start to fall in love, everything they’re each trying to hide will find its way to the surface…whether Morgan is ready or not.

    Goodreads

    I’ve been a fan of Noelle Stevenson for over a decade, but The Girl from the Sea is the first time I’ve experienced her wife, Molly Ostertag’s, work. When the story began with an ultra-romantic fairy tale kiss of true love (albeit between a teen girl and a female selkie-turned-human), I was tempted to write it off as cheesy. But the story that developed became very meaningful, addressing plans and fears and a love that changes you rather than lasts forever.

    Morgan is a closeted teenager who just wants to get out of her small town so that she can start living her life. When she kisses a mythological kelpie into human form, she is suddenly confronted with the opportunity to change her plan and be fully herself now. Cue coming out scenes with her family and friends (her mom’s “coming out of the closet” joke made me literally laugh out loud in both delight and tearful joy). Her friends take a bit more convincing, but that’s less about Keltie being female than about her awkwardness as a new human who loves gaudy dolphin-printed t-shirts.

    Just as they are set to enjoy a young gay relationship, Keltie’s ecological goal to save the seals results in a chain of events that once again necessitates a change of plans. It is bittersweet, but absolutely the ending that I wanted. I love a good romance that shows how important it is to be with someone even if it doesn’t last forever.

    The story is excellent, and the drawings that make up the graphic novel are similarly wonderful. I especially liked the way Ostertag represented text conversations. She’s a great creator, and I’ll have to check out more of her stuff!

    Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

    Anyone who likes a sweet-to-bittersweet romance about growing up and accepting who you are.

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!