I know we’re all terrified by America right now, but you need to know what is happening in Britain, there’s so much shit going on, but here’s some of the highlights:
The UN have condemned the British government for “grave” failures regarding disabled people’s rights. [x]
There are over half a million people using food banks, because they cannot afford to eat. [x]
The benefits system is declaring people fit to work, ignoring the opinions of their doctors, and refusing them money unless they spend 35 hours a week actively looking for work. These include people with severe disabilities, mental health issues, and people who are literally dying. In fact, around eighty people a month die within six weeks of being declared fit to work by this system. [x]
16.7% of the population is living in poverty, with a further 30% at serious risk of slipping into poverty [x]
Children are suffering from such severe malnutrition they’re having to be treated for rickets. [x]
It’s currently estimated that 1 in 200 people in the UK are homeless. [x]
This is just a tiny snapshot, and I won’t even go into the NHS crisis, because that deserves it’s own massive post.
Lately I’ve found myself with a real craving for F/F romance in fantasy and sci-fi settings that I can devour in one go, and I couldn’t find a handy list anywhere, so I decided to make one myself. (If anyone knows of another such list I’d love to see it, though!) Thank you to everyone who suggested things on Twitter!
These are all ones that I have read myself, but if you know of any I’ve missed off, don’t hesitate to add them and I’ll reblog. I’ll probably also add new entries to this list periodically, so if you get through them all and want more, check back!
A couple of these are technically novelettes, and one or two of them are getting towards novel length, but all of them are longer than a super-quick short story and shorter than a full-length novel, and available to buy as ebooks on their own rather than as part of an anthology.
(If you’d like content notes for any of these, they’ll all eventually get full reviews, but feel free to send me a message or an ask if you have questions about the ones without reviews posted yet.)
Beauty, Glory, Thrift, by Alison Tam – This smart and evocative space adventure is almost impossible to explain – you just have to read it – but it involves an unusual relationship between a goddess and a thief.
Cinnamon Blade: Knife in Shining Armor, by Shira Glassman – In this witty and steamy story, crime fighter Cinnamon Blade just wants to get through a whole date with cute, nerdy Soledad without having to save the city from aliens or vampires.
The Cybernetic Tea Shop, by Meredith Katz – This is a warm and atmospheric tale of a romance between a sentient robot stuck in the past and a human technician afraid to put down roots.
The Disastrous Début of Agatha Tremain, by Stephanie Burgis – My review notes when I reread this recently were just “KISS GIRLS SMASH THE PATRIARCHY!!!” and if that’s your jam you’ll love this kickass, uplifting 19th-century fantasy.
Dynama, by Ruth Diaz – A sweet and hot superhero story following undercover metahuman TJ as she tries to juggle kids, work, saving the day, and her evil ex escaping from supervillain prison, with the help of her incredibly competent nanny Annmarie.
The Flamebringers, by Charley Clarke – A lush and romantic high fantasy story with awesome dragons – Astraea, the leader of her people, finds herself drawn to Mal, an outcast refugee.
Gale, by Lyssa Chiavari – This atmospheric and creepy dystopian retelling of The Tempest features the beginnings of a sweet romance between Miranda and Ferda, a girl she meets in her dreams who tells her stories of another world.
Gretel: A Fairytale Retold, by Niamh Murphy – An intriguing and romantic twist on a familiar tale, with Gretel stepping out from her brother’s shadow when she falls for a mysterious woman in the woods.
Humanity for Beginners, by Faith Mudge – Gloria may have accidentally started a halfway house for lesbian werewolves but it is DEFINITELY not a pack and she is DEFINITELY not the Alpha. Totally charming with lovable characters and a gorgeous romance.
The Masked Minotaur, by Chace Verity – A super-cute fantasy romance that features a candy shop, a marriage of convenience and a masked vigilante. Plus, in a stroke of sheer genius, the ebook comes with two versions – one with a sex scene and one without, so you can choose your preferred flavour!
Moon-Bright Tides, by RoAnna Sylver – An absorbing and lovely story of the relationship between a lost mermaid and a lonely sea witch struggling under the weight of a duty that she bears alone.
Passing Strange, by Ellen Klages – A beautiful, immersive tale of magic, love, art and queer community in 1940s San Francisco.
Romancing the Inventor, by Gail Carriger – A hot and sweet slow-burn romance in a steampunk vampires-and-werewolves setting, featuring a butch inventor and a maid with a secret talent for mathematics.
Safety Protocols for Human Holidays, by Angel Martinez – This fun and satisfying story explores cultural misunderstandings and communication on a multi-species space vessel – can Growlan Raskli figure out what’s bothering Human Jen?
Seven: A Lesbian Snow White, by Jennifer Diemer – A creepy and lovely fairytale retelling in a richly imagined world.
Sparks Fly, by Llinos Cathryn Thomas – OK, maybe this is cheating because I wrote this one, but consider checking it out if you want to read a quick rivals-to-lovers romance between two teachers at a performing arts school on a space station.
The Terracotta Bride, by Zen Cho – A witty and bittersweet tale of first love and self-discovery in the Chinese afterlife.
Indonesian artist Fransdita Muafidin publishes a series of photomontages with kittens and fat adult cats among the urban landscapes from around the world.
Also big shout-out to Britain for singing in their native language, not many entries are doing that 🙂
Say, NBC, good of you to restore Brooklyn Nine-Nine to the masses, now would you mind doing the same for Xena?
You know, before we’re too fucking old?
I don’t know what the 100 has to offer anyone.
It is a show about literally the worst people surviving the worst circumstances, many of which they create for themselves, and that’s about it. It’s impossible to feel good or excited about something that is so blatantly and repeatedly nihilistic as to be unwatchable.
That the fourth wall is forever broken on this series due to the production team’s inability to stop messing with their audience only adds to the misery and mystery of its existence.
Meanwhile, good, thoughtful, empowering and fairly enlightened fair like B99 gets sent down the river.
Ever notice how progressive productions popular with marginalised audiences tend to disappear?
The Doctor Is Out 