Hi Reader,

It's officially spooky season! And that means it's finally time for me to tackle all the queer horrors I've been saving... More on some of my hopefuls in the notes at the end.

But, October is also Black History Month in the UK - a time to celebrate Black history, culture and voices. So, this month I wanted to spotlight six queer books by Black authors, spanning different genres, experiences and perspectives. Whether you're looking for historical fiction, a fantasy or something feel-good, we have the book for you.

And, because we can't not celebrate Spooky Season, we are also shining a spotlight on an exciting queer horror by K. Ancrum.

Enjoy,

Amy | @proseamongstthorns

Speed Review

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow Honestly, I whole-heartedly recommend any Benjamin Dean book - but this one feels like a warm hug in the best kind of way. Archie Albright knows there's something going on between his parents, his dad is acting weird and they're not getting on. When he sees a colourful, crumpled flyer fall out of Dad's pocket, he thinks he may have found the answer. The only problem? The answer might just lie at the end of the rainbow, an adventure away. Grab a copy Get the audio

The Confessions of Frannie Langton In this historical fiction, Frannie Langton goes on trial for the murder of Mr and Mrs Benham. The testimonies against her are damning - slave, whore, seductress. But they are not the whole truth. One burning question haunts Frannie Langton: could she have murdered the only person she ever loved? Part crime thriller, part romance and part history lesson, this book is impossible to put down. Grab a copy Get the audio

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty Feyi is about to be given the chance to escape the City's blistering heat for a dream island holiday: poolside cocktails, beach sunsets, and elaborate meals. And as the sun goes down on her old life our heroine also might just be ready to open her heart to someone new. The only problem is, she's falling for the one man she absolutely can't have. This queer romance explores dealing with grief. It's beautiful, emotional and messy. We're not quite ready to let go of the summer vibes yet! Grab a copy Get the audio

The Black Flamingo Michael waits in the stage wings, wearing a pink wig, pink fluffy coat and black heels. One more step will see him illuminated by spotlight. He has been on a journey of bravery to get here... Can he emerge as The Black Flamingo? This beautiful story, told in verse, is one of the classic queer YA titles. I think it should be in every school and on every kid's shelf. A bold story about the power of embracing your uniqueness - this is the type of book you put down feeling immediately stronger. Grab a copy Get the audio

Felix Ever After This is another one of those YA titles that was a staple of Bookstagram when it came out - and that should be available to all students. A revelatory novel about a transgender teen grappling with identity and self-discovery while falling in love for the first time. Felix desperately wants to fall in love. But whilst he is proud of his identity, he secretly fears that he's one marginalisation too many - Black, queer and transgender - to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages, Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. He didn't count on his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi-love triangle. Grab a copy Get the audio

Cinderella is Dead It’s 200 years since Cinderella found her prince, but the fairytale is over. Sophia knows the story off by heart. Because every girl has to recite it daily until the night she’s sent to the royal ball for choosing. And those not chosen by a man at the ball... are forfeit. But Sophia is in love with her best friend. And when her night at the ball goes horribly wrong, she must run for her life. This is one of the first sapphic books I ever read so it holds a really special place in my heart. As a lover of all things fairytale and folklore, I loved the twist on the classic Cinderella story. This time inspiring girls to defy stereotypes and follow their dreams! Grab a copy Get the audio

Adam, Mine by K. Ancrum - Feature review

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If you're looking for the perfect spooky season read, then you might just have it in this queer romantic horror. Adam, Mine is a 'love letter to Frankenstein' - a retelling that retains all of that gothic heart and asks big questions about what makes a monster and how far we'll go for forgiveness.

Victor Frankenstein is a wealthy, young prodigy who wants nothing more than to prove himself and change the world. His plan? Reanimation of the sick and dying - bringing them back to life. One drunken night a bet is made, one that causes Victor to do the unthinkable: take a teen boy from a neighbouring village and experiment him under the dark of night.

Elias Hilfiker. The boy who would become his monster. His curse. When Elias awakens, his voice is gone, his skin is stitched, scarred, and branded with strange symbols, and he’s abandoned by his loved ones. Meanwhile, Victor embarks on a journey to discover how to reverse the horror he’s unleashed, visiting dark alchemists in lands far and wide, gripped by fear and guilt.

But Victor’s act of resurrection creates a tether to Elias, leaving them feeling each other’s pain, joy, and regret, as the two each seek a way to end the other. The bound boys search for answers and forgiveness, vengeance and mercy, the boundaries between what makes a man and what makes a monster only get more blurred.

This truly is an homage to the dark and moodiness of Shelley's original Frankenstein. From the outset, Victor is stubborn and slightly unnerving. He is truly dedicated to the dark science and what it could do, completely blind to the cost it may have on his potential 'patients'. The joy of a retelling is that Ancrum really gets to play with our expectations - we know that Victor is going to do something crazy and we also know that, in his mind at least, he's going to succeed.

I found this one difficult to put down. The book doesn't feel fast - and yet I finished it in just a few sittings. It keeps you guessing the whole way through and is a beautiful exploration of monstrous-ness, revenge and forgiveness. The 'romance' aspect didn't feel as front and centre for me - though it definiely has Romantic Era vibes. What kept me hooked throughout was the personal journeys that Victor and Elias went through rather than the emotional bond they share.

If you're looking for a book that's both haunting and unsettling to keep you busy in this spooky month - this is definitely worth checking out. It's one of those horrors where the true evil is humanity, but this goes a step further by exploring whether redemption is possible. You won't forget this one in a hurry, a truly wonderful ode to Frankenstein.

Upcoming Releases

6th October A ballet solo worth dying for. Seven desperate rivals. A deadly competition. And a manor with an agenda of it's own in this atmospheric haunted house ballet horror. Get a copy Get the audio

6th October A thought-provoking science fiction adventure about the meaning of life and love, seen through the many eyes of an alien grad student studying a familiar backwater planet Get a copy Get the audio

6th October A botched robbery sees highwayman Beau disguise herself as a maid to the noblewoman she's secretly in love with, under the noses of those who want her hanged. Get a copy

Hellebore - G.M. White 1st October When her best friend is found dead, Heather tries to figure out what happened with scattered memories. The Forest has secrets and everyone has their own worth killing for. ​

The Right Kind of Wrong - Monica McCallen 2nd October Monroe suddenly finds herself back in a town where she never really fit in, raising a niece she doesn’t know. And reconnecting with her former crush Blake. ​

6th October A queer folk horror novel that peels back the idyllic veneer of a perfectly quaint island town to reveal the rot beneath. Get a copy Get the audio

6th October As fascination turns to obsession, two women drag each other into an academic horror of forgery, murder, and rage Get a copy Get the audio

6th October Lucy isn’t a normal girl. Ghost. Victim. Killer. She’s a doll on a mission—to find the man who killed her and return the favor. Get a copy Get the audio

Strange Lights - Mira Gonzalez 6th October Parenting is never easy, but it’s a hell of a lot harder when your toddler is a chupacabra. And Reggie is attracting the attention of an old enemy, an anti-supernatural agency. ​

As You Wake, Break the Spell - Becky Chambers 13th October Told in alternating timelines, As You Wake, Break the Shell is a heartfelt and hopeful story exploring what it means to be human and what it means to come together. ​​

13th October A struggling horror actor is convinced his new roommate is plotting to kill him. What's worse: the mounting evidence, or the fact that he's developing a serious crush on his potential murderer? Get a copy

6th October A vengeful teen cons her way into an elite society of tyrannical witches. But her warring feelings for two people - an enemy prince and her childhood friend - could ruin everything. Get a copy

13th October Cal's lover is destined to die. But what's the point of being a time traveller if you can't make a few small tweaks to the course of history? Get a copy Get the audio

A Very Merry Detour - Court Behr 13th October A Christmas trip to win back her ex has Alaina crossing paths with a grumpy bookstore owner. And the more time they spend together the less sure she is about what she wants. ​​

Coffee Eyes and Little White Lies - Claire Summers 15th October A buttoned-up CEO enlists a free-spirited barista as her fake girlfriend to survive her twin's wedding season - and avoid her ex. But the lines between pretend and real begin to blur. ​

Marginal notes

I plan on diving into The Lamb, Rottenheart (which I said I'd read last month and didn't) and Don't Let the Forest In before the end of the month. There are so many brilliant queer horrors right now, I could really do with October being three months long.

And there may be less reading achieved in our house - because we're getting gay married! It's like normal married but far more fun ;) We have a little mini-moon planned in an isolated cabin (hopefully without the horror vibes) where I plan on catching up on reading.

As always, if you've been inspired to pick any of these books up (either from the library, via our links or even just from your shelf), I'd love to know which books and what you thought of them. You can either respond to this email or let us know on our socials.

If there's someone in your life who you think would love this newsletter, feel free to forward them this email or share the link below with them so they can join the community.

We'll see you in two weeks with a community spotlight and more upcoming October releases.

Thank you!