Hi Reader,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Spooky Month filled with fabulously unnerving queer books!

In case you missed it in our last edition, we hit 100 subscribers! And to celebrate we launched a special giveaway (it closes the end of this week, so you still have time to enter!) and launched our community Discord space. Thank you for being part of our journey.

As it's getting cold and grey, leaves are turning golden brown and we all want to curl up indoors, what better than a book that feels like holding a warm hot chocolate sat by a fire? This month has 6 books that have perfect cozy autumn vibes. Fear not if cozy isn't your thing, we've got some quirky choices in there for you too.

Enjoy,

Amy | @proseamongstthorns

Speed Review

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea You can't go wrong with Rebecca Thorne who manages to absolutely nail cozy vibes in anything she writes. Reyna and Kianthe dream of opening a friendly book shop together, serving the very best tea and cakes. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters – all complemented by love and good company. But Reyna is an elite bodyguard to a vengeful queen, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Grab a copy Get the audio

Sad Girl Hours Saffron struggles with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and is dreading autumn and winter. She took time off in her first year at university and can't do the same this year if she's going to achieve her dream of being an astrophysicist. Nell - wannabe poet, autistic and proud, and lover of autumn and winter - is determined to show Saffron everything these seasons have to offer. Though it deals with a heavy topic, this one is so full of love and autumnal vibes. Grab a copy Get the audio

Masters of Death This book is about an estate agent. Only she’s a vampire, the house on sale is haunted, and its ghost was murdered. When Viola Marek hires Fox D’Mora to deal with a ghost-infested mansion, she expects a competent medium. But unbeknownst to Viola, Fox is not a medium at all. He’s a fraud – and the godson of Death. And the cast of characters gets even more bizarre with a demonic personal trainer, a steadfast reaper and an angel keeping secrets. This one was such a fun read with wonderful dark academia-esque vibes. You'll be laughing out loud one second and fully locked in the next. Grab a copy Get the audio

Swordcrossed Low stakes, banter and some spice for good measure. Mattinesh needs his arranged marriage to go off without a hitch. But if he’s to successfully restore his house’s fortunes, Matti must first hire a swordsman to defend him. Unfortunately, the only duellist he can afford is part-time con artist and full-time charming menace Luca. Wonderfully light-hearted... for the most part. Fair warning, there's a fair bit of political wool trade conversation that seems to be marmite for readers. But, I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt the romance unspooling gave you enough to stay hooked. Grab a copy Get the audio

Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps When a burn nurse with a fear of dragon fire meets a gorgeous but reckless dragon wrangler, things burn hot enough to light their small mountain town on fire. But when local dragons begin acting strangely and the kingsguard descends on Ember Ridge, whispers spread of the Wretch — the most feared dragon in the realm. Eden and Vaela are forced into an uneasy partnership to save the town, but every argument between them sparks into something hotter and far more dangerous than they expected. Chaotic dragons, found family and a (light-ish) enemies-to-lovers and grumpy x sunshine romance. This is the perfect quick, cozy read for autumn. Grab a copy Get the audio

Bromantasy This cozy fantasy is pitched as Schitt's Creek meets The Princess Bride... need I say more Juniper is good at only two things: demolishing a pint of mead and finding the perfect skincare routine. Everything else falls to his best friend, the absurdly capable, endlessly patient Mo. But when Juniper accidentally volunteers them both for a quest to kill a fearsome monster, he knows he’s finally gotten in over his head. You will laugh out loud at this one. But beyond the hilarity, there's a really lovely story about being yourself and finding a home. I think this is the only idiots-to-lovers I've ever read and it's given me a new trope to be obssessed with. Grab a copy Get the audio

The Lord of the Wood by E.M. Anderson - Feature review

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Listen, I know pitching a horror as the perfect autumnal cozy read sounds insane... but hear me out.

Clockmaker Arthur Throckmorton lives a quiet life with his sister and her children, only dreaming of adventure. So when a wealthy client offers him a job that involves traversing Shiftleaf - an enchanted forest that claimed his father decades ago - he reluctantly accepts. The forest is treacherous, but the money will change his family’s lives.

The journey quickly turns perilous. Fleeing from monstrous birds, Arthur stumbles upon a hidden vale where he meets the Lord of the Wood - a figure from his father’s many stories. Instead of the fairy prince Arthur always imagined, Ira is a morose man, slowly transforming into a beast, his power over a dying forest waning.

This book perfectly balances creeping horror with a kick-your-feet romance in the best way possible. I'd maybe describe it as soft horror. There's lots of spookiness and definitely monstrous beings, but it almost feels like having entered a fantasy world.

I haven't read many books that capture non-traditional families so brilliantly. Arthur is a devoted Uncle to his niblings (and I did smile every time they mention niblings in the audiobook because how could you not?!), one of whom identifies as non-binary. There are multiple queer characters. And although the society they live in may not accept them, they all love and accept each other.

I really enjoyed the eco-horror of this book. A sentient forest murdering humans because we (mostly) harm it? Hard to judge it honestly. And I think this makes the book all the more lovable as you're torn between lowkey agreeing with murderous trees and feeling sorry for the innocent people passing through. Occasionally gory, the characters experience far more pure terror than we do as readers setting this firmly in the cozy horror camp.

I've seen some mixed reviews of this one, though mostly positive, but for me it's the audiobook that truly made it a 5 star read. The narrators do a stellar job at bringing the world and it's characters to life in such an endearing way - I didn't pick up on any of the things I've seen mentioned in negative reviews.

Yet another thing I loved was the absolutely wonderful disabled representation. Though their disabilites may affect them, particularly for Charlotte who has chronic pain, it doesn't stop them being bloody awesome. It also shows them asking for help and for adjustments - and that's never a bad thing. It felt really natural to the story in the best way.

So, if you're looking for a light horror and sentient forest, shapeshifting men and a host of queer characters to cozy up your evening get your hands on The Lord of the Wood. I've seen it compared to TJ. Klune and T Kingfisher and I think those are spot on. This feels like a fairy tale in the best way.

Upcoming Releases

5th November A mischievous runaway bride and her prim-and-proper Witchery Council rival must fake-date in order to catch a would-be murderer - and accidentally fall in love. Get a copy Get the audio

3rd November In 1970s Mississippi, a Black detective and his temporary partner are assigned a case that shifts from murder to paranormal conspiracy. Get a copy Get the audio

3rd November In this tongue-in-cheek spin on Romanian fairytale, a knight attempts to thwart an invasion, save the most beautiful woman in the world, and escape their sisters. Get a copy Get the audio

Moonlight and the Mirror (#3) - Evelynn Carver 3rd November A demonic curse forces an exiles prince and his partner to fake their execution to buy their freedom. But it comes with consequences. ​

Captive, Traitor, King (#2) - Bridif Kemmerer 5th November A sizzling, high-stakes sequel where the betrayals are deeper, the magic burns brighter, and love might be the most dangerous weapon. ​​

10th November A housemaid's quiet life is disrupted when the arrival of a mysterious visitor causes her to question the nature of her charming cottage home. Get a copy Get the audio

10th November Two rivals put aside their differences to help their friend make a student film. Easy, right? In your dreams. Get a copy

12th November Ida and Jean's biggest problems are HOA squabbles and staying closeted. But now they must go on the run to cover up a double murder they committed four decades ago. Get a copy Get the audio

Saved by the Spell - Tanya Huff 6th November Think Abott Elementary, but magical. At the High School for Magical Arts, the teachers are dismayed at the rise of a Hero... because a Villain won't be far behind. ​

The Meridian Forge (#4) - Tara Sim 3rd November The fabric of the universe hangs in the balance. 7 heirs must come together to save their realms, and those they hold dear, in the breathtaking conclusion to the Dark Gods Saga. ​​

17th November The first in a dark fantasy duology, following an assassin, a scholar, a con man, and a guard in a race to rediscover powerful lost magic and save their world... Get a copy Get the audio

19th November Star-crossed lovers bound by magic. Torn between first love, magic and duty, Kit will be forced to make a decision that will change all three of their lives forever. Get a copy Get the audio

17th November Destiny, love, and duty collide when a Hunter-in-Training must choose between the prince who stole her heart and her duty to protect against the faery realm in this lush historical fantasy. Get a copy

The Last Star in the Void - Court Behr 10th November Kembral Thorne hasn't been in mortal peril for months and things are getting serious with her girlfriend. But then she's hired for her most dangerous case yet - solving her own murder. ​​

These Hollow Bodies - Z.K. Abraham 10th November This book sits between cosmic horror and the new weird, exploring a fine art ceramicist encountering the otherwordly at an artist residency while at a fictional, unnamed East African coastal university. ​

Marginal notes

I plan on finally reading Rottenheart (third time's the charm!) and The Salt King before the end of the month. These are both highly anticipated releases for me, so I've been putting them off a little but it's finally time.

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 store spotlight, an author interview and more November queer releases.

Thank you!