Uh, hello slew of new followers? That Masto navel-gazing post went way more fungal than I expected.

I post CW'd post-workout flex pics (tagged with #gairdyFlex if you want to filter them out), periodic SFF book recs including a book-a-day in June for #queerBooksForPride, random queer & tech banter, me saying how amazing my husband is, and random words of encouragement.

Oh, and I'm as queer as the day is long. Days in summer. The long days -- not like now in winter. You know what I mean.

Oh, I should update y'all: I successfully (re)finished #WolfOfWithervale and moved on to and finished #CampDamascus last month! Both were fantastic, as expected. WoW went much faster when I let go of my need to physically read alongside the audiobook and just finished the audiobook alone.

I can see why folks say Camp Damascus isn't a great "horror read", but I definitely think it stands pretty strongly on its own as a drama/fantasy read. Highly recommended.

#QueerBooksForPride

Thanks to everyone who followed along to #queerBooksForPride this year!

They are mostly, but not exclusively, #sff because thatโ€™s my jam and either include a queer protagonist, queer secondary character, or where queers are just a natural, accepted part of the world โ€” because thatโ€™s the world that I want to live in.

You can see the full set at https://kence.org/2025/06/30/queer-books-for-pride-2025-edition/

I hope you find something that makes you feel loved, included, and seen and brings you joy.

Happy Pride! ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ

#books #bookstodon

Queer Books for Pride โ€“ 2025 Edition

What better way to celebrate Pride for readers than sharing a book a day that features queers? This yearโ€™s #queerBooksForPride has 30 books, mostly but not exclusively scifi/ fantasy because โ€ฆ

Digital Ramblings

June 30 ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿ“– #queerBooksForPride

On this final day of Pride month, I give you A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. In this scifi political intrigue Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives to her new position in the Teixcalaanli Empire after her predecessor has died from mysterious circumstances.

Besides being the new ambassador sheโ€™s been tasked with figuring out what happened to him. Thankfully she has some help โ€“ a copy of his memories from 15 years ago, for whatever good that will do her.

1/2

On this final day of Pride Month I'd like to first thank @gairdeachas for allowing me to share the #QueerBooksforPride space all month. My final entry is the book I'm currently reading. How Long Has This Been Going On by Ethan Mordden was first published in 1995, and chronicles gay life from 1949 forward thru an ensemble cast of characters that shows as much as we have in common we're all unique. I'm only about 20% of the way in, but it's quickly becoming one of my favorite reads of the year.
As The Lost Past of Billy McQueen by Neil Alexander opens, Billy is in his mid 50's and scratching around to make a living in England. When he receives news that his mother has suffered a stroke, he returns to his family home in Ireland for the first time in over 30 years. As he reconnects with old friends and goes thru his mother's belongings, memories of the boy he loved all those years ago resurface along with the mystery of his sudden disappearance.
#QueerBooksforPride

June 29 ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿ“– #queerBooksForPride

The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff is an urban fantasy pseudo-romance with some strong queer vibes and very strong female protagonists. The Gale women are witches that try to just live their lives, and control their men, except sometimes the world needs saving.

CW that this is so anti-patriarchal that itโ€™s men-must-be-controlled. Effectively if you're a male and not strictly gay you're merely a pawn to the Gale women.

The Gardener by Charles Reeza is the story of Adam Evans, an introvert who divides his time between work and tending his garden. When the tenant for his over the garage apartment gives notice, he doesn't relish the prospect of having to find someone to take over the lease. And he definitely doesn't relish the prospect of that someone being Sam Engel, but things sometimes have a way of happening whether we want them to or not.
#QueerBooksforPride

June 28 ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿ“– #queerBooksForPride

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett is a fantasy novel with incredible world building. The gods once ruled Bulikov, conquering and enslaving millions, and the city still bears their mark long after theyโ€™ve been killed. = Shara is nominally a junior diplomat but is actually a spy sent to solve a murder. And sheโ€™s starting to suspect that the gods might not be as dead as everyone thinks.

Features a strong female protagonist and queer secondary character.

The Cricketer's Arms is the first book in the Clyde Smith series by Garrick Jones. Set in 1950's Australia, it features a former member of the Sydney Police who is drawn into the investigation when a gay man is found dead under strange circumstances on the Sydney Cricket Grounds. Smith, who is gay himself, takes advantage of his connections with Sydney's gay community to unravel the mystery.
#QueerBooksforPride