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Reblogging - 3 DAYS LEFT!!! 🌈💕📚

Sapphic Fantasy and Sci-Fi GIVEAWAY!!!

Hosted by JC Rycroft

JC Rycroft: SIXTEEN incredible sapphic SFF authors have gotten together to run a giant book giveaway. Get in the running to win 16 sapphic books delivered to your door almost anywhere in the world*

With high spice, low spice, YA, romantasy, epic fantasy, horror, and even a novel in verse represented amongst the collection, you'll be set for a sapphic summer of reading- and well beyond!

To enter the Giveaway, please use the following link: https://kingsumo.com/g/3q5g5w3/sapphic-fantasy-and-sci-fi-book-giveaway/yvygr8d

This Giveaway also has chances for more entries!

There's a bundle of actions you can take to increase your entries, mostly following the authors involved on Instagram. And you'll also be given a referral link, and whenever anyone else enters the giveaway using that link, you'll automatically get more entries. So share as far and wide as you can!

When you enter, be sure to watch your email for a confirmation link - if you don't confirm your entry, it doesn't count. Please note that notification of a win will come via email from jcrycroft.author@gmail.com. Don't fall for anyone else trying to spoof us!

Check out the incredible list of books and authors!

The Blood-Born Dragon by JC Rycroft @ jcrycroft

Born of Flame and Fury by Hannah Danielle @ hannahdanielleauthor

The Killing Song by Felix Graves @ authfelixgraves

Jasyn and the Astronauts (Under The Ice Skies) by Gwenhyver @ gwenhyver

Carmilla and Laura (Deluxe Edition!) by SD Simper @ sdsimper

The Phoenix and the Sword by JC Snow @ jcsnow_author

A Kiss of the Siren's Song by E. A. M. Trofimenkoff @ eamtrofimenkoff

Will it Hurt? by Lily X @ lilyxbooks

Unworthy by JA Vodvarka @ javodvarkawrites

In the Roses of Pieria by @ annaburkeauthor

We Are All Monsters Here by @ amymarsdenauthor

Blackout by Kit Mallory

A Swift and Sudden Exit by @ nicovincenty

Forget Me Not by @ writingsby.anna

Of Hoarfrost and Blood @ scarlet.tempest.writer

First Comes Death @ avrahwrites

This giveaway is not affiliated with tumblr or anyone else but the participating authors!

*Anywhere that Amazon and/or Ingram Spark deliver, we do too!

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Sapphic Fantasy and Sci-Fi GIVEAWAY!!!

Hosted by JC Rycroft

JC Rycroft: SIXTEEN incredible sapphic SFF authors have gotten together to run a giant book giveaway. Get in the running to win 16 sapphic books delivered to your door almost anywhere in the world*

With high spice, low spice, YA, romantasy, epic fantasy, horror, and even a novel in verse represented amongst the collection, you'll be set for a sapphic summer of reading- and well beyond!

To enter the Giveaway, please use the following link: https://kingsumo.com/g/3q5g5w3/sapphic-fantasy-and-sci-fi-book-giveaway/yvygr8d

This Giveaway also has chances for more entries!

There's a bundle of actions you can take to increase your entries, mostly following the authors involved on Instagram. And you'll also be given a referral link, and whenever anyone else enters the giveaway using that link, you'll automatically get more entries. So share as far and wide as you can!

When you enter, be sure to watch your email for a confirmation link - if you don't confirm your entry, it doesn't count. Please note that notification of a win will come via email from jcrycroft.author@gmail.com. Don't fall for anyone else trying to spoof us!

Check out the incredible list of books and authors!

The Blood-Born Dragon by JC Rycroft @ jcrycroft

Born of Flame and Fury by Hannah Danielle @ hannahdanielleauthor

The Killing Song by Felix Graves @ authfelixgraves

Jasyn and the Astronauts (Under The Ice Skies) by Gwenhyver @ gwenhyver

Carmilla and Laura (Deluxe Edition!) by SD Simper @ sdsimper

The Phoenix and the Sword by JC Snow @ jcsnow_author

A Kiss of the Siren's Song by E. A. M. Trofimenkoff @ eamtrofimenkoff

Will it Hurt? by Lily X @ lilyxbooks

Unworthy by JA Vodvarka @ javodvarkawrites

In the Roses of Pieria by @ annaburkeauthor

We Are All Monsters Here by @ amymarsdenauthor

Blackout by Kit Mallory

A Swift and Sudden Exit by @ nicovincenty

Forget Me Not by @ writingsby.anna

Of Hoarfrost and Blood @ scarlet.tempest.writer

First Comes Death @ avrahwrites

This giveaway is not affiliated with tumblr or anyone else but the participating authors!

*Anywhere that Amazon and/or Ingram Spark deliver, we do too!

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ARC Review of “Not What I Ordered” by Raluca M. Matara

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was my second time reading Raluca’s work, and I want to thank her again for giving me the opportunity —her stories have been such a joy to read! With that being said, here is my honest review of “Not What I Ordered”.

This novella was a delightful little gem—short, but packed with heart. Silma and Vatima’s unexpected romance was incredibly sweet, the kind that makes you think of those comfortingly cheesy romance movies where everything magically falls into place. But don’t let the sweetness fool you—when the spice hits, it really hits.

“Silma Maria Elena Graciela the Third, Princess of Maroma, Heir to the throne of the Lost Kingdom” starts off as a self-centered “conceited brat” of a princess, and I’ll admit, I couldn’t stand her at first—just like Vatima couldn’t. But that’s what makes her transformation so satisfying. Stripped of her privilege and forced to adapt, she grows in ways that feel both genuine and earned. Vatima, with her no-nonsense attitude and steady work ethic, plays a crucial role in that change. Her ability to challenge Silma and ground her made for a dynamic and compelling opposites-attract romance.

"Listen here, miss 'I have seven names to go with my coffee'! You're in my territory now. So if you want this job, you better watch your back because we're loyal people here; we stick up for each other. But if you ever cross me again, I'll make sure you'll get zero help—see how that suits the fairytale you're living in."

Also, can we all agree that Carl needs to be fired (and then some)?! Ooo, he made me so mad! I was hoping he was going to get what he deserved! (Maybe we’ll get that in the continuation of the story?! *nudge nudge*)

If you love quick reads with headstrong, BIPOC main characters, forced proximity, grumpy vs sunshine and enemies-to-lovers energy, some sizzling spice, and with a focus on class disparity, “Not What I Ordered” belongs on your TBR. It’s a satisfying bite-sized romance that delivers charm, heat, and heart in all the right ways!

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Book Review of “sWitch” by Kat Blackthorne

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the second book I’ve read by Kat Blackthorne. I thoroughly enjoy her writing style and can’t wait to read more of her work.

“sWitch” honestly caught me off guard in the best way. I went in expecting a fun, spicy read, but what I got was something much more layered—it was cute, funny, somewhat dark at times, and had a few unsuspecting twists that kept me hooked.

I absolutely LOVED our main characters, or should I say, players?! Remy and Fauna were opposites in pretty much every way but they worked so well together! The story centers around Remy’s secret crush on her twin brother’s girlfriend, Fauna. Normally, I’m not one to root for someone going after their sibling’s partner, but somehow, this dynamic just worked. It didn’t feel messy—it felt honest, compelling, and a little bit magical. I don’t want to spoil too much, but trust me when I say this one is absolutely worth the read.

If you’re in the mood for an adorable, witty, fast-paced, sapphic romance that blends playful forbidden love, quirky gamer culture, heartfelt emotion, and a wholesome band named Mall Ratz, then “sWitch” deserves a spot on your TBR right now!

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After watching a random celebrity “What’s in my bag?” video, I got curious (or maybe just nosy, lol) and started asking everyone the same question. So, what’s in your bag? Or, if you’re not the type to carry one, what’s in your pockets?

I’m a mom of two… I’ve got a lot in my bag! 😂

Wallet

Keys

Drink koozie

Expandable metal straw

Scrunchie

Tape measure

Two lip vaselines

Extra clip and hair ties

Container with lens cloth, lens wipes and gum

Headphones

Sun topper for my glasses

Emergency pads

Napkins and tissues

Bag of small stick ladybugs

Bandaids

Two pens and a sharpie

Glue dots

Tiny stylus

A ditty bag with:

- bug bite stick

- Vaseline

- sunscreen

- lotion

- deodorant

- aquaphor

- nail file

- cover up stick

- knife

- two lighters

- narwhal scissors

- tums

- acetaminophen and ibuprofen

- DayQuil

- Apple Watch travel charger

- USBC, Lightning, and Micro USB cords

I can also squeeze my Kindle Paperwhite in there when I need to! 😁

Bag measures 10.5 x 3.5 x 7.8

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Book haul from my girls weekend with the besties this past weekend!!!

All books were thrifted, minus the two in the middle at the bottom (and one bestie bought me “Late Bloomer” 🥰)!!!

And 7 out of the 12 books are QUEER!!! 🌈💕

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Kitten snuggles while reading!!! 🥰💕📖🐈‍⬛

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🌈 Happy Pride! 🌈

Here are some queer book recommendations that are (mostly) lighthearted, in light of everything going on in the U.S.

Keep being you, the world is better with you in it ❤️

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Hey Tumblr, quick story time!

This is not book related, but I wanted to share!!!

About a month ago, my husband told me he thought he was ready for another cat (I’m always ready for another, haha). He said he’d prefer to get a multi-colored, female cat, and we agreed we wouldn’t start looking until after our vacation in August.

Well… the universe had other plans because this past Tuesday (June 3rd), the cat distribution system blessed us in the most unexpected way. My husband found a tiny kitten stuck in the engine bay of his work van! After carefully getting the kitten out, I took it straight to the vet to make sure it was okay.

The good news? It’s overall healthy, it just needed a bath and some meds for roundworm (which we finished yesterday). And the best part? The vet confirmed the kitten is a girl! (How purrfect, right?!)

She’s not multi-colored, as you can see. She’s mostly black with a few white spots on her belly but my husband said we could keep her anyway!!! 💕 I fully believe that my former black cat, Salem, sent her to us! 🥰

So without further ado, I’d like to introduce the newest member of our family: Umbreon! (Named after the dark eeveelution Pokémon 😁)

I’m sure there will be kitten and book posts in the future, so stay tuned!!! 💕🐈‍⬛

🌈HAPPY PURRRIDE!!!🥳

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My May 2025 wrap-up!

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🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in May 2025 🌈

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books coming out in May that you can add to your TBR. Happy reading!

❓What was the last queer book you read?

[ Release dates may have changed. ]

❤️ The Survivor Wants to Die at the End - Adam Silvera 💛 Rainbow! v2 - Sunny & Gloomy 💚 Death in the Cards - Mia Manansala 💙 These Vengeful Gods - Gabe Cole Novoa 💜 The Rebel's Guide to Pride - Matthew Hubbard 💙 Behooved - M. Stevenson 💚 All's Fair in Love and Field Hockey - Kit Rosewater 💛 Modern Divination - Isabel Agajanian ❤️ Kiss Me, Maybe - Gabriella Gamez

❤️ Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame - Neon Yang 💛 Rebel in the Deep - Katee Robert 💚 And They Were Roommates - Page Powars 💙 In Case You Read This - Edward Underhill 💜 I Can't Even Think Straight - Dean Atta 💙 A Fate Forged in Fire - Hazel McBride 💚 So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color - Caro De Robertis 💛 The Sun Blessed Prince - Lindsey Byrd ❤️ The Manor of Dreams - Christina Li

❤️ One of the Boys - Victoria Zeller 💛 When Love Gives You Lemons - Steven Salvatore 💚 Discovering Nicola - Clare Ashton 💙 Star Wars: The Acolyte: Wayseeker - Justina Ireland 💜 Summer Girls - Jennifer Dugan 💙 Don't Give a Nix - Ali Williams & Ellie Rose 💚 Housemates - Emma Copley Eisenberg 💛 Sage - Yaffa As ❤️ Don't Let Me Go - Kevin Christopher Snipes

❤️ The Ayatollah's Gaze: A Memoir of the Forbidden and the Fabulous - Maajid 💛 Costumes for Time Travelers - A.R. Capetta 💚 Everyone Sux But You - K. Wroten 💙 All-Nighter - Cecilia Vinesse 💜 Love in Focus - Lyla Lee 💙 Let Them Stare - Jonathan Van Ness & Julie Murphy 💚 Flirty Dancing - Jennifer Moffatt 💛 Out of Step, Into You - Ciera Burch ❤️ Dream On, Ramona Riley - Ashley Herring Blake

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🏳️‍🌈 INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, BIPHOBIA, INTERPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA 🏳️‍🌈

QOTD: What’s a queer book on your tbr?

Today I just have a stack of LGBTQIA+ books that spell out IDAHOBIT because we all know I love spelling things with books!

Tell a queer person in your life you love them today.

The candles are from Book of the Wick and the pins are from Nerd Tea Creations - you can use CHERIE10 to save on both sites!

[instagram]

Books pictured:

I - I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman

D - Don’t Let the Forest In by CG Drews

A - Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden

H - The Hollow and the Haunted by Camilla Raines

O - Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie

B - Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

I - Icarus by K Ancrum

T - Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

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Oscar is wishing everyone a fantastic weekend filled with kitty snuggles and cozy reading!

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🧠 Mental Health Awareness Month 🧠

Another Stuff Your Kindle Day! This particular one is great because the characters have similar struggles that I think a lot of us deal with: anxiety, depression, ADHD, BPD, etc. It's nice to see this kind of representation in different genres of books, not just self-help.

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ARC Review of “The Ice Princess and the Gladiator” by Gwenhyver

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I want to thank Gewnhyver for the opportunity to read “The Ice Princess and the Gladiator”, a story that will be included in “By Her Sword: A Sapphic Fantasy Anthology”, expected to release June 3, 2025!

“The Ice Princess and the Gladiator” is a thoroughly enjoyable read! Set in an icy, tension-filled world, it beautifully explores themes of forced proximity, emotional growth, and the slow thawing of guarded hearts. The dynamic between the “frosty princess” and the “nonchalant gladiator” immediately grabs your attention, setting the stage for a compelling emotional journey.

The story wastes no time diving into the friction between its two leads: Acasta, the sharp-tongued princess, and Herakles, the reluctant gladiator assigned—by royal decree—to train her in combat. Neither is thrilled about the arrangement, and the result is a deliciously angsty, slow-burn journey from rivalry to romance.

“Oh, my apologies. I meant to say: don’t be such a brat, your highness.”

Gwenhyver’s writing is crisp, accessible, and full of personality. Acasta’s perspective adds wit and depth to the narrative, especially through her snarky inner monologue and begrudging fascination with Herakles.

If you’re in the mood for a short, sapphic fantasy romance packed with enemies-to-lovers tension, biting banter, and emotionally charged stakes, “The Ice Princess and the Gladiator” is a must-read!

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My April 2025 wrap-up!

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ARC Review of “Divine Blessings” by K. R. Thompson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I want to thank K. R. Thompson for giving me the opportunity to read this book before its release and provide an honest review.

“Devine Blessings” was a remarkably fun read. I was immediately drawn to the elements Thompson highlighted: YA fantasy, mythology, LGBTQ+ themes, and a friends-to-lovers trope. Also, would you look at that gorgeous cover! It seemed like a book that would be right up my alley, and it did not disappoint!

The story follows two main characters, Nsiria and Elara, through alternating points of view. They’ve been living together for nearly two years in a place called “The Grove,” a safe haven of sorts for the city’s so-called “undesirables.” During that time, they’ve become fast friends, and as the story unfolds, both begin to realize their feelings run a bit deeper.

Nsiria has a strong desire to learn how to read and write, but as an undesirable, she can’t pursue this openly. Her passion for knowledge catches the attention of the deity of wisdom, who grants her a blessing that enhances her ability to attain knowledge. When The Grove is attacked—and believing that Elara perished—Nsiria becomes vengeful, leading her down a darker, more destructive path that draws the attention of other deities.

While the story gives us more of Elara’s perspective as well, I want to avoid spoilers. So I will say that she’s determined to make her way back to Nsiria, facing many challenges and meeting some friends that help her along the way.

Thompson’s writing style is creative and engaging. I found it easy to follow the storyline and immerse myself into the world in which the story is based. The style is definitely geared toward a young adult audience, which I didn’t mind, but it might not appeal as much to readers who typically shy away from YA stories.

The story itself was captivating, with plenty of twists and turns (some of which genuinely surprised me)! Themes of divine powers, vengeance, and emotional stakes drive the narrative, with a strong emphasis on grief and revenge. This gave the story a sense of adventure and high-stakes tension. There was also a good mix of humor thrown in. I’m pretty sure I laughed out loud when I read the part below:

“Oh, please turn me into an enormous bird, Elara! I want to caw caw my way into the sky!” - Reginald

In conclusion, if you enjoy YA fantasy with mythological elements, themes of found family, forbidden love, and a sapphic romance subplot, then “Divine Blessings” definitely deserves a spot on your TBR!