#BITTER MEDICINE BY MIA TSAI

[betterbooksandthings]

"Recently, a wave of fresh paranormal romance books have hit the shelves. The real question is, which new books should you pick up?

Paranormal romance is a subgenre of romance that follows the HEA/HFN (happily ever after/ happy for now) arc of human, non-human, and/or superhuman characters. The paranormal beings involved could be ghosts, werewolves, vampires, witches, or other supernatural creatures of legend that slot into a paranormal version of our world. If it’s in a high fantasy otherworld or is a monster romance, I am following the judgment of fellow Book Riot writer Jessica Pryde in her paranormal romance recommendation list and disqualifying them from this round-up.

As a longtime fan of the genre, I have plenty of backlist recommendations and a carefully curated list of fresh paranormal romance books. Every book here was published in the last five years, between 2019 and 2024. As a general personal rule, I like my paranormal romance to have believable, well-developed characters and a plot that hooks me in. If either the love interests or plot are paper-thin, my attention swiftly drifts. So, if you are looking for a witch, werewolf, vamp, or otherwise paranormal being falling in love, I’ve decided these are the ones you should read."

[miatsai]

Hey all, I'm Mia Tsai, author of BITTER MEDICINE, a xianxia-inspired (very) adult contemporary fantasy novel, Hugo-nominated associate editor of Giganotosaurus, and an erstwhile musician and photographer.

tl;dr hi tumblr, I'M BACK

here are links to my stuff!

BOOK: BITTER MEDICINE, @tachyonpub. https://tachyonpublications.com/product/bitter-medicine/

WEBSITE, hardly updated: www.miatsai.com but subscribe to my newsletter because I will almost never bother you!

NEWSLETTER: https://buttondown.email/miatsai

INSTAGRAM, seldomly used: https://www.instagram.com/mia.tsai.books/

I'll be using this space primarily for thoughts that may, once upon a time, have been posted to Twitter. Occasionally, I may write! But this is a space I hope to curate for interactions and fandom. Ask box is open always!

[wearethekat]

April Book Reviews: Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai

Another book I picked up from the library based on the cool cover and premise. Magical calligrapher Elle is in deep cover, hiding her skills in order to remain unnoticed. But a job writing glyphs for pretty half-elf agent Luc tempts her to show off her talent-- plunging her back into a world of magical intrigue she thought she'd left behind decades ago.

The fairly standard urban fantasy setup of this book is elevated by drawing heavily from Chinese mythology, rather than just the usual vampires and werewolves. I also liked that both protagonists are one hundred year plus experienced immortals. However, I did think the pacing was slightly wonky-- the romance plotline was resolved two-thirds into the book, leaving the action plotline to wobble on by itself, when I like it better when these resolve simultaneously for Maximum Drama.

Overall, a genuinely original debut rooted in Chinese mythology. I'll be interested to see what Tsai writes next.

[deiumjeito]

aesthetic | Bitter Medicine - Mia Tsai

[ksfoxwald]

I just finished reading Mia Tsai's Bitter Medicine a second time because it's just so... I mean, yeah obviously I'm going into autism hyperfixation mode but have you ever read a book that felt like it was written specifically for you? One that looked deep into your eyes and said "I'm going to give you everything you ever wanted. I'm going to give you a queer man who's had his free will stripped away from him and thinks the only thing he's good for is killing, and I'm going to give you a character with complicated feelings about being a Chinese daughter and sister, and Chinese magic that goes beyond martial arts and that layers and clashes with Western magic, and fairies who are genuinely terrifying, and love for family as powerful as romantic love, and love as sacrifice, love as defiance, love as joy." I am doing my best to sink into the pages of this book and live there and it's absolute agony that I can't.

[reviewsthatburn]

I’m so happy about BITTER MEDICINE. Often I can get very stressed out by stories where the two parties are lying or misrepresenting things, usually because the reasons don’t make any sense, except as transparent excuses to further the plot. When this happens I either become distressed by the lie(s) or I’ll lose the suspension of disbelief and can’t stay in the story. At all points in BITTER MEDICINE, Elle and Luc are being as honest as they possibly can be with each other (given the constraints on them). As they grow closer they work first individually, and then mutually, to get rid of the barriers between them. In each new stage of their relationship they work to accept whatever obstacles cannot yet be removed. The story is driven by their need to fix their individual problems, gradually turning into a realization that they can help each other accomplish more than either could without help.

Full Review at Link.

[robinwoodsfiction]

Writing Organically

Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Pace A Guest Post by Author Mia Tsai Pace and Structure Pace is, I think, one of the toughest things to wrap your mind around as an author. The mechanics of writing can be learned; structure can be applied to give a story shape and direction. Tension and conflict can be created through character interaction. But pace can remain elusive no matter how…

[powells]

Romantasy Display!! ✨💕

((No poetry, middle grade books, or graphic novels were displaced to make room for this display))

Uprooted by Naomi Novik "familiar as a Grimm fairy tale yet fresh, original, and totally irresistible"

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall "Witches and gods, scandals and curses all combine in this spellbinding historical Sapphic romance"

Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti "Follow our twin princesses as they fight to reclaim their throne." *very spicy* *please note this series has dark content*

Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai "The magic system had me mesmerized in how it blends cultures. Inspired by Chinese drama, the romance & action were addictive"

Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett "Besides a grumpy, young professor, this book has fairies, and adventure, romance, mystery... and did I say fairies?"

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong "Gripping, bewildering, irresistible..."

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem "Try if you like: Egyptian folklore, political scheming, deadly secrets, revenge, and forbidden romance" Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas "An epic tale of love and loss and a girl who loves her kingdom very very much"

[betterbooksandthings]

"The book has seen immediate success in 2023, debuting as a number one New York Times bestselling novel. Readers love the irreverent fantasy world and the witty characters trying to make a living in a villain’s evil lair. Sure, the villain equips the lair with a top-notch break room, HR, and healthcare, but there are still the trappings of a villain’s daily activities, reminding employees they work for a bad guy. If you, too, can’t get enough of this world, read on for eight funny, romantic, and fantastical books like Assistant to the Villain!

The following books like Assistant to the Villain give readers who are eagerly awaiting book two something to read in the meantime. They are a combination of fantasy romance books that have a dash of action, romance, and comedy to keep any Hannah Nicole Maehrer fan happy. I am head over heels for the odd little subgenre myself, so I guarantee these books like Assistant to the Villain will hit the spot."

[miatsai]

listen up

there's a preorder sale going on at B&N from today until the 27th of January where you can get 25% off your order with the code PREORDER25 so here is a graphic i, a very good designer, made

and here is the link

thank you very much for your eyes

[the-bi-library]

Bi/bisexual books out in March! 💖💜💙

💕 The Immeasurable Depth of You by Maria Ingrande Mora 💕 The Shattered Lands by Brenna Nation 💕 Always Be Your Baby by illustraice 💕 Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood 💕 Render to Silver by Catherine Labadie 💕 The Memory Eater by Rebecca Mahoney 💕 Dear Medusa by Olivia A. Cole 💕 Have Me Forever by Ally Blythe 💕 Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai 💕 The Blood Hours by Ann H. Fox 💕 The Faithless by C.L. ClarkT 💕 Lucky in Lace by Melissa Brayden 💕 The Future King by Robyn Schneider 💕 Solomon's Crown by Natasha Siegel 💕 Furious Heaven by Kate Elliott 💕 The Foxglove King by Hannah F. Whiten 💕 Arca by G.R. Macallister 💕 Their Countess by Jess Michaels 💕 Künstlers in Paradise by Cathleen Schine 💕 Unforgettable by Grace Turner 💕 Blackheart Ghosts by Laure Eve

[kadoore]

March 2023 Queer Adult SFF Books!

THE MIMICKING OF KNOWN SUCCESSES by Malka Older 3/7/2023

f/f

gaslamp mystery, but make it Jupiter

platform-livin' on a gas giant

cozy Holmes/Watson vibes

ARCA by G.R. Macallister 3/7/2023

sapphic MCs, pan and nb side characters

picks up where SCORPICA left off

that is, a matriarchical society where politics and magic clash and a fragile peace might soon come undone

THE FAITHLESS by C.L. Clark 3/7/2023

f/f

sequel to THE UNBROKEN

those ARMS

found family vs found my family

the queen might be hot af but she's still trying to conquer your people

it's time for a revolution

PROUD PINK SKY by Redfern Jon Barrett 3/14/2023

m/m

the alt-historical, glittering queer metropolis of Berlin draws two fleeing gays toward (supposed) sanctuary

but even in a queer utopia, there's strife and division amongst the gays

FEED THEM SILENCE by Lee Mandelo 3/14/2023

f/f established couple

hey we can translate wolf speak!

oh, what they're saying is pretty interesting

let's just be wolves

well that escalated quickly

BITTER MEDICINE by Mia Tsai 3/14/2023

bi MCs in a m/f relationship

xianxia-inspired romantic fantasy between a descendant of the Chinese god of medicine and an elf security expert

magical calligraphy, cursed children, & murderous younger brothers

WE DREAM OF GODS by Devin Madson 3/21/2023

m/m, plus bi characters

puts the epic in epic fantasy

necromancy & tasteful beheadings & empire building, yesss

4th & final book in the REBORN EMPIRE, which started with WE RIDE THE STORM

THE BLOOD HOURS by Ann H. Fox 3/21/2023

bi MC

magic-users are marked with how long they're allowed to live before they're hunted by priests as sacrifice

MC got 72 years; his sister only 10

So when his sister enters the hunt, so does he

LOKI'S RING by Stina Leicht 3/28/2023

many queer POV characters

a crisis team of middle-aged folks are stranded on a planet under quarantine

adopted AI children & alien-made solar systems

same universe as PERSEPHONE STATION

BLACKHEART GHOSTS by Laure Eve 3/30/2023

f/f

queer Arthurian urban fantasy with motor bikes?? And illegal magic???

illusionists, betrayal, and half-drowned strangers 🧑‍🍳🤌

sequel to BLACKHEART KNIGHTS

More queer 2023 books: January | February | April

[ksfoxwald]

listen we all love when the Traumatized One finds the one they can be gentle and soft and affectionate with but an underrated trope is when the Traumatized One finds someone they can be grumpy and catty with and know that the other person gives as good as they get and will never actually hate them for it and they both find ways to look after each other even though they would die before admitting they're friends.