Queer Readers
By QRR
Queer Readers May 22, 2021
Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener - Moderator Discussion
Ella and Elysia chat about Between the Devil and the Sea, Chani Lynn Feener's intense serial killer romance!
Trigger Warning: This is a stand-alone dark romance which means there are many themes that some might find disturbing. Some of these include, but are not limited to, dub-con, violence, a seriously obsessed male lead, a male lead who deals with low self-esteem, and explicit sexual content not suitable for all readers. Please be sure to read the Author's Note for a complete list of warnings!
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles - Moderator Discussion
Ella and Elysia chat about KJ Charles's charming romance, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen. Content Warnings for sexual assault, kidnapping, assault, attempted murder and child abuse.
Interview with Aster Glenn Gray, Author of Tramps and Vagabonds
Ella and Rachel chat with Aster Glenn Gray about her charming novel following two men riding the rails during the Great Depression, Tramps and Vagabonds. Content Warning for discussions of predatory underage relationships and police brutality.
Media mentioned:
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Road by Jack London
Boy and Girl Tramps of America by Thomas Minehan
Wild Boys of the Road directed by William A. Wellman
Wings directed by William A. Wellman
Interview with David R. Slayton, Author of White Trash Warlock
Rachel and Wynne chat with David for this month's spotlight book, White Trash Warlock.
The One That Got Away by Nicky James -Moderator Discussion
Elysia and Rachel discuss Nicky James's thrilling romance, The One That Got Away. Content warnings for past child kidnapping, anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, dissociative episodes and PTSD.
Deven and the Dragon by Eliot Grayson - Moderator Discussion
Ella and Elysia chat about Eliot Grayson's adorable dragon romance, Deven and the Dragon!
Love is a Stranger by John Wiltshire - Moderator Discussion
Ella and Elysia chat about John Wiltshire's thrilling spy romance Love is a Stranger. Warnings for discussions of dubious consent, non-con, rape, child sexual assault, self-harm, suicide attempt, animal harm and lots of kidnapping.
Books mentioned:
Daniel May's A Taste of Ink series.
Awfully Ambrose by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey - Moderator Discussion
Ella and Elysia discuss Awfully Ambrose, the first book of Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey's new hilarious series. Content warnings: mention of attempted sexual assault. Moderator Discussion
Interview with Lily Morton, Author of The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings
Ella and Elysia chat with Lily for this month's spooky spotlight book, The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings. Warning for spoilers.
Books mentioned:
Snow and Winter Series by C. S. Pie
Soulbound Series by Hailey Turner
The Adrien English Mysteries Series by Josh Lanyon
Just a Bit Wrecked by Alessandra Hazard- Moderator Discussion
Ella and Elysia chat about Alessandra Hazard's plane-wrecked romance 'Just a Bit Wrecked'. Trigger warnings for the book - Plane crashes, minor character death, co-dependency, homophobic language and slurs, internalised biphobia, and dubious consent.
Claimings, Tails and Other Alien Artifacts
Ella and Elysia chat about Lyn Gala's out of this world alien romance, Claimings, Tails and Other Alien Artifacts. Warning for spoilers, mentions of abusive relationships and graphic discussion of alien sex.
Soul Eater by Lily Mayne - Moderator Discussion
Ella and Elysia chat about Lily Mayne's monster filled post-apocalyptic romance Soul Eater. Warnings for spoilers and graphic discussion of monster smut (we couldn't help ourselves).
Winter of the Owl by Iris Foxglove - Moderator Discussion
Ella and Elyasi chat about Iris Foxglove's cosey book, WInter of the Owl. Warning for spoilers, talk of abusive relationships and murder. Check out our previous episode on their first book: https://anchor.fm/qrr/episodes/QRR-Mods-Discuss-The-Traitors-Mercy-by-Iris-Foxglove-e170dsm
Books mentioned:
Wed to a Barbrain by Keira Andrews
The Night Of By Tal Bauer - Moderator Discussion
Elysia and Rachel chat about Tal Bauer's political thriller The Night Of!
Books mentioned:
You and Me by Tal Bauer
Whisper by Tal Bauer
Interview with Sierra Simone, Author of Saint
Ella and Rachel chat with Sierra again for this month's spotlight Saint, the third book in the Priest series. Warning for spoilers and mentions of suicide.
Books mentioned:
A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Slow Heat by Leta Blake - Moderator Discussion
Ella and Wynne chat about Leta Blakes's thought-provoking omega verse book, Slow Heat! We do go into spoilers of Slow Heat and the other books in the Heat of Love series. Trigger warning: mentions of rape, forced pregnancy and issues around reproductive rights.
March Reading Roundup
Ella, Elysia and Wynne chat about their favourites of the past month!
Books mentioned:
The Scum Villain's Self Saving System by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
Where Death Meets the Devil by L.J. Hayward
She Who Became the Sun by Shelly Parker-Chan
Wed to a Barbarian by Keira Andrews - Moderator Discussion
Ella and Rachel chat about Keira Andrews's fantastic breech-ripper, Wed to a Barbarian!
Books mentioned:
Winter of the Owl by Iris Foxglove
Interview with May Archer, Author of Pick Me
Ella and Rachel chat with May Archer about her delightfully sweet romance, Pick Me. Just a warning we do talk about issues around mental health and anxiety.
Book Mentioned:
Unhinged by Onley James
Calluvia's Royalty Series by Alessandra Hazard
A Walrus & A Gentleman by Emmaline Strange
Seducing the Sorcerer by Lee Welch
The Missing Page by Cat Sebastian
Subtle Blood by K J Charles
In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish
December and 2021 Reading Roundup
QR mods discuss their favourite reads of December and their best overall read of the year. Warning for discussion of graphic sex.
Books mentioned:
Blood Sports by Daniel May
The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K. J. Charles
The Night Of by Tal Bauer
Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian
A Choir of Lies by Alexandra Rowland
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
Just a Bit Bossy by Alessandra Hazard
The Traitor's Mercy by Iris Foxglove
The Earl and the Executive by Kai Butler - Moderator Discussion
QR moderators discuss Kai Bulter's charming sci-fi regency romance!
November Reading Roundup
Ella, Elysia, Rachel, and Wynne talk out their favourite reads of the month and try to convince the others to read them!
Books mentioned:
Jackdaw by K. J. Charles
Small Change by Roan Parrish
P.S. I Spook You by S. E. Harmon
Peter Darling by Austin Chant
The Last Flight of Marius Chastain by Iris FoxGlove
Interview with S. T. Gibson, Author of A Dowry Of Blood
Server moderators Ella and Rachel interview S. T. Gibson about her amazing Dracula's Brides retelling, A Dowry of Blood. Warning for spoilers and discussion on domestic abuse.
Books & Media mentioned:
Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Van Helsing directed by Stephen Sommers and Sharon Bridgeman
Dracula Untold directed by Gary Shore
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
Saint by Sierra Simone
October Reading Roundup
QRR mods Ella, Elysia, Rachel, and Wynne chat about their favourite reads of the month and try to convince the others to read their picks. We do go into explicate talk of omgeaverse and smut in this episode.
Books mentioned:
The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh by Molly Greeley
The Kings Mage by Iris Foxglove
Pick Me by May Archer
All for the Game Series by Nora Sakavic
Heat of Love Series by Leta Blake
Interview with Mia West, Author of Marked by Fire
QRR mods Ella and Rachel talk with Mias West about her queer Arthurian retelling, Marked by Fire.
Books mentioned:
The Skystone by Jack Whyte
Agnes Moor's Wild Knight by AJ Demas
A Land So Wild by Elyssa Warkentin
Purgatory by Jeff Mann
Work For It by Talia Hibbert
Winter Knights by Harper Fox
QRR Mods Discuss The Traitor's Mercy by Iris Foxglove
QRR mods Ella and Elysia discuss this week spotlight The Traitor's Mercy by Iris Foxglove, the first book in their amazing BDSM verse fantasy series! Warning this book is about forced prostitution which we discuss.
Books mentioned:
Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Claiming Series by Lyn Gala
Avian Shifters Series by Kim Dare
August Reading Roundup
QRR mods Ella, Elysia and Rachel discuss their favourite books of this month and try to convince each other to read them!
Books mentioned:
The Quarterback by Tal Bauer
Ashes of Memory by Aiden Bates and Jill Haven
Briarley by Aster Glenn Gray
Soul Eater by Lily Mayne
Reawakening by Amy Rae Durreson
Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta
My Dark Vanessa Kate Elizabeth Russell
Reading Roundup
QRR mods Ella, Elysia and Wynne talk about their favourite books of the last month and highlight one book they want the other mods to read!
Books mentioned:
Ash by Malinda Lo
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
A History of What Comes Next by Sylvain Neuvel
Wine and Song by Eleanor Kos
Date in a Pinch by Brigham Vaughn
Made to Order by Brigham Vaughn
Two Steps Back by Lyn Gala
The Same Breath by Gregory Ashe
Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie
Interview with Sierra Simone, author of A LESSON IN THORNS
QRR mods Arlo and Rachel talk to Sierra Simone about her gothic polyamorous romance, A Lesson in Thorns.
QRR Mods Discuss Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell
Ella, Elysia and Wynne discuss this weeks spotlight book Winter's Orbit, Everina Maxwell's fantastic sci-fi arranged marriage romance! Warning for spoilers and discussions of domestic abuse.
Books/Media Mentioned:
Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Persephone Sation by Stina Leicht
Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie
Icarus, Burning by aladyinbooks (A03)
Interview with Lucy Bexley, author of MUST LOVE SILENCE
QRR mods Rachel and Ella talk to Lucy Bexley about her book Must Love Silence, a wonderfully funny romance between an audiobook narrator and an author.
Books mentioned:
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
One Last Stop by Casey Mcquiston
Nevermind by Bryce Oakley
Interview with Carole Cummings, author of SONATA FORM
QRR mods Rachel and Ella talk to Carole Cummings about her latest book Sonata Form, a masterful fantasy with war and dragons. The book we talked about in the beginning but forgot to name was Amberough by Lara Elean Donnelly.
Books mentioned:
Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
Blood Indigo by Talulah J. Sullivan
QRR Mods discuss The Man Who Loved Cole Flores by K.A. Merikan
Rachel and Ella talk about this weeks spotlight book The Man Who loved Cole Flores by K.A. Merikan, their revenge filled western romance. Content warning for mentions of rape, suicide and violence.
Theme Week - Sex in Fiction
QRR mods Rachel, Elysia and Ella discuss the author responses to our questions for this weeks theme, sex in fiction. We talk about the responses from Joy Demorra, KJ Charles, Gregory Ashe, K.A Merikan and Lucy Bexley.
Books mentioned:
The Art of Mutual Pleasure by K.A. Merikan
Until You Say Otherwise by Kate Hawthorne
Interview with Lucy Lennox, author of RIGHT AS RAINE
QRR mods interview Lucy Lennox about spotlight book Right as Raine, the first in her Aster Valley series.
Books mentioned:
Try by Ella Frank
Bossman by Vi Keeland
Extracurricular Activities Series by Neve Wilder
In The Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish
Him by Sarina Bowen
The Night Of by Tal Bauer
Four Bears Construction Series by K.M. Neuhold
Kidnapped by the Pirate by Keira Andrews
The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh by K.J. Charles
The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K.J. Charles
Silver Tip Pack Series by Megan Erickson
Project Hero by Briar Prescott
Honeythorn by Marina Vivancos
Calluvia's Royalty Series by Alessandra Hazard
The Kings Dragon by W. M. Fawkes and Sam Burns
The Fantastic Fluke by Sam Burns
Jon's Mysteries Series by A.J. Sherwood
Unbreakable Bonds Series by Jocelynn Drake
Nothing Special Series by A.E. Via
Damage Control by Lynn Van Dorn
A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina
QRR Mods Discuss Hunger Pangs by Joy Demorra
QRR mods Elysia and Ella discuss Joy Demorra's vampire polyamorous romance, Hunger Pangs!
Books mentioned:
Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
Inferior by Angela Saini
QRR Mods Discuss Demons Do It Better By Lousia Masters
QRR server mods Elysia and Ella discuss Demons Do It Better by Louisa Masters, an incredibly funny paranormal romance! Warnings for spoilers and sexually explicit content (look we got into a tangent about horns vs tentacles in sex that I didn't have the heart to edit out).
Interview with Joanna Chambers, author of PROVOKED
QRR mods interview Joanna Chambers about spotlight book Provoked, her charmingly Scottish regency romance! Warning for spoilers.
Books mentioned:
The Time Traveller's Guide to Regency Britain by Ian Mortimer
The King's Jaunt by John Prebble
Enemies Like You by Joanna Chambers & Annika Martin
Kings Men by Sally Malcolm
Rebel by Sally Malcolm
Schooling the Jock by Eli Easton & Tara Lain
First Blood by Eliot Grayson
Theme Week - Fanfiction
For our first theme week QRR mods Ella, Elysia, Rachel and Wynne discuss fanfiction and its influence on publishing.
Here are the fics we recommended at the end:
Ella: my only constant is you by TheSilverQueen
Elysia: Infinite Coffee and Protection Detail by owlet
Rachel: Hermione Granger's Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents on the Run by waspabi
Wynne: At Least There's The Football by sheffiesharpe
QRR Mods Discuss Unhallowed by Jordan L. Hawk
QRR server mods Elysia and Ella discuss Unhallowed by Jordan L. Hawk, a turn of the century paranormal romance filled with tentacles! Warnings for spoilers and brief mentions of child abuse. (Spoilers for The Casebook of Simon Feximal, skip from 17:20 to 17:49 if you want to miss it). Also, I mentioned the author Lily Morton but accidentally said Lucy Morton, turns out I can't keep my L names straight.
Books mentioned:
The Casebook of Simon Feximal by K J Charles
Remnant: a story by Jorden L Hawk & K J Charles
The Binding by Bridget Collins
The Diviners by Libba Bray
Interview with Lara Elena Donnelly, author of AMBERLOUGH
Interview with Aster Glenn Gray, author of HONEYTRAP
QRR server moderators Rachel and Ella interview Aster Glenn Gray about spotlight book Honeytrap, her Cold War forbidden romance that's full of charm! Warning for spoilers and brief mentions of suicide.
Books and media mentioned:
To See Paris and Die: The Soviet Lives of Western Culture by Eleonory Gilburd
Little Golden America by Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov
Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing by Anya von Bremzen
The Girl from the Metropol Hotel: Growing Up in Communist Russia by Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
Wounded: A New History of the Western Front in World War I by Emily Mayhew
They Shall Not Grow Old directed by Peter Jackson
Interview with Roan Parrish, author of BETTER THAN PEOPLE
QRR server moderators Rachel and Ella Interview Roan Parish about spotlight book Better Than People, her adorable contemporary m/m romance filled with the fluffiest pets. Just a warning, we did, unfortunately, lose the last ten minutes of our interview with Roan in which she recommended her latest favourite read which was Catherine House by Elizabeth Thomas, and we also talked about Plain Dead Heroines by Emily M. Danforth.
QRR mods discuss Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian
Rachel, Ella and Elysia talk about the charmingly sweet Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian. This is a reupload of our last October Spotlight episode. Spoiler warning!
QRR Mods Discuss Our Favourite Books from 2020
QRR Mods Discuss The Gentle Wolf by Pia Foxhall
Elysia and Wynne discuss The Gentle Wolf by Pia Foxhall, an omegaverse m/m filled with fluff and chocolate.
Interview Gregory Ashe, author of THE SAME BREATH
Rachel and Elysia interview Gregory Ashe about his romantic suspense novel with MM romance, The Same Breath.
Interview with A. H. Lee, author of THE KNIGHT AND THE NECROMANCER
QRR server moderators Ella and Rachel interview A. H. Lee about spotlight series, The Knight and the Necromancer, her high fantasy adventure with MM romance.
KJ Charles -- The Will Darling Adventures
QRR moderators Ella and Rachel talk to KJ Charles about her series, The Will Darling Adventures, a mystery trilogy inspired by 1920s pulp fiction with MM romance.
RED HEIR by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey
QRR server mods talk to Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey about RED HEIR, their comedic adventure fantasy with MM romance.