Books and Ladders: queer books

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20 Jun 2025

Sharp Teeth, Soft Heart: Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell (Review)

Jamie @ Books and Ladders 20 June 0 Comments

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays introduces readers who are unfamiliar with the Adult SF/F genre to books, authors, and discussions all about the vast expanse of the world of Adult SF/F!

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SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN

Author: John Wiswell

Series: N/A

Source: Purchased from Libro.fm

Publisher: DAW Books

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

Representation: asexual main character, queerplatonic dynamic, trans, nonbinary, and queer side characters, disabled characters

Summary:

Discover this creepy, charming monster-slaying fantasy romance—from the perspective of the monster—by Nebula Award-winning debut author John Wiswell

Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she’s fallen in love.

Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by hunters intent on murdering her, she constructs a body from the remains of past meals: a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth.

However, the hunters chase Shesheshen out of her home and off a cliff. Badly hurt, she’s found and nursed back to health by Homily, a warm-hearted human, who has mistaken Shesheshen as a fellow human. Homily is kind and nurturing and would make an excellent co-parent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshen’s eggs so their young could devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, she realizes humans don’t think about love that way.

Shesheshen hates keeping her identity secret from Homily, but just as she’s about to confess, Homily reveals why she’s in the area: she’s hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Has Shesheshen seen it anywhere?

Eating her girlfriend isn’t an option. Shesheshen didn’t curse anyone, but to give herself and Homily a chance at happiness, she has to figure out why Homily’s twisted family thinks she did. As the hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, Shesheshen must unearth the truth quickly, or soon both of their lives will be at risk.

And the bigger challenge remains: surviving her toxic in-laws long enough to learn to build a life with, rather than in, the love of her life.

Purchase*:

Kobo | Libro.fm

(note that these are affiliate links! I receive a small amount of compensation at no cost to you)

Content Warning: Body horror, Graphic violence, Death and dismemberment, Mentions of past torture, Invasion of bodily autonomy, Some mind control/magical coercion

Someone You Can Build a Nest In is a unique blend of horror and romance, narrated from the perspective of Shesheshen, a shapeshifting monster who constructs her body from bones and chains. After a violent encounter with monster hunters, she is rescued by Homily, a compassionate human woman. As their relationship develops, Shesheshen grapples with her instinctual desires and the complexities of human emotions. The novel delves into themes of identity, consent, and the nature of monstrosity.

Wiswell's prose is both darkly humorous and emotionally resonant. Shesheshen's narration offers a fresh perspective, balancing her monstrous instincts with a growing understanding of human nuances. The writing captures the tension between horror elements and tender moments, creating a compelling narrative that challenges traditional genre boundaries.

The relationship between Shesheshen and Homily unfolds with depth and sensitivity. Their bond challenges conventional notions of love, emphasizing emotional connection over physicality. The portrayal of their relationship offers representation for asexual and queerplatonic dynamics, adding richness to the narrative.

The novel doesn't shy away from visceral descriptions, immersing readers in Shesheshen's world. However, these elements are balanced with explorations of trauma, healing, and personal growth. Wiswell presents characters who confront their pasts and seek understanding, making the story both unsettling and heartfelt.

While the novel excels in character development and thematic depth, some readers might find the world-building sparse. Certain plot points rely on convenience, and the pacing occasionally falters. However, these minor issues don't detract significantly from the overall impact of the story.

Someone You Can Build a Nest In is a thought-provoking novel that reimagines the monster narrative through a lens of empathy and introspection. It's a tale that challenges readers to reconsider definitions of love, identity, and humanity.

For those seeking a story that blends horror with heart, this novel is a commendable choice.

Have you read this one yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts on monster romances that break the mold.

Drop your favourites in the comments—or let me know if this one just landed on your TBR!

19 Jul 2024

Interview with Jill Baguchinsky, author of SO WITCHES WE BECAME!

Jamie @ Books and Ladders 19 July 0 Comments

I am thrilled to be hosting Jill Baguchinsky today for an interview about her young adult queer-feminist thriller, SO WITCHES WE BECAME.

SO WITCHES WE BECAME

Author: Jill Baguchinsky

Series: N/A
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 23, 2024

Representation: queer characters

Summary:

Step into your witchy power or be swallowed by the curse– the choice is yours.

A queer, feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist, this ode to female-rage is a perfect pick for fans of She Is a Haunting, and a reminder that if "boys will be boys," girls will fight back.

For high school senior Nell and her friends, a vacation house on a private Florida island sounds like the makings of a dream spring break. But Nell brings secrets with her—secrets that fuse with the island's tragic history, trapping them all with a curse that surrounds the island in a toxic, vengeful mist and the surrounding waters with an unseen, devouring beast.

Getting out alive means risking her friendships, her sanity, and even her own life. In order to save herself and her friends, Nell will have to face memories she'd rather leave behind, reveal the horrific truth behind the encounter that changed her life one year ago, and face the shadow that's haunted her since childhood.

Easier said than done.

But when Nell's friends reveal that they each brought secrets of their own, a solution even more dangerous than the curse begins to take shape.

Reading like a YA feminist spin on Stephen King’s The Mist, So Witches We Became is a diverse, queer horror about female friendship, the emotional aftermath of surviving assault, and how to find power in the shadows of your past.

Purchase*:

Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

(note that these are affiliate links! I receive a small amount of compensation at no cost to you)

Describe SO WITCHES WE BECAME in 15 words or less.

Jill Baguchinsky: Friends trapped by a curse must fight back together or be devoured one by one.

(That was trickier than I was expecting it to be! Haha.)

How do you ensure that the elements you pulled from Stephen King’s The Mist are unique to your novel while still being an homage to the original?

Jill Baguchinsky: As much as I absolutely adore Stephen King, I didn’t actually start out with The Mist in mind when I wrote So Witches We Became. Both stories feature an ominous fog/mist/haze and a deadly mystery lurking within, but the dynamics of a group of teenagers trapped on a Florida island are different from those of a collection of people trapped in a Maine supermarket, so the stories veer off in very different directions. There’s just something absolutely eerie about the idea of a weird mist settling in and hiding who-knows-what, the way it dulls sound and makes landmarks vanish. It’s all so still, so empty, like the world’s been swallowed up by a void. There’s a lot to play with in that.
On a related note, King fans may recognize a bit of inspiration from his short story “The Raft” in So Witches as well. Some of the imagery from that one has stuck with me for decades.

What character arcs in SO WITCHES WE BECAME were particularly rewarding to write?

Jill Baguchinsky: So Witches’ main character, Nell, goes from a quiet, private, somewhat self-conscious girl to a vengeance-seeking badass determined to figure out how to save herself and her friends. She starts off as the “mom friend” of the group, taking care of everyone else, but when she starts standing up for herself instead of always keeping her focus only on others, that’s when things start turning around. I end up as the mom friend in a lot of group situations, too, so I know how easy it can be to focus so much on everyone else that you forget yourself, and how invisible that can make you. Letting Nell acknowledge her past and find her strength was a delight.

What core themes did you explore in SO WITCHES WE BECAME, and why are they important to you?

Jill Baguchinsky: I really wanted to tackle the idea that we’re so often stronger when we support and care for each other, especially when it comes to standing up to some of the ideas society pushes on us. The book deals a lot with the sentiment that “boys will be boys” and how those boys are subsequently not held accountable for some of their actions. I remember being young and hearing, “Oh, that little boy hit you? It’s just because he likes you!” or reading high school dress codes that limited girls’ wardrobe choices based on what would or wouldn’t be distracting to boys, etc. I look back on all that and wonder just what we’re teaching the younger generations – where we’re laying blame, and where we’re making excuses, and why. I wanted my characters to challenge the ideas they’ve internalized and accepted for too long. Sometimes all it takes is for one member of a group to push back – they inspire others to do the same, and suddenly changes start to happen.

How do you keep the element of horror and suspense alive while writing?

Jill Baguchinsky: In So Witches, I played with some horror elements and tropes that scare me personally. For example, one character has a history of sleep paralysis and sees a terrifying shadow creature in her room at night – as a child I experienced something similar, although my personal sleep paralysis visitor was a creepy old woman rather than a living shadow (lucky me!). So Witches also draws a lot of parallels between the group’s predicament on the island and the reality of hurricane prep and tracking, something I know all too well thanks to spending most of my life in Florida. By pulling from situations that spook me in real life, I hope I was able to convey the resulting fear in a realistic and convincing manner.

Can you describe your typical writing routine? Do you have any specific rituals or practices that help you stay productive?

Jill Baguchinsky: I’m very much a pantser when it comes to writing, rather than a plotter. I tend to get really excited about a new idea, obsess over it constantly for a few weeks, and rough out a messy first draft in a short period of time. I throw everything into that mess and see what sticks (and a lot doesn’t!). Then I take that complete dumpster fire of a draft, tear it apart, and start polishing it into something I might actually let someone else read someday. Once I get it to the point where I can bear to let others peek at it, I get feedback from a few trusted beta readers and tear the whole thing apart again based on what does and doesn’t work for them. I used to fear constructive criticism, but over the years I’ve come to realize how valuable other points of view can be. It’s not really possible to objectively judge our own work; we’re too close to it. Someone else might read it and ask, “Okay, but why didn’t this character do this when this happened?” or whatever, and boom, epiphany! I love those “why didn’t I think of that?!?” moments. They’re frustrating, but also fascinating, and SO inspiring.

How do you handle writer’s block or moments of self-doubt?

Jill Baguchinsky: I like to joke that since I’m a Taurus I’m too stubborn to give into such things. If I’m mired in imposter syndrome, it really helps to talk about it with people I trust. I have such brilliant friends accomplishing amazing things, and every one of them seems to doubt themselves, just like I doubt myself. We end up supporting each other and being each other’s cheerleaders. As far as writer’s block goes, my characters are going to babble at me and do their thing whether or not I’m writing it all down, so it’s mostly a matter of getting myself in front of the computer and not letting myself procrastinate too much.

What do you hope readers will take away from SO WITCHES WE BECAME?

Jill Baguchinsky: Without giving too much away, I hope that those who need a story like this find it empowering and satisfying. I also hope it encourages some readers to think about challenging how society sometimes assigns accountability and blame. More than anything, I hope there’s a reader out there who feels seen by this book.

Jill Baguchinsky grew up fluent in darkness and Disney. Born in New York and raised on Marco Island, Florida, Jill spent her time reading way too much Stephen King and dodging more hurricanes than she could count.

(credit J. Baguchinsky)

Jill’s first novel, a lighthearted ghost-hunting story titled SPOOKYGIRL: PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR, won the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for Young Adult Fiction and was published by Dutton Children’s Books in 2012. In her next book, MAMMOTH (Turner 2018), Jill tackled topics like bullying, body image, and the struggle young women often face trying to stand out in male-dominated scientific fields.

“Green Thumb,” Jill’s post-apocalyptic blend of science fiction, horror, and proper succulent care, was chosen by author and guest judge Ken Liu as a winner in Uncharted Magazine’s 2021 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Short Story Award contest, and her Baba Yaga-inspired piece “All Bitterness Burned Away” appeared in the Stoker-nominated women-in-horror anthology INTO THE FOREST: TALES OF THE BABA YAGA from Black Spot Books in late 2022.

In July 2024 Little, Brown and Company will publish Jill’s SO WITCHES WE BECAME, a queer feminist young adult horror novel inspired by female rage and Hurricane Irma. Pitched as THE WICKED DEEP meets Stephen King’s THE MIST, SWWB involves an out-of-control curse that traps a group of friends on a barrier island, forcing them to harness the shared power of their traumatic secrets or risk being devoured.

Jill still lives in Florida, but after one hurricane too many, she and her mini menagerie of rescue animals moved inland. Aside from the manatees she used to watch in her backyard canal, she doesn’t miss much about island life.

Connect with Jill

X (Twitter) | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Have you pre-ordered your copy of SO WITCHES WE BECAME?

If so, fill out this form and email proof of order (a redacted receipt, if you're uncomfortable sharing information on the receipt) to witches.campaign@gmail.com, and Jill will send you some goodies to say thank you!

While supplies last, the SWWB swag pack includes the following:

signed bookplate
cover art postcard print
holographic “hollow but thriving” quote sticker from Tris
set of sketchbook stickers from Harper
holographic cover sticker

In addition, the first 50 people to submit their info will also receive a limited-edition copy of Nell and Harper’s horror zine HERE IN THE SHADOWS.

The zine is a big part of the friendship that’s at the heart of SO WITCHES WE BECAME, and I couldn’t resist bringing an issue to life. In the book, every issue of HERE IN THE SHADOWS features a short horror story by Nell (this one includes “I was Promised a Tooth”) along with artwork by Harper (for this issue Insomniac Illustrations recreated Harper’s style gorgeously!).

Each copy is signed by Nell and Harper, and each is individually numbered and hand-assembled.

Swag is available worldwide while supplies last. Some items (especially the zine and the holo cover sticker) are more limited than others. Requests must be received before July 23, 2024. Items will be mailed after this date (or sooner if Jill has time!). Valid for pre-orders of hardcovers, ebooks, and audiobooks from your bookseller of choice.

Thank you for pre-ordering! And keep fighting back, Team Witches! You’ve got magic in you.

Are you going to pick this one up?

15 Sept 2023

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays: THIS SPELLS DISASTER by Tori Anne Martin (Spotlight)

Jamie @ Books and Ladders 15 September 12 Comments

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays introduces readers who are unfamiliar with the Adult SF/F genre to books, authors, and discussions all about the vast expanse of the world of Adult SF/F!

More of a visual person? Check out Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays on Instagram!

THIS SPELLS DISASTER

Author: Tori Anne Martin

Series: N/A

Source: eARC via publisher

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Publication Date: September 12, 2023

Representation: lesbian

Summary:

Fake dating gets a magical twist in this enchanting queer romantic comedy where a witch worries that the real feelings brewing between her and her crush were sparked by an accidental love potion, and the only way out of the disastrous spell is a healthy dose of the truth--drink up, witches.

Potion maker and self-proclaimed "messy witch" Morgan Greenwood is sure she was hexed at birth. Not only did she drunkenly offer to fake date the woman of her dreams during the biennial New England Witches' festival, but Rory Sandler, spellcasting champion and brilliant elemental witch--for reasons known only to the Goddess--accepted. It's like every good luck spell Morgan ever cast came through at once, and it doesn't take a crystal ball to predict this charade will end with a broken heart.

Or is the magic between them real? As Morgan and Rory prepare to fool everyone at the festival, their relationship starts to feel a whole lot less fake--right until Morgan realizes she might have screwed up the common relaxation potion she made for Rory and given her a love potion instead, breaking one of the most sacred Witch Council Laws.

To fulfill her promise to Rory, Morgan must somehow keep playing pretend while under the watchful eyes of Rory's family and legion of fans. But to break the love potion, she'll also have to prove how incompatible she and Rory really are. For a screwup like her, ruining their relationship should be easy--except every day, Morgan is becoming more bewitched by Rory herself.

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters

Have you read this series? What was your favourite part?

27 Jul 2023

We Can(ada) Read: SCARBOROUGH by Catherine Hernandez

Jamie @ Books and Ladders 27 July 0 Comments

We Can(ada) Read is by Canadians for EVERYONE to learn more about some amazing Canadian authors!

Learn more about We Can(ada) Read!

SCARBOROUGH

Author: Catherine Hernandez

Series: N/A
Source: Audible
Publisher: Audible Studios
Publication Date: April 24, 2018

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:
Representation: queer, Filipino, Black, West Indian, Muslim, socio-economic struggles

Summary:

City of Toronto Book Award finalist Scarborough is a low-income, culturally diverse neighborhood east of Toronto, the fourth largest city in North America; like many inner city communities, it suffers under the weight of poverty, drugs, crime, and urban blight.

Scarborough the novel employs a multitude of voices to tell the story of a tight-knit neighborhood under among them, Victor, a black artist harassed by the police; Winsum, a West Indian restaurant owner struggling to keep it together; and Hina, a Muslim school worker who witnesses first-hand the impact of poverty on education. And then there are the three kids who work to rise above a system that consistently fails Bing, a gay Filipino boy who lives under the shadow of his father's mental illness; Sylvie, Bing's best friend, a Native girl whose family struggles to find a permanent home to live in; and Laura, whose history of neglect by her mother is destined to repeat itself with her father.

Scarborough offers a raw yet empathetic glimpse into a troubled community that locates its dignity in unexpected a neighborhood that refuses to be undone.

Catherine Hernandez is a queer theatre practitioner and writer who has lived in Scarborough off and on for most of her life. Her plays Singkil and Kilt Pins were published by Playwrights Canada Press, and her children's book M is for A Pride ABC Book was published by Flamingo Rampant. She is the Artistic Director of Sulong Theatre for women of color.

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters

Content Warning: hate crimes, poverty, child neglect, racism, drug use (mentioned), crime, homophobia

Even if you've never been to Scarborough, you should read this book. The city of Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but Scarborough (the book and the city) paints a different picture of what that means. Scarborough is an ethnically diverse, lower-income suburb east of Toronto.

There’s a lot of different people, stories, and perspectives that are used in this book, which does make it a bit more difficult to follow along. We have Laura, a quiet girl whose mother abandons her and now she lives with her angry, racist father, Cory, a former skinhead and gang member. We also have Bing, a queer, overweight Filipino boy who lives with his mother Edna, after they’ve left Bing’s mentally ill father downtown alongside Bing’s best friend, Sylvie, an Indigenous girl who lives in a shelter with her mother, Marie, and her brother, Johnny, who’s got some undiagnosed condition.

Initially, it’s a little hard to keep track of all these people. But Hernandez uses a savvy structural device. She lets us read email reports by Hina Hassani, the literacy program’s young facilitator, to her supervisor. In these missives, Hina comments on the children in her care (and their parents), and so we get to see these people and their actions from different perspectives.

We also get to see Hina struggling with the bureaucratic stonewalling by her patronizing, passive aggressive supervisor, who signs off her emails with an increasingly annoying Oprah Winfrey quote (“Reading is a way for me to expand my mind, open my eyes, and fill up my heart.”)

In addition, we get to see very brief glimpses of others: a woman who works in a neighbouring massage parlour; another denizen of the shelter; a mother and son associated with a Caribbean restaurant who one day, after their refrigerator breaks down, give out free chicken to a desperately hungry Cory and Laura. And then there’s Victor, a talented Black visual artist who’s commissioned by the city to illustrate a bridge when he gets stopped by the police and brutally interrogated.

Hernandez has control over most of her narrative threads, stitching together a sturdy patchwork quilt of a tale. The passages involving Bing and his mother, who works in a nail salon, feel a bit more vivid and detailed than the others, particularly with Tagalog expressions. But Hernandez doesn’t hold back in letting us see, for instance, life through the angry, embittered eyes of Cory, with all his sad and pathetic contradictions.

By the halfway mark we’re involved in all the characters’ struggles and minor triumphs. It’s not a coincidence that the final word in the novel is “home.” Scarborough honours these real, often marginalized people, by depicting their home with truth and compassion.

Let’s hope schools and libraries – in Scarborough and beyond – promote this book. Can’t wait to see what the talented Hernandez writes next.

Are you going to pick this up?

22 Apr 2022

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays: Queer 2022 Releases I'm Excited For!

Jamie @ Books and Ladders 22 April 2 Comments

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays introduces readers who are unfamiliar with the Adult SF/F genre to books, authors, and discussions all about the vast expanse of the world of Adult SF/F!

More of a visual person? Check out Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays on Instagram!

Today's post is all about upcoming queer adult sff releases that I'm really excited for! Shoutout to Crini for always compiling great lists with specifics and you can check out their post here.

The books I feature below have a main character who is somewhere along the 2SLGBTIAQ+ spectrum. The story isn't necessarily about being queer but has a character who lives their life as a queer person.

Let me know what books you're excited for below!

21 Sept 2021

Top Ten Tuesday (22): Top Ten Books on My Fall 2021 To-Read List

Jamie @ Books and Ladders 21 September 1 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. See all the posts every week by clicking on the link to read their blog!

I'm a week behind because I had a blog tour last week but I thought I'd share what's on my to-read pile!

Today's post is all about the books I want to read during this fall season. I have a bunch of books I want to get through before the end of the year, so here's what I have on my TBR!

I don't really like spooky or horror books so I tend to not have too many of them on my TBR ever, but especially not during the spooky season!