#ya historical fiction

[sapphicbookoftheday]

Reader, I Murdered Him by Betsy Cornwell

Today's sapphic book of the day is Reader, I Murdered Him by Betsy Cornwell!

Summary: "In this daring tale of female agency and revenge from a New York Times bestselling author, a girl becomes a teenage vigilante who roams Victorian England using her privilege and power to punish her friends' abusive suitors and keep other young women safe.

Adele grew up in the shadows--first watching from backstage at her mother's Parisian dance halls, then wandering around the gloomy, haunted rooms of her father's manor. When she's finally sent away to boarding school in London, she's happy to enter the brightly lit world of society girls and their wealthy suitors.

Yet there are shadows there, too. Many of the men that try to charm Adele's new friends do so with dark intentions. After a violent assault, she turns to a roguish young con woman for help. Together, they become vigilantes meting out justice. But can Adele save herself from the same fate as those she protects?

With a queer romance at its heart, this lush historical thriller offers readers an irresistible mix of vengeance and empowerment."

#bisexual #queer #sapphic #wlw #lgbtqia #lgbtq #lgbt #books #book recs #book recommendations #booklr #ya #ya books #young adult #young adult books #historical fiction #historical #ya historical fiction #reader i murdered him #betsy cornwell

[wizardteampod]

#WizardTeam is on hiatus but we've got a NEW bonus episode! We're so excited to have @brittanyacts on to talk about her upcoming sequel to THAT SELF-SAME METAL, SAINT-SEDUCING GOLD! Listen now and make sure to preorder/buy the book, which drops next Tuesday ✨

#saint-seducing gold #forge and fracture saga #that self-same metal #ya fantasy #ya historical fiction #shakespeare remix #black authors #wizardteam #podcasts #black podcasters

[litwitlady]

This was a super fun YA retelling of Treasure Island. Set in China during the 1800s with a Sapphic romance at the center.

#2024 books #ya historical fiction

[brittanyacts]

16-year-old Joan Sands only wants to use her metalsmithing magic to make swords and choreograph fights for William Shakespeare's acting company, but when malevolent fae threaten London she discovers she's one of the few people who can protect her city.

That Self-Same Metal (Book 1 in the Forge & Fracture Saga) and Saint-Seducing Gold (Book 2 in the Forge & Fracture Saga)

#the pen is mightier #ya fantasy #ya historical fiction #historical fantasy #new books #forge and fracture saga #tropes #black books #black authors #shakespeare remixed #shakespeare #fucking up fae in shakespearean london #tons of chaotic bisexuals

[abigail-abridged-summaries]

Lily had played the part of a shepherd once in the Christmas tableau, when she was about nine or ten. She had been the only girl to play a shepherd, and in fact she had argued her way into the role, Shirley had been cast as Mary and that was the only role for a girl. She remembered saying to the Sunday school teacher: "It's not fair if Shirley's the only girl in the play!" The teacher relented and told her that she could be a shepherdess, but Lily insisted that she was a shepherd, just like the boys. She had been so proud.

Now she wondered, a bit tensely, if it had meant something. Had Kath also played a shepherd in her church's pageant?

#last night at the telegraph club #malinda lo #ya books #book quotes #ya lgbt book #ya historical fiction #bookworm #books #books and libraries

[mercerislandbooks]

Book Notes: A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic

My reading in the first quarter of this year has had an inadvertent theme of suffragists and polar exploration. I haven’t gone out searching for them; these books keep finding me. Which was made all the more obvious when I picked up Yi Shun Lai’s YA historical, A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic.

Clara Kettering-Dunbar is 18 years old and the sole female in a British expedition to the Antarctic in the close of the year 1914. An American veteran of the suffrage movement in Britain, posing as a Canadian, Clara knows she is already pushing the boundaries of what women are societally expected to do. She does have supporters amongst the expedition crew, namely the captain, but just as many who expect her to fail. It will take all of Clara’s strength of will, and an ability to reach beyond her own well-earned beliefs, to see the lessons to be learned from the Antarctic and from her fellow crew.

The account is told as journal entries, and Clara lays bare not only her various experiences, but also her unvarnished feelings in these circumstances. She slowly reveals her unconventional upbringing, her complicated parents, and how she became involved in the suffrage movement. In all that she faces, Clara boldly stands up for her beliefs. Despite coming up against unrelenting misogyny from certain members of the crew, she will not relent in demonstrating her fitness to be part of the team. And then there’s the cold. I could feel it in my bones reading about all the many layers Clara puts on to keep herself warm, and the constant juggling required to keep the crew marginally protected and fed. Let’s just say that the Antarctic is something I’d much rather read about than actually experience. If you’re looking for a YA historical (that’s not World War II) taking on an unexpected pocket of history, give A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic a try!

And if you’d like to meet the author in person, you’re in luck! We’re happy to welcome Yi Shun Lai to Island Books on Saturday, April 6th at 4:30pm. She’ll be in conversation with Justina Chen, and it’s sure to be a fascinating talk. We look forward to seeing you!

— Lori

#island books #lori robinson #Yi shun lai #A suffragist’s guide to the antarctic #ya historical fiction #justina chen #author event

[maepolzine]

My Thoughts on Foul Heart Huntsman (Foul Lady Fortune, Book 2) by Chloe Gong

Sharing my thoughts on the final book in the Foul Lady Fortune duology (Foul Heart Huntsman) by Chloe Gong

Foul Heart Huntsman is the final book in the Foul Lady Fortune duology by Chloe Gong inspired by Shakespeare’s play As You Like It, which is a story about Rosalind, Oliver, Orlando (changed to Orion in this series), and Celia. In the original play, everyone ends up married. Oliver to Celia, Rosalind to Orlando, and Phoebe to Silvius (changed to Silas in this series). As I mentioned in my previous…

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#asian historical fiction #book #book review #chloe gong #fantasy #foul heart huntsman #Foul Lady Fortune #historical fantasy #historical fiction #Review #shakespeare #YA #ya historical fiction #young adult

[bekah-reading]

33/120

5/5

SPOILERS

I really enjoyed this installation of this series. Reading this made me really wish that the rest of the books gave glimpses of Thomas’s POV. This was such a needed book- it showed the consequences of Audrey Rose’s interest in Mephistopheles during Escape from Houdini. It also showed a really sweet and fun moment with Thomas, Audrey, and Liza. I really hope that Capturing the Devil shows a follow up to Thomas’s proposal and I really want Daci back! I hope she shows up because of his letter to her.

#booklr #booktok #reading #2023 reading #ya historical fiction #stalking jack the ripper #kerri maniscalco #Becoming the Dark Prince

[annafromuni]

Divine Rivals is a Dream of a Read

I know, given how popular this book is on social media platforms, that you’ve heard all about it. You probably have had this on your TBR since the first week it popped up. I won’t take up too much of your time, but perhaps I can give you a dose of realism to take onboard with Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. It won’t be a downer or a spoiler – simply, a thing to remember as you’re reading it. You…

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#divine rivals #rebecca ross #iris winnow #roman kitt #enchanted typewriters #academic rivals #ya fantasy #ya historical fiction #popular on booktok #popular on bookstagram #popular ya fantasy #ruthless vows #book review

[mccoppinscrapyard]

Read in 2021:

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee

“All around me, my friends are talking, joking, laughing. Outside is the camp, the barbed wire, the guard towers, the city, the country that hates us. We are not free. But we are not alone.”

#litedit #we are not free #traci chee #yalitedit #ownvoices books #diverse books #young adult literature #historical fiction #ya historical fiction #literature #book aesthetic #1940s #japanese american #books #my edit #mystuff #books2021 #read in 2021 #the center photo is at manzanar (one of the many incarceration camps) and the bottom right is the 'going for broke' nisei regiment

[jannianni]

I’ll Tell You No Lies by Amanda McCrina - a 5/5 Star Review!

Shelby Blaine is the daughter of an intelligence officer that moved her overseas to America immediately following the sudden death of her mother.  Mostly alone in a new country she quickly finds friends - and trouble.  The plot thickens with adventure and deception keeping readers hanging on for the many twists and turns in this wild ride.

I would not consider myself a big fan of historical fiction, however, this book is an exceptional tale inspired by MIG pilots from the Cold War.  The pace of the story was so fast that the details of the war and the previous war (WWII) fit in seamlessly.  I liked the chemistry between Shelby and Maksym with there not being any doubt that Shelby could help Maksym despite her age.  They both struggled with their respective grief at a young age yet found strength and persisted.   I thought their romance added to their innocence and humanity.

I would recommend this book for fans of historical fiction.  The YA label is appropriate as the romance only goes so far as kissing.   At the time of this review, this book is set to be published on August 1, 2023.  

#Historical Fiction #YA Historical Fiction #YA #I'll Tell You No Lies #5 Star Review #Cold War #Amanda McCrina #Netgalley #ARC

[sapphicbookoftheday]

Nothing Sung and Nothing Spoken by Nita Tyndall

Today's sapphic book of the day is Nothing Sung and Nothing Spoken by Nita Tyndall!

Summary: "Berlin, 1938

It is the summer before World War II begins, but Charlotte Kraus doesn’t know it yet. All she knows is the zing of electricity she feels every time her best friend, Angelika Haas, grabs her hand. Charlie would follow Geli anywhere—which is how she finds herself at an underground club one Friday night, dancing to contraband American jazz and swing music, suddenly feeling that anything might be possible.

Under the oppressive shadow of the Nazi regime, returning to the club is a risk. But Charlie does, unable to resist the allure of sharing a secret with the girl she can’t stop thinking about, or the thrill of disobeying the Party’s rules. Soon the Swingjugend movement becomes more than a simple escape. It’s a place where Charlie and her friends find acceptance, freedom, and camaraderie among others who are determined not to sit on the sidelines of history.

Increasingly terrified by the tightening vise of Hitler’s power, Charlie is drawn to larger and larger acts of resistance—even as Geli, the daughter of a senior Party officer, begins to pull away. But resisting the Nazis is a dangerous proposition, and the war will test what Charlie is willing to risk at the expense of her family, her friends, and the girl she loves."

#sapphic #wlw #queer #lgbtqia #lgbtq #lgbt #books #book recs #book recommendations #booklr #ya #ya books #young adult #young adult books #historical fiction #historical #ya historical fiction #nothing sung and nothing spoken #nita tyndall

[qbdatabase]

By day Eustaquia “Kiki” de Sonza and Ana Lezama de Urinza are proper young seventeeth century ladies. But when night falls, they trade in their silks and lace for swords and muskets, venturing out into the vibrant, bustling, crime-ridden streets of Potosí, in the Spanish Empire’s Viceroyalty of Peru. They pass their time fighting, gambling, and falling desperately in love with one another.

Then, on the night Kiki’s engagement to the Viceroy’s son is announced, her older brother―heir to her family’s fortune―is murdered. The girls immediately embark on a whirlwind investigation that takes them from the lowliest brothels of Potosí to the highest echelons of the Spanish aristocracy.

#YA #historical fiction #YA historical fiction #Spanish rep #Peruvian rep #wlw #wlw rep #biracial rep #Dutch rep #indigenous rep #lesbian #lesbian rep #alt history #action #latinx rep #superheroes #setting: peru #time period: 1600s #daily book #fiction #lgbt fiction #lgbtqia #bookblr #Valiant Ladies #Melissa Grey

[brightbeautifulthings]

Forgotten YA Gems is now on Discord! Join us for discussions!

We’re a Goodreads/Discord group that reads YA, NA, or MG books that are at least five years old. While not necessarily “forgotten” (as many of them have lovely fanbases here on Tumblr), we focus on backlist books that aren’t getting the same attention as new releases. Feel free to join us to vote on monthly reads, participate in challenges, and talk about books!

This month's reads are Bone Gap by Laura Ruby, The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic, and How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.

Have you read them? Are they on your TBR? What did you think?

#bone gap #laura ruby #the foxhole court #nora sakavic #how i live now #meg rosoff #all for the game #young adult fiction #ya contemporary #ya historical fiction #ya paranormal #forgotten ya gems #goodreads #goodreads groups #discord book club #backlist books #discussion post #booklr

[noveltyreads]

A Million To One by Adiba Jaigirdar Book Review

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

When someone mentioned the words "heist" and "the Titanic" in the same sentence, I just knew I had to read A Million to One.

I was immediately drawn to the premise. Having read this author's debut, The Henna Wars and having enjoying that, I was sure this book would be a delight. You should've seen me when I got the e-galley copy, I was over the moon and excited to start reading. 

Unfortunately, this seemed to be a case where the concept didn't match up with the execution. 

The book follows four girls, con artist and leader of the group, Josefa, circus performer, Hinnah, actress, Violet and aspiring artist, Emilie who board the Titanic to steal a rare and priceless book, The Rubaiyat from one of the First Class passengers. I was expecting a fast paced novel, high stakes and a slow romantic build up (since I knew there would be a sapphic pairing months before reading). But unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations. 

For starters, I had a few issues connecting with the characters. With Josefa, from the very start she annoyed me for some reason, and the way she was trying to get the girls to join her on her heist for the Rubaiyat just irked me. If you're trying to get someone to join you on a dangerous mission, especially when two of the said people joining you, you've never really talked to before, please sell their part in the mission as more than just "we need you, I've seen the work you do, there is nobody else in the world who can do [blank] as well as you can!" I don't know... if I were those girls I think I would've refused straight away. It takes a lot of trust and loyalty to a person to literally put your life on the line for them and for them to do so, and so willingly for someone they could classify as a stranger didn't really make sense to me. Even though the backstories were revealed as to why they were willing to go on this heist, to me, it didn't seem justifiable enough, especially for some of the other characters.

 

I didn't mind Hinnah and Emilie's characters but I still didn't feel connected to them despite the elaborate backstories about their personal lives. Violet was probably the character I connected to the most and even that is a far stretch. She had a brother she left in Croatia who she was trying to help and support as much as she could and I could see that desperate love in every chapter in which she mentioned Marko. But that being said, there were a few parts to her character that I didn't understand. She seemed to be very prickly towards Emilie for no real reason and it seemed like a petty sort of hatred, kind of like the two girls were pitted against each other for no other reason than dramatic purpose. At one point I thought how cool it would be if Violet and Emilie ended up in a relationship together as an enemies-to-lovers/grumpy-sunshine couple, having to work together against all odds to steal the Rubaiyat. The drama would've made more sense then, but unfortunately no reasoning apart from an annoyance at having an amateur con artist to help execute the heist, was used to justify Violet's unfair treatment towards Emilie. 

Being a high stakes book featuring a heist, I would've expected the book to have been quite fast paced and action packed. The book however, followed a rhythm which looked something like 200 pages being on developing the characters and letting the reader in to their backstories and the last 74 pages being fast paced as the plot (and Titanic's unfortunate fate) played out which arguably was the most adrenaline filled part. I wished the high stakes and suspense of whether their plan would succeed or fail was continued throughout the entire book because by the time the book picked up the pacing, I just wasn't interested anymore. Because the start of the book fell so flat, I found I wasn't as emotionally invested in August's pursuit of the girls and the ultimate fate of their heist and their lives. When the ending occurred, while it was sad, I was so disinterested that the emotional aspects of the books didn't pack an emotional punch as much as I would've liked. 

Now onto the romance. I felt like it was rushed. The two girls wanted to get to know each other and they already had some feelings developed before the events of the book, but the romance felt incredibly surface level without a desired build up of chemistry or romantic tension which I hungered for. I must admit though, the epilogue was very cute and it actually was the best part by far of the entire book. 

The other aspect of note was that I never felt truly transported to the world of 1912 Ireland and the Titanic. The setting was never really prominent not when the girls were still living in their Irish boarding house nor when they were on the Titanic among more wealth than they have ever seen in their lives. Considering these girls came from poverty and from the poorer areas of Ireland, I would've expected more emphasis on the decadence of the Titanic to create this sort of fantasy-like dream of a ship, but that historical allure was barely there at all and I felt the remnants of a missed opportunity here. 

All in all, I really wanted to love this book, it was a hotly anticipated novel for me but it unfortunately fell flat a bit with the pacing, romance, characters and setting. I do see a lot of things other readers may like, after all, a book sometimes isn't for everyone. Sadly, that is the case with me and A Million to One.

ACTUAL RATING: 2 STARS 

#titanic #the henna wars #adiba jaigirdar #a million to one #lesbian #sapphic #ya romance #romance #ya #young adult #ya contemporary #ya historical fiction #historical fiction #1912 #jack dawson #rose dewitt bukater #titanic movie #James cameron #bibliophile #book addict #bookaholic #book obsessed #bookstagram #booklr #book review #book reviewer #book photography #the ship sinks #new books #currently reading

[abigail-abridged-summaries]

"No," Kath said, stepping closer to her, still holding Lily's hand. "You're not stupid. Do you ... do you have feelings for her?" Kath whispered.

"For Tommy?" Lily wanted to laugh, but she had started to cry and her laughter came out of her in a choked sob. "No, I have feelings for you." Her words came out too loud—they seemed to reverberate in the empty street, and she forced her voice into a whisper as she said, "Everybody can tell. Even Tommy! I'm so stupid. So stupid."

Kath exhaled in a startled burst.

#last night at the telegraph club #malinda lo #ya books #book quotes #ya lgbt book #ya historical fiction #bookworm #books #books and libraries