Book Blurbs
Short highlights of books Jay loves that they’ve made as shelf-talkers during their time as a bookseller.
A trans violinist unknowingly makes a deal with a demon, an alien lesbian donut shop owner falls in love with an earthling, and the author intentionally insults Elon Musk. Need I say more? Well, I will. It’s the perfect blend of sci-fi, fantasy, romance, and NOT burying your gays!
Light from Uncommon Stars
Ryka Aoki
Did you watch Mulan as a child and wish it had even more badass feminism and tradition breaking? Meet Zetian, the feral femme fatale we’ve been waiting for since Katniss Everdeen. It’s gay sci-fi, it’s alternate Chinese history, and it’s your next favorite read.
Iron Widow
Xiran Jay Zhao
YA indigenous dystopian fiction, a queer father figure, and a dash of teenage romance at the end of the world. Or is it just the beginning? Our dreams are what give us hope, and no one can truly take that away from us.
The Marrow Thieves
Cherie Dimaline
Did I buy this book because it’s about a fae toad? Maybe. Because it has a drawing of a toad for the chapter headings? Yes. Did I actually continue to read it because it’s a fairytale retelling with diverse religious representation? Absolutely.
Thornhedge
T. Kingfisher
Fans of Remarkably Bright Creatures, rejoice! Struggling to get a birdwatcher in your life to read fiction? This book is for them, too. Set in the early 2000s on a remote lake between Oregon and Washington, an ornithology student finds the mute 5-year-old son of an Irish musician and professor in her cabin. A story of female friendship and healing nature.
Crow Talk
Eileen Garvin
The only complaint I’ve heard about this book is that it’s TOO cozy. Is there even such a thing? How could one go wrong with a party made up of a small fortune teller, traveling baker, bandit turned poet, and recovering thief? Also, this book may or may not contain the origin of the fortune cookie.
The Teller of Small Fortunes
Julie Leong