Summaries of my Sapphic Stuff Your Kindle Day picks

[vintagewitch]

 Ok, so I stuffed my kindle with a bunch of those sapphic books the other week, and I kind of want to share more about them. I also want to make a bit of an archive of the books I picked, and maybe encourage some others to read them alongside me. This post will also serve as a bit of a reference for me, so that I can find these summaries later if the original blog post on YearOfQueerLit.com goes down/is taken down now that SSYKD is over.

The Books: 

Title: Heart and Soul of the Wolf
Author: Ariana Jade
Summary:

Mayu is equal parts lucky and unlucky.

 

As one of the few people with a wolf soul, she was chosen to go on a sacred quest to retrieve the Winter Stone. It’s a long dangerous journey but she doesn’t have to undertake it alone. Her best friend since childhood, Konomi, is accompanying her.

 

As much as Mayu loves having someone by her side, she’s also desperately in love with Konomi and to make matters worse, she’s her sister-in-law.

 

Will this journey be one of love or heartbreak?

Title: A Sharper, More Lasting Pain
Author: Alex Harvey-Rivas
Summary: 

After their girlfriend's best friend is wounded in a monster attack, Simone Allard stumbles across a plot much deeper than they anticipated. As they work to find a cure to their own forming illness and find out the truth, one question remains: how was Nadia involved in this?

Nadia DuPont doesn't know how much time she has or even what is ailing her, but it all gets more complex after meeting Simone on a field trip. As they both work to find a cure to her ailment, all Nadia is certain of is she's on the path to ruin.

Title: A Sin So Pure
Author: G.B. Bancroft
Summary: 

Nora is a soul-stealer, one of the few fae who can kill with just a touch. Taken in by the leader of House Pride after her parents' murder, Nora’s been groomed into the perfect weapon: a killer who can lead.

 

And when the opportunity to seize power from her manipulative adoptive father arises… well, she’s not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

 

A year later, Nora and her Second, Josie, are ready to expand House Pride’s influence in both the Unseelie Court and the Human Realm. Nothing will stand in their way—except for the person attacking their House. Nora is no stranger to bloodshed, but this isn’t a run-of-the-mill raid by exiled fae; this attack is personal, mirroring the tragic night her parents died.

 

Nora vows to find the fae responsible, but soon realizes that the closer she gets to the culprit, the more she risks revealing a secret that could ruin everything she’s built: her House, her title, and the love she’s been cultivating with the leader of House Lust, Imogen.

 

But the thing about Nora is that no one threatens her family and lives—and there’s no sin quite as sweet as revenge.

Title: The Intimate Beginnings of Taylor
Author: Lavender Quinn
Summary: 

When Taylor pauses her acting dreams to explore life as a single, bisexual college student, she never expects trouble to follow.

 

But old rivalries never die and Taylor learns it’s not always the jealous co-star you have to worry about. Sometimes, it’s her girlfriend.

 

Gabriella, the girlfriend of Taylor’s arch nemesis, is a master at sabotaging the prospects of young actors, especially those deemed a threat to her girlfriend’s career. With Taylor’s most intimate secrets at Gabriella’s disposal, Taylor battles two enemies simultaneously, while living out her darkest fantasies anonymously, to maintain her pristine reputation.

 

With the stage now abandoned for the war they rage behind the velvet curtain, Taylor and Gabriella race against time to secure their freedoms, at the risk of exposing the one secret that may destroy them both.

Title: Sister Leigh Love
Author: Hadiya Hayes
Summary: 

There's not much of a summary to this one! I grabbed it specifically because it was sapphic omegaverse, which I've never read so I thought that was interesting.

Title: Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves
Author: Morgan Dante
Summary: 

Noémie, a dishonored and widowed noblewoman in early 17th century Hungary, finds herself in an unenviable position: After grievous trauma and loss, her last chance to regain her honor comes when she must serve as Lady Erzsébet Báthory’s handmaiden. Báthory is stoic and imperious, and as Noémie struggles to acclimate and accept her present and future, she begins to have dreams about a mysterious woman. Worse, there are stories of disappearances and deaths in the castle, and Noémie might be next.

Title: A Midnight So Deadly
Author: Wren Handman
Summary: 

Maeve and Peri are ‘dreamers,’ creators who record their dreams and publish them to the delight of their fans. When Maeve dreams of the murder of her friend's abusive ex—and then he's killed in the real world—her ‘dream’ job becomes terrifying. At the same time, Peri is losing their grip on reality as they search for a woman who keeps appearing in their dreams. Who is this enticing stranger? How does she keep finding Peri, night after night? And what will it cost to hunt her down?

 

To find the answers to their questions, Maeve and Peri will first have to find each other. As their dreams begin to bleed into the real world, and the borders between reality and illusion come unstuck, reality itself faces deadly collapse.

Title: Chrysalis and Requiem
Author: Quinton Li
Summary: 

At Adraredon Academy, fervent passion, contemporary companionship, and forbidden desires intertwine with tall gothic spires, ancient halls, and centuries of history. Veaer Rosell can't imagine a better place to satiate her craving for beauty, knowledge, and art.

 

Yet senior year shatters her illusion of tranquillity and civil intellect when she witnesses the headmaster's daughter murder another student and is confronted by an unthinkable choice: avenging her fallen peer or taking this secret to the grave, one way or another.

 

But fate laughs at Veaer's expense when the headmaster's daughter requests her aid. Driven by an all-consuming thirst for answers, Veaer becomes an untimely partner in solving a murder they both know the answer to, unaware of the intricacies that come with learning the bigger picture and playing with death.

Title: The Flourishing 
Author: Merlina Garance
Summary: 

Book 1 of the Leicester Trilogy

When Andy Campbell, Detective Inspector in Leicester, gets assigned the case of Mr Parry’s disappearance, she expects to find nothing else than an umpteenth marriage ruined by a husband taking off with his mistress.

 

Instead, she ends up investigating a murder case, and struggling to fight her attraction for the wife of the missing man. When she realises the feelings are mutual, things definitely get complicated…

Note: It looks like book 2 of the trilogy is M/M, which is why it wasn't a part of Sapphic Stuff Your Kindle Day
 

Title: Mending Bones
Author: Merlina Garance
Summary:

Book 3 of the Leicester Trilogy

Claire, a Detective Inspector in her late forties, has known and worked with Estelle for many years. Ever since they met, it felt like there could have been something more there: Estelle's gentle flirting and compliments have been a constant in Claire's life, but her self confidence never allowed her to truly believe the other woman meant anything by it.

 

Until one day, Claire breaks her leg and finds out soon after that Estelle has decided to retire from the police, at only 56. Something doesn't feel right there, but before Claire can begin to ask more questions, Estelle offers to take her away to her seaside cottage for a week. After all, with Claire on sick leave and Estelle retired, they both have the time.

 

Surely a week of lazy mornings, too much food and wine, and walks through the countryside aren't enough to make Claire fall when she’s resisted for so long?

Title: In The Pines
Author: Mariah Stillbrook
Summary: 

Two witches, two secrets, and a curse that could tear a family apart.

 

Olivia and Ellie have lived their lives knowing a dark entity is stalking their family, determined to kill them all. After the death of Olivia’s son, she abandons her magic and her family, leaving Ellie in a nightmare of heartbreak, her marriage crumbling and her sister gone. Determined to save their mother Arianna from a spell that left her comatose, the two sisters must come together to unravel the riddle of the curse that has haunted their family for generations.

 

But as they delve into the past, the truth they uncover is more twisted and treacherous than they ever could have imagined. Will they be able to break the curse, or will it consume them all?

Title: Dark Haven
Author: Brey Willows
Summary: 

Even vampires get tired of playing with their food…
 

Running an off-grid community for vampires is serious business, and Remy Winslow gives it her all. Weary of the world and its noise, she’s content to live at Dark Haven and away from the public eye after all the work she did to help vampires come into the light, so to speak, so humans and vampires could live side by side. The last thing Remy needs is more press, but that’s exactly what she gets when Sage comes to Dark Haven.
 

Internet influencer and all around positivity pusher, Sage Samara can’t wait to chat up all the vampires available at the Vampire News Conference, and then after, during her stay at the mysterious Dark Haven ranch. And when she sees Remy looking utterly hot and powerful, she’s even more buzzed. Sure, she’s a human among vampires, but they totally don’t act that way anymore…right?
 

Disaster signals a swift change in politics, and then vampires start going feral. Between keeping Sage from being someone’s meal and trying to stop a war between species, Remy is too busy for the long dead emotions Sage is bringing back to life.
 

When a traitor threatens everything they’ve built, Remy may have no choice but to do the unthinkable.

Title: Women Are From Venus
Author: CR James
Summary: 

Book 1 of Earth United Chronicles

300 years in the future, the Milky Way is governed by the Republic of Earth United. Humanity has expanded its reach, colonizing planets across the Galaxy in search of extraterrestrial life. Among these celestial bodies lies the Venus Militia Academy, an esteemed all-girls facility where Reyna, driven by her mother's legacy, trains to become an officer.

 

Reyna's unwavering determination propels her towards matching her mother's exceptional achievements at the Venus Academy. Excelling in every course, her sole hurdle lies in mastering anti-gravity training. Everything is thrown into a black hole when a trailblazing, openly gay woman, ascends to a leadership position within the academy, Reyna's perspective undergoes a profound transformation. She becomes acutely aware of the confines imposed by societal norms and deep dives into her beliefs as she grows closer to her commander, Dan'Trell.

 

Caught in the tempest of self-discovery, Reyna grapples with her shaken identity and burgeoning desires. As she undertakes arduous trials to graduate as an Officer, she not only vies for the top spot but also unravels her feelings for Dan'Trell—a married woman.

 

Confronted with an arduous choice, Reyna stands at a crossroads between staying true to her moral compass or embracing the depths of her heart's yearnings. The weight of her decision reverberates far beyond her personal journey, potentially shaping the future of LGBTQ individuals throughout the Galaxy. Can she resist the allure of her desires, or will she become the catalyst that jeopardizes the hard-won progress of acceptance within the queer community in space?

Title: Jupiter's Rising
Author: CR James
Summary: 

Book 2 of Earth United Chronicles

Unleashed. Confronted. Destined for Battle.

 

Reyna, trapped and forsaken, delves into her hidden depths, uncovering a newfound identity, an enigmatic lineage, and extraordinary powers. In a relentless dance between prisons, she awakens to the mysteries of an otherworldly reality and the profound legacies of her ancestors.

 

With each revelation, the shadows of history deepen, casting an ominous pall over the cosmos. Saturn, Jupiter's ravaged sister, teeters on the edge of annihilation at the hands of a fallen monarchy. As Reyna's latent gifts surge forth, a sinister plot to extinguish her life unfurls.

 

Yet, amid the chaos and turmoil, Reyna's heart remains shattered, burdened by the weight of a not-so-distant past. Daily, she's tested to embrace the love of her indomitable warrior, Jones, who stands by her side through the darkest of her trials.

 

Can Reyna harness her burgeoning powers in time to unravel the secrets that bind her destiny? Will she defy the encroaching darkness, mend her shattered heart, and save two worlds from impending doom? Amidst the impending storm, the Rising Jupiter must find the strength to endure, triumph, and discover the transformative power of love.

Title: The Blight of Blackridge
Author: RP Dunwater
Summary: 

All Eleanor Payne wants is to live her life in peace. But a war between the gods has cracked the world in two, and the Payne family pledged to the losing side. The village of Blackridge has labeled them traitors. They’ve fallen far from grace and lost nearly everything. With her mother desperate to convert to preserve the little they have left and her great-grandmother forbidding it, Eleanor has no choice but to pick a side.

 

She would rather starve than surrender.

 

On the hunt for another path, Eleanor uncovers powerful secrets that the Payne matriarchs buried in their past. And a condemning truth about the dark history of Blackridge. The more she uncovers, the more desperate the village becomes to silence her.

 

But Eleanor has come too far to turn back now. And when faced with the dangerous consequences of digging too deep, she unlocks a terrifying power within herself. One that will make Blackridge wish they hadn’t pushed her so far.

Title: Two Pines
Author: Tessa La Vella
Summary: 

Young photographer Marie Claythorn’s life seems to be changing for the better when a lawyer informs her that she is the sole heir to her grandfather’s house in Chesleyham. Upon arriving at the small village, however, she gets bad news: a distant cousin also poses claim to the house – which is already in a devastating condition. When she meets her cousin for the first time, Marie is immediately irritated. Clara Wright is convinced that she can buy Marie’s share of the house, but the matter is not resolved so easily. While the tension rises between the two women, a snow storm breaks out, blocking all roads and rail tracks. They have no option but to stay in the ruined property – together, despite their obvious dislike. With electricity gone and the house playing tricks on them, they have to move closer together until eventually, tension turns into passion.

Title: Born of Flame and Fury
Author: Hannah Danielle
Summary: 

A shattered source. A broken realm. A false king.

 

It’s all her fault.

 

Ten years after Elea wakes with no memories in a realm that forbids solar and lunar magics, she is faced with a choice that will alter her life forever. She must decide whether to use her unusual, emotionally charged flame to survive or be taken by the murderous king’s men and sent to the capital for execution. With the help of rouge lunar fae twins, Callista and Atlas, the fire fae narrowly escapes her brutal fate, only to be subjected to a new world of unknown trials. Elea must learn to control her powerful abilities, cope with overwhelming grief, and navigate the unusual pull she feels toward the frustratingly standoffish Callista.

 

If the fire fae can learn to tame her wild fire, she could be the key the resistance needs to restore the balance of power in Celvaria and free the citizens of the realm from the king’s reign of terror.

Title: Bump
Author: Jaime Munn 
Summary: 

Ghostly interventions. Dangerous shadows. And a werewolf crush that’s all kinds of complicated.

 

Part-time witch for hire and full-time lighting store owner, Nilla Hayes, has a problem. It isn’t the pretty werewolf she knows she shouldn’t be drawn to—or her best friend’s relentless matchmaking schemes. And it’s not her coffee obsession, or the sugar coma of the day. It’s the watcher she sees in an empty room. It’s the shadows that shift where they shouldn’t. It’s the bump in the night rolling into Whisper Falls, bringing with it a danger she can’t ignore. Not all witches are bad—but when a good witch is up against one who is ruthless, no one is safe around magic of mass destruction.

 

She might not be ready to face this kind of evil, but she’s all that stands in its way.

Title: Heart of the Wolf Goddess
Author: Autumn Wolff
Summary:

Lea Trello doesn't have a life outside of work. She was raised under strict circumstances to be a safe and restrained young woman. And at the age of 25, Lea is downright miserable. With no friends, no dating, and no hobbies, the accountant finds herself wishing for a different life. Little does she know, a goddess is nearby, listening to her words.

 

One night while scrubbing a bathroom, Lea suddenly finds herself in the presence of Ruka the Wolf Goddess. The divine being reveals she was slain by her greatest foe, the Bear God. Overhearing Lea's wish for a different life, Ruka offers her a chance to have just that.

 

With time running out before she fades away for good, Ruka tells Lea she can have a chance at a new life. All she has to do is agree to take Ruka's place in the land of Gyrelle, becoming its new Wolf Goddess. The catch? Lea's reincarnation will transform her into Ruka in more ways than she knows. And to regain the divine being's full power, she'll need to track down the four pieces of Ruka's severed heart.

 

Taking up the mantle of the Wolf Goddess means inheriting Ruka's enemies, her lovers, and her quest to recapture the faith of people in a world that's long forgotten about the immortal who was slain. Being reborn in Gyrelle comes with countless risks, and it's definitely not the decision a woman who plays it safe would ever make. Of course, it could also be the adventure of a lifetime (or several), bringing Lea the chance to find love, family, and a sense of self-worth. That'd be enough to tempt anyone in her shoes.

Title: Indecent
Author: Gwin Savage
Summary: 

In the United Kinvarrea Realm, women who love other women are the only ones born as mages or Vampires. Most try to hide what they are.

Evie: Spurnwater Academy inspires cold dread at the barest mention.

 

Located on a remote island, the reform academy for "ruined" women is where Vampires like me get sent. It's the last place I want to be, but after my failed trip to the border with Gymma, it's my only remaining option. That's not the worst thing, though.

 

Gymma: Before Evie, I had never taken a charge to bed with me. Never let a Vampire feed from me. I never expected the animosity or the undeniable temptation that overwhelmed me as we made our way across the realm together.

 

It's been a year and a half since then, and I came to Spurnwater looking for a fresh start. She was the last person I expected to see in my sewing class, bringing all of the volatility and explosive chemistry that led us into each other's arms and beds so long ago.