I am so happy to welcome Claudie Arseneault to the blog to share her a-spec reading recommendations! Claudie is a huge voice in the a-spec and indie publishing communities whom I have regularly relied on for recommendations. She is joining us today to share some awesome indie titles that everyone should check out.
The recent months and coming year have been a great boon to aromantic and asexual representation in traditional publishing, with several titles coming out putting aro and ace characters front and center. We live in exciting times, with so much available to read! More and more, people discover characters they can relate to in their fiction, and if the number of times I’m tagged for recommendations is any indication, they’re craving for more. Much more.
Good news: there’s quite a lot out there, when you know where to look. One can always browse through my database of aromantic and asexual characters in (prose) fiction, and I now have two lists of books I specifically recommend, one for asexual characters, and one for aromantic ones.
I set out to write this particular post with the idea to “match” more mainstream/trad pub aro and ace books with worthwhile indies I’ve read and loved. I thought it’d be a fun exercise. Turns out, it was a hard one! Trad books and indie books don’t map easily to each other, typically because of styles, focus on the rep, and which genres are privileged. For example, YA contemporary is a lot harder to find in indies. Still, I roped in my good friend Lynn E. O’Connacht to help me, and we built a cool list for everyone. Enjoy the recommendations!
Good news: there’s quite a lot out there, when you know where to look. One can always browse through my database of aromantic and asexual characters in (prose) fiction, and I now have two lists of books I specifically recommend, one for asexual characters, and one for aromantic ones.
I set out to write this particular post with the idea to “match” more mainstream/trad pub aro and ace books with worthwhile indies I’ve read and loved. I thought it’d be a fun exercise. Turns out, it was a hard one! Trad books and indie books don’t map easily to each other, typically because of styles, focus on the rep, and which genres are privileged. For example, YA contemporary is a lot harder to find in indies. Still, I roped in my good friend Lynn E. O’Connacht to help me, and we built a cool list for everyone. Enjoy the recommendations!
The Last 8 → Werecockroach
If alien invaders were your jam and you were excited for the stellar bisexual aromantic latina MC in THE LAST 8 by Laura Pohl, you might want to check out WERECOCKROACH by Polenth Blake. Now I’ll be honest, beyond the premise, these two books don’t have a lot in common. THE LAST 8 is a fast-paced tale of teenagers bonding and fighting back against the invader almost Independence Day style, while WERECOCKROACH follows three flatmates (two of which are on the aro and ace spectrums) trying to cross the city and escape without being noticed by the alien. It takes a much more personal approach to the story, reexamining assumptions, and twisting the story in new, unexpected directions. WERECOCKROACH is a much shorter tale (novella-length) that is dripping with wry sense of humour and understated kindness, and it was one of my favourite 2018 reads.
If alien invaders were your jam and you were excited for the stellar bisexual aromantic latina MC in THE LAST 8 by Laura Pohl, you might want to check out WERECOCKROACH by Polenth Blake. Now I’ll be honest, beyond the premise, these two books don’t have a lot in common. THE LAST 8 is a fast-paced tale of teenagers bonding and fighting back against the invader almost Independence Day style, while WERECOCKROACH follows three flatmates (two of which are on the aro and ace spectrums) trying to cross the city and escape without being noticed by the alien. It takes a much more personal approach to the story, reexamining assumptions, and twisting the story in new, unexpected directions. WERECOCKROACH is a much shorter tale (novella-length) that is dripping with wry sense of humour and understated kindness, and it was one of my favourite 2018 reads.
The Lady’s Guide to Tyranny and Petticoats → The Mystic Marriage
Felicity isn’t the first historical scientist on the ace spectrum to enter the book world, though admittedly Antuniet Chazillen’s aceness is far more understated. Still, I would be remiss not to recommend the incredible gem that is the Alpennia series by Heather Rose Jones. Antuniet stars in the second book, THE MYSTIC MARRIAGE, and the entire series is full of f/f romance in a historical setting, with (growing) hints of magic. Alpennia furthermore sports a robust network of women scholars and friends supporting each other despite the period’s opinion on such activities. It’s delightful, and each book stands on its own (though you’ll run into spoilers from the precedent ones).
Felicity isn’t the first historical scientist on the ace spectrum to enter the book world, though admittedly Antuniet Chazillen’s aceness is far more understated. Still, I would be remiss not to recommend the incredible gem that is the Alpennia series by Heather Rose Jones. Antuniet stars in the second book, THE MYSTIC MARRIAGE, and the entire series is full of f/f romance in a historical setting, with (growing) hints of magic. Alpennia furthermore sports a robust network of women scholars and friends supporting each other despite the period’s opinion on such activities. It’s delightful, and each book stands on its own (though you’ll run into spoilers from the precedent ones).
Sawkill Girls → Nkásht íí
Did you love the delicious creepiness of SAWKILL GIRLS by Claire Legrand, the place given to local myths, and the integrality of friendship in the story? Then you should check out “Nkásht íí”, by Darcie Little Badger, a short story available for free with Strange Horizons. Rooted in Lipan Apache lore (by a Lipan Apache author), “Nkásht íí” follows two friends misfortune, Josie and Annie, as they investigate a man’s car crash after he insists a malevolent spirit drowned his baby girl. It’s absolutely gorgeous and a must read.
Did you love the delicious creepiness of SAWKILL GIRLS by Claire Legrand, the place given to local myths, and the integrality of friendship in the story? Then you should check out “Nkásht íí”, by Darcie Little Badger, a short story available for free with Strange Horizons. Rooted in Lipan Apache lore (by a Lipan Apache author), “Nkásht íí” follows two friends misfortune, Josie and Annie, as they investigate a man’s car crash after he insists a malevolent spirit drowned his baby girl. It’s absolutely gorgeous and a must read.
Tash Hearts Tolstoy → Good Angel
As I said, it’s hard to find contemporary indie books that match better-known trad ace books. But if the school setting, exploration of identity and m/f friendship is what made TASH HEARTS TOLSTOY by Kathryn Ormsbee fun for you, then GOOD ANGEL by A. M. Blaushild might be right up your alley, too. It follows Iofiel, a new angel who must attend the angel-demon university. When she meets Archie, an imp bullied by his peers, she decides to change major for demon classes… and might have inadvertently triggered the Apocalypse in the process.
As I said, it’s hard to find contemporary indie books that match better-known trad ace books. But if the school setting, exploration of identity and m/f friendship is what made TASH HEARTS TOLSTOY by Kathryn Ormsbee fun for you, then GOOD ANGEL by A. M. Blaushild might be right up your alley, too. It follows Iofiel, a new angel who must attend the angel-demon university. When she meets Archie, an imp bullied by his peers, she decides to change major for demon classes… and might have inadvertently triggered the Apocalypse in the process.
Girls Made of Snow and Glass → The Ice Princess’ Fair Illusion
This one’s technically cheating: GIRLS MADE OF SNOW AND GLASS by Melissa Bashardoust doesn’t have ace or aro rep, but I’ve seen so many aros relate intensely to Mina and discuss her storyline and how it interacts with an aromantic headcanon, and I thought it was worth mentioning. Especially since we have another f/f fairytale retelling, THE ICE PRINCESS’ FAIR ILLUSION by Lynn E. O’Connacht, which explicitly tackles asexuality and aromanticism in its text. Illusion is a verse novel closer to the NA range than the YA one, and its main myth is Thrushbeard rather than Snow White, but it’s by far one of the most amazing piece of aromantic and asexual lit out there, daring in its openness and exploration. An absolute must.
This one’s technically cheating: GIRLS MADE OF SNOW AND GLASS by Melissa Bashardoust doesn’t have ace or aro rep, but I’ve seen so many aros relate intensely to Mina and discuss her storyline and how it interacts with an aromantic headcanon, and I thought it was worth mentioning. Especially since we have another f/f fairytale retelling, THE ICE PRINCESS’ FAIR ILLUSION by Lynn E. O’Connacht, which explicitly tackles asexuality and aromanticism in its text. Illusion is a verse novel closer to the NA range than the YA one, and its main myth is Thrushbeard rather than Snow White, but it’s by far one of the most amazing piece of aromantic and asexual lit out there, daring in its openness and exploration. An absolute must.
The King’s Peace → Novis
[Bonus by Lynn E. O’Connacht!]
At first glance, you may wonder why a fantasy novel is getting paired up with a science fiction novel. That’s because both are retellings of classical literature. THE KING’S PEACE is a retelling of Arthurian legends with an amazing aroace lead, whereas NOVIS by Rachel Tonks Hill is a space operatic f/f/f retelling of Beowulf with an aro pov character and several ace secondary characters. If you enjoyed the reinvention of Arthurian legends in an all-new setting or the way THE KING’S PEACE manages to incorporation multiculturalism, you may well enjoy NOVIS’s approach as well. Further, both THE KING’S PEACE and NOVIS centre strong women, however you choose to define it, and their relationships with the people around them. Both come with a powerful focus on found family in all its forms and have a delightful balance between calmer moments and action-packed battle sequences.
[Bonus by Lynn E. O’Connacht!]
At first glance, you may wonder why a fantasy novel is getting paired up with a science fiction novel. That’s because both are retellings of classical literature. THE KING’S PEACE is a retelling of Arthurian legends with an amazing aroace lead, whereas NOVIS by Rachel Tonks Hill is a space operatic f/f/f retelling of Beowulf with an aro pov character and several ace secondary characters. If you enjoyed the reinvention of Arthurian legends in an all-new setting or the way THE KING’S PEACE manages to incorporation multiculturalism, you may well enjoy NOVIS’s approach as well. Further, both THE KING’S PEACE and NOVIS centre strong women, however you choose to define it, and their relationships with the people around them. Both come with a powerful focus on found family in all its forms and have a delightful balance between calmer moments and action-packed battle sequences.
There you are, everyone! Six recommendations based on better known stories! I hope I put new books on your radars, and if you’re ever looking for more aro & ace recommendations, drop me a line @ClH2OArs on twitter!
Claudie Arseneault is an asexual and aromantic spectrum writer hailing from Quebec City. Her love for sprawling casts invariably turns her novels into multi-storylined wonders centered on aromantic and asexual characters. Her high fantasy series, City of Spires, started in February 2017, and her latest book, Baker Thief, features a bigender aromantic baker and is full of delicious bread, French puns, and magic.
Claudie is a founding member of The Kraken Collective and is well-known for her involvement in solarpunk, her database of aro and ace characters, and her unending love of squids. She was long-listed for the 2018 BSFA Awards for her essay Constructing a Kinder Future in Strange Horizons. Find out more on her website!
Claudie is a founding member of The Kraken Collective and is well-known for her involvement in solarpunk, her database of aro and ace characters, and her unending love of squids. She was long-listed for the 2018 BSFA Awards for her essay Constructing a Kinder Future in Strange Horizons. Find out more on her website!
Purchase links included in this post are affiliate links and purchases help support the Jellyfable blog.