These Vicious Delights: mm romance

Thanks to the popularity of the Bridgerton TV show adaptation, more readers are discovering the historical romance genre. Steamy love stories with dukes, waistcoats, and forbidden romance, plus a happily ever after guaranteed... What's not to love?

Well, as you dig through those HistRom recs, very soon you realize that they only feature one type of love. The white cis-heterosexual love. Traditional romance publishers lag behind in terms of diversity, but indie queer authors have picked up the slack.

So here's a list of queer historical romance recs... because everyone deserves a happily ever after.

NOTE: These novels are all ADULT. Most have explicit sexual content.

1. KJ CHARLES

KJ Charles is the queen of m/m historical romance. Her books are my go-to recommendation if you need historical accuracy. But her genres are actually pretty varied; while the setting stays the same, she's got everything from paranormal Victorian romances, to spy thrillers, to old-fashioned novels of manners.

In case you're intimidated by her vast backlist, here are my top recs:

IF YOU'RE IN THE MOOD FOR SERIES

The Will Darling Adventures trilogy is my favorite of her work. It's a 1920s m/m romance inspired by Golden Age pulp fiction but... you know... gay. It's a political thriller that features spies, war veterans, conspiracies, and a romance between two emotionally constipated men whose relationship blooms beautifully. Highly recommended if you prefer your romance novels to have a strong non-romance plot included. It's fast-paced, action-packed, and incredibly fun!

Bonus: central m/m romance, side f/f romance

IF YOU WANT A STANDALONE

Think of England and Proper English are technically a duology but in reality they are standalones, as each book features a different MC. Though of course it's better if you read them both!

I recommend you start with Think of England. This is an m/m romance set in a remote country estate in the Edwardian era. Our two MCs — a disabled ex-soldier and a flamboyantly gay poet — must work together to unravel a political plot... while pretending to be guests at a house party. I loved what this book said about queerness; Archie, our WASPy ex-soldier, has never acknowledged his sexuality, so he's a bit put off when he meets Daniel, our foreign and openly queer love interest. In a lot of ways, it's about breaking stereotypes and coming to terms with your sexuality in a homophobic society.

Proper English is an f/f romance also set in another country estate in the Edwardian era. Pat is England's top woman shooter and perfectly fine with being single, thank you. While she's more comfortable being treated as one of the boys, she encounters another houseguest who initially irritates her: the hyper-feminine Fen, who is beautiful and vapid and is notorious for breaking off every single engagement. But as the two women get to know each other, feelings grow between them... and when someone is murdered, it all goes to shit.

2. SEBASTIAN NOTHWELL

Another queer historical romance writer who always does his research! Sebastian Nothwell has three main historical romance books: Mr. Warren's Profession and Hold Fast are both m/m rich-poor, opposites attract romances; and The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall is an f/f gothic romance between a heartbroken heiress and the sister of her husband (don't worry; it's not really cheating since the married couple aren't actually romantically involved).

I love Nothwell's books because they're long, immersive, historically-sound, fun, and soap-opera dramatic. There are tons of loveable side characters, epic family feuds, hilarious dialogue, and a focus on working-class or middle-class heroes (when most books just feature nobility).

My favorite so far is Hold Fast but all are good and highly recommended.

3. CAT SEBASTIAN

You've probably already heard of Cat Sebastian considering she's one of the few traditionally published authors on this list.

Sebastian has three main series: the Turners brothers series (all m/m except for one f/f novella), Seducing the Sedgwicks (all m/m) and The Queer Principles of Kit Webb (one m/m, one m/f). Her style is very light and breezy, low-conflict, comfort-read romance. Perfect for when you want low stakes, distraction, and yet lots of steam.

Of them all, my two favorites are It Takes Two to Tumble and A Little Light Mischief. The former is an m/m romance between a country vicar and gruff single dad still grieving his lost love. I liked how the vicar reconciliated his sexuality with his religion; there's no homophobia here. And the kids are so cute.

A Little Light Mischief is a novella so sadly it's really short, but it features two women taking revenge on the men who wronged them so I'm already a fan.

Sebastian's books are a little too low-stakes for me but she's popular for a reason, and I hope you find something you like within her massive backlist.

4. ASTER GLENN GRAY

The Larks Still Bravely Singing sets itself apart by featuring two disabled war veteran leads. This short but sweet WWI-era novel features an m/m second chance romance, references more obscure classic literature, and has the most romantic gesture of all time... Gifting your significant other gay fanfiction for Christmas! The subject matter is angsty (I cried near the end), but the disabled characters have so much strength, sympathy, and love for each other... I liked the historical accuracy in regards to the MC's preference for traditional relationship dynamics and the fact that this book states that a queer relationship does NOT have to be "pure" and sexless to be morally correct. Very tender and lovely.

5. ALEXIS HALL

Alexis Hall has two historical romances out right now: Something Fabulous (m/m) and A Lady for a Duke.

A Lady for a Duke features an m/f romance between a trans woman MC and her broody, traumatized childhood friend. While Alexis Hall is most known for his romcoms, this one is a tender love story that explores identity and grief.

Viola can finally live as a free woman after she was presumed dead at the battle of Waterloo. Gracewood, her best friend, is utterly wrecked by her "death" and the war and loses himself in alcohol and drugs... Years later, they meet again, and while their connection is undeniable, Gracewood doesn't recognize her at all. Both protagonists must deal with their traumatic pasts, but luckily they're surrounded by a loving and supportive cast of friends and family.

6. OLIVIA WAITE

If you're into f/f romance then you must have heard of Olivia Waite. Her most famous series is Feminine Pursuits. Each book features a heroine with a unique occupation (scientist, beekeeper, publisher, thief, instrument merchant, etc.) and ensuing struggles due to her class and/or gender. Her books are more firmly historical: slow-paced, realistic, and mention of social issues of the time. If you're a woman reading histrom solely for escapism then you may not enjoy her books as much, but otherwise, she's a landmark of the subgenre and must be mentioned!

7. ASTRID AMARA

This one is a historical fantasy, but in my opinion, the historical aspect is much stronger (and takes up more page-space) than its fantasy, so I'm adding it here.

The Devil Lancer is an m/m romance between an English captain and a half-English, half-Russian soldier during the Crimean War. Given the setting, this one is a lot bleaker than the other titles on this list, though it does have a happily ever after. If you love reading about military warfare, daily life in the trenches, and the harrowing reality of the Crimean War, then you'll enjoy this. I liked how our two MCs, though vastly different, found some love and hope in each other while in the middle of such senseless violence.

8. ARDEN POWELL

The Bachelor's Valet is technically a fantasy but the magic is so negligible that I would still call it a pure historical romance. This m/m romance novella features a loveable rich himbo and his cool-headed valet. It's short, sappy, and laugh-out-loud hilarious... perfect for cheering you up. Dumb characters usually annoy me but the hero was just so endearing that I didn't mind. Plus, it's got a lavender marriage between a gay man and a lesbian, so both parties are free to live their lives happily. My only complaint is that it's too short, but hey, better than nothing. And yes, you'll be fondly reminded of Jeeves and Wooster with these two.

9. LIANYU TAN

Okay, this is more fantastical than the others in this list given that it heavily features vampires, but I love this book and it's also got the only Asian author in this list. The Wicked and the Willing is a dark f/f gothic romance set in 1920s Singapore. Gean Choo, desperate to pay off her deceased father's gambling debts, starts a new job as a lady's maid for the ill and nocturnal Mrs. Verity Edavane. But Verity is stronger and stranger than Gean Choo first realized, and the two women fall headfirst into dangerous, delicious obsession with each other...

First off, this really is a dark romance with toxic relationships, manipulation, blood, and gore so please keep that in mind. This gorgeously edgy sapphic love story is more of a horror than a category romance... though it does have all the landmarks of a romance! What makes this interesting is that technically there's a love triangle between our heroine Gean Choo, her cruel and possessive mistress Verity, and her gruff but kind-hearted right hand woman butch lesbian Po Lam... But the author wrote three separate endings so you can choose which one you prefer.

10. BONNIE DEE

But Frankie, you cry, I don't actually care about historical accuracy or long series or complicated action plots or violence! I just want to read an author who writes a lot of sappy gay romance so I can binge read their entire backlist!

Okay then. May I offer Bonnie Dee (who sometimes collaborates with fellow author Summer Devon). I like her reliability in terms of: a) short, straight-to-the-point plots; b) no frills, no last-minute break-up or plot twist that extends the book for an unnecessary 100 pages; c) light tone so it's never truly dark or depressing; d) focus on romance and smut.

My favorite of hers is The Tutor. This m/m standalone is a gothic ghost story between a (fake) tutor and his grieving single dad client.

Romance is a genre that's comforting given its predictability. And I like that I can go into a Bonnie Dee book and know what I'll get out of it.

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Are there any other queer historical romance authors that I missed? Comment below to let me know!

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YA fantasy has romanticized the fae so much that they're now associated with humanoid sexy beings rather than the nasty, inhuman tricksters of yore. While the fae characters in this list may also be complex beings that are sometimes smoochable, they are definitely not tender or selfless, and you can tell. Beware, as these stories have a darker tone. The YA category doesn't necessarily mean it's appropriate for young children.

As much as possible, I only included books wherein the fae are actually monstrous.

1. Never-Contented Things by Sarah Porter [YA fantasy]

Josh and Ksenia are two codependent foster siblings who have nobody else in the world to rely on but each other. This is hard enough, but then they unwittingly stumble into the world of fae. Ksenia will do anything to save her brother, so she follows him into this nightmarish parallel world that's almost like a mirror of their own if not for the house that tries to eat them and the doppelgangers who try to kill them.

The only person left to save them is their mutual friend Lexi (a girl who, I might add, has forever held a torch for Ksenia). But they've got to deal with their own inner demons and each other, on top of escaping this world.

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Look, this book is BRILLIANT BUT IT IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. Let me establish that outright. This book was marketed incorrectly. It's not a court fantasy like The Cruel Prince. It is dark, vicious, and handles some very, very heavy topics. It is a difficult but refreshing read, one that will outright horrify you. And I don't just mean the fae monsters (which are, by the way, really nightmare-inducing). I also mean Josh and Ksenia, their incestuous relationship, and how much trauma they've been through. It is not for everyone. But if you can handle that, I think you will be amazed at how this book still finds the light at the end of the tunnel of darkness.

2. Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng [Adult fantasy]

Catherine's brother is a missionary on an evangelical trip to the fae world when he vanishes. Desperate for answers, Catherine travels there to find him. This land is sinister and vicious, full of creatures that will kill her. She waits in an isolated castle, the last place her brother was located, and investigates while she's stuck inside. There, she discovers that the previous missionary had also gone missing. There are secrets about the fae, her brother, and herself that are horrific beyond imagining...

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This is a gorgeous gothic novel. Slow-paced, atmospheric, and utterly lush. It really harkens back to the gothic classics with the spooky isolated castle, the heroine solving a mystery, the dark and forbidden romance, and the themes of family, religion, and madness. Ng's worldbuilding is also incredibly unique and alien. I'm amazed at her ideas!

My only complaint is that the middle half is bogged down by a sluggish pace and endless theological discussions. If you're already a classics fan, though, then this may not bother you. But if you prefer fast-paced fantasies, you should be ready.

3. House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland [YA horror]

Sisters Iris, Vivi, and Grey vanished as children, only to be found a month later in the exact same spot. Their hair turned white, their eyes turned black, and they remembered nothing. They grew up into beautiful women: Grey, a world-renowned supermodel; Vivi, a punk rock musician; Iris, a seventeen-year-old with a codependent mother who wants to be the normal kid for once, who wants to go to college and become a doctor.

But they're weird. Mysterious. Other people are drawn to them in ways they don't understand.

When Iris's oldest sister Grey goes missing and Iris starts getting hunted down by a man in a deer mask, she bands with Vivi to find Grey. As they investigate, they come to realize that Grey holds too many secrets... about herself, about them, about what happened that month they disappeared.

And maybe to find her, they have to go back.

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I have to admit that this was originally a cover buy, but it didn't disappoint. Sutherland's prose was utterly mesmerizing. This novel is dark, beautiful, and horrifying. It went so much farther than I expected... and I was delighted! But don't think it's all grim. It has its humor, and Grey's boyfriend Tyler always made me laugh. This one is light on the romance. It's really a story about the bonds of sisterhood, and how far we go for family.

4. The Faerie Hounds of York by Arden Powell [Adult fantasy]

England, 1810. Loxley wakes up in the middle of a faerie ring on a remote York moor, with no recollection of the past week. He's saved by Thorncress, a lonesome Traveller with an affinity for breaking fae curses. But as Loxley heads back home to London, he's spirited away again, and both men realize whatever fae had cursed him wants him desperately, and has set its claws in deep. Soon, they realize the only way to break his curse is to return to its roots... Loxley's childhood home, and the pale monster that's been haunting his dreams...

The two men grow close, and Loxley is increasingly drawn to Thorncress' stability and soft heart. But Thorncress is a tortured man hiding his own fae curses, and Loxley might have to risk his life to save him too.

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This is the only novella on this list, so it's good for when you need a quick read for a spooky autumn evening. With a soft mm romance and Powell's beautiful writing, you'll be transported into Northern England: the endless moors, the skeletal trees, the wind whispering your name... This book is heavy on the romance, rather than fantasy, but its portrayal of the ancient fae is horrific and otherworldly. Definitely more accurate to the classic folklore, compared to what you usually see in the romantic fantasy sphere nowadays.

5. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black [YA fantasy]

Jude and her siblings were spirited away into the fae world as children and were raised as the adoptive children of Madoc, a renowned fae general who was once married to Jude's mother. Being a human girl around young fae is difficult; they hate her, torture her, and bully her relentlessly. And thus, an angry seed is planted in young Jude's heart. She no longer wants to be powerless. She wants to be powerful. To be feared.

The opportunity presents itself when Jude is offered to be the king's spy. But the line to the throne is all tangled, and the fae will gladly hack off branches to reach the top. And there Jude discovers she is a shrewd woman, a warrior, an underdog. She will become a kingmaker and control the throne at all costs, even if that means switching allegiances and betraying those she loves.

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Okay, some of you may think this is a cop-out. But we must give Black credit where it's due. As much as her fae are beautiful, they are also petty, vicious, and violent creatures. They gleefully torment Jude and her sister. They'd kill her if they could. They murder their own kind Game of Thrones style just to wield the crown. The delicious enemies to lovers romance aside, this trilogy has morally gray characters everywhere, brilliant political intrigue, and incredibly detailed worldbuilding. As many treasures as there are, I wouldn't want to live in Holly Black's fae world. They'd rip me apart as a joke and laugh. And that's why it deserves a place on this list.

Are there any other books with dark, vicious fae that you'd love to recommend? Drop a comment below!

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Humans have passed down the same myths and folk tales for millennia. But it would be boring if the stories stayed exactly the same, so we've been adding flair with retellings forever. Same themes, similar beats, a whole new book. Sometimes you can identify the original, but sometimes the retelling is so unique that it's unbelievable.

Despite that, with the Western-centricism and whiteness in publishing, you see the same retellings all the time: white authors, European myths, heteronormative romances. If you want more fairy tale retellings written by BIPOC and/or LGBT authors, this is the rec list for you!

17 Diverse Retellings

1. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong [YA fantasy]

This retelling of Romeo and Juliet takes place in 1920s Shanghai, and it's the rare case where the setting is so magically described that it's a character in itself! Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov are ex-lovers and heirs to rival gangs who have to work together to stop a monster plaguing their city.

Gong paints a vivid portrait of history and politics. It's not just the Scarlet Gang against the White Flowers; it's them versus themselves, and versus the rising Communist Party, and versus the European colonialists who have invaded Chinese shores. We've got a full cast of loveable side characters, a spooky monster haunting the city, and a lovers to enemies to lovers romance full of angst and bite!

These Vicious Delights

1. KJ CHARLES

IF YOU'RE IN THE MOOD FOR SERIES

IF YOU WANT A STANDALONE

2. SEBASTIAN NOTHWELL

3. CAT SEBASTIAN

4. ASTER GLENN GRAY

5. ALEXIS HALL

6. OLIVIA WAITE

7. ASTRID AMARA

8. ARDEN POWELL

9. LIANYU TAN

10. BONNIE DEE

1. Never-Contented Things by Sarah Porter [YA fantasy]

2. Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng [Adult fantasy]

3. House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland [YA horror]

4. The Faerie Hounds of York by Arden Powell [Adult fantasy]

5. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black [YA fantasy]

17 Diverse Retellings

1. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong [YA fantasy]

2. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao [YA fantasy]

3. A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna [YA sci-fi]

4. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh [Adult fantasy]

5. Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones [YA fantasy]

6. Anna K by Jenny Lee [YA contemporary]

7. Pride by Ibi Zoboi [YA contemporary]

8. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn [YA fantasy]

9. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh [YA fantasy]

10. Burning Roses by S.L. Huang [Adult fantasy]

11. Upon a Burning Throne by Ashok K. Banker [Adult fantasy]

12. A Thousand Beginnings and Endings [Short story collection]

Upcoming releases:

13. Malice by Heather Walter [Adult fantasy] - To be released 13 April 2021

14. The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo [Adult historical] - To be released 1 June 2021

15. Darling by K. Ancrum [YA contemporary] - To be released 22 June 2021

16. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan [Adult historical] - To be released 20 July 2021

17. Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood [YA fantasy] - To be released 9 Nov 2021

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