Visible In SFF: Trans Day of Visibility Recs!
Happy International Transgender Day of Visibility! To celebrate, I want to share five of my best-beloved SFF reads which feature trans and nonbinary main characters! And I have links to a bunch more at the end of the post, just in case you’ve already read all of these!
Domesticated Magic by Wendy Palmer Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Trans MC, M/M
Goodreads
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Mateo Taurasi and his family fled their island home when their people turned to sorcery. Mateo’s own magic is tame but it’s still banned in the Vaeringan Empire...and his family still use it every day in their cosy teahouse. The last thing they need is an Imperial barging in to catch them at it.
Luckily, Jonas just wants to offer them a trade deal too good to resist. As hard as he tries, Mateo begins to find the cheerfully charming Jonas too good to resist, too.
But an unfairly attractive Imperial is not Mateo’s only problem. Rumours of sorcery loose in the city mean trouble for the Taurasi. With Jonas caught up in the mess, Mateo must investigate.
His family already lost their world once. Mateo can’t let them lose again. Not even if it costs him the man he really wishes he didn't have feelings for.
c/ explicit transm/m sex scenes
Domesticated Magic flat-out blew me away – not only is the writing bright and clear; not only are the characters multi-faceted delights; but the worldbuilding!!! Palmer takes the approach of ‘superficially simple, exquisitely elegant’ – the magic system, in particular, is genius in its simplicity! Like a Ming vase, the skill on display with the ‘clean lines’ of what Palmer has created is just–!!!
I’ve rarely become so invested so fast, and WOW did I feel All The Things: I was flapping my arms at the tense parts, making ridiculous noises when the happy things happened, even swooning at the romance (and I NEVER care about the romance!) and CRYING when Palmer clearly wanted me to (and I NEVER cry!) Mateo had me wrapped around his little finger, and I continue to ship him and Jonas so hard.
TLDR: Everything about this book is FLAWLESS!!!
Space Opera (Space Opera, #1) by Catherynne M. Valente Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Nonbinary brown pansexual MC
Goodreads
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A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented—something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding.
Once every cycle, the civilizations gather for the Metagalactic Grand Prix—part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Instead of competing in orbital combat, the powerful species that survived face off in a competition of song, dance, or whatever can be physically performed in an intergalactic talent show. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete.
This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick, and electric guitars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny—they must sing.
A band of human musicians, dancers, and roadies have been chosen to represent Earth on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock.
Probably the most accessible of Valente’s books, Space Opera is a JOYFULLY RIDICULOUS (and yet not ridiculous at all: brace for galaxy-brain moments and All The Feels) book that is packed full of clever, important thoughts on art and humanity and war…and will have you in absolute stitches, because gods damn, it is SO FUNNY. It’s such a perfect antidote to despair or cynicism: I recommend a dose whenever your brain is feeling grey.
Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden Genres: Adult, Fantasy, High Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Hijra (trans) MC
Goodreads
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Protecting her identity means life or death in this immersive epic fantasy inspired by the Mughal Empire.
In a different life, under a different name, Razia Khan was raised to be the Crown Prince of Nizam, the most powerful kingdom in Daryastan. Born with the soul of a woman, she ran away at a young age to escape her father's hatred and live life true to herself.
Amongst the hijras of Bikampur, Razia finds sisterhood and discovers a new purpose in life. By day she's one of her dera's finest dancers, and by night its most profitable thief. But when her latest target leads her to cross paths with Arjun Agnivansha, Prince of Bikampur, it is she who has something stolen.
An immediate connection with the prince changes Razia's life forever, and she finds herself embroiled in a dangerous political war. The stakes are greater than any heist she's ever performed. When the battle brings her face to face with her father, Razia has the chance to reclaim everything she lost...and save her prince.
I do NOT understand how this duology isn’t INFINITELY more well-known, but that is why it’s my job to tell you about it! These books follow a hijra (trans woman) in a setting inspired by ancient India; she was a prince in her previous life, and that experience serves her very well when she gets caught up (read: involves herself) in the intrigue of empires. Boyden pulls a lot from the real-life experience of modern hijra, which can be rough reading in parts, but the series is ultimately one of empowerment and triumph. Razia is such an incredible character, not just brave but fiercely intelligent and an excellent politicker (the power of friendship is strong with this one).
Also: see that dragon-ish creature on the second cover??? THAT’S A ZAHAK AND THEY SPIT LIGHTNING.
OR FIRE.
OR POISON.
AND THEY ARE EXTREMELY PLOT-RELEVANT.
Yeah, exactly. GO READ THESE IMMEDIATELY!
My review of book two! (Beware spoilers!)
The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: Vol. 1: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island by Kent Monkman, Gisele Gordon Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Nonbinary Native American MC
Goodreads
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From global art superstar Kent Monkman and his long-time collaborator Gisèle Gordon, a transformational work of true stories and imagined history that will remake readers’ understanding of the land called North America.
For decades, the singular and provocative paintings by Cree artist Kent Monkman have featured a recurring character—an alter ego of sorts, a shape-shifting, time-travelling elemental being named Miss Chief Eagle Testickle. Though we have glimpsed her across the years in films and on countless canvases, it is finally time to hear her story, in her own words. And, in doing so, to hear the whole history of Turtle Island anew. The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island is a genre-demolishing work of genius, the imagined history of a legendary figure through which profound truths emerge—a deeply Cree and gloriously queer understanding of our shared world, its past, its present, and its possibilities.
Volume One, which covers the period from the creation of the universe to the confederation of Canada, follows Miss Chief as she moves through time, from a complex lived experience of Cree cosmology to the arrival of European settlers, many of whom will be familiar to students of history. An open-hearted being, she tries to live among those settlers, and guide them to a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all beings and the world itself. As their numbers grow, though, so does conflict, and Miss Chief begins to understand that the challenges posed by the hordes of newly arrived Europeans will mean ever greater danger for her, her people, and, by extension, all of the world she cherishes.
Blending history, fiction, and memoir in bold new ways, The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle are unlike anything published before. And in their power to reshape our shared understanding, they promise to change the way we see everything that lies ahead.
I don’t know anything about the artworks that – inspired might be the wrong word? – this novel, but I can confirm that the book itself is excellent. It’s a history of Turtle Island, aka North America, as told by a Native American…spirit-goddess-person. Who is brilliant and funny and full of love in a way that is not Hallmark at all.
Being a history of the Native American peoples, it does get dark and depressing at times. It can’t really cover historical events and not be. But it’s also gorgeous, and I think really important reading for white people especially, not (just) because a lot of this is history that’s never covered in school, but because it’s imbued with an outlook and sense of humour that is uniquely Cree – and thus, very eye-opening. (It helped shatter a lot of unconscious ideas and beliefs I didn’t realise I had, which clearly needed to go!)
Plus, it’s worth reading for Miss Chief alone – a more fabulous personage I have rarely seen!
The Sapling Cage: A Novel (Daughters of the Empty Throne Book 1) by Margaret Killjoy Genres: Fantasy, High Fantasy, New Adult, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Trans MC, F/F
Goodreads
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In the gripping first novel in the Daughters of the Empty Throne trilogy, author Margaret Killjoy spins a tale of earth magic, power struggle, and self-invention in an own-voices story of trans witchcraft.
Lorel has always dreamed of becoming a learning magic, fighting monsters, and exploring the world beyond the small town where she and her mother run the stables. Even though a strange plague is killing the trees in the Kingdom of Cekon and witches are being blamed for it, Lorel wants nothing more than to join them. There’s only one all witches are women, and she was born a boy.
When the coven comes to claim her best friend, Lorel disguises herself in a dress and joins in her friend’s place, leaving home and her old self behind. She soon discovers the dark powers threatening the a magical blight scars the land, and the power-mad Duchess Helte is crushing everything between her and the crown. In spite of these dangers, Lorel makes friends and begins learning magic from the powerful witches in her coven. However, she fears that her new friends and mentors will find out her secret and kick her out of the coven, or worse.
Killjoy is an anarchist, and it comes through BEAUTIFULLY in Sapling Cage – give me ALL the anti-capitalist, anarchist-philosophy fantasy, please! I haven’t talked about the trans rep in the books I’m reccing today, but I was especially happy with how Sapling Cage handled it, because Lorel gets to be uncertain and messy about her gender, and especially with the idea of medical (magical) transition, which most cis people assume is the goal for every trans person – and Sapling Cage pushes back against that idea. Honestly, I’d recommend this to anyone who’s just learning about trans people; and entirely aside from that, it’s a great story, full of queerness, environmental themes, knights both terrible and epic, and a duchess who DEFINITELY needs deposing!
(Although don’t expect any magic school vibes; Lorel and the other baby witches have lots of other training to do before they start learning magic!)
You can find some of my other trans and non-binary SFF recs at the links below!
Fantasy Featuring Fabulous Trans Leads
Your Gender Binary Is Imaginary: Non-Binary Characters in Fantasy (+bonus scifi)
Your Gender Binary Is Still Imaginary: SFF For International Non-Binary People’s Day!
Celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility With SFF!
SFF Faves From Trans and Nonbinary Authors!
Your Gender Binary Remains Imaginary: SFF For Non-Binary People’s Day!
SFF For Trans Day of Visibility!
And if YOU have any recs, I’d love to hear them!
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