halfamoon | Day 4: Books

Here's a (small) selection of books focused on female characters I enjoyed in 2023/early 2024.

The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai

Two women, a waterweaver and an earthweaver, join The Daughters of Izdihar to fight for women's rights.

I loved the elemental magic system and the Egyptian-inspired worldbuilding. All the female characters were fascinating. The plot was excellent, but be aware that it ended on a cliffhanger.

There's major f/f and something close to polyamory. It's more of an open marriage supposedly without love, but I ship the f/m/f and initially thought it would be endgame. There's also a minor queer male character, with a nice moment of mlm-wlw solidarity.

The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei

80 people from all around the world embark on a one-way interstellar voyage to a new planet. But someone has set up a bomb, killing three of them and setting The Phoenix off course.

I love a good mix of SF/F and murder mystery. This was a fairly long read, but still a page-turner. It alternates between flashbacks of training and selection at the Academy and investigation and repairs on the Phoenix.

Asuka, the protagonist, is a half-Japanese, half-American woman, like the author. As all 80 people are required to get pregnant (through insemination) during the mission, they're obviously afab, but several are non-binary, with mentions of a trans man and minor f/f.

Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick

Stevie and Nora have been secretly dating and are about to leave for California now that they're eighteen. But after falling and hurting her head, Stevie forgets the last two years of her life.

I love the amnesia trope and this was so romantic. The book follows Stevie's POV, with a few diary entries from Nora, so that we get to know her thoughts as well. It's a standalone, but I wouldn't say no to a sequel.

There's major f/f. Stevie and her friend Ryan are Asian American.

Brooms written by Jasmine Walls and illustrated by Teo DuVall (Graphic novel)

A group of diverse women take part in unsanctioned team broom races.

I loved the plot, the art is beautiful, but the best point is the characterisation of all the members of this found family. They're Native American, Latinx, Black and Asian. Emma is deaf and uses sign language. Billie Mae has chronic joint paint. Loretta uses a leg brace. There's f/f, as well as a trans woman.