Quote from calstine

Also- question number two; to understand the plot-line of Last Herald - Mage , do you have to read all the associated prequels and sequels, or can the trilogy hold its own as a complete and coherent story?

Thank you in advance!

The Last Herald-Mage trilogy can hold its own. If I have my timelines right, it's chronologically the second trilogy in the series, but the trilogy before it (the Mage Wars) is in-universe prehistory that isn't really relevant until several trilogies after The Last Herald-Mage. You're safe reading just The Last Herald-Mage (though I love the whole series, so I recommend reading more, plus Vanyel et al get mentions in later books as well). The gayness is also not the focus of the series, so you're okay on that front, too.

Quote from Serith

Does anyone here know if Holly Black’s new book White Cat is GLBTTQ at all (even side characters)? I was looking at it in the stores the other day but I could not figure it out.!

Nope, doesn't have a trace of homo in it. But its a pretty good read if you don't mind het 😛

looking for this yaoi title; any help is appreciated!

Ah, thank you so much for clearing that up, gwisoon!

To answer calstine’s question, I would almost suggest avoiding sections like teens and memoirs. When gayness appears in teen novels, I find the characters tend to take a learning curve of self discovery. A good percentage of them consist of coming out of the closet and/or the issues that gay youth go through, because it is relatable to the target audience. I also mention memoirs because these are true stories and biographies, so they will likely focus around a homosexual lifestyle (or at least heavily incorporate it) of the author because, generally speaking, love and lust play big roles in a person’s life. Oh, and it is pretty evident but also avoid anthologies because short stories generally have simple and quick plots …or they are simply erotic.

A good place to look for plot-focused gay books is in fiction (literature, historical, etc) or fantasy/si-fi. For an author to get published under such a hugely vast and popular genre it requires a lot more depth then a character’s inner turmoil about who they sleep with.

To make a few recommendations based on what you like, I would suggest looking into A Strong and Sudden Thaw by R. W. Day, Scarlet and the White Wolf by Kirby Crow, and Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale. (All of which are on my current reading list, recommended under the same specifications)

[color=blue]THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN IS DEAD
[/color][color=gray]IT'S JUST THE ECHO OF THE BLOOD IN YOUR HEAD[/color]

@wolf_unknown -
Thank you for the info. I'll read Last Herald - Mage first, then - and move onto the rest if I like that one 🙂

@Serith -
Thank you for replying! I'll be sure check out what you suggested.

I wanted to know something; what kind of BL is there in The Portrait of Dorian Grey and Interview with the Vampire? I read parts of both of them a couple years back and didn't see much, so...

Also, what are Melusine and Swordspoint like? Is the BL protagonist x protagonist , villain x protagonist , villain x villain or side character x side character?

Quote from cyclamen

I wanted to know something; what kind of BL is there in The Portrait of Dorian Grey and Interview with the Vampire? I read parts of both of them a couple years back and didn't see much, so...

Also, what are Melusine and Swordspoint like? Is the BL protagonist x protagonist , villain x protagonist , villain x villain or side character x side character?

I'm not sure about the others, but Interview with the Vampire is not outright BL, but the relationships between Lestat/Louis and later Armand/Louis are pretty slashy (particularly the latter). Especially considering that they considered each other partners in life in a sense. It's probably not BL so much as it is about relationships that are much deeper and more turbulant than friendship.

Gawd, I feel like I post in this topic way too much. Hope no one minds... ^^;;

Quote from cyclamen

I wanted to know something; what kind of BL is there in The Portrait of Dorian Grey and Interview with the Vampire? I read parts of both of them a couple years back and didn't see much, so...

Also, what are Melusine and Swordspoint like? Is the BL protagonist x protagonist , villain x protagonist , villain x villain or side character x side character?

I think xxxillusionxxx described Interview with the Vampire rather well. It is one of those things that you can clearly see it if you know to look for it, but otherwise it is not blatantly in your face. Same goes with Dorian Grey, but the reasoning behind this was a little different. During Wilde's time, homosexuality was a crime so he tried to make his message without directly stating it. This article captures it rather well: http://www.glbtq.com/literature/wilde_o,5.html

I wish I had something to say about Melusine (I'll hopefully start it soon), but I really enjoyed Swordspoint. The relationship is between the main protagonist and a character who you can’t quite tell his alignment (without giving spoilers). But the story itself is basically about duels and high society. It follows a mercenary through his violent trials. It has a nice blend of tragedy, drama, politics and taboo romance. Quite enjoyable.

[color=blue]THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN IS DEAD
[/color][color=gray]IT'S JUST THE ECHO OF THE BLOOD IN YOUR HEAD[/color]

@Serith
As long as the posts are relevant, post away. 🙂

And as for The Portrait of Dorian Grey, it's mostly...
I'm not sure how to explain. Hints, maybe? It was hinted.
Especially with the whole admiration and certain statements.
As Serith's mentioned, homosexuality was illegal. You couldn't go
I read the novel years ago and was rather repulsed by the misogynistic nature of the writing.

What can I say? It's not my favorite novel.
I'm definitely glad it was Wilde's only novel...
The plot is interesting. The execution wasn't to my liking.
It's like he'd felt obliged to fill in the pages to turn this into a full-length novel and get paid some more... Dickens style, ya know? 🤣

Er, yeah... Now I'm rambling.

Just a small note.
You can't actually call them 'yaoi or shounen-ai books", because those are Japanese terms. ;3

There're many man x man novels out there.
A lot are smutty and rather easy to find.
So far, I've only really enjoyed a single novel of that kind. With a sexual relationship. ;p
I'm a very picky reader... I don't read what I don't like...
And unfortunately, I'm not big on relationship centered novels...
Especially with copious amounts o sex... (surprising, ain't it?)

Anyways, a classic is of course Maurice.

Hrodulf and Bjornolfr, you will not be forgotten.
[img]http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp199/SyberAngelGabrielle/couplesig.jpg[/img]
[color=black]And if the world were black and white,
you would be my rainbow in shades of grey.[/color]

Click 'n Play!

If I had a fantasy self, it'd be a tentacle monster.

When it comes to 'The Vampire Chronicles' by Anne Rice - 'The Vampire Armand' is 100% BL, not just undertones.

And I've read somewhere that in the first version of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' was more... straightforward in terms of yaoi (I'll use this term although it's Japanese, because it's convenient 🙂 ), but it was changed because of controversy it caused.

Thank you very much for the information, guys! (And... this post is not 'relevant', is it? ^^)

Do we have any steampunk fans here?

I just found an interesting book on sale today called Havemercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett. What caught my attention was that Lynn Felwelling (author of the Nightrunner series) and Ellen Kushner (Swordspoint) had comments on the back, both of which I am a fan of (and write gay fantasy). I trust their opinion, so I bought it and found out that it is indeed homosexual. I was already excited to find a steampunk novel, but now I'm just overly thrilled to read this!

If you are Canadian, you should check you local Chapters/!ndigo/Coles because it is a hardcover bargain at the moment (only $5.99). Cherry on the cake... but stock is limited.

[color=blue]THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN IS DEAD
[/color][color=gray]IT'S JUST THE ECHO OF THE BLOOD IN YOUR HEAD[/color]

I haven't read these two so I can't attest to their worth, but here goes;

Carnival by Elizabeth Bear - Science fiction , politics

In Old Earth’s clandestine world of ambassador-spies, Michelangelo Kusanagi-Jones and Vincent Katherinessen were once a starring team. But ever since a disastrous mission, they have been living separate lives in a universe dominated by a ruthless Coalition—one that is about to reunite them.
The pair are dispatched to New Amazonia as diplomatic agents. Allegedly, they are to return priceless art. Covertly, they seek to tap its energy supply. But in reality, one has his mind set on treason. And among the extraordinary women of New Amazonia, in a season of festival, betrayal, and disguise, he will find a new ally—and a force beyond any that humans have known…

The God Eaters by Jesse Hajicek - Fantasy , politics , supernatural

Ashleigh Trine is headed by rail to Churchrock, a high security prison in the remote desert, for his inflammatory pamphlets questioning the government's policies. The only reason he wasn't hanged for treason was because The Watch, an exclusive, all white wearing police force dedicated to maintaining order, has discovered he possesses a talent for empathy, a magical gift that The Watch wants to investigate. All the prisoners at Churchrock have some kind of talent, and it's as much a diabolical research facility as it is a jail.
On the train, Ashleigh meets Kieran Trevarde, a gunslinger and assassin, also being sent to Churchrock to be studied. Kieran is a ghoul-witch, a very rare talent, with the ability to bring death to others. Once imprisoned together in the same cell, Ashleigh and Kieran realize that their talents no longer function. They're controlled by some magical spell that suppresses their special abilities.

Kieran, a life long outlaw living on society's edge, is open about his preference for men, even though it is considered abhorrent by the authorities, while Ashleigh, a sheltered big city intellectual rebel, does his best to keep his own attraction to Kieran at bay. Their situation seems hopeless, but Ashleigh and Kieran are young and resourceful. They form a precarious bond and immediately begin to plan their escape. But there are forces, both enlightening and dark, at play here, manipulating the two men internally and externally.

Once more, I really don't know whether these are any good - but I hope so! 🙂

The GLBT Fantasy Fiction Resources site might be of some interest to people. I haven't actually gone through it all too much, but they do have book reviews and readings lists.

The Goat Song- Frank Yerby
Ariston, a Spartiate, is the hero cursed and blessed by a matchless beauty that was the Hellenic ideal. This was a time of burgeoning culture and festering decadence, of excessive cruelty and sexuality. Here are found the battlefield and the helot slave market, the temple and the brothel, the discourse of Socrates and the Dionysian revel of Alcibiades, the brutal code of Sparta and the brilliant sophistication of Athens. Ariston is enslaved and brought to Athens where he earns his freedom and fortune only to face Sparta as an Athenian.

It's ancient Greece, so you know what to expect: rape, torture, murder, war and prostitution, with shonen-ai on the side; a bit trashy, but awesome fun.

you know you want it

Quote from wolf_unknown

The GLBT Fantasy Fiction Resources site might be of some interest to people. I haven't actually gone through it all too much, but they do have book reviews and readings lists.

Oooh~ I just love web pages like this! It shall consume my life for the next few days. Thank you so much for linking this for us.

I actually have a page to share as well (now that you have reminded me)
Barnes & Noble This page makes it so easy to customise your search preference. Reminds me a bit of Baka-Updates, but for books instead of manga. I have the subject set to "Gay and Lesbian Fiction", but you can pick subcategories from that point. (You can target the focus of the book, alter the genres, and even things like location and time periods, etc)

And here are some other links that speak for themselves:
Pink Books
Gay Teen Books
Pro Slash

[color=blue]THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN IS DEAD
[/color][color=gray]IT'S JUST THE ECHO OF THE BLOOD IN YOUR HEAD[/color]