Hi folks!

I celebrated UK Pancake Day a little early yesterday, as I personally like to have a distraction from Valentine’s. I love love, but I’ve just never been a Valentine’s boy. For those for whom this holiday isn’t your thing, here are 3 romance-free diverse SFF books that I love.

Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh

A brilliant graphic novel by a Palestinian author about an oppressive empire, and a young girl from a marginalised group who signs up for the army as her only route to citizenship. Once she gets there however, her perception of the empire is challenged, and she sees a dire need for change.

The Upper World by Femi Fadugba

A Black boy from south east London experiences the worst day of his life, but then discovers a way to travel back in time, can he change his future?

I adore this book and the way it represents south east London, a very Black area of London and where I lived during my 20s. The dialogue is written in SE London dialect too, which is rare to see and find very well. There’s also tons of fun wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff.

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

This is a standalone Discworld novel, a comedy fantasy Mulan retelling, that follows a young ‘girl’ who signs up for the army and pretends to be a boy. I say ‘girl’ because this was the first positive transmasc rep I’d ever encountered as a kid, and many other trans people have identified with it. Terry Pratchett (my favourite author), said he was honoured that the trans community took comfort in it.

Disco xx

Hi folks!

I’ve had a wild reading week. I’ve been flat out at work and instead of cosying up with comfort reads, I delved into conceptual sci fi and weird horror instead. Everything I read was great though! But perhaps not for the squeamish.

There is No Antimemetics Division by qntm.

A mind-bending conceptual sci fi thriller about an organisation dealing with unknown entities that manipulate and wipe memories.

One of the best sci fi books I have EVER read. I’m still thinking about it. Confusing, enthralling, dark, funny… a masterful piece of writing.

Chomp Chomp by Azalea Crowley

A horror romance novella from one of my absolute favourite writers. An elegant Asian-American woman goes on a date in the 80s, but the evening has surprises in store…

This is a lot gorier than Azalea’s usually cute/creepy work, and I am so here for it. But be warned, it’s a… well… it’s a LOT. I had a blast though. I really am in my horror phase.

How to Cook and Eat the Rich by Sunyi Dean

A short story about cooking and eating the rich. I don’t want to say more than that other than I loved it! Very funny and I loved the format, all done in second person one-sided dialogue, which worked fantastically for the story.

And one of the coolest covers ever.

Let me know what you’re reading in the comments, or join us on the Discord!

Love,

Disco

Hi folks!

I have been having a brilliant reading week, filling my boots with dystopian sci fi and queer horror. Both books I read were utterly brilliant and very different.

Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

How have I not read Chuck Tingle before?? This is a brilliant sci fi horror about a bisexual statistics professor who witnesses the horror of a mass ‘bad luck’ event, where 8 million people die in bizarre, unlikely ways. She withdraws from the world, but when a government agent tells her a Las Vegas casino may have had something to do with it, she tags along.

So fun, so weird, and has so much to (subtly) say about the way people in our world deal with crazy mass events. Loved it.

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

A Moroccan-American woman is sent to a for-profit ‘retention facility’ after an AI algorithm that monitors her dreams flags her as a risk, likely to commit a crime. While imprisoned, she tries to figure out how it could have happened.

This was obviously very reflective of a certain… situation today, and infuriating, but also brilliant and clever and surprising. It’s pretty contemplative, not a whole ton of action, but oh man it really enraged and energised me. Brilliant book.

Happy reading!

Disco x

Hi there Disco Dancers!

Today I wanted to share some brilliant Black sci fi with you all. Growing up, I loved sci fi. I devoured books by Brian Aldiss, Philip K Dick, Frank Herbert. But I didn’t see authors or people like me in that space. Things are thankfully different now! Here are some recent favourites:

The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden

This is a wild ride of a book set in a future South Africa, featuring:

An AI uprising

South African demigods

A crazy mutant virus

Black queer love

A trans politician

A pop star with multiple sclerosis and powers

It’s a crazy mish mash but it really, really works!

Clap Back by Nalo Hopkinson

This is a fantastic short story about an artist with uses nano technology to make ‘African inspired’ art which recounts African people’s memories, and the Black activist who suspects there’s exploitation involved.

Augmented by Kenechi Udogu

This is a YA book set in a post apocalyptic London where people live in bubbles to protect them from the heat, and some people can sing to plants to make them grow. When a girl discovers she had that ability, she must decide whether she wants to be ‘augmented’ and use her power for the state, but she doesn’t have the whole picture.

I thought this was really fun, but did end a little too conveniently for me, obviously setting it up for a sequel. Too many things happened ‘by chance’ and took me out of it right at the end. It’s worth it for the sci fi concepts though, the vision of alternative London is really captivating. I definitely want more!

Love,

Disco

Hi folks!

In case you missed it, I just announced that my queer dystopian novella THIS IS HOW THE WORLD ENDS is coming this autumn, published by Nefarious Bat Press!

Aside from that, I have also had a really great reading week:

Black Dolls by Rachel Faturoti and Flo Woolley

This graphic is novel so much fun.

Black girls joining a battle of the bands and smashing the system.

For fans of We Are Lady Parts!

The Wolf and his King by Finn Longman

This is a beautiful queer medieval retelling about a werewolf and a king. The prose is gorgeous, the story surprising, the romance full of yearning. I absolutely loved it!

Love,

Disco

Good news everyone!

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve signed with Nefarious Bat Press, and my debut novella THIS IS HOW THE WORLD ENDS will be published this autumn!

It’s a queer dystopian story about the end of humanity and what comes after. I can’t wait for it to be out in the world.

Nefarious Bat Press is an indie publisher that specialises in queer horror and dark fiction. They published Tradwife, one of my favourite books from last year!

Also they are very very anti-Gen AI, which I love.

Cover reveal hopefully coming soon!

Love,

Disco

Happy New Year folks!

Here’s what I read over the festive period, an eclectic mix of genres, with some real gems.

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

This was our December book club book, over on the Discord!

A Native American rom com about a Chickasaw woman who lies on her CV to get a corporate job, with a very hot Native coworker, but then her lies spiral out of control.

I loved this book. I wasn’t expecting it to be so political (of course I expected a bit), but I loved the discussions around racism, poverty, financial insecurity and so on. And the romance is super sweet.

A Rather Vengeful Accord by Danielle Knight

A YA dark academia / action fantasy about a grumpy necromancer who has to collaborate with her rival and compete in magical sword fights against eldritch horrors to enter a prestigious university. Fun banter, horrible monsters! Really enjoyed this, though the ending felt a bit too much like it was artificially setting up for a sequel.

The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin

A martial arts sci fi fantasy about a world where warriors are trained to fight deadly one on one MMA battles instead of countries going to war. It follows a young fighter riding through the ranks, trying to survive against a punishing regime.

I’ve nearly finished this and I love it!! It’s wild and very very violent and brutal, but so fun and action packed.

Love,

Disco

Hi Disco Dancers,

Happy New Year! I hope you’re all doing well.

Something different to start the year off, my top movies and TV shows of 2025. Don’t worry, this is a one off! Things will stay book focused going forward, but I wanted to share because there were some real diverse gems in there.

Not all of these came out last year, but that’s when I discovered them…

Top 10 queer movies and TV shows

Lesbian Space Princess

I Hear the Sunspot

Femme

Interview with the Vampire

Cinderella Closet

Pillion

10 Dance

I Cannot Reach You

Medusa Deluxe

My Stubborn

Top 10 movies with BIPOC MCs

Exit (Korean film)

Femme

First Love

10 Dance

Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes

IP Man

The Raid 2

Nope

Kpop Demon Hunters

Sinners

Top 10 TV shows (overall)

Crash Landing on You

Shogun

Supacell

Physical Asia

Andor Season 2

Rome

The Artful Dodger

Rivals

I Hear the Sunspot

My Stubborn

Top 10 movies (overall)

Sinners

Klaus

Exit

Kpop Demon Hunters

Conclave

Beyond the Infinte Two Minutes

The Wild Robot

Ip Man

First Love

The Lair of the White Worm

Let me know your favourites in the comments!

Disco xx

Hi folks!

The year is almost up, here’s my last bookish roundup! All books by BIPOC authors with BIPOC MCs.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Cosy, cute, found family, zombie rooster. My top BIPOC read of the year, and I blurbed the proof!

Red City by Marie Lu

Rival alchemists, one Chinese, one Indian. An incredible fantasy world with high stakes and a heart wrenching romance.

(S)kin by Ibi Zoboi

A verse novel about Caribbean fire witches, family secrets, and two teenage girls trying to survive their inner nature.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

An incredible indigenous historical vampire book, the writing is dense but impeccable.

Wicked Flavors by Azalea Crowley

An autistic doll collector strikes a  supernatural deal a mysterious antique dealer with a cane (both are also mixed heritage). Absolute carnage ensues.

Dulhaniyaa by Talia Bhatt.

A Desi lesbian romance with a transfemme love interest. Dancing, romance and bonkers Bollywood vibes.

Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai.

A queer Japanese boy finds a century old diary of a woman who sings for ghosts. Beautiful Madam Butterfly retelling.

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Two PHD students, one Chinese, travel to academic hell to find their supervisor. It’s basically one long in-joke/nod to academia, which I enjoyed, but definitely not for everyone!

Here to Slay by Radhika Sanghani

Buffy but with sapphic British-Indian demon slayers. SO fun.

Marigold Mind Laundry by Junguen Yun

A bittersweet, melancholy Korean fantasy about a lonely immortal woman opening a laundry to wash away people’s bad memories, finding a new family along the way.

Happy New Year everyone!

Disco x