Rachel ✨
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raymariereads.bsky.social
Rachel ✨
@raymariereads.bsky.social
she/her
Reposted by Rachel ✨
Not expecting better from Worldcons institutionally, but I would like SFF culture broadly to care at least as much about real names in real other languages as they do about fantasy ones, such that you would take it upon yourself to get it right, even if no one chases you with a pronunciation guide
August 17, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
Plus ça change at the Hugos this year about what gets mispronounced—the Lipan title of Darcie Little Badger's award-winning book SHEINE LENDE; the Cambodian first name of the author of THE MINISTRY OF TIME, Kaliane Bradley—or casually skipped, like the khōréō masthead with all those foreign names.
August 17, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
Rumor has it that if you’re on Kobo, THE HOLLOW PLACES and THE TWISTED ONES are on sale for $1.99 (at least in Canada)
August 13, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
you all didn’t ask for it!

announcing the inaugural wahugo awards for peeved voters, a place to have your say on the best SFF that did not make it into the hugo shortlists

nominations will be open until the 16th of april, and the shortlist will be announced soon after

forms.gle/xf2Adx9nnFSQ...
the wahugo awards for peeved voters
the less said about the shortlist for best novel the better! it is time for us to usurp and provide the one, true shortlist for the best SFF books of 2024. all novels, novellas and YA can apply but if...
forms.gle
April 6, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
This is so minor compared to everything that’s going on, but I’m begging folks to stop using Gideon the Ninth comps for straight romantasies
April 3, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
Without reading too much into it, an e.g. of how vulnerable the recent surge in queer SFF is to being seen as a trend. If/when the queerness of something like Gideon is seen as unimportant, that we can just use its ~vibes~, then its easy enough to not take the 'risk' of queer with the 'next Gideon'.
Idk, I’m not sure Gideon the Ninth is an appropriate comp title when your deal announcement is het-focused. Like, it’s not just bones. The queerness is kinda a core element, y’know?
April 3, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
Hello new people. I have two books coming out this year from @tordotcom.bsky.social: The Emilie Adventures, a revised compilation of the two Emilie which have been out of print for awhile (art by Colin Verdi), in May, and Queen Demon, the sequel to Witch King, (art by Cynthia Sheppard) in October.
January 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
The lovely @amandajohnston.bsky.social of Torch Literary Arts gave me a shot last year and published this spec-fic short story, Excise.
Cw: Body horror, cannibalism.
It is now #HugoAwards season & I'd love any voters to give it a read & nom. #blackbooksky
www.torchliteraryarts.org/post/friday-...
Friday Feature: Mon Misir
Mon Misir (she/they) is a queer Black British writer and recovering lawyer based in London, UK. They use their writing to explore facets of their experience as a black woman, with a speculative bent. ...
www.torchliteraryarts.org
February 11, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Vote for Ceinwen 🥳
February 11, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
In 2025, celebrating Black History Month isn't just about honoring Black legacies—it's an act of defiance against an administration that seeks to erase Black voices, downplay our struggles as a direct consequence of white supremacy, and deny our progress.

mareas.binderybooks.com/item/nZ2IYMD...
Bindery Books | Happy Black History Month
In 2025, celebrating Black History Month isn't just abo...
mareas.binderybooks.com
February 1, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Lads she’s back on tumblr www.tumblr.com/raymariereads
raymariereads
Rachel | she/her | idk
www.tumblr.com
January 30, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Will not be doing the “vibes I bring to the function” post because I am not at the function, I am at home thanks for understanding
January 24, 2025 at 4:26 AM
I’ve barely read anything this year and now I HAVE A SWITCH AGAIN so I will be reading even less 😆
January 14, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
At this point anyone with any interest in the women of The Odyssey has heard of and/or read Madeline Miller’s Circe, but have you read Claire North’s FANTASTIC Songs of Penelope trilogy? Women’s politics! Gorgeous writing! Goddesses as narrators! Ft. my favourite interpretation of nearly everyone.
December 28, 2024 at 2:43 AM
We definitely should have had more than 5 seasons, but also so glad for what we did get.
I am of two minds about Star Trek: Lower Decks.

One one hand: I can't believe this show exists, I can't believe we got FIVE SEASONS of it, and we are so, so lucky to have had it because it just feels like it is too good to have actually happened.

On the other: I want a lot more than five seasons.
December 9, 2024 at 11:50 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
Marines hits the nail on the head with this, particularly this part:

“It’s not that authors can’t ever write characters of color in fantastical settings. It's a problem, however, that we don’t even know if these ARE men of color, really, and our best evidence is a list of harmful stereotypes.”
We've all got our list of publishing trends that need to die in 2025. For me, near the top is ambiguously described men of color in fantasy romance—and the constant cycle of white women arguing about them online.

NEW POST: mareas.binderybooks.com/item/Db59xLg...

Pleaaaase follow! It’s free!
Bindery Books | the ambiguously described maybe man of ...
And why I'm over it.
mareas.binderybooks.com
November 29, 2024 at 8:50 PM
Who are your autobuy authors? #booksky

✨Becky Chambers
✨Roshani Chokshi
✨T. Kingfisher
✨Martha Wells
✨Vaishnavi Patel
✨Emily St. John Mandel
✨Natalie Haynes
✨Silvia Moreo-Garcia
Who are your auto-buy authors?

Mine are:
✨ N.K. Jemisin
✨ R.F. Kuang
✨ Nnedi Okorafor
✨ P. Djèlí Clark
✨ Martha Wells
✨ Akwaeke Emezi
✨ Moses Ose Utomi
✨ Nghi Vo

#booksky
November 21, 2024 at 4:20 AM
#BookNetFest is the best part of my year every year. So excited for next year!
This is a bit niche, but I think Bluesky is going to be awesome for #BookNetFest. Really excited for the online/IRL convos this will enable. (cc @mynameismarines.bsky.social)

Also, this is your reminder to register/come to BNF this year! booknetfest.com/register/
Register - BookNet Fest
booknetfest.com
November 18, 2024 at 4:17 PM
Me and my on repeat

I am not answering for any of these.
November 18, 2024 at 12:41 AM
My current read #BookSky
November 17, 2024 at 8:17 PM
When will someone make a sleepcover case for the kobo libra colour that has space for the stylus and is also cute 😫

I don’t think I’m asking for too much here 😔
November 17, 2024 at 8:15 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
I’m not a fan of this uptick in retooling fanfiction for publishing. Fanfic relies on an IP foundation and exists in conversation with other fics and readers. Stripped of that, what’s often left are hollow worlds and characters that lack the depth to fully interact with their settings.
November 16, 2024 at 1:13 PM
A new social media means another place to talk about this book so *dusts off microphone* 😌

Paleontology and Frankenstein, yes, but also womanhood and motherhood and ambition and love and grief and chronic illness and legacy and identity. It is slow-paced but perfect gothic vibes #BookSky
November 16, 2024 at 2:09 AM
What are people currently reading? #BookSky

Because I can never read just one thing at a time 😅
November 15, 2024 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Rachel ✨
Me every time a new person is announced on that man’s team.
November 15, 2024 at 4:41 AM