From Neon Hemlock Press: Four Novellas Provide a Taste of Speculative Fiction for All

This year, Neon Hemlock Press is playing host to series of four unrelated novellas — all speculative fiction, all with queer characters from queer authors. And as novellas, all around 100 printed book pages. Fellow reviewer Joseph and I had a dive in to these small, accessible books: Queens of Noise by Leigh Harlen, Cradle and Grave by Anya Ow, Yellow Jessamine by Caitlin Starling, and Stone and Steel by Eboni J. Dunbar. Each is full of compelling characters and unique approaches to their individual genres. Pick the one that matches your taste, or try one outside your comfort zone. All are very readable. At this size and price, a taste may not be enough.

Queens of Noise Bring the Noise

Punks. Goths. Werewolves. Werecoyotes. Witches. Plus a Battle of the Bands to save a beloved club. Queens of Noise is the sort of raucous unexpected fiction made to brighten any day. Starring, Mixi, a punk rocker who happens to turn into a coyote under the full moon, and the goth glam werewolf R. Chakrabarti, the story includes a full cast of characters on both sides of the punk/goth divide. The musical fight is mirrored by their coyote/wolf distinction. Hiding away from the mainstream, which is aware of were-creatures but not exactly welcoming, both groups become wrapped up in a mysterious house and the threat it poses to their favorite music venue. Love blossoms on both sides and in the end, like any good “let’s do a show to save the thing!” story, they find that maybe they’re not all s…