Category: Demiromantic

Beyond the Black Door

By A.M. Strickland

When 17-year-old soulwalker Kamai’s mother is killed and her life upended, Kamai gives in to the temptation to open the black door that always appears whenever she walks through others’ souls.

Publisher’s description:

Everyone has a soul. Some are beautiful gardens, others are frightening dungeons. Soulwalkers—like Kamai and her mother—can journey into other people’s souls while they sleep.

But no matter where Kamai visits, she sees the black door. It follows her into every soul, and her mother has told her to never, ever open it.

When Kamai touches the door, it is warm and beating, like it has a pulse. When she puts her ear to it, she hears her own name whispered from the other side. And when tragedy strikes, Kamai does the unthinkable: she opens the door.

A.M. Strickland’s imaginative dark fantasy features court intrigue and romance, a main character coming to terms with her asexuality, and twists and turns as a seductive mystery unfolds that endangers not just Kamai’s own soul, but the entire kingdom.

Representation: asexual MC; trans, queer, and ace side characters.

Ownvoices: per the author, “Just so it’s loud and clear: BEYOND THE BLACK DOOR features a demi-biromantic asexual main character, ace romance with an ace LI, and other queer side characters. The book is #ownvoices in that I am gray-biromantic ace (among other things).”

The Black Veins (Dead Magic #1)

By Ashia Monet

Sixteen-year-old Blythe is one of seven Guardians: magicians powerful enough to cause worldwide panic with a snap of their fingers. But Blythe spends her days pouring latte art at her family’s coffee shop, so why should she care about having apocalyptic abilities?

She’s given a reason when magician anarchists crash into said coffee shop and kidnap her family.

Heartbroken but determined, Blythe knows she can’t save them alone. A war is brewing between two magician governments and tensions are too high. So, she packs up her family’s bright yellow Volkswagen, puts on a playlist, and embarks on a road trip across the United States to enlist the help of six strangers whose abilities are unparalleled—the other Guardians.

Representation:

Gender: nonbinary, trans, and agender side characters.

Sexual orientation: Bisexual MC. Gay, bisexual, demisexual, and asexual side characters.

Race: Black MC; Chinese, Puerto Rican, Black, and Middle Eastern side characters.

Ownvoices: Black and queer representation.

The King’s Men by Nora Sakavic (All For The Game #3)

By Nora Sakavic

With Andrew back and sober, the Foxes continue to make their way towards finals. However, Andrew’s return means more to Neil than it should especially considering it doesn’t look like he’s going to survive much longer.

Publisher’s Description:

Neil Josten is out of time. He knew when he came to PSU he wouldn’t survive the year, but with his death right around the corner he’s got more reasons than ever to live.

Befriending the Foxes was inadvisable. Kissing one is unthinkable. Neil should know better than to get involved with anyone this close to the end, but Andrew’s never been the easiest person to walk away from. If they both say it doesn’t mean anything, maybe Neil won’t regret losing it, but the one person Neil can’t lie to is himself.

He’s got promises to keep and a team to get to championships if he can just outrun Riko a little longer, but Riko’s not the only monster in Neil’s life. The truth might get them all killed—or be Neil’s one shot at getting out of this alive.

Genre: Contemporary

Representation:

Gender:
Cis girls: Allison, Renee, Dan
Cis boys: Neil, Nicky, Andrew, Kevin, Aaron, Matt, Riko

Sexuality:
Gay: Nicky, Andrew
Lesbian: Minor Characters
Demisexual: Neil
Heterosexual: Kevin, Aaron, Matt, Allison, Renee, Dan, Riko

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Nicky, Andrew, Minor Characters
Demiromantic: Neil
Heteroromantic: Kevin, Aaron, Matt, Allison, Renee, Dan, Riko

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Andrew, Aaron, Neil
Latinx: Nicky
East Asian: Riko
Not mentioned: Kevin, Matt, Allison, Renee, Dan

Religion:
Christianity: Renee

Disability:
Mental Illness, Depression

Location: South Carolina

Trigger Warnings:
Substance use or alcoholism
Sexual Assault/Rape (Mentioned)
Violence
Abuse
Graphic Torture
Past Self Harm
Murder

Ownvoices: Own-voice for Ace Spectrum but not specifically demi-sexuality.

The Raven King (All For The Game #2)

By Nora Sakavic

The game against the Ravens is drawing closer and the Foxes are far from prepared. With the recent death of one of their teammates, their line-up is a mess but if Andrew would put some effort in, then maybe they could finally start doing well in their games. Neil’s the only one who can get through to him but Andrew’s not going to give up anything for free.

Publisher’s Description:

Book 2 of All for the Game; The Raven King follows The Foxhole Court

The Foxes are a fractured mess, but their latest disaster might be the miracle they’ve always needed to come together as a team. The one person standing in their way is Andrew, and the only one who can break through his personal barriers is Neil.

Except Andrew doesn’t give up anything for free and Neil is terrible at trusting anyone but himself. The two don’t have much time to come to terms with their situation before outside forces start tearing them apart. Riko is intent on destroying Neil’s fragile new life, and the Foxes have just become collateral damage.

Neil’s days are numbered, but he’s learning the hard way to go down fighting for what he believes in, and Neil believes in Andrew even if Andrew won’t believe in himself.

Genre: Contemporary

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Allison, Renee, Dan
Cis boys: Neil, Nicky, Andrew, Kevin, Aaron, Matt, Riko

Sexuality:
Gay: Nicky, Andrew
Demisexual: Neil
Heterosexual: Kevin, Aaron, Matt, Allison, Renee, Dan, Riko

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Nicky, Andrew
Demiromantic: Neil
Heteroromantic: Kevin, Aaron, Matt, Allison, Renee, Dan, Riko

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Andrew, Aaron, Neil
Latinx: Nicky
East Asian: Riko
Not mentioned: Kevin, Matt, Allison, Renee, Dan

Religion:
Christianity: Renee

Disability:
Mental Illness, Depression

Location: South Carolina

Trigger Warnings:
Substance use or alcoholism
Sexual Assault/Rape
Violence
Abuse
Homophobia
Ablest Language (R Slur)
Graphic Torture
Past Self Harm
Murder

Ownvoices: Own-voice for Ace Spectrum but not specifically demi-sexuality.

The Foxhole Court (All For The Game #1)

By Nora Sakavic

Neil Josten, runaway son of a murderous crime lord, is recruited to join the Foxes, a dysfunctional Exy team full of people with dark pasts. Neil’s whole identity is a lie but the truth can only stay hidden for so long.

Publisher’s Description:

Neil Josten is the newest addition to the Palmetto State University Exy team. He’s short, he’s fast, he’s got a ton of potential—and he’s the runaway son of the murderous crime lord known as The Butcher.

Signing a contract with the PSU Foxes is the last thing a guy like Neil should do. The team is high profile and he doesn’t need sports crews broadcasting pictures of his face around the nation. His lies will hold up only so long under this kind of scrutiny and the truth will get him killed.

But Neil’s not the only one with secrets on the team. One of Neil’s new teammates is a friend from his old life, and Neil can’t walk away from him a second time. Neil has survived the last eight years by running. Maybe he’s finally found someone and something worth fighting for.

Genre: Contemporary

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Allison, Renee, Dan
Cis boys: Neil, Nicky, Andrew, Kevin, Aaron, Seth, Matt, Riko

Sexuality:
Gay: Nicky, Andrew
Demisexual: Neil
Heterosexual: Kevin, Aaron, Seth, Matt, Allison, Renee, Dan, Riko

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Nicky, Andrew
Demiromantic: Neil
Heteroromantic: Kevin, Aaron, Seth, Matt, Allison, Renee, Dan, Riko

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Andrew, Aaron, Neil
Latinx: Nicky
East Asian: Riko
Not mentioned: Kevin, Seth, Matt, Allison, Renee, Dan

Religion:
Christianity: Renee

Disability:
Mental Illness, Depression

Location: South Carolina

Trigger Warnings:
Substance use or alcoholism
Sexual Assault
Violence
Abuse
Homophobic Language (F Slur)
Ablest Language (R Slur)
Suicide
Murder

Ownvoices: Own-voice for Ace Spectrum but not specifically demi-sexuality.

 

Rock and Riot

By

This is the 1950’s like you have never seen it before, slick hair, hot rides and everyone is queer!

Publishers Description:

With all the fashion and quirks of the 50’s comes the vintage queer love story that you’ve never heard before. Rock and Riot follows the tales of teenage delinquents learning about gender and sexual orientations while still maintaining their fabulous hair.

Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Connie, Carla, Triss, Debby
Cis boys: Frankie, Clyde, Gene, Edd, Sasha
Trans girls: Rolly
Demiboy: Sonny
Bigender: Skip
Agender: Ace
Gender Fluid: Dett

Sexuality:
Gay: Frankie
Lesbian: Connie
Bisexual: Debby, Triss, Clyde
Asexual: Carla, Edd, Ace, Dett,
Pansexual: Sonny, Skip
Demisexual: Rolly, Skip, Sasha
Gray-Asexual: Gene

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Gene
Aromantic: Edd, Dett
Panromantic: Carla, Rolly, Sasha
Demiromantic: Ace
Not mentioned in the book: Connie, Debby, Triss, Frankie, Clyde, Sonny, Skip

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Carla, Rolly, Frankie, Gene, Ace, Sonny, Sasha
Black: Connie, Dett
Not mentioned: Triss, Clyde, Debby, Edd, and Skip

Religion:
Christianity: Carla

Trigger Warnings: homophobia/homomisa, transphobia/transmisia, internalized homophobia/homomisia  

Additional Notes: This is a webcomic and is free online http://rockandriotcomic.com/post/115020071048

This entry was written by Sarah Olson. Follow Sarah on Instagram @pixie_librarian

Ownvoices: Author and artist is queer.

 

 

Hostage (The Change #2)

By Sherwood Smith

In the sequel to Stranger, Ross get kidnapped by King Voske and forced to prospect for ancient weapons. Jennie and Mia will stop at nothing to free him. The book introduces two new characters: Kerry, Paco’s half-sister, and Santiago. Kerry and Santiago don’t introduce more queer characters, though we get to see more of Brisa and Becky.

Publisher’s Description:

Welcome back to Las Anclas, a frontier town in the post-apocalyptic Wild West. In Las Anclas, the skull-faced sheriff possesses superhuman strength, the doctor can speed up time, and the squirrels can teleport sandwiches out of your hands.

In book one, Stranger, teenage prospector Ross Juarez stumbled into town half-dead, bringing with him a precious artifact, a power no one has ever had before, and a whole lot of trouble— including an invasion by Voske, the king of Gold Point. The town defeated Voske’s army, with the deciding blow struck by Ross, but at a great cost. 

In Hostage, a team sent by King Voske captures Ross and takes him to Gold Point. There he meets Kerry, Voske’s teenage daughter, who has been trained to be as ruthless as her father. While his friends in Las Anclas desperately try to rescue him, Ross is forced to engage in a battle of wills with the king himself.

Genre: Science fiction, fantasy

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Mia, Jennie, Felicité, Brisa, Becky, Kerry
Cis boys: Ross, Yuki, Indra, Santiago

Sexuality:
Gay: Yuki
Lesbian: Brisa, Becky
Demisexual: Mia
Heterosexual: Ross, Jennie, Indra, Felicité, Kerry, Santiago

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Yuki, Brisa, Becky
Heteroromantic: Ross, Jennie, Indra, Felicité, Kerry, Santiago
Demiromantic: Mia

Race/Ethnicity:
Latinx: Santiago
Japanese: Yuki
Korean: Mia, Kerry
Black: Jennie
Indian: Indra
Multiracial: Felicité
Indigenous: Ross

Disability:
Ross and Jennie have PTSD. Ross has lessened mobility in his left hand and is using a prosthetic hand to regain some of that mobility.

Trigger Warnings:
Racism
Suicide ideation
Torture

 

Stranger (The Change #1)

By Sherwood Smith

In a post-apocalyptic world, a young prospector named Ross has stolen a potentially invaluable artifact: a book. In the town of Las Anclas, he finds something he’s never had: a home. He befriends several other teenagers and falls in love. The story is filled with diverse characters and homosexuality is visibly accepted. Racism restricts itself to comments directed at the Changed, people with special abilities such as Jennie’s telepathy.

Publisher’s Description:

Many generations ago, a mysterious cataclysm struck the world. Governments collapsed and people scattered, to rebuild where they could. A mutation, “the Change,” arose, granting some people unique powers. Though the area once called Los Angeles retains its cultural diversity, its technological marvels have faded into legend. “Las Anclas” now resembles a Wild West frontier town… where the Sheriff possesses superhuman strength, the doctor can warp time to heal his patients, and the distant ruins of an ancient city bristle with deadly crystalline trees that take their jewel-like colors from the clothes of the people they killed.

Teenage prospector Ross Juarez’s best find ever – an ancient book he doesn’t know how to read – nearly costs him his life when a bounty hunter is set on him to kill him and steal the book. Ross barely makes it to Las Anclas, bringing with him a precious artifact, a power no one has ever had before, and a whole lot of trouble.

Genre: Science fiction, fantasy

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Mia, Jennie, Felicité, Brisa, Becky
Cis boys: Ross, Yuki, Indra

Sexuality:
Gay: Yuki
Lesbian: Brisa, Becky
Demisexual: Mia
Heterosexual: Ross, Jennie, Indra, Felicité

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Yuki, Brisa, Becky
Heteroromantic: Ross, Jennie, Indra, Felicité
Demiromantic: Mia

Race/Ethnicity:
Latinx: Ross
Japanese: Yuki
Korean: Mia
Black: Jennie
Indian: Indra
Multiracial: Felicité
Indigenous: Ross

Disability:
Ross has PTSD and has lost some of the mobility in his right hand. He also never learned to read as a child.

Trigger Warnings:
Racism
Aphobia/amisia

Additional Notes: Throughout the story a polyamorous relationship starts to develop.

 

Sea Foam and Silence

By Lynn E. O'Connacht

 

An asexual verse novel retelling of The Little Mermaid.

Publisher’s Description:

Be careful what you wish for…

She warned of the pain. She did.
But no warning can prepare you.
Nothing can.

How could I have known
What it is like on the dry sand?
We just watched.

It’s hard, not being able to ask
Questions, though I have learned some speech
With my hands. ˆ_ˆ

I miss my sisters.

I have made friends here.
I have laughed with them,
Learned with them, played with them.
I love them.

She said I would die if he loves someone else.
Will I die? At the beginning I wanted to. It hurts
So much. Life isn’t easy, will never be easy, but…
I don’t want to become sea foam.

Genre: Fantasy

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Maris, Asta
Cis boys: Bernhard

Sexuality:
Lesbian: Asta
Asexual: Maris, Bernhard

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Asta
Aromantic: Bernhard
Demiromantic: Maris

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Maris, Asta, Bernhard

Disability:
Maris is mute.

Location: Fantasy world based on a western country

Trigger Warnings:
Aphobia/Amisia (discussed in passing)

Additional Notes:
Maris, the main character, is a mermaid turned into a human.

Ownvoices: Ownvoices for asexuality and demiromanticism.

 

No More Heroes

By Michelle Kan

Publisher’s Description:
The peaceful nights are kept under the clandestine and watchful eye of young, gifted vigilantes the world over. But a sudden rash of vigilante deaths heralds the arrival of a new and unfamiliar enemy – one whose motive is as unclear as their identity. Someone or something seems determined to disturb the peace, and they’re going straight for the watchmen to do it.

In a city where those who are gifted make up their own rules, who will step forward when the threat of a swift end is real and there stands so little to gain?

No More Heroes is an urban fantasy action/adventure novel about young, would-be heroes who get more than they bargained for when they delve deeper into a world they never knew they were a part of.

Featuring a diverse cast of players, discord, a mystery to be solved, plenty of literary action and high-stakes battles, No More Heroes is a story about self-belief and camaraderie, persistence in the face of trials, and what it means to be the best version of yourself.

Genre: Fantasy

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Clare, Mallory, Fisticuffs, Faraday
Cis boys: Linus, Rehua, Artifice
Genderqueer/Nonbinary:
Gender Fluid: Resonance

Sexuality:
Lesbian: Mallory
Bisexual: Linus
Asexual: Clare, Resonance, Artifice
Demisexual: Faraday
Gray-Asexual: Rehua

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Mallory, Fisticuffs, Artifice
Biromantic: Linus, Faraday
Aromantic: Clare
Panromantic: Rehua
Demiromantic: Fisticuffs, Artifice
Gray Romantic: Resonance, Rehua

Race/Ethnicity:
Greek: Clare
Dutch: Mallory
Cantonese Chinese: Resonance
Indian: Artifice
Samoan: Linus
Māori: Rehua
Cambodian-Vietnamese: Faraday

Disability:
Mental illness: Clare has ADHD. Resonance has Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Cognitive disability: Linus is dyslexic.

Location: New Zealand

 

Ownvoices: Ownvoices for genderfluidity and anxiety.