I put together a short book tag for International Woman’s Day. Anyone who wants to, jump in, I’ve still not fully figured out this tagging business.

I choose to stick to books by women and about women for this one, but there are no hard and fast rules here. I also went for sci-fi and fantasy books, but that’s just because 90% of my reading is SFF.

This year’s theme for IWD is An equal world is an enabled world. So we’ll start with that

A book with a (closer to ) gender-equal society

The Dark Abyss of Our Sins by Krista D Ball

I really liked the world-building of this alternate history secondary world story, inspired by Regency-era Vatican. The world’s prejudice is focussed on mages, so things like queens, women cardinals & popes and a noblewoman inheriting and controlling the family’s wealth and power are common. my review

A book about writing your own story

Beautiful by Juliet Marillier

A fairy tale retelling from the point of view of the troll princess, who learns to carve her own path in life, making her own choices, despite what her mother had planned. my review

A story with women working together

Queens of the Wyrd by Timandra Whitecastle

I could’ve probably come up with 10 categories just for this book. It’s about a team of retired shieldmaidens, two of them mothers, getting back together to rescue one of their daughters. I loved both having women on the same team, and all the ways the book talked about motherhood, taking into account the good and the bad.  my review  

A book with a twist on a traditional gender role

We Ride The Storm by Devin Madson

I’ve been saying for years, and finally, I’ve read the book to prove it. Sex workers would make great fantasy assassins. They’ve got the opportunity and no one suspects them. my review

A woman in a man’s world

A Magical Inheritance by Krista D Ball

After inheriting a fortune in occult books Miss Elizabeth Knight is plagued with men trying to steal them away. I wish I could say the deeply misogynistic assholes of the Royal Occult Society seem unrealistic, but alas they seem far too real. Luckily Elizabeth has the help of her savvy aunt and other smart women to navigate this situation. my review

A book with a matriarchal society

Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden

This book is set on a living, goey, very organic spaceship, populated with a matriarchal society, strongly divided by class and gender. I liked how it used this flip on usual gender dynamics to show just how ridiculous some prejudices are. my review

A book with a positive romantic relationship

Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri

I loved how Mehr and Amun grow their relationship around respecting, wrestling any bit of consent they can in their arranged marriage situation. They do everything they can to not hurt and use each other when that’s something they could do very easily. my review

A book featuring a women’s issue

Fortune’s Fool by Angela Boord

This book mentions a topic that I rarely see come up in SFF books (although one other book in this list includes it). Kyra’s entire life is shattered by the in-world consequences of this thing. The story is her going from being powerless to gaining ground bit by bit to make a place in the world and get some justice. my review

Flowers and chocolates

Spell and Caramels by Erin Johnson

A sweet cozy murder-mystery series about a magical baker. A wholesome series with baked goods that sound amazing. my review

For the tricky tagging bit:

I tag Lisa @ Way Too Fantasy, Para @ To Other Worlds, Eriophora @ Black Forrest Basilisk and Keikii @ Keiiki Eats Books