All the Painted Stars

This last year, I found a rekindled love for historical fiction in a new form for me - queer storytelling. Given who I am as a person, it's surprising that I've reached my big age before stumbling on this love for queer historical fiction. Nonetheless, I am thoroughly enjoying my new finds.

I've been looking forward to All The Painted Stars by Emma Denny since I saw it on Netgalley. Knowing I've too much on my plate, I didn't elect to be an ARC reader & am thoroughly pleased with having purchased the book. It's just so good.

We have an unputdownable late Middle Ages tale of the duty to family, friends, and oneself. Lily shines in the role of a Sapphic woman disguising herself as a man in order to save her secret love from the societal expectation of heteronormative oppression- sorry, marriage. Jo is an amalgamation of the …

When your bestie’s hand in marriage is being given away as a prize in a jousting tournament, obviously that means one thing. Steal some armour and a horse and ride across the country to enter the tournament pretending to be a man. Show up enough of the other competitors and maybe you can save her from an arranged marriage. And if you happen to win… maybe she’d marry you. Joking, joking. Unless… No, not serious at all, marry a woman in a suit of armour? Insane… obviously she’s not serious… unless you’re into that?

This is a very sweet sapphic story with Joanna being a bit useless and not knowing she’s gay af, and Lily is more than eager to smash men with swords for wanting to win her girl. What’s a few broken ribs if you can give your love her freedom? It’s a sequel but you don’t really …