Casey Moses | LGBTQ Reads

Today on the site I’m delighted to reveal the cover of For the Love of the Quest by Alexandra Ammon Parthun, a debut Sapphic Historical Romance releasing August 11, 2026 from Alcove Press! Here’s the story:

The search for King Arthur’s Excalibur invites danger… and potentially love in this Sapphic historical romance, perfect for fans of Cat Sebastian and Freya Marske.

Lady Edith Darling is supposed to live a quiet life in her family’s manor. She is not supposed to go unchaperoned on a quest to find Excalibur. Determined to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, Edith packs her satchel with Arthurian legends, pastries, and her grandmother’s ashes and runs off to hire a mercenary.

Thomasin Shaw leads the most feared gang in London. For years, she had the constabulary safely in her pocket, until a scandal involving was brought to light. Now they’re demanding an enormous sum of money—without which Thomasin will lose the protection of the police along with her criminal empire. But when the rich Lady Edith waltzes into her life seeking an escort for a treasure hunt, Thomasin sees a willing kidnapping victim and a massive ransom.

As Edith’s clues lead them to underground chambers booby-trapped with arrows, doors locked with arcane puzzles, and even Arthur’s fabled round table, Thomasin finds herself swept up in the quest—and in Edith herself. Every legendary quest has an ending, but finding Excalibur might not be enough to make this a happy one.

And here’s the romantic cover, illustrated by Casey Moses!

Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon | Penguin Random House

Alexandra Ammon Parthun is a romance and fantasy writer with a BA in creative writing from the Ohio State University. She loves immersing herself in fantasy worlds, whether it’s through books, video games, or her favorite shows. When the real world isn’t as fun as she expects it to be, she writes stories where magic exists in the way she wishes it did. Where there’s always a dramatic adventure or epic love affair to be had. All of her books have been written to a soundtrack of Taylor Swift and songs from The Vampire Diaries, and her dog Piroshki has sat in her lap for every word.

Today on the site I’m thrilled to reveal the cover for One of the Boys by Victoria Zeller, a contemporary YA releasing with Levine Querido on May 13, 2025! Here’s the story!

Grace Woodhouse has left a lot behind. She used to have a great friend group, an amazing girlfriend, and a right foot set to earn her a Division I football scholarship—before she came out as trans. As her senior year at Pageland High begins, Grace struggles to find her place in early transition, new social circles, and a life without football (especially since people keep telling her they can’t believe that she of all people is trans – whatever that means).

But when her skills as the best kicker in the state prove to be vital, her old teammates beg her to come out of retirement, dragging her back into a sport—into a way of life—she thought had turned its back on her forever. The thing is, there’s no playbook for girls like her in the world of football. And when a chance meeting cracks the door to college football back open, she has to decide how much of herself she’s willing to give up for the game she loves.

From exciting debut talent Victoria Zeller comes One of the Boys, a coming-of-age story with an unforgettable voice for the queer jocks, the straight theater kids, and everyone in between.

And here’s the powerful cover, illustrated by Jon Stich and designed by Casey Moses!

Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon

Victoria Zeller is a trans writer born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she still proudly resides. A former football player and lifelong fan, her initial focus was sports journalism before she made a sharp pivot to writing about queers who can’t stay out of trouble. Her sportswriting can be found at Defector, while her manic minute-by-minute sports analysis can be found on Twitter at @dirtbagqueer. One of the Boys is her debut novel.

Queering up your shelf, one rec at a time!