Angry Girls and Furious Femmes

Gender essentialism sucks, the (cishetero) patriarchy sucks, ableism sucks, and white supremacy sucks. Fuck these things. Anger is valid, and rage is powerful. 

Brought to you by my furious girl Lavender, who has been raging against rules since she was born a little feralina kitten. She knows the value of a well-timed swipe, and she’s only gotten more adamant in her misandry since we adopted three boy cats. 

This feature focuses on representations of femme rage against the machine of all varieties. (And while I know white, cis girls are still grossly over-represented when it comes to righteous anger in fiction, I try to focus on books that buck this trend. However, I won’t always succeed, so if you know of any books that you want to recommend, I’d love to check them out!! Please drop me an email or comment anytime.)

  • Cover of "I Am Margaret Moore," which features a few photos of a white girl in black and white superimposed on each other, to show her moving her head; the background is black and the lettering is huge in orange, cursive font
    I Am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin
    This is a weird, lyrical, complex book. It won’t be for everyone, but if you’re into girl groups, revenge, and a slow-burn mystery with supernatural elements, consider this one.
  • Cover of "In the Ravenous Dark," with title in white script font at the bottom, over an image of a pale femme person with red-rimmed eyes (probably crying blood), wearing an elaborate sparkly headpiece. The background is black, with red illustrated flowers all over.
    In the Ravenous Dark by AdriAnne (A. M.) Strickland
    This book is SOOOOOO GOOD. If you love furious, queer femmes literally smashing the patriarchy, read this NOW.
  • Cover of "The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina," featuring the title in thin white text at the bottom, against a black backdrop. The top half is an illustration of a Latinx femme person with long dark hair and the images of 2 blue birds and a flower at their collarbone. They're facing forward against a red backdrop with flowers.
    The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
    This book is so good, and so deep, and I could never do it justice.
  • Cover of "The River Has Teeth," with title in large block white font against an illustration of an owl, a green bush, and a yellow and brown moth. The overall background color is black.
    The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters
    This book fucking rocks. Here, nature is alive–red in tooth and claw and bewitched by the dying wish of a murdered witch, and angry girls have the final say.
  • Image for "Blood is another word for hunger," with title in bright red font over an abstracted illustration of a person holding another injured person, both of whom are wearing white. The background is shades of red.
    Blood is Another Word for Hunger by Rivers Solomon
    Free on tor.com, this gob-smack of a story is classic Solomon, and it’ll change your life.
  • Cover of 'Black Water Sister,' with title and author Zen Cho's name in large block white font over an illustration of an Asian femme person with long black hair and pale skin, wearing a black shirt, wrapped in greyish-blue and purple flames, against a blue backdrop with hanging red lanterns
    Black Water Sister by Zen Cho
    Zen Cho does SO MUCH in this novel, and all of it is amazing!
  • Cover of 'The Liar of Red Valley,' with title in large white font, partly obscured with dead branches snaking off of trees that cover the page, against a red background. In the bottom right corner is a person walking into a cave or natural opening.
    The Liar of Red Valley by Walter Goodwater
    If you like small town cosmic horror, snarky give-no-fucks girl protagonists, awesome Latinx brujeria, and/or an inspiring, snarky ACAB ethos, definitely check this book out.
  • Cover of "Ghost Wood Song," with the title font resembling wood or brown vines, taking up the majority of the image, surrounded by red flowers with a few bees on them. AT the bottom is a snake emerging onto the title.
    Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters
    A hauntingly gorgeous Southern gothic world, but a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion means the haunting ends a bit too soon
  • Cover of "Foul is Fair," with title in large white font over a colorblocked image of a light-skinned femme person, with short black hair and a bold red lip, framed with yellow on top, green on the left, and red underneath. A splash of red, like blood-splatter, interrupts the green and the title.
    Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin
    The book is fucking dazzling. Read it (as long as you’re ok with a rape-revenge plot that’s truly empowering and not some misogynist torture porn shit or self-abnegating morality play.
  • Cover of "Girl, Serpent, Thorn" with title and author Melissa Bashardoust's name in black text over a white background, with 2 albino snakes weaving through roses and thorns. The tagline reads: "Sometimes the princess is a monster" at the bottom.
    Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
    I’m not usually a fan of fairy-tale retellings, but this book grabbed me from page one. And unlike so many books I will rant about on here, it stuck the landing too, pulling off a near-perfect ending that affirmed a pro-anger ethos that’s so crucial to see these days. So, yay!