I enjoyed this book about myths and folklore and queer history - something I am not particularly knowledgeable about; the book was an engaging and accessible way to learn more about it. Overall this was well-written and clear, and although I think it was a bit of a stretch to include chapters about AI, aliens, robots and superheroes, I can understand why in a few centuries they will also be part of what we call folklore. Despite being less interested in these topics than the classical myths (from Europe and beyond), I enjoyed these chapters, particularly the ones about robots which raised interesting questions. The tone of the book was refreshingly respectful - Sacha Coward explains in the introduction how he went about gendering the people/characters he writes about, trying to conform to their identity as much as possible, and takes a lot of time to explain why this may still be inaccurate and how our current thinking about genders and sexuality does not necessarily translate into ancient times or cultures.

Bonus points for including pictures and illustrations, which saved me having to google every art work mentioned by Coward, and added to the depth of the book.

This book was a very interesting study of both queer Identities and foklore/ fantastical storytelling. As a fellow queer historian I truly appreciated the care the author takes with the subject matter, not to mention the use of not just euro-centric history, but Stories from around the world.

The research was well done as well as presented, despite the subject matter I would however still have liked a bit more "whimsy" or humour in the writing. However that is a prefance question and not a criticism.

I thank the author for writing queer non fiction for academic audience!

This review will also appear on storygraph (potentially edited)

This is a fun, thought-provoking, extensively researched look at pretty everything alt in history/myth/folklore.

The history of (folk) culture, customs, identities, and deities has come down to us in a very sanitised, hetero-normative, almost two-dimensional form. Books and other sources of information misinform, misattribute, obfuscate, and generally do anything and everything to keep up the approved appearances.

Sacha Coward is one of several authors currently doing everything possible to alter that straight, homogenous, Eurocentric narrative. It's a narrative that's so pervasive that you may not have noticed the cracks and superficiality until you start looking. And reading. And thinking.

'Queer as folklore' does a lot of the looking for you. It ranges far and wide in time and space, covering the ancient Egyptians, witchcraft, Dr Who, spiritualism, and many other topics. It doesn't try to force people or traditions or beliefs into contemporary queer identities, instead presenting evidence or interpretations and leaving you, the reader, to draw your own conclusions.

Not something to be read straight through but very enjoyable in bite-sized chunks.

Queer as Folklore felt well-researched and Coward's writing style is accessible and inclusive. As a person without much background knowledge of LGBTQIA+ history Coward covered enough to ensure understanding of the topic in hand but not so much that it distracted from the main topic of queer representation in folklore.

Some of the sections within the chapters felt a little disjointed and it wasn't always clear why a specific section was included in a chapter where the relevance wasn't entirely explained. Where the sections jump a little a small intro leading on from the previous section would have helped it make more sense. There were also a few chapters where Coward's enthusiasm for the subject matter perhaps took away from the point being made by trying to cram in too much information.

I really enjoyed relearning some folklore in a new historical context and would encourage others to read this as well. It's a real eye opener.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book. 

Lovely book that made me think of all the stories I felt seen (but not quite). Especially growing up with Disney-fied fairytales, it's easy to forget there were real (maybe queer?) people who came up with these stories. 
Definitely a book I want to own, so I can also read the books mentioned and come back to it time and time again.

I do recommend this if the premise interests you! I liked this author’s voice for nonfiction, I found it engaging. Also giving kudo’s for reasonable chapter length.

I struggled a bit to get through this book, but when I finally did I appreciated the history and what I learned through the text. My main struggles were with how that information and those stories were presented, not with the information itself. I especially loved the chapter on mermaids, which I think was the best section of the book, although the sections on shifters and more modern myths were also interesting. I also found it rather Eurocentric, which I realize was probably to limit the material that needed to be covered but still left the book feeling somewhat lopsided.

I was really hyped up when I saw I had been approved to read an advance copy of Queer as Folklore and was not disappointed.
It's a mixed-up of a fairy tale book slash history and it's very well done. The author incluses all the sources and the work behind the book is phenomenal, I have a lot of respect for the author.
Unfortunately, I have DNF the book. Now, it's not because it's a bad book -- on the contrary! But the repetitive uses of JKR and her Harry Potter series has been a turned down for me and I tried getting passed it but no. I feel like it could have been handled way better but it's my own thoughts on the subject.
Overall, I would recommend the book, even if I haven't finished it because all the parts I've read were, like I said, well written and documented, but I would warn the reader that there is mention of JKR and the Harry Potter series in the book.
Thank you again for the occasion to read an advance copy of Queer as Folklore.

3.5 stars. I thought from the description that this book would be more playful but it was a little dry for me. The topic of discussion is so interesting and could have been very fun but it read a bit more like a textbook. It is obviously very well researched and I appreciate the ideas of the author, and I think I would have a physical copy of this book I could refer back to for specific information because it is very informative! It was just not what I was expecting after such an exciting sounding blurb.

Thank you to Unbound and NetGalley for the early copy of this book

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this fabulous and majestic read!

Now, I am definitely not one of those readers who prefers non fiction as opposed to fiction. I am also not one of those readers who prefers heavy myth and lore(maybe because the hype around it idk). Considering this and knowing myself all too well, I figured worse case scenario, this wouldnt be for me. No harm no foul. But the beauty here is that it was. And its not just for me but for everyone really.

Its a book that will be appealing to those in the LGBTQ+ community, which I am a proud member of the B team! And it is one that is done so well, when sometimes books in the realm of queerness or identity seem to be too preachy or based in opinion. Here in lies the truth with the strength of the title. Read it, its a breeze, but be warned, you will be immersed and you wont look up until the book is done.

A very strong 4.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book!

“Queer as Folklore” 4/5 ⭐️

While I do enjoy nonfiction, it is not what I read most frequently. However, I was really drawn to the subject matter of this book! As a queer woman, I love learning about queer history and stories. Overall, Sacha Coward does a good job presenting and exploring the information within the book.

It was a lovely reminder that LGBTQ+ have always existed and expressed ourselves.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys mythical creatures and fairytales! 🏰🧚✨

4 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Sacha Coward for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was a great summary of how entwined folklore (and modern fantasy) is with queer identities. As a bi lover of all things folklore, I knew there were queer themes woven into many cultural stories that were left out in their re-tellings, but it was so interesting to read Coward’s thoughts and interpretations on it. The theme of being “other” was mentioned a lot as a big reason people in the LGBTQ+ community have such a love for these tales.

However, if you don’t think of modern stories as a type of folktale, you may not enjoy this book. Coward made it clear in the beginning that he was being very liberal with the word “folklore,” and throughout the book, he uses a lot of modern-day and newer stories as examples. I was slightly disappointed that he didn’t have more in-depth details about certain categories, but I think that was just my partiality to those subjects. Queer as Folklore was informative and entertaining, and I now have a lot of new rabbit holes to go down after reading it.

This was honestly such a fun queer trip through history. Unicorns aren't just rainbows but have roots in actual queer folklore. Folklore in general will always have a spot in my heart, and being queer this was the perfect book on folklore.

Sasha Coward’s Queer as Folklore is a fun and enlightening exploration of folklore through a queer lens. The author takes the familiar tales and myths many of us think we know so well and re-examines them, revealing hidden layers and perspectives that are at times fun, at times dark, but always informative and thought-provoking.

From ancient myth and legend to modern sci-fi and superheroes and everything in between, Coward delves into not only the stories but into their creators as well, shedding new light on their queer aspects. This book is equal parts queer history and folklore, offering interesting and engaging insights on both. Queer as Folklore is a celebration of the creativity, passion, and resilience of queer people throughout recorded human history.

Coward spuns an eloquent and sparklingly interesting tapestry in which each thread is the life an meaning of a creature of folklore.
The reader is lead, via fascinating stories and facts, through the histories of each creature, from the mermaid to the unicorn, blending both the mythological and more scholar aspect of such beings with pop culture and modern-day opinions to ultimately depicting the queer red thread that unites both timelines.
One asset of Coward's modus operandi is the ability to flow between historical knowledge, personal opinions and recent media adaptations of the creatures with an easy to read prose, which pushes the reader to turn the page without feeling overwhelemed by quantity of informations.
I also appreciated the inclusion of less mainstream creatures, which denoted a truly passionate approach of the author to the topic.
I would have preferred a heavier amount of research and scholarly works included, as many times the facts given where rather based on the author's opinions or speculations.
Apart from this minimal negative aspect, I have found the manuscript to be extremelly interesting, bringer of quite a few new insights and overall a valuable piece of queer litterature that I would like to have in my personal library.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In the enchanting pages of “Queer as Folklore,” Sacha Coward takes readers on an exhilarating journey across centuries and continents. This captivating exploration reveals the unsung heroes and villains of storytelling, magic, and fantasy, all with a queer twist. 🌈

Coward delves into the queer history of various mythic and folkloric characters, both old and new. From cross-dressing pirates to radical fairies, no headstone remains unturned.

Featuring images sourced from archives, galleries, and museums worldwide, each chapter immerses readers in the rich tapestry of queer narratives.

Queer communities have often sought refuge in shadows, found kinship in the in-between, and created safe spaces in underworlds. These forgotten tales celebrate remarkable resilience that deserves recognition.

The journey spans from ancient Greece to the glittering main stage of RuPaul’s Drag Race, connecting the threads of queer history in unexpected ways.

Professor Paul Baker aptly describes it as “a magically queer celebration of darkness and light.” Indeed, these are the bedtime stories we’ve been waiting to read! 🌙✨

So, if you’re ready to explore the hidden queer history behind myths and monsters, grab your papier-mâché unicorn head, don those mermaid tails, and embark on this wild ride. Sacha Coward invites us to understand who queer people are today by unearthing the twisted tales of the past. 📖🌟

I loved this book and always love when we can look back and see queer people or ideas before there were even names for these things.
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book

I loved this book. This was an incredibly dense, but surprisingly easy read. I was drawn by the amount of research that Sacha Coward did in order to write this book. Even learning that my culture (Filipinos) have their own version of mermaids-- makes sense, since we are a sea-faring people. I loved learning about the detailed history of many of my favourite folk and fairytale lore. I also liked that Coward asked friends and colleagues who were QTBIPOC to speak out about how different aspects of folklore play out in their own culture. The fact that the book starts with the Little Mermaid (one of my favourite, yet still problematic) to address queerness through its lens, is just the cherry on top.
I do think that some of the references are a bit dated, but given that this is exploring the history of queerness through folklore, I think that's acceptable. In fact, I loved that this was a history lesson, and I would easily use this book as research and inspiration for more speculative fiction and anything based off these tropes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unbound, the publisher, for providing this DRC in exchange for my honest review.

very educational and well written. it’s very interesting to read new perspectives and dive deeper into things from a queer perspective.

A very fun yet insightful collection of myths and folklore from around the world. You will definitely learn about a tale you’ve never heard of before, accompanied with beautiful images. Highly recommend