Recs if you like Blackheart Man...

main or side characters

Books that have been shortlisted for the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction. I compiled this list because the criteria (and Le Guin's works) resonate with me:

"The Prize will be given to a writer whose work reflects the concepts and ideas that were central to Ursula’s own work, including but not limited to: hope, equity, and freedom; non-violence and alternatives to conflict; and a holistic view of humanity’s place in the natural world."

Requirements:

1. The Mc(s) is a tricksters or unreliable narrator who spends most of the book lying to, bluffing or otherwise misleading others or themselves.

2. They would continue lying even if they didn’t have to either they can’t help it or enjoy the game too much.

3. This causes situations that get unpredictable, chaotic or even completely ridiculous as the characters dodge or face consequences for their actions.

Books with neurodivergent MCs across various genres so you can find them in your favorite one.

Neurodivergent rep here includes autism, adhd, ocd or dyslexia. In addition the term neurodivergent also includes anyone who’s neurological processing works in a way that isn’t considered typical; such as various personality disorders, other sensory issues and depending on who you ask also depression, ptsd, and more. I’ve included all here when I find them.

Nominees for the Ursula K Le Guin Prize for for Fiction, awarded since 2022 for imaginative fiction. (Mostly I have made this because they're always really great picks and I want to work my way through all of them.)

Books of the polyamorous sort. Haven't read all of them so I could be wrong on some. Some of these are set in non-monogamous cultures even if the protagonists themselves are not engaging in romance or polyamory.

Big thanks to AthenatheStorier who often finds and recommends these books through instagram or tiktok videos!

Also if you're a lover of polyamorous stories of any kind/medium, let me know. I want to co-write a collaborative analysis of polyamorous stories and you could help!

A list of books that have been considered for and/or won the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction. From the official website - "This award is intended to recognize those writers Ursula spoke of in her 2014 National Book Awards speech—realists of a larger reality, who can imagine real grounds for hope and see alternatives to how we live now."