Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™m a trope-obsessed author who counts found family among her favorite Ao3 tags. I cannot get enough of books which read like fanfiction, and Iā€™ll recommend my favorites every chance I get. I also do my part to put more queer found family books into the worldā€”my debut adult fantasy The Sins On Their Bones is being published by Random House Canada in May 2024. When Iā€™m not writing, Iā€™m a full-time servant to my two enormous cats. 


I wrote

The Sins On Their Bones

By Laura R. Samotin,

Book cover of The Sins On Their Bones

What is my book about?

Dimitri Alexeyev used to be the Tzar of Novo-Svitsevo. Now, he is a broken man, languishing in exile after losingā€¦

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Voyage of the Damned

Laura R. Samotin Why did I love this book?

This book was billed as a magical gay murder cruise, and I was so thrilled to discover that it more than lived up to the pitch.

Dee, the loveably insecure and absolutely hilarious protagonist, had me cheering for him the whole way through the book as he works to uncover who is killing his fellow passengers. With the help of a delightful found family nicknamed the Swarm, Dee realizes that not only is he cut out for the taskā€”heā€™s truly the only man for the job.

This book made me laugh and cry and ultimately touched me deeply as it spoke to coming to trust and love oneself. 

By Frances White,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Voyage of the Damned as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Pre-order The Sunday Times bestselling murder mystery debut with magical passengers, epic adventure, and a twist you can't guess.

If Agatha Christie wrote fantasy, this would be it!

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"Agatha Christie with glitter magic.' I'm totally here for it. I hoovered up White's chunky novel in a day. Both funny and flirty as it deals with issues of class, snobbery and sexuality amongst all the magic and murder. The result is hugely entertaining' Herald

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For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the emperor's ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage toā€¦


Book cover of So Let Them Burn

Laura R. Samotin Why did I love this book?

If youā€™re looking for the best-found family in the most stunning dragon book ever, look no further than the Den in this book, a queer Jamaican-inspired book about magic-wielders and dragon-riders defending their island from colonizers.

I cheered Elara, Faron, and the rest of the cast on as the book soared to thrilling heights and completely swept me away. I came for the world, magic, and dragons and stayed for the banter, found family, touching story of love and lossā€”and dragons. I firmly believe that this one will become a classic of YA fantasy.  

By Kamilah Cole,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked So Let Them Burn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.


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Book cover of Girl in the Ashes

Girl in the Ashes by Douglas Weissman,

Odette Lefebvre is a serial killer stalking the shadows of Nazi-occupied Paris and must confront both the evils of those she murders and the darkness of her own past. In Douglas Weissman's "Girl in the Ashes," this young woman's childhood trauma shapes her complex journey through World War II France,ā€¦

Book cover of A Betrayal of Storms: Realm of Fey

Laura R. Samotin Why did I love this book?

As a fan of epic fantasy, swoon-worthy romance, and political intrigue, I fell so hard for this bookā€”and itā€™s the first in a series of four books, so there was more than enough to feed my desire for all the action.

The series follows Robin, a seemingly ordinary boy whose kidnapping leads him to discover that heā€™s anything but. His journey of self-discovery and selfā€”acceptance truly spoke to me as a reader, and the kick-ass family he gathers around him along the way cemented the Realm of Fey series as one of my favorite found family fantasies.  

By Ben Alderson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Betrayal of Storms as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of This Dark Descent

Laura R. Samotin Why did I love this book?

I was immediately enthralled by this queer Jewish-found fantasy book, pitched as Scorpio Races meets Peaky Blinders.

The daughter of a renowned family facing impending ruin teams up with a rogue enchanter and an ambitious heir to win a deadly horse race using forbidden magic.

As I read this book in a single sitting, my heart felt like I was the one running a race. I loved the entire gang, as well as the star of this particular found familyā€”the cat. 

By Kalyn Josephson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked This Dark Descent as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Enter the corrupt world of Veradell, where warring monarchs vie for a kingdom full of forbidden magic, illicit romance and cut-throat horse racing. Steeped in Jewish folklore, this fast-paced YA fantasy by Kalyn Josephson is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows.

Mikira Rusel is out of options. With her father imprisoned and facing rising debts, there's only one way to save her family from ruin: enter the Illinir, a high-stakes, cross-country horse race known for its high death toll as much as its flashy prize money.

To have any chance of success she'll have to recruit Ari,ā€¦


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Book cover of The Accidental Heiress

The Accidental Heiress by Mary Kendall,

Margaret Oā€™Keefe, a horse farm owner, is desperate to save her ancestral property, Needham Forest. When she hears a rumor about a hidden treasure on her land, she plunges into a search that uncovers more than goldā€”secrets, betrayal, and danger at every turn.

Caught between her volatile ex-husband, a scandalousā€¦

Book cover of Six of Crows

Laura R. Samotin Why did I love this book?

No list of queer-found family fantasies would be complete without mentioning the Dregs. Leigh Bardugoā€™s book, set in a gritty city called Ketterdam, is the first book that made me fall in love with a found family.

If I could join any fantasy-found family, it would be this one. If youā€™ve ever wanted to join the ultimate heist crew, youā€™ve got to read Six of Crows.

By Leigh Bardugo,

Why should I read it?

25 authors picked Six of Crows as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

*See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with Shadow and Bone, now a Netflix original series.*

Nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017, this fantasy epic from the No. 1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the Grisha trilogy is gripping, sweeping and memorable - perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin, Laini Taylor and Kristin Cashore.

Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams - but he can't pull it off alone.

A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walkā€¦


Explore my book šŸ˜€

The Sins On Their Bones

By Laura R. Samotin,

Book cover of The Sins On Their Bones

What is my book about?

Dimitri Alexeyev used to be the Tzar of Novo-Svitsevo. Now, he is a broken man, languishing in exile after losing a devastating civil war instigated by his estranged husband, Alexey Balakin. Dimitri and his spymaster, Vasily Sokolov, engineer a dangerous ruse. Vasily will sneak into Alexeyā€™s court to gather information while Dimitri finds a way to kill him for good.

But stopping Alexey is not as easy as plotting to kill an ordinary man. Through a perversion of the Ludayzim religion Alexey has died and resurrected himself in an immortal, indestructible body. Dimitri is determined not to let Alexey corrupt his country, but saving Novo-Svitsevo will mean forfeiting the soul of the husband he canā€™t bring himself to forsakeā€”or the spymaster heā€™s come to love.

Book cover of Voyage of the Damned
Book cover of So Let Them Burn
Book cover of A Betrayal of Storms: Realm of Fey

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