Afterlight
A downloadable book
Afterlight is a ✨FREE✨ queer ~191k mm human x alien scifi romance. Donations are welcome but NOT expected; any that are received will be directed into commissioning more art 😊 Afterlight is also available in paperback if you'd like a hard copy as well!
Afterlight may be your cup of tea if you like the sound of:
👽 Human x alien romance
⚔️ Flirting via swordplay
👽 Fun and expansive world-building
⚔️ Galactic Reality TV
👽 A dreamy alien LI with his own agenda
⚔️ Tender horny vibes
👽 "I'll protect you"
☕ (Bonus: tea as a love language)
Back Cover Blurb
When Sashen fled his human space cult to live among the aliens, he had dreams about what a life in space would mean. A decade later, he hasn't even been off-station, instead dancing in a marn den where he's paid to eavesdrop on gossip and provide companionship to paying clients. But when he receives word that the cult that he fled from is looking to bring him back, he's willing to put his life on the line to escape them, even if it means going on galactic television in a win-or-die-trying contest on blood-soaked sands.
Of course, Sashen needs to catch a ride to the distant arena first and as fate would have it, the shy alien who's been watching him dance for the past week – Araxis of Creche Thiel – is headed that way and has space to spare. Sashen is happy to have a ride and a cute distraction on the way to what he expects may be his imminent demise. What he can't anticipate as he heads off to his galactic broadcast debut is the gravitational pull he feels to Araxis. With the deadly tournament looming, Sashen will need to figure a way to escape his past, while also charting a way to the future he desperately wants.
Art by femkeneriart
Cover design by Tana Welsummer (me!)
Want to know more? Find me on Instagram or visit my website for upcoming book news 👽❤️
Book Two will be released later in 2026 (it's already drafted and is in edits!)
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Development log
- 👽✨ Afterlight: Art & Paperback!5 days ago
- What a first week!40 days ago
- Happy Release Day! ✨👽🩶47 days ago
Comments
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I feel like I like I lived a whole other lifetime reading this book. God, this story was cool. How do I describe it? The breadth of topics and themes covered, even for the length (which was substantial), was really impressive. Romance and sexuality, of course, but also gender dynamics, the harm of gender essentialism, religious fantacicism and deconstruction, the panopticon/spectacle of reality TV, interstellar politics, capitalism (derogatory), self-determination and self-worth, sex work, guilt, betrayal (which was very ouch btw 😭💔), all with a lovely serving of queer joy...New York's hottest club, indeed.
Sashen was just lovely; one of my favorite MCs ever. You know, I think the expectation in a lot of speculative fiction is that our MC is combat ready/badass, and I'll admit I was thinking that Sashen/I would learn that his sword dancing actually led to combat skills, but I actually liked that it didn't. Instead, we saw Sashen be naturally good at the game in other ways, ways that were true to his personality (and abayan gender) while also grappling with what those traits meant for his self-determination, or lack thereof.
And the structure of the book, as a deposition with interludes and transcripts was very cool. Where are we going with this story? How will Sashen forgive Araxis? How will he learn to trust Araxis again? How will Sashen thrive in this new life (because I am almost certain he will, somehow)? I'm too soft for this, but also salivating for more. I mean, I only cried like, 4 or 5 times reading the first book. How could it get worse? 🙃 But really, this was an excellent work of storytelling, and my favorite read so far this year!
Wow (!!!!!) -- what a thoughtful review! Thank you!! I am SO glad that Afterlight hit right for you, and also that you love Sashen just as much as I do 🥹 The second book is completely drafted and has already gone through one major revision overhaul, so I'm on track for its release in the summer. I like to think it digs even deeper into the thematic foundations from Afterlight and really gets into the nitty gritty of identity, culture, and social power (plus, there's so much alien politicking!). Can't wait to share it once it's done! Thank you again for taking the time to share a review 🩶✨👽
Started and finished! What a great read :) It's got a great blend of romance, suspense and some steamy sex scenes! Couldn't ask for a better start to 2026!
I also loved the universe built, it's a fun collection of aliens and cultures.