Curator’s note
The Tensorate series pulls us into a mind-bending world that's reminiscent of the Avatar TV series — pugilists known as Tensors fight by mastering and shaping different elements. Yet it ditches the cliché of a “chosen one” protagonist, shines brilliantly with an oh-so-Singaporean mix of Malay and Chinese cultures, and — most importantly — is unabashedly queer. People are born non-binary and set their gender when they become of age (with some choosing to remain non-binary), and same-sex relationships are commonplace, if not more prevalent than straight relationships. The Protectorate is a queer, fantastical, scary, and magical world — and we live for it.
Synopsis
This novella is part of the 4-part Tensorate novella series: The Black Tides of Heaven, The Red Threads of Fortune, The Descent of Monsters, and The Ascent to Godhood. The first 2 novellas can be read in any order.
Fallen prophet, master of the elements, and daughter of the supreme Protector, Sanao Mokoya has abandoned the life that once bound her. Once her visions shaped the lives of citizens across the land, but no matter what tragedy Mokoya foresaw, she could never reshape the future. Broken by the loss of her young daughter, she now hunts deadly, sky-obscuring naga in the harsh outer reaches of the kingdom with packs of dinosaurs at her side, far from everything she used to love.
On the trail of a massive naga that threatens the rebellious mining city of Bataanar, Mokoya meets the mysterious and alluring Rider. But all is not as it seems: the beast they both hunt harbors a secret that could ignite war throughout the Protectorate. As she is drawn into a conspiracy of magic and betrayal, Mokoya must come to terms with her extraordinary and dangerous gifts, or risk losing the little she has left to hold dear.
About the author
Neon Yang (a.k.a. JY Yang) is a queer, non-binary author who is based in Singapore. Before that, they were a molecular biologist, science writer, and journalist. Neon uses they / them pronouns and the Mx honorific (i.e. Mx Yang).
About The Unicorn Library
The Unicorn Library is Singapore’s free LGBTQ+ library, supported and run by Heckin’ Unicorn. We want to empower Singaporeans to read, understand, and enjoy queer books. Our collection of books is small but curated and growing!
You can support us by donating a book to our collection!
Click here to request for a book that we don't yet carry.