Queens of Noise is like a great punk song – short, loud, chaotic, and unforgettable. This f/f shifter romance includes multiple kinds of shifters plus witches, most of whom are in bands, and many of whom are people of color and people who identify as queer in some way. It also includes a battle of the bands and evil chickens. The only problem with this book is that I want it to go on and on, I want all the goth clothes, and I want a playlist like I want oxygen. Please Lord, let this be a series because I would read it ALL THE TIME.

Mixi is the leader (think ‘Team Mom’ more than traditional alpha) of a group of werecoyote shifters. This group forms a found family as well as a punk band called Mangy Rats. Their musical rivals are the goths – especially the band Dead and Disorderly. Dead and Disorderly consists of a group of werewolves headed by R. The bands, along with many others, perform at a basement club called Mechanical Anatomy, run by Lala, a witch.

When Lala announces that Mechanical Anatomy is being closed because a developer wants the building, Mangy Rats and Dead and Disorderly team up to figure out who the developer is and how they can save the club. Naturally Mixi and R are attracted to each other despite their rivalry, and naturally the mystery of who wants to close the club involves witchcraft and evil chickens. The ensuing hijinks involve tons of romance, a hot makeout session in a tree, a lot of food, some truly incredible outfits, and tons and tons of music which I must assume is both loud and glorious.

This novella packs a lot of stuff into its brief space yet it never feels rushed or incomplete, and it doesn’t skimp on calm moments of rest, conversation, and reflection between the characters. All of the individuals, side characters included, have their own lives and issues and love stories going on – they all feel like real people. The level of inclusion is delightful – most of the characters are people of color and they identify variously as transgender, cisgender, genderfluid, straight, bisexual, gay, or lesbian. The atmosphere of acceptance is so powerful that I want to crawl into it and live there.

The book is narrated entirely from Mixi’s point of view, so we don’t get to know R very well, but their chemistry and ability to work together makes them a couple to root for. Since it’s a novella, we get the beginning of a relationship, not the whole arc of a relationship.

I have one gripe. I know this is not very punk or rock and roll of me but I actually support health and safety regulations. The developer who wants to shut down Mechanical Anatomy tries to do so by notifying local health and safety authorities that the club is not up to code. While the developer’s motives are self-serving, it bothered me to see the “safety people” as an enemy. The book does address this:

I loved this book for its inclusion, warmth, creativity, energy, and themes of found family. It made me want to join a band. Brian Eno said, “The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it joined a band.” This book has that same inspiring and chaotic energy. I’m a fan.