Behind The Mask

by Felix Graves

A Modern Sapphic Retelling of trans Perseus x Medusa

Sese has worked hard to provide a good life for herself and her mother, Dana, as far as possible from the toxic influences of her mafia boss father. When Sese finds out her parents have reconnected despite her best efforts, her father offers her a complete three tasks for him, and he'll leave her and Dana alone for good.

The tasks? Embezzlement, arson, and one murder.

It's nothing Sese can't handle...so long as she doesn't get too distracted by a chance encounter with her ex-girlfriend. Sese and M. Gorgo parted on amicable terms rather than try a long-distance relationship, but now the botanist is back, and covering her whole face with a mask. What is M hiding? Can Sese finally get over her? And will Sese and her mother ever be truly free?

38 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2025

About the author

Felix Graves is a queer and disabled AAPI author of dark speculative fiction. Most of his writing involves tragedy, queer romance, and faerie-inspired creatures. His debut novel, Farzana's Spite (2024) is the first story in the Faerth anthology series. Other works set in the Faerth universe include The Killing Song (2025) and Color Unknown (2024). He prides himself on writing stories with a starkly honest ownvoice commentary on mental illness, disability, and queerness. He currently lives in the beautiful PNW with his husband, their two kids, a ferociously adorable pitbull, and possibly a ghost or two.

Reviews

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Oof! My emotions! This was extremely dark and brutal and fucking tragic. I loved it. I really like Graves’s writing style so much but omg poor M! Poor Sese! Ouch. So good.

[Felix Graves]

Content warnings list available here.

[Kienn Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

boba, tears, and a medusa x perseus retelling...