The Last Death Poet
A gripping LGBTQ+ coming-of-age novel set in Belfast with a paranormal twist
‘I know about the visions. I have your camera. Call me. Please.’
When Michael is uprooted to his mum’s hometown of Belfast, he isn’t just hoping for a fresh start. He’s determined to discover the truth about his dad’s mysterious absence. But from the moment he arrives, he’s plagued with visions of the city’s troubled past.
Michael begins settling into his new life and even meets a boy who helps erase the painful memories of his ex. But as the visions grow stronger and more intense, the only person he can really confide in is his new friend Meg.
As Meg delves into the supernatural source of the visions, Michael begins to question whether events of the past are linked to his dad’s disappearance.
Can he use his powers to find his dad before he’s gone forever?
Additional information
| Classification | Fiction |
|---|---|
| Genre | Contemporary, Fantasy, LGBTQ+ |
| Age | Young Adult |
| Publisher | Independent |
| Imprint | Rock The Boat |
| Format(s) | Trade paperback |
| Author | Stephen Daly |
| Release Date | 02 April 2026 (US), 09 June 2026 (UK) |
| Release Month | April Releases |
| Author Identity | LGBTQIA+ |
| Content Rep | LGBTQIA+ |
About the Author
Stephen Daly is a queer author and photographer from Belfast, who has always been passionate about how people make sense of who they are and where they are from. He grew up around stories and worked as an actor before many other jobs in theatre. Eventually he realised he was circling what he actually wanted to do – tell stories.
He loves writing for teens and young adults, as that is the time in life when we start to make sense of our place in the world, and begin to see it as it is or how we want it to be. He hopes his stories give an insight into the world of people that are like you, or a way to learn something about how others might see the world.
Urban fantasies like The Last Death Poet allow a reader to imagine what could happen if there was a little magic in the world, and how folklore and the old stories continue to flow in our veins.
Queer stories are everywhere, and now more than ever they need to be told, in Belfast and beyond.
