Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Does anyone have any recommendations of fantasy books with LGBT characters (preferably as the main characters, but side characters work to)?

A few recommendations that I have read already are:

Cloaked in Shadow

Soulkeeper

Looking For Group

Sanctuary

Sure! There are already many such lists online, so this won't be a general list, but more what I personally think are good fantasy or SF books (with LGBTQ+ protagonists/POV characters) that I've actually read:



I'm sure others can add more. :-)

There is also The Unbroken

Sticking to ones I've actually read, some that come to mind...

A bunch more on my TBR, so maybe can update with more later on.

The ones I've read that haven't been mention yet are:

(book 2 in the series)

one of the main characters is gay but I can't remember if that is a prominent part of the 1st book but it definitely is in books 2 and 3 in the series.






I haven't read this but its on my TBR:

I really liked An Accident of Stars by Foz Meadows. :)

For the gender side, I really recommend Ann Leckie's books--her Ancillary Justice series features a culture with only one pronoun, and the side-sequel has three pronouns, while her Raven Tower has a trans-male MC. All very thought provoking.

Currently reading She Who Became the Sun and it also features LGBT+ MCs set in a fantastical ancient China.

TJ Klune has stated that he writes books with LGBT+ MCs because he believes it is important to have more positive and accurate representations of queer folk and culture in fantasy. The House in the Cerulean Sea was probably the most fuzzy-feel-good book I read last year and I am looking forward to reading Under the Whispering Door soon.

Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's saga features a whole country of people who are mostly omnisexual since the whole basis of their religion is "Love as thou wilt", but the MCs pretty much end up in hetero relationships at the end. Still, they're very fun books.

The main character in Zen Cho's Black Water Sister follows Jessamyn, a Malaysian American grappling with her cultural identity while trying to figure out how to either continue to hide her sexuality or come out to her traditional family. Then magic throws a wrench in things.

Nicholas Eames's The Band series has LGBT+ characters, especially the second book, Bloody Rose, which is narrated by one. The books are also hilarious.

Sarah Gailey's stories and books all (I think) feature LGBT main and/or side characters. I especially enjoyed Upright Women Wanted portrayal of identity and oppression. I hope they write more in this world!

N.K. Jemisin's books often have LGBT+ characters... I think the Dreamblood books has a viewpoint MC, and the Fifth Season has a major side character. The City We Became has more LGBT+ main characters than not. Her books have people of all types and backgrounds and cultures and her writing is beautiful and compelling.

Micaiah Johnson's The Space Between Worlds features a LGBT+ protagonist and relationship.

Max Gladstone has been good about including LGBT+ characters in his novels as MCs and sides.

I haven't read anything by Rivers Solomon yet but I've heard good things about them and the LGBT+ representation in their stories. Same for C.B. Lee--if you're looking for something more YA.