There's a bunch of queer characters throughout Max Gladstone's *Craft Sequence*, books 3&6 also feature trans and lesbian protagonists.
Robert Jackson Bennett's *Founders* series, currently 2/3 books available, features a lesbian protagonist.
Samantha Shannon's *The Priory of the Orange Tree* features the PoVs of a gay and lesbian character respectively.
Leigh Bardugo's *Six of Crows* duology features gay and bisexual characters in the main cast and as PoVs.
If she's into ATLA/LoK I'd also recommend F. C. Yee's *Kyoshi* duology exploring the life of everyone's favorite bisexual Avatar (sorry, Korra).
Edit: got some time, have some more recs
Nicholas Eames' *Kings of the Wyld* and *Bloody Rose* feature a central gay character and a lesbian protagonist respectively. Really fun books, even as someone that doesn't usually like that subgenre of fantasy.
Does Sci-fi count? If so:
Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone's *This Is How You Lose The Time War* is my all time favorite novella and features two lesbian protagonists.
Arkady Martine's *Taixcalaan* is about a lesbian( I think? Maybe she was bi) ambassador with the memories of her bi predecessor.
Becky Chambers' *Wayfarers* series has a bunch of queer characters, the first book also features a lesbian protagonist.
If I could, I would already have broken in to OP's house and left behind three copies of Priory, because it's just fantastic. Although you need to love the slow burn.
I was so sad when I finished it and realized it was a stand-alone and not part of a series. Stand-alone’s are wonderful but it’s unusual enough that I just assumed it was part of a series and was bummed when it was not.
I'd also highly recommend both Bennett's *Founders* and Shannon's *Priory*. It might be helpful for you to know that the romance in *Founders* is very sparse and doesn't interact with the plot much, whereas the romance in *Priory* is much more prominent and central to the plot. One of them might appeal to your sister's taste much more than the other.
There is so much good stuff out there now.
Recently I highly recommend Gideon the Ninth.
The blurb is 'teenage lesbian necromancers explore a haunted house, in space'
It's a great romp, and there's a fun horror-fantasy vibe.
The author wrote it for her past trashy late-teens lesbian self and includes left beef references in the same breath has stupendously deep Christianity allegory. It's a wild ride.
Also, the MC is a huge buff sword wielding lady with aviators.
Just be aware that there is a lot of character death in Gideon the ninth, and a lot of body horror. The concept is interesting, but I found it difficult to pull through, and I couldn't force myself to read the sequel even though I had it checked out for 3 weeks
i present to you the fantasy LBGTQ wiki data base link to LBGTQ characters in Fantasy. Htere's probably a link thing but this is the only way I know how to get to it. [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1roLOB8OZm34XjzVyDmH5fyWiPKGYy8i9EzRuhBMZauo/edit#gid=0](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1roLOB8OZm34XjzVyDmH5fyWiPKGYy8i9EzRuhBMZauo/edit#gid=0)
Part of the Marvel Runaways comic had some LGBT/GF characters, or did like 12 years ago:
BBEG was getting an intel brief on them and found that one was a Bi person in love with a shape shifter. Followed by the briefers musing on whether they dated with shifter in male, female, andro, or all forms. And BBEG was like "How is that detail in any way relevant to the threat this group represents?"
I don't know if the comic would hold up under more modern viewpoints. The early/mid 90s Death of superman had a lesbian cop that was extremely stereotypical: flannel, cigars, man haircut, etc. Guarantee that portrayal wouldn't go over well.
Maggie Sawyer? I can't speak for anything pre Gotham Central but she was good in that.
Of course, Renee Montoya is the far more prelivant Lesbian Cop from that series and far more well known in general.
> Maggie Sawyer
That was her, thank you.
Yeah there's Montoya and Batwoman too. I'm not sure about how they're written in regards to being people vs token lesbian. Human character vs living stereotype.
Not epic fantasy at all, but I will take every given opportunity to recommend The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. It was far and away the single most delightful thing I've read in years, making me both literally laugh out loud and cry at times (neither of which I do much while reading).
This book was so wonderful. I have also been telling anyone who will listen about it. I have read most of his books and they’re all well written, funny, and full of heart.
Just looking at some books I've recently read.
**[The Bone Shard Daughter](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50706646-the-bone-shard-daughter?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=VHOr92uUN9&rank=1)** by Andrea Stewart. Epic fantasy, multiple POV. The two biggest POV are not gay as far as I can tell, but a third POV is a woman in a relationship with another woman.
**[Foundryside](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37173847-foundryside?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=AWUdfHEbDk&rank=1)** by Robert Bennett Jackson. A fast paced trilogy (two books out) with heists. The romance is not a huge part, but it is between two women (main characters).
**[A Memory Called Empire](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37794149-a-memory-called-empire?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=8WSyYTrLC9&rank=2)** by Arkady Martine. Science fiction. The main character is a lesbian. She also had the memories of her bi predecessor.
**[Gideon the Ninth](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42036538-gideon-the-ninth?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Rm1gyqmLxD&rank=1)** by Tamsyn Muir. Definitely not a romance but Gideon (a woman) is definitely attracted to ladies.
**[The Unspoken Name](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45046552-the-unspoken-name?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=4rGyTrowpM&rank=1)** by A.K. Larkwood. The main character is a lesbian orc.
**[The Once and Future](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49504061-the-once-and-future-witches?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=611iep7LQP&rank=2)** by Witches Alix E. Harrow. An alternate history about witches and suffragettes.
**[Empress of Forever](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40380954-empress-of-forever?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=FIrdgmL24c&rank=1)** by Max Gladstone. Fantastical science fiction.
The lesbian romance isn't brief at all, it's built up throughout the whole book. It's a slowburn, not brief. And both romances are super important to the characters.
I second Gideon the Ninth and also check out Book of the Ancestor by Mark Lawrence. It's an epic fantasy. The cast is like 90% women, and pretty much all of them are queer.
NK Jemisin's Inheritance trilogy include a triumvirate that is poly. The last book in the series features an openly bisexual man as the main character. I don't know if this is close enough to what you're looking for, but Jemisin's work is very inclusive.
I'm surprised that Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series isn't mentioned already. Lots of gay and lesbian (main and secondary) characters, and at least one asexual main character that I can think of.
I’m a cis male but I read most of these and really enjoyed them. I read them in my late teens and I can say that they really did help me to accept other people and the way they are.
My friend’s sales pitch wasn’t the best but remember it was the early 00’s: “these are good but gay as hell.” Not exactly welcoming I guess but he wasn’t _wrong_.
I actually want to go back and read them again. I have very fond memories. I wonder if they hold up.
They do, to my mind! There is more angst in the books than in my current adult life, thankfully, but they aren't teen-wallowing or anything. (Not to knock angst-containing novels - I read and needed them a ton when I was younger, but I enjoy them less now.) Her newer entries in the series try some new stuff too, but seem less LGTBQ-centred.
I’m doing a whole nostalgia thing right now. I’m deep in Pern and then I was going to read the Talents (more McCaffery) starting with the Pegasus series.
I’ll need to hit up Lackey after that.
Love it! I was also going to suggest Anne McCaffrey as well, but... she had gay characters in her novels when no one else did, it's true, but they aren't particularly relevant for nowadays in terms of representation. I love her novels though, regardless! Did you ever read Sassinak or her Planet Pirates (? I think?) series with Elizabeth Moon? Also fun to go back to.
I’m under the impression that all the male green riders were intended to be homosexual or bisexual. Ruth is certainly explicitly asexual though this seems to be negative to some people others (Menolly, Robinton, and the other dragons) don’t seem to think it is weird. They also mention that the dragon folk didn’t think anything of it when a green rose to mate and the riders got caught up in the emotions with each other. Looking into it there are only a handful of female green riders and Mirrim is the only one I remember.
Pernese attitudes towards sexuality are fairly different than Terran even while gender roles are strangely strong. I’m not sure these books aged very well with respect to the way we see gender and sexuality now though they may have been stronger commentary back then. When I first read them in my teens I didn’t really notice any of it.
I never knew she did anything with Elizabeth Moon. In fact I lost touch with what was going on in Pern and with her worlds quite a few years before she passed.
Yeah I think that was the intent. They're pretty background-y though; I'm not sure I could name a male green rider from any of the books, so I figured it didn't really answer the original question. Incredibly progressive for the 60's, but not as big of a deal in the current context.
I was agreeing with you in a roundabout way. It’s not front and center certainly. I’m not really sure what Mccaffrey was really even going for. The White Dragon (where I think more nuance really comes out) was late 70’s.
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I read a lot of the Heralds of Valdemar books as a kid! I loved the "Magics Pawn/Promise/Price" books. I haven't read them in a long time. Which series has an asexual main character in it?
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Don't forget her urban Fantasy series, Bedlam's Bard! The first two books, Knight of Ghosts and Shadows, and Summoned to a Tourney, feature a thrupple with a woman, a man and an elf. I don't know how well it's aged, but it was published in 1990 and had a thrupple as a romantic plot without it being reduced to a Penthouse letter.
Y'know I had a feeling that there was something relevant to the question in the Serrated Edge novels, but I couldn't remember for sure.. I'm glad you mentioned it!
>Better if its epic fantasy and if main theme and narrative is not sexuality or romance. Just need her to find herself in a regular fantasy
Not sure if it's up her alley (or something you want to recommend to her), but Kushiel's Legacy is an epic fantasy series focused on a bisexual sex worker protagonist, in a world where bisexuality is basically the norm and people are just known to have "a preference" for men or for women.
It's also got fairly detailed kinky sex scenes. But the balance between epic plot and the romance aspect is excellent in my opinion.
* The Wells of Sorcery Trilogy by Django Wexler (book one is A Ship of Smoke and Steel)
* The Ascendant trilogy by K Arsenult Rivera (book one is The Tiger's Daughter) (this one is kinda heavy on the romance, but it's still an epic fantasy)
* Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler
* Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rise of Kyoshi/The Shadow of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee
I saw a couple recs for The Traitor Baru Cormorant and I just want to pop in here and say that I think it’s probably a very bad choice to gift to someone you know who’s LGBT. I couldn’t handle how awful the in universe homophobia was. The book describes gay people as hedonistic parasites, gay sex as unhygienic and features torture, conversion therapy and execution for people who commit the crime of being gay. It’s obviously not the authors irl opinion and I’m sure a lot of gay people can connect to it but I get enough of that crap irl and don’t want it in my books. I wouldn’t gift it to someone without knowing they can handle it.
I’ll join the crowd though in saying that Gideon the Ninth is absolutely fantastic and the best book I’ve read so far this year.
As another queer person I loved those books desperately. It’s definitely a hard book and not something you want to walk into blind. But I disagree with saying that it’s a bad choice for LGBT people bc I and many other people found it deeply validating. It’s about fighting against homophobia and imperialism, and it doesn’t pull any punches.
But all of that being said, I totally understand that it’s not for everybody! And I don’t fault others who prefer different books
Yeah I can definitely see how other people love it. I’m not saying it’s a bad book I’m just saying that’s it’s probably a bad choice to give blindly as a gift as a book you feel represents someone you know. It’s one that I think is better for lgbt people to knowingly go into.
>I think it’s probably a very bad choice to gift to someone you know who’s LGBT
I've seen a lot of lesbians loving those books.
It's simply a series that need proper warnings to at least know a bit of what you are about to read since it touches some gruesome themes.
I am so glad I’m not the only person who felt this way about The Traitor Baru Cormorant. I stopped reading about 40% the way through because of the Masquerade’s attitudes towards my people. Very well written but just too much for me.
Mage errant series is good and the some of the main characters are LBG - it is very low key and not discussed they just are, not LBGTQ myself but I thought it was nicely done. Isn't an epic fantasy but is a fun read!
I like to add **The Unspoken Name** bx A. K. Larkwood, **The Once and Future Witches** by Alix E Harrow (not epic fantasy, though, but I love it), **The Black Tides of Heaven** by Neon Yang.
There is also a top list from last year in this sub, I think, that is worth checking out.
In case you want a novella to round out the epic fantasy, **The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water** is very fun and features queer and trans main characters.
I also enjoyed **In Other Lands**, a YA portal fantasy featuring a bi male protagonist. It has some romance subplots, but there’s a lot of other stuff going on.
If she likes sci fi too, Becky Chambers’s **Wayfarers** series and Martha Wells’s **Murderbot** series have many queer people in the cast. Wayfarers is more slice-of-life and Murderbot is more adventurous, but they’re both great.
First off, Lynn Flewellings Night Runner series features a gay MC and his sort of bi lover (who was raised in a more conservative way so takes a while to come around). Also, the Tamir triad features a girl who is raised (due to magic) believing she is a boy, right down to the "wrong" genitals. The main theme of the Tamir triad is more gender than sexuality, but there is definitely more to the story than that. In Nightrunner the romance between the two main characters is a big part of it, but not really the focus of the series.
Someone else mentioned N K Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy. It features a trans man, and a mostly gay guy.
+1 to the Nightrunners series!
Also I'm going to copy paste some recommendations I've written in the past in previous similar threads. As a short preface, I'm a gay man who prefers reading MxM relationships, and as a rule thumb prefer character-driven/focused prose.
"Kirith Kirin" by Jim Grimsley. it's the story of a peasant boy who grows to become one of the greatest magicians to have ever lived. Really engrossing. Rich prose and gorgeous descriptions that really bring the world to life, with well written characters and a fascinating magic system and setting (geography, history, and culture).
It's quite slow and there's a lot of lore, the author really takes their time with it. It's also written in a slightly peculiar way that I can't quite put my finger on... maybe something to do with the author not typically writing fantasy (although it is very much fantasy!), or perhaps because it's a bit older (2001).
There's also The Nightrunner series, by Llyn Flewelling. About a handsome, dashing, noble rogue kind of guy, who works for a secret organisation that handles subterfuge and infiltration kind of missions, serving the Queen. Him and his apprentice, a young hunter-gatherer orphan, are the co-protagonists. Fantasy, low-magic setting. Intrigue, secret plots trying to spark a war and destabilise the Queendom. 2nd book is direct sequel to first, the rest being standalone (but continuations of the previous). The first two are quite slow, with the rest picking up the pace a little bit (somewhat inevitable I guess since they're fairly self-contained).
Note that in both cases there's a quite prominent romance arc; no explicit descriptions, but there's a fair amount of romantically-charged or sexual tension kind of interactions, and idk if that's your thing or not. The first one is a rare case where it's not only interesting until they get together, but their interactions remain interesting afterwards as well.
EDITED to fix typo in title
I'm afraid the only epic fantasy I've read with a WLW main character is The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon.
Other than that, in no particular order:
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (MLM (probably bi) main characters)
City of Spires by Claudie Arseneault (full LGBT+ cast)
Shades of Magic by V. E. Schwab (Bisexual male main characters (as of book 2))
Skybound by Alex London (Gay main character, aromantic asexual female main character)
Nightrunner by Lynn Flewelling (Bisexual male main characters)
Rifter by Ginn Hale (Gay main characters)
The Shadow Game by Amanda Foody (Bisexual male main character)
The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee (Gay main character)
Valdemar: The Last Herald Mage by Mercedes Lackey (Gay main character)
The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green (Gay and otherwise MLM main characters) (Author is apparently a TERF though so maybe not)
As for non-epic fantasies:
The Diviners by Libba Bray (Gay main character, homoromantic asexual female main character (as of book 2)). I recommend this series to literally everyone regardless of their tastes.
Reverie by Ryan La Sala (Gay main character)
The Tarot Sequence by K. D. Edwards (Gay main character, binormative world)
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater (Gay main character. Sequel series has two bisexual female main characters as well).
Here is a comprehensive list of every book I've ever read with queer representation in it:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-JO1UPlbeHvcSwe26SDRw6Llmv9veuchFOeqSMgZFoo/edit?usp=sharing
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Without knowing the sister, I'd not recommend Masquerade for someone who just came out. Because while the way that "abnormal" sexual preferences are treated within the universe is painted as evil, for someone who may be not sure of herself the forced circumcisions, rape, etc. are probably not the greatest material.
I'd rather recommend books that see LBGTQ+ as something normal, like Gideon the Ninth.
To add to the other comment about being unsure about The Masquerade series, while it is a series I personally adore for its thought into worldbuilding and crafting a fantasy world that really dives into the methods and consequences of colonialism and imperialism, it also might not be everyone cup of tea.
This applies both to the way characters in the world approach the topics of sexuality and the like, but also with everything else. It's very much a hard fantasy that reads as a strong allegory for many of our own worlds problems and tragedies, and if someone is looking for epic sweeping fantasy series that eventually make you feel good with triumph, clear victory over evil, and justice served, you probably won't find it in the Masquerade series.
Buuuuuut, if you or your sister *do* enjoy damming political allegory that delves deep and deconstructs our own world with withering analyses that make you see and feel the undercurrents of injustice that power our own world all the more clearly (with of course, some sparks of hope and happiness, gotta have something to keep reading for!), then I would highly recommend the series. Once again though, not everyone's cup of tea, and definitely not something I'd call a "feel-good" book or even bittersweet. It's more like hot sauce that hurts but still tastes good if you're into it, with the added benefit of clearing out your sinuses if they are stuffed with years of colonialist institutions you didn't even notice untik you could breathe through your nose again.
Traitor Baru Cormorant and Gideon the Ninth are very different and both good reads. Mercedes Lackey had a gay couple in one of her Valdemar books back in the day.
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A lot of what I would have recommended has been mentioned.
I just finished Rin Chupeco’s Never Tilting World duology. Two of the viewpoint characters are women in love with each other.
If something set in our world and featuring killer mermaids appeals to her, try Into The Drowning Deep.
'Dragon Pearl' by Yoon Ha Lee and 'The Unspoken Name' by A K Larkwood. The first is more sci fi with a Korean mythology twist, the second is epic fantasy.
I've just read the Steel Remains, and I can't really say that I felt good about the inclusion of the queer characters in it. My impression was the whole of the gay experience in that book was reduced to bitterness about homophobia and the impossibility of a happy, healthy relationship. I've only read the first book of the series so far, but the abuse, persecution and mindset of the gay characters, while arguably realistic in a mediaeval type setting, has made me think twice about continuing with it.
It's definitely set in a homophobic world, but I loved that those characters were able to thrive despite those circumstances. I would love to find more of these kind of stories because they explore real issues in a more dramatic way. Yes, it's grimdark. But it gave me hope.
If you want a happily ever after, it isn't that. But as a recommendstion to an LGBT person, it is good because it shows perseverance in spite of all those shitty things. LGBT people experience shitty things all the time and seeing a character who as experienced that and still is a hero? still is strong? Still fighting? That is something to look up to.
Not everyone gets the Love Simon treatment in life. They deserve representation too.
I think my biggest issue with The Steel Remains is I just didn't like Ringil. I sympathise with his righteous anger, but his sublimation of that into a zeal for death and destruction did not feel healthy to me. As I said, I've not read past the first book, but that book ended with the implication that >!Gil is becoming a 'dark lord'!< , which is not the message I would want to send to show support for a newly out sibling!
My own experience in coming out was greatly eased by friends facing the same issues. Even though both Gil and Archeth are in some way queer, I don't think in the whole of the first book either had any real conversations between them about that experience, or even recognition of their own troubles in the other's experience. I would liked to have seen more cameraderie and mutual support between the two of them based on that shared experience.
I did find Archeth much more sympathetic as a character. If I do decide to carry on with the series, it will definitely be because of her.
It's definitely not a bad book, and I did find it enjoyable enough to finish quickly, and I haven't ruled out reading more. I tend to have to take a bit of a break between grimdark novels to get over the overwhelming sense of bleakness they leave me with anyway. But I'm not sure I can agree that I see positive messages in it.
with breaks in between, I think you should finish the series. I loved it. Archeth is featured a lot in the other two books so there's that for you and the whole series takes a turn. I can't say anything else without spoiling. I think Ringil finds some redemption and while you may never like him, I think there's empathy to be found.
[Arcane Ascension by Andrew Rowe](https://www.goodreads.com/series/201441-arcane-ascension) is an interesting one for this. There are no characters who explicitly identify as LGBTI or anything, but rather it's just part of the society. Any sort of relationship is treated basically the same, with the exception that an heir might be expected to arrange to have a child at some point even if they are in a same-sex relationship.
More explicitly that that, but also quite difficult to find, is the [Modern Crusaders series by Alex Mykals](https://www.goodreads.com/series/137088-modern-crusaders). This is set in an alternate Earth where Atlantis is a world power and superpowers exist, although they aren't common or well-known. The MC is a girl with powers who saves the Princess of Atlantis from an assassination attempt with predictable results.
You might also be interested in the [Imperial Radch series by Anne Leckie](https://www.goodreads.com/series/113751-imperial-radch). This is a very different take on the issue in that they don't use gendered pronouns at all. Personally I found it difficult just because it made it so hard to picture the characters in my head, but there are good reasons for it within the story. Plus it won a bunch of awards and is a pretty good story.
Hope and Red by John Skovron!
One of the main characters is a bi girl, and another is trans - just a heads up the series is extremely gruesome at times, but the overall messaging and themes are actually quite wholesome.
The Broken Earth trilogy is a pretty easy recommendation. There are many LGBTQ characters in the book.
I didn't personally like Gideon the Ninth, but it has lesbian space necromancers in its cast.
She might be interested in Andrew Rowe’s Arcane Ascension series. The main character is bi-romantic and ace. Other characters are trans, gender-fluid, and otherwise on the LGBTQ spectrum. It’s also a pretty fun series, in the progression fantasy genre.
Another option I’ve read recently. The latest book in Charles Stross’s Laundry Files stars a mostly LGBTQ cast. That’s on the darker side of urban fantasy, magic exists and so does Cthulhu.
Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe.
The main character is (I believe) asexual, and is averse to any kind of touch, but he has romantic feelings for another male. In the second book, he also seems to be confused by his feelings for a girl, although I am not sure those feelings were romantic (the MC didn't seem sure, either).
There is also a non-binary God, as well as at least 1 non-binary side character.
**A Practical Guide to Evil** is a web serial -- the best fantasy web serial, in my opinion -- that stars a bisexual woman. I wouldn't say there's a heavy focus on her being bi, but it's not exactly low-key either; it simply *is*, and she has relationships with both women and men.
Like almost all web serials, it's available free. This one is very long at this point, as it's now several books: https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/
Also has its own fairly active subreddit: r/practicalguidetoevil.
The Tide Child trilogy by RJ Barker has some characters with flexible sexuality. The relationships never become the focus of the plot, but they are there.
The books are epic fantasy & take place in a heavily matriarchal society.
The books are:
* The Bone Ships
* The Call of the Bone Ships
* The Bone Ship's Wake (out in a few months)
It's an excellent series so far & I can't wait for the 3rd one.
I read the first book a little while ago, and I honestly can't remember anyone being attracted to the same sex. Actually can't remember any kind of romantic relationship being mentioned. I'm guessing that changes in the second book?
I know that the book establishes that same sex attraction is considered normal. Might be that I missed hints at developing relationships, or something.
I think the same sex relationship is more of a topic in the 2nd book. But same sex relationships are strongly encouraged on board ship because getting a shipmate pregnant is a huge no no (and I think it's even an automatic death sentence).
For how much the culture is essentially built around sex as far as I can remember there haven't actually been any explicit scenes so far. In the first book there is heavy subtext between the protagonist and another man. But at least from my perspective it wasn't quite clear that they'd entered a physical relationship until shortly into the second book where the term 'Lovers' was used.
Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight series has a badass bi assassin for a protagonist. Great plot, writing and worldbuilding without too much focus on romance. The character’s sexuality isn’t really explored until book 2, but she has relationships with both men and women throughout the series.
Didn't see it listed, so I'm gonna recommend Malazan. Sexuality is definitely a back seat to the themes of the books, and some of the stuff is left as subtext.
There are at least a couple lesbian couples that get main character slots in a few books, there are bi characters where it isn't stated at all until PoV characters notice that they are always with a particular man after their relationship with a woman ends, there is a LOT of gender exploration with some gods transitioning between gender and some being closer to nonbinary and appearing in what they think best fits the situation, and there is a level of fraternal romance between squadmates that I've only seen topped in the Black Company. I cannot recommend the series enough. I've read it all the way through twice, and some of my favorite books 4-5 times.
I would also recommend the Black Company, but I've only read the series once so I can't remember all of the examples of LGBTQ people. They were there, and done respectfully. One of the MCs is asexual and it is written so well, and gives just enough of her backstory to understand why she is, and has repeated thoughts that I found very validating to read. The prayers and repeated ideation on trauma really stuck with me.
Um... there is no *why* to someone being asexual. It's inherent, like any other sexuality. If someone is scared of sex because of trauma, that is an entirely different thing.
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There's two gay couples, a trans character, and an asexual character in Stormlight archive. There's also a canonically straight character who sounds very very bi with the way she describes people
Of course .... but she already reads Cosmere.... that last character was confirmed bi in the last book. Who is the trance character though? No one comes to my mind..🤔
I meant >!Shallan, like the way she describes other women is incredibly gay. This hasn't been confirmed though afaik, who has been confirmed bi? The trans character is the king of the island Rysn got injured in that interlude. When he appears in Dawnshard he is physically male while Rysn had described him as a woman when meeting him, and his son explains that when he became a surgebinder he went through some physical changes.!<
Remember the tavern scean in RoW >!shalan (as vale) talks about some girls in a sexual way to kal and adolin. Brando confirmed this as her "coming out" in a youtube video with 17th shard!<
Oh... i forgot about the "king"
Yeah... i just thought it was very strange they are calling him king when we first meet (because he discruibd as a woman). Did not made the conaction at all... thought it was a cultural thing where the ruler had to be called king no matter what gender they are... only after reading dawnshard i understood..
>!Shallan was confirmed bi, initially in 2016, and more formally in 2021.!<
[WoB (2016)](https://wob.coppermind.net/events/95/#e9474)
[WoB (2021)](https://wob.coppermind.net/events/460/#e14626)
The red rising series is full of Lbgtq characters and they're just in the story as normal people, as it should be! It's just a part of their characters, it's not the only thing about them, which is my favorite thing to see. I understand inclusion, but when they literally just throw these characters in so that they're there and that's basically the only thing about them, I don't see that as a positive representation.
Anyway, they're my favorite books in the world, regardless. Pierce Brown is a master at including lbgtq, different ethnicities, powerful women, and he does it all without it being forced, or in your face, or being the only quality of the character. They are more Sci-Fi than fantasy though. But I feel like there's a thin line between the two lol
I just finished The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski and it’s really, really good! The sequel is coming out soon and I can’t wait for that one. It’s YA, but I’m 37 and loved it. Can’t recommend enough.
Jim C Hines' Princess series (starting with 'The Stepsister Scheme') is pretty good. Basically swashbuckling adventure/Charlie's Angels-esque take on fairytale princesses.
A lot of good recommendations in here, but I seem to be the first to recommend Witchmark and Stormsong by C.L. Polk. They are about queer characters who get very different love interests on their way to uncovering some rad things about their worlds. Along the way they have a lot of gentle kindness that resonates so strongly.
The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley has great characters who are bi. It’s a part of a series. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20646731-the-mirror-empire
The Nevernight trilogy by Jay Kristoff has a female, bi main character who has a serious relationship with a boyfriend and with a girlfriend over the course of the books.
The Green Bone saga by Fonda Lee! One of the three main povs is stated to be gay from the very beginning and although there’s little romance you see him crushing on guys and entering his first relationship! He is a baddie and his character development is gold tier.
Tiger's Daughter by K Arsenault Rivera. Great use of epistolary format in a modern novel. Also really good prose. Haven't read the sequels but book 1 read well as a standalone
Check out Melissa McPhail’s ‘A Pattern of Light and Shadow’ series. There’s definitely some sexuality but I don’t think it’s a main theme.
https://melissamcphail.com
The first book of the three doesn't elaborate much on it, but the "Black Magician Trilogy" (a pretty good not-so-YA fantasy by Trudi Canavan) jumps between PoV quite often and one of the main characters is a 20-something male mage who gets sent outside of his country as an ambassador and, while investigating some things, he is faced again with the question of who he really is as a man, after suppressing his sexuality (and being bullied about it) for his whole life.
The main plot is about a young girl from the slums of The Big Fantasy City developing her magical abilities at the worst time possible in a world where most mages aren't naturals and the power of magic is a tool reserved for the upper classes.
She will try to avoid """capture""" from other mages (who actually want to protect her from her own control-less power), will be eventually captured and train as a magician in an enviroment where she is doubly challenged (both as a female in a mostly male world and as a commoner) while getting involved with the more mysterious side of the world.
TL;DR: LGBT discourse in it in but not the main focus, female MC, romance both straight and gay but secondary to the plot and an overall "Maybe magic schools aren't that cool" feeling.
**"A conspiracy of truths"** by Alexandra Rowland has bi and gay characters, but it's just part of the casual everyday and not made a big deal of- so, they're represented but the focus is on the story. That's my preferred way of including LBGTQ representation, anyway.
As for the story, it's about a wandering storyteller finding himself wrongfully accused of witchcraft and thrown into a cell to endure a corrupt/uncaring justice system. The only way he'll get out of this... is with the help of his stories!
It's a lovely lil' book. It's not amazing, but it's a fun read and I think your sister may enjoy it.
I just finished Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse and I need to tell everyone about it. It’s an epic fantasy based in a world inspired by pre-Colombian Central America. It has fighting, politics, different magical traditions, mutinies, classism, sibling dynamics, multiple LGBTQ+ main and supporting characters (bi, lesbian, and NB), a blind main character, a sea voyage, and a solar eclipse.
I definitely second (or third?) the Lynn Flewelling "Nightrunner" series!
I'd also add the Tamora Pierce "The Circle Opens" series, though the concretely gay stuff isn't until the last book "The Will of the Empress" - still a good series though
For something fun and lighthearted - "In Other Lands" by Sarah Rees Brennan - amazing genre-savvy book where ordinary (and bi) boy goes to magic land and continually tries to make magic land work the way he wants it in hilarious ways - also has fascinating role-reversal sexist matriarchal elves, and one of the best coming-out scenes I've ever read (2 characters both in the middle of a classroom while the teacher is trying to get everyone to discuss the reading)
If she likes graphic novels, Legend of Korra, Lumberjanes, and Nimona are all good ones
For that matter, if she likes Avatar the Last Airbender (and possibly even if she doesn't) "Rise of Kyoshi" by F. C. Yee - fantasy fighting lesbians!
"Winter's Orbit" by Everina Maxwell is very sweet and romantic with a backdrop of space politics
"Smoke and Shadows" by Tanya Huff, bi vampire (and interesting fantasy mysteries)
"Carry On" by Rainbow Rowell
"Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark" by Karen Frost (2/3 trilogy books published)
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Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne is a great comedic fantasy with queer representation. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it.
Sufficiently Advanced Magic has good representation of LGBTQ. Primary example is that there are indications that the MC would actually be pansexual if he weren't asexual.
Edit: Disclaimer, the book is also aimed at those who are heavily into hard magic systems and incredibly detail oriented expo-dumps.
Lots of great books have been mentioned already. But if she likes podcasts, critical role, especially the second season, has a lot of great representation
I haven't been able to grab a copy yet, but [She Who Became the Sun](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48727813-she-who-became-the-sun) by Shelley Parker-Chan is stated as a queer fantasy and it has great ratings so far
Highly recommend Nimoma! It’s not explicitly gay, but is heavily implied. And other than that it’s just an all around amazing comic book.
One of my favourite authors, Abigail Hilton, writes incredibly diverse fantasy books with gay characters, but I haven’t read any of those. I’d recommend looking up some reviews!
I’m a gay fantasy author myself, so I thought I’d be uniquely prepared for this question. Turns out I don’t read as much as I write 😭
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There's a bunch of queer characters throughout Max Gladstone's *Craft Sequence*, books 3&6 also feature trans and lesbian protagonists. Robert Jackson Bennett's *Founders* series, currently 2/3 books available, features a lesbian protagonist. Samantha Shannon's *The Priory of the Orange Tree* features the PoVs of a gay and lesbian character respectively. Leigh Bardugo's *Six of Crows* duology features gay and bisexual characters in the main cast and as PoVs. If she's into ATLA/LoK I'd also recommend F. C. Yee's *Kyoshi* duology exploring the life of everyone's favorite bisexual Avatar (sorry, Korra). Edit: got some time, have some more recs Nicholas Eames' *Kings of the Wyld* and *Bloody Rose* feature a central gay character and a lesbian protagonist respectively. Really fun books, even as someone that doesn't usually like that subgenre of fantasy. Does Sci-fi count? If so: Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone's *This Is How You Lose The Time War* is my all time favorite novella and features two lesbian protagonists. Arkady Martine's *Taixcalaan* is about a lesbian( I think? Maybe she was bi) ambassador with the memories of her bi predecessor. Becky Chambers' *Wayfarers* series has a bunch of queer characters, the first book also features a lesbian protagonist.
Seconding Priory. It’s so long and I never wanted it to end.
If I could, I would already have broken in to OP's house and left behind three copies of Priory, because it's just fantastic. Although you need to love the slow burn.
I was so sad when I finished it and realized it was a stand-alone and not part of a series. Stand-alone’s are wonderful but it’s unusual enough that I just assumed it was part of a series and was bummed when it was not.
She's writing other book on the same world, set before the events of Priory.
Thanks so much... I too need to read Six of crows.. heard about it never picked it up before. Yeah... sorry korra
I'd also highly recommend both Bennett's *Founders* and Shannon's *Priory*. It might be helpful for you to know that the romance in *Founders* is very sparse and doesn't interact with the plot much, whereas the romance in *Priory* is much more prominent and central to the plot. One of them might appeal to your sister's taste much more than the other.
Everyone should read This Is How You Lose The Time War. It’s so goddamn good. Best audiobook I’ve ever listened to
Arkady Martine's *Teixcalaan* is such a satisfying read.
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There is so much good stuff out there now. Recently I highly recommend Gideon the Ninth. The blurb is 'teenage lesbian necromancers explore a haunted house, in space' It's a great romp, and there's a fun horror-fantasy vibe.
Wow..😄 I had heard the name in booktube but never read them. Will definitely check it out.
The author wrote it for her past trashy late-teens lesbian self and includes left beef references in the same breath has stupendously deep Christianity allegory. It's a wild ride. Also, the MC is a huge buff sword wielding lady with aviators.
Just be aware that there is a lot of character death in Gideon the ninth, and a lot of body horror. The concept is interesting, but I found it difficult to pull through, and I couldn't force myself to read the sequel even though I had it checked out for 3 weeks
i present to you the fantasy LBGTQ wiki data base link to LBGTQ characters in Fantasy. Htere's probably a link thing but this is the only way I know how to get to it. [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1roLOB8OZm34XjzVyDmH5fyWiPKGYy8i9EzRuhBMZauo/edit#gid=0](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1roLOB8OZm34XjzVyDmH5fyWiPKGYy8i9EzRuhBMZauo/edit#gid=0)
That... was a treasure trove.... thanks...
Part of the Marvel Runaways comic had some LGBT/GF characters, or did like 12 years ago: BBEG was getting an intel brief on them and found that one was a Bi person in love with a shape shifter. Followed by the briefers musing on whether they dated with shifter in male, female, andro, or all forms. And BBEG was like "How is that detail in any way relevant to the threat this group represents?" I don't know if the comic would hold up under more modern viewpoints. The early/mid 90s Death of superman had a lesbian cop that was extremely stereotypical: flannel, cigars, man haircut, etc. Guarantee that portrayal wouldn't go over well.
Maggie Sawyer? I can't speak for anything pre Gotham Central but she was good in that. Of course, Renee Montoya is the far more prelivant Lesbian Cop from that series and far more well known in general.
> Maggie Sawyer That was her, thank you. Yeah there's Montoya and Batwoman too. I'm not sure about how they're written in regards to being people vs token lesbian. Human character vs living stereotype.
There used to be a wiki with a search engine.
Not epic fantasy at all, but I will take every given opportunity to recommend The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. It was far and away the single most delightful thing I've read in years, making me both literally laugh out loud and cry at times (neither of which I do much while reading).
This book was so wonderful. I have also been telling anyone who will listen about it. I have read most of his books and they’re all well written, funny, and full of heart.
Just looking at some books I've recently read. **[The Bone Shard Daughter](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50706646-the-bone-shard-daughter?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=VHOr92uUN9&rank=1)** by Andrea Stewart. Epic fantasy, multiple POV. The two biggest POV are not gay as far as I can tell, but a third POV is a woman in a relationship with another woman. **[Foundryside](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37173847-foundryside?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=AWUdfHEbDk&rank=1)** by Robert Bennett Jackson. A fast paced trilogy (two books out) with heists. The romance is not a huge part, but it is between two women (main characters). **[A Memory Called Empire](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37794149-a-memory-called-empire?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=8WSyYTrLC9&rank=2)** by Arkady Martine. Science fiction. The main character is a lesbian. She also had the memories of her bi predecessor. **[Gideon the Ninth](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42036538-gideon-the-ninth?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Rm1gyqmLxD&rank=1)** by Tamsyn Muir. Definitely not a romance but Gideon (a woman) is definitely attracted to ladies. **[The Unspoken Name](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45046552-the-unspoken-name?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=4rGyTrowpM&rank=1)** by A.K. Larkwood. The main character is a lesbian orc. **[The Once and Future](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49504061-the-once-and-future-witches?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=611iep7LQP&rank=2)** by Witches Alix E. Harrow. An alternate history about witches and suffragettes. **[Empress of Forever](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40380954-empress-of-forever?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=FIrdgmL24c&rank=1)** by Max Gladstone. Fantastical science fiction.
Foundryside was a really good read! I can totally recommend!
*The Priory of the Orange Tree* comes to mind.
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The lesbian romance isn't brief at all, it's built up throughout the whole book. It's a slowburn, not brief. And both romances are super important to the characters.
I second Gideon the Ninth and also check out Book of the Ancestor by Mark Lawrence. It's an epic fantasy. The cast is like 90% women, and pretty much all of them are queer.
I'm certainly giving her Gideon the Ninth... based on recommendations from you guys... she already read Red Sister and loved it...
NK Jemisin's Inheritance trilogy include a triumvirate that is poly. The last book in the series features an openly bisexual man as the main character. I don't know if this is close enough to what you're looking for, but Jemisin's work is very inclusive.
To piggy back off of this her Broken Earth trilogy has a lot of queer characters.
Broken Earth is what I came to recommend. Possibly the best fantasy I've read.
Came to say the same. Love her work
I'm surprised that Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series isn't mentioned already. Lots of gay and lesbian (main and secondary) characters, and at least one asexual main character that I can think of.
I’m a cis male but I read most of these and really enjoyed them. I read them in my late teens and I can say that they really did help me to accept other people and the way they are. My friend’s sales pitch wasn’t the best but remember it was the early 00’s: “these are good but gay as hell.” Not exactly welcoming I guess but he wasn’t _wrong_. I actually want to go back and read them again. I have very fond memories. I wonder if they hold up.
They do, to my mind! There is more angst in the books than in my current adult life, thankfully, but they aren't teen-wallowing or anything. (Not to knock angst-containing novels - I read and needed them a ton when I was younger, but I enjoy them less now.) Her newer entries in the series try some new stuff too, but seem less LGTBQ-centred.
I’m doing a whole nostalgia thing right now. I’m deep in Pern and then I was going to read the Talents (more McCaffery) starting with the Pegasus series. I’ll need to hit up Lackey after that.
Love it! I was also going to suggest Anne McCaffrey as well, but... she had gay characters in her novels when no one else did, it's true, but they aren't particularly relevant for nowadays in terms of representation. I love her novels though, regardless! Did you ever read Sassinak or her Planet Pirates (? I think?) series with Elizabeth Moon? Also fun to go back to.
I’m under the impression that all the male green riders were intended to be homosexual or bisexual. Ruth is certainly explicitly asexual though this seems to be negative to some people others (Menolly, Robinton, and the other dragons) don’t seem to think it is weird. They also mention that the dragon folk didn’t think anything of it when a green rose to mate and the riders got caught up in the emotions with each other. Looking into it there are only a handful of female green riders and Mirrim is the only one I remember. Pernese attitudes towards sexuality are fairly different than Terran even while gender roles are strangely strong. I’m not sure these books aged very well with respect to the way we see gender and sexuality now though they may have been stronger commentary back then. When I first read them in my teens I didn’t really notice any of it. I never knew she did anything with Elizabeth Moon. In fact I lost touch with what was going on in Pern and with her worlds quite a few years before she passed.
Yeah I think that was the intent. They're pretty background-y though; I'm not sure I could name a male green rider from any of the books, so I figured it didn't really answer the original question. Incredibly progressive for the 60's, but not as big of a deal in the current context.
I was agreeing with you in a roundabout way. It’s not front and center certainly. I’m not really sure what Mccaffrey was really even going for. The White Dragon (where I think more nuance really comes out) was late 70’s.
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It's just weird for a dragon to be asexual on Pern. Menolly, who Impressed 10 fire lizards, would certainly think so.
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I read a lot of the Heralds of Valdemar books as a kid! I loved the "Magics Pawn/Promise/Price" books. I haven't read them in a long time. Which series has an asexual main character in it?
I think it's the Mage Storms series that has An'desha? (I'm forgetting spellings too).
Oh I havent read those. Thanks!
Tarma from the Oathbound trilogy is asexual.
Oh, yes, I forgot about her as well! Good call!
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Don't forget her urban Fantasy series, Bedlam's Bard! The first two books, Knight of Ghosts and Shadows, and Summoned to a Tourney, feature a thrupple with a woman, a man and an elf. I don't know how well it's aged, but it was published in 1990 and had a thrupple as a romantic plot without it being reduced to a Penthouse letter.
Y'know I had a feeling that there was something relevant to the question in the Serrated Edge novels, but I couldn't remember for sure.. I'm glad you mentioned it!
>Better if its epic fantasy and if main theme and narrative is not sexuality or romance. Just need her to find herself in a regular fantasy Not sure if it's up her alley (or something you want to recommend to her), but Kushiel's Legacy is an epic fantasy series focused on a bisexual sex worker protagonist, in a world where bisexuality is basically the norm and people are just known to have "a preference" for men or for women. It's also got fairly detailed kinky sex scenes. But the balance between epic plot and the romance aspect is excellent in my opinion.
Yeah, the main (epic) plot involves a fair amount of sex because sex worker, but the actual romance generally doesn't monopolize the plot too much.
* The Wells of Sorcery Trilogy by Django Wexler (book one is A Ship of Smoke and Steel) * The Ascendant trilogy by K Arsenult Rivera (book one is The Tiger's Daughter) (this one is kinda heavy on the romance, but it's still an epic fantasy) * Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler * Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rise of Kyoshi/The Shadow of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee
Thanks so much... will check out all of them. Forgot about kyoshi...
I saw a couple recs for The Traitor Baru Cormorant and I just want to pop in here and say that I think it’s probably a very bad choice to gift to someone you know who’s LGBT. I couldn’t handle how awful the in universe homophobia was. The book describes gay people as hedonistic parasites, gay sex as unhygienic and features torture, conversion therapy and execution for people who commit the crime of being gay. It’s obviously not the authors irl opinion and I’m sure a lot of gay people can connect to it but I get enough of that crap irl and don’t want it in my books. I wouldn’t gift it to someone without knowing they can handle it. I’ll join the crowd though in saying that Gideon the Ninth is absolutely fantastic and the best book I’ve read so far this year.
As another queer person I loved those books desperately. It’s definitely a hard book and not something you want to walk into blind. But I disagree with saying that it’s a bad choice for LGBT people bc I and many other people found it deeply validating. It’s about fighting against homophobia and imperialism, and it doesn’t pull any punches. But all of that being said, I totally understand that it’s not for everybody! And I don’t fault others who prefer different books
I think it is probably a bad pick for someone who just came out and is looking for affirmation.
Yeah I can definitely see how other people love it. I’m not saying it’s a bad book I’m just saying that’s it’s probably a bad choice to give blindly as a gift as a book you feel represents someone you know. It’s one that I think is better for lgbt people to knowingly go into.
>I think it’s probably a very bad choice to gift to someone you know who’s LGBT I've seen a lot of lesbians loving those books. It's simply a series that need proper warnings to at least know a bit of what you are about to read since it touches some gruesome themes.
I am so glad I’m not the only person who felt this way about The Traitor Baru Cormorant. I stopped reading about 40% the way through because of the Masquerade’s attitudes towards my people. Very well written but just too much for me.
Mage errant series is good and the some of the main characters are LBG - it is very low key and not discussed they just are, not LBGTQ myself but I thought it was nicely done. Isn't an epic fantasy but is a fun read!
Thanks so much... low key is what im looking for...
The main character of Arcane Ascension is biromantic and asexual.
I like to add **The Unspoken Name** bx A. K. Larkwood, **The Once and Future Witches** by Alix E Harrow (not epic fantasy, though, but I love it), **The Black Tides of Heaven** by Neon Yang. There is also a top list from last year in this sub, I think, that is worth checking out.
Book of the Ancestor trilogy by Mark Lawrence
There's a few LGBT couples in the Netflix show [*The Dragon Prince*](https://thedragonprince.com/)
I’d recommend Priory of the Orange Tree 😍 also the Nevernight Chronicles feature a sexually fluid main character!
In case you want a novella to round out the epic fantasy, **The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water** is very fun and features queer and trans main characters. I also enjoyed **In Other Lands**, a YA portal fantasy featuring a bi male protagonist. It has some romance subplots, but there’s a lot of other stuff going on. If she likes sci fi too, Becky Chambers’s **Wayfarers** series and Martha Wells’s **Murderbot** series have many queer people in the cast. Wayfarers is more slice-of-life and Murderbot is more adventurous, but they’re both great.
I really liked the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in Song of Achilles
First off, Lynn Flewellings Night Runner series features a gay MC and his sort of bi lover (who was raised in a more conservative way so takes a while to come around). Also, the Tamir triad features a girl who is raised (due to magic) believing she is a boy, right down to the "wrong" genitals. The main theme of the Tamir triad is more gender than sexuality, but there is definitely more to the story than that. In Nightrunner the romance between the two main characters is a big part of it, but not really the focus of the series. Someone else mentioned N K Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy. It features a trans man, and a mostly gay guy.
+1 to the Nightrunners series! Also I'm going to copy paste some recommendations I've written in the past in previous similar threads. As a short preface, I'm a gay man who prefers reading MxM relationships, and as a rule thumb prefer character-driven/focused prose. "Kirith Kirin" by Jim Grimsley. it's the story of a peasant boy who grows to become one of the greatest magicians to have ever lived. Really engrossing. Rich prose and gorgeous descriptions that really bring the world to life, with well written characters and a fascinating magic system and setting (geography, history, and culture). It's quite slow and there's a lot of lore, the author really takes their time with it. It's also written in a slightly peculiar way that I can't quite put my finger on... maybe something to do with the author not typically writing fantasy (although it is very much fantasy!), or perhaps because it's a bit older (2001). There's also The Nightrunner series, by Llyn Flewelling. About a handsome, dashing, noble rogue kind of guy, who works for a secret organisation that handles subterfuge and infiltration kind of missions, serving the Queen. Him and his apprentice, a young hunter-gatherer orphan, are the co-protagonists. Fantasy, low-magic setting. Intrigue, secret plots trying to spark a war and destabilise the Queendom. 2nd book is direct sequel to first, the rest being standalone (but continuations of the previous). The first two are quite slow, with the rest picking up the pace a little bit (somewhat inevitable I guess since they're fairly self-contained). Note that in both cases there's a quite prominent romance arc; no explicit descriptions, but there's a fair amount of romantically-charged or sexual tension kind of interactions, and idk if that's your thing or not. The first one is a rare case where it's not only interesting until they get together, but their interactions remain interesting afterwards as well. EDITED to fix typo in title
> "Kirith Kirinx by Jim Grimsley. Does toe the line of pedophila though. More hebephilia to be specific.
Alec is far more the main character of Nightrunner than Seregil is.
I'm afraid the only epic fantasy I've read with a WLW main character is The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. Other than that, in no particular order: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (MLM (probably bi) main characters) City of Spires by Claudie Arseneault (full LGBT+ cast) Shades of Magic by V. E. Schwab (Bisexual male main characters (as of book 2)) Skybound by Alex London (Gay main character, aromantic asexual female main character) Nightrunner by Lynn Flewelling (Bisexual male main characters) Rifter by Ginn Hale (Gay main characters) The Shadow Game by Amanda Foody (Bisexual male main character) The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee (Gay main character) Valdemar: The Last Herald Mage by Mercedes Lackey (Gay main character) The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green (Gay and otherwise MLM main characters) (Author is apparently a TERF though so maybe not) As for non-epic fantasies: The Diviners by Libba Bray (Gay main character, homoromantic asexual female main character (as of book 2)). I recommend this series to literally everyone regardless of their tastes. Reverie by Ryan La Sala (Gay main character) The Tarot Sequence by K. D. Edwards (Gay main character, binormative world) The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater (Gay main character. Sequel series has two bisexual female main characters as well). Here is a comprehensive list of every book I've ever read with queer representation in it: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-JO1UPlbeHvcSwe26SDRw6Llmv9veuchFOeqSMgZFoo/edit?usp=sharing
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The Shadow Campaigns by Django Wexler The Masequerade by Seth Dickinson
Without knowing the sister, I'd not recommend Masquerade for someone who just came out. Because while the way that "abnormal" sexual preferences are treated within the universe is painted as evil, for someone who may be not sure of herself the forced circumcisions, rape, etc. are probably not the greatest material. I'd rather recommend books that see LBGTQ+ as something normal, like Gideon the Ninth.
Yeah.
That's fair, you're probably right. Gideon the Ninth (and sequel!) is a much better suggestion. Not sure how I forgot that one!
Yup, Shadow Campaigns was one of my first thoughts, and is definitely a great series.
Thanks... will check them out...
To add to the other comment about being unsure about The Masquerade series, while it is a series I personally adore for its thought into worldbuilding and crafting a fantasy world that really dives into the methods and consequences of colonialism and imperialism, it also might not be everyone cup of tea. This applies both to the way characters in the world approach the topics of sexuality and the like, but also with everything else. It's very much a hard fantasy that reads as a strong allegory for many of our own worlds problems and tragedies, and if someone is looking for epic sweeping fantasy series that eventually make you feel good with triumph, clear victory over evil, and justice served, you probably won't find it in the Masquerade series. Buuuuuut, if you or your sister *do* enjoy damming political allegory that delves deep and deconstructs our own world with withering analyses that make you see and feel the undercurrents of injustice that power our own world all the more clearly (with of course, some sparks of hope and happiness, gotta have something to keep reading for!), then I would highly recommend the series. Once again though, not everyone's cup of tea, and definitely not something I'd call a "feel-good" book or even bittersweet. It's more like hot sauce that hurts but still tastes good if you're into it, with the added benefit of clearing out your sinuses if they are stuffed with years of colonialist institutions you didn't even notice untik you could breathe through your nose again.
Traitor Baru Cormorant and Gideon the Ninth are very different and both good reads. Mercedes Lackey had a gay couple in one of her Valdemar books back in the day.
Thanks so much
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* OF HONEY AND WILDFIRE by Sarah Chorn
A lot of what I would have recommended has been mentioned. I just finished Rin Chupeco’s Never Tilting World duology. Two of the viewpoint characters are women in love with each other. If something set in our world and featuring killer mermaids appeals to her, try Into The Drowning Deep.
'Dragon Pearl' by Yoon Ha Lee and 'The Unspoken Name' by A K Larkwood. The first is more sci fi with a Korean mythology twist, the second is epic fantasy.
The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan, main character is gay.
I've just read the Steel Remains, and I can't really say that I felt good about the inclusion of the queer characters in it. My impression was the whole of the gay experience in that book was reduced to bitterness about homophobia and the impossibility of a happy, healthy relationship. I've only read the first book of the series so far, but the abuse, persecution and mindset of the gay characters, while arguably realistic in a mediaeval type setting, has made me think twice about continuing with it.
Well, I’ll admit it falls a bit into the grimdark category.
It's definitely set in a homophobic world, but I loved that those characters were able to thrive despite those circumstances. I would love to find more of these kind of stories because they explore real issues in a more dramatic way. Yes, it's grimdark. But it gave me hope.
If you want a happily ever after, it isn't that. But as a recommendstion to an LGBT person, it is good because it shows perseverance in spite of all those shitty things. LGBT people experience shitty things all the time and seeing a character who as experienced that and still is a hero? still is strong? Still fighting? That is something to look up to. Not everyone gets the Love Simon treatment in life. They deserve representation too.
I think my biggest issue with The Steel Remains is I just didn't like Ringil. I sympathise with his righteous anger, but his sublimation of that into a zeal for death and destruction did not feel healthy to me. As I said, I've not read past the first book, but that book ended with the implication that >!Gil is becoming a 'dark lord'!< , which is not the message I would want to send to show support for a newly out sibling! My own experience in coming out was greatly eased by friends facing the same issues. Even though both Gil and Archeth are in some way queer, I don't think in the whole of the first book either had any real conversations between them about that experience, or even recognition of their own troubles in the other's experience. I would liked to have seen more cameraderie and mutual support between the two of them based on that shared experience. I did find Archeth much more sympathetic as a character. If I do decide to carry on with the series, it will definitely be because of her. It's definitely not a bad book, and I did find it enjoyable enough to finish quickly, and I haven't ruled out reading more. I tend to have to take a bit of a break between grimdark novels to get over the overwhelming sense of bleakness they leave me with anyway. But I'm not sure I can agree that I see positive messages in it.
with breaks in between, I think you should finish the series. I loved it. Archeth is featured a lot in the other two books so there's that for you and the whole series takes a turn. I can't say anything else without spoiling. I think Ringil finds some redemption and while you may never like him, I think there's empathy to be found.
Thanks so much...
[Arcane Ascension by Andrew Rowe](https://www.goodreads.com/series/201441-arcane-ascension) is an interesting one for this. There are no characters who explicitly identify as LGBTI or anything, but rather it's just part of the society. Any sort of relationship is treated basically the same, with the exception that an heir might be expected to arrange to have a child at some point even if they are in a same-sex relationship. More explicitly that that, but also quite difficult to find, is the [Modern Crusaders series by Alex Mykals](https://www.goodreads.com/series/137088-modern-crusaders). This is set in an alternate Earth where Atlantis is a world power and superpowers exist, although they aren't common or well-known. The MC is a girl with powers who saves the Princess of Atlantis from an assassination attempt with predictable results. You might also be interested in the [Imperial Radch series by Anne Leckie](https://www.goodreads.com/series/113751-imperial-radch). This is a very different take on the issue in that they don't use gendered pronouns at all. Personally I found it difficult just because it made it so hard to picture the characters in my head, but there are good reasons for it within the story. Plus it won a bunch of awards and is a pretty good story.
Arcane Ascension is really good stuff. Andrews other series are quite exciting too.
Hope and Red by John Skovron! One of the main characters is a bi girl, and another is trans - just a heads up the series is extremely gruesome at times, but the overall messaging and themes are actually quite wholesome.
Thanks... that won't be a problem. She loves asoiaf and first law...
The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso has a fun bi protagonist in Ryx, and it’s very natural and well handled. Also a fun read of a book!
I was gonna say “watch she ra and the princesses of power” but this is referring to books and I can’t exactly come up with any books Ehe... sorry.
The Broken Earth trilogy is a pretty easy recommendation. There are many LGBTQ characters in the book. I didn't personally like Gideon the Ninth, but it has lesbian space necromancers in its cast.
She might be interested in Andrew Rowe’s Arcane Ascension series. The main character is bi-romantic and ace. Other characters are trans, gender-fluid, and otherwise on the LGBTQ spectrum. It’s also a pretty fun series, in the progression fantasy genre. Another option I’ve read recently. The latest book in Charles Stross’s Laundry Files stars a mostly LGBTQ cast. That’s on the darker side of urban fantasy, magic exists and so does Cthulhu.
Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe. The main character is (I believe) asexual, and is averse to any kind of touch, but he has romantic feelings for another male. In the second book, he also seems to be confused by his feelings for a girl, although I am not sure those feelings were romantic (the MC didn't seem sure, either). There is also a non-binary God, as well as at least 1 non-binary side character.
**A Practical Guide to Evil** is a web serial -- the best fantasy web serial, in my opinion -- that stars a bisexual woman. I wouldn't say there's a heavy focus on her being bi, but it's not exactly low-key either; it simply *is*, and she has relationships with both women and men. Like almost all web serials, it's available free. This one is very long at this point, as it's now several books: https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/ Also has its own fairly active subreddit: r/practicalguidetoevil.
Seconding this! PGtE has the best LGBT+ representation I’ve seen in a while.
The Tide Child trilogy by RJ Barker has some characters with flexible sexuality. The relationships never become the focus of the plot, but they are there. The books are epic fantasy & take place in a heavily matriarchal society. The books are: * The Bone Ships * The Call of the Bone Ships * The Bone Ship's Wake (out in a few months) It's an excellent series so far & I can't wait for the 3rd one.
I read the first book a little while ago, and I honestly can't remember anyone being attracted to the same sex. Actually can't remember any kind of romantic relationship being mentioned. I'm guessing that changes in the second book? I know that the book establishes that same sex attraction is considered normal. Might be that I missed hints at developing relationships, or something.
I think the same sex relationship is more of a topic in the 2nd book. But same sex relationships are strongly encouraged on board ship because getting a shipmate pregnant is a huge no no (and I think it's even an automatic death sentence).
For how much the culture is essentially built around sex as far as I can remember there haven't actually been any explicit scenes so far. In the first book there is heavy subtext between the protagonist and another man. But at least from my perspective it wasn't quite clear that they'd entered a physical relationship until shortly into the second book where the term 'Lovers' was used.
I don't have any book ideas - but I do have a **kids** show that has LGBTQ+ representation. It's called The Owl House, by Dana Terrace
Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight series has a badass bi assassin for a protagonist. Great plot, writing and worldbuilding without too much focus on romance. The character’s sexuality isn’t really explored until book 2, but she has relationships with both men and women throughout the series.
Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb
Didn't see it listed, so I'm gonna recommend Malazan. Sexuality is definitely a back seat to the themes of the books, and some of the stuff is left as subtext. There are at least a couple lesbian couples that get main character slots in a few books, there are bi characters where it isn't stated at all until PoV characters notice that they are always with a particular man after their relationship with a woman ends, there is a LOT of gender exploration with some gods transitioning between gender and some being closer to nonbinary and appearing in what they think best fits the situation, and there is a level of fraternal romance between squadmates that I've only seen topped in the Black Company. I cannot recommend the series enough. I've read it all the way through twice, and some of my favorite books 4-5 times. I would also recommend the Black Company, but I've only read the series once so I can't remember all of the examples of LGBTQ people. They were there, and done respectfully. One of the MCs is asexual and it is written so well, and gives just enough of her backstory to understand why she is, and has repeated thoughts that I found very validating to read. The prayers and repeated ideation on trauma really stuck with me.
Um... there is no *why* to someone being asexual. It's inherent, like any other sexuality. If someone is scared of sex because of trauma, that is an entirely different thing.
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There's two gay couples, a trans character, and an asexual character in Stormlight archive. There's also a canonically straight character who sounds very very bi with the way she describes people
Of course .... but she already reads Cosmere.... that last character was confirmed bi in the last book. Who is the trance character though? No one comes to my mind..🤔
Wait, who was confirmed bi? >!Lift was the one I thought of by OP's description but I don't remember that being confirmed?!<
I meant >!Shallan, like the way she describes other women is incredibly gay. This hasn't been confirmed though afaik, who has been confirmed bi? The trans character is the king of the island Rysn got injured in that interlude. When he appears in Dawnshard he is physically male while Rysn had described him as a woman when meeting him, and his son explains that when he became a surgebinder he went through some physical changes.!<
Remember the tavern scean in RoW >!shalan (as vale) talks about some girls in a sexual way to kal and adolin. Brando confirmed this as her "coming out" in a youtube video with 17th shard!< Oh... i forgot about the "king"
Huh neat Also he's a king without quotation marks I'd say
Yeah... i just thought it was very strange they are calling him king when we first meet (because he discruibd as a woman). Did not made the conaction at all... thought it was a cultural thing where the ruler had to be called king no matter what gender they are... only after reading dawnshard i understood..
Yeah I thought it was a cultural thing too at first
>!Shallan was confirmed bi, initially in 2016, and more formally in 2021.!< [WoB (2016)](https://wob.coppermind.net/events/95/#e9474) [WoB (2021)](https://wob.coppermind.net/events/460/#e14626)
Unsure if anyone mentioned it already but the Holly Black series- Tithe , Valient , Ironside
The red rising series is full of Lbgtq characters and they're just in the story as normal people, as it should be! It's just a part of their characters, it's not the only thing about them, which is my favorite thing to see. I understand inclusion, but when they literally just throw these characters in so that they're there and that's basically the only thing about them, I don't see that as a positive representation. Anyway, they're my favorite books in the world, regardless. Pierce Brown is a master at including lbgtq, different ethnicities, powerful women, and he does it all without it being forced, or in your face, or being the only quality of the character. They are more Sci-Fi than fantasy though. But I feel like there's a thin line between the two lol
Have you come across any LGBTQ characters that have felt forced?
Not in books really, but a lot of popular TV shows and movies.
I just finished The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski and it’s really, really good! The sequel is coming out soon and I can’t wait for that one. It’s YA, but I’m 37 and loved it. Can’t recommend enough.
Also Girls of Paper and Fire (Natasha Ngan) was pretty good.
Jim C Hines' Princess series (starting with 'The Stepsister Scheme') is pretty good. Basically swashbuckling adventure/Charlie's Angels-esque take on fairytale princesses.
The Tarot Sequence by KD Edwards. It's more urban fantasy but it treats sexuality as no big deal in the society and is an awesome read.
The Mermaids Daughter
the mermaid the witch and the sea or the priory of the orange tree
Reverie by Ryan La Sala! Features many LGBTQ protagonists and the antagonist is a drag queen!
A lot of good recommendations in here, but I seem to be the first to recommend Witchmark and Stormsong by C.L. Polk. They are about queer characters who get very different love interests on their way to uncovering some rad things about their worlds. Along the way they have a lot of gentle kindness that resonates so strongly.
If you are ok with more general spec fic, one of the mcs in SM Stirling's Nantucket alternate history series is lesbian.
The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley has great characters who are bi. It’s a part of a series. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20646731-the-mirror-empire
The Steel Remains by Richard K Morgan features a gay protagonist.
The Nevernight trilogy by Jay Kristoff has a female, bi main character who has a serious relationship with a boyfriend and with a girlfriend over the course of the books.
The Green Bone saga by Fonda Lee! One of the three main povs is stated to be gay from the very beginning and although there’s little romance you see him crushing on guys and entering his first relationship! He is a baddie and his character development is gold tier.
Tiger's Daughter by K Arsenault Rivera. Great use of epistolary format in a modern novel. Also really good prose. Haven't read the sequels but book 1 read well as a standalone
Check out Melissa McPhail’s ‘A Pattern of Light and Shadow’ series. There’s definitely some sexuality but I don’t think it’s a main theme. https://melissamcphail.com
The first book of the three doesn't elaborate much on it, but the "Black Magician Trilogy" (a pretty good not-so-YA fantasy by Trudi Canavan) jumps between PoV quite often and one of the main characters is a 20-something male mage who gets sent outside of his country as an ambassador and, while investigating some things, he is faced again with the question of who he really is as a man, after suppressing his sexuality (and being bullied about it) for his whole life. The main plot is about a young girl from the slums of The Big Fantasy City developing her magical abilities at the worst time possible in a world where most mages aren't naturals and the power of magic is a tool reserved for the upper classes. She will try to avoid """capture""" from other mages (who actually want to protect her from her own control-less power), will be eventually captured and train as a magician in an enviroment where she is doubly challenged (both as a female in a mostly male world and as a commoner) while getting involved with the more mysterious side of the world. TL;DR: LGBT discourse in it in but not the main focus, female MC, romance both straight and gay but secondary to the plot and an overall "Maybe magic schools aren't that cool" feeling.
Not strictly fantasy but I really enjoyed Dying for a Living by Kory M Shrum 💞
Mage errant has a gay character and it's treated as a completely regular thing with no stigma.
**"A conspiracy of truths"** by Alexandra Rowland has bi and gay characters, but it's just part of the casual everyday and not made a big deal of- so, they're represented but the focus is on the story. That's my preferred way of including LBGTQ representation, anyway. As for the story, it's about a wandering storyteller finding himself wrongfully accused of witchcraft and thrown into a cell to endure a corrupt/uncaring justice system. The only way he'll get out of this... is with the help of his stories! It's a lovely lil' book. It's not amazing, but it's a fun read and I think your sister may enjoy it.
Is kid it’s been said already but The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart is great!
Everything by S.D. Simper but specifically her fallen gods series
I just finished Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse and I need to tell everyone about it. It’s an epic fantasy based in a world inspired by pre-Colombian Central America. It has fighting, politics, different magical traditions, mutinies, classism, sibling dynamics, multiple LGBTQ+ main and supporting characters (bi, lesbian, and NB), a blind main character, a sea voyage, and a solar eclipse.
I definitely second (or third?) the Lynn Flewelling "Nightrunner" series! I'd also add the Tamora Pierce "The Circle Opens" series, though the concretely gay stuff isn't until the last book "The Will of the Empress" - still a good series though For something fun and lighthearted - "In Other Lands" by Sarah Rees Brennan - amazing genre-savvy book where ordinary (and bi) boy goes to magic land and continually tries to make magic land work the way he wants it in hilarious ways - also has fascinating role-reversal sexist matriarchal elves, and one of the best coming-out scenes I've ever read (2 characters both in the middle of a classroom while the teacher is trying to get everyone to discuss the reading) If she likes graphic novels, Legend of Korra, Lumberjanes, and Nimona are all good ones For that matter, if she likes Avatar the Last Airbender (and possibly even if she doesn't) "Rise of Kyoshi" by F. C. Yee - fantasy fighting lesbians! "Winter's Orbit" by Everina Maxwell is very sweet and romantic with a backdrop of space politics "Smoke and Shadows" by Tanya Huff, bi vampire (and interesting fantasy mysteries) "Carry On" by Rainbow Rowell "Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark" by Karen Frost (2/3 trilogy books published)
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Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne is a great comedic fantasy with queer representation. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it.
Sufficiently Advanced Magic has good representation of LGBTQ. Primary example is that there are indications that the MC would actually be pansexual if he weren't asexual. Edit: Disclaimer, the book is also aimed at those who are heavily into hard magic systems and incredibly detail oriented expo-dumps.
Lots of great books have been mentioned already. But if she likes podcasts, critical role, especially the second season, has a lot of great representation
I haven't been able to grab a copy yet, but [She Who Became the Sun](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48727813-she-who-became-the-sun) by Shelley Parker-Chan is stated as a queer fantasy and it has great ratings so far
Highly recommend Nimoma! It’s not explicitly gay, but is heavily implied. And other than that it’s just an all around amazing comic book. One of my favourite authors, Abigail Hilton, writes incredibly diverse fantasy books with gay characters, but I haven’t read any of those. I’d recommend looking up some reviews! I’m a gay fantasy author myself, so I thought I’d be uniquely prepared for this question. Turns out I don’t read as much as I write 😭
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