7 of the Best Queer Fantasy Books You Might Have Missed
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These days, readers are almost spoilt for choice when it comes to fantasy LGBT books or books with queer characters. Here are 7 great choices, some which you might have missed!
1. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
If you read any queer fantasy books this year, The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon absolutely must be one of them. This is a must read for any reading list featuring forbidden love, magic, gripping and evocative writing – and more dragons and draconic creatures than you can shake a stick at. The Priory of the Orange Tree really does have something for everyone: romance, a rich fantasy world, magical creatures, and a tight story with richly realised characters.
Described as a ‘feminist Lord of the Rings’, The Priory of the Orange Tree is fantasy fit for the modern age. Thoughtful and pointed in its analysis of the role of women, of desire and romance and forbidden love, Samantha Shannon’s doorstopper deserves its spot in the canon of queer fantasy books – and indeed the greatest fantasy stories of all time.
2. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
This queer romance novel has a cosiness to it that’s been described as a ‘big gay blanket’, and I’m here for it. The House in the Cerulean Sea by queer author TJ Klune has it all – romance, a bit of mystery, found family, and an evocative setting with its own magic. Set on a remote island, this is a modern fantasy world with a whole lot of charm.
RELATED: The House in the Cerulean Sea Review
Sent to audit an orphanage for magical children, protagonist Linus Baker faces an impossible choice in a magical world where things aren’t always as they seem.
3. White Trash Warlock by David R Slayton
White Trash Warlock is queer fantasy at its absolute best, set in a richly realised working-class setting that often goes forgotten in fantasy fiction. The first book in a trilogy, White Trash Warlock is a great introduction to the life and story of the main cast of characters and provides just enough to leave you wanting more from the world.
Centred around series protagonist Adam Binder, a young man with just enough magic to cause him trouble, White Trash Warlock and its sequels, Trailer Park Trickster and Deadbeat Druid, have everything they need for the discerning fan of queer fantasy books – forbidden magic, a life flipped upside down, enduring mystery, and even a meeting with Death.
4. The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams
The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams is a gripping, thrilling adult fantasy tale set in a world with a rich history full of forgotten magic, brimming with life – and not necessarily in a good way. This is an evocative setting filled with magic and fantasy, but its inclusive cast of richly rendered characters sets it apart from other fantasy novels. Featuring a ragtag group of people on a quest to save the world, The Ninth Rain is a must read for fans of queer fantasy books, the first book in a fantastic trilogy with stories well worth the journey.
5. The Bone Ships by R J Barker
The Bone Ships by R J Barker is the first book in a trilogy set in a rich world that’s fantastic in every meaning of the word. Featuring an inclusive cast in a truly unique world, The Bone Ships and its sequels, Call of the Bone Ships and The Bone Ship’s Wake offer an amazing magical story, a queer fantasy tale set against the backdrop of pirates, the vast ocean, and ships made from dragon bones.
Consigned to a ship of the dead, protagonist Joron Twiner must cope with his new life after meeting his ship’s new captain, Lucky Meas, who drags the ship and its crew along on a quest which will change life forever for everyone in the Hundred Isles.
One of my personal favourite queer fantasy books, The Bone Ships is a fantastic adult fantasy outing fit for any reading list.
6. The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan
The Steel Remains features both a lesbian and a gay man as central viewpoint characters and deals with some of the challenges they face in the context of their world, while being about so much more.
I really enjoyed The Steel Remains and its sequels, The Cold Commands and The Dark Defiles. This is a gritty adult fantasy, an often brutal story of dark forces and forbidden magic and a man with his own destiny.
Queer fantasy with an edge. There’s no heart stopping queer romance, no cosy quiet life, but The Steel Remains is a story well worth the read set in a fantasy world with a rich history and just a touch of science fiction flavour.
7. The Greenhollow Duology by Emily Tesh
The Greenhollow Duology by author Emily Tesh is proof that queer fantasy can be just as exciting and compelling in a smaller, more self-contained setting as it can be in the kinds of sprawling, epic fantasy worlds many readers are best acquainted with.
This is a wonderful queer debut, a queer romance that manages to be both exciting and cosy at the same time. Featuring a charming gay romance, a good supporting cast to go with its magical setting, and even a dangerous bargain or two, The Greenhollow Duology is a delightful if brief fantasy tale full of life and magic.
