I’m a sucker for a good fantasy book. But as a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I also love to feel represented in the books I read. So, in this post I’ve rounded up the best fantasy books with LGBT characters.
This post contains affiliate links. That said, I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself.
Fantasy books are so much better when you can see yourself reflected in the book. Whether you’re looking for books with magic, elves or fae – I’ve got you covered. I’ve compiled the absolute best fantasy books with LGBT characters.
What are the best fantasy books with LGBT characters?
These are the fantasy books with LGBT Characters that I reallyrecommend.
The following list includes fantasy books with LGBT Characters that you NEED to read:)
1. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
I wasn’t sure whether to include The Priory of the Orange Tree in this post. I personally found this difficult to get into – the size is quite intimidating. But without a doubt it’s one of the most popular LGBTQ+ Fantasy books. And I couldn’t write a post on fantasy books with LGBT Characters without mentioning it.
Queen Sabran the Ninth is still unwed but must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction. But assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead is an outsider who has risen to the position of lady in waiting.
Ead is loyal to a hidden society of mages and keeps a close eye on Sabran. She protects her using forbidden magic.
Across the sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider. She is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.
There is so much about this book that fantasy readers will love – an epic battle between good and evil, incredible world building and an amazing love story. Plus, dragons!
Good reads Rating:
4.23
Representation:
wlw relationship, mlm relationship mental illness, PoC and varying cultures
Content warnings:
Miscarriage, Death, Violence, Religious bigotry, Infertility, Sexual content
2. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
This is another book that wasn’t personally for me but is such a popular fantasy book that I had to include it in this post. It features a captive princess, forbidden magic and a sapphic love story.
Malini has been imprisoned by her dictator brother and spends her days isolated in Hirana, an aancient temple.
Priya is a maidservant who makes the treacherous journey to the top of Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be anonymous if it keeps her dangerous secret safe.
But Malini accidentally witnesses Priya’s true nature. And their destinies become irrevocably tangled.
This book is full of epic worldbuilding, magic and morally grey lesbians. If you like an enemies to lovers fantasy book with LGBT Characters then you should definitely pick this one up.
Good reads Rating:
4.19
Representation:
- Indian main character, Sapphic wlw romance, Lesbian main characters
Content warnings:
Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Death, hom*ophobia, misogyny, pregnancy
3. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Song of Achilles is one of those books that always seems to get recommended when people mention LGBTQ+ Books on social media. And I couldn’t write a post on fantasy books with LGBT characters without it.
Song of Achilles is a Greek Mythology retelling. It focuses on the romance between Achilles and Patroclus. It has one of the most adorable but also the most heartbreaking mlm romances.
The book follows Achilles and Patroclus. Achilles is handsome, strong and irristable to all who meet him. While Patroclus is an awkward young prince exiled from his homeland.
They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine. But they discover that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. All the heroes are called upon to lay siege to Troy. Achilles joins their cause. And Patroclus follows. But the years that follow will test everything.
Song of Achilles has had almost 700,000 thousand reviews on Good Reads and it’s still rated 4.4 stars. The ending is absolutely devastating. Even if you have a knowledge of Greek mythology and know what’s going to happen. The way Madeline Miller depicts the strong and passionate romance between Achilles and Patroclus is incredible. The writing is beautiful and will have you sobbing like a child.
Good reads Rating:
4.38
Representation:
mlm relationship
Content warnings:
Death, Violence, War, rape, sexual content, slavery
4. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
There is so much to love about A Marvellous Light. It’s an mlm romance about magic, a mystery to solve and a secret magical society. And it also has serious dark academia vibes.
It follows Robin Blyth. Due to an administrative error, he is named liaison to a secret magical society. So, he is forced to contend with magic’s dangers and a deadly curse while he searches for his missing predecessor.
To do this, he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey. Edwin Courcey is his prickly magical society counterpart but he clearly wishes Robin were anyone else.
I love the secret society of magicians. And the Edwardian setting and mlm romance sets it apart from other books including secret magical societies.
If you like historical fiction or dark academia then you need to read this one. It’s fantastic to read about gay men in an Edwardian setting.
Good reads Rating:
4.13
Representation:
mlm relationship
Content warnings:
Attempted murder., bullying., chronic Illness (mentioned), death of a parent (mentioned), emotional abuse, hom*ophobia (minor), kidnapping, physical abuse.
5. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Legendborn is a fast paced ya fantasy book with an action packed plot and plenty of twists and turns. Plus it has an excellent non binary side character, a lesbian and a bisexual character.
It follows Bree Mathews. After the death of her mother, she wants to avoid family memories. So, she joins a residential program for gifted high school students.
But then she witnesses a magical attack on her first night. A flying demon feeding on human energy. A Mage tries to wipe her memory. But he fails. And instead Bree unlocks new memories of her mother’s death.
If you’re looking for a mysterious, dark haired and morally grey main character then this is a great choice. It also has a diverse cast, an amazing female lead and dark academia vibes. It also features great commentary on slavery and racism.
If you’re looking for books like Legendborn-then I have a whole blog post full of recommendations. You cancheck out my article on books like Legendborn here
Good reads Rating:
4.43
Representation:
Black Main character, Taiwanese-American lesbian, bisexual characters, wlw characters, non binary characters
Content warnings:
- Alcohol consumption, Car accidents, Death of a parent, Demons, Emesis, Gore (mild), Grief, Hospitals.
6. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
A Dark and Hollow Star is one of the top ya books to read! If you’re a fan of Crescent City you definitely need to read a Dark and Hollow Star. There are so many similarities. It’s an urban fantasy with fae, queer main characters and an enticing mystery. It also has a seriously adorable wlw romance.
The cover is perfect if you’re looking for lgbt books with discreet covers. The image of Nausicaä holding a sword looks like any other fantasy book.
A series of gruesome murders threatens to expose the faerie world to humans. Four queer teens – Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian – each hold a piece of the truth. And they must track down the mysterious killer.
There are not one but two romances in this book. And the characters are what make them so perfect. Arlo and Nausicaä have such amazing chemistry. Nausicaä is a grumpy, chaotic and sarcastic lesbian. Arlo and Nausicaä have a perfect grumpy/sunshine slow-burn vibe.
I listened to the audiobook version which you can find on audible. It features a full cast of narrators which made it really engrossing.
The voices of Vehan and Nausicaä are so spot on! And you can listen to it on Audible with afree trial. It’s a great audiobook to put on if you’re looking for some escapism while you’re cleaning or relaxing before bedtime.
Good reads Rating:
3.83
Representation:
pansexual, lesbian, bisexual, gay, genderfluid characters
Content warnings:
blood/gore, body horror (minor), death of a child, depression, human trafficking, stalking, suicide (past, off-page), suicidal ideation, toxic relationship/manipulation, trauma/PTSD, racism, and violence/gun violence
7. Malice by Heather Walter
Let me tell you – Malice is one of the best books I have read this year. It was an instant 5 stars from me. You will absolutely love the dystopian world building, morally grey main character and grumpy/sunshine romance.
Malice is a Maleficent retelling. The book is set in a Kingdom called Briar. Once upon a time, a wicked fairy cursed a line of princesses to die. Only true love’s kiss can break the curse.
The book follows Alyce – the dark grace. She was left abandoned in Briar from a dark kingdom. The dark magic that runs in her veins abhors residents in Briar.
Except for Princess Aurora who accepts her. And she encourages Alyce to accept herself.
This book is almost a cross between Wicked and The Hunger Games. But with fae. The world building is darkly magical. And the residents of Briar reminded me of the residents of the Capitol.
If you’re searching for fantasy books with wlw romance then you should definitely read this. The book has SO many good plot twists. It left me on the edge of my seat. And the grumpy/sunshine romance between Alyce and Aurora is absolutely adorable.
Good reads Rating:
4.04
Representation:
wlw relationship
Content warnings:
Blood, Bullying, Violence, Torture, Death, hom*ophobia,Child abuse, Death of parent, War
8. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldtree
Legends & Lattes is the most perfect cosy fantasy book. And it also features an adorable wlw romance. If you’re looking for a low stakes, slice of life books or lgbtq books with happy endings then this is the perfect choice.
Legends & Lattes follows Viv – an orc barbarian. She decides to leave her life as a warrior and open the first coffee shop in Thune.
This book has absolutely everything I love in a book – the found family trope, cosy imagery and a mystery to solve. Plus it has a cute wlw romance.
There has been so much hype for this book recently. And for good reason. It’s the bookish equivalent of nice warm drink. The perfect book for reading curled up on the sofa in Autumn or Winter.
Good reads Rating:
4.41
Representation:
wlw relationship
Content warnings:
fire/fire injury, sexual harrassment, mentions of violence/murder.
9. Six of Crows & Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
I am obsessed with Six of Crows! It’s a fast-paced ya fantasy duology. And it includes multiple LGBTQ+ characters and there is a prominent mlm romance in Crooked Kingdom.
Six of Crows follows six teenagers living in Ketterdam. Kaz Brekker, a criminal prodigy, is one of the teens. He is offered a deadly heist for a huge payout.
But it’s an impossible heist. And Kaz will need all the help he can get to pull it off. So,he assembles five other teens to help him.
There is so much to love about Six of Crows – magic found family and super sassy banter. But I also love the LGBTQ+ representation. Jesper is one of the best bisexual characters
In the Grishaverse universe, being LGBTQ+ is also portrayed as something completely normal. In an interview with Ya Pride, Leigh Bardugo writes that her goal was to present queer relationships as completely normal.
Her goal was to present a positive, happy couple. You can read the author interview with Leigh Bardugo where she discusses queer relationships in Six of Crows on YA Pride –you can check it out here.
Good reads Rating:
4.03
Representation:
Bisexual characters, mlm relationship, disabiled characters, multiple POC characters
Content warnings:
Violence, Death, Graphic injury, Fantasy drug abuse, Rape/sex trafficking/CSA (not in scene; character backstory), Guns, Slavery, Racism (exotification), Genocide (explicit; Holocaust metaphor)
10. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
If you’re looking for fantasy books with mlm romance – then you should definitely read Silver in the Wood. It’s a fantasy book set in a magical forest.
Silver in the Woods has an insanely cute grumpy/sunshine friends to lovers mlm romance. Plus it references mythological creatures such as dryads and faeries.
It follows Tobias who is a forest guardian. He is tasked to look after the forest. One day Henry Silver moves into Greenhollow Hall and everything changes.
Silver starts to dig up old secrets that are best left forgotten. Plus they have an adorable mlm romance.
If you like the cottagecore aesthetic then you’ll enjoy this book. The forest imagery is absolute gorgeous and definitely made me want to live in a cottage in the woods. It’s really whimsical and enchanting.
This is also such a short and easy read. I listened to the audiobook. And the whole duology is only 5 hours. So you can easily binge read this in one setting.
If you have a long journey this would also be the perfect audiobook to listen to because you can finish it in 5 hours.
Good reads Rating:
4.02
Representation:
mlm relationship
Content warnings:
Alcohol consumption, Mild blood depiction & physical injuries, Murder & attempted murder, Gun violence, Knife violence & stabbing, Kidnapping, Disappearance of a loved one
11. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
Kalynn Bayron writes some of the best contemporary fantasy books out there! This Poison Heart is an Urban Fantasy book. It opens in the city before the main characters move to a small town. There is also strong plant and cottagecore imagery throughout.
This Poison Heart follows Briseis. She has a magic gift where she can magic tiny seeds grow into rich blooms with a single touch.
Her aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York. And it’s there she must uncover her family’s heritage and secrets.
This is a quick, fast-paced and easy read. You could easily pick this up and binge read it in one setting. Kalynn Bayron writes plant imagery beautifully. And I absolutely adored the plant and forest imagery.
My only complaint with this book is that the romance was very insta-lovey. And I found it difficult to be invested in the romance.
If you’re looking for fantasy books with LGBT characters then you HAVE to read this book. The way mythology is woven into the plot . It also feature a Black heroine, supportive same-sex parents and elemental magic.
Good reads Rating:
4.20
Representation:
queer Black main character, supportive same sex parents, wlw romance
Content warnings:
Attempted murder, Death,Blood, Murder, Poisoning,Violence
12. Spellhacker by M.K. England
If you looking for a book about magic or a dystopian book then you should read Spellhacker. It has so many great elements – a diverse cast of characters, a high stakes heist, criminal mastermind main character and plenty of banter.
In this world magic is a commodity and we follow a group of friends who run an illegal business siphoning it. It also features a non-binary representation and chronic illness representation.
It’s set in a world where magic ( known as maz) was once freely available. But an earthquake unleashed a deadly plague. And now maz is a tightly controlled and expensive commodity.
We follow Diz who runs an illegal maz siphoning business with her three best friends. They get offered one last massive heist that could change everything.
This book opened with such a bang. And the opening had me hooked instantly. It was fairly fast-paced throughout. It’s a quick read that you could binge read pretty quickly.
If you’re looking for a standalone then you should read Spellhacker.This was a well written standalone. It felt like a cross between Ready, Player One and Six of Crows.
If you’re looking for LGBTQ+ books with discreet covers then this is a great choice. Looking at the cover you wouldn’t know it features LGBTQ+ representation. If you want more LGBTQ+ books with discreet covers then I have a whole post full of recommendations. You can check out my article on subtle LGBTQ+ books with discreet covers here.
Good reads Rating:
3.59
Representation:
Non-binary, Chronic illness, queer protagonist
Content warnings:
Attempted murder, chronic illness, medical treatments, drug use, anxiety
13. The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl
This is a seriously underrated book! You definitely need to read this. It features a diverse cast, plenty of fairy tale references and dark academia world-building.
The Grimrose Girls is a modern take on classic fairytales such as The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
The heroines of the stories are re-imagined as friends attending an elite boarding school. After their friend dies, the police rule the death as suicide. But they decide to investigate to find out what really happened.
Grimrose Girls is a unique concept and fantasy retelling. The mystery was really gripping and well-paced. And the story keeps mentioning tantalizing details that keep you engaged.
The story also uses the darker versions of the fairy tales. And this added to the dark academia, mysterious tone of the book. Some reviews do mention the lack of world-building, but I personally preferred this because it kept the plot fast-paced.
Good reads Rating:
3.68
Representation:
Lesbian, a-sexual, lesbian, wlw, Latine, Asian, Black, demisexual, Transgender
Content warnings:
Anxiety, bullying, child death, death of a parent (past), emotional abuse, grief, OCD, suicide (past)
14. We set the dark on fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
This book features one of the best wlw enemies to lovers romances that I’ve read! It’s a Ya dystopian novel featuring a wlw romance and Latine representation.
We Set The Dark On Fire follows Daniela Vargas. She lives in a dystopian world where each man is entitled to 2 wives. A Primera and a Segunda. The Primera is intelligent, calm and analytical. The Segunda is the mother figure.
Outside the wall, the people go hungry. Dani started life outside of the wall. And she must use her wits to survive illegally in the capital. She is also married to one of the most powerful men in the kingdom.
The premise was intriguing. And the main character was instantly likeable. She also grows a lot through the book. But the romance is what makes this so perfect. Two badass women who are married to a Straight man but fall in love with each other.
The world-building is also excellent. And the book has such dark academia vibes. It opens in a prep school for girls. But it discusses so many important issues such as immigration politics and forced marriage.
We set the Dark on Fire features an intriguing dystopian premise and a likeable, strong-minded main character. This YA LGBTQ+ Dystopian bookexplores immigration politics, toxic masculinity and feminism. A great choice if you’re looking for fantasy books with LGBT Characters.
Good reads Rating:
4.22
Representation:
fairy-tale, adventurous, light-hearted, winter imagery
Content warnings:
Animal death, War, Animal cruelty, sexism, violence, slavery, death, murder, gore
15. Cinderella is dead by Kalynn Bayron
A Cinderella retelling with a sapphic romance. This is another twist on the classic story that features BIPOC characters and a wlw romance.
The premise is that teen girls are now required to appear at an annual ball where men select wives. But Sophia wants to marry her childhood best friend Erin. And isn’t a fan of the whole parade in front of suitors thing.
She decides to flee and decided to take down the king once and for all.
The dystopian twist on the classic Cinderella story makes this book so unique. The romance is a bit insta-lovey but it’s so well developed that it’s still engaging.
The plot will keep you hooked throughout. Women overthrowing a dystopian patriarchy. There is also a lot of cottagecore and woodland imagery. Kalynn Bayron writes cottagecore imagery so well. This book will 100% make you want to live in the forest.
I also LOVE that it’s a standalone. Standalone ya fantasy books are hard to find. Let alone with lesbian representation. If you’re looking for a ya lesbian fantasy book then I highly recommend Cinderella is Dead.
Good reads Rating:
3.73
Representation:
Lesbian protagonist, Lesbian main characters, Indian side character, Black side characters, Bisexual side characte
Content warnings:
Alcoholism, Bullying, Cheating, Gaslighting, Toxic friendships
16. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
This was another series I debated whether to include or not. The mlm romance in this ya fantasy series is a slow burn romance that doesn’t happen until later in the series. But it’s such an incredible series with a really satisfying romance.
The Raven Boys follows Blue. Each year in the churchyard, Blue watches her psychic mother see those who are going to die that year. Blue never actually sees them herself. Until this year. When she speaks directly to a boy.
He is called Gansey and is a student at Aglionby school. The students there are known locally as Raven Boys.
Raven Boys has such dark academia vibes. It’s set in a local private school. Gansey is also obsessed with researching Welsh mythology. And it even references Latin.
The characters are what make this book. On the surface, it seems like a quirky loner meeting rich boys. But it’s so much more than that! The characters are all fully developed with fleshed-out (and tragic) backstories. The relationships between them are some of the best I’ve read in YA Fiction.
Good reads Rating:
4.05
Representation:
mlm relationship
Content warnings:
Drinking, semi-public sex, anxiety, memory loss, familial estrangement, familial death,hom*ophobia, the AIDS crisis, racism, childhood neglect, arson
17. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
A fantasy graphic novel recommendation now. This is a quick read that is perfect if you’re in a reading slump. It’s an adorable LGBTQ+ graphic novels with dragons, shape-shifters and brilliant characters.
It follows Nimona and Lord Ballister Blackheart. Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter who becomes a sidekick to Lord Blackheart. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. Their mission is to prove that Sir Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren’t the heroes everyone thinks they are.
There is so much to love about this! The storyline kept me hooked and I binge read this in one sitting. The plot is action-packed and full of twists. The humour was excellent. And the banter between the characters is genuinely very funny.
If you enjoy reading books about villains or morally grey characters then you need to pick this up. Nimona is so delightfully evil in such a charming way. The artwork is beautiful and makes this easy to read in one sitting.
I’m a huge fan of graphic novels! They’re easy to read and you can often binge read them in one sitting. The graphics also makes reading them a completely different format. If you’re looking for more lgbtq+ graphic novels then I have a whole book listfor you.You can check out my article on lgbtq graphic novels here.
Good reads Rating:
4.22
Representation:
mlm relationship
Content warnings:
- Ableism, Amputation recounted, Emesis, Death of a mother & father, Murder, Explosion, Gun violence, Electrocution, Torture, Poisoning, Fire, Imprisonment
This post was all about fantasy books with LGBT characters
