Media never has enough LGBTQ+ representation.
And if it does, we’re the side characters in someone else’s story.
Are you sick of this too?
Fear not! LGBTQ+ fiction does exist, and I’ve compiled a list of 15 books where the queer characters are the protagonists. So if you’re looking for fantasy or sci-fi with great queer representation, see if any of these catch your eye.
15 Great LGBTQ+ Fantasy and Sci-fi Books
1) “The City We Became” by N.K. Jemisin
Gay/Lesbian, Bisexual, Asexual, Queer side characters
Genre: Cosmic Horror Urban Fantasy
Summary: Cities are alive. Some more literally than others. When New York City is born, it’s split between five avatars, and its primary goes missing. NYC’s weakened state leaves it open for attack from an otherworldly entity set on wiping out all living cities. The four borough avatars must learn to work together to awaken their primary. Can they save their city before the Enemy gains hold, or will It destroy everything they love?
2) “A Long Way to a Small and Angry Planet” by Becky Chambers
Gay/Lesbian, Transexual, Pansexual, Gender Fluid, Nonbinary
Genre: Science Fiction Space Opera
Summary: Space travel is possible through wormholes, but tunneling them is as dangerous as it is lucrative. The Wayfarer and its motley, diverse crew has seen better days. They take a job tunneling a wormhole to a distant planet in the far reaches of space, which means they’ll face deadly adventure that will test their skills and their bonds. This crew of oddballs will learn about love and trust as they find something more valuable than money on their way to a small and angry planet.
3) “So This Is Ever After” by F.T. Lukens
Gay/Lesbian, Polyamourus, Nonbinary side characters
Genre: YA Romantic Fantasy
Summary: What happens after the Chosen One defeats the evil king? For Arek, he’s crowned king himself. Arek expects to abdicate to the true heir once she’s found. Except the princess is already dead, and now Arek’s cursed to fade into nothing if he can’t find a spouse before his eighteenth birthday. With limited time and options, Arek sets out to woo his adventuring companions, with the help of his best friend and court wizard Matt. But as time grows short, Arek will discover that true love was beside him all along.
4) “The Wicked Bargain” by Gabe Cole Novoa
Transmasc nonbinary, Gay, Gender Fluid
Genre: YA Latine Pirate Fantasy
Summary: Mar has kept two secrets their whole life: their transmasc nonbinary identity, and their magic. On the night of their sixteenth birthday, their father– one of the Caribbean’s last great pirates– and his entire ship is taken by el Diablo as payment for their father’s bargain. With help from the infuriating but handsome pirate Bas and the gender fluid demonio Dami, Mar must save their father’s soul from el Diablo before the harvest moon. But can Mar trust Bas and Dami? Can Mar trust their own magic?
5) “All Systems Red” by Martha Wells
Asexual, Agender, Various queer side characters
Genre: Science Fiction
Summary: Murderbot could’ve gone on a killing rampage after it hacked its own governing module, as would be expected from a rogue SecUnit. But all Murderbot wants to do is watch entertainment media. It’s assigned to protect a group of kind scientists on a dangerous alien planet– scientists who insist on putting themselves in danger. When a neighboring mission vanishes, the scientists decide to find the truth of their disappearance. Which means Murderbot is going too. Will Murderbot be able to keep them safe without revealing its true nature?
6) “Sorcery of Thorns” by Margaret Rogerson
Bisexual, Aromantic, Asexual
Genre: YA Romantic Sword and Sorcery High Fantasy
Summary: Raised in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth was trained to protect the rare books from evil sorcerers and their demon servants. But when Elisabeth’s mentor is killed and the library’s most dangerous book is stolen, Elisabeth is framed for the crime. She’s forced to go on the run until she can find the true thief and prove her own innocence. Her only ally is the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn– but can she trust a sorcerer? As they grow closer, Elisabeth is forced to question everything she knows.
7) “The Perfect Assassin” by K.A. Doore
Asexual-homoromantic, Lesbian
Genre: High Fantasy
Summary: In the city of Ghadid, justice is carried out through contracts with the Basbowen assassin family. Amastan has trained for years for the right to stand beside his cousins as a true assassin, but he wonders if he can bring himself to take a life. When he discovers a Drum Chief’s body and cousins start turning up dead, Amastan must become the perfect assassin to find the rogue agent and save the family.
8) “Spell Bound” by F.T. Lukens
Nonbinary
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy Romance
Summary: Edison (Rook) Rooker will do anything to re-enter magical society, even if he has no magic to speak of. A job working for Antonia Hex– the world’s most powerful sorceress– is his ticket back, so long as he can keep his head down and his illegal invention the Spell Binder hidden from the Magical Consortium. But when the Magical Consortium comes for Antonia and her rival Fable, Rook must team up with Fable’s apprentice– grumpy but cute Sun– to save their mentors.
9) “The Sun and The Star” by Rick Riordan
Gay, Bisexual
Genre: MG Mythology Urban Fantasy
Summary: Nico di Angel– son of Hades– can hear his titan friend Bob calling for help in his dreams. Bob went missing in Tartarus during the war with the giants, and it’s up to Nico to rescue him. Together with his boyfriend Will Solace– son of Apollo– Nico will face the darkest parts of himself to save his friend and escape Tartarus alive. But can Nico and Will withstand the trials of Tartarus? Or will their own darkness consume them?
10) “Magnus Chase and The Hammer of Thor” by Rick Riordan
Gender Fluid
Genre: MG Mythology Urban Fantasy
Summary: The second book in the Magnus Chase series. Thor’s hammer has fallen into enemy hands, and it’s up to Magnus Chase and his friends to find it and prevent Ragnarok. Without the hammer, the worlds are defenseless and the Nine Realms will fall. But Magnus and his friends will have to rely on Loki to retrieve it, and the trickster god always has hidden plans.
11) “Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell
Gay
Genre: YA Romantic Contemporary Fantasy
Summary: Simon Snow is about to start his final year at the Watford School of Magicks. He’s supposed to be the Chosen One who stops the evil Humdrum, but he can’t get his magic wand to work right. His mentor is ignoring him. He’s on the rocks with his girlfriend. And on top of all that, he’s certain his evil-but-hot roommate Baz is a vampire scheming to kill him. Except Baz is missing as the school year begins, and Simon is discovering secrets about himself and his mentor. What’s his real connection to the Humdrum, and who in Watford can he trust?
12) “The Bone Spindle” by Leslie Vedder
Lesbian
Genre: YA Romance Fairytale
Summary: Treasure hunter Fi swore she wouldn’t let herself get close to people again. But when Fi pricks her finger on a cursed spindle, she and her ax-wielding partner Shane are forced on a quest to save the sleeping prince Briar Rose and his ancient kingdom of Andar from the sinister Spindle Witch. With enemies on all sides, Fi must open her guarded heart to her new allies, including the charming Briar Rose.
13) “Legends & Lattes” by Travis Baldree
Lesbian
Genre: Cozy, Slice-of-Life, Romantic Fantasy
Summary: Battle-weary, half-orc warrior Viv is ready to hang up her sword and start a new life. She dreams of opening the first ever coffee shop in Thrune– a difficult task, since no one there knows what coffee is. She’ll have new and old rivals standing in her way, so Viv will need new and old companions helping her. Whether ancient magic or the allure of coffee and pastries brings them together, Viv will find more than friendship on her quest.
14) “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bargudo
Gay
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy
Summary: An acrobat spy, a naive runaway, an ex-fantic, a desperate soldier, a gambling-addicted sharpshooter, and a young crime lord. Brought together on the crime-filled streets of Ketterdam, this team will take on a dangerous heist: break into the Ice Court, the world’s most secure prison. Success will mean riches and glory, failure will mean death. But even if these six teens can learn to trust each other in time for the heist, they’ll discover the job is more than they bargained for.
15) “The Starless Sea” by Erin Morgenstern
Gay
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Summary: Everything changes for graduate student Zachary Ezra Rawlins when he finds a book that tells his own life story. A series of clues– a bee, a sword, and a key– will lead him through a secret doorway into an ancient, underground library. With the mysterious Mirabel and the alluring Dorian at his side, Zachary will travel the vast halls of the library and find purpose in this magical world.
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Want more recommendations?
I have a complete book list with 70+ fiction titles and counting to choose from. (And it’s free!)
Check out my Ultimate Compendium for even more great reads!
About the Author
S. Labrecque is a fantasy author and Earth Science tutor. She received her Bachelors of Science in Geology from the University of Rochester and her Masters from the University at Buffalo. After college, she returned to her dream of becoming an author. Her short story “The Killer Doll and the Dollmaker” was published in Aphelion Webzine. She writes a twice-monthly newsletter and posts book-nerd memes on Instagram as she works on publishing her next novel. When she’s not writing, S. Labrecque can be found hiking, cuddling her cats, and playing D&D with her family.
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