Book Recs: Gay Adult Fantasy

During Lesbian Visibility Week earlier this year, I made a whole rec list of adult fantasy books featuring lesbian rep. And I left it at that. But then, while thinking of possible further rec lists to post on the blog, I went back to it and thought: what if I made this a series, with one rec list for every letter of the LGBT acronym? And hence, this rec list (and two future ones) was born.

I admit, this one was a little tricky to do: turns out I know a lot more achillean adult fantasy books with bi mcs than gay mcs (this may be a pattern? Much like there seems to be more sapphic than achillean high fantasy, at least right now. Both may also just be confirmation bias of some sort), but we got there! Ten adult fantasy recs are ready and waiting for you just below.

And hey, a lot of those titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)

And if you want to check out the other posts in this series:

Lesbian | Bi/Pan | Trans

Point of Hopes

Melissa Scott
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc, bi mc

Why Should I Read It?

Of course I was going to jump at the chance to include this series in this list, are you kidding me? It was the first book I even listed in thinking about this post. I’m not sure what I can say about it here that I haven’t already said somewhere else really, but let’s give it a go. There’s a certain feeling that gay fantasy written in the 80s and 90s gives you, a kind of homecoming, for want of a better word. And that’s most evident for me in this particular series. Add onto that the characters and the mysteries, and you have pretty much one of my favourite series ever.

Watchtower

Elizabeth A. Lynn
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc, gay & lesbian side characters

Why Should I Read It?

This is another I’ve talked about a lot, that I really really need everyone to read. If you like the kind of fantasy that’s a bit quieter, not about saving the world so much as saving your home, then this will be for you. It’s also got a relationship that falls very much into the king & lionheart trope (in fact, I recced it on that very rec list as well), featuring a general who is in love with his king, even if he doesn’t know it himself.

A Taste of Honey

Kai Ashante Wilson
Goodreads
Rep: Black gay mc, gay li
CWs: homophobia, violence

Why Should I Read It?

Kai Ashante Wilson is the type of author to throw you into a fantasy world and trust that you pick it up along the way, in the best way possible. At the centre of both his novellas in this world is a highly compelling relationship—in fact, I might go so far as to call these books fantasy romances. They suck you in, aided along by some gorgeous writing, and leave you just a little bit hollowed out inside at the end.

A Little Hatred

Joe Abercrombie
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc
CWs: gore, violence, implied torture, implied(?) incest, racism

Why Should I Read It?

It’s up in the air whether you can read Leo as gay or bi in this one, according to the author. However, since I fall on the side of reading him as gay (I mean. Who doesn’t like tits, for crying out loud?), he makes it onto this list. My one piece of advice about this series is as follows: do not go into it rooting for anyone over anyone else. Root for no one, or root for everyone. It may be the only way you survive. The only other comment I have to make is this: sometimes you just want to read about fucking awful people, and that’s okay.

A Marvellous Light

Freya Marske
Goodreads
Rep: gay mcs

Why Should I Read It?

Part historical fantasy, part romance, sprinkled with a little bit of mystery, this book has something for everyone. The Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell comparison is quite apt—both books give off similar vibes, although this one is somewhat superior on account of its being gay. Front and centre are two characters who you can’t help but love from the first page. It’s the perfect book to be reading as the winter* closes in.

*Other seasons are available.

The Last Sun

K. D. Edwards
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc & li
CWs: graphic past rape and torture

Why Should I Read It?

Slightly more urban fantasy than high, The Last Sun is another fantasy novel with a mystery at its heart. If you want something fast-paced and action-packed, that flings you into the world and leaves you breathless, then this book is for you. It also features an excellent relationship at its heart, between two best friends (to lovers? Maybe? I can live in hope). Please do be aware, though, that when I write graphic past rape and torture, it is graphic.

Silver in the Wood

Emily Tesh
Goodreads
Rep: gay mcs

Why Should I Read It?

The Greenhollow duology is a duology of romance novellas and you cannot change my mind. Yes, there are fantasy plotlines—defeating an evil spirit, overcoming vampires, a journey into fairyland/another spirit world of your choice—but really, the books are about Tobias and Henry’s romance. That is, after all, why you pick up the second of them. That and the fact that the novellas themselves are just so addictively compelling.

The Perfect Assassin

K. A. Doore
Goodreads
Rep: gay ace mc, gay li, lesbian side characters

Why Should I Read It?

An assassin who doesn’t really want to kill anyone, but feels he has to as part of the family? Sign me up! Firstly, the character work in this series is utterly fantastic so, within pages, you have an idea of just how much you’ll love Amastan. Secondly, the setting is refreshingly different from a lot of other fantasies. Thirdly, there’s a mystery plot that’ll keep you guessing the whole way through. Fourthly, have I said enough to convince you yet?

The Starless Sea

Erin Morgenstern
Goodreads
Rep: biracial Black gay mc, gay li

Why Should I Read It?

The likelihood is most of you have read this one, but on the off chance that you haven’t, let me convince you why you’re making such a big mistake. If interweaving and interconnecting stories are your thing, if you like stories within stories within stories, then this book provides. There’s a kind of hazy vagueness to it all, so you never really know if you’re reading something that might concretely be described as a portal fantasy or not. What you do know is that you’re suckered in from the start, spending hours in this world and, when you’re finally done, you look up, a little bereft from its loss.

The Steel Remains

Richard K. Morgan
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc, lesbian mc
CWs: gore, violence, rape, past gang rape, adult-minor relationship, homophobia (inc. violence & slurs)

Why Should I Read It?

There are many subgenres of fantasy where gay rep is only just creeping in, and grimdark is probably foremost among those. Sometimes you want your fantasy to be brutal, a sucker punch to the gut, taking no prisoners, and grimdark is great at providing that. So it’s great news that I can include not just one, but two grimdark fantasy novels on this list.

Please note that since this post was published, it’s come to light that Richard Morgan has been transphobic and, as such, we no longer recommend this entry (although, for full clarity, are leaving this rec list as is).

What would you rec?

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