Our Top 8 LGBTQ+ Novels

In need of some epic quests and mysteries with LGBTQ+ characters to read this Pride Month? Dive into our favorite novels featuring queer characters written by LGBTQ+ authors (#ownvoices).

Queen of All by Anya Josephs

Gen Z Publishing

The first book of the epic sword and sorcery YA fantasy series The Jena Cycle follows the plus-size heroine, Jena, as she embarks on a quest with her best friend to expose the Kingdom’s darkest secrets–all while being madly in love with her best friend. The series explores self-actualization, body image and positivity, and exploring your sexuality set against a backdrop of magical powers, ancient languages, secrecy, and mystery. Jewish mythology inspired the series that reminds readers their weight does not prevent them from being the hero.

Constelis Voss Vol. 1: Colour Theory by Kira Leigh

Kira Leigh

The first installment of the CONSTELIS VOSS trilogy introduces readers to Alex: a bisexual, advanced android living on a dystopian planet-sized ship in the far future. He must unravel the mysteries surrounding all the coincidences and the very convenient evil villain because the fate of his friends and the entire ship literally depends on it. Leigh drew inspiration from 90s anime, Russian literature, Dungeons and Dragons, and the tech industry to create this cyberpunk, science fiction, psychological thriller. Their series routinely challenges common LGBTQ+ tropes while challenging readers to deconstruct their preconceived notions of what it means to be queer.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Via amzn.to

Swordswoman and indentured servant, Gideon, wants nothing more than to escape servitude, but Harrow has other plans for her. Harrow is the Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House who recently received an invitation from the Emperor to compete in a series of tasks for the chance to become an all-powerful immortal. The first book of The Locked Tomb finds Harrow recruiting Gideon to be her cavalier, or bodyguard, in these trials with the promised reward of Gideon’s freedom. Harrow can only compete if she has a swordswoman, but the two snarky, powerful women slowly become more than just a necromancer needing a swordswoman. The slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story unfolds in a unique blend of sci-fi, fantasy, gruesome treasure hunt, and murder mystery.

The Facts and Legends of Callie Catwell by Sophia DeRise

GenZ Publishing

TW // domestic violence, sexual assault, eating disorder, bullying, abuse.

Callie Catwell is just your average teenager who thinks she is in love with her best friend while her ex-boyfriend refuses to move on. While battling her anxiety, she must juggle being a caregiver for her father as he battles anorexia and helping her friend deal with their abusive stepfather. One morning, she sees a mysterious monster in the Lost Lake and becomes obsessed with finding it. Her quest to find the monster allows her to escape from her world. Along the way, she discovers who she is and what love means to her.

Infamous by Allison Stowe

GenZ Publishing

At only eight years old, Cassie Waterston was the sole witness to her three-year-old sister’s abduction and she feels guilty for not stopping it. As her family falls apart, she becomes the face of the family during TV and police interviews, public appearances, and every retelling of the infamous abduction. Meanwhile, in England, Alexis Aldridge’s mother forbids her to leave the house for fear someone will abduct her young daughter. Cassie and Alexis serve as the novel’s narrators as their lives slowly intersect over several years.

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Sur

Via amzn.to

Inspired by Indian culture, Suri introduces readers to two morally questionable queer women fighting for their lives in the conquered country, Ahrianya in this first installment of the Burning Kingdoms series. The Jasmine Throne opens with the Parijati Emperor Chandra ordering three women to burn alive to honor the Mothers of the Flame. One woman, his sister Princess Malini, refuses. The Emperor imprisons her in an ancient temple that was once the source of powerful, deathless waters. Priya is the maid assigned to clean Malini’s chambers and accidentally reveals her true nature in the process. The story unfolds as these girls begin their journey to revolution while longing for something more than just survival.

Crier’s War by Nina Varela

Via amzn.to

The Automae are humanoid automations initially designed for a Queen unable to bear children, but they soon overthrew the human world to install their own form of government designed to enslave and oppress their creators. In the first book of the Crier’s War series, Ayla dreams of avenging her family’s death, while Crier prepares to inherit her father’s title as Sovereign of Rabu. When Ayla receives a job as Lady Crier’s handmaiden, her plan for revenge becomes more than a dream; however, Crier is not what she expected. Ayla and Crier form an unlikely alliance as they slowly uncover the mysteries and betrayals lurking in the kingdom. The angsty sworn enemies to lovers trope is set against a dystopian resistance plot filled with political underpinnings and nuanced discussions of humanity. Varela intricately weaves inspiration from real-world politics, oppression, and imperialism into her fantasy world.

Spellhacker by M.K. England

Via amzn.to

This genre-bending fantasy heist novel introduces readers to Diz and her three friends who run insanely lucrative maz siphoning heists to earn extra money. Maz, or magic, was a freely available natural resource in Kyrkarta until a magical plague wreaked havoc on the world. Greedy corporations now sell maz to the highest bidder. Readers will instantly fall in love with these characters full of sarcastic quips and epic one-liners as they handle a heist gone wrong. Diz is “basically a cactus secretly filled with marshmallow,” according to England. The diverse cast of characters features queer, BIPOC, and non-binary characters set against a magical world blended with sci-fi technology filled with disaster and love.