12 Sci-fi And Fantasy Books With LGBTQ+ characters

February 6th, 2023

Here comes a list of books with LGBTQ+ rep in the order in which I read them. All the book covers below include alt-text

1. The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth #1) — Dystopian Science Fantasy That Will Enchant You

The Fifth Season. Every age must come to an end. N.K. Jemisin. Dark green stone wall with some plant-like patterns carved on it. Caption: "One of the most celebrated new voices in epic fantasy." - salon.com

An amazing book with an all-black cast, badass female leads and important side characters who are a bi man, a gay man and a sapphic trans woman. In fact, the whole Broken Earth series has LGBTQ+ rep.

Check out my review or buy the book at Kobo, Barnes&Noble, Apple, Amazon and other bookstores.

2. Autonomous - An Exciting Near Future Cyberpunk Novel

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz cover: dark green-blue background, a chained detached robotic arm. Caption: '[Newitz is] and excellent writer with an effortless style.' - San Francisco Chronicle

The main character is a bi woman, and if I'm not mistaken, there are other LGBTQ+ characters, but I read it a long time ago, so I don't remember the details. There is also a homophobic character who falls in love with a robot and has the robot change their pronouns to female in order to be comfortable having sex with them (the robot doesn't really have a gender). I've seen some readers upset by this, though I'm sure the author is neither homophobic nor transphobic — they are exploring our culture and biases. Authors don't always present their own views and ideas through their writing, they often engage with the themes that trouble them.

Check out my review or buy the book at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Apple Books, Kobo and other bookstores.

3. Planetfall - An Introspective Space Colonization Novel

Planetfall cover: light grey background, and outline of a human face composed of specks and geometrical figures and particles that also fly out of the face

This book has a bisexual MC, and the whole Planetfall series has some LGBTQ+ characters. Each book can be read as a standalone too, so if you aren't particularly interested in this one, check out other novels from the series. Each of them is very different and unique, and they have some mental health representation too.

Check out my review or buy the book at Amazon, Google play, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, Apple and other bookstores.

You can also take a look at my reviews of the other books from the series: After Atlas, Before Mars and Atlas Alone.

4. The Light Brigade - An Ingenious And Mind-Bending Military Sci-Fi Thriller

The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley cover: blue background, a glowing figure of a soldier in a helmet surrounded by light.

This brilliant book has a bi protagonist whose gender isn't revealed until the very end. Mind-bending, original, exciting and thought provoking — I loved it!

Check out my review or buy the book at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Apple, Google Play, Kobo and other bookstores.

5. Gideon The Ninth - Irreverent Gothic Fantasy With Horror And Sci-Fi Elements

Gideon The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir cover: a woman dressed in black, her face painted as a skeleton, with short red hair and a sword in her hand is walking towards the viewer. Skeletons and bones are all around her, it seems like they are flying in all directions. She might have just cut them with her sword.

To be honest, this book wasn't for me, but I enjoyed its originality and humor. The main character is a lesbian, though her sexuality doesn't play a big role in the story.

Many people love the book, so check out my review or buy it at Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes&Noble and other bookstores.

6. Nophek Gloss - An Imaginative Space Opera Filled With Adventure

Nophek Gloss by Essa Hansen cover: A sleek black spaceship, dark background with outlines of something that might be buildings or other spaceships. Quote by Alastair Reynolds: "A sucker punch to the senses. A killer story with real heart and soul."

One of my favorite and most imaginative books! There is a gender-fluid character who changes their physical appearance to represent their current gender with the help of technology. There are also LGBTQ+ characters in the sequel.

Check out my review or buy the book at Kobo, Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble and other bookstores.

7. Escape From Hell - An Original And Moving Time Travel Novel

Escape From Hell by Mary Irving cover. A short-haired person wearing a T-shirt and shorts with their back to the viewer walking into flames.

The protagonist is a lesbian. It's an original time travel story that poses questions about redemption, justice and human connection. The main character started as a villain, yet the author made me sympathize with her when she was dehumanized and treated with cruelty.

Check out my review or buy the book at Indiebound, Barnes&Noble or Amazon.

8. Foxhunt - A Striking Solarpunk Adventure With A Queer Cast

Foxhunt by Rem Wigmore cover. A woman with her head shaved on one side and fire at her fingers looking back at the viewer. She's wearing a green cloak, inside of which there is a lush solarpunk futuristic city full of greenery and a silhouette of a wolf. Orange background.

This book is full of LGBTQ+ characters — trans, non-binary, people in queer relationships, people using neopronouns or changing their pronouns, you name it! The main character is a trans woman. I enjoyed the book, even though I had a few issues with it.

Check out my review or buy the book directly from the publisher (indie small press Queen of Swords) or at Amazon.

9. Merchants Of Knowledge And Magic — A One Of A Kind Fantasy Adventure

One of the most original adult fantasy stories with an intersex aro/ace protagonist, many other LGBTQ+ characters, and an amazing, in-depth world-building.

Check out my review or buy the book at Amazon.

10. Child Of The Moon — A Fun YA Fantasy Adventure

Child of the Moon — Child of Prophesy book one by Audrey Simmons. A silhouette of a girl with her back to the viewer approaching a crescent moon walking surrounded by stars and dark purple clouds.

This book has important lesbian and gay characters, and a couple of ace people, even though it might be subtle. It's a fun YA story with good mental health representation that was engrossing and easy to read.

Check out my review or buy the book at Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and other bookstores.

11. The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet — A Cozy Space Opera

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. A silhouette of a woman standing on a hill in the distance against the backdrop of a night sky full of stars.

This book holds a special place in my heart. It's a study of various cultures and ways of living, so, among this endless variety, you'll encounter polyamory, characters that use xe or they pronouns, species that change genders, and a sapphic romance will bloom between two characters. Other books from the Wayfarers series have LGBTQ+ characters too.

Check out my review or buy the book at Kobo, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Amazon and other bookstores.

12. The Protectorate Series — An Epic Space Opera Trilogy

Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O'Keefe. Black background, a spaceship positioned vertically. It's long front is silver and complete, but the back is just a schematic with lines spiraling away from it. Two more small spaceships flying at a distance. Caption: "A spectacular epic of survival, full of triumph and gut-wrenching loss." Alex White

Velocity Weapon is the first book in the trilogy that engrossed me. There are key non-binary and gay characters. I had lots of fun reading the series!

Check out my review or buy the trilogy at Kobo, Barnes&Noble, Apple, Amazon and other bookstores.

Featured image by Aurel_Cham.