Finding the best lesbian fantasy novels can be a daunting task. There are so many amazing authors out there writing incredible stories with strong, complex female characters that it's hard to know where to start.That's why we've put together a list of the best lesbian fantasy novels of 2022. These are the books that we think are the must-reads for any fan of the genre.
1. The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez
The Gilda Stories is a classic of lesbian speculative fiction. It follows the life of Gilda, a black woman who is turned into a vampire in 19th-century New England. The story spans several decades and explores themes of race, gender, and sexuality.
2. Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
Stone Butch Blues is a groundbreaking novel about gender identity and sexuality. The protagonist, Jess Goldberg, is a butch lesbian who struggles to find her place in the world. The book explores Jess's journey of self-discovery and her fight for acceptance.
3. The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson
The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps is a unique and inventive fantasy novel that follows Demane, a gay black man, who is part of a group of mercenaries who protect a caravan as it travels through a dangerous magical forest. The novel explores themes of homophobia, racism, and sexism, as well as what it means to be part of a found family.
4. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
The Fifth Season is the first book in the Broken Earth trilogy, which follows Essun, a woman who can manipulate seismic activity. The novel is set in a post-apocalyptic world where society has been destroyed by multiple cataclysmic events. The story explores themes of motherhood, loss, and love, as well as what it means to be human in a broken world.
5. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Ancillary Justice is the first book in the Imperial Radch trilogy, which follows Breq, an artificial intelligence who is seeking revenge for the death of her human companion. The novel is set in a vast and complex interstellar empire and explores themes of colonialism, gender, and identity.
6. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
The Goblin Emperor is a stand-alone fantasy novel that follows Maia, the illegitimate son of the emperor of Elfland, who is thrust into power when his father and brothers are killed in a freak accident. The story explores themes of isolation, otherness, and family, as well as what it means to be a good ruler.
7. Updraft by Fran Wilde
Updraft is the first book in the Bone Universe trilogy, which follows Kirit Densira, a young woman who lives in a city built among the bones of a great dragon. The story explores themes of family, identity, and self-acceptance, as well as what it means to be brave.
8. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is the first book in the Wayfarers series, which follows the crew of a spaceship as they travel through the galaxy. The novel is told from the perspective of Rosemary, a human who is one of the ship's engineers. The story explores themes of home, family, and friendship, as well as what it means to be part of a community.
9. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Binti is the first book in the Binti trilogy, which follows the titular character, a young woman who is the first of her people to be accepted into a prestigious university. The story explores themes of identity, belonging, and home, as well as what it means to be different.
We hope you enjoy these amazing lesbian fantasy novels. Happy reading!
