I got a lot of these suggestions from the Queer SFF Database. They have a way to search their database for worlds without homophobia! I also got some recommendations from a Guardian article and crowd-sourced using Twitter, other Book Rioters, Goodreads, and a handful of blogs. I tried to double check each of these to make sure that they are, in fact, set in worlds without any homophobia or transphobia, but if I got any of them wrong, please let me know! About half of these are adult picks, and the other half are YA. Let’s start with the adult titles!
Adult Fantasy Without Homophobia or Transphobia
Want even more queernorm adult fantasy novels? Also check out: The Tale of the Five series was published in 1979, is set in a pansexual, polyamorous world, and starts with an M/M romance. This is pretty typical ’70s fantasy fare, with the exception of the queer relationships, so your miles may vary. Trigger warning for rape. (I don’t know the triggers for all of the titles on this list, though.) *Editor’s note: A correction: while this world is accepting of binary trans people, there is a villain who is not accepting of the adult nonbinary character. Queernorm worlds are kind of de Bodard’s jam, though! Check out her other fantasy books set in worlds without homophobia or transphobia: House of Shattered Wings (F/F relationship, gay side characters) and Fireheart Tiger (sapphic main character). Jebi is an artist who finds themself recruited to work as a kind of mystical coder for the military. This is against their pacifist ideals, but they are desperate. While working for the Razanei government, though, they discover the military is even worse than they thought…and while Jebi is working, they accidentally give a dragon automaton free will. Now Jebi finds themself with a mechanical war dragon companion, up against a tyrannical government.
Kushiel’s Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey: bisexual main character (Editor’s note: The main country this series is set in is queernorm, but other countries mentioned may not be.) Tales of Inthya series by Effie Calvin: F/F relationship The Deep by Rivers Solomon: nonbinary character, F/F relationship, and M/M relationship. The Kynship Chronicles by Daniel Heath Justice: Two-Spirit characters and queer main characters The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie: bisexual trans man main character The Library of the Unwritten by AJ Hackwith: pansexual woman main character The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart: significant sapphic side characters
Young Adult Fantasy Books Without Homophobia or Transphobia
If you can’t get enough queernorm YA, though, might I also suggest: The first volume has an F/F romance, but each book in the series has a different main character. This one has a bisexual girl point of view, while the second has a trans guy main character. The two main characters are both sapphic: one is bisexual and the other is a lesbian. The rebellion has been stamped out except for a ragtag crew of teens who discover their own prophecy to overthrow the council — but can it be trusted? There are multiple main characters, including asexual, bisexual, and gay representation. Cas trains Reckoners — genetically-engineered sea monsters — to defend ships. When she is captured by pirates, though, she’s forced to raise a Reckoner pup for their own use. If you like F/F enemies-to-lovers, you’re going to love this one. Jam has been told that all monsters have been eradicated: but she discovers that they were hiding in plain sight: “How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist?” Like many of the books on this list, it’s utopian in some senses (trans kids are respected for their identities), but has its own issues (people have chosen to turn away from the “monsters” rather than face them).
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust: sapphic main character Legend of the Fire Princess (She-Ra Graphic Novel #1) by Gigi D.G. and Paulina Ganucheau, based on stories by Noelle Stevenson: sapphic main characters Huntress and Ash by Malinda Lo: these are set in the same world about a century apart, and there are F/F relationships in both
This is not a complete list! Check out the Queer SFF Database for more. Editor’s note: A previous version of this post incorrectly included the Broken Earth series by NK Jemisin and Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland. While they have positive queer representation, they are not set in queernorm worlds. Looking for more queer fantasy in general? You’ll also like these posts:
50 Must-Read LGBT Fantasy Books 15 Must-Read Queer YA Fantasy Books for Your TBR The Sapphic Fantastic: Lesbian & Bi Women Fantasy Books
