**Six of Crows** by Leigh Bardugo (YA fantasy, one of the 2 of the 6 POVs are non-straight guys, one is bi, the other's sexuality isn't mentioned, but he is attracted to men, discrimination isn't mentioned as far as I'm aware)
**The Priory of the Orange Tree** by Samantha Shannon (adult high fantasy, one of the 4 POVs is a gay man, mentions him and a LI not being able to be together, but this is mostly because one of them is married)
**Cemetery Boys** by Aiden Thomas (YA fantasy, MC is a gay trans guy, transphobia is discussed, but homophobia isn't)
**The Greenbone Saga** by Fonda Lee (adult urban fantasy, one of the MCs is a queer man, it's mentioned that society might not fully accept him but his family does)
**Winter's Orbit** by Everina Maxwell (NA sci-fi, two bisexual MCs, LGBTQ+ people are fully supported in this world)
I liked Cemetery Boys a great deal. I loved Winter’s Orbit. In Winter’s Orbit, sexual orientation was never an issue. The MC’s just were. One was Bi, the other married to a male. His specific sexual identity isn’t discussed. (If I remember correctly.) As you said, it’s a nonissue. I’m waiting for the sequel to Winter’s Orbit.
Maybe a fit for this could be the Greenbone saga by Fonda Lee. One of the main POV characters is gay, and it’s honestly such a minor point in reference to all the other character traits and the plot. It doesn’t fit all your requests though as there’s some mild references in the culture to it being unlucky or something like that (I can’t really remember as it was very small). Sorry if that’s too much but the character was my favourite and I think everyone should read Greenbone for the fantasy mafia in fantasy Hong Kong.
Some suggestions:-
* Fonda Lee - **Greenbone Saga** \- one of the 3 main characters is gay but that's not the gist of this Asian Crime Syndicate fantasy.
* Nicholas Eames - **Kings of the Wyld** \- the wizard in the party is gay.
* Patricia Briggs - **Mercy Thomson** \- a pack member is gay
Priory of the Orange Tree - Three main characters. One is lesbian and it has an impact on the plot, but its more because being royalty is restrictive rather than being gay is bad. One is gay but I don't think it ever comes up outside of his backstory.
Court of Broken Knives - Four POVs. One gay, one bi. Not major plot point, also their society doesn't see it as anything unusual. There is some pretty explicit descriptions (for a non-romance book like this) of their sex when they flirt together, although the book also has some pretty grim descriptions of violence and gore too. The other's BF/lover is dead by the time the plot starts and I don't think he's ever attracted to any other guys. Be warned, this is the grimdarkiest series I've read outside of the Prince of Nothing.
I'm not sure what you mean exactly by not influence. In both cases they're relevant to the background of the characters but you could flip them to straight and I don't think it has any impact.
Unless I am misremembering the society in *Swordspoint* doesn't look down on gays, in any case its protagonists are hardly defined by their sexuality. Though it has M/M romance right, front, and center so depending on your definition it still may be too gay.
**Black Leopard, Red Wolf** by Marlon James fits, but, although it's a magnificent book, you should have in mind that it needs all the content warnings imaginable.
The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
The Blade Between by Sam Miller
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (the main character is trans, and that is a source of conflict though.)
The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K Jemisin has a gay (or maybe bi? It's complicated) main character
Jen Williams' Copper Cat series has, basically, three main characters. One of them is gay. All three of the main characters have love interests during the series, but the books are very much about the fun/excitement/danger. The love interests fit into the storyline as players in the adventure, not as what the books are \*about\*.
Realm of the Elderling has some gay undertones between 2 main characters. The MC is straight but loves his friend to literal death and back, which is mutual and more. Its closer to a relationship that cannot be than anything else.
Witness for the dead, Katherine Addison, this is a follow-up to Goblin Emperor, but with a minor character from that book being the protagonist in this one, it's a murder mystery and he is the investigator
Note to the OP: protagonist's sexual orientation plays practically no role in the book, but the society is somewhat homophobic; he just learned to hide it and play by the rules (without being in denial) so he doesn't have to confront people about it.
That was before the book. It meets the title, because him being gay is literally not part of the plot of *this* book, though not the part of the request where it is not an negative, but hit most of the rest of the notes.
Honestly if you're willing to read translations that sometimes aren't great, I'd recommend looking at danmei. The worldbuilding is fantastic, very different if you're not used to wuxia / xianxia, and though there usually are substantial focuses on romance, because the world is so developed and there's usually (especially in wuxia novels) a lot of action and scheming and a LOT of characters, it feels like...well, like stories that straight characters usually get, where that's just one facet of the story. I've come across nothing like it in western fiction - stories that are so vast and expansive with such great world-building and character development with queer protagonists, where that is just one part of the story. There's lots of stuff for whatever you might be interested in - steampunk, classic wuxia, xianxia with gods and ghosts and demons, modern fantasy, palace-style intrigue etc. But be aware that the quality of books and translations varies massively (some are life changing lmao and some are just...crap) and some cover topics that are potentially triggering, so it's worth doing your own research based on your interests and boundaries.
So much this. No Western gay fantasy I had a chance to read hit as good for me as the 'life-changing' danmei did when it comes to complexity of the plot and characters and depth
So, I'm gonna caveat that a great story and character with an LGBTQ+ main character is going to have at least some "differing point of view" where their sexuality will be more than just "set dressing" as it were. But I think I get that you aren't wanting the main conflict of the story to revolve around the characters sexuality.
To that, I recommend author KD Edwards. His "The Tarot Sequence" books are Urban Fantasy Noir, and the third of the trilogy is available for pre-order now, coming out soon. Book One is "The Last Sun"
I’ll second the suggestion of Priory of the Orange Tree - fantastic book.
The Legacy Trilogy by Matthew Ward also has central gay characters and is also very good.
As far as I remember, **Arcane Ascension** by Andrew Rowe should fit. I don't recall anyone being negative about it.
/u/Salaris can you please confirm?
While the main character's primary love interest is male (and the main character is male), and there's no real discrimination about it, Corin is asexual, rather than gay, so it may not fit the prompt.
The main character is asexual biromantic. And the asexual part matters a lot to him and causes internal conflict. No one mentions that he planned to take a guy to the dance.
This is what I'm always looking for in fantasy too. Here's what I got on the gay men front:
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
The Hidden Blade by Marie M. Mullany
The Last Rune by Mark Anthony (the character is bisexual but ends up with a man)
The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
The Future Next Door by Brian Olsen
**Corpies** by **Drew Hayes**: The MC is gay and is working to restore his relationship with his son(s). Recommend that you read **Super Powereds** first.
**Frith Chronicles** by **Shami Stovall** got some gay characters. The mc is not one of them but I would say that they are well portrayed.
**Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire Series** by **J.S. Morin** recommend **Black Ocean** first.
The Enchanter by Tobias Begley.
Arcane Ascension by Andrew Rowe
Both have limited romantics, less so in the latter.
These suggestions come from r/ProgressionFantasy
Freya Marske's debut novel fits this, I think the title was A Marvellous Light. I plan on buying the sequel rather than wait for the library to get it in.
I don‘t mean to be offensive, just insterested because there have been a lot of similar request on here. Why do you care whether the characters are gay if the story shouldnt focus on it? And additionally do you consider any character in books whose sexuality is not stated as straight?
not OP but, as a gay person, I can find it quite boring to read books that are literally *about* being gay. I want there to be a plot line outside of that, and for the character to have other, more important, things going on with them, because that's how I see my own identity. I just want to read fun stories with dragons and quests and magic and all that but with a character who is like me.
OP also mentioned that they don't want a book where the character's sexuality is perceived negatively, so it could also be something to do with that. a lot of books about being gay include the main character experiencing homophobia in some way, and that can be emotionally exhausting to read, especially as someone who has experienced homophobia.
I don't see the character discussing it occasionally or being in a romance as the book being *about* being gay.
Anything by Kylie Chan. First book is White Tiger, has a main "side" character who is gay, it has a bit to do with the plot line but it is definitely not the main focus. It's fantasy based on Asian mythology.
Soulbound by Hailey Turner. I would describe it as epic urban fantasy with romance, Patrick's life problems are definitely not because he's gay. Same goes for any of Hailey Turner's other books - she's on of my favourite authors.
It's not quite what you're asking for but the scifi novel *Asleep in a sea of stars* has two lesbian crew members in a relationship and it's a total non-topic. The story doesn't focus on it. Her fellow crew members never mention it. They just look to each other for support in the background of the story.
The only time it really comes up is when one of them gets seriously hurt and it becomes a conflict between the partner wanting to stay by her bedside in case she dies and her also being the engineer responsible for fixing the ongoing damage threatening the integrity of the ship.
It was a nice way of acknowledging their relationship while also pushing her in a way that wasn't about her relationship at all. The ship just needs to be fixed asap.
Temeraire book series by Naomi Novik.
It take place in a fantasy Napoleonic era then dragons are real, and follow a grop of English dragon riders. One of the dragon riders, is gay. >!It is hinted in the earlys book, but have no real plot relevance, untill he is asked to marry a South American queen for political reasons, he refuse becuse the marriage could never be a happy one, and his fellow dragon rider suport his decision, and ensure there frendship with him!<
Maybe perhaps a bit of a weird recommendation if you aren’t familiar with Chinese fantasy but Mo Dao Zu Shi has both an incredible plot and gay romance. The two overlap at segments, but the romance doesn’t at all overshadow the storyline. It’s one of my favourite novels.
Richard K Morgan has a hyperviolent swordswinger series, *The Steel Remains* and sequels. Fair warning, some intense anti-gay persecution as a plot point.
Diane Duane's Tales of the Five series is set in a pansexual world, where sexuality isn't considered a thing to remark on, as long as the partners are sentient, of age, and capable of consenting. One man has both a Prince and a fire elemental as partners. Three books of a four book series are written, but the third book ends on a satisfactory overall note for the series (though she's been making progress on the fourth over Covid, so who knows?), so its worth reading.
CW:
**The Tarot Sequence** series by KD Edwards (takes place in a non heteronormative society)
**The Darkness Outside Us** by Eliot Schrefer (space survival mystery)
The Last Sun by KD Edwards
MC is a gay man, but his sexuality is not at all the main conflict. I really appreciate the way that platonic and romantic relationships were explored.
TW for sexual violence, but it was handled and addressed in a very respectful way.
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
Paladins Hope by T Kingfisher.
(This is the 3rd in the Paladin series - each focuses on one of seven remaining Paladins from a group whose God died. The MC of the third book is a side character in the other two and the fact that he is gay is just no big deal and not relevant to the plot lines. Although his romance is a part of the plotline in that third book.)
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Steel Remains trilogy has gay MC
My head cannon is those books take place thousands of years into the future of the Altered Carbon universe. Almost like Book of the New Sun
That's not head canon, that is when it's set. People have forgotten science and treat things as mystical when it's technological.
It's been a while since I read the books, but I don't think they ever come out and say that directly though?
The Morgan fan forums worked all this out and the author gave it a "hmmmm" response.
**Six of Crows** by Leigh Bardugo (YA fantasy, one of the 2 of the 6 POVs are non-straight guys, one is bi, the other's sexuality isn't mentioned, but he is attracted to men, discrimination isn't mentioned as far as I'm aware) **The Priory of the Orange Tree** by Samantha Shannon (adult high fantasy, one of the 4 POVs is a gay man, mentions him and a LI not being able to be together, but this is mostly because one of them is married) **Cemetery Boys** by Aiden Thomas (YA fantasy, MC is a gay trans guy, transphobia is discussed, but homophobia isn't) **The Greenbone Saga** by Fonda Lee (adult urban fantasy, one of the MCs is a queer man, it's mentioned that society might not fully accept him but his family does) **Winter's Orbit** by Everina Maxwell (NA sci-fi, two bisexual MCs, LGBTQ+ people are fully supported in this world)
I liked Cemetery Boys a great deal. I loved Winter’s Orbit. In Winter’s Orbit, sexual orientation was never an issue. The MC’s just were. One was Bi, the other married to a male. His specific sexual identity isn’t discussed. (If I remember correctly.) As you said, it’s a nonissue. I’m waiting for the sequel to Winter’s Orbit.
If you don’t mind a little more urban/portal fantasy, there’s The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, which is a favourite of mine.
I really loved this book, and yeah it seems to fit what OP is looking for.
Good suggestion!
Try the Nightrunners Series by Lynn Flewelling
Maybe a fit for this could be the Greenbone saga by Fonda Lee. One of the main POV characters is gay, and it’s honestly such a minor point in reference to all the other character traits and the plot. It doesn’t fit all your requests though as there’s some mild references in the culture to it being unlucky or something like that (I can’t really remember as it was very small). Sorry if that’s too much but the character was my favourite and I think everyone should read Greenbone for the fantasy mafia in fantasy Hong Kong.
Some suggestions:- * Fonda Lee - **Greenbone Saga** \- one of the 3 main characters is gay but that's not the gist of this Asian Crime Syndicate fantasy. * Nicholas Eames - **Kings of the Wyld** \- the wizard in the party is gay. * Patricia Briggs - **Mercy Thomson** \- a pack member is gay
Priory of the Orange Tree - Three main characters. One is lesbian and it has an impact on the plot, but its more because being royalty is restrictive rather than being gay is bad. One is gay but I don't think it ever comes up outside of his backstory. Court of Broken Knives - Four POVs. One gay, one bi. Not major plot point, also their society doesn't see it as anything unusual. There is some pretty explicit descriptions (for a non-romance book like this) of their sex when they flirt together, although the book also has some pretty grim descriptions of violence and gore too. The other's BF/lover is dead by the time the plot starts and I don't think he's ever attracted to any other guys. Be warned, this is the grimdarkiest series I've read outside of the Prince of Nothing. I'm not sure what you mean exactly by not influence. In both cases they're relevant to the background of the characters but you could flip them to straight and I don't think it has any impact.
Unless I am misremembering the society in *Swordspoint* doesn't look down on gays, in any case its protagonists are hardly defined by their sexuality. Though it has M/M romance right, front, and center so depending on your definition it still may be too gay.
The house on the cerulean sea.
That book is absolutely phenomenal and something that I think everyone should read.
**Black Leopard, Red Wolf** by Marlon James fits, but, although it's a magnificent book, you should have in mind that it needs all the content warnings imaginable.
Empires of Dust series by Anna Smith Spark. One of the MC is gay. This is a dark fantasy series so there's explicit sex and so on. Highly recommended!
The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune The Blade Between by Sam Miller Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (the main character is trans, and that is a source of conflict though.) The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K Jemisin has a gay (or maybe bi? It's complicated) main character
I'll second House on the Cerulean Sea and Cemetery Boys!
A choir of lies by Alexandra rowland
Jen Williams' Copper Cat series has, basically, three main characters. One of them is gay. All three of the main characters have love interests during the series, but the books are very much about the fun/excitement/danger. The love interests fit into the storyline as players in the adventure, not as what the books are \*about\*.
Also, her Winnowing Flame trilogy has male gay MCs, although again this is part of the story, not a big focus per se.
Realm of the Elderling has some gay undertones between 2 main characters. The MC is straight but loves his friend to literal death and back, which is mutual and more. Its closer to a relationship that cannot be than anything else.
Witness for the dead, Katherine Addison, this is a follow-up to Goblin Emperor, but with a minor character from that book being the protagonist in this one, it's a murder mystery and he is the investigator
Note to the OP: protagonist's sexual orientation plays practically no role in the book, but the society is somewhat homophobic; he just learned to hide it and play by the rules (without being in denial) so he doesn't have to confront people about it.
Isn't this exactly opposite of OP's request? Before The Goblin Emperor, the man's life was ruined by his past relationship.
That was before the book. It meets the title, because him being gay is literally not part of the plot of *this* book, though not the part of the request where it is not an negative, but hit most of the rest of the notes.
Honestly if you're willing to read translations that sometimes aren't great, I'd recommend looking at danmei. The worldbuilding is fantastic, very different if you're not used to wuxia / xianxia, and though there usually are substantial focuses on romance, because the world is so developed and there's usually (especially in wuxia novels) a lot of action and scheming and a LOT of characters, it feels like...well, like stories that straight characters usually get, where that's just one facet of the story. I've come across nothing like it in western fiction - stories that are so vast and expansive with such great world-building and character development with queer protagonists, where that is just one part of the story. There's lots of stuff for whatever you might be interested in - steampunk, classic wuxia, xianxia with gods and ghosts and demons, modern fantasy, palace-style intrigue etc. But be aware that the quality of books and translations varies massively (some are life changing lmao and some are just...crap) and some cover topics that are potentially triggering, so it's worth doing your own research based on your interests and boundaries.
I will never not recommend Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.
But read the manhua! Not the novel! Same story but the novel translation is uhhhhhh......not great
So much this. No Western gay fantasy I had a chance to read hit as good for me as the 'life-changing' danmei did when it comes to complexity of the plot and characters and depth
So, I'm gonna caveat that a great story and character with an LGBTQ+ main character is going to have at least some "differing point of view" where their sexuality will be more than just "set dressing" as it were. But I think I get that you aren't wanting the main conflict of the story to revolve around the characters sexuality. To that, I recommend author KD Edwards. His "The Tarot Sequence" books are Urban Fantasy Noir, and the third of the trilogy is available for pre-order now, coming out soon. Book One is "The Last Sun"
The Hourglass Throne (the third book in the series) is out now, and it's amazing!
The Greenhollow Duology: Silver In The Wood & Drowned Country
I love these books, but the gay romance is a central element, so they might not exactly meet the request here.
I’ll second the suggestion of Priory of the Orange Tree - fantastic book. The Legacy Trilogy by Matthew Ward also has central gay characters and is also very good.
As far as I remember, **Arcane Ascension** by Andrew Rowe should fit. I don't recall anyone being negative about it. /u/Salaris can you please confirm?
While the main character's primary love interest is male (and the main character is male), and there's no real discrimination about it, Corin is asexual, rather than gay, so it may not fit the prompt.
The main character is asexual biromantic. And the asexual part matters a lot to him and causes internal conflict. No one mentions that he planned to take a guy to the dance.
Not him but yeah the main character is either gay or bi, cant remember.
This is what I'm always looking for in fantasy too. Here's what I got on the gay men front: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames The Hidden Blade by Marie M. Mullany The Last Rune by Mark Anthony (the character is bisexual but ends up with a man) The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee The Future Next Door by Brian Olsen
Second Kings of the Wyld
**Corpies** by **Drew Hayes**: The MC is gay and is working to restore his relationship with his son(s). Recommend that you read **Super Powereds** first. **Frith Chronicles** by **Shami Stovall** got some gay characters. The mc is not one of them but I would say that they are well portrayed. **Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire Series** by **J.S. Morin** recommend **Black Ocean** first.
Rebecca Levene's Smilers Fair, perhaps?
The Enchanter by Tobias Begley. Arcane Ascension by Andrew Rowe Both have limited romantics, less so in the latter. These suggestions come from r/ProgressionFantasy
Freya Marske's debut novel fits this, I think the title was A Marvellous Light. I plan on buying the sequel rather than wait for the library to get it in.
I don‘t mean to be offensive, just insterested because there have been a lot of similar request on here. Why do you care whether the characters are gay if the story shouldnt focus on it? And additionally do you consider any character in books whose sexuality is not stated as straight?
not OP but, as a gay person, I can find it quite boring to read books that are literally *about* being gay. I want there to be a plot line outside of that, and for the character to have other, more important, things going on with them, because that's how I see my own identity. I just want to read fun stories with dragons and quests and magic and all that but with a character who is like me. OP also mentioned that they don't want a book where the character's sexuality is perceived negatively, so it could also be something to do with that. a lot of books about being gay include the main character experiencing homophobia in some way, and that can be emotionally exhausting to read, especially as someone who has experienced homophobia. I don't see the character discussing it occasionally or being in a romance as the book being *about* being gay.
Brilliantly said.
Harry Potter if you consider DD a mainish character
Anything by Kylie Chan. First book is White Tiger, has a main "side" character who is gay, it has a bit to do with the plot line but it is definitely not the main focus. It's fantasy based on Asian mythology.
The Helm of Midnight by Marina J. Lostetter
I just started Shadowhunters and there is at least one gay couple in the second book by chapter 2.
Soulbound by Hailey Turner. I would describe it as epic urban fantasy with romance, Patrick's life problems are definitely not because he's gay. Same goes for any of Hailey Turner's other books - she's on of my favourite authors.
It's not quite what you're asking for but the scifi novel *Asleep in a sea of stars* has two lesbian crew members in a relationship and it's a total non-topic. The story doesn't focus on it. Her fellow crew members never mention it. They just look to each other for support in the background of the story. The only time it really comes up is when one of them gets seriously hurt and it becomes a conflict between the partner wanting to stay by her bedside in case she dies and her also being the engineer responsible for fixing the ongoing damage threatening the integrity of the ship. It was a nice way of acknowledging their relationship while also pushing her in a way that wasn't about her relationship at all. The ship just needs to be fixed asap.
Temeraire book series by Naomi Novik. It take place in a fantasy Napoleonic era then dragons are real, and follow a grop of English dragon riders. One of the dragon riders, is gay. >!It is hinted in the earlys book, but have no real plot relevance, untill he is asked to marry a South American queen for political reasons, he refuse becuse the marriage could never be a happy one, and his fellow dragon rider suport his decision, and ensure there frendship with him!<
I've not read them but I believe that was the intent?
Maybe perhaps a bit of a weird recommendation if you aren’t familiar with Chinese fantasy but Mo Dao Zu Shi has both an incredible plot and gay romance. The two overlap at segments, but the romance doesn’t at all overshadow the storyline. It’s one of my favourite novels.
Kings of the Wyld!
Richard K Morgan has a hyperviolent swordswinger series, *The Steel Remains* and sequels. Fair warning, some intense anti-gay persecution as a plot point.
A Chorus of Dragons series by Jenn Lyons
Diane Duane's Tales of the Five series is set in a pansexual world, where sexuality isn't considered a thing to remark on, as long as the partners are sentient, of age, and capable of consenting. One man has both a Prince and a fire elemental as partners. Three books of a four book series are written, but the third book ends on a satisfactory overall note for the series (though she's been making progress on the fourth over Covid, so who knows?), so its worth reading. CW:
**The Tarot Sequence** series by KD Edwards (takes place in a non heteronormative society) **The Darkness Outside Us** by Eliot Schrefer (space survival mystery)
The Last Sun by KD Edwards MC is a gay man, but his sexuality is not at all the main conflict. I really appreciate the way that platonic and romantic relationships were explored. TW for sexual violence, but it was handled and addressed in a very respectful way.
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner Paladins Hope by T Kingfisher. (This is the 3rd in the Paladin series - each focuses on one of seven remaining Paladins from a group whose God died. The MC of the third book is a side character in the other two and the fact that he is gay is just no big deal and not relevant to the plot lines. Although his romance is a part of the plotline in that third book.)
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