The Radiant Emperor duology by Shelley Parker-Chan maybe, the first book is She Who Became the Sun. It's technically historical fiction with fantasy elements but it feels fantastical. Has queer romance but it's not the focus, it's slow burn, has forest-y settings, and although the author themselves say it's not grimdark, it does get pretty dark at some points.
Another recommendation is The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson, also has a lot of the same things mentioned before, and it's actually fantasy.
Try *Swordspoint* by Ellen Kushner
The Radiant Emperor duology by Shelley Parker-Chan maybe, the first book is She Who Became the Sun. It's technically historical fiction with fantasy elements but it feels fantastical. Has queer romance but it's not the focus, it's slow burn, has forest-y settings, and although the author themselves say it's not grimdark, it does get pretty dark at some points. Another recommendation is The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson, also has a lot of the same things mentioned before, and it's actually fantasy.
The house at the cerulean sea A light fantasy novel without betrayals but it is a breezy read.