Hello Fiction Dwellers!

Happy Lesbian Visibility Week 🌈 ✨ To celebrate I want to take my part by gushing about my favourite lesbians in SFF (Sci-Fi and Fantasy) ranging from space necromancers, a shining emperor, a steam punk fantasy mystery, and lots of overthrowing empires.

Sapphic SFF has become one of the few things I sought out when I want to buy or read a book. If a book has lesbian rep I will be immediately intrigued because “women” *insert that Little Women screen cap*.

In this list (of course) I will include some of my favourite books including the Sapphic Trifecta and a few lesbian couples that maybe you haven’t discovered yet. The characters I will mention varies from swoon worthy main protagonists to side characters that stood out to me.

The books included in this list are books that I have read so if I missed a book please leave a comment down below so I can get to it asap. I will also be including a few books with lesbian rep on my TBR and honorary books I have read that didn’t make it into the list.

🧞‍♀️ Fatma & Siti 🧞

A Master of Djinn (Dead Djinn Universe #1)

by P. Djèlí Clark

A Master of Djinn is P. Djèlí Clark’s first full length novel and sequel to his prequel novellas, A Dead Djinn in Cairo and The Haunting in Tram Car 015, in the Dead Djinn Universe series.

The main character of the Dead Djinn Universe is Agent Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities set in the year of 1912 in the reimagined steam punk city of Cairo, Egypt.

Agent Fatma isn’t a rookie agent, she is an agent that have achieved renown status for her sharp instincts that as sharp as her suits.

Then comes Siti, the woman that helped Fatma solve the case in A Dead Djinn in Cairo while enticing and charming Fatma.

Their romance in the novella is the spark that continued on into A Master of Djinn. Their relationship evolved and blossomed into a full blown committed romantic relationship. There is vulnerability, support, and honesty between them that is electrifying beyond the pages.

The novel itself is also a celebration of a diverse cast of women from the antagonist to the protagonist. Not to mention P. Djèlí Clark’s world building that is vivid, detailed, and accessibly wondrous.

“God the most Beneficent, the most Merciful. Not this one. Not this one.” “Remember often death, the destroyer of all pleasures,” a woman’s voice sounded. “But it is not that day for this one.”

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My review

☀️ Zhu Chongba & Ma Xiuying ☀️

She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor #1)

by Shelley Parker Chan

She Who Became the Sun is the first book and a recent Hugo nominated historical fiction-fantasy that shone the brightest in the year of 2021 compelling many to dub this debut one of the best that year.

The story is a reimagining of the founding Emperor of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, the peasant rebel who expelled the Mongols and unified China. Zhu Chongba was once a nameless girl from a poor family that claimed her brother’s name and destiny for greatness.

Zhu started out as a peasant turned monk warrior in the army that garnered the attention of the Emperor by out witting the enemy and eventually moved up the ranks as strategist. Ma Xiuying is the daughter of a general that met Zhu Chongba through her father’s connections and from being associated with her betrothed.

They are the most prominent characters in this book because of how deep their involvement in the inner politics of the dynasty. Though Ma Xiuying’s smarts and presence were dulled out because of her gender, she still stood her ground and utilized her limited abilities to help her betrothed then eventually Zhu Chongba.

In a way Ma Xiuying balances out Zhu Chongba, Zhu is ruthless and will do anything to achieve their goals while Ma is driven yet compassionate. Their relationships evolved throughout the book as Zhu moves higher up her goal, but at the end of the day Ma’s love for Zhu is so deep that she would follow them to the ends of the earth.

“Learn to want something for yourself, Ma Xiuying. Not what someone says you should want. Don’t go through life thinking only of duty. When all we have are these brief spans between our non-existences, why not make the most of the life you’re living now ? The price is worth it.“

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My Review

☠️ Gideon & Harrow ☠️

Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #1)

by Tamsyn Muir

Gideon the Ninth is the debut and first instalment of The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir. This book is marketed as “lesbian necromancers in space”, it is true to what is marketed when you read the book because Gideon and Harrow is *THE* LESBIAN NECROMANCERS.

Well, one half of them since Gideon is the chevalier extraordinaire to Ninth House’s reverend daughter Harrowhark Nonagesimus. They are the embodiment of the grumpy and himbo sunshine trope. I don’t like to boil their relationship to tropes but that is the short explanation on their dynamic.

Gideon is the sword wielding, strong, and ripped bodyguard that is willing to do whatever she can to help Harrow. Her brash and “fuck it” personality is the counterbalance to Harrow’s serious and intense presence. In a way they compliment each other, seeing their night and day dynamics is entertaining.

They started out as characters that have a difference in status because of Harrow being the head of the Ninth House while Gideon is the adopted child of the Ninth House or more accurately prisoner.

Gideon the Ninth isn’t for everybody, it is a book the fits a specific niche for a specific crowd of readers. It took me a while to fully understand the world and figure out where the narrative is going.

The first half of the book is mostly world building and exploring, which continued on to a murder mystery that breaks slow pacing and takes into hyper speed. Crazy doesn’t even explain the calibre that is Gideon the Ninth.

“One flesh, one end, bitch.”

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My review

🌹 Malini & Priya 🌹

The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Empire #1)

by Tasha Suri

The Jasmine Throne is the first instalment to Tasha Suri’s new trilogy, The Burning Empire, that was released in 2021. This multi POV epic fantasy set in an Indian inspired world is part of the sapphic trifecta along side She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan and The Unbroken by C. L. Clark that was released in the same year.

Though there are about four major POVs in this book the main focus of the story is the relationship between Priya and Princess Malini. Priya is a maidservant that works for the household of the regent after being taken in by Lady Bhumika, the wife of the regent.

One day when the princess is sentenced to exile in the Hirana, a sacred temple of the yaksa, Priya takes a chance to gain more coin and find clues to connect with her past on the Hirana. One thing led to another, Priya is pushed to use the power she once held and expose her true identity that she has buried for years. This reveal also exposes Priya to the last person she wants her identity to be known to, the princess of Parijatdvipan empire, Malini.

This first meeting fueled their slow growing relationship that grew from mistrust and beneficiary to something deeply vulnerable and filled with yearning. Malini is a calculating, driven, and ambitious character that utilized her limited resources to break free from her current situation.

While Priya is a powerful character that is compassionate that took a chance to save as many lives as she could. Aside from these two I should also mention Lady Bhumika the epitome of woman that accomplished to take charge, survive, and fought her way to claim her place of power.

“This face. This face right in front of me. The face you’ve shown me, the fact that you kissed me. I know it. I know you,” said Priya. “I know exactly who you are. There are other versions of you that I don’t know. But this one . . .” Her fingers were against Malini’s lips. “This one is mine.”

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My review

⏳ Touraine & Luca ⌛

The Unbroken (Magic of the Lost #1)

by C. L Clark

The Unbroken is the debut and first book to the Magic of the Lost series by C. L. Clark. This book is also known as one of three in the Sapphic Trifecta. The story follows the dual perspective of Touraine, a conscript of the Balladairan Colonial Brigade, and Luca, the scholar crown princess of Balladairan empire.

A story set in El-Wast, capital city of Qazāl, Balladaire’s southern colony, a place inspired by the deserts of North Africa. Luca is tasked to control the rebellion that is brewing in the colony, to do this she recruits Touraine, a Sands, to infiltrate the underground rebels movement.

Colonialism is the main part of the world building, Balladaire is an empire that is reminiscent of France one of the European countries that colonized North Africa in the 18th and the 19th century.

C. L. Clark has built a world that shows the inner workings of colonialism, that provides insight for readers that aren’t familiar with history that has long since been overlooked. Clark built this world with the intent of showing all sides of the conflict, from the rebels, the government officials, the Sands, and the innocent people in between.

Torn between two sides of the conflict, either defend the nation that has trained her and her friends or fight for the liberation of her people from colonization. This aspect of Touraine’s character is complex, Clark writes her struggles so raw and vulnerable. Luca on the other end is a sheltered princess with a mission to win back her throne.

Luca is much more strict, rigid, and isn’t afraid in sacrificing anything to get what she wants. Her ambition to prove herself and to be a better ruler than her predecessors is unbending. 

Their power dynamics is uneven and sometimes down right unforgivably unfair. But I’d say this is what makes the story of The Unbroken so impactful. Luca as a future ruler of the colonizer in this case is responsible for the havoc that her people has caused for the Qazālis, I hope in the sequel we get to witness this being done to see an outcome of movement toward decolonization.

“We pray for rain.”

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My review

🎭 Baru & Tain Hu 🎭

The Traitor Baru Cormorant (The Masquerade #1)

by Seth Dickinson

The Traitor Baru Cormorant is the first instalment of The Masquerade trilogy by Seth Dickinson. In this politically centered high fantasy set in a world ruled by The Empire of Masks where they thrive in the business of colonization.

Creeping their way into unconquered islands through currency, culture, education, and policies benefiting the Masks. Fuming with internal rage and dripping with revenge, Baru let themselves become one of the tools used by the Masks to managed one of their most challenging colony as their accountant.

A role tied to numbers, checks and balances, and anything financial. Baru is a resourceful and smart character that manipulated her way to achieve her goals in proving herself worthy of the trust of The Masks.

While Tain Hu is one of the Duchess’ in Aurdwyn that gained Baru’s trust and friendship through a game of intimidation involving the duchess’ financial situation. Tain Hu is an ambitious character that first tried to outsmart Baru yet failed that continued to entice Baru in the long run.

Their relationship is filled with hints and suggestions turned low-key romantic when Tain Hu uthered the words “command me”. I can never forget that scene. It is the most romantic line I read in fantasy truly.

For those who are interested in The Traitor Baru Cormorant be warned their relationship is just a small speck in the epic proportions of world building, political intrigue, maneuvers, and machinations that awed me. Reading this book literally blew a circuit in my brain that I didn’t expect, but it’s all worth it for Tain Hu.

“I stand for Baru Cormorant.” And the duchess Tain Hu stepped into the circle, hobnailed boots ringing off the limestone cobble, hair shorn, cheeks slashed in lines of red. “My lady, command me.”

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository

🗝️ Phalue & Ranami 🗝️

The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire #1)

by Andrea Stewart

The Bone Shard Daughter is the debut and first book of The Drowning Empire trilogy by Andrea Stewart that was dubbed as the best debut in fantasy back in 2020.

I have read and reviewed this book, I agree with the notion as it is an epic fantasy filled with mystery and drip feed world building that is truly astonishing. The story of The Bone Shard Daughter follows multiple POVs of individuals coming from different islands and background.

One of the POVs is from two women, Ranami and Phalue. Phalue is the only child and daughter of the governor of the island that deeply righteous, slightly blinded by her privilege and skilled in swordsmanship.

Ranami is an orphan that grew up in poverty, living off the streets to sustain herself that have achieved stability through sheer will power. Their relationship isn’t balanced at all because of their difference in status.

Ranami aspires to better the lives of orphans on the island and isn’t shy about speaking of the injustices that were inflicted by the governor, Phalue’s father. Phalue tries to do better but that isn’t enough in the eyes of Ranami who wants more.

I didn’t really like their relationship at the start mostly because of Ranami refuses to compromise and only demands change while staying stagnant, but their relationship gets better in The Bone Shard Emperor. Their progress was slow, full of conflict, and understanding on both parts that I truly adored.

“It’s hard to remake one’s view of the world, to admit to complacency. I thought remaking myself for you was hard enough, but doing that was something I wanted. I didn’t want to realize how much I’ve hurt the people around me, and that’s what confronting my beliefs meant. We all tell ourselves stories of who we are, and in my mind, I was always the hero. But I wasn’t. Not in all the ways I should have been.”

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My review

🌃 Kalina & Abae 🌃

Hollow Empire (Poison Wars #2)

by Sam Hawke

Hollow Empire is the sequel and second instalment of the Poison Wars duology by Sam Hawke. This second book is city based fantasy that is the continuation of the first book City of Lies. It is the first ARC I ever received in my book blogging journey that blew me away.

In City of Lies the story follows two main POVs of siblings, Jovan and Kalina. Jovan took the back seat in the sequel Hollow Empire shining the focus on Kalina, the smart, political savvy, and hard working sister.

Kalina’s showed readers in City of Lies that having chronic wouldn’t stop her from protecting the people of her city. In Hollow Empire she is a force to be reckoned with embracing a new higher role as ambassador of Sjona.

Through her work, Kalina meets a woman that worked as a translator for one of the delegates that visited Silasta named Abae. The relationship between Kalina and Abae didn’t manifest until towards the end of the book.

They both inspire each other to be strong and brave to uncover the mysteries that are behind the attacks in Sjona. The beauty of their relationship is the build up between them that is slow and satisfyingly sweet when sparks fly. I would like to remind potential readers that Kalina and Abae’s relationship is such a small part of this duology. I still highly recommend this series as I find it very underrated.

We don’t forget. We are patient. We are coming.

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My review

🍎 Sister Kettle & Sister Apple 🗡️

Grey Sister (Book of the Ancestor #2)

by Mark Lawrence

Grey Sister is the second instalment of the Book of the Ancestor series by Mark Lawrence. When I first started reading adult fantasy books this was the first series that I picked up.

Red Sister is the first book that introduced me to how worlds and characters can be layered and meaningful. One of the side characters that caught my eye in Red Sister is the relationship between Sister Apple and Sister Kettle. After finishing Red Sister I immediately dove into Grey Sister.

What I didn’t expect reading Grey Sister is the strong presence of Sister Kettle and Sister Apple in the plot. They are Sisters that are trusted by the head of the coven, Abbess Glass. Sister Apple known for her poisons is the Sister that is famous amongst the novices as the playful yet cruel master of poisons.

While Sister Kettle is the a trusted Sister that worked on secret missions for the Abbess or for the coven. Their relationship is pre-established yet they became an essential part to the progression of the story up until the last book Holy Sister. Especially Sister Kettle that became a mentor for the main character of the series Nona.

What made me pick Sister Kettle and Sister Apple is because they are the first sapphic couple that got me infested. Their chemistry and personality really shone through the small scenes they had. This series is truly meaningful for me.

“There is a purity in rage. It will burn out sorrow. For a time. It will burn out fear. Even cruelty and hatred will seek shelter, rage wants none of them, only to destroy. Rage is the gift our nature gives to us, shaped by untold years. Why discard it?”

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My review

🩸 Constanta & Magdalena 🩸

A Dowry of Blood

by S. T. Gibson

A Dowry of Blood is a gothic fantasy horror standalone and debut by S. T. Gibson. A queer reimagining story about Dracula’s brides, a bloody tale about a vampire that saves a girl from her imminent death by turning her into a vampire. Naming her Constanta as she is “reborn” with a taste for blood and claimed by him to be his wife.

The second wife to this poly gothic fantasy standalone is Magdalena. A charismatic, adventurous, and smart woman that became a female companion to Constanta. They both share the same pain and struggle of being in a trapped marriage.

The only people they can confide in is each other which evolved into a love that transcends time and blood. They survived the tumultuous abusive relationship with each other and the addition of a third partner as support.

This book is sultry, dark, and full of heart wrenching pain from a toxic relationship. Constanta and Magdalena played their part in liberating everyone involved, calling and end to the pain.

“I had given you a thousand second chances, made a thousand concessions. And this wasn’t just about me anymore. It was about Magdalena, and Alexi.“

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My review

🐯 The Tiger Story 🐯

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain (The Singing Hills Cycle #2)

by Nghi Vo

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain is the continuation of The Singing Hills Cycle series by Nghi Vo following the amazing first book The Empress of Salt and Fortune.

In this sequel we follow cleric Chih as she prepares to go on a snowy trek with their guide. During the travel they found an attack which lead to them being cornered by a band of hungry tigers.

This band of hungry tigers then gave Chih and her companion a chance by listening to a story and correcting the recorded history of a legendary story that even tigers know of.

This historical moment that blurred the lines between the tiger kind and human is corrected through the accounts of the leader of the pack. The story is about the relationship between a woman and a tiger.

Some debated on how their relationship came to be and ended yet these tigers know the truth more than the humans did. I don’t want to elaborate on who is involved because this book is so short I could spoil the whole plot if I explained why the sapphic couple in this book is amazing. So I suggest reading the book!

“I am yours, and so I will be your light and your laughter. I am yours, so open your eyes to look at me, and open your mouth so that I may kiss it. I am yours, I am yours, and nevermore will I leave.”

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | My review

🚀 Fumiko & Dana 🚀

The Vanished Birds

by Simon Jimenez

The Vanished Birds is a standalone sci-fi novel and debut by Simon Jimenez. The Vanished Birds is a layered novel about intergalactic travel spanning through years the follows the perspective of multiple characters across space.

One of the main characters of the story is Fumiko Nakajima, a scientist and inventor of the city planets of the future, and Dana, a fellow scientist that developed a relationship with Fumiko.

Though Fumiko and Dana is just a small part of the story, their impact on me as a reader is astounding.Their whirlwind romance is the core of Fumiko’s world and motivation. Dana’s appearance is so small in this book but I can’t forget about her because Simon always reminds readers of her.

The days when Fumiko is happiest and saddest is strongly connected to Dana. Simon Jimenez is masterful in weaving emotion into their characters in epic proportions. The built up of their relationship is satisfying, well written, and heart wrenching until the last moments.

If you don’t know about Simon Jimenez I highly recommend you pick his book up though his books isn’t for everyone as it serves a specific niche of readers just like Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir.

Take this letter as evidence that I am still thinking about you, and that, despite my self-interest, I am still waiting.

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My review

☕ Viv & Thandri ☕

Legends & Lattes

by Travis Baldree

Legends & Lattes is a cozy, heart warming, and deliciously kind high fantasy novel with low stakes and debut by Travis Baldree.

This special novel, released in February 2022, have exploded on the SFF scene as the indie debut to look out for. Since its release Legends & Lattes got acquired by TOR books and is planned by Baldree to expand the standalone into a series.

The story of Legends & Lattes is centered around Viv, a retired mercenary that has hung her sword for a cup of coffee and loads of baked goods. Long story short when Viv is looking for extra hands to help with the operations of her cafe she didn’t expect a succubus to enter and apply. That succubus is Thandri.

With Thandri’s help and attention to detail the shop got a shot of personality through her artistic renditions on the menu board and in naming the food they serve. But that isn’t the only thing that Thandri helped Viv with, she also helped Viv to be vulnerable and learn how to trust the kindness of strangers by being there for her when things get tough.

Thandri basically tackled her way into Viv’s life though she gave Viv plenty of space to reflect and go at her own pace. Their relationship throughout the book is just *chef’s kiss*, they are so kind to each other and full of love. This book is everything. READ IT!

WHAT FLAMES COULD NOT CONSUME, NEVER SHALL BE EXTINGUISHED

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | My review

❤️ Red & Blue 💙

This Is How You Lose the Time War

by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

This Is How You Lose the Time War is the beautiful sci-fi dystopian novel the result of the combined imagination and lyrical prose of Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. This Is How You Lose the Time War is written in two point of views—Red and Blue—on two opposing sides of a war across the threads of time.

Red’s point of view is written by Max Gladstone and Blue’s point of view is written by Amal El-Mohtar.

Red and Blue are both agents of warfare that has chased each other through the braids of time undoing and sabotaging each other’s attempts to turn the tides to their respective factions’ advantage that will lead to winning the war.

It started with a letter left to taunt which sparks to the challenge of a dare dangling baits that can undo each other through exposure and suspicions of treason. Their correspondence continues tethering on edge that if discovered is punishable by death. Their relationship started as them being rivals on opposing sides that out maneuvered and one-upped each other at every chance they get.

Their orbits gradually gets tighter and tighter as they close in on each other which exploded as the story reaches it’s climax. Red and Blue admired and respected each other that developed into a strong loving bond fueled by trust and vulnerability. They know they are fighting against each other but they defied from their expected roles to dream a life together on the same side.

For most part of the story Red and Blue are never in the same space. The only time readers can manifest their union is in their letters addressed to each other.

The mutual pining and teasing from afar is felt as their emotion bled through the words they shared in the messages that took on many forms. Their correspondence is intoxicatingly sweet with yearning that it just buzzed me from start to finish.

“God the most Beneficent, the most Merciful. Not this one. Not this one.” “Remember often death, the destroyer of all pleasures,” a woman’s voice sounded. “But it is not that day for this one.”

Goodreads | Amazon | BookDepository | My review

🌈 Honorable Mentions 🌈

🌈 Sapphic Books on My TBR 🌈

Pin this post!

Thank you for reading!

Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram