I've been in a reading slump, so I'm searching for a young adult fantasy book that can have me hooked from the first page. I'd like books which have court politics, betrayal, contrived plots to get the throne to a kingdom; that kind of stuff. It would be great if it had a sapphic romance subplot, otherwise any kind of romance subplot will do. Something with strong characters which make you root for them would be amazing.
To give an example of the kind of stuff I've liked before, I've loved the Cruel Prince series, Red Queen series, and everything by Elizabeth Lim.
Thank you so much, and I'm looking forward to reading what you recommend!
by Opposite-Skirt-7927
12 Comments
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May I suggest the Game of Thrones series?
*A River of Royal Blood* + sequel by Amanda Joy are about two sisters competing to become queen. Het romance subplot. One of the things I found interesting about it was that the MC is *not* the underdog sister.
*The Jasmine Throne* + sequels by Tasha Suri are not YA, but I think you’ll probably like them if you like YA. A scheming princess is exiled to the land her family recently subjugated; one of the maidservants who’s assigned to her is secretly a very important person in that land. Sapphic romance subplot.
The Daevabad Trilogy by SA Chakraborty, especially if you loved the Cruel Prince
Dune
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
It’s amazing!
The First Law Trilogy maybe?
My girlfriend loves the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas.
She explained it all to me awhile back and literally everything you’re asking for politics and romance wise is in it.
The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner – the first book reads younger but the second book immediately rachets things up. Some of my favorite characters of all time.
Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta
Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima
We Set the Dark on Fire duology by Tehlor Kay Mejia
The last one is the only sapphic one in the bunch, I’m afraid. Everything else is very straight.
*All the Birds in the Sky* by Jane Anders. It’s a mix of fantasy and SF framed in a philosophical/political struggle.
All sapphic, politics-focused fantasy:
The Roots of Chaos by Samantha Shannon —
High fantasy series.
The Masquerade by Seth Dickinson — Dystopian fantasy series. Note: this is very dark.
The Burning Kingdoms by Tasha Suri — High fantasy trilogy.
The Radiant Emperor by Shelley Parker-Chan — Historical fantasy duology
Crier’s War / Iron Heart by Nina Varela — YA steampunk duology
The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo — Historical fantasy series
Mages of the Wheel series by JD Evans is almost exactly what you want
The Mists of Avalon