I feel like I have a really complicated ask, so I tried to boil it down in the title.
I very much so enjoy fantasy books. Werewolves, vampires, magic, medieval, pirates. Things along those lines. I also enjoy a touch of romance in a series, though I do not much care for romance being the majority of a plot nor for sex being front and center, and I enjoy lesbian relationships over straight. I have tried many times and now refuse to read anything in present tense or second person.
My favorite book series of all time is the Mercy Thompson novels by Patricia Briggs. It does have straight romance, but the world and writing and everything else is just chef's kiss. I also sincerely enjoy the classics like F451, Animal Farm, The Grapes of Wrath, and Watership Down, to name a few.
In my search for another book or series to get into, I've tried a few things and come up nothing that was really worthwhile. I read Gideon The Ninth, but it was certainly NOT a lesbian romance story. At all. Great writing and plot, but the story wasn't for me. Tried another title I can't remember the name of and it was too much 'LGBTQABCDEFZ+++' and 'love at first sight' and 'I wonder if she likes me but I won't ask and instead just guess and assume and get hurt by every tiny thing'.
I am craving something substantial, mature, epic, slow-burning, void of real world politics, in a fantasy (or even scifi, if it's interesting enough) setting.
I realize I have put myself in a rather narrow view, and I accept it. I still hold out hope there's something that will come along!
If anyone has something they might suggest, please comment.
by crowvalkairi
6 Comments
Tasha Suri’s *Jasmine Throne* series should answer.
It’s not lesbian, but it’s NB/F romance: *Phoenix Extravagant* by Yoon Ha Lee. I didn’t enjoy it all that much, but I loved *Gideon*, so our mileage may diverge! Jacqueline Carey’s *Starless* is also fantasy with NB/F romance. I cannot remember what tense the narration is in, unfortunately, but definitely not second person.
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree (not sure it meets all your criteria, but it’s fantasy with a light touch of lesbian romance)
oh have I got the book for you: Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. Please try it.
I wouldn’t say it’s substantial but I just finished Direct Descendent by Tanya Huff. It wasn’t amazing but it was fun. A little mystery, supernatural elements and lesbian romance. A quick cozy lesbian supernatural read. I think you could appreciate it as a Mercy Thompson fan.
What do you mean by the book being too “LGBTQABCDEFZ+++”?