I usually read fantasy / paranormal / dystopian (or a combo of those) and have loved several stories with mystery as a second genre (ex: “paranormal mystery”). I really enjoy stories with strong female main characters; especially ones who build strength as the story progresses. That said, I’m really over out-of-place, filler sex scenes. I’ve read so many interesting stories that have amazing characters and incredible worlds, and then all of a sudden there’s an in-depth smut scene that’s so out of place and often doesn’t align with the story. These genres that are written by women and have female main characters are often “fantasy romance” or “paranormal romance” and it feels like there needs to be the romance part so the books will be purchased and read by women. This is probably true, but I’m tired of it.
Another poster on this sub wrote the following a few months ago, so I’m going to copy it because they said it perfectly: “In short, I’m tired of having to read detailed sex scenes that add nothing to the story and just make a legitimate book feel like it’s devolved into fanfic smut. It feels so forced and out of place at times…”
I’d love some story recommendations in those genres or even just mystery that have female main characters and are written by women but don’t fall into the “romance” genre.
Thank you 🌻
by socks_in_crocs123
5 Comments
Here are a few you might consider.
Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel
Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon
These are more dystopian/paranormal than fantasy, and some have elements of mystery (not so much a whodunit, but more trying to figure out what is going on). None of them have graphic or lengthy sex scenes. Some have no sex at all.
I’ve only read the first two, but the October Daye books by Seanan McGuire have been paranormal mysteries without romance so far.
The Broken Earth Trilogy by N. K. Jemisin, a dystopian, post-apocalyptic fantasy series which starts with The Fifth Season. Honestly, I thought the first one was interesting but not amazing. Then I read the second one, and basically did nothing but read the rest of the series until I finished it, because the character development was so gripping and the story was so epic. Hard recommend for strong and complex female characters by a female writer.
Feed by Mira Grant
How about post- apocalyptic in current times taking place in the USA , with a little kidnapping and murder thrown in?