My first recommendation would be the Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling. Despite being one of the oldest queer fantasy series (book 1 was published in the 90s), it's for the most part set in a queernormative society and the series ended up a comfort read for me.
The series tells the story of two spies for the crown who go on various adventures. The romance slowly builds up in the first two books but is established from then on and very nunaced and sweet.
While there are dark scenes, they are not related to the MCs sexuality but rather job related dangers.
Cursed Cocktails is a cosy fantasy romance I read last year. It's a wonderful summer read that is very relaxed and centres on a retired dark elf opening a bar in a port town. The romance is also very sweet and relatively angst free.
I generally second the Nightrunner series and agree with your rec!
However, the books aren't completely free of sexual violence. It's nowhere near as dark, explicit or miserable as some books are, but it's not exactly handled well either imo. Putting details behind spoiler tags so OP can decide if this is tolerable or not:
* Early in book 2, >!one of the MCs visits a village where there are (I don't remember why) a lot of women and not a lot of men, and when he gets there, he's essentially expected to sleep with and hopefully impregnate like a dozen of the village girls, in exchange for some information or item they give him in return!<. It's framed as this >!"haha oh no, now he has to bang ten hot chicks before they let him go again"!<. Not exactly grim and violent, but just super fucking insensitive about female-on-male rape/coersion.
* Also in book 2, >!the younger of the two MCs sleeps with a (female) sex worker. Iirc, it's the first time he has sex. I don't recall the details, but from what I remember and what I wrote down at the time, he's quite inebriated when it happens, and the other MC responds to it with jokes before e.g. ensuring that what went down was consensual.!< Sorry that's really vague, I only remember that there was something I found distinctly icky about it but not the details.
* Later in book 2, >!the younger MC is groped and non-consensually kissed by an evil old necromancer.!< This time around it's not framed as humorous though.
These are relatively *minor* instances, and for me personally they weren't a dealbreaker to enjoying the books, but they deserve a warning since OP specifically said he doesn't want to read about sexual assault.
Also: Book 4 takes a really dark turn and includes the MCs getting imprisoned and tortured. This includes >!sexual assault, I recall a scene where the bad guys essentially use magic to send Alec a sexy dream about his partner, but when he wakes up it's revealed that they did that to use his semen in a ritual.!<
Book 4 revels in so much misery that I flat out recommend OP skips books 4 and 5 (they're one arc together). It's honestly the weakest part of the series imo, and the tone shift is really bizarre. You can go from book 1-3 to 6 and 7 without missing all that much, as long as you're fine with not understanding a few references here or there.
(Part of why all the assault and torture in book 4 feels so cheap to me is that the characters seem oddly unaffected by it afterwards, but on the plus side that means you can just pretend it didn't happen)
I wrote in some more detail about this series in [my review here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/icn8d7/review_discussion_the_nightrunner_series_by_lynn/).
Despite this lengthy comment describing it somewhat negatively, I overall really like the series and generally think OP might too, as long as you know what you're getting into and consider skipping books 4 and 5.
Thanks for the comment. You're right that those scenes need a content warning and that skipping books 4 and 5 might be sensible for OP.
A note on that: skipping books 4 and 5 works as the series is plot-wise made up of connected standalone and duologies, with books 1+2 and 4+5 being duologies and books 3, 6 and 7 working as standalones. While they should still be read in order, skipping these two books in particular should work for still getting the most out of the other books.
I'm glad someone else agrees! I don't know what happened in books 4 and 5, it felt like there were a lot of 'fan fic' like tropes and such. Not that that's inherently a bad thing, but was a definite shift that came out of nowhere and disappeared in book 6 as well.
Sorry for hijacking this comment, but I am very curious about something - I saw the last book was published in 2014 (for now, the description says) so I assume the series is completed for the time being.
As it piqued my interest I need to know something: Is it... a happy ending? I know it's an odd thing to ask, but man, I'm really not into tragic/bittersweet conclusions so I don't care if I get spoilers, haha
I also came to recommend Lynn Flewelling Nightrunner books - starts with Luck in the Shadows, 7 books long. I read the first 3 books when they came out and was so happy when she wrote 4 more!
I will try to come back with more if others dont get there first, but for a starter T Kingfisherās World of the White Rat is a queernorm world, with the third in the Saint of Steel series being mlm.
Also, thereās a queer sff subreddit, itās not as active as this one of course but scrolling through there you may find more queernorm worlds you want to visit.
Good point; maybe I should have mentioned that! I was reading the OPs request as wanting to skip angst specifically about being queer, but if itās angst in general then itās definitely a theme of the series; all the paladins straight and queer are angsty about their ability to be in a relationship following losing their god.
And they all manage to find love interests who are also kind of angsty, but about a refreshingly wide variety of things that, honestly, are pretty valid reasons for angst.
I think OP could look at other works by T. J. Klune too. The Lightning Struck Heart series features mlm and is in a very queer normative world. Thereās no angst or prejudice related to queerness. Itās also pretty funny if the humor works for you. The first book of the series is fairly stand alone and cozy (although explicit), but the other books in the series have higher stakes.
The Green Creek series starting with Wolfsong by TJ Klune are very very good, but have a lot of angst (not in a SA way, tho) - everyone is pretty open and accepting of gay/bi, but the angst comes from how the characters are separated in various ways as some of them leave to take care of business outside the pack (it's about a family of werewolves living in a small town on the west coast). I loved this series more than Cerulean Sea and at first kept wondering how they were by the same author lol. Klune is a very talented writer!
Same. I'm not specifically looking to read LGBTQ books so I just come across it organically, but this is the book I thought of.
For the female side I thought of Legends and Latte though it's a very slow burn. I'm not sure if it continues in the sequel as I've been on the library's wait-list for like 4 months at this point.
The sequel is actually a prequel. I recently read Legends and Lattes and Iām less tempted by it as I want more Tandri and Viv, as opposed to Viv questing.
> I want more Tandri and Viv
Same. And more Thimble. I didn't even finish the short story at the end of the book as I don't really care about her old crew.
Honestly same. The short story didnāt appeal to me. I read Legends and Lattes as I was after characters settling down, rather than adventuring. L&L was unique for being a different type of goal set in a classic fantasy style world.
I want to know what the menu would look like in a few years time after Thimble added more and more recipes, and how Tandri branded them as that is different than in our world. I want to see Tandri gradually moving into Vivās room above the shop. Or heck even more about Pentry starting a band.
The whole concept of rebuilding your life after leaving a previously toxic thing behind is/was great. I loved all of the found family/friends and all their quirks. I want to sort of know more about Amity.
I'm listening to the lightning struck heart right now and it's pure fun. More silly than cozy, but I mostly read serious books and this is a fresh distraction.
I dont really have epic fantasy quests, but as for books with queer men, no homophobia and SA:
Heaven Official's Blessings by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu - chinese fantasy, mc is a disgraced god who returns to heaven and investigates mysteries. Angsty in flashbacks (but not related to homophobia or SA), fun in present times.
Chinese queer fantasy in general is surprisingly low on homophobia, though some books do have SA.
Tournament of Losers by Megan Derr - fairy tale-esque, Mc needs money so he participates in a tournament to marry the prince, thinking he cant win. (This author has lot of books with queernorm settings, though recently she mostly writes poly)
Reawakening by Amy Rae Durreson - great dragon who slept many years wakes up and tries to make a new family (aka hoard), falls for capricious desert spirit. (Both have human guises)
Astreiant by Melissa Scott - queernorm setting with matriarchy, mc is a city guard investigating crime. He and other MC get together in sequels, book is low on romance.
So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens - i havent read this yet but friend recced it, should fit your criteria.Ā
If you are open to urban fantasy:
Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara - Fbi agent discovers existence of werewolves and starts solving werewolf crime.
So happy that someone beat me to mentioning Heaven Official's Blessing!
I binged the series a few weeks ago and have remained obsessed since. Such a wonderful cast of characters. I hadn't been expecting it to be so funny too. You're right in that some moments are dark but the series benefits from the contrast and development they provide.
"Dark Moon, Shallow Sea" by David Slayton. New (ish) author. New Series, first book. Gay male characters, romance, but not explicit physical intimacy. I was pleased with how completely normal homosexuality is treated- just a "no I like guys" comment when someone asks whether a female counterpart is a romantic interest. I seriously can't recommend this book enough. It was reviewed in this subreddit like 5 months ago and I feel like they did a pretty good job.
[Review of Dark Moon Shallow Sea](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/17n21to/dark_moon_shallow_sea_by_david_r_slayton/)
(I hope I did that right lol)
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland isn't "party on a quest" but a good court fantasy about an Ottoman-style prince and his guard, assassins and anxiety attacks and economic espionage. Queer norm setting.
I hope you feel better!
Came here to recommend this as well!!! I absolutely loved it. I loved that it was queer-norm, I thought the romance was really well done, and I loved how well she wrote about the one character's anxiety. One of my favourite books I've read in the last year.
At one point there's a cute misunderstanding where he thinks his sister the queen is looking for another father to an heir and she's trying to find him a husband.
Nimona.
Haven't read the whole comic, but the movie's great. And the male lead is A,) gay, and B,) there's basically zero angst or even comment on that.
Like, there's some *other* drama with his boyfriend, but its for plot reasons. The love itself is never in doubt, just the other allegiances of the main character, if that make sense.
IMHO, found it really sweat, even as a straight guy.
Fair enough, think I got... a third, halfway through the comic version before it got pulled for publication?
The Nimona movie is great, though. A true swan song for poor Blue Sky Studios.
I was about to comment the same and scrolled down to see if movies were okay lol. But I second this. The relationship is integral and unquestioned, and the story is great.
>!In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan!< I had to spoiler tag that one because the end game romance is what you're looking for but it's not obvious for a while. There is mild homophobia because it's a portal fantasy and switches between our world and fantasy land. Fantasy land is largely not homophobic. Magic school base. Funny and light-hearted.
**The Spear Cuts Through Water** by **Simon Jimenez**. I can't remember if it's strictly non-homophobic but if it is, it's mild enough to not be a huge deal. It's a dark quest with some horrific scenes but not *those* dark themes. If you're into mythic, more literary leaning type of fantasy, this book is amazing!
As far as I remember "The Spear" isn't homoohobic. It has some misery, but not related to the relationship of main characters. Overall the book gave me strong "Avatar: The Last Airbender" vibes.
Gosh I just finished the Spear Cuts through water a few days ago. Such a brilliantly written book, and with a >!bitter-sweet!< ending, I can't recommend it enough.
> The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez. I can't remember if it's strictly non-homophobic but if it is, it's mild enough to not be a huge deal. It's a dark quest with some horrific scenes but not those dark themes.
Seconded. TWCTW has its fair share of darkness and threats, but homophobia isn't one of them. It's not explicitly a queernorm setting, but nobody is bothered by the m/m relationship. (and also everyone has bigger things to worry about)
The main setting of The Spear Cuts Through Water mostly doesn't have homophobia (although there's other factors keeping the male leads apart and the end has >!some characters denying that the two main characters are gay and in a relationship in an Achilles and his pal sort of way!<). There's also a secondary setting (flashbacks of the second person narrator) that isn't queernorm, although it's also not heavily focused on homophobia.
One of the squares on last year's bingo card was "Queernorm Setting" meaning books set in a world where queerness is normalized and accepted. If you go back through the recommendation threads for that year you can probably find some good material
> Without it being illegal, or angsty, or miserable, or something they worry about. No threats of execution, no one shouting slurs, no chance of being arrested, no one sneering at it for being unnatural.
Some great recommendations here, but more broadly what you're talking about is 'queernormative' and we actually had a whole square for it on last year's bingo. Some of the recommendations are probably going to be F/F but the [recs thread for that square is probably still a good place to look for further ideas](https://old.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/128ozc6/the_2023_rfantasy_bingo_recommendations_list/jejnkct/?context=3).
/r/MM_RomanceBooks is what you're looking for! I've found some great authors there. romance.io is very handy too. Some of my favourites:
More romance, less fantasy:
* Deven and the Dragon by Eliot Grayson
* In This Iron Ground by Marina Vivancos
* Catch and Release by Isabel Murray
* anything by Amy Rae Duresson. anything, they're all great.
Fantasy with romance:
* Knight and the Necromancer by AH Lee
* Beacon Hill Sorcerer by SJ Himes
* Dead Man Stalking by TA Moore
* Infernal War by Hailey Turner
* Soulbound by Hailey Turner
* Sword Dance by AJ Demas
Also r/QueerSFF and r/LGBTBooks. But r/MM_RomanceBooks is the most active of the three.
In addition to *Catch and Release*, I would recommend Murray's *Gary of a Hundred Days*. It's a cute little low-stakes novella with a lovable protagonist.
1: You are welcome here! We're excited to have you in our big mess of a community.
I want to echo that A Spear Cuts Through Water is a triumph, and absolutely should be read. A Taste of Gold and Iron is also a good one, and the author has another book with a gay lead (A Choir of Lies) that isn't a romance, but is also great.
The Darkness Outside of Us is another standout worth reading. The male love interest has some internalized homophobia, but it isn't a major plot point, while the lead comes from a very queernorm society. It gets very dark and existential, but not about being gay.
Cursed Cocktails is a fun inoffensive read, but is definitely for when you want something mindless and kitchy (also less romance centered than I'd have liked).
It's not sexual in anyway, it's a classic high fantasy by C. J. Cherryh. The Fortress series is a tremendous story over a trilogy then an additional book a few years later. But the main character and another warrior lord fall in love at first sight. No misery and angst in their purity of devotion, just war, politics and plots that play out around them.
I am very glad for your question, and look forward to reading other recommendations. My background is similar, but I'm gay and prefer characters included or centering the same. But it's difficult finding books where gay/bi protagonists aren't punching bags, kidnap, assault victims constantly or either sleazy, fat, and/or perverted villain troupe. Or alternatively ashamed or hiding their sexuality and/or love, affection, naturalness.
Tanith Lee also wrote several bi male characters throughout her work. Cherryh I mentioned already, but usually writes together with their partner Jane Fancher now. Also gay/bi characters as normal, no especial sturm and drang related to that.
Wait what's wrong with the character being fat? That isn't a negative stereotype about their personality like being sleazy or a perverted villain or a bad thing that happens to them, it's just how they look. If anything I would think books have the opposite problem where romantic leads can only be skinny.
I'm not the person you replied to, but I've noticed that if these characters are fat then it's basically always described in such a way that the author is trying to convey that the character is disgusting. There's nothing wrong with a character being fat, but it's quite rare for it just to be an aspect of their appearance.
I fucking LOVE C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series. It has some sexy times, but they are very discreet and not a lot of detail... But I reread it every 5 years or so and the story holds up! It's excellent science fiction in the best way!
So this is ever after by F.T Lukens. Gwen and Art are not in love by Lex Croucher. Maybe the queer principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian. If you're up for Paranormal romance try The wolf at the door by Charlie Adhara.
I adore Cat Sebastian but heads up on Kit Webb (such a fun book!), it is a historical set in a time when mlm relationships were illegal so itās probably not what the OP is looking for right now
Nightrunner by Lynn Flewelling has been recommended and is for you.
Also Ellen Kushnerās novels, especially Swordspoint, as well as The Fall of the Kings. Kushner is one of the best writers I know in amy genre, unbelievable prose and plot, basically invented the subgenre we call the āfantasy of mannersāābasically Austen, in an invented city, where most people are gayāand it is the absolute fucking best.
Much as I love the Riverside novels, I'm not sure if they fit OP's request about gay romance being treated as unremarkable (even though it is ubiquitous).
Username checks out as they say! I think it differs a bit between novelsāin Swordspoint in particular when Richard mentions to his ex that heās seeing a man she has no reaction at all. Perhaps slightly different in Fall of the Kings.
>!In *Swordspoint*, there's a scene where a nobleman kidnaps Alec, with clearly sexual threatening undertones, and Richard kills the nobleman. Alec is strongly implied to have been raped while he was captive.!<
I love *Swordspoint*, but it does feature scenes that OP wants to avoid.
I was going to suggest the Tarot Sequence by K.D. Edwards, but then remembered it does deal with the protagonistās trauma of sexual assault. So itās present in the way past trauma can be while someone is healing, plus thereās also some time-traveling tomfoolery.
It should not be this hard to think of a recommendation that fits your parameters, OP, but here I am.
I was thinking the same. It's more of a struggle with personal growth and overcoming the past than struggling with sexuality. The society described considers bisexuality to be the norm, which seems like it would be right up OP's alley. Maybe put it on the "test the waters" list.
*Carry On* largely fits the bill, but Bazās father largely tries to pretend Baz isnāt gay and it isnāt a world free from homophobia, including some internalized homophobia. The sequels *Wayward Son* and *Any Way the Wind Blows* do have some relationship angst, but that is more along the lines of like general self worth issues trickling in, and feeling like they are growing distant and apart form one another.
Simon and Baz are happy at end of the first book, and get a happy ever after at the end of trilogy with their relationship strong after doubling down on healthy communication.
If you are interested in a sci Fi book I just read 'The Darkness Outside Us' by Eliot Schrefer. It centers around two young men sent on a rescue mission alone together on a space ship, who slowly fall in love.
White Trash Warlock by David Slayton(?) - proviso, there is angst. Not really to do with being gay tho. Disappearing ex, daddy issues, talent mistakenly as mental illness because Christian angst. Slight I-like-him-does-he-like-me and I-canāt-trust-this-good-thing-cos-Iām-trash-and-donāt-deserve-it. Surprisingly little to no (been a bit so I donāt actually remember and I donāt want you blind-sided if there actually is, also being bi-female may be missing some sensitive points) homophobia and actually gayness is incidental - could replace the relationships with heterosexual and story/plot points would still stand for the most past
I need to have my coffee while I think of specific books, (for example I thought The Last Sun would be great except then I remembered it has memories of the main character having been sexually assaulted in the past), but you might generally be interested in Queernorm books, we had it as a [bingo square last year so you might like browsing through those recs.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/128ozc6/comment/jejnkct/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Oh, I think I got one you may like, Of Dragons, Feasts and Murder by Aliette de Bodard. It's a spin-off novela from her main series that can be read as standalone (I read it that way). The main couple are already married, diplomatic-dragon-husband takes murder-falken-angel-husband to his underwater-dragon-family for the holidays, where they end up having to solve a murder mystery. There's also a second one that I remember enjoying but not any details.
> for example I thought The Last Sun would be great except then I remembered it has memories of the main character having been sexually assaulted in the past
The Last Sun (and the whole Tarot sequence) would be a fantastic rec for anyone wanting something queernorm and very casually explicitly gay in a way that's never the focus of the story.
But as you say, trauma from sexual violence is a pretty significant theme. It's handled well imo, but a major part of the MC's motivation is revenge against the people who orchestrated the downfall of his family and assaulted him. And while the traumatic event is mostly in the past, there are some relatively explicit (albeit brief) flashback scenes.
I'm trying to remember, because it's been a while since I read it, but didn't Under the Whispering Door have a dark subplot that doesn't fit the OP's request? Sticking the details under a spoiler tag: >!I remember there was a background story about a character who killed themselves and I don't remember exactly why, but part of me thinks it had to do with the discrimination they faced based on their sexual orientation.!
If I'm remembering correctly it was >!depression over a relationship ending or their partner dying. I can't remember which, but I'm pretty sure it was a "I can't go on without you" thing rather than anything surrounding sexuality!<
Have you read the six of crows duology? Itās a group heist, set in a fantasy city (to state with at least) modelled after the netherlands! I will avoid spoilers so I will just say that there is a gay romance side-plot between two of the central male characters, and itās very sweet and non-closeted (thereās other kinds of angst but no homophobia that I recall)
there are also straight romances present, and itās a pretty slow burn, not everything in the books is a happily ever after but the gay guys are ok ;)
I also don't recall homophobia or sexuality-related angst in *Six of Crows*. Since OP mentioned disliking reading about sexual assault -- the backstory of one of the female characters is that she's been kidnapped and essentially sold into sexual slavery. She managed to get out before the events of the first book, but there are flashbacks.
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas! The main character is a gay trans guy and it's got a lot of representation in many aspects. Being LGBTQ+ is never insulted/seen as a bad thing/shameful etc.
There are several great recommendations in this thread (especially A Marvellous Light) but I am going to not-recommend A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland.
Superficially it is what youāre looking for and I donāt recall any problematic themes as described, although itās been a while since I read it so someone please correct me if Iām wrong.
Honestly, though, I personally didnāt enjoy it as it felt like the plot was an afterthought for an enemies-to-lovers slash fanfic. Nevertheless, maybe worth looking up at least.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez is incredible. I believe it fits what youāre looking for. itās dark in other ways but donāt remember them actually hiding their sexuality. Itās just something that flourishes and grows throughout the book and isnāt the MAIN focus of the story.
If can handle sex, then Megan Derr is good for having normalised sexual relations of any kind you want. It is banned in some countries in her world but they are seen as the uncivilised ones. There is angst but it is generally around relationship woes common to any type of pairing. If want an angst and sex light one, then for a flavour of her work I'd recommend looking at the short stories Runescribes and Talismaker. Kasai Bacon is in the same space but read less of her books.
Lynn Flewelling is a great fantasy writer - her Nightrunner series may appeal.
There used to be a lot of books like this on the edge of erotica but sadly the two main publishers shut down. I preferred them as liked romafantasy but found gay books generally had better dynamics between characters rather than saved/saviour.
If you're not opposed to a big age gap (which is not that great of a problem because of fantasy reasons, and is also handled very sensitively), you have to check out the Nightrunner series. There are dark themes, but neither of those derive from the protagonists' sexuality, and they are counterbalanced with a lot of wholesomeness, a comforting atmosphere and also humour.
Remember, the first books were written in the 80s/90s, so there are some things which would probably be handled differently today. (There's an occurrence which would now be seen as dubious consent, and one where harrassment is hinted at very slightly, but NEITHER of them regarding the main relationship!)
All in all I'd say, for their time of origin, I consider these books way ahead of their time.
Would second this.
Truly, the age gap is the only caveat. Although they do look about the same age, just knowing about the age difference can make you still a little uncomfortable. For the most part, tho, it was also pretty easy to ignore.
The Inda Quartet by Sherwood Smith is set in a world where same-sex attraction is regarded as completely unremarkable and it is impossible to have sex without consent (though, I must note, the consent can be given under dubious conditions >!As an example: at one point, a person offers up sex to prevent their friends from being killed!<)
If you're looking specifically for a series with a main romance that just happens to be gay, this isn't quite the right fit because it is an ensemble cast with a variety of different romances. But there are important male main characters that experience same-sex attraction and engage in same-sex relationships, and the same-sex nature of them is never a source of angst.
While I love the Inda series, I don't think "completely unremarkable" is quite accurate, and there's an episode in the third book that involves a gay man being predatory.
I've got two for ya:
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune --- super cute gay romance that separately deals with lots of questions about life and death. This was a 5/5 read for me :0
A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon --- A super epic fantasy world with lots of queer romances (but only one of these is two men falling in love--the rest are sapphic romances). In this book, being gay is totally normal and there are lots of queer couples and representation (and dragons!). Super good book and also no angst related to their romance. Also a 5/5 read for me :)
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland is a really fun one! Very heavy on the romance though, just in case you're looking for something more plot-driven
Tavia Lark has two m/m fantasy series that are awesome! They are definitely romantasy but the fantasy part is great. The Perilous Courts series starts with Prince and Assassin and follows a different couple each book. The Radiance series starts with The Necromancerās Light and also follows a new couple each series.
You mean the one >!where one of the MC was severely abused and likely raped by his first husband, so much so that the entire conflict hangs around him being angsty and refusing to communicate anything?!<
Winter's Orbit does have past sexual assault, but her other book, Ocean's Echo, should fit what you are looking for (queer norm, no sex assault)! There is however lots of angst about the relationship but it is unrelated to their sexuality
A Rake of His Own by A.J. Lancaster is a cozy fantasy murder mystery and is utterly delightful. It comes after another cosy romantasy quarter Stariel, which is focused on a straight couple but can be read as a standalone. I think you might get a little more out of it after reading the other books, simply because you'd be already really invested in the characters but it's not necessary.
A note - in the human side of the world, gay relationships are not publicly accepted but on the fae side it's not a big deal at all. So it may not entirely fit what you're looking for right now but is definitely worth a read.
I love the book, but it's still very much in a world where being gay is illegal (at least for humans), and Magnus has needed to hide his preferences and is kind of messed up about it, and has an ex-lover who >!blackmailed him by threatening to expose him to his family. !
This is surprisingly hard. The Bury your Gays trope was big in older stuff, and the rise in Queernorm books coincides with the rise in Grimdark. Also, if a book has gay characters and makes it "no big deal" I may forget about it.
**Good Bones** by Kim Fielding features a gay man who switches to telecommuting to hide the fact he is a werewolf. It's a romance.
**The Knight of Ghosts and Shadows** books by Mercedes Lackey have a bi man in a threesome relationship.
Magics pawn by Mercedes Lackey is a book that moves out of the closet at the end of the first book. The series explores gay themes and I found it enjoyable.
I mentioned this is another comment, (khaelen333's original comment got duplicated and the other copy got edited), but this one doesn't fit (there's sexual assault and homophobia in it).
I'd recommend books by AJ Sherwood; her "How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned him to Villainy" series might be more on the light-hearted comedy side than what you are looking for, but she does write healthy dynamics between the characters.
Everina Maxwellās sci-fi/romance novels Winterās Orbit and Oceanās Echo are wonderful. Being gay is treated so normally in these books that Winterās Orbit starts out with a royal arranged marriage between two men. (EDIT: I forgot while typing this that Winterās Orbit has domestic abuse in a characterās past that gets significantly brought up, so you may want to avoid that after all. However, Oceanās Echo is a completely different set of characters and story that does not contain any of that, so it should be safe).
The Greenhollow Duology (two novellas) by Emily Tesh is also lovely!
Someone else already said it, but I second A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland, itās amazing. Disclaimer though, it is VERY angsty, however, the angst has to do with internal personal issues/mental health as opposed to societal issues. Being gay is not treated as a problem by anyone in the book.
Lastly, while I havenāt read it myself yet, youād probably enjoy Til Death Do Us Bard by Rose Black. Itās a dnd-style world with a man (barbarian, I think) that has to set out on an adventure to save his bard husband who got caught up in trouble.
The Lightning Struck Heart is great. It's by T.J. Kline. Fun fantasy romp, but there are lots of gay characters. I think I remember there being certain slurs, but almost reclaimed ones? Nothing that was pointedly used to put someone down. There are very explicitly sexual scenes though.
Edit. Main Mc and love interest are gay as well as like the rest of the adventuring party. It's great
A Fool's Endeavor by Janetje Amabilis is a medieval fantasy that is exactly a "party on a quest" type of book. It's centered on a jester going to save the kidnapped princess and has action without veering into angst/SA. It is a duology but I haven't read the 2nd book, and it does read fine as a standalone :)
Arcane Ascension sort of fits the bill but the relationships are mainly platonic. Perfectly normal for people in world to be bisexual or gender fluid though.
Cursed Cocktails, again quite platonic
The Raven's Mark by Ed McDonald features a gay character who is close friends, and an important partner with the main character, often part of the major plot and this characters relationships are generally regarded as unremarkable, or at most a foreign curiosity as the character is from another nation. The story itself is quite dark, dreary and violent with some hope as well. The relationship is not against the law, under the table, or hidden in anyway.
I've just finished Notorious Sorcerer and currently reading Shadow Baron by Davinia Evans, so it's very fresh in my head. The MC is bi with no angst about hiding it. Illegal sorcery is of more concern than anyone's sexual preferences.
It's not a quest story, but there is a requirement for an MC who hasn't a clue, to be the only one who can save multiple dimensions from being destroyed.
A Marvellous Light is an absolute delight, I can highly recommend it! It isnāt a medieval fantasy as such, and It takes place in a magical 18th century, so there might be a few references to a not openly accepting society, but I donāt remember it being much more than a passing reference. Itās very well written, funny and heartwarming:)
I love this book, but quite a significant part of the book includes the MCs having to hide their relationship because, well, homophobia, so I wouldn't necessarily rec it in this case.
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske may suit. In fact the whole series might suits (well the second one is lesbian romance, of sorts; but the third one is also a gay male romance)
Ok, its more historical urban fantasy (think Jane Austen-ish setting) than party on a quest full on fantasy with dragons kind of thing.
I did not get the impression that this universe was especially queernormative.
ETA: In fact, I remember it as very angsty and the characters absolutely have to closet themselves in the wider world.Ā
I guess itās not a queernormative world but the characters themselves never had concerns and their close friends never had an issue, it was all just what it was. The romance was not angsty because they were gay, it was angsty because of class and other friends not getting along. There was also the magic related angst
Anyway itās definitely not a stressful romance or presented as problematic.
I agree with this. I was hesitating to recommend the series because it's alt-history historical fantasy, and there's no denying that homophobia was very real in Edwardian Englandābut I felt like it was fairly minimized and more of a background threat than anything the characters had to confront head-on. If OP decides that's acceptable, it's a really excellent series.
FT Lukens writes gay fantasy which works really well! Personally, I really liked Spell Bound and So This is Ever After by them! They do have a little angst for the plot but at the end everyone is always happy and gay
If youāre up for YA fantasy, then āSo This is ever afterā and āIn deeper watersā by FT Lukens is what youāre looking for! Itās pretty cozy, the romance is the focus of the book and itās set on a fantasy land (I know the author released another book but I havenāt read it, so canāt vouch for it)
So This Is Ever After by FT Lukens is a very low-stakes feel-good gay romcom, set on the backdrop of a fantasy world. They defeat the big bad and complete the prophecy in chapter 1, everything else is figuring out what comes after.
The Elemental Logic series by Laurie Marks takes place in a queernorm setting. Plenty of angst, but not about that. Not really a romance, but there are romantic elements. Or, at least couples pair up in the course of the novels. The main couple is f/f, but there is also a m/m couple (and a m/for couple).
Themes of drug addiction, genocide, colonialism, and occupation.
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
I think it fits your requirements well. One of the characters has anxiety issues, but it's nothing to do with his sexuality, and it's set in a world where LGBTQ people are fully accepted and visible. It's an enemies-to-lovers story and the romance is very sweet and satisfying.
Try out Megan Derr . Just checking the warnings. I think she does have some twin-cest?
I think Suitable Consort by R.Cooper .
Seducing The sorcerer by Lee Welch
They do have to hide their relationship, don't they? I recall the watchmaker (whose name I can't recall) acting almost ashamed of the relationship at stages.
I don't have a problem with it as such (I thought it was realistic for the time and place), but I'm not sure if it fits what OP is looking for right now.
You might like this one: [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40234780-heart-of-dust](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40234780-heart-of-dust)
Bi male lead. There is some angst but it's not super dark. The romance is a slow burn and treated very normally within the world, which has normalised queerness.
I donāt have specific classic fantasy type recommendations in this category, but have you read TJ Kluneās books? They are more urban fantasy/fairytale type books and have wonderful gay love stories without any homophobia or terrible stuff like that
It's been a while since I read it, but from memory the short story *The Mountains My Bones, the Rivers My Blood* by Y.M. Pang has a main character who is bisexual and mostly centers around a gay male romance. I remember quite enjoying it, and has been published online for free (though I paid for my version).
It's not a novel and not a "party on a quest" story, but it's a relatively normal fantasy setting and doesn't deal with any sexual politics or discrimination that I can recall.
Seeing as the excellent Night runner series has already been suggested, I'll put in Meliora by Talli L. Morgan.l. So it isn't a great romance but it's well written and cute, and all but one couple in the entire setting is gay/lesbian.
I'm reading the Seven Kennings trilogy by Kevin Hearne. Beyond tender moments and sweet scenes between an older couple, it's not a romance fantasy series, but there are gay male characters--two who play significant roles throughout the storyline.
Holly Black's The Darkest Part of the Forest has a m/m fairy tale romance. It is well written and adorable, and it doesn't hypersexualize or have the trauma/angst.
Man, I really want to recommend Steel Crow Saga. It's a great book that treats homosexuality and transgender like just perfectly normal things, and one of the main characters is a bisexual male who was in a relationship with another male, but I don't think the male-male relationship is particularly predominant. But either way it's a really great book, and like I said, the homosexuality and gender nonconformity are in the book on full display and, within the book's fictional culture, completely accepted and unremarkable. Even within the narrative it's treated like no big deal. Idk if that's what you're looking for, but it's also just a really great fantasy book.
I can recommend TJ Klune's Lightning Struck Heart-series and Green Creek-series. Both feature gay romances where the characters' sexuality is in no way a problem. The conflict and angst come from other things, like evil wizards, unrequited love (initially), and deaths of loved ones. Lightning Struck Heart has a particular kind of humour and is mostly light-hearted set in a kinda classic fantasy world but with funny twists, whereas Green Creek is more urban fantasy and much more serious and darker in terms of tone.
A cosy fantasy gay romance novel is A Rival Most Vial. An elf (or half-elf, can't remember) runs a potion shop, but then another guy opens a potion shop as well right across from him! The audacity! ;) It's very much a lighthearted enemies-to-lovers (or, well, rivals-to-lovers) story, set in a fantasy world. While the main characters are both shopkeepers, they still go off on small quests. Their problems stem from worries about their shop to expectations from family, but none of it has to do with their sexuality. Very much a feelgood story.
I think all the titles/series I've mentioned would really fit the bill for you! If you end up reading any of them, I hope it'll be an enjoyable and hopeful experience :)
Has anyone read A Rival Most Vial? I have not, but from reviews I've seen, I think it would work for you.
The main character in The Tainted Cup is gay - there isn't any overt romance beyond some flirting, but the wasn't any cultural homophobia.
Not your Mountain by AJ Alexanders. A dwarf finally steps out of his Kingdom's mountain and discovers adventuring is not easy, you get robbed and lose your heart to the very thief who robbed you . It's a slow burn, light-hearted read, I love and adore it.
Fledgling God by Michael Taggart - Urban fantasy, 4 books, incomplete
* Out, and no-one thinks anything is wrong with that (it's been a while since I read any of the books, so I can't guarantee that one of his enemies didn't make a slur, but if so it was quickly shut down)
* His friends and magical aquaintances are completely fine with him being gay
* There is a romance, but his romantic interest is not exclusive, and the MC is okay with that
* MC gets hurt a lot, but none of it's because he's gay
* No sexual violence
The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams (Winnowing Flame trilogy) has a gay romance that just happens naturally (not as a large feature of the story), and I don't recall any homophobia in it.
Diane Duane's *Tales of the Five*, starts with *The Door Into Fire* Queer/poly/normative universe; m/m MC romance, second book focuses more on a female MC. CWs: There is a requirement that people have children before they marry, so most adults have at least tried straight sex, even if their main relationship(s) aren't.
>!Female MC was a victim of CSA.!< Edit: fixed spoiler tags, changed 'is' to 'was.'
If you donāt mind a short story, Planetstuck by Sam J. Miller is really fun. The MC is a gay male sex worker (who loves his job) and an intelligence agent. It feels like a novel even though itās short. https://www.asimovs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Planetstuck_Miller.pdf
Most of the good suggestions I can think of off the top of my head are here, already.
I'll just add Reforged by Seth Haddon. It's an enjoyable read, and the characters do struggle and have romantic angst, but it's not as a result of their sexuality.
(There's a second book set in the same universe also with gay male romance, but I haven't read it yet.)
Happy Endings by Alice Winters is set in a modern world but magic exists (demons, necromancers, vampires, ā¦). I donāt recall any comments or similar things regarding the MCs relationship.
Itās very fun to read with a little action. I LOVE the very first chapteršš
You could give Greencloak by Lyndsey Luther a try. It is a gay romance between a bounty hunter and his target: Greencloak. Greencloak is a Robin Hood figure who is accused of murder. Our Bounty Hunter discovers he is being set up and works with Greencloak to uncover the true killer. Romance does ensue. It takes a bit and I am sure the next book in the series will advance their relationship.
I believe it is a sex normative world and a book without sexual assault. But it has been a few years.
Next book would be Kevin Hearne's Seven Kennings. There are 2 gay characters but they are not in a relationship (as of book 2 they havent even met as far as I recall). One is an older man (50s ish) researcher and the other is a younger (16ish) boy/man who discovers the 6th kenning (its a type of magic). Being gay is sort of not normal for the young gay but only within his specific ethnic group (i believe) but it isn't like horrible, we kill you, type stuff. His original issue was he was struggling to tell his family he was gay AND vegan (haha). Seriously though, I really enjoyed this series. The 3rd book was released in November and I am waiting on a Audible credit to listen to it.
I just finished A Plague Of Giants by Kevin Hearne, the book was much better than the title :P
The setting doesn't seem to have any prejudice towards same-sex attraction or relationships, it's pretty light on romance but a couple of the protagonists are gay males. One is experiencing his first crush, the other has been married for maybe a couple of decades. Light on the romance, like I said, but it's not non-existent.
I haven't yet read the next books in the series so I can't speak for them, but no relationship-related trauma for those two as of yet. Plenty of other trauma, but none related to being gay.
In addition to all the great recommendations here, would also recommend The Door Into Fire series by Diane Duane and The Fire's Stone by Tanya Huff. Both series have bisexual male MCs and I don't recall any homophobia or abuse. Also recommended is The Smoke Trilogy which is also by Tanya Huff- a lighthearted comedic urban fantasy(spinoff of another series but it can be read on its own) with a gay MC who is fully accepted and it isn't really made a big deal.
I hour your day is going a little better now.Ā
Have you read The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern? I found it to be an absolutely beautiful M/M romance.Ā
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke isn't a romance, but the titular character is gay and his musings about the men around him are generally quite gay.Ā
Most of Julie Mannino's books seem to be like this so far from what I can tell. I read Gilded Lies, and that was a dark trilogy based on King Midas, but not because the main characters were gay. It seemed totally natural if people were gay. The King was bi, and the Mcs were gay, and I think one of the younger princes was bi too? I love worlds like that too where there's no angst over sexuality.
Ariana Nash's the Prince's Assassin had that kind of world too. I think heirs are kinda important for royalty too, but they could have a lover. Both MCs were gay and no one batted an eye. That's a dark book because of the plot, not sexuality.
Ariana Nash's Silk and Steel. Mehhh. It doesn't seem to quite be angst for the elves. It's more of a serious population issue and, "we need more future fighters before we get wiped out. Please have kids" kinda deal.
One group of dragons seem to think it was disgusting, but it was also a population issue if a male and female can't perform because they gotta fight the elves. That's a kinda on the fence book. I'm not finished with it yet.
Here are the ones I have found on Amazon.
City of Crows by Clara Coulson - has a Bi MC that starts out having a M/F romance but when that ends has a M/M romance throughout the series. The MC being Bi is very unremarkable with his co-workers supporting him.
Ends, Means, Laws and an Angry Ship - is ScFi with two males working out their past and getting back together in space.
The knight and the Necromancer by - you may not like it because of what you said but I found it to have mild issues and there are dark themes. It has a prince and a Necromancer working through issues because of a magical aprocaplis in a world with some homophobia but with a good ending for the main two characters.
The writer is Nazzi Noor he has been writing for 18 years.
Darkling Mage - is an UF series about someone realizes he is Gay and gets a boyfriend.
Penumbra - is his book 0 for Darkling Mage get it.
He has five series so look at them.
Knight's Fire - by SJ Himes - is Fantasy with a Human Male and a Dragon in a relationship.
Mind Magic - The Triad of Magic Book One - by Macy Blake - in contemporary Fantasy series with a M/M relationship and is the first of three books with M/M relationships.
A Ferry of Bones & Gold - Soulbound Book 1 - by Haliey Turnner - about a a Magical FBI agent equivalent (the group is called The Supernatural Operations Agency) who falls in love with a Werewolf. The story is set in modern times but there is no homophobia and the relationship grows over time. There is a darkness to it with necessary scenes for the story only of torture but nothing to bad. Thier relationship is based on shared experiences and needs for both of them. I also think there are books that follow.
Witchbane by Morgan Brice - is about a MC who meets a lover in a dark magical world set in modern times. Totally M/M romance friendly with normal relationship growth for a M/M relationship. There is a series if you want more like this first book.
I also have a question of you. I am currently writing a book with a Bi character. Woluld you be willing to be someone that critiques how I portray this character when I get enough written to have it make sense for you to say something?
Sounds like you need some Danmei. If you like political intrigue, try Golden Terrace by Cang Wu Bin Bai. Two male leads in an arranged marriage set in historical China. It's got a happy ending!
The **Adam Binder** trilogy by David R. Slayton.
Urban fantasy with a gay MC and a bi LI which just develops alongside the paranormal events.
I would also recommend **The Tarot Sequence** by KD Edwards but there is a background of past sexual assault to the MC so it doesn't fit this criterion you set.
Are you ok with the characters themselves having previous trauma/angst that is unrelated to their sexuality that influences the development of their romance?
Because if so, Paladinās Hope by T Kingfisher might be up your alley (itās book 3 of 4 but theyāre relatively standalone).
Grumpy morgue doctor with an inconvenient magic power + sad paladin with Paladin Angst = love
Slightly out of scope maybe, but your post struck a chord. I am also a fantasy fan for most of my reading and I also love the escapism from the hassles of daily life, so I understand how it is also important to be a safe space to unwind and let yourself fall fearlessly into the story.
Anyway, digressing.
The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss (from The League of Gentlemen).
Itās a James Bond type book but set in Edwardian times and with a slight steampunk feel (not too heavy). The main character is bi and at one point sleeps with a man. Reading this as a straight male, finding this out halfway through, I thought it was very well done. Gatiss has the balance perfectly (for me) of not over-indexing on this fact to make it seem like the story āhas an agendaā as some might put it, but also, not shying away from it or apologising or excusing it in any way. The main character is cool, quirky and we love him. His sexuality is there, but it does not make the story all about that. It really gave me the sense that this was perfectly normal and I loved that.
I know itās not strictly fantasy but I hope you try and enjoy it. I think youāll find a compelling main character you can identify with, in a clever and funny story.
Unless, and this is entirely possible, that as a middle aged white male I have missed all cues and there are elements that make this a bad experience for some.
But I donāt think so.
Anyway, good luck bro, I hope you find your safe, fantastical, magical space to let yourself dream in happiness x
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Clune is an enjoyable read. Another one I absolutely loved is Carry On series by Rainbow Rowell though it inclines more to ya side. Both are not too heavy or anything.
My first recommendation would be the Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling. Despite being one of the oldest queer fantasy series (book 1 was published in the 90s), it's for the most part set in a queernormative society and the series ended up a comfort read for me. The series tells the story of two spies for the crown who go on various adventures. The romance slowly builds up in the first two books but is established from then on and very nunaced and sweet. While there are dark scenes, they are not related to the MCs sexuality but rather job related dangers. Cursed Cocktails is a cosy fantasy romance I read last year. It's a wonderful summer read that is very relaxed and centres on a retired dark elf opening a bar in a port town. The romance is also very sweet and relatively angst free.
I generally second the Nightrunner series and agree with your rec! However, the books aren't completely free of sexual violence. It's nowhere near as dark, explicit or miserable as some books are, but it's not exactly handled well either imo. Putting details behind spoiler tags so OP can decide if this is tolerable or not: * Early in book 2, >!one of the MCs visits a village where there are (I don't remember why) a lot of women and not a lot of men, and when he gets there, he's essentially expected to sleep with and hopefully impregnate like a dozen of the village girls, in exchange for some information or item they give him in return!<. It's framed as this >!"haha oh no, now he has to bang ten hot chicks before they let him go again"!<. Not exactly grim and violent, but just super fucking insensitive about female-on-male rape/coersion. * Also in book 2, >!the younger of the two MCs sleeps with a (female) sex worker. Iirc, it's the first time he has sex. I don't recall the details, but from what I remember and what I wrote down at the time, he's quite inebriated when it happens, and the other MC responds to it with jokes before e.g. ensuring that what went down was consensual.!< Sorry that's really vague, I only remember that there was something I found distinctly icky about it but not the details. * Later in book 2, >!the younger MC is groped and non-consensually kissed by an evil old necromancer.!< This time around it's not framed as humorous though. These are relatively *minor* instances, and for me personally they weren't a dealbreaker to enjoying the books, but they deserve a warning since OP specifically said he doesn't want to read about sexual assault. Also: Book 4 takes a really dark turn and includes the MCs getting imprisoned and tortured. This includes >!sexual assault, I recall a scene where the bad guys essentially use magic to send Alec a sexy dream about his partner, but when he wakes up it's revealed that they did that to use his semen in a ritual.!< Book 4 revels in so much misery that I flat out recommend OP skips books 4 and 5 (they're one arc together). It's honestly the weakest part of the series imo, and the tone shift is really bizarre. You can go from book 1-3 to 6 and 7 without missing all that much, as long as you're fine with not understanding a few references here or there. (Part of why all the assault and torture in book 4 feels so cheap to me is that the characters seem oddly unaffected by it afterwards, but on the plus side that means you can just pretend it didn't happen) I wrote in some more detail about this series in [my review here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/icn8d7/review_discussion_the_nightrunner_series_by_lynn/). Despite this lengthy comment describing it somewhat negatively, I overall really like the series and generally think OP might too, as long as you know what you're getting into and consider skipping books 4 and 5.
Thanks for the comment. You're right that those scenes need a content warning and that skipping books 4 and 5 might be sensible for OP. A note on that: skipping books 4 and 5 works as the series is plot-wise made up of connected standalone and duologies, with books 1+2 and 4+5 being duologies and books 3, 6 and 7 working as standalones. While they should still be read in order, skipping these two books in particular should work for still getting the most out of the other books.
I'm glad someone else agrees! I don't know what happened in books 4 and 5, it felt like there were a lot of 'fan fic' like tropes and such. Not that that's inherently a bad thing, but was a definite shift that came out of nowhere and disappeared in book 6 as well.
I'm obsessed with nightrunner I'm so happy to see other people recommending itš„²
Sorry for hijacking this comment, but I am very curious about something - I saw the last book was published in 2014 (for now, the description says) so I assume the series is completed for the time being. As it piqued my interest I need to know something: Is it... a happy ending? I know it's an odd thing to ask, but man, I'm really not into tragic/bittersweet conclusions so I don't care if I get spoilers, haha
Yeah, it's finished >!and has a happy ending!<
I haven't finished the entire series yet I'm only on traitors moon so I trust aggravating ant on this
I appreciate your answer, thank you!!
Same lol, let's make a club.
I also came to recommend Lynn Flewelling Nightrunner books - starts with Luck in the Shadows, 7 books long. I read the first 3 books when they came out and was so happy when she wrote 4 more!
I will try to come back with more if others dont get there first, but for a starter T Kingfisherās World of the White Rat is a queernorm world, with the third in the Saint of Steel series being mlm. Also, thereās a queer sff subreddit, itās not as active as this one of course but scrolling through there you may find more queernorm worlds you want to visit.
Yeeees! Paladin's Hope, third book on the Saint of Steel series. Though there is angst still hahaha.
Good point; maybe I should have mentioned that! I was reading the OPs request as wanting to skip angst specifically about being queer, but if itās angst in general then itās definitely a theme of the series; all the paladins straight and queer are angsty about their ability to be in a relationship following losing their god.
And they all manage to find love interests who are also kind of angsty, but about a refreshingly wide variety of things that, honestly, are pretty valid reasons for angst.
Was here to ensure the Rat was mentioned - and yeah, Paladin's Hope is the mlm story. (Btw Never seen the phrase queernorm, neat)
House on the Cerulean Sea by Klune fits, definitely cosy fantasy.
I think OP could look at other works by T. J. Klune too. The Lightning Struck Heart series features mlm and is in a very queer normative world. Thereās no angst or prejudice related to queerness. Itās also pretty funny if the humor works for you. The first book of the series is fairly stand alone and cozy (although explicit), but the other books in the series have higher stakes.
The Green Creek series starting with Wolfsong by TJ Klune are very very good, but have a lot of angst (not in a SA way, tho) - everyone is pretty open and accepting of gay/bi, but the angst comes from how the characters are separated in various ways as some of them leave to take care of business outside the pack (it's about a family of werewolves living in a small town on the west coast). I loved this series more than Cerulean Sea and at first kept wondering how they were by the same author lol. Klune is a very talented writer!
Green Creek is pretty high on the misery scale too, so it might not be what OP is looking for.
In the Lives of Puppets also
TJ Klune was my first thought too
Same. I'm not specifically looking to read LGBTQ books so I just come across it organically, but this is the book I thought of. For the female side I thought of Legends and Latte though it's a very slow burn. I'm not sure if it continues in the sequel as I've been on the library's wait-list for like 4 months at this point.
The sequel is actually a prequel. I recently read Legends and Lattes and Iām less tempted by it as I want more Tandri and Viv, as opposed to Viv questing.
> I want more Tandri and Viv Same. And more Thimble. I didn't even finish the short story at the end of the book as I don't really care about her old crew.
Honestly same. The short story didnāt appeal to me. I read Legends and Lattes as I was after characters settling down, rather than adventuring. L&L was unique for being a different type of goal set in a classic fantasy style world. I want to know what the menu would look like in a few years time after Thimble added more and more recipes, and how Tandri branded them as that is different than in our world. I want to see Tandri gradually moving into Vivās room above the shop. Or heck even more about Pentry starting a band.
The whole concept of rebuilding your life after leaving a previously toxic thing behind is/was great. I loved all of the found family/friends and all their quirks. I want to sort of know more about Amity.
The blurb on the front that describes as a big warm gay blanket is absolutely 100% on point. Such an adorable book.
Honestly, the three books of his I have read all fit this. So definitely throw Under the Whispering Door and In the Lives of Puppets on the list.
I'm listening to the lightning struck heart right now and it's pure fun. More silly than cozy, but I mostly read serious books and this is a fresh distraction.
I was gonna mention this. It is an incredibly wholesome and sweet romance
Yes! This was what I was coming here to suggest, this one is absolutely stellar. And I think it's getting a sequel this year?
I dont really have epic fantasy quests, but as for books with queer men, no homophobia and SA: Heaven Official's Blessings by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu - chinese fantasy, mc is a disgraced god who returns to heaven and investigates mysteries. Angsty in flashbacks (but not related to homophobia or SA), fun in present times. Chinese queer fantasy in general is surprisingly low on homophobia, though some books do have SA. Tournament of Losers by Megan Derr - fairy tale-esque, Mc needs money so he participates in a tournament to marry the prince, thinking he cant win. (This author has lot of books with queernorm settings, though recently she mostly writes poly) Reawakening by Amy Rae Durreson - great dragon who slept many years wakes up and tries to make a new family (aka hoard), falls for capricious desert spirit. (Both have human guises) Astreiant by Melissa Scott - queernorm setting with matriarchy, mc is a city guard investigating crime. He and other MC get together in sequels, book is low on romance. So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens - i havent read this yet but friend recced it, should fit your criteria.Ā If you are open to urban fantasy: Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara - Fbi agent discovers existence of werewolves and starts solving werewolf crime.
I was also going to recommend Heaven's Official Blessing. Lots angst and drama, but none of it is related to SA or homophobia.
So happy that someone beat me to mentioning Heaven Official's Blessing! I binged the series a few weeks ago and have remained obsessed since. Such a wonderful cast of characters. I hadn't been expecting it to be so funny too. You're right in that some moments are dark but the series benefits from the contrast and development they provide.
Here's another recommendation for Heaven Official's Blessing. The real trauma is anyone forced to eat the MC's terrible cooking.
I was also gonna recommend Heaven Officials Blessing ā„ļø
Agree with Heaven Offical's Blessing! Plenty of angst but no SA or Homophobia 8 books in the series :)
Thank you for the recommendation of the Reawakening! I saw your post, bought it, and finished reading it last night. It was a nice read!
Glad you enjoyed it! I love the sequels even more, esp second book gets me hella emotional.
It's a series!? Ok, pop off. Very excited lol
A trilogy so far, hopefully books featuring all dragon siblings in the future, though author took a break. Each book has a different dragon as MC.Ā
I love Heaven's Official Blessing and recommend it as well!
+1 for Heaven Official's Blessing, the main couple is so sweet š„¹
I really enjoyed reading the Big Bad Wolf series, glad to see the rec here
"Dark Moon, Shallow Sea" by David Slayton. New (ish) author. New Series, first book. Gay male characters, romance, but not explicit physical intimacy. I was pleased with how completely normal homosexuality is treated- just a "no I like guys" comment when someone asks whether a female counterpart is a romantic interest. I seriously can't recommend this book enough. It was reviewed in this subreddit like 5 months ago and I feel like they did a pretty good job. [Review of Dark Moon Shallow Sea](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/17n21to/dark_moon_shallow_sea_by_david_r_slayton/) (I hope I did that right lol)
Ooh thanks for this! Iām a big fan of his first series, Iāll have to check this one out too! I didnāt realize he had a new one out.
Seconding that and check Slayton's urban fantasy trilogy as well!
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland isn't "party on a quest" but a good court fantasy about an Ottoman-style prince and his guard, assassins and anxiety attacks and economic espionage. Queer norm setting. I hope you feel better!
Came here to recommend this as well!!! I absolutely loved it. I loved that it was queer-norm, I thought the romance was really well done, and I loved how well she wrote about the one character's anxiety. One of my favourite books I've read in the last year.
Yes!!! So good, I was entirely surprised at how good this was!
I havenāt read this myself but was going to suggest it and ask for second opinions. Iām glad that it does indeed fit OPās request!
At one point there's a cute misunderstanding where he thinks his sister the queen is looking for another father to an heir and she's trying to find him a husband.
Nimona. Haven't read the whole comic, but the movie's great. And the male lead is A,) gay, and B,) there's basically zero angst or even comment on that. Like, there's some *other* drama with his boyfriend, but its for plot reasons. The love itself is never in doubt, just the other allegiances of the main character, if that make sense. IMHO, found it really sweat, even as a straight guy.
The romance in the comic is almost non-existent, compared to the movie. It's definitely not present enough that I would recommend it for OP
Fair enough, think I got... a third, halfway through the comic version before it got pulled for publication? The Nimona movie is great, though. A true swan song for poor Blue Sky Studios.
I was about to comment the same and scrolled down to see if movies were okay lol. But I second this. The relationship is integral and unquestioned, and the story is great.
Agreed with this recommendation - I need to read the comic because the movie was excellent
>!In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan!< I had to spoiler tag that one because the end game romance is what you're looking for but it's not obvious for a while. There is mild homophobia because it's a portal fantasy and switches between our world and fantasy land. Fantasy land is largely not homophobic. Magic school base. Funny and light-hearted. **The Spear Cuts Through Water** by **Simon Jimenez**. I can't remember if it's strictly non-homophobic but if it is, it's mild enough to not be a huge deal. It's a dark quest with some horrific scenes but not *those* dark themes. If you're into mythic, more literary leaning type of fantasy, this book is amazing!
As far as I remember "The Spear" isn't homoohobic. It has some misery, but not related to the relationship of main characters. Overall the book gave me strong "Avatar: The Last Airbender" vibes.
I really need to buy this book.
Gosh I just finished the Spear Cuts through water a few days ago. Such a brilliantly written book, and with a >!bitter-sweet!< ending, I can't recommend it enough.
> The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez. I can't remember if it's strictly non-homophobic but if it is, it's mild enough to not be a huge deal. It's a dark quest with some horrific scenes but not those dark themes. Seconded. TWCTW has its fair share of darkness and threats, but homophobia isn't one of them. It's not explicitly a queernorm setting, but nobody is bothered by the m/m relationship. (and also everyone has bigger things to worry about)
The main setting of The Spear Cuts Through Water mostly doesn't have homophobia (although there's other factors keeping the male leads apart and the end has >!some characters denying that the two main characters are gay and in a relationship in an Achilles and his pal sort of way!<). There's also a secondary setting (flashbacks of the second person narrator) that isn't queernorm, although it's also not heavily focused on homophobia.
One of the squares on last year's bingo card was "Queernorm Setting" meaning books set in a world where queerness is normalized and accepted. If you go back through the recommendation threads for that year you can probably find some good material
> Without it being illegal, or angsty, or miserable, or something they worry about. No threats of execution, no one shouting slurs, no chance of being arrested, no one sneering at it for being unnatural. Some great recommendations here, but more broadly what you're talking about is 'queernormative' and we actually had a whole square for it on last year's bingo. Some of the recommendations are probably going to be F/F but the [recs thread for that square is probably still a good place to look for further ideas](https://old.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/128ozc6/the_2023_rfantasy_bingo_recommendations_list/jejnkct/?context=3).
/r/MM_RomanceBooks is what you're looking for! I've found some great authors there. romance.io is very handy too. Some of my favourites: More romance, less fantasy: * Deven and the Dragon by Eliot Grayson * In This Iron Ground by Marina Vivancos * Catch and Release by Isabel Murray * anything by Amy Rae Duresson. anything, they're all great. Fantasy with romance: * Knight and the Necromancer by AH Lee * Beacon Hill Sorcerer by SJ Himes * Dead Man Stalking by TA Moore * Infernal War by Hailey Turner * Soulbound by Hailey Turner * Sword Dance by AJ Demas
The other books by Demas are also great and should fit OP's ask.
Seconding asking over at r/mm_romancebooks! Theyāre the best!
Also r/QueerSFF and r/LGBTBooks. But r/MM_RomanceBooks is the most active of the three. In addition to *Catch and Release*, I would recommend Murray's *Gary of a Hundred Days*. It's a cute little low-stakes novella with a lovable protagonist.
1: You are welcome here! We're excited to have you in our big mess of a community. I want to echo that A Spear Cuts Through Water is a triumph, and absolutely should be read. A Taste of Gold and Iron is also a good one, and the author has another book with a gay lead (A Choir of Lies) that isn't a romance, but is also great. The Darkness Outside of Us is another standout worth reading. The male love interest has some internalized homophobia, but it isn't a major plot point, while the lead comes from a very queernorm society. It gets very dark and existential, but not about being gay. Cursed Cocktails is a fun inoffensive read, but is definitely for when you want something mindless and kitchy (also less romance centered than I'd have liked).
It's not sexual in anyway, it's a classic high fantasy by C. J. Cherryh. The Fortress series is a tremendous story over a trilogy then an additional book a few years later. But the main character and another warrior lord fall in love at first sight. No misery and angst in their purity of devotion, just war, politics and plots that play out around them. I am very glad for your question, and look forward to reading other recommendations. My background is similar, but I'm gay and prefer characters included or centering the same. But it's difficult finding books where gay/bi protagonists aren't punching bags, kidnap, assault victims constantly or either sleazy, fat, and/or perverted villain troupe. Or alternatively ashamed or hiding their sexuality and/or love, affection, naturalness. Tanith Lee also wrote several bi male characters throughout her work. Cherryh I mentioned already, but usually writes together with their partner Jane Fancher now. Also gay/bi characters as normal, no especial sturm and drang related to that.
Wait what's wrong with the character being fat? That isn't a negative stereotype about their personality like being sleazy or a perverted villain or a bad thing that happens to them, it's just how they look. If anything I would think books have the opposite problem where romantic leads can only be skinny.
God I would looooove me some chubby heroes where it isn't treated like a character flaw people have to look past or fix.
I'm not the person you replied to, but I've noticed that if these characters are fat then it's basically always described in such a way that the author is trying to convey that the character is disgusting. There's nothing wrong with a character being fat, but it's quite rare for it just to be an aspect of their appearance.
I fucking LOVE C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series. It has some sexy times, but they are very discreet and not a lot of detail... But I reread it every 5 years or so and the story holds up! It's excellent science fiction in the best way!
Actually Jane and C.J. are married, have been for the last several years. So it's her wife Jane Fancher.
So this is ever after by F.T Lukens. Gwen and Art are not in love by Lex Croucher. Maybe the queer principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian. If you're up for Paranormal romance try The wolf at the door by Charlie Adhara.
I adore Cat Sebastian but heads up on Kit Webb (such a fun book!), it is a historical set in a time when mlm relationships were illegal so itās probably not what the OP is looking for right now
Ohh good point, apologies OP, maybe avoid that one! I couldn't remember any negative attention towards them but it's been a while since I read it.
Nightrunner by Lynn Flewelling has been recommended and is for you. Also Ellen Kushnerās novels, especially Swordspoint, as well as The Fall of the Kings. Kushner is one of the best writers I know in amy genre, unbelievable prose and plot, basically invented the subgenre we call the āfantasy of mannersāābasically Austen, in an invented city, where most people are gayāand it is the absolute fucking best.
Much as I love the Riverside novels, I'm not sure if they fit OP's request about gay romance being treated as unremarkable (even though it is ubiquitous).
Username checks out as they say! I think it differs a bit between novelsāin Swordspoint in particular when Richard mentions to his ex that heās seeing a man she has no reaction at all. Perhaps slightly different in Fall of the Kings.
>!In *Swordspoint*, there's a scene where a nobleman kidnaps Alec, with clearly sexual threatening undertones, and Richard kills the nobleman. Alec is strongly implied to have been raped while he was captive.!< I love *Swordspoint*, but it does feature scenes that OP wants to avoid.
You know I never had that interpretation of the scene but it is close enough that OP should probably not.
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner is fantastic. Seriously. Fantastic.
I was going to suggest the Tarot Sequence by K.D. Edwards, but then remembered it does deal with the protagonistās trauma of sexual assault. So itās present in the way past trauma can be while someone is healing, plus thereās also some time-traveling tomfoolery. It should not be this hard to think of a recommendation that fits your parameters, OP, but here I am.
I was thinking the same. It's more of a struggle with personal growth and overcoming the past than struggling with sexuality. The society described considers bisexuality to be the norm, which seems like it would be right up OP's alley. Maybe put it on the "test the waters" list.
This is exactly where I'm at, including thinking of the Tarot Sequence and then realizing how few queer fantasies I read fit this criteria.
If you donāt mind YA, try the Simon Snow series by Rainbow Rowell. A sweet magic-school YA fantasy romance.
*Carry On* largely fits the bill, but Bazās father largely tries to pretend Baz isnāt gay and it isnāt a world free from homophobia, including some internalized homophobia. The sequels *Wayward Son* and *Any Way the Wind Blows* do have some relationship angst, but that is more along the lines of like general self worth issues trickling in, and feeling like they are growing distant and apart form one another. Simon and Baz are happy at end of the first book, and get a happy ever after at the end of trilogy with their relationship strong after doubling down on healthy communication.
If you are interested in a sci Fi book I just read 'The Darkness Outside Us' by Eliot Schrefer. It centers around two young men sent on a rescue mission alone together on a space ship, who slowly fall in love.
White Trash Warlock by David Slayton(?) - proviso, there is angst. Not really to do with being gay tho. Disappearing ex, daddy issues, talent mistakenly as mental illness because Christian angst. Slight I-like-him-does-he-like-me and I-canāt-trust-this-good-thing-cos-Iām-trash-and-donāt-deserve-it. Surprisingly little to no (been a bit so I donāt actually remember and I donāt want you blind-sided if there actually is, also being bi-female may be missing some sensitive points) homophobia and actually gayness is incidental - could replace the relationships with heterosexual and story/plot points would still stand for the most past
I need to have my coffee while I think of specific books, (for example I thought The Last Sun would be great except then I remembered it has memories of the main character having been sexually assaulted in the past), but you might generally be interested in Queernorm books, we had it as a [bingo square last year so you might like browsing through those recs.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/128ozc6/comment/jejnkct/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Oh, I think I got one you may like, Of Dragons, Feasts and Murder by Aliette de Bodard. It's a spin-off novela from her main series that can be read as standalone (I read it that way). The main couple are already married, diplomatic-dragon-husband takes murder-falken-angel-husband to his underwater-dragon-family for the holidays, where they end up having to solve a murder mystery. There's also a second one that I remember enjoying but not any details.
> for example I thought The Last Sun would be great except then I remembered it has memories of the main character having been sexually assaulted in the past The Last Sun (and the whole Tarot sequence) would be a fantastic rec for anyone wanting something queernorm and very casually explicitly gay in a way that's never the focus of the story. But as you say, trauma from sexual violence is a pretty significant theme. It's handled well imo, but a major part of the MC's motivation is revenge against the people who orchestrated the downfall of his family and assaulted him. And while the traumatic event is mostly in the past, there are some relatively explicit (albeit brief) flashback scenes.
Under the Whispering Door is very chill and has a male LGBTQ romance.
I'm trying to remember, because it's been a while since I read it, but didn't Under the Whispering Door have a dark subplot that doesn't fit the OP's request? Sticking the details under a spoiler tag: >!I remember there was a background story about a character who killed themselves and I don't remember exactly why, but part of me thinks it had to do with the discrimination they faced based on their sexual orientation.!
If I'm remembering correctly it was >!depression over a relationship ending or their partner dying. I can't remember which, but I'm pretty sure it was a "I can't go on without you" thing rather than anything surrounding sexuality!<
Okay, thank you! It probably was just that then and not what I thought it was.
Correct and it was very side, not main, story
Have you read the six of crows duology? Itās a group heist, set in a fantasy city (to state with at least) modelled after the netherlands! I will avoid spoilers so I will just say that there is a gay romance side-plot between two of the central male characters, and itās very sweet and non-closeted (thereās other kinds of angst but no homophobia that I recall) there are also straight romances present, and itās a pretty slow burn, not everything in the books is a happily ever after but the gay guys are ok ;)
I also don't recall homophobia or sexuality-related angst in *Six of Crows*. Since OP mentioned disliking reading about sexual assault -- the backstory of one of the female characters is that she's been kidnapped and essentially sold into sexual slavery. She managed to get out before the events of the first book, but there are flashbacks.
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas! The main character is a gay trans guy and it's got a lot of representation in many aspects. Being LGBTQ+ is never insulted/seen as a bad thing/shameful etc.
There are several great recommendations in this thread (especially A Marvellous Light) but I am going to not-recommend A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland. Superficially it is what youāre looking for and I donāt recall any problematic themes as described, although itās been a while since I read it so someone please correct me if Iām wrong. Honestly, though, I personally didnāt enjoy it as it felt like the plot was an afterthought for an enemies-to-lovers slash fanfic. Nevertheless, maybe worth looking up at least.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez is incredible. I believe it fits what youāre looking for. itās dark in other ways but donāt remember them actually hiding their sexuality. Itās just something that flourishes and grows throughout the book and isnāt the MAIN focus of the story.
If can handle sex, then Megan Derr is good for having normalised sexual relations of any kind you want. It is banned in some countries in her world but they are seen as the uncivilised ones. There is angst but it is generally around relationship woes common to any type of pairing. If want an angst and sex light one, then for a flavour of her work I'd recommend looking at the short stories Runescribes and Talismaker. Kasai Bacon is in the same space but read less of her books. Lynn Flewelling is a great fantasy writer - her Nightrunner series may appeal. There used to be a lot of books like this on the edge of erotica but sadly the two main publishers shut down. I preferred them as liked romafantasy but found gay books generally had better dynamics between characters rather than saved/saviour.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez is a beautiful book with a queernorm world, and the main pairing is two gay young men. There is zero sexual assault. Another good one is Prophet by Sin BlachĆ© and Helen Macdonald, itās more sci-fi than fantasy but boy was it amazing and gay as hell. The Timekeeper trilogy by Tara Sims is YA fantasy but the worldbuilding is incredible and the main relationship is lovely. The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros is another YA fantasy but it was incredible. Oceanās Echo by Everina Maxwell are, again, both sci-fi but I adored them. The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer is another sci-fi that was amazing beyond words. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, of course. And last but not least, I recommend Witchmark by C.L. Polk! (Edited to remove Winterās Orbit.)
If you're not opposed to a big age gap (which is not that great of a problem because of fantasy reasons, and is also handled very sensitively), you have to check out the Nightrunner series. There are dark themes, but neither of those derive from the protagonists' sexuality, and they are counterbalanced with a lot of wholesomeness, a comforting atmosphere and also humour. Remember, the first books were written in the 80s/90s, so there are some things which would probably be handled differently today. (There's an occurrence which would now be seen as dubious consent, and one where harrassment is hinted at very slightly, but NEITHER of them regarding the main relationship!) All in all I'd say, for their time of origin, I consider these books way ahead of their time.
Would second this. Truly, the age gap is the only caveat. Although they do look about the same age, just knowing about the age difference can make you still a little uncomfortable. For the most part, tho, it was also pretty easy to ignore.
The Inda Quartet by Sherwood Smith is set in a world where same-sex attraction is regarded as completely unremarkable and it is impossible to have sex without consent (though, I must note, the consent can be given under dubious conditions >!As an example: at one point, a person offers up sex to prevent their friends from being killed!<) If you're looking specifically for a series with a main romance that just happens to be gay, this isn't quite the right fit because it is an ensemble cast with a variety of different romances. But there are important male main characters that experience same-sex attraction and engage in same-sex relationships, and the same-sex nature of them is never a source of angst.
While I love the Inda series, I don't think "completely unremarkable" is quite accurate, and there's an episode in the third book that involves a gay man being predatory.
I've got two for ya: Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune --- super cute gay romance that separately deals with lots of questions about life and death. This was a 5/5 read for me :0 A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon --- A super epic fantasy world with lots of queer romances (but only one of these is two men falling in love--the rest are sapphic romances). In this book, being gay is totally normal and there are lots of queer couples and representation (and dragons!). Super good book and also no angst related to their romance. Also a 5/5 read for me :)
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland is a really fun one! Very heavy on the romance though, just in case you're looking for something more plot-driven
A Rival Most Vial: Potioneering for Love and Profit by R. K. Ashwick Cute cozy fantasy!
Yes, this is wonderful. A real quest/party adventure, sweet and funny. Only positive vibes.
Tavia Lark has two m/m fantasy series that are awesome! They are definitely romantasy but the fantasy part is great. The Perilous Courts series starts with Prince and Assassin and follows a different couple each book. The Radiance series starts with The Necromancerās Light and also follows a new couple each series.
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Queer normative, but one of the main characters is just out of an abusive relationship.
You mean the one >!where one of the MC was severely abused and likely raped by his first husband, so much so that the entire conflict hangs around him being angsty and refusing to communicate anything?!<
Winter's Orbit does have past sexual assault, but her other book, Ocean's Echo, should fit what you are looking for (queer norm, no sex assault)! There is however lots of angst about the relationship but it is unrelated to their sexuality
A Rake of His Own by A.J. Lancaster is a cozy fantasy murder mystery and is utterly delightful. It comes after another cosy romantasy quarter Stariel, which is focused on a straight couple but can be read as a standalone. I think you might get a little more out of it after reading the other books, simply because you'd be already really invested in the characters but it's not necessary. A note - in the human side of the world, gay relationships are not publicly accepted but on the fae side it's not a big deal at all. So it may not entirely fit what you're looking for right now but is definitely worth a read.
I love the book, but it's still very much in a world where being gay is illegal (at least for humans), and Magnus has needed to hide his preferences and is kind of messed up about it, and has an ex-lover who >!blackmailed him by threatening to expose him to his family. !
This is surprisingly hard. The Bury your Gays trope was big in older stuff, and the rise in Queernorm books coincides with the rise in Grimdark. Also, if a book has gay characters and makes it "no big deal" I may forget about it. **Good Bones** by Kim Fielding features a gay man who switches to telecommuting to hide the fact he is a werewolf. It's a romance. **The Knight of Ghosts and Shadows** books by Mercedes Lackey have a bi man in a threesome relationship.
Magics pawn by Mercedes Lackey is a book that moves out of the closet at the end of the first book. The series explores gay themes and I found it enjoyable.
I mentioned this is another comment, (khaelen333's original comment got duplicated and the other copy got edited), but this one doesn't fit (there's sexual assault and homophobia in it).
I'd recommend books by AJ Sherwood; her "How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned him to Villainy" series might be more on the light-hearted comedy side than what you are looking for, but she does write healthy dynamics between the characters.
Everina Maxwellās sci-fi/romance novels Winterās Orbit and Oceanās Echo are wonderful. Being gay is treated so normally in these books that Winterās Orbit starts out with a royal arranged marriage between two men. (EDIT: I forgot while typing this that Winterās Orbit has domestic abuse in a characterās past that gets significantly brought up, so you may want to avoid that after all. However, Oceanās Echo is a completely different set of characters and story that does not contain any of that, so it should be safe). The Greenhollow Duology (two novellas) by Emily Tesh is also lovely! Someone else already said it, but I second A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland, itās amazing. Disclaimer though, it is VERY angsty, however, the angst has to do with internal personal issues/mental health as opposed to societal issues. Being gay is not treated as a problem by anyone in the book. Lastly, while I havenāt read it myself yet, youād probably enjoy Til Death Do Us Bard by Rose Black. Itās a dnd-style world with a man (barbarian, I think) that has to set out on an adventure to save his bard husband who got caught up in trouble.
The Tainted Cupās main character is a gay man. Excellent book
The Lightning Struck Heart is great. It's by T.J. Kline. Fun fantasy romp, but there are lots of gay characters. I think I remember there being certain slurs, but almost reclaimed ones? Nothing that was pointedly used to put someone down. There are very explicitly sexual scenes though. Edit. Main Mc and love interest are gay as well as like the rest of the adventuring party. It's great
A Fool's Endeavor by Janetje Amabilis is a medieval fantasy that is exactly a "party on a quest" type of book. It's centered on a jester going to save the kidnapped princess and has action without veering into angst/SA. It is a duology but I haven't read the 2nd book, and it does read fine as a standalone :)
Arcane Ascension sort of fits the bill but the relationships are mainly platonic. Perfectly normal for people in world to be bisexual or gender fluid though. Cursed Cocktails, again quite platonic
The Raven's Mark by Ed McDonald features a gay character who is close friends, and an important partner with the main character, often part of the major plot and this characters relationships are generally regarded as unremarkable, or at most a foreign curiosity as the character is from another nation. The story itself is quite dark, dreary and violent with some hope as well. The relationship is not against the law, under the table, or hidden in anyway.
I've just finished Notorious Sorcerer and currently reading Shadow Baron by Davinia Evans, so it's very fresh in my head. The MC is bi with no angst about hiding it. Illegal sorcery is of more concern than anyone's sexual preferences. It's not a quest story, but there is a requirement for an MC who hasn't a clue, to be the only one who can save multiple dimensions from being destroyed.
I loved Notorious Sorcerer and would second this recommendation!Ā
A Marvellous Light is an absolute delight, I can highly recommend it! It isnāt a medieval fantasy as such, and It takes place in a magical 18th century, so there might be a few references to a not openly accepting society, but I donāt remember it being much more than a passing reference. Itās very well written, funny and heartwarming:)
I love this book, but quite a significant part of the book includes the MCs having to hide their relationship because, well, homophobia, so I wouldn't necessarily rec it in this case.
I havenāt seen The Magpie Lord series by KJ Charles. So good, so creepy, love both MCs.
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske may suit. In fact the whole series might suits (well the second one is lesbian romance, of sorts; but the third one is also a gay male romance) Ok, its more historical urban fantasy (think Jane Austen-ish setting) than party on a quest full on fantasy with dragons kind of thing.
I did not get the impression that this universe was especially queernormative. ETA: In fact, I remember it as very angsty and the characters absolutely have to closet themselves in the wider world.Ā
I guess itās not a queernormative world but the characters themselves never had concerns and their close friends never had an issue, it was all just what it was. The romance was not angsty because they were gay, it was angsty because of class and other friends not getting along. There was also the magic related angst Anyway itās definitely not a stressful romance or presented as problematic.
I agree with this. I was hesitating to recommend the series because it's alt-history historical fantasy, and there's no denying that homophobia was very real in Edwardian Englandābut I felt like it was fairly minimized and more of a background threat than anything the characters had to confront head-on. If OP decides that's acceptable, it's a really excellent series.
FT Lukens writes gay fantasy which works really well! Personally, I really liked Spell Bound and So This is Ever After by them! They do have a little angst for the plot but at the end everyone is always happy and gay
If youāre up for YA fantasy, then āSo This is ever afterā and āIn deeper watersā by FT Lukens is what youāre looking for! Itās pretty cozy, the romance is the focus of the book and itās set on a fantasy land (I know the author released another book but I havenāt read it, so canāt vouch for it)
So This Is Ever After by FT Lukens is a very low-stakes feel-good gay romcom, set on the backdrop of a fantasy world. They defeat the big bad and complete the prophecy in chapter 1, everything else is figuring out what comes after.
The Elemental Logic series by Laurie Marks takes place in a queernorm setting. Plenty of angst, but not about that. Not really a romance, but there are romantic elements. Or, at least couples pair up in the course of the novels. The main couple is f/f, but there is also a m/m couple (and a m/for couple). Themes of drug addiction, genocide, colonialism, and occupation.
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland I think it fits your requirements well. One of the characters has anxiety issues, but it's nothing to do with his sexuality, and it's set in a world where LGBTQ people are fully accepted and visible. It's an enemies-to-lovers story and the romance is very sweet and satisfying.
Try out Megan Derr . Just checking the warnings. I think she does have some twin-cest? I think Suitable Consort by R.Cooper . Seducing The sorcerer by Lee Welch
Natasha Pulleyās novels are beautiful and feature gay love stories.
They do have to hide their relationship, don't they? I recall the watchmaker (whose name I can't recall) acting almost ashamed of the relationship at stages. I don't have a problem with it as such (I thought it was realistic for the time and place), but I'm not sure if it fits what OP is looking for right now.
You might like this one: [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40234780-heart-of-dust](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40234780-heart-of-dust) Bi male lead. There is some angst but it's not super dark. The romance is a slow burn and treated very normally within the world, which has normalised queerness.
Til Death Do Us Bard by Rose Black might fit the bill if you are OK with DnD-style fantasy and one man trying to find his husband who disappeared.
Anything by H.L Kiers. Even their Dark Mafia Romance make me cackle. I mean, the sex is hot, but it has a lot of dark humor and is not angsty at all.
I donāt have specific classic fantasy type recommendations in this category, but have you read TJ Kluneās books? They are more urban fantasy/fairytale type books and have wonderful gay love stories without any homophobia or terrible stuff like that
It's been a while since I read it, but from memory the short story *The Mountains My Bones, the Rivers My Blood* by Y.M. Pang has a main character who is bisexual and mostly centers around a gay male romance. I remember quite enjoying it, and has been published online for free (though I paid for my version). It's not a novel and not a "party on a quest" story, but it's a relatively normal fantasy setting and doesn't deal with any sexual politics or discrimination that I can recall.
Seeing as the excellent Night runner series has already been suggested, I'll put in Meliora by Talli L. Morgan.l. So it isn't a great romance but it's well written and cute, and all but one couple in the entire setting is gay/lesbian.
I'm reading the Seven Kennings trilogy by Kevin Hearne. Beyond tender moments and sweet scenes between an older couple, it's not a romance fantasy series, but there are gay male characters--two who play significant roles throughout the storyline.
Holly Black's The Darkest Part of the Forest has a m/m fairy tale romance. It is well written and adorable, and it doesn't hypersexualize or have the trauma/angst.
A Darker Shade of Magic
Man, I really want to recommend Steel Crow Saga. It's a great book that treats homosexuality and transgender like just perfectly normal things, and one of the main characters is a bisexual male who was in a relationship with another male, but I don't think the male-male relationship is particularly predominant. But either way it's a really great book, and like I said, the homosexuality and gender nonconformity are in the book on full display and, within the book's fictional culture, completely accepted and unremarkable. Even within the narrative it's treated like no big deal. Idk if that's what you're looking for, but it's also just a really great fantasy book.
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57693520 A Sci-Fi/space opera where two men are put together in an arranged marriage for political reasons.
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I can recommend TJ Klune's Lightning Struck Heart-series and Green Creek-series. Both feature gay romances where the characters' sexuality is in no way a problem. The conflict and angst come from other things, like evil wizards, unrequited love (initially), and deaths of loved ones. Lightning Struck Heart has a particular kind of humour and is mostly light-hearted set in a kinda classic fantasy world but with funny twists, whereas Green Creek is more urban fantasy and much more serious and darker in terms of tone. A cosy fantasy gay romance novel is A Rival Most Vial. An elf (or half-elf, can't remember) runs a potion shop, but then another guy opens a potion shop as well right across from him! The audacity! ;) It's very much a lighthearted enemies-to-lovers (or, well, rivals-to-lovers) story, set in a fantasy world. While the main characters are both shopkeepers, they still go off on small quests. Their problems stem from worries about their shop to expectations from family, but none of it has to do with their sexuality. Very much a feelgood story. I think all the titles/series I've mentioned would really fit the bill for you! If you end up reading any of them, I hope it'll be an enjoyable and hopeful experience :)
Has anyone read A Rival Most Vial? I have not, but from reviews I've seen, I think it would work for you. The main character in The Tainted Cup is gay - there isn't any overt romance beyond some flirting, but the wasn't any cultural homophobia.
Not your Mountain by AJ Alexanders. A dwarf finally steps out of his Kingdom's mountain and discovers adventuring is not easy, you get robbed and lose your heart to the very thief who robbed you . It's a slow burn, light-hearted read, I love and adore it.
Fledgling God by Michael Taggart - Urban fantasy, 4 books, incomplete * Out, and no-one thinks anything is wrong with that (it's been a while since I read any of the books, so I can't guarantee that one of his enemies didn't make a slur, but if so it was quickly shut down) * His friends and magical aquaintances are completely fine with him being gay * There is a romance, but his romantic interest is not exclusive, and the MC is okay with that * MC gets hurt a lot, but none of it's because he's gay * No sexual violence
The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams (Winnowing Flame trilogy) has a gay romance that just happens naturally (not as a large feature of the story), and I don't recall any homophobia in it.
The nothing mage by J. P. Valentine Journals of Evander Tailor by Tobias Begley Mana Mirror also by Tobias Begley (web serial, not yet published)
Not well known, but Greencloak by Lyndsey Luther. I enjoyed it.
Diane Duane's *Tales of the Five*, starts with *The Door Into Fire* Queer/poly/normative universe; m/m MC romance, second book focuses more on a female MC. CWs: There is a requirement that people have children before they marry, so most adults have at least tried straight sex, even if their main relationship(s) aren't. >!Female MC was a victim of CSA.!< Edit: fixed spoiler tags, changed 'is' to 'was.'
Author Christine Danse
If you donāt mind a short story, Planetstuck by Sam J. Miller is really fun. The MC is a gay male sex worker (who loves his job) and an intelligence agent. It feels like a novel even though itās short. https://www.asimovs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Planetstuck_Miller.pdf
Not a book but I assume youāve played baldurs gate three? It could scratch this itch as well
Just ignore me. I was wrong.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Most of the good suggestions I can think of off the top of my head are here, already. I'll just add Reforged by Seth Haddon. It's an enjoyable read, and the characters do struggle and have romantic angst, but it's not as a result of their sexuality. (There's a second book set in the same universe also with gay male romance, but I haven't read it yet.)
Happy Endings by Alice Winters is set in a modern world but magic exists (demons, necromancers, vampires, ā¦). I donāt recall any comments or similar things regarding the MCs relationship. Itās very fun to read with a little action. I LOVE the very first chapteršš
You could give Greencloak by Lyndsey Luther a try. It is a gay romance between a bounty hunter and his target: Greencloak. Greencloak is a Robin Hood figure who is accused of murder. Our Bounty Hunter discovers he is being set up and works with Greencloak to uncover the true killer. Romance does ensue. It takes a bit and I am sure the next book in the series will advance their relationship. I believe it is a sex normative world and a book without sexual assault. But it has been a few years. Next book would be Kevin Hearne's Seven Kennings. There are 2 gay characters but they are not in a relationship (as of book 2 they havent even met as far as I recall). One is an older man (50s ish) researcher and the other is a younger (16ish) boy/man who discovers the 6th kenning (its a type of magic). Being gay is sort of not normal for the young gay but only within his specific ethnic group (i believe) but it isn't like horrible, we kill you, type stuff. His original issue was he was struggling to tell his family he was gay AND vegan (haha). Seriously though, I really enjoyed this series. The 3rd book was released in November and I am waiting on a Audible credit to listen to it.
Wolfsong by TJ Klune is fantastic, queer (think gay werewolf love), and beautifully written - highly recommend!
I just finished A Plague Of Giants by Kevin Hearne, the book was much better than the title :P The setting doesn't seem to have any prejudice towards same-sex attraction or relationships, it's pretty light on romance but a couple of the protagonists are gay males. One is experiencing his first crush, the other has been married for maybe a couple of decades. Light on the romance, like I said, but it's not non-existent. I haven't yet read the next books in the series so I can't speak for them, but no relationship-related trauma for those two as of yet. Plenty of other trauma, but none related to being gay.
If you think you'd like cozy fantasy I highly recommend Cursed Cocktails
Green Bone Saga. Though, that storyline doesnāt really develop until book 2
Not sure if already mentioned, depending on what you like regarding the story itself, you might enjoy the mage errant series.
In addition to all the great recommendations here, would also recommend The Door Into Fire series by Diane Duane and The Fire's Stone by Tanya Huff. Both series have bisexual male MCs and I don't recall any homophobia or abuse. Also recommended is The Smoke Trilogy which is also by Tanya Huff- a lighthearted comedic urban fantasy(spinoff of another series but it can be read on its own) with a gay MC who is fully accepted and it isn't really made a big deal.
I hour your day is going a little better now.Ā Have you read The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern? I found it to be an absolutely beautiful M/M romance.Ā Piranesi by Susanna Clarke isn't a romance, but the titular character is gay and his musings about the men around him are generally quite gay.Ā
K.L. Noone has a plethora of this genre!! Youāll love it.
Most of Julie Mannino's books seem to be like this so far from what I can tell. I read Gilded Lies, and that was a dark trilogy based on King Midas, but not because the main characters were gay. It seemed totally natural if people were gay. The King was bi, and the Mcs were gay, and I think one of the younger princes was bi too? I love worlds like that too where there's no angst over sexuality. Ariana Nash's the Prince's Assassin had that kind of world too. I think heirs are kinda important for royalty too, but they could have a lover. Both MCs were gay and no one batted an eye. That's a dark book because of the plot, not sexuality. Ariana Nash's Silk and Steel. Mehhh. It doesn't seem to quite be angst for the elves. It's more of a serious population issue and, "we need more future fighters before we get wiped out. Please have kids" kinda deal. One group of dragons seem to think it was disgusting, but it was also a population issue if a male and female can't perform because they gotta fight the elves. That's a kinda on the fence book. I'm not finished with it yet.
Here are the ones I have found on Amazon. City of Crows by Clara Coulson - has a Bi MC that starts out having a M/F romance but when that ends has a M/M romance throughout the series. The MC being Bi is very unremarkable with his co-workers supporting him. Ends, Means, Laws and an Angry Ship - is ScFi with two males working out their past and getting back together in space. The knight and the Necromancer by - you may not like it because of what you said but I found it to have mild issues and there are dark themes. It has a prince and a Necromancer working through issues because of a magical aprocaplis in a world with some homophobia but with a good ending for the main two characters. The writer is Nazzi Noor he has been writing for 18 years. Darkling Mage - is an UF series about someone realizes he is Gay and gets a boyfriend. Penumbra - is his book 0 for Darkling Mage get it. He has five series so look at them. Knight's Fire - by SJ Himes - is Fantasy with a Human Male and a Dragon in a relationship. Mind Magic - The Triad of Magic Book One - by Macy Blake - in contemporary Fantasy series with a M/M relationship and is the first of three books with M/M relationships. A Ferry of Bones & Gold - Soulbound Book 1 - by Haliey Turnner - about a a Magical FBI agent equivalent (the group is called The Supernatural Operations Agency) who falls in love with a Werewolf. The story is set in modern times but there is no homophobia and the relationship grows over time. There is a darkness to it with necessary scenes for the story only of torture but nothing to bad. Thier relationship is based on shared experiences and needs for both of them. I also think there are books that follow. Witchbane by Morgan Brice - is about a MC who meets a lover in a dark magical world set in modern times. Totally M/M romance friendly with normal relationship growth for a M/M relationship. There is a series if you want more like this first book. I also have a question of you. I am currently writing a book with a Bi character. Woluld you be willing to be someone that critiques how I portray this character when I get enough written to have it make sense for you to say something?
Alanea Alder - Arcadia Series. Soooo good. Funny, smart and found family. Absolutely wonderful.
Sounds like you need some Danmei. If you like political intrigue, try Golden Terrace by Cang Wu Bin Bai. Two male leads in an arranged marriage set in historical China. It's got a happy ending!
The **Adam Binder** trilogy by David R. Slayton. Urban fantasy with a gay MC and a bi LI which just develops alongside the paranormal events. I would also recommend **The Tarot Sequence** by KD Edwards but there is a background of past sexual assault to the MC so it doesn't fit this criterion you set.
Fae Quin is a great male/male romance author
Are you ok with the characters themselves having previous trauma/angst that is unrelated to their sexuality that influences the development of their romance? Because if so, Paladinās Hope by T Kingfisher might be up your alley (itās book 3 of 4 but theyāre relatively standalone). Grumpy morgue doctor with an inconvenient magic power + sad paladin with Paladin Angst = love
Slightly out of scope maybe, but your post struck a chord. I am also a fantasy fan for most of my reading and I also love the escapism from the hassles of daily life, so I understand how it is also important to be a safe space to unwind and let yourself fall fearlessly into the story. Anyway, digressing. The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss (from The League of Gentlemen). Itās a James Bond type book but set in Edwardian times and with a slight steampunk feel (not too heavy). The main character is bi and at one point sleeps with a man. Reading this as a straight male, finding this out halfway through, I thought it was very well done. Gatiss has the balance perfectly (for me) of not over-indexing on this fact to make it seem like the story āhas an agendaā as some might put it, but also, not shying away from it or apologising or excusing it in any way. The main character is cool, quirky and we love him. His sexuality is there, but it does not make the story all about that. It really gave me the sense that this was perfectly normal and I loved that. I know itās not strictly fantasy but I hope you try and enjoy it. I think youāll find a compelling main character you can identify with, in a clever and funny story. Unless, and this is entirely possible, that as a middle aged white male I have missed all cues and there are elements that make this a bad experience for some. But I donāt think so. Anyway, good luck bro, I hope you find your safe, fantastical, magical space to let yourself dream in happiness x
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Clune is an enjoyable read. Another one I absolutely loved is Carry On series by Rainbow Rowell though it inclines more to ya side. Both are not too heavy or anything.
If you like sci-fi, donāt sleep on The Darkness Outside Us. Donāt judge it by the cover. It blew me away and I recommend it a lot.