Edwynne Dovecote has discovered her life is a lie. She wasn’t born into nobility—she’s a daughter of the North, where people worship a mysterious goddess. She’s determined to explore her heritage as long as no one finds out her true identity. But Sariva al-Beroth, an ambitious Northern girl who’s started working for the queen, is sick of rude outsiders gawking at her culture. She refuses to be in the same room as Edwynne, let alone share ancestral secrets. Then the queen falls under a curse, and only Sariva and Edwynne can rescue her. Many readers turn to romance for escape, and fantasy romance offers a double shot of that potent elixir. Fantasy realms allow readers to travel through the wildest imaginings authors can conjure. Whether it’s magic, inventive geography, or supernatural lifeforms, there are wonders at every turn. That blend of fantasy and romance lets us know that even if the obstacles are fierce beasts or oppressive politics, things will be okay for our characters. Layering queerness onto fantasy romances creates even new possibilities. Actual queer lives often involve some amount of worldbuilding, because the heteronormative vision we’re all presented isn’t a viable option. Found families, diverse relationship structures, and radical ways of loving can all enter into the equation. So I’ve curated some queer fantasy romances for you. I’ve focused on books for adults, and ones that tend to be romance-forward rather than fantasy with romantic elements. We also have some great lists of LGBTQ fantasy and fantasy romance, and I wanted to avoid overlap. (Check out those lists, though!) There’s a lot to appreciate in this little collection, from sweet slice of life romances to epic quests to dark mythological retellings. I hope you can find a book among them that makes your heart happy. Let’s focus on those happy endings, shall we? Whether they’re queer fantasy romances or not, we love queer books with happy endings. To anyone who decries romance as unrealistic wish fulfillment? I say, I’m doubling down! Give me actual love charms that fulfill wishes for romance. Give me characters who, in the most unrealistic settings possible, create a loving world for themselves. I’m pledging my sword to unrealistic wish fulfillment.
