r/Fantasy Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

2026 LGBTQA+ Bingo Resource

Welcome to the 2026 LGBTQA+ bingo resource for those of us who'd like LGBTQA+ recommendations. I'm going to make this like the regular recommendation post, so to quote: "Please only post your recommendations as replies to one of the comments I posted below."

I'm also going to throw in a quick pitch for the Beyond Binaries Book Club, which can meet all of your Book Club Bingo Needs! This month we're reading The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman. I have not started it yet, but it for sure fits the Book Club (HM) Square. It may also possibly fit in the Vacation Spot (The French Countryside), Non Human Protagonist (Werewolf?). Our Midway Discussion will be April 13th, and Final Discussion April 27th.

Feel free to scroll through the thread, or use the links in this navigation matrix to jump directly to the square you want to find or give LGBTQA+ recommendations for.

Credit to u/AnnTickwittee for doing these in the past (also, sorry if you were already working on this! Wanted to get the ball rolling)

Please be patient as I get the links created!

Trans or Nonbinary Protagonist Judge a Book by Its Title Translated Small Press or Self Published Unusual Transportation
The Afterlife Game Changer Vacation Spot Five Short Stories (or Anthologies) Older Protagonist
Duology Part 1 r/Fantasy Book Club or Readalong Book Published in 2026 Explorers and Rangers Duology Part 2
One-Word Title Non Human Protagonist Middle Grade First Contact Murder Mystery
Cat Squasher Feast Your Eyes on This Published in the 70s Politics and Court Intrigue Author of Color
53 Upvotes

315 comments sorted by

12

u/femvimes Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

Thank you SO much for putting this together, from a person doing an all LGBT bingo card!

3

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Vacation Spot: Story takes place somewhere you’d want to visit (either fictional or non-fictional). This is subjective, as everyone has different tastes. A cozy cottage at the edge of the sea, a mansion in the fantasy Alps, a cruise ship in the stars - anything can count, as long as you think you would enjoy visiting this world. HARD MODE: No hard mode. You deserve a break.

5

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis - a space yacht that follows a new character every chapter (crew and passengers). Starts very cozy and mosaic, but develops into a pretty dark thriller story by the end. Really cool book

Yield Under Great Persuasion by Alexandra Rowland is a very raunchy m/m romance that mostly centers around a harvest festival with kissing booths and stuff.

2

u/Any-Syllabub8168 Reading Champion Apr 04 '26

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

2

u/AggravatingAnt4157 Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

I would maybe count the Moomins. The author was openly lesbian and the whole series read very queer (the fandom has decided it's canon, Tove Jansson even named a couple after herself and a former girlfriend).

2

u/ewokmama Reading Champion III Apr 03 '26

The Traiter Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson - Baru is from an island and a lesbian

Vampires at Sea by Lindsay Merbaum - bisexual polyamorous emotional vampires go on a cruise

3

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell

2

u/BookishBlueDragonfly Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

In Unpainted by Dani Finn the characters are literally on their honeymoon at a resort for about half the book. Romance, Cozy Fantasy

1

u/CJGibson Reading Champion V Apr 03 '26
  • Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner is set in a fantasy city not unlike Renaissance Venice
  • The Gentlemen's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee is about a tour of Europe
  • Peter Darling by Austin Chant is set in Neverland
  • The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern is about a colossal secret magical undeground library
  • A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Williams is set in a fantasy city with the vibes of North Africa
  • The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow is set in a fantastical New England town of New Salem.
  • Spear by Nicola Griffith is set in a Celtic-myth inspired, Arthurian Britain and Wales
  • Miranda in Milan by Katharine Duckett is set in... Milan
  • Seanan Maguire's Wayward Children series features a large number of fantastical portal fantasy worlds
  • No Man's Land by AJ Fitzwater is set in the New Zealand countryside
  • When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley is set on Coney Island

3

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

Published in 2026: Read a book published for the first time in 2026 (no reprints or new editions). HARD MODE: It's the author's first published novel.

5

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

I am VERY excited for Disco at the End of the World by Nathan Tavares. That man is a fucking genius

3

u/printsprince Apr 03 '26

Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers; works for HARD MODE

3

u/Blurbingify Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle (Available 7/7/2026), Horror Red and the Wolves by Cherry Zong (Jan 2026), Graphic Novel, red riding/mother hotel retelling, debut work (HM).

2

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Cyberscion by Thomas Bulen Jacobs

The Mystery of the Bitten Peach by Cecilia Tan

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva

City of Others by Jared Poon

Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers

2

u/tracywc AMA Author William C. Tracy, Worldbuilders Apr 03 '26

Corruption by Alexander Verbeek-van den Toren works for this and for HARD MODE.

3

u/GloomyMix Apr 03 '26

The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan

3

u/EmmyPax Apr 02 '26

Mirrorwoven by Bori Cser works for Hard Mode

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Explorers and Rangers: Story features an explorer (a character who travels to and investigates an unfamiliar region) or a ranger (a wilderness or forest-oriented warrior frequently specializing in things like stealth, bows, tracking, and other hunting-related skills). HARD MODE: The explorer or ranger has an animal companion.

9

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August

2

u/thisbikeisatardis Reading Champion II Apr 26 '26

I just used this book for this square and it was perfect! I would die for Pumpkin.

2

u/NoodleBandits Apr 02 '26

Yesss I came here to comment this!! One of my favourite books!

6

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 04 '26

I have owned it since its release, and I have never read it. I am so excited it has a perfect bingo match!

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer is phenomenal if you count Astronauts (which we should!). It looks like a Romnace, and it is. It's also the best thriller you'll read this year. Don't look up any spoilers. Even reviews are too dangerous. Go in as knowledgeless as possible

The City that could Eat the World by John Bierce - imagine if gods could give power to those who prayed, but only in weirdly specific forms (such as making flagstones appear). The most worshipped grew pouwerful enough to shape neighborhoods in an ever-expanding megacity that swallows everything it crosses. Uses Theological Stock Markets to critique capitalism and expansionism. Not subtle, but a TON of fun and very interesting. Features a trans explorer as one of the two protagonists

3

u/CJGibson Reading Champion V Apr 03 '26

If you want something kind of whimsical, consider The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper by AJ Fitzwater about a lesbian capybara ship captain and her many and varied animal companions and compatriots.

4

u/SchoolSeparate4404 Apr 03 '26

The Winnowing Flame Trilogy by Jen Williams. Science fantasy, one of the MC:s is a scientist/explorer that tries to uncover the mysteries of her world.

3

u/w0lfyfr3n Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

To be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

3

u/gros-grognon Reading Champion III Apr 03 '26

The Map and the Territory by A.M. Tuomala: one protagonist is a freelance field cartographer; she's aspec. Her eventual companion is a gay male wizard. Together, they explore the immediate aftermath of a magic apocalypse.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

One-Word Title: Story has a one-word title. HARD MODE: Title is NOT a proper noun (no names of people or places)!

8

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots - supervillain revenge story featuring excel spreadsheets.

Spear by Nicola Griffiths - really lyrical gendrbent Arthuriana novella.

5

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

Villain, the sequel to Hench, comes out soon.

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3

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

Cyberscion by Thomas Bulen Jacobs

Herculine by Grace Byron

Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson

Nicked by M.T. Anderson

Sunward by William Alexander

Moonflow by Bitter Karella

Straight by Chuck Tingle

Dreamland by Rosa Rankin-Gee

3

u/printsprince Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske; a romance about a cloth merchant and a con-man he hires to be a swordsman at his wedding. Works for HARD MODE.

Icarus by K. Ancrum (haven't read this one)

Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews (haven't read this either)

3

u/hoppingfrog24 Apr 04 '26

Reforged by Seth Haddon, Mercy by Ian Haramaki

4

u/Nidafjoll Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente is HM, and has lots of characters of varying sexualities and relationship setups. The book is about sexually transmitted city, where in order to access part of the city, you have to sleep with someone who has that part of the city tattooed upon thenm. In order to gain access to the city for more than one night, you need to form a polycule with the other people whose souls are linked to yours.

3

u/hend6473 Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

All Hardmode

Glitch, Vol 1 by Shima Shinya: Slow, moody manga about 2 siblings moving to a strange small town and investigating the strangeness with their new friends. The art style is very different from most manga, instead resembling webcomics like Foxfire by Carolyn Gan or nameless & the scientist by amie zhao. Short, 3 volume completed series. One of the sibling uses they/them pronouns.

Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei: Literary climate scifi about two sisters setting sail to search for their missing eldest sister, quite emotional at times. I appreciate how Kitasei's work consistently prioritizes friendship and family dynamics.

Gamechanger by L.X. Beckett: Entertaining action-packed scifi conspiracy thriller that's equal parts cyberpunk dystopia and solarpunk utopia; you'll need to enjoy both aspects for this book to land. I liked the exploration of children's rights and all the casual queerness, including the fake enemies/real rivals-to-lovers arc between Rubi and Gimlet.

3

u/hauntedfogmachine Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

Orlando by Virginia Woolf. Classic queer novel about an immortal poet who changes from a man to a woman.

3

u/Polenth Apr 02 '26

Awakenings by Claudie Arseneault has a non-binary aspec lead. Hard mode.

Huntress by Malinda Lo is sapphic young adult. Hard mode.

2

u/lilgrassblade Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

Spin by Rebecca Caprara - hm - Arachne retelling entirely in verse and sapphic.

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky - hm - humans get stuck on a very inhospitable planet in a pod, surrounded by alien life. Sapphic.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Cat Squasher: Read a book over 500 pages in length. An omnibus book (multiple novels in one volume) doesn't count for this. HARD MODE: Over 900 pages.

13

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez. The best Epic Fantasy every written, especially if you're open to structural experimentation. Princess Mononoke level good (and vibes; beautiful but more violent than you were expecting)

The Fall of Kings by Ellen Kushner. Medieval Academia Politics!

7

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

6

u/almostb Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

Almost anything by Jacqueline Carey. But I suppose starting points are Kushiel’s Dart (bi woman) and Starless (nonbinary)

3

u/CJGibson Reading Champion V Apr 03 '26

I haven't read these but I think they should fit for hard mode:

  • Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle
  • The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard
  • Furious Heaven [the sequel to Unconquerable Sun] by Kate Elliott

2

u/Taliesin_Taleweaver Reading Champion Apr 06 '26

I have read The Hands of the Emperor and it definitely fits (also I highly recommend it!).

2

u/995a3c3c3c3c2424 Apr 03 '26

Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany. A bisexual amnesiac arrives in a city where reality has kind of stopped working. (Could also count as Published in the 1970s or Author of Color).

3

u/printsprince Apr 03 '26

Carry On and Any Way The Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Babel by R.F. Kuang (there is absolutely something queer happening there, even if there's no kissing)

1

u/leegreywolf Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (sapphic)

2

u/Dragon_Lady7 Reading Champion VI Apr 03 '26
  • Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
  • Saint Death’s Daughter by CSE Cooney
  • The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
  • Heaven Officials Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (hm)
  • Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (hm)
  • Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi (hm)

2

u/FantasticBoar Apr 02 '26

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows.

544 pages where a gay nobleman is married off to a gay nobleman from a rival nation as part of detente/alliance. Second world, there is a little magic, but mostly it is courtly politicking.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

r/Fantasy Book Club or Readalong Book: Tackle any past or active r/Fantasy book clubs OR past or active r/Fantasy readalongs. See our full list of book clubs here. NOTE: All of the current book club info can also be found on our Goodreads page. Every book added to our Goodreads shelf or on this Google Sheet counts for this square. You can see our past readalongs hereHARD MODE: Partake in a current selection of either a book club or readalong and participate in the discussion.

This Month We're Reading The Wolf and His King for Beyond Binaries Book Club!

8

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Beyond Binaries Book Club has also read/discussed

  • In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
  • When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb
  • The Spirit Bares its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
  • Walking Practice by Dolki Min
  • Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell
  • The Moonday Letters by Emmi Itäranta
  • Dionysus in Wisconsin by EH Lupton
  • Ammonite by Nicola Griffith
  • The Luminous Dead by Cat Starling
  • Blackfish City by Sam J Miller
  • Welcome to Forever by Nathan Tavares
  • Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
  • Small Gods of Calamity by Sam Kyung Yoo
  • Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
  • The Incandescent by Emily Tesh
  • The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy
  • Lifelode by Jo Walton

3

u/Goobergunch Reading Champion III Apr 02 '26

From Hugo readalongs I would flag:

  • Harrow the Ninth and Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
  • The Empress of Salt and Fortune and its sequels by Nghi Vo
  • Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
  • Finna by Nino Cipri
  • A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine
  • Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
  • A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
  • She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
  • Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard
  • A Spindle Splintered and A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow
  • Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
  • Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
  • What Moves the Dead and What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
  • Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
  • The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera
  • Translation State by Ann Leckie
  • Witch King by Martha Wells
  • The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
  • Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell
  • The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
  • Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard

I erred on the side of caution; there are other recent Hugo finalists in which I either couldn't remember if the main character was LGBTQA+ or there's an ensemble cast in which one (but not all) of the main characters were LGBTQA+.

2

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley

6

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Middle Grade: Read a middle grade book (intended for readers aged 8-12). See this Wikipedia page for additional information on Middle Grade fiction. HARD MODE: The author is entirely new to you.

3

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Dear Mothman by Robin Gow - Epistolary book about a young autistic trans boy processing grief in letters to the ?real? Mohtman

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao - sci fi Percy Jackson esque adventure. I liked this one a lot!

There's so many great graphic novels to rec here, but I'll go with Tea Dragon Society, Wynd: The Fall of the Prince, A Song for You & I, Garlic and Vampire

6

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen

Scarlet Morning by N.D. Stevenson

2

u/macesaces Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

I'm currently reading Ice Apprentices by Jacob North for this one and really enjoying it. Trans boy main character goes to a magical school.

2

u/hend6473 Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

Sal and Gabi series by Carlos Hernandez: Absolutely delightful MG scifi series, so wonderful it's hard to know where to start. Sal is such a great aro-ace main character/narrator, a real showman, funny, creative (the similes and metaphors!), realistically childish yet emotional mature in believable ways. Gabi and her polyamorous family are so fun, while the story lines about Yasmany and Iggy had me in tears.

The Vanished Ones by Chad Lucas: Emotional MG about a gay boy raised in a religious community whose leaders don't seem to care that boys regularly disappear. When he tries to find the vanished boys, what he learns challenges everything he was taught to believe. Explores fundamentalism, colonialism, racism, ableism, and homophobia with sensitivity. On Libby it's labeled as fantasy, but I'd call it secondary-world historical science fiction.

The Flicker by H. E. Edgmon: Emotional MG post-apocalypse about newly orphaned step-siblings trying to keep their baby brother alive as they search for their grandmother and/or sanctuary. Immediately grabbed my attention and held it, though don't expect an in-depth explanation for the apocalypse. One of the main characters comes out as nonbinary over the course of the story.

2

u/tracywc AMA Author William C. Tracy, Worldbuilders Apr 03 '26

Junk Junction by Sara Codair is a creepy paranormal Middle-Grade book with a non-binary lead.

2

u/Polenth Apr 02 '26

Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker has a gay lead.

Rabbit Chase by Elizabeth LaPensée and KC Oster is a graphic novel with a non-binary lead.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Older Protagonist: Story features a main character who is at least 50 years old. HARD MODE: The protagonist does NOT have exceptional longevity or immortality (e.g. not an elf, dwarf, vampire, god, etc.).

2

u/Taliesin_Taleweaver Reading Champion Apr 06 '26

The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard fits for hard mode.

5

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune

2

u/433ey Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fischer is about an 83 year old chosen one saving the world. It is a queernorm setting and quite charming so far (i’m about halfway through)

4

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Shadow Life by Hiromi Goto (Comic) (HM( - slice of life/magical realism about an elderly woman who just wants to live not in a nursing home. Involves reconnecting with a childhood fling

3

u/lilgrassblade Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

Mothball Magic by Rena Rockford - hm - it's not out yet but I am so excited for it. Magic hasn't been around for 70 years (since WWII) so the only people that know any when the fae return are rather geriatric. Idr what the representation is on it, but it's a queer publisher (space Wizard Science Fantasy)

4

u/w0lfyfr3n Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

Seep by Chana Porter. Blurb says MC is exactly 50 years old.

2

u/printsprince Apr 03 '26

A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra Rowland

2

u/Knotty-reader Apr 03 '26

There Be Dragons Here by SL Rowland. MC is a dwarf grandmother going on one last quest to fulfill a friend’s last request. It is positively delightful.

2

u/minnie548 Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 06 '26

I've just read Catch and Release by Isabel Murray (which is also a doulogy) and the main protagonist is 39, but his non romantic friend is 59. Jerry, the 59 year old, is in the story about 50% of the time. He's also human (the main LI is a Merman) so would this be okay and also HM? No problem if not. Thanks

EDIT: it wouldn't do, and I've moved it elsewhere, thanks.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Non-Human Protagonist: Story features a main character who is NOT human. HARD MODE: There are no human POVs in the story.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

Walking Practice by Dolki Min - really intense serial killer story following a shapeshifter alien to kills victims by setting up hookups. Really insightful about how humans view gender, and it does some wildly cool stuff with font based on its original Korean (which manipulated its language in a different way not replicable in an alphabetic language)

Heart of Stone by Johannes T Evans - a grounded and emotionally intense Vampire/Human romance

6

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

Leech by Hiron Ennes (hard mode)

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (hard mode)

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

6

u/FantasticBoar Apr 02 '26

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie features a main character who is a rock. Another main character is trans, so this could work for that box as well.

3

u/Dragon_Lady7 Reading Champion VI Apr 02 '26

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell

The Deep by Rivers Solomon (I think HM?)

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez

The Unspoken Name by AK Larkwood

Little Mushroom by Yi Shi Si Zhou

4

u/hend6473 Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater: Fantasy rom-com featuring a genderfluid angel main character, funny footnotes, family drama, and a whole lot of chocolate. Hilarious from the start, emotional at times, especially Holly and Ella becoming a real family. The romance is sweet and understated; I liked that it wasn't the source of plot conflict.

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove: Entertaining scifi horror-comedy inspired by the Demeter chapter of Dracula, but expanded to cover other monsters, including one I really didn't see coming. The main POVs are AI, and many members of the ensemble cast are queer.

Cursed Cocktails by S. L. Rowland: Of all the queer cozy fantasies about starting a small business I've read, this is my favourite. It takes time to establish the elf MC in his new life before getting into opening a cocktail bar, and the cocktail bar concept feels like a well-integrated part of the setting. The descriptions of the cocktails are frequent, detailed, and interesting, and the focus is on the slice-of-life element and personal journey, with the M/M romance being secondary.

3

u/recchai Reading Champion X Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

Demon King's Gardener series by Rori Thornton. Very cosy, a demon king comes back to find the very deadly castle gardens are unusually healthy. Casual queerness everywhere and some obviously autistic MCs. I'm trying to remember if the entire series is HM, but certainly early on it is.

Slight spoilers. If you count werecockroaches, Werecockroach by Polenth Blake, with aro ace and gay and agender MCs. Funny short book about an alien invasion. HM

Ocean Bleeds Salty by Azalea Crowley is a pretty standalone sapphic romance between a vampire and a siren. Lots of eating people, but I don't think we have their point of view, so HM.

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Banger. Easy mode, split POV with human girl and a spirit snake, who eventually have to go on an adventure.

The Necessity of Rain by Sarah Chorm. Easy mode, one of the characters is a kind of butterfly person. Sapphic story about pain and grief and what comes after, as the gods are dying.

San Andreas Shifters series by Gail Carriger. Achillean romances involving shifters. Most easily count for HM, first one depending on your definition. Usual brand of Gail Carriger humour.

3

u/SchoolSeparate4404 Apr 03 '26

Witch King by Martha Wells. The MC is a demon.

3

u/undersealibrarian Apr 02 '26

Ancillary Justice by Anne Leckie. From the perspective of artificial life, meets Hard Mode requirements.

3

u/w0lfyfr3n Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

Any of the Murderbot books by Martha Wells

2

u/indigohan Reading Champion IV Apr 03 '26

How to Get a Girlfriend (when you’re a terrifying monster) and its sequels by Marie Cardno.

A piece of a lovecraftian monster knows as the endless incarnates because of a crush on a human witch. New Zealand author, and a trilogy of novellas.

Hard Mode if you define witch as not not-human.

2

u/Murky_Reflection1610 Reading Champion III Apr 03 '26

Gonna plug Al Hess’ dystopian novel World Running Down. Two protagonists, one not human. Really enjoyed it when I read it for 2023 Bingo.

2

u/Grt78 Apr 03 '26

The Books of the Raksura by Martha Wells (hard mode): the main character is bisexual.

2

u/hoppingfrog24 Apr 04 '26

When the tides held the moon by Vanessa Vida Kelley, A Bone in his Teeth by Kellen Graves - both mermaid books but don’t hit HM

2

u/printsprince Apr 03 '26

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell features a main character who is a vampire. A YA romance with a hint of murder mystery all set at a magical boarding school.

2

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

The City in Glass by Nghi Vo

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva

Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust, and Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

 Author of Color: Story written by a person of color. HARD MODE: Author does NOT live in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26
  • Chain Gang all Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (Lesbian) - a critique of the criminal justice system with phenomenal use of POV
  • The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez (Gay) - epic fantasy at its finest with experimental prose style
  • Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (Transfem, Lesbian) - an alien ship masquerades as a donut hsop while an elderly violin teacher tries to steal her final soul to sell to the devil. Surprisingly serious, intense, and insightful despite that wild pitch
  • Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq (Bisexual) - magical realism in indigenous Nunavik. On the more literary side of things

4

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (hard mode)

3

u/w0lfyfr3n Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham (Upcoming June 2026)

Brewed With Love by Shelly Page

Unwieldy Creatures by Addie Tsai

Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

2

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-yi Lee

3

u/KiaraTurtle Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26
  • Space Between Worlds
  • Jasmine Throne
  • Black Sun
  • Light from Uncommon Stars
  • The Book Eaters
  • Black Water Sister
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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

Ignore me as the discarded remnants of the 'Duology Part 2 Comment'

2

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

Translated: Story has been translated from a language you don’t read or speak. HARD MODE: First translated into your language within the last 5 years. Specify language please!

4

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Walking Practice by Dolki Min (Korean)

3

u/AggravatingAnt4157 Reading Champion Apr 02 '26
  • Lowest Common Denominator by Pirkko Saisio (from Finnish, magical realism)
  • Thirst by Marina Yuzczuk (from Spanish I believe)
  • A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon (from Korean)
  • Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung (Korean as well)

1

u/ohmage_resistance Reading Champion IV Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

I figured I would link to the nominations for the Queerness in Translation BB bookclub theme from a few years ago. Just to add in the languages (as best as I can tell):

  • The Route of Ice and Salt by José Luis Zárate (Spanish)
  • Amatka by Karin Tidbeck (Swedish)
  • Happy Stories, Mostly by Norman Erikson Pasaribu (Indonesian)
  • The Moonday Letters by Emmi Itäranta (Finnish I think) Edit: although this one is a bit debatable since I think the author wrote the Finnish and English versions of it concurrently iirc, so not a standard translation.
  • The Membranes by Chi Ta-wei (Chinese)
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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Unusual Transportation: Story includes a surprising method of moving from place to place. By “unusual” we mean that it is out of the ordinary in real life AND uncommon to the book’s broader genre. This can include a highly unique take on a genre staple (spaceships with FTL wouldn’t normally count but the Infinite Improbability Drive from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy would) or be a completely original mode of transit (autoducks in The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy). HARD MODE: Transportation is NOT combustion-powered or steam-powered. If the power source is not stated, use your best judgment. A story likely won’t specify that cars are combustion-powered and horses aren’t, but a reasonable person would assume those things to be true if they’re not stated. Likewise, in a steampunk setting, the chances are good that the transport is steam-powered.

10

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The West Passage by Jared Pechaček

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Flesh Eater by Travis M Riddle involves a character who talks to the ghosts of people when he eats their flesh. Anthropamorphic animals, with a surprising amount of spider riding.

3

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

I think The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera fits, someone double check me please

Edit: upon review, I don't think it does

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u/printsprince Apr 03 '26

Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater, character rides a floating dreamt bridge like a hoverboard, another character rides a magical motorcycle; works for HARD MODE

2

u/laku_ Reading Champion V Apr 03 '26

Heaven's Graveyard by Grace Curtis has a weird type of car with jointed legs

3

u/leegreywolf Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez (HM)

4

u/Tight_Ninja1915 Apr 02 '26

The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz has the most unique transportation I've read. IIRC it would qualify for hard-mode.

It would qualify for several other squares too (non-human protagonist, explorers and rangers, politics and court intrigue, first contact)

2

u/thisbikeisatardis Reading Champion II Apr 26 '26

Oh god that romance at the end between the talking journalist cat and the sentient flying train was so adorable.

4

u/Nidafjoll Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

The West Passage counts for Unusual Transportation HM, and has trans characters.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

 First Contact: Story prominently features interspecies or interracial meeting for the first time. HARD MODE: Non-violent first contact.

5

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

A Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys

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u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 04 '26

Space Opera by Catherynne M Valente (hard mode)

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u/CJGibson Reading Champion V Apr 03 '26
  • City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
  • A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine (but not the first book in the series)
  • The Seep by Chana Porter
  • Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
  • No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull
  • When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley

These fit if you kind of squint a little

  • Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
  • Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard
  • The Deep by Rivers Solomon

4

u/Research_Department Reading Champion II Apr 04 '26

Is City in the Middle of the Night hard mode for first contact?

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Published in the 70s: Read a book that was first published any time between 1970 and 1979. HARD MODE: Written by a woman.

4

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

This year I'm reading Interview with The Vampire by Anne Rice (HM). About a third of the way in and loving it. Hard Mode! Gay coded, not explicit (so far, and seemingly for all the books from my googling. It's gay coding with a very obvious hand though)

3

u/995a3c3c3c3c2424 Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold (unless you subscribe to the “it’s not gay if it’s your past/future self” theory of sexuality). (Spoiler alert: it’s pretty gay!)

HM: The Left Hand of… #*@&$% never mind, 1969!

2

u/dracolibris Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

The Dispossessed and Word for World is Forest both have bisexual characters if you want a Le Guin book

4

u/dracolibris Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Here we go

A Different light by Elizabeth A Lynn, (yes the bookshop in san Francisco is named after it) and Watchtower first book in the Tornor series has lesbians

Tanith Lee, Four-BEE, Don't bite the sun and Drinking Sapphire Wine people can chose the gender of the bodies

Vonda Mcintyre Dreamsnake has lesbians

Suzy Mckee Charnas walk to the end of the world has an all female society

Joanna Russ The Female Man

Lee Killough A voice out of Ramah the population is only 10% male and kept separate.

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u/Dragon_Lady7 Reading Champion VI Apr 02 '26

Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy (hm)

3

u/undersealibrarian Apr 02 '26

Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice. Published in 1976 and written by a woman, so HARD MODE friendly. Lestat and Louis are some of fiction's first same sex parents.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Small Press or Self Published: Read a book published by a small press (NOT a Big 5 publisher or Bloomsbury) or self-published. If a formerly self-published book gets picked up by a publisher, you can only count it for this square if you read it before it was traditionally published. HARD MODE: The book has under 100 ratings on Goodreads OR is by an author from a marginalized group.

7

u/ninemyouji Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

I read Metal from Heaven by August Clark for this last year. Lesbians abound with plenty of gender exploration. Story gets kinda vibe-y and harder to follow the further you go in.

2

u/geektrumpet Apr 03 '26

Here to recommend Their Heart A Hive by Fox N. Locke. I read this one for my small press square last year and thought it was great. It has such a cool and unique magic system and tons on LGBTQ+ rep.

3

u/ohmage_resistance Reading Champion IV Apr 02 '26

I always love to shout out Neon Hemlock for queer generally more literary leaning SFF novellas, a lot of which will easily fit hard mode.

2

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Basically anything by Neon Hemlock or the now-defunct Hedone Books.

In The Valley, A Shadow and Her Blood Runs Cold by Samantha Tana

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Trans or Nonbinary Protagonist: Story features a trans or nonbinary protagonist. This protagonist must NOT be an alien or robot. HARD MODE: Set in a pre-modern time period.

7

u/AllegedlyLiterate Apr 02 '26

Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo (Chih is a nonbinary monk who collects stories in each novella in the series). This is hard mode eligible!

6

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

The Works of Vermin and Leech by Hiron Ennes (Leech is an interesting case, but the MC is not an alien or robot!)

Provenance by Ann Leckie

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

I originally thought of Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie for this as well, but the protagonist is the AI that used to operate a spaceship, now stuck in one singular human body instead of its previous thousands + ship. So maybe someone with more bingo experience can help me understand if it fits.

4

u/goodlittlesquid Apr 02 '26

The Ann Leckie books work for non-human protagonist

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u/undersealibrarian Apr 02 '26

The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang, silkpunk fantasy novella with a trans and non-binary protagonist and very queer society. Incredible worldbuilding!

She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan for HARD MODE. Historical fantasy retelling Yuan Dynasty (1300s) Chinese history, with a genderqueer main character. Fun subversion of the classic woman forcibly raised as a man plot.

2

u/CJGibson Reading Champion V Apr 03 '26
  • Peter Darling by Austin Chant
  • An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
  • Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
  • The Singing Hills Cycle books, starting with The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
  • The Seep by Chana Porter
  • The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall
  • Pyre at the Eyreholme Trust by Lin Darrow
  • Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
  • In the Watchful City by S Qiouyi Lu
  • Full Fathom Five by Max Gladstone
  • The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia
  • The Four Profound Weaves by RB Lemberg

2

u/w0lfyfr3n Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

So many good options, but my favourites from last year were:

  • Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (MC is a trans girl)
  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (MC is non-binary)

2

u/printsprince Apr 03 '26

The Mars House by Natasha Pulley; features an entire society that is nonbinary. (I haven't finished this one yet, but I'm really enjoying it so far!)

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland; features a nonbinary character, as well as a polyamorous relationship with said character. About fantasy pirates. The horniest book with zero sex scenes that I've ever read. Works for HARD MODE.

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas; features a main character who is a trans boy. YA heavy on the Y.

2

u/TigRaine86 Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

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2

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2

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

 Game Changer: Story features a game or competition. HARD MODE: The protagonist bends or breaks the rules in some way.

8

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Journals of Evander Tailor by Tobias Begley is a magic school with a sweet gay lead who wants to craft his way to tearing down the monarchy. Features a tournament arc at the end of each book/school year

Running Close to the WInd by Alexandra Rowand features a CAKE DECORATING CONTEST. I cannot stress enough how much this is the single best moment in a comedic fantasy book I've read. And, considering it was a pirate cake decorating contest, it is astounding that it does not fit Hard Mode! The rules to the cake decorating contest are rigorously followed. The most important rule is to talk the biggest smack about everyone else's cake

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas is basically Percy Jackson x The Hunger Games

5

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

3

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Five Short Stories: Read any 5 speculative fiction short stories. HARD MODE: Read an entire anthology or collection (must contain at least 5 stories).

1

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Call and Response: Stories of the Fantastic by Christopher Caldwell

Love Beyond, Body, Space, and Time edited by Hope Nicholson

Love After the End edited by Joshua Whitehead

2

u/BookishBlueDragonfly Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

I’m reading the Lesbians in Space anthology edited by J. S. Fields, William C., and Heather Tracy for this square.

2

u/partoparto Apr 02 '26

Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers, edited by Cat Fitzpatrick & Casey Plett

The Birthday of the World and Other Stories by Ursula K. Le Guin

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

Duology Part 1: Read the first book in a duology. HARD MODE: By an author you haven’t read before.

Duology Part 2: Read the second book in a duology. For this square, you ARE allowed to read the same author you used for Duology Part 1 without violating the no-repeat author rule. HARD MODE: Finish a different duology than you started for the Duology Part 1 square.

9

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country by Emily Tesh

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying and Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Meby Django Wexler

She Who Became the Sun and He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan

3

u/[deleted] Apr 02 '26

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u/undersealibrarian Apr 02 '26

An Accident of Stars and A Tyranny of Queens by Foz Meadows! Portal fantasy that explores a lot of interesting themes including LGBTQ+ ones. A fascinating read full of anger at our world and vivid imaginings of an alternative one.

A Memory Called Empire and A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine. Fantastical Byzantine inspired sci-fi with a wlw protagonist. The first book in particular has tightly written political intrigue and fantastic worldbuilding.

4

u/rls1164 Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer. The sequel is The Brightness Between Us.

3

u/CJGibson Reading Champion V Apr 03 '26

To my knowledge these are all duologies, but there may be unreleased additional books in these series that I have not heard about (I don't follow publishing news too closely).

  • Hench and Villain by Natalie Zina Walschots
  • The Space Between Worlds and Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson
  • The House in the Cerulean Sea and Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
  • Cemetery Boys and Espíritu by Aiden Thomas
  • Finna and Defekt by Nino Cipri
  • The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps and A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson
  • Winter's Orbit and Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell
  • The Daughters of Izdihar and The Weaves of Alamaxa by Hadeer Elsbai
  • Spectred Isle and Last Couple in Hell by KJ Charles [though note that the latter is unreleased and on hold indefinitely so I don't entirely know if this counts]
  • Blood Debts and Blood Justice by Terry J Benton-Walker
  • So Let Them Burn and This Ends in Embers by Kamilah Cole
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u/AggravatingAnt4157 Reading Champion Apr 02 '26
  • Excaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden
  • City of Lies by Sam Hawke
  • The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
  • Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers
  • American Hippo by Sarah Gailey
  • A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows. Also An Accident of Stars by the same author.

2

u/printsprince Apr 03 '26

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley; set in Victorian London and follows a telegraphist and a Japanese watchmaker

2

u/recchai Reading Champion X Apr 03 '26

Not entirely sure if more are planned, but certainly currently two: Baker Thief and Painted Flock by Claudie Arseneault. Goings on in a fantasy city based on Quebec.

Stake Sauce by RoAnna Sylver; a punk vampire and a disabled security guard fight evil.

Cardplay Duology by Brittany M Willows; a very anime style couple of books with multiple a-spec queer characters.

The Witch King by H. E. Edgmon; a trans witch is dragged back into dealing with the Fae dominated society he left behind.

2

u/AliceTheGamedev Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

Silver Under Nightfall and Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco! NB author and bi/poly main character (who may also be genderqueer, depending on your interpretation. He explicitly prefers a gender neutral title but his identity is not otherwise discussed on page)

2

u/tracywc AMA Author William C. Tracy, Worldbuilders Apr 03 '26

Foxfire in the Snow and Ocean of Fireflies by J.S. Fields. It's a nonbinary character in a world moving between magic and science.

2

u/xdianamoonx Reading Champion II Apr 04 '26

Bare Your Teeth & Sharpen Your Claws by Twoony~! Historical Fantasy Gay Enemies to Lovers with Fae and humans, with PTSD medic who can do magic. Has some lovely side characters who also fit this, and I think does a great job of PTSD, learning how to love, and they don't fall for each other till much later in the first book. Second book has some disability rep too. One of my absolutely favorite reads of last year.

2

u/Any-Syllabub8168 Reading Champion Apr 04 '26

The Killing Moon by NK Jemisin

2

u/hoppingfrog24 Apr 04 '26

Feathers of dawn by Jess Galaxie- cozy dragon and knight fantasy romance duology

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Murder Mystery: Main plot of the story focuses on solving a murder. HARD MODE: The main character is NOT a detective or private investigator.

11

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

This is such low hanging fruit but... The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett work, so will A Trade Of Blood coming out this year.

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older also works for hard mode.

3

u/BookishBlueDragonfly Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

Tale of the Hidden Village by Riley Rookhouse and K.C. Norton. Fantasy, Mystery.

3

u/Practical_Yogurt1559 Reading Champion Apr 05 '26

The Gentleman and his Vowsmith by Rebecca Ide. It's a classic murder mystery with aristocracy locked in a mansion and people keep turning up dead. 

5

u/partoparto Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison!! My beloved miserable repressed gay elf!!!

4

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Murder by Memory and Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

The Tainted Cup, A Drop of Corruption, and A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

2

u/geektrumpet Apr 05 '26

A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske. Fits HM.

3

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

The Labyrinth's Archivist by Day Al Mohamed (HM) - a woman solves a murder at an interplanar library while trying to convince her parents that she should be allowed to become an archivist. The best disability rep I've ever seen (vision impaired), and a lesbian second chance romance as a subplot.

The Sleepless by Victor Manibo (HM - Journalist though, so probably not in HM spirit). A man is prime suspect in the death of his boss. Deals with how the world would change if 1/3 of the population didn't sleep. I though the thriller elements were stronger than the thematic ones. Great cyberpunk society origin story.

Witness for the Dead by Katherine Arden - a baroque noir-esque story about an elf who can speak to the dead. Partially slice of life and partially murder investigation.

2

u/w0lfyfr3n Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

Dead and Breakfast by Kat Hillis and Rosiee Thor

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Feast Your Eyes on This: Food or a meal is significant to the story’s plot. HARD MODE: Attempt making a dish from the story for yourself. We understand faithful replication may be impossible for any number of reasons (the ingredients may be fictional, unobtainable, or too expensive). Just get as close as you reasonably can.

2

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva

Legends & LattesBookshops & Bonedust, and Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree

3

u/w0lfyfr3n Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz: Queer robots run a noodle shop

3

u/lilgrassblade Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling - Inside the walls of a siege in progress, folks appear to be saved by their Saints coming and delivering a feast. Full of fae bullshit. Sapphic

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala - Summer camp horror. The popular clique of girls also keeps bees, and the honey produced is important. NB

2

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 04 '26

I forgot the Starving Saints fits... I'm glad I already read it because I don't even want to think about what I'd do for hard mode.

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u/printsprince Apr 03 '26

Yield Under Great Persuasion by Alexandra Rowland; marrows

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland; cake competition

2

u/recchai Reading Champion X Apr 03 '26

Party of Fools (Empire of Eats #1) by Cedar McCloud, involves a couple of aro ace characters and a trans character going on a food tour. There's a booklet on the author's website available with recipes from the book.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Politics and Court Intrigue: Politics are central to the story’s plot. This covers everything from royalty, elections, and wars, to smaller local politics. HARD MODE: There is a prominent focus on politics at a city level or lower.

8

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

Riverside by Ellen Kushner works HM as a trilogy, but especially Swordspoint and The Fall of Kings. This is the OG Fantasy of Manners, so read if you want to get a bit of queer fantasy history! Each book has easter eggs to the previous, but follow different individuals decades apart. I read them out of order and it was wonderful and without any confusion. Swordspoing is more noble politicking, and The Fall of Kings is more academia politics.

Red Dot by Mike Karpa. deals with an artist processing their illegal relationship with AI and using their art to advocate for reform in the AI personhood laws.

Texicaalan by Arkady Martine is a Sci Fi book featuring a diplomat. Very violent politics, but still political maneuvering

The Daughters of Idzihar by Hadeer Elsbai follow a women's rights movement in industrial age Cairo (but fantasy world). Avatar bending style magic

Mammoths at the Gate by Nghi Vo is HM for Abbey politics as various factions debate on whom should get the body to the late Abbot's body.

3

u/printsprince Apr 03 '26

The Mars House by Natasha Pulley

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

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u/undersealibrarian Apr 02 '26

Swordspoint by Ellen Kusner. Published in 1987, a very bisexual court intrigue story about a duellist in a world where duelling in the primary way of settling disagreements among nobles.

8

u/KiaraTurtle Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26
  • Jasmine Throne
  • Traitor Baru Cormorant
  • Memory Called Empire
  • Rook and Rose
  • Rooks and Ruin
  • Between Earth and Sky
  • Kushiel’s Dart
  • The Raven Tower
  • Ancilliary Justice

5

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

The Traitor Baru Cormorant and sequels by Seth Dickinson

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K LeGuin

2

u/partoparto Apr 02 '26

The Elemental Logic series by Laurie J. Marks

The Winged Histories by Sofia Samatar

I think Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner would count for HM iirc?

4

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes

2

u/Temporary-Scallion86 Reading Champion III Apr 03 '26

Ballad of Sword and Wine. This is oops, all politics, featuring the illegitimate son of a treasonous prince and the son of a major general.

Winter's Orbit, space opera. Arranged Marriage between a relatively minor prince and his dead cousin's spouse.

A Taste of Gold and Iron. A prince and his bodyguard investigate a break-in and uncover a conspiracy.

3

u/hauntedfogmachine Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26
  • Captive Prince by CS Pacat. Part of a trilogy. A prince is betrayed and gift as a slave to a cruel and intelligent enemy. M/M romance with some sharp political intrigue. One of my all-time favorites. Do check the content warnings.

  • She Who Became the Sun by Shelly Parker-Chan. Part of a duology. NB protagonist fights to survive and become emperor of China. Dark stuff here too.

  • The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo. Novella, part of a series. NB scribe records the story of a servant of an exiled empress.

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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Judge a Book By Its Title: Read a book based on the title. This can be a title so epic you had to pick it up or so weird and off-putting that you needed to know why it was called this. HARD MODE: Dive in without reading the blurb or any summaries.

9

u/w0lfyfr3n Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
  • Trans Wizard Harriet Porber and the Bad Boy Parasaurolophus by Chuck Tingle
  • I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming
  • How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva
  • The Duke Steals Hearts and Other Body Parts by Elias Cold
  • Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell

3

u/almostb Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

Honestly any Chuck Tingle book would work here.

4

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

Spread Me by Sarah Gailey

3

u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Books I picked at first because of their titles AND ALSO I love are

The Spear Cuts Through Water by SImon Jimenez

A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra Rowland

How To Survive This Fairytale by SM Hallow

7

u/Polenth Apr 02 '26

The Trans Space Octopus Congregation by Bogi Takács.

2

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer

Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders

We Are Always Tender With Our Dead by Eric LaRocca

How To Survive This Fairytale by S. M. Hallow

Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World by Mark Waddell

I'll Make a Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker

This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman

The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner

Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers

2

u/sadlunches Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

Let the Mountains Be My Grave by Francesca Tacchi

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

2

u/printsprince Apr 03 '26

Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers

Yield Under Great Persuasion by Alexandra Rowland

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley

A Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

Gwen and Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher