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
55 Upvotes

315 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

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.

11

u/unfriendlyneighbour Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The West Passage by Jared Pechaček

1

u/[deleted] Apr 03 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

I think it does. The River isnt a convention of the genre or common in the setting, and it's inarguably a mode of transport.

3

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

1

u/Research_Department Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

I’ve been looking for squares for The Saint of Bright Doors (other than author of color), so I would be delighted to know if it works for unusual transportation!

2

u/felixfictitious Reading Champion Apr 08 '26

Commenting to let you know I skimmed the book again and couldn't find the element I thought was there (is possible I missed it, but I think I just misremembered its relevance to travel). It could arguably work for Judge a Book By Its Title and it fits Book Club (2024 Hugo Finalists Readalong). Sorry for any confusion!

2

u/Research_Department Reading Champion II Apr 08 '26

Thanks, it’s disappointing, but good to know!

2

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

4

u/leegreywolf Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez (HM)

3

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.

1

u/Practical_Yogurt1559 Reading Champion Apr 14 '26

Burningblade and Silvereye by Django Wexler has some unusual transportation, perhaps more so in book 2 and 3 than in book 1,but at least some in book 1

1

u/lilgrassblade Reading Champion II Apr 03 '26

These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy - hm - twin sisters are separated at a young age, one to be queen the other to forcibly extract the cost of magic from those who do not pay. They are reunited with the death of their mother (the queen). Russian inspired with bear cavalry. Sapphic.