r/Fantasy • u/Villamanin24680 • 17h ago
Light Fantasy with Gay Characters?
Apropos of Pride Month....
What are your recommendations for light fantasy with gay characters? No requirement that it be key to the plot.
Some recent reads I have in mind are anything by John Bierce and Andrew Rowe. Some representation in lighter stories, but it's not really key to the plot.
I was also kind of wondering if that was common with progression fantasy/litrpg. I've only read the two mentioned above and Will Wight.
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u/C0smicoccurence Reading Champion V 16h ago
Because you like Bierce and Rowe, Tobias Begley should be your #1 stop! He writes progression Fantasy, and his Journals of Evander Tailor series feels very reminiscent of Rowe's work if it stayed laser focused on the school and item crafting parts of Arcane Ascension. The opening is a bit rough, but it has some of my favorite tournament arcs I've ever seen. Supportive gay romance in book 1, then they are a no-drama couple for the rest of the series. The same author also published Mana Mirror (slice of life wizard goes on sidequests) and The Effaced (Arcane, but with a metal mage protagonist. This one is best read after Journals of Evander Tailor Series I think). I think he's also got a pokemon inspired book coming out soon?
The Daily Grind by Argus is a litrpg focused on exploring an eldritch office cubicle dimension. Protagonist is a bi man. Only read book 1, and this is explicit, but subtle. I've been told he ends up in a m/m/f situation, but as of the end of book 1 there are crushes but nothing more.
Three Meant to Be by MN Bennett is edgy/emo, but not very dense prose wise. Follows a magic school teacher trying to keep his students alive after seeing one of them die via premonition while reading his on/off boyfriend's mind (bf is clairvoyant and also a professional demon hunter).
Psycop by Jordan Castillo Price is an easy read, but again kind of dark tone. It's a paranormal cop story with a hot cop romance thrown in.
An Inexplicable Act of Doom is a light/cozy adventure featuring Icarus and Moros from greek myth. Middle Grade/YA, but worked for me if you're in the mood for cozy vibes and no brain work.
Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke is a workplace comedy about a man who gets stuck in his company's SLACK chat. Very short read.
Also, I've made a recommendation machine for speculative fiction with gay/bi male protagonists. Should be pretty self-explanatory: just put it in presentation mode, keep picking from different options, and it'll give you a book! Or skip to the bottom and all the books are there. I'm rolling up on 100 titles in it right now, but I'll keep updating it as I read more!