Diversity is not a trope aka The Lesbians with Swords List
Things I was not expecting this week were to have two internet spats with people who think we have reached peak diversity…
One on Facebook was a guy who felt we already had enough in shows like Star Wars and the original Star Trek. When you attempt to tell me that the Belgariad is really radical for having ‘one or two’ women in lead roles you are on a hiding to nothing.
Second a person who objected to the idea of a Disney Princess with a girlfriend and they were tried of reading books with lesbian swords women - apparently such a trope.
While there is currently a lot more diversity getting into books the last few years or so that doesn’t wipe out the decades of books where straight white guys had all the main roles and action. It’s also important to remember that we are only just getting to time where it’s acceptable for authors to come out and be open on their sexuality Don’t even forget the attitudes being shown daily to these people and those in power who don’t protect them. I’d love to say every book I get to read has a diverse approach but there is a long way to go before it’s commonplace. For me an author who can’t be bothered trying to reflect our world in their universe is a limited imagination.
but when I wonder if I’m missing out on lesbian with sword novels (and many on twitter wanted a list) I asked here for your education is the list. I just wish it was even longer
The Year of the Knife by GD Penman
Sarah Beauhall series by J A Pitts
Lady Hotspur by Tessa Gratton
Ninth Rain (Winnowing Flame trilogy) by Jen Williams (caveat lesbian with crossbow; but two gay men with axe)
Silk and Steel anthology coming from Cantina Press
The Wounded Kingdom by RJ Barker (caveat sexuality more fluid in this series)
The Unspoken Name by AK Larkwood
Swords and Fire by Melissa Caruso
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
The Tales of Y'Myran Series by Shaylynn Rose
Tales of Emoria by T.J. Minddancer Chronicles of Alsea by Fletcher Delancey
Elemental Logic by Laurie J. Marks
Blackberries and Buckthorn by TS Porter within Heart of Steel
The Impossible Contract by K A Doore (caveat lesbian with garrotte and knives)
The Witcher series by Andrej Sapkowski
Mike Brook’s Wanted:Dead (caveat many weapons)
Daughter of the Sun by Effie Calvin
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Sword Masters books by Selina Rosen.
Priest of Bones/Priest of Life by Peter McLean (caveat crossbows and daggers)
Ship of Smoke and Steel by Django Wexler (bisexual woman with sword)
The Afterward by EK Johnston
Girls of Paper and Fire series by Natasha Ngan
The Seeker and the Sword by Todd Herzman
Blackdog, The Leopard, The Lady, & Gods of Nabban, & The Last Road by KV Johansen
Seven Blades in Black by Sam Sykes
Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Do Not Back my Lion by Alix E Harrow
Swordpoint by Ellen Kushner
Lady Knight by L_J Baker
Gossamer Axe by Gael Baudino
Shell Game by Benny Lawrence
Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey, (caveatnot just Lesbians, lots of relationship diversity)
The Mord Sith in Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind
Fire Heart by Joyce Chng
The Tiger’s Daughter by K Arsenault Rivera
The Thousand Names by Django Wexler
Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O’Neill (graphic novel)
The Traitor Baru Comorant by Seth Dickinson
Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones (also has bookworm lesbian)
Ash and also Huntress by Malinda Lo
The riverside books by Ellen Kushner
Judges The Patriots by Jospeh Elliot Coleman (set in 2000AD universe)
Abandon by Lee Kalda (comics)
Torn and Fray by Rowena Miller (caveat lesbians with ornamental rappers and paintbrushes)
Inferno: In Elven Woods by A Kat (caveat lesbian with sword and bow)
The Duke is Dead By Ankaret Well and Irene Headley (caveat ace aro mercenary former nun with sword)
Heavy Ice by Ankaret Wells (also armoured battlesuit lesbian)
Jerinne Fendall in Way of the Shield & Shield of the People
Heart of Temptation by California Dawes (also lesbians with magic guns and fire magic)
Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames
1001 Knights anthology (story by M Newton)
Saber and Shadow by Stirling & Maier
Island in the Sea of Time by Stirling
Wisdom's Grave Trilogy by Schaefer
Lyremouth Chroniclesby Fletcher
Dora in the TimeBomb trilogy by Scott K Andrews (caveat has a katana and is bi)
Alpennia series by Heather Rose Jones
The Sarah Beauhall series by AK Pitts
The Northern Girl (novel) and World Fantasy Award winning story "The Woman Who Loved the Moon" by Elizabeth A. Lynn (adapted into a beautiful graphic novel by Trina Robbins)
Camelot 3000 (graphic novel)
Tomoe Gozen series by Jessica Amanda Salmonson
Goddess by Kelly Gardiner (based on real life Julie D’Aubigny)
Of fire and stars by Audrey Coulthurst
Princess of Thermopyla by Belinda Harrison
The Adventure of the Incognita Countess ; The Adventure of the Dux Bellorum and The Adventure of the Naked Guide by Cynthia Ward
Cynthia Ward also kindly supplied this article with more ideas too https://www.autostraddle.com/8-queer-high-fantasy-books-for-your-epic-sword-wielding-needs-358270/
Catherine Lundoff kindly supplied a list of reviews of other books in this area here https://www.thelesbianreview.com/category/book-review/genres/speculative-fiction/fantasy/sword-and-sorcery/
Sarah Waites updates and maintains a database at this location https://queersff.theillustratedpage.net/
