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/