Recently updated on August 7th, 2024 at 03:54 pm
Do you struggle to make time to read? When you work a full-time job sometimes, making time to physically pick up a book is tough.
Audiobooks are the perfect solution. In this post I recommend the best LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks.
In the name of full transparency, please note that this post contains affiliate links and any purchase made through such links will award me a small commission at no extra cost to you
Picture this. Youāre on a long, dreary commute back from work. Maybe youāre crammed on a crowded commuter train. Or maybe youāre stuck in traffic. And youāre craving some escapism.
Audiobooks offer the best escape from reality.
Now, audiobooks have sound effects, a full cast of narrators and even music. Like listening to movie in your ears.
Thatās why, Iāve compiled the best LGBTQ+ fantasy audiobooks. From mythology in urban settings to modern magic and fae.
If youāre looking for even more audiobook recommendations, you might want to check out the following posts.
The 13 best urban fantasy audiobooks to lose yourself in
Read on for the best LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks
- The Best LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks
- 1. We set the dark on fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
- 2. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
- 3. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
- 4. Crierās War by Nina Varela
- 5. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
- 6. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
- 7. The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl
- 8. Malice by Heather Walter
- 9. Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
- 10. Under the whispering door by T.J. Klune
- 11. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
- 12. The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
- 13. Cinderella is dead by Kalynn Bayron
- 14. Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn
- Other posts you might like
The Best LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks
Here are the top LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks š
These are the queer Fantasy audiobooks I REALLY recommend.
1. We set the dark on fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
We Set the Dark on Fire is a captivating wlw audiobook. This dystopian urban fantasy features a wlw enemies to lovers romance and a Latine representation.
We follow Daniela Vargas. She lives in a dystopian world where each man is entitled to 2 wives. A Primera and a Segunda. The Primera is intelligent, calm and analytical. The Segunda is the mother figure.
Outside the wall, the people starve. Dani started life outside of the wall. And she must use her wits to survive illegally in the capital. She must also marry one of the most powerful men in the kingdom.
The premise was intriguing. And the main character was instantly likeable. She also grows a lot through the book. But the romance makes this perfect. Two badass women married to a Straight man but fall in love with each other.
The atmospheric worldbuilding also has dark academia vibes. It opens in a prep school for girls. But discusses important issues such as immigration politics and forced marriage.
We set the Dark on Fire features an intriguing dystopian premise and a likeable, strong-minded main character.
This YA LGBTQ+ Dystopian book explores immigration politics, toxic masculinity and feminism. A great choice if you’re looking for queer Fantasy audiobooks with dark academia vibes.
If you’re a fan of dark academia books, I have tons of recommendations. Check out my article on LGBTQ+ Dark Academia Books here.
2. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
Looking for short LGBTQ+ Fantasy audiobooks? Then you need to read Silver in the Wood, a fantasy book set in a magical forest.
Silver in the Woods has an adorable mlm romance. The cutest grumpy/sunshine romance.
And on top of that, it references mythological creatures such as dryads and faeries.
It follows Tobias, a forest guardian who looks after the forest. One day Henry Silver moves into Greenhollow Hall. And everything changes.
Silver starts to dig up old secrets. Secrets best left forgotten.
Oh and the mlm romance is adorable.
If you like the cottagecore aesthetic then you’ll enjoy this book. The forest imagery is whimsical and enchanting. And makes you want to live in a cottage in the woods
And on top of that, it’s a short and easy read. You can listen to the whole duology in about 5 hours. An easy binge-read. A great pick if you’re searching for queer Fantasy audiobooks.
3. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
A Dark and Hollow Star is one of the best LGBTQ+ Fantasy audiobooks! If youāre a fan of Crescent City you definitely need to read a Dark and Hollow Star.
A series of gruesome murders threatens to expose the faerie world to humans.
Four queer teens ā NausicaƤ, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian ā each hold a piece of the truth. And they must track down the mysterious killer.
The book has not one but two compelling romances. And the characters make this such a compelling LGBTQ+ Fantasy book.
Arlo and NausicaƤ have amazing chemistry. NausicaƤ is a grumpy, chaotic and sarcastic lesbian. Arlo and NausicaƤ have a perfect grumpy/sunshine slow-burn vibe.
I listened to the audiobook version. It features a full cast of narrators. The voices of Vehan and NausicaƤ are spot on!
And the best part is you can listen to it on Audible with a free trial.
A great audiobook to put on if you’re looking for some escapism while you’re cleaning or relaxing before bedtime.
Whether you’re after an audiobook or the physical book, this is one of the best LGBTQ+ Fantasy audiobooks.
4. Crierās War by Nina Varela
Crierās War is an epic urban fantasy novel with a wlw romance.
Set in the Kingdom of Rabu, We follow Ayla. A War has ravaged the kingdom of Rabu. The Automae took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will.
Ayla is a human servant rising the ranks at the House of Soverign.
She dreams of avenging the death of her familyā¦ by killing the Sovereignās daughter ā the beautiful Lady Crier.
Now, Ayla, a human servant rising the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging the death of her familyā¦ by killing the Sovereignās daughter, Lady Crier. Crier was Made to be beautiful. Flawless. And to take over her father’s work.
Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her fatherās legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isnāt the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayl
One of the best LGBTQ+ Fantasy audiobooks. You need to read this page-turner.
5. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Gideon the Ninth is an awesome LGBTQ+ Fantasy book. Moira Quirk is the perfect narrator for this audiobook. And she brings the character Gideon to life.
We follow Gideon. Unfriendly nuns brought her up. And Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude. She packs up her sword and prepares to launch her daring escape.
But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.
The Emperor invites the heirs of each of his loyal Houses into a deadly trial. And in doing so, he summons Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House, into action.
If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection. But no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier.
Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.
Lesbian Necromancers in Space? Sold! The messy characters, mystery and hilarious dialogue make this a compelling lsiten. And in particular, the funny dialogue between Gideon and Harrowhark sets this book apart. The hilarious conversations between the pair made me laugh out loud.
This is an addictive binge read and the pace also keeps moving quickly. You keep reading to learn what will happen next.
A great pick if you’re looking for LGBTQ+ Fantasy audiobooks.
6. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Cemetery Boys is an urban fantasy with spooky, fall vibes. It features a compelling mystery and magic offset with a cute romance. It also has an incredible transgender main character.
Cemetery Boys follows Yadriel whose traditional Latine family has problems accepting his true gender.
Yadriel is determined to prove himself. So he performs a ritual to become a Brujo. He performs a ritual. And then he sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin.
But he actually summons Julian Diaz. The schoolās resident bad boy. And he wonāt go quietly. But the longer Julian stays, the less Yadriel wants him to leave.
The unique mix of mystery and magic initially sells this book. But the characters set this fantasy apart from other LGBTQ+ Fantasy books. Well-written with good character development and funny dialogue.
If you’re searching for fantasy books with transgender and non-binary characters, I have some great suggestions. You can check out my article on fantasy books with trans & non-binary characters here.
7. The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl
This is another seriously underrated book! You definitely need to read this. It features a diverse cast, plenty of fairy tale references and dark academia world-building. The audiobook is engrossing, and the mystery kept me listening.
I was unsure of whether to include this because it doesn’t have a main character who is trans or non-binary. However, it does have a side character who is transgender. Plus it has a cast full of LGBTQ+ characters.
The Grimrose Girls is a modern take on classic fairytales such as The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
This book reimagines the heroines of classic fairytales as friends at an elite boarding school. After their friend dies, the police rule the death as suicide. But they decide to investigate to discover what really happened.
Grimrose Girls is a unique concept and fantasy retelling. The mystery was gripping and well-paced. And the story keeps mentioning tantalizing details that keep you engaged.
The story also uses the darker versions of the fairy tales. And this added to the dark academia, mysterious tone of the book. Some reviews do mention the lack of world-building, but I personally preferred this because it kept the plot fast-paced.
I’m a huge fan of a fantasy retelling. Check out my article on ya fantasy retellings for even more recommendations.
8. Malice by Heather Walter
Let me tell you – Malice is one of the best books I have read this year. It was an instant 5 stars from me.
If you’re looking LGBTQ+ Fantasy audiobooks then you need to pick up this duology. You will love the dystopian world building, morally grey main character and grumpy/sunshine romance. Plus the duology includes some fantastic mythical creatures.
Malice is a Maleficent retelling. The book is set in a Kingdom called Briar.
Once upon a time, a wicked fairy cursed a line of princesses to die. Only true loveās kiss can break the curse.
The book follows Alyce ā the dark grace.
She was left abandoned in Briar from a dark kingdom. The dark magic that runs in her veins abhors residents in Briar. Except for Princess Aurora.
Not only does Princess Aurora accept her. But she encourages Alyce to accept herself.
This book is almost a cross between Wicked and The Hunger Games. But with fae.
The world building is darkly magical. And the residents of Briar reminded me of the residents of the Capitol. I LOVED the depiction of the Imps and goblins in Misrule. Plus both books reference fae. A must-read for anyone after the best LGBTQ+ Fantasy audiobooks.
9. Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
A Girls of Paper and Fire is a dark ya fantasy featuring magic and a dystopian society. It is set in a gorgeously written Malaysian inspired world with Asian mythology woven seamlessly throughout. A word of warning, this is quite dark so please check content warnings before reading.
Girls of Paper and Fire follows Lei. She is a member of the Paper Caste. And the people of Ikhara persecute her.
She sees the royal guards take her mother. Afterwards, Lei suffers with trauma. But the guards return and try to take Lei. She has to learn skills fitting of a Kingās Consort. But she falls in love.
The worldbuilding in this book is seriously beautiful. Natasha Ngan was inspired by her own experiences growing up in Malaysia – a country with a mix of cultures. And Ikhara was heavily inspired by this.
The character development is excellent. I loved the wlw romance in the book. The grumpy/sunshine trope was executed perfectly. The plot of the book is quite dark but it was handled sensitively
The pacing did lapse a bit in the middle for me. But the character development was so good that I still enjoyed reading it. If you’re looking for LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks then this is definitely worth reading
10. Under the whispering door by T.J. Klune
Searching for a lighthearted fantasy audiobook? This is the perfect pick. This urban fantasy is set in a cute teashop. While it is a fantasy, it reads like a contemporary novel. While it deals with death, this still somehow feels low stakes. And the adorable romance offsets any complex themes.
We follow Wallace Price. A reaper comes to collect him from his own funeral. But instead of taking him directly to the afterlife, leads him to a tea shop in a small village.
Hugo runs the teashop but is also the ferryman to souls who need to cross over. But Wallace isn’t ready to abandon the life he barely lived.
This book is perfect for anyone new to the fantasy genre. The writing is easy-to-read and while it includes fantasy elements, this book reads as more of a YA Contemporary.
This book deals with so many heavy topics such as death, grief and loss. But despite such heavy topics this is such a light-hearted, comforting read. T.J. Klune uses laughter, emotions and romance to it.
If you’re looking for mlm Fantasy books you should definitely pick up some of T.J Klune’s work. For even more mlm Fantasy recommendations – you can check out this blog post for even more mlm fantasy books.
11. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
The Jasmine Throne took me several reads to enjoy. I struggled initially with the worldbuilding when I first read, and I ended up dnfing this book. But the second time, I listened to the audiobook. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version of this high fantasy novel.
A captive princess, forbidden magic and a sapphic love story.
Malini has been imprisoned by her dictator brother and spends her days isolated in Hirana, an ancient temple.
Priya is a maidservant who makes the treacherous journey to the top of Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is thrilled to be anonymous if it keeps her dangerous secret safe.
But Malini accidentally witnesses Priya’s true nature. And their destinies become irrevocably tangled.
This book is full of epic worldbuilding, magic and morally grey lesbians. If you like an enemies to lovers fantasy book with LGBT Characters then you should pick this one up.
12. The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
I first came across The Sunbearer Trials when browsing for book recommendations on BookTok. And I’m obsessed! It’s an urban fantasy book featuring a transgender main character and Mexican worldbuilding. It also has some serious Hunger Games vibes.
It’s set in a world where the Mexican Gods and Goddesses are real. And their children are semidioses.
As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished to that Sol can keep travelling along the sky and keep the Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses aged between thirteen and eighteen are chosen as the most worthy to compete in The Sunbearer Trials.
The winner will carry light to all the temples of Reino del Sol. The loser is sacrificed to Sol. And their body is used to fuel the sun stones.
Teo is a Jade SemidiĆ³s and the trans son of Quetzal – the goddess of birds. As a Jade, he’s unlikely to be chosen.
But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses who isnāt a Gold. Teo must compete against semidiĆ³ses who have spent their life training for the sunbearer trials.
This was such an addictive read. The writing style was easy to read. Likewise the worldbuilding hooks you in without feeling like a huge chunk at the start. The pace also kept me turning the pages.
If you’re looking for urban fantasy books with lgbtq+ characters you should definitely read this. Especially if you enjoyed the Percy Jackson or Hunger Games books.
13. Cinderella is dead by Kalynn Bayron
A Cinderella retelling with a sapphic romance. This is another twist on the classic story that features BIPOC characters and a wlw romance.
The premise is that teen girls are now required to appear at an annual ball where men select wives. But Sophia wants to marry her childhood best friend Erin. And isnāt a fan of the whole parade in front of suitors thing.
She decides to flee and decided to take down the king once and for all.
The dystopian twist on the classic Cinderella story makes this book unique. The romance is a bit insta-lovey but well developed.
The plot will keep you hooked throughout. Women overthrowing a dystopian patriarchy.
Kalynn Bayron writes woodland and cottagecore imagery beautifully. This book will 100% make you want to live in the forest.
I also LOVE that it’s a standalone.
Standalone ya fantasy books are hard to find. Let alone with lesbian representation. If you’re looking for a ya lesbian fantasy book then I highly recommend Cinderella is Dead.
If you’re looking for lesbian fantasy books, I have tons of recommendations. Check out my article on lesbian fantasy books here.
14. Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn
An old castle, an eerie mystery and a witch. Searching for a witchy fantasy audiobook for fall? This is perfect. You could listen to this with rain pattering on the window and a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
Bitterthorn is a beautiful dark fantasy with a sapphic romance. The intriguing mystery hooks you in and the fast pace make this easy to binge read.
Bitterthorn is set in Blumwald, a town overshadowed by an ancient curse. In a sinister castle in the depths of the wild wood lives a witch. Once a generation, she claims a companion. Never to be seen again.
We follow Mina, daughter of the Duke. Grieving and lonely, she has lost all hope for any future. So when the Witch demands her next companion, Mina volunteers.
Stranded with her darkly alluring captor, the mystery of what happened to the previous companions draws Mina into the heart of a terrifying secret that could save her life, or end it.
The gothic worldbuilding drew me in to a magical world filled with a crumbling castle, wild woods and a small village. Coupled with an intriguing mystery, it compells you to keep listening. Not to much, the haunting romance of two lost souls finding each other. Highly recommend.
