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. You’re on a long, dreary commute back from work. Maybe you’re crammed on a crowded commuter train. Or maybe you’re stuck in traffic. And you’re 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.
That’s why, I’ve compiled the best LGBTQ+ fantasy audiobooks. From mythology in urban settings to modern magic and fae.
If you’re looking for even more audiobook recommendations, you might want to check out the following posts.
Read on for the best LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks
The Best LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks
Here are the top LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks 🙂
These are the LGBTQ+ Fantasy audiobooks I REALLY recommend.
1. We set the dark on fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
We Set the Dark on Fire is one of the most captivating wlw enemies to lovers romances. This Ya dystopian urban fantasy novel features a wlw romance and Latine representation.
We Set The Dark On Fire follows 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 LGBTQ+ 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 LGBTQ+ 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 you’re 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 – Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian – 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 Nausicaä have amazing chemistry. Nausicaä is a grumpy, chaotic and sarcastic lesbian. Arlo and Nausicaä 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 Nausicaä 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. Crier’s War by Nina Varela
Crier’s War is an epic urban fantasy novel with a wlw romance.
Set in the Kingdom of Rabu, it and follows 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 family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter – 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 family… by killing the Sovereign’s 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 father’s legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isn’t 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. It features lesbian necomancers in space. The messy characters and hilarious dialogue make this an incredible listen.
It follows 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.
For me, the humour and dialogue between Gideon and Harrowhark sets this book apart. The hilarious conversations between the pair made me laugh out loud.
It's also an addictive binge read. The pace also keeps moving quickly. And 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 a great pick if you're looking for an urban fantasy or a book with fall vibes. It features a cute romance and a 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 school’s resident bad boy. And he won’t 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.
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 love’s kiss can break the curse.
The book follows Alyce – 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
When it comes to YA Fantasy, you should definitely read Girls of Paper and Fire. A dark ya fantasy featuring magic and a dystopian society. And Asian mythology is woven seamlessly throughout. It includes a wlw romance.
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 King’s 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
TJ Klune writes incredible feel-good mlm fantasy books. Set in progressive worlds, the romance is always well developed.
Umder the Whispering door is no exception. It follows 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
This is another book that wasn't for me. But it's a popular high fantasy audiobook loved by many. If you're a fan of high fantasy books then I highly recommend checking this out.
It features 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 Semidiós 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 isn’t a Gold. Teo must compete against semidióses 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 isn’t 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.
This post was all about LGBTQ+ Fantasy Audiobooks
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