Queer (adult) Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Releasing in 2021

The list of queer (adult) SFF gets longer and longer every year and I thought it was handy to have the full list in one place, not just for myself, but for others to find even more queer book releases as well.

Below you’ll find a list of queer adult science fiction and fantasy titles, and if known to me, details on queer identities they include. (even if no details are given, there is always at least one main character who is queer. I’m adding books based on what authors themself identified as a queer book or assumed based on previous books in a series)

The list is in no way meant to be complete but it’s all the queer titles I found matching my personal interests.

You can also find my list of 2020’s releases here.

Note: Release dates are always subject to change and I can’t guarantee that this list is always accurate, but I’ll always be looking out for newly announced release dates, especially for those books that have no date yet as of me adding them to the list. All covers link to a book page with a full summary (blurbs are from authors or their publishers, not written by me).

(this list is a work in progress as of now and constantly updated, so excuse the occasional chaos and missing data)

January

Persephone Station by Stina Leicht

space opera
non-binary MC
pan MC
sapphic MC

A semi-organized band of beneficent criminals, wayward assassins, and washed up mercenaries with a penchant for doing the honorable thing.

The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner

historical fantasy
sapphic
ff

A down-and-out fire witch and a young gentlewoman join forces against a deadly conspiracy.

Across the Green Grass Fields (Wayward Children #6) by Seansn McGuire

(portal) fantasy
intersex MC

A young girl discovers a portal to a land filled with centaurs and unicorns.

The Mask of Mirrors (Rook & Rose #1) by M.A. Carrick

(epic) fantasy
queernorm world
queer MCs

In Nadežra, known as the City of Dreams, a con artist tries to pull off the ultimate scheme.
(behind Carrick is the author team of Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms!)

Dealbreaker (The Bounceback #2) by L.X. Beckett

scifi
lesbian MC

About the Bounceback Generation, the first to be raised free of the troubles of the late twenty-first century.

We could be Heroes by Mike Chen

scifi
pansexual MC

The vigilante and the villain must team up to stop a mad scientist who threatens the city, while trying to figure out who they really are.

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

(historical) fantasy
bi MC
polyamory

A lyrical and dreamy reimagining of Dracula’s brides.

February

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

scifi
mm

In an unforgiving empire, a scandal-prone prince and a dutiful scholar, who are forced into a political marriage, try to prevent an interplanetary war.

Engines of Oblivion (The Memory War #2) by Karen Osborne

scifi
bi MC
ff

Corporations running the galaxy are about to learn not everyone can be bought.

Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard

fantasy
ff

F/f The Goblin Emperor meets Howl’s Moving Castle in a precolonial Vietnamese inspired universe.

Voidbreaker (The Keepers #3) by David Dalglish

(epic) fantasy
queernorm
trans MC

When magical creatures storm the gates of Londheim and declare it for themselves, Devin, a warrior priest, must decide who the true monsters are.
(Note: the trans MC is a new character and wasn’t in the previous books!)

The Velocity of Revolution by Marshall Ryan Maresca

(urban) fantasy
pansexual MC

A secondary-world dieselpunk latinx pansexual fantasy filled with tacos, motorcycles and psychic mushrooms.

Soulstar (Witchmark #3) by C.L. Polk

historical fantasy

Assassinations, deadly storms, and long-lost love.

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within (Wayfarers #4) Becky Chambers

space opera
queernorm world

When a freak technological failure halts traffic to and from the planet Gora, three strangers are thrown together unexpectedly, with seemingly nothing to do but wait.

The Black Coast (The God-King Chronicles #1) by Mike Brooks

(epic) fantasy
queernorm world
queer MCs

When a freak technological failure halts traffic to and from the planet Gora, three strangers are thrown together unexpectedly, with seemingly nothing to do but wait.

Out Past the Stars (Farian War #3) by K.B. Wagers

scifi
bi MC

Gunrunner empress Hail Bristol must navigate alien politics and deadly plots to prevent an interspecies war.

Sun-Daughters, Sea Daughters by Aimee Ogden

scifi
bi MC

One woman will travel to the stars and beyond to save her beloved.

Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis by Nicky Drayden

scifi
queernorm world

A society lives in the belly of a beast—and an entire civilization’s survival depends on a pair of uneasy allies who must come together for one epic battle.

Alien into Charybdis by Alex White

scifi
bi MC
non-binary MC

A rogue colony where terror lurks in the tunnels of an abandoned Weyland-Yutani complex.

March

A Desolation Called Peace (Teixcalaan #2) by Arkady Martine

scifi
ff

An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space. No one can communicate with it, no one can destroy it, and Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus is running out of options.

The Councillor by E.J. Beaton

(high) fantasy
bipan MC
fm

A scholar’s quest to choose the next ruler of her nation amidst lies, conspiracy, and assassination.

The Unbroken (Magic of the Lost #1) by C.L. Clark

fantasy
sapphic

A tale of rebellion, espionage, and military might on the far outreaches of a crumbling desert empire.

The Bone Way by Holly J. Underhill

fantasy
sapphic MC
ff

A novella featuring a descent into the Shadow Realm, inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

April

The Princess and the Odium (Odium Trilogy #3) by Sam Ledel

fnantasy
f/f

Local Star by Aimee Ogden

space opera
polyamorous

Guttergirl Triz saves her hub from invaders from the Cyberbionautic Alliance, all the while negotiating her rekindled romance with ex.

First, Become Ashes by K.M. Szpara

fantasy
gay MC

The Fellowship raised Lark to kill monsters. But were those monsters ever real? (NOTE: contains explicit sadomasochism and sexual content, including rape)

Peaces by Helen Oyeyemi

fantasy
mm

About a couple forever changed by an unusual train voyage.

Malice by Heather Walter

(epic) fantasy
sapphic

A princess isn’t supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this darkly magical retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” true love is more than a simple fairy tale.

Gifting Fire (Stealing Thunder #2) by Alina Boyden

(epic) fantasy
trans(fem) MC

The Helm of Midnight by Marina Lostetter

fantasy
queernorm world

A legendary serial killer stalks the streets of a fantastical city.

The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner

fantasy
bi MC
f/f

Darkness is creeping across Europe, threatening the lives of every Jewish person in every village. Each sister will have to make an impossible choice in an effort to survive – and change the fate of their family forever.

Sistersong by Lucy Holland

historical fantasy
GNC MC

A tale of three siblings and three deadly sins.

Defekt by Nino Cipri

scifi
queer MC

Find out if five Dereks are better than one…

May

Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace

scifi
aroace MC

One young woman faces down an all-powerful corporation.

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

gothic horror
intersex MC
trans (fem) MC

Vern—seven months pregnant and desperate to escape the strict religious compound where she was raised—flees for the shelter of the woods.

Oaths of Legacy (The Bloodright Trilogy #2) by Emily Skrutskie

space opera
mm

Torn between loyalty and love, a young prince will learn how much he’s willing to sacrifice as he tries to destroy the rebellion that threatens his throne.

We are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker

scifi / literary fiction
ff

About one (queer) family and the technology that divides them.

The House of Always (A Chorus of Dragons #4) by Jenn Lyons

(epic) fantasy
bi MC

What if you were imprisoned for all eternity?

A Master of Djinn (Fatma el-Sha’arawi #3) by P. Djèlí Clark

fantasy
sapphic MC

When someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case.

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

fantasy
bi/pan MC

When Danso stumbles across a warrior wielding magic that shouldn’t exist, he’s put on a collision course with Bassa’s darkest secrets.

Blackheart Knights by Laure Even

(urban) fantasy
sapphic MC
gay, bi, non-binary SC

Imagine Camelot but in Gotham: a city where Arthurian knights are the celebrities of the day, riding on motorbikes instead of horses and competing in televised fights for fame and money.

The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis

(historical) fantasy
bi MC (m/f relationship)

In the quiet streets of Prague all manner of otherworldly creatures lurk in the shadows. Unbeknownst to its citizens, their only hope against the tide of predators are the dauntless lamplighters – secret elite of monster hunters.

Hard Reboot by Django Wexler

scifi
ff

Giant mech arena battles and intergalactic diplomacy. When did academia get to be so complicated?

The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley

(aternate) historical fiction
gay MC

Joe’s journey to unravel the truth will take him from French-occupied London to a remote Scottish island, and back through time itself as he battles for his life – and for a very different future.

June

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

(historical) fantasy
sapphic MC

A reimagining of The Great Gatsby told through the eyes of a queer, Asian-American Jordan Baker.

Future Feeling by Joss Lake

fantasy
trans (masc) MC

An embittered dog walker obsessed with a social media influencer inadvertently puts a curse on a young man–and must adventure into mysterious dimension in order to save him.

The Jasmine Throne (Burning Kingdoms #1) by Tasha Suri

(epic) fantasy
ff

A long-imprisoned princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic come together to rewrite the fate of an empire.

Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

fantasy
lesbian MC

A stressed zillennial lesbian fights gods, ghosts, gangsters & grandmas in 21st century Penang.

The Tangleroot Palace by Marjorie Liu

fantasy

You will find unexpected detours, dangerous magic, and even more dangerous women.

Catalyst Gate (The Protectorate #3) by Megan E. O’Keefe

scifi
bi/pan MC

The universe is under threat and an ancient alien intelligence threatens to bring humanity down.

Star Eater by Kerstin Hall

fantasy
bi MC

She swallowed a star, and the Sisterhood called her the Eater.
Elfreda Raughn will avoid pregnancy if it kills her, and one way or another, it will kill her.

July

Beast (The Blood of Reckoning #1) by Ollie Doherty

fantasy
queer MC

An adult fantasy with elements of dark folklore about a woman torn between protecting her family and fulfilling her duty to justice.

The Fallen (The Outside #2) by Ada Hoffmann

scifi
lesbian MC
ff

The Splinter King (The God-King Chronicles #2) by Mike Brooks

(epic) fantasy
queernorm

A Psalm for the Wild-built (Monk & Robot #1) by Becky Chambers

scifi
agender MC

One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of “what do people need?” is answered.

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

fantasy
genderqueer MC
trans MC

Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in this reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

A Desert Torn Asunder (The Song of the Shattered Sands #6) by Bradley P. Beaulieu

(epic) fantasy
bi MC

The twelve kings of Sharakai tried to bury their secrets in the sand. But no matter how deeply they are buried, secrets want to be found.

Hold Fast Through the Fire (NeoG #2) by K.B. Wagers

space opera
pan MC
ace MC
non-binary MC

The crew of Zuma’s Ghost must contend with personnel changes and a powerful cabal hellbent on dominating the trade lanes.

Once Stolen by D.N. Bryn

science fantasy
bi MC
non-binary love interest

A steampunk-inspired world of merfolk in a fun, fast-paced adventure with a hate-to-love romance, a boat-load of sass, and even more heart.

The Sea Wolf (Compass Rose #2) Anna Burke

scifi
lesbian MC

For Compass Rose, her ongoing mission aboard a mercenary ship brings an unexpected conflagration of adventure, danger, and romance.

August

Perhaps the Stars (Terra Ignota #4) by Ada Palmer

scifi
(gender) queer MC

Humanity has engineered a hard-won golden age, forged in the aftermath of a bitter conflict that wiped both religion and nation state from the planet.

The Second Rebel (The First Sister #2) by Linden A. Lewis

scifi
bi MC
non-binary MC

The Devil You Know (Mercenary Librarians #2) by Kit Rocha

Dystopian
romance
bi MC

In the Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Lu

fantasy
non-binary MC

A lyrical, intimate novella set in a remote, fantastical city that uses a complex living network to watch over its inhabitants and visitors.

September

The All-Consuming World by Cassandra Khaw

scifi
queer women

Queer women of color pulling a heist off against the AI gods that run the galaxy.

Among Thieves by M.J. Kuhn

fantasy
ff

A team of queer criminals who are the best at what they do come together to pull off an impossible job and against all odds start to care about each other, all while scheming to betray each other.

You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo

scifi

Retired and finally free of the continual war of conquest, Niko and the remnants of her former unit are content to spend the rest of their days working at the restaurant they built together, The Last Chance.

Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn

fantasy

Survivors from a flooded kingdom struggle alone on an ark. Resources are scant, and ravenous sea beasts circle.

The Bone Shard Emperor (The Drowning Empire #2) by Andrea Stewart

fantasy
sapphic MC
ff

The Actual Star by Monica Byrne

fantasy
queer and trans/non-binary

In each era, a reincarnated trinity of souls navigates the entanglements of tradition and progress, sister and stranger, and love and hate—until all of their age-old questions about the nature of existence converge

Summer Suns by Lee Mandelo

gothic
mm

A sweltering, queer Southern Gothic that crosses Appalachian street racing with academic intrigue, all haunted by hungry ghost.

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

scifi
fantasy
trans (fem) MC

Three women, a hell-damned violin legend and teacher, a young transgender runaway and aspiring musician, and a spaceship captain fleeing a faraway war, who find each other and unexpected magic.

October

Blood of the Chosen (Burningblade and Silvereye #2) by Django Wexler

(epic) fantasy
mm
ff

Long ago a great war wreaked devastation, destroying an empire and leaving a new republic in its wake. Now a new civil war has begun.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

fantasy
queer MC

Zinnia Gray: a real-life sleeping beauty who pricks her finger on a spindle’s end and finds herself Spider-Versed into a fairytale-version of her story.

Destroyer of Light by Jennifer Marie Brissett

scifi
queer MC

Over three hundred years in the future, all humans on the planet Eleusis are refugees following the alien destruction of Earth.

The Quicksilver Court (The Gate of Secrets #2) by Melissa Caruso

(epic) fantasy
bi MC

Nothing but Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

horror
(disaster) bi MC

A creepy haunted house tale, steeped in Japanese folklore and full of devastating twists.

November

A Marvellous Light (The Last Binding #1) by Freya Marske

(historical) fantasy
gay MC
mm

Queer Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, but make it sexy.

The God of Lost Words (Hell’s Library #3) by A.J. Hackwith

fantasy
pan MC

To save the Library of the Unwritten in Hell, former librarian Claire and her allies may have to destroy it first.

Even Greater Mistakes by Charlie Jane Anders

short story collection
queer MC

These stories tackle queerness, community, the absurdity of real life, identity, climate change, and the dangers of messing with a cult that worships a giant space testicle.

December

The Liar’s Knot (Rook & Rose #2) by M.A. Carrick

(epic) fantasy
queernorm world
queer MCs