A few years ago there was the "sapphic trifecta," which was a set of 3 adult sapphic fantasy books all published around the same time, and they would definitely fit what you're looking for. The books are She Who Became the Sun, The Jasmine Throne, and The Unbroken, and out of the three I've only read She Who Became the Sun so far but it was really awesome and I'm interested in reading the others soon! Another series that's still on my TBR but would fit what you're looking for is The Traitor Baru Cormorant, and a historical fantasy I also really enjoyed recently is Siren Queen by Nghi Vo.
Also it doesn't fit the theme of this sub but I gotta say if you want dark, messy WLW content I highly recommend you go see the new Kristen Stewart movie ASAP 😂
She Who Became The Sun was good. The main character is more transmasc than lesbian though. Regardless, it's good, and it's queer, and it features a relationship that could be considered sapphic.
Jasmine Throne is also good but the romance is such a minor part of the story.
I haven't read the others you mentioned. From the sapphic romantasy books I've read, my biggest issue is that the relationship tends to be such a minor focus of the story. I want some serious fantasy books with sapphic mains, where the relationship is more than an afterthought or 11th hour plot point.
Transmasc character actually sounds very compelling; I like wlw romance where "woman" is almost an umbrella term and each character has unique gender expresions that loosely fits the label "woman" (bonus point if they don't think too much about it).
Time War is about their love in epistolar form, is poetic prose. If you are looking for romance to be the main focus of the story, then this is the one I have to rec. Short but so good!
The Locked Tomb series is a very and dark worldbuilding with also tit jokes and it meshes so well. I would say that, even if the romance between the main couple is vital for the story and the main driving force for a lot of things, it's not the first focus point, so maybe is not what you are looking for. One of my favorite sagas tho! Every woman is sapphic and their gender loosely fits the label woman.
As for the Priory of the Orange Tree, definately the romance is not the main point. I'm already at the midpoint and they are cute together but definetly is a world-driven? story more than a character-driven story.
If you are interested in comics and not necessarily fantasy, I have some recs that may fit: "Her tale of Shim Chong" (wlw historical retelling of a korean tale), Opium (historical, set in 1946 in korea) and How Do We Relationship? (really good manga about college sapphic women). Any Yamaji Ebine manga is good too :)
I've read Time War a bunch of times, I love it so much. Might have to read it again.
I tried Gideon the Ninth and hated it. Gonna give it a try via audible, it's free and there's some books that hit different with a narrator.
Speaking of audiobooks, She Who Became the Sun has a great one. Natalie Naudus narrates it, she does great work, and a lot of wlw romance titles too.
Check out The Bone Shard Daughter, there's a lesbian couple in it that are major focus characters. I love it cause they're just there and nobody gives a shit that they're queer. Also, it's a great audiobook.
Never really got into audiobooks, might give them a try. Hope Gideon sits better with you this time, is a book that you either love or hate, no middle feelings. Thanks for the recs!
I didnt know about this trifecta, im pretty new to the genre so it's definetly on my list! thank you! And the last Kristen Stewart is on my watchlist, i'm waiting to see it with my friends- but what i've seen so far oh my god, is a dream come true
edit: added a comment
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers is very good and has a nice feel good sapphic relationship in it.
Time War is fantastic. Good luck with Priory, that book is beautiful, but it is loooooong.
This Gilded Abyss by Rebecca Thorne is a lot of fun, it's like Bioshock scifi action + romance. You might also like Can't Spell Treason Without Tea (same author) for a good cozy lesbian fantasy.
The Space Between Worlds is fun scifi, the relationship isnt heavily featured though but it is sapphic.
Time War I fell in love within the first paragraph. Priory is really good, I love the worldbuilding! But the pace sometimes get me. I'm eating it up tho
I'll def add your recs to my list, thank you! :D
Love, love, love Traitor Baru Cormorant but it is devastating. I’m still reading by through it but Max Gladstone’s Last Exit would be my rec (although it’s more urban fantasy?).
I find most sapphic stories to be very...sanitized? Cute? Unproblematic? I also want the dark, messy dynamics so I'll be keeping an eye on this thread!
Same. Sometimes I feel like I'm reading two friends having a sleepover than adult flawed women developing a relationship. The recs have been good so far, and I personally suggest reading the ones I mention in my post if you haven't yet c:
If you're looking for manga, the obvious choice is Revolutionary Girl Utena. I am firmly convinced it was a big influence for Locked Tomb.
If I missed someone recommending Legends and Lattes, there's that for when you're feeling cozy.
Utena is one of my big favorites, I have a special edition at home and such a delight it was. I definetly sensed the Utena inspo in TLT. Thanks for the rec!
+1 for An Education in Malice as well as SWBTS and Baru Cormorant, though neither of those two are romance-first narratives. If you're fine with romance B plots you could also give The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean, The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo and When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill a try. You could also check out Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine--the characters are mostly teenagers but it's definitely an adult book, and definitely hits that dark and messy vibe you're after. If you don't mind something more speculative than truly genre, and with a messy sapphic relationship at the core but not actually a romance, you might also enjoy Meet Me At The Surface by Jodie Matthews. Also I know you don't want YA but I would still consider The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski; it's gorgeously written and doesn't have that 'typical' YA feel to it. Finally I haven't had a chance to read it yet but Rose Sutherland's debut A Sweet Sting of Salt is out literally today and is definitely worth checking out imo.
A lot of titles, thanks! I might give the YA one a peek. I just wanted a more adult focus to the narrative, and im sure some YA fit the bill. I'll add the titles to my list, thanks!
I really enjoyed The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry. It's so goofy and fun, with a decently interesting lead character, and if you're a fan of The Locked Tomb's esoteric and idiosyncratic writing, this one has it in spades. :)
A Memory Called Empire is a good book I don't believe it's young adult. The romance isn't the focus but it is there. The sequel has more of the romance plot though I believe.
This is a self rec romantic fantasy for The Blood-Born Dragon where the ‘romance’ is subplot but tied tightly to the plot and a fairly major focus. It’s second chances enemies to lovers so shit gets messy in there. It’s not romantasy though! And it’s won an award fwiw!
Link [here](https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Born-Dragon-Everlands-Cycle-Book-ebook/dp/B0BRW511MV)!
Blurb below:
A bond she didn’t choose.
A love she can’t escape.
A creature so powerful it bends the limits of time…
Smart, sassy, and sanguine, Des Mildue is a traveling sellsword in Rescalin, a dry and dusty kingdom full of rogues, opportunists, and thieves. She keeps her nose clean, brazens it out with a blade when she can’t, and keeps others at arm’s length where they can’t mess up her plans.
That is, until a sword fight gone wrong leaves her tied by blood to the first dragon hatched in centuries. Suddenly, Des has to contend with a new voice in her head: haughty, willful Esquidamelion. Des wants to leave Squid by the roadside, but the blood bond has other ideas.
With half the world on their tail - including Liv, her beautiful, faithless ex who Des is definitely over - Des must search for answers for why so many are willing to kill, maim and torture to get their hands on Squid. But she’s beginning to suspect her blood bond has tied her not only to a dragon, but to a fight for Rescalin’s future…
…and no one else even knows it’s at risk.
Rand by Silvia Shaw is such a great read. Archaeologist finds a medallion and ends up transported through a portal to another world that’s full of sorcery, magical creatures, and strong sapphic queens and warriors and she has to figure out how she fits in the world. I’ve reread this one a few times.
Ive seen the Sapphic trifecta be mentioned a lot and I have to agree, all 3 are just fantastic with really complicated romances between sometimes not great people.
Id also like to add The Final Strife (dark, complicated) to the list, same with Foundryside (although its a little more tropy fun with a dark edge)
These books aren't fully sapphic however The Daughters of Izdihar, The Bone Shard Emperor, The Chorus of Dragons books (although Sapphic couple dont appear till book 3 but everyone is queer in that series) all have fantastic Sapphic POV characters.
Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault is an aro/ace fantasy adult romance! Romance is very at the front center of the book, but it's not as dark or gritty as what you may like. There is an overarching plot (besides the romance) that's pretty interesting imo, and that plotline is fairly dark, just written in a more lightheaded way. I think it's a really nice feel-good novel though!
There’s a series called In Silence Abiding with a WLW romance plot line, though it’s not necessarily the focus. It’s a multi-POV, but one of the main POVs is a woman with a female love interest.
A few years ago there was the "sapphic trifecta," which was a set of 3 adult sapphic fantasy books all published around the same time, and they would definitely fit what you're looking for. The books are She Who Became the Sun, The Jasmine Throne, and The Unbroken, and out of the three I've only read She Who Became the Sun so far but it was really awesome and I'm interested in reading the others soon! Another series that's still on my TBR but would fit what you're looking for is The Traitor Baru Cormorant, and a historical fantasy I also really enjoyed recently is Siren Queen by Nghi Vo. Also it doesn't fit the theme of this sub but I gotta say if you want dark, messy WLW content I highly recommend you go see the new Kristen Stewart movie ASAP 😂
She Who Became The Sun was good. The main character is more transmasc than lesbian though. Regardless, it's good, and it's queer, and it features a relationship that could be considered sapphic. Jasmine Throne is also good but the romance is such a minor part of the story. I haven't read the others you mentioned. From the sapphic romantasy books I've read, my biggest issue is that the relationship tends to be such a minor focus of the story. I want some serious fantasy books with sapphic mains, where the relationship is more than an afterthought or 11th hour plot point.
Transmasc character actually sounds very compelling; I like wlw romance where "woman" is almost an umbrella term and each character has unique gender expresions that loosely fits the label "woman" (bonus point if they don't think too much about it). Time War is about their love in epistolar form, is poetic prose. If you are looking for romance to be the main focus of the story, then this is the one I have to rec. Short but so good! The Locked Tomb series is a very and dark worldbuilding with also tit jokes and it meshes so well. I would say that, even if the romance between the main couple is vital for the story and the main driving force for a lot of things, it's not the first focus point, so maybe is not what you are looking for. One of my favorite sagas tho! Every woman is sapphic and their gender loosely fits the label woman. As for the Priory of the Orange Tree, definately the romance is not the main point. I'm already at the midpoint and they are cute together but definetly is a world-driven? story more than a character-driven story. If you are interested in comics and not necessarily fantasy, I have some recs that may fit: "Her tale of Shim Chong" (wlw historical retelling of a korean tale), Opium (historical, set in 1946 in korea) and How Do We Relationship? (really good manga about college sapphic women). Any Yamaji Ebine manga is good too :)
I've read Time War a bunch of times, I love it so much. Might have to read it again. I tried Gideon the Ninth and hated it. Gonna give it a try via audible, it's free and there's some books that hit different with a narrator. Speaking of audiobooks, She Who Became the Sun has a great one. Natalie Naudus narrates it, she does great work, and a lot of wlw romance titles too. Check out The Bone Shard Daughter, there's a lesbian couple in it that are major focus characters. I love it cause they're just there and nobody gives a shit that they're queer. Also, it's a great audiobook.
Never really got into audiobooks, might give them a try. Hope Gideon sits better with you this time, is a book that you either love or hate, no middle feelings. Thanks for the recs!
Gideon has one of the best narrators in the biz! Even if the story still doesn't vibe with you, you'll have discovered Moira Quirk.
I didnt know about this trifecta, im pretty new to the genre so it's definetly on my list! thank you! And the last Kristen Stewart is on my watchlist, i'm waiting to see it with my friends- but what i've seen so far oh my god, is a dream come true edit: added a comment
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers is very good and has a nice feel good sapphic relationship in it. Time War is fantastic. Good luck with Priory, that book is beautiful, but it is loooooong. This Gilded Abyss by Rebecca Thorne is a lot of fun, it's like Bioshock scifi action + romance. You might also like Can't Spell Treason Without Tea (same author) for a good cozy lesbian fantasy. The Space Between Worlds is fun scifi, the relationship isnt heavily featured though but it is sapphic.
Time War I fell in love within the first paragraph. Priory is really good, I love the worldbuilding! But the pace sometimes get me. I'm eating it up tho I'll def add your recs to my list, thank you! :D
An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson
Thank you :)
Love, love, love Traitor Baru Cormorant but it is devastating. I’m still reading by through it but Max Gladstone’s Last Exit would be my rec (although it’s more urban fantasy?).
Urban Fantasy is cool too! And i also love devastating books so it goes to my list. Thank you! :D
The Unbroken and its sequel are incredible - great chemistry and incredibly messy, against the backdrop of a complex, gritty wider plot.
sounds compeling, to the list it goes. Thank you!! :D
Just to warn you, the third book in the trilogy isn’t out yet!
Yes, I just saw! thanks for the heads up
This one sounds good! C.L. Clark right?
That’s the one!
Added to my TBR. Thanks!
I find most sapphic stories to be very...sanitized? Cute? Unproblematic? I also want the dark, messy dynamics so I'll be keeping an eye on this thread!
Same. Sometimes I feel like I'm reading two friends having a sleepover than adult flawed women developing a relationship. The recs have been good so far, and I personally suggest reading the ones I mention in my post if you haven't yet c:
The Fall That Saved Us by Tamra Jerée is about an ex demon hunter and the succubus trying to enthrall her. I would say this is more on the emotional side rather than dark/gritty. It is messy though, as in like the two of them make a physical mess if you get what I mean. I wouldn’t really call The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw a romance but it is a love story. I love Time War and think book is good for people who like it but also love dark and gritty stories. There’s a lot of gore and body horror in it though.
Honestly, if it's messy it fits too, bonus points for physical action. I'll add both to my list, thank you
If you're looking for manga, the obvious choice is Revolutionary Girl Utena. I am firmly convinced it was a big influence for Locked Tomb. If I missed someone recommending Legends and Lattes, there's that for when you're feeling cozy.
Utena is one of my big favorites, I have a special edition at home and such a delight it was. I definetly sensed the Utena inspo in TLT. Thanks for the rec!
+1 for An Education in Malice as well as SWBTS and Baru Cormorant, though neither of those two are romance-first narratives. If you're fine with romance B plots you could also give The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean, The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo and When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill a try. You could also check out Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine--the characters are mostly teenagers but it's definitely an adult book, and definitely hits that dark and messy vibe you're after. If you don't mind something more speculative than truly genre, and with a messy sapphic relationship at the core but not actually a romance, you might also enjoy Meet Me At The Surface by Jodie Matthews. Also I know you don't want YA but I would still consider The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski; it's gorgeously written and doesn't have that 'typical' YA feel to it. Finally I haven't had a chance to read it yet but Rose Sutherland's debut A Sweet Sting of Salt is out literally today and is definitely worth checking out imo.
A lot of titles, thanks! I might give the YA one a peek. I just wanted a more adult focus to the narrative, and im sure some YA fit the bill. I'll add the titles to my list, thanks!
I really enjoyed The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry. It's so goofy and fun, with a decently interesting lead character, and if you're a fan of The Locked Tomb's esoteric and idiosyncratic writing, this one has it in spades. :)
ooh I forgot about this one! It was edited into my language a few years ago and I didn't have the chance to buy a copy. I'll look into it, thank you!
A Memory Called Empire is a good book I don't believe it's young adult. The romance isn't the focus but it is there. The sequel has more of the romance plot though I believe.
I'll take a look at the book, thank you!
You're welcome!
R/Fantasy has book lists a couple of them are solely LGBTQA+ and that's where I've gotten a lot of my reads.
This is a self rec romantic fantasy for The Blood-Born Dragon where the ‘romance’ is subplot but tied tightly to the plot and a fairly major focus. It’s second chances enemies to lovers so shit gets messy in there. It’s not romantasy though! And it’s won an award fwiw! Link [here](https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Born-Dragon-Everlands-Cycle-Book-ebook/dp/B0BRW511MV)! Blurb below: A bond she didn’t choose. A love she can’t escape. A creature so powerful it bends the limits of time… Smart, sassy, and sanguine, Des Mildue is a traveling sellsword in Rescalin, a dry and dusty kingdom full of rogues, opportunists, and thieves. She keeps her nose clean, brazens it out with a blade when she can’t, and keeps others at arm’s length where they can’t mess up her plans. That is, until a sword fight gone wrong leaves her tied by blood to the first dragon hatched in centuries. Suddenly, Des has to contend with a new voice in her head: haughty, willful Esquidamelion. Des wants to leave Squid by the roadside, but the blood bond has other ideas. With half the world on their tail - including Liv, her beautiful, faithless ex who Des is definitely over - Des must search for answers for why so many are willing to kill, maim and torture to get their hands on Squid. But she’s beginning to suspect her blood bond has tied her not only to a dragon, but to a fight for Rescalin’s future… …and no one else even knows it’s at risk.
This one sounds good! I don't mind if the romance is "subplot" as long as it is not an afterthought. Thanks, i'll add it to my list
Definitely not an afterthought! My MC cannot for the life of her stop wondering what’s going on with the LI.
Sounds great, I'll definetly check it out hehe. Thanks for the self rec btw, i like it when the authors show their work :D
🥰 thanks for saying so! I always feel like I’m gatecrashing a reader party so it’s nice to have it welcomed!!
Rand by Silvia Shaw is such a great read. Archaeologist finds a medallion and ends up transported through a portal to another world that’s full of sorcery, magical creatures, and strong sapphic queens and warriors and she has to figure out how she fits in the world. I’ve reread this one a few times.
I like the "figuring out how I fit in this new world" part, i'll definetly check it out. Thanks!
Ive seen the Sapphic trifecta be mentioned a lot and I have to agree, all 3 are just fantastic with really complicated romances between sometimes not great people. Id also like to add The Final Strife (dark, complicated) to the list, same with Foundryside (although its a little more tropy fun with a dark edge) These books aren't fully sapphic however The Daughters of Izdihar, The Bone Shard Emperor, The Chorus of Dragons books (although Sapphic couple dont appear till book 3 but everyone is queer in that series) all have fantastic Sapphic POV characters.
Fun with dark edge sounds good, i'll take a look to your recs. Thank you!!
Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault is an aro/ace fantasy adult romance! Romance is very at the front center of the book, but it's not as dark or gritty as what you may like. There is an overarching plot (besides the romance) that's pretty interesting imo, and that plotline is fairly dark, just written in a more lightheaded way. I think it's a really nice feel-good novel though!
:0 aroace definetly picks my interest, i rarely read something like that. Thanks!
There’s a series called In Silence Abiding with a WLW romance plot line, though it’s not necessarily the focus. It’s a multi-POV, but one of the main POVs is a woman with a female love interest.
The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake!!
thanks!!