In the tumultuous place our world has become, where we hurdle ever closer to the wars we read about in history books, I find myself remembering this quote, “…a little rebellion now and then is a good thing.”
It’s from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to James Madison in January of 1787. And then, much like today, the world is a very disquieted place where tyrants play at being kings and good people are trampled in the streets for the mere crime of existing.
So if you feel like committing your own small act of rebellion, here are 10 Queer books from across the genres featuring tales of resistance. Because books are—and always have been—political.
When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.
— Thomas Jefferson
1) Prince’s Gambit
The Captive Prince Trilogy Book 2
by C.S. Pacat
Queer Genre: Achillean Romance, Bisexual Romance, Demisexual Romance
Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, New Adult Romance, Action Fantasy, Enemies-to-lovers Romance, Forbidden Romance, Slow-Burn Romance, Royal Romance, Resistance Fantasy, Queernormative Fantasy
2) A Tide of Treason
by A. B. Daniels-Annachi
Queer Genre: Trans Romance, Trans Fantasy
Genres: Romantasy, South East Asian Myth & Legend, Fantasy Adventure, Sword & Sorcery, Fairytale Retelling, Mermaid Romance, Resistance Fantasy
3) The Jasmine Throne
The Burning Kingdoms Book 1
by Tasha Suri
Queer Genre: Sapphic Fantasy
Genres: Historical Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, Fantasy Adventure, Resistance Fantasy
Awards: World Fantasy Award Winner for Best Novel 2022, Named Best Book of 2021 by Publishers Weekly + Library Journal + Booklist + the New York Public Library
4) The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen
The Doomsday Books Book 1
by K.J. Charles
Queer Genre: Achillean Historical Romance
Genres: Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Regency Romance, Enemies-to-lovers Romance, Second Chance Romance, Espionage Romance
Awards: Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Romance
5) An Unkindness of Ghosts
by Rivers Solomon
Queer Genre: Intersex SciFi, Bisexual SciFi, Gender Non-conforming SciFi, Ace Spec SciFi
Genres: Black SciFi, Suspense & Thrillers, Post-Apocalyptic SciFi, Neurodiverse Fiction, Resistance SciFi, Dystopian SciFi
Awards: Esquire’s 50 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time
6) Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea
Tomes & Tea Book 1
by Rebecca Thorne
Queer Genre: Sapphic Romance
Genres: Cozy Fantasy, Romantasy, Magic Romance, RomCom Fantasy, Cafe Romance, Humorous Fantasy, Hurt/Comfort Romance, Resistance Fantasy
7) randmaster of Demonic Cultivation
Volume 4
by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Queer Genre: Achillean Romantasy, Demisexual Romance
Genres: Danmei (Chinese Boys Love), Xianxia (Chinese Supernatural Fantasy), Paranormal Fantasy, Paranormal Mystery, Murder Mystery, Romantasy, Historical Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy Adventure, Slow-burn Romance, Neurodiverse Romance, Resistance Fantasy
8) Mademoiselle Revolution
by Zoë Sivak
Queer Genre: Bisexual Historical Romance
Genres: Historical Romance, Resistance Fiction, Black Historical Fiction, Espionage Romance
9) Gideon the Ninth
The Locked Tomb Series Book 1
by Tamsyn Muir
Queer Genre: Sapphic Science Fantasy
Genres: Science Fantasy, SciFi Adventure, Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Space Opera, Sword & Sorcery, Resistance SciFi, Queernormative Science Fantasy
Awards: Locus Award Winner 2020, Crawford Award Winner 2020, Hugo + Nebula + Dragon + World Fantasy Award Finalist 2020, Hugo Award Finalist for Best Series 2023, Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Books of 2019,, New York Times & USA Today Bestseller, NPR + New York Public Library + BookPage + Shelf Awareness + BookRiot + Bustle Best Book of the Year 2019
10) The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion
Danielle Cain Book 1
by Margaret Killjoy
Queer Genre: Queer Dark Fantasy, Queer Contemporary Fantasy, Queer Suspense Thriller
Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Supernatural Horror, Suspense & Thrillers, Supernatural Mystery, Supernatural Fantasy, Female Sleuths, American Fiction, Resistance Fiction
Leave a Reply