The fantasy genre has various subgenres. There is epic fantasy for those looking for a quest or cozy fantasy to warm your heart. A subgenre of fantasy that has been on the rise lately is sapphic fantasy, which couldn’t come any sooner.
Sapphic fantasy is like most other fantasy—it can be epic, cozy, dark, etc—with one defining characteristic: it features a woman/woman-aligned protagonist who is attracted to other women. This distinction is not restricted to only being attracted to women—she may be attracted to various genders – but a woman/woman relationship is a part of the story or the character’s identity. The word “sapphic” is derived from the Archaic Greek poet Sappho, known for her love poetry with both women and men as muses.
In a genre that has predominantly featured stories by men about men, the rise of sapphic fantasy in the mainstream is long overdue. Readers demand more women with swords falling into adventure (and love) with other women. This subgenre expands fantasy with new voices and stories but also empowers and validates LGBTQIA2S+ readers who have been fans of the fantasy genre for years.
Sapphic fantasy has been around for a long time. However, it took off into the spotlight in 2021 with the publication of what readers have dubbed “the Sapphic Trifecta.” It consisted of three fantasy books that hit the mainstream with prominent sapphic storylines. With the help of this trio, sapphic fantasy has become a well-known term in the publishing world and is only a growing list.
The Sapphic Trifecta:
The Unbroken by C. L. Clark
A political fantasy following two women from different backgrounds who encounter magic, assassination attempts, rebellions, and the effects of empiric rule and colonialism. Tourraine is a soldier, stolen from her homeland as a child and trained to enforce the empire’s law. When a mission brings her back to her homeland she’s enlisted as a turncloak by the princess who seeks to regain control of the land to unseat her uncle from the throne.
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Inspired by Indian history and folklore, a captive princess who doesn’t hold the people’s favor and a maidservant who wants to keep her head down are forced to become allies to rescue their empire from tyrannical rule.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Set in fourteenth century China, under Mongol rule, this story follows a girl whose destiny was divined to reveal nothing, whereas her brother’s destiny is greatness. After tragedy strikes her family, she takes on her brother’s identity to find freedom and glory.
If you’re looking for something different:
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
A gothic fantasy that follows Devon, a girl born into a secret society of people who consume books for food and adhere to strict tradition. While the men of this society eat stories about glory and valor, the women—rarely born—are raised as princesses only allowed to eat fairytales. When Devon comes of age and realizes that happily ever after don’t exist here, she will do anything to protect her son—born as a rare anomaly who doesn’t eat books but human minds.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
The East believes dragons should be worshiped while the West believes dragons to be fearful beings that shouldn’t exist. With the Nameless One, an evil dragon once banished, set to return, the East and West must work together in a battle between good and evil.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
Reading like a dark fairytale, this Persian mythology-inspired YA follows Soraya—a cursed girl, poisonous to the touch. Locked away and kept a secret by her family, Soraya battles with her loneliness until she learns that her brother is set to marry the girl Soraya once considered her best friend. Willing to go to great lengths to cure herself, Soraya believes a magical demon in the dungeons may have the answer.
There are many more excellent sapphic fantasy books to choose from, with more published every month.
Blog written by Noraa Gunn.