Dragons and Spaceships: LGBTQIA+ SFF

Fassen is a soldier in a rebel army fighting against a powerful empire; Lu is a researcher who lives in a peaceful commune whose secret location provides a buffer. After a chance encounter, Lu and Fassen become friends communicating over secret messages; their reunion, however, brings a lot of difficulty to their heads. As the conflict intensifies, Lu and Fassen will have to come up with a solution that stays true to their ideals.

Delliquanti's beautiful art and worldbuilding that explores technology and different societies make Across a Field of Starlight an absolute treat for fans of contemplative science fiction.

Megan Rupe

Sunati sees a young woman on her commutes that doesn't use mods and finds her striking. Eventually, she gets the chance to talk to her, and it turns out Austen has a condition that prevents her from using them. As they get to know each other and start dating, Sunati has to learn to acknowledge her biases, and Austen learns to open up. Together, they work to be better humans.

As a Webtoon with a physical print, it's hard not to recommend other Webtoons such as Crumbs or Lore Olympus that explore relationships in fantastical settings. It has the pain of growing up and becoming better partners like Bloom, and a dreamy sci-fi setting like On a Sunbeam.

Shannan Prukop

Aqualad Jackson Hyde, beloved in the animated series Young Justice, aims to prove himself as the new Aquaman mantle in this new superhero series from DC. He thought he was all set with support from mentors, family, and even a cute guy, but then everything gets blown up, and he's accused of sabotaging his own life.

Superhero fans and anyone who enjoys good banter and aquatic action.

Robin Brenner

When the play begins, how does it all look so good? Why the stage crew of course! When new kid Jory joins the Backstagers, he finds himself surrounded by friends and a whole, strange world in The Backstage. However, the fun of exploring becomes dangerous when something becomes determined to escape The Backstage.

Readers who like the friendship and magical adventures in Lumberjanes; theater kids

Megan Rupe

In a galaxy where gladiators who use mecha suits to fight for the hand of royal (and often reluctant) princesses, Pan never really worried too much that her best friend Tara was a princess...until everything fell apart and Tara had to escape off-world. Now Pam meets two gladiators who will bring into the world of royal schemes, gladiator battles, and maybe a chance to destroy the hierarchy once and for all.

Any who loves queer adventure tales, especially with witty banter, strong found family, and a few smash-y fights to mix it up.

The fighting violence is mainly mecha battle suits. There is also a sequence of forcing a character outside their desired gender expression.

Robin Brenner

Ash has been trying to move on from her mom disappearing three years ago, even joining the Pride Club at school and making friends. But she just can't let it go, and in a desperate moment of vulnerability, shares her mom's secret world with these friends. It turns out that the world is real, and in trouble, but...if it's a world only for girls, how is Ash there? Everyone says Ash is a boy. And what happened to her mother?

This is a great story for fans of portal fantasy books like the Wayward Children series, and for fans of stories like The Witch Boy, covering topics of identity in the framework of fantasy. It's so positive and heartwarming, with resources about gender identities, pronouns, and other basics that make it also a great educational tool.

Shannan Prukop

A fairy and a beast find a baby in the forest and make an arrangement to raise her. What turns into a formal arrangement becomes something more.

Readers looking for a sweet, quirky, fantasy story

Megan Rupe

The village of Haresden has been in turmoil ever since their witch, Mamo, died. Orla, Mamo's granddaughter, reluctantly begins to investigate, with the help of Jo who loves Haresden and knows its ins and outs. As Jo and Orla work together and become closer, the hints of a trap about to spring come into focus. Can Orla and Jo set things to right and overcome them?

Fans of stories that weave darkness and love and challenging magic such as Studio Ghibli's fantasy stories; readers who loved the magic and relationship elements in stories such as Girl from the Sea, Snapdragon, and Witch Boy

Brief implications of abuse

Megan Rupe

Take a highly detailed alternate 1900s Asia setting, add cosmic horror, talking cats, and discussions of trauma and you get Monstress. This comic has, to date, won 12 awards since its start, and there's a reason. It's brutal and beautiful, intense and mesmerizing. Following Maika's journey as she becomes a monster to save the world and confronts the monstrousness of her lineage sometimes hard to look at, but hard to look away from.

Monstress in some ways feels like reading a doorstopper fantasy novel because the world and plot are dense and convoluted. In that way, it's a great recommendation for readers of Die, which deals with similar themes. If readers of Saga are looking for something while the new chapters come out, there's the messy relationships and epic scope of Saga, but in a fantasy setting.

This series deals with many dark themes, so there's violence, blood, gore, cursing, experimentation on children, discussions of genocide, and psychological manipulation.

Shannan Prukop

Nova Huang runs into her childhood crush, Tam, when investigating paranormal activity in her quaint New England town. The catch? Tam is a werewolf and unsavory forces are after their powers. This teenage witch will do everything in her power to protect Tam so that they can figure out if this old flame is worth rekindling.

Readers who love a friends-to-lovers story like The Prince and the Dressmaker will love this cozy occult love story.

Tayla Cardillo

After Mia graduates, she joins a construction crew that restores old buildings on planets all over. When she discovers her friends have a connection to her former girlfriend Grace and the isolated planet she calls home, Mia comes up with a dangerous plan so she can finally finish the conversation they were having when Grace mysteriously vanished from school.

Walden's beautiful artwork, subtle characterization, and plotting make On a Sunbeam a treat for readers who love science fiction tales with strong world-building and a thoughtful story. This will especially appeal to folks who want a good queer story with star-crossed lovers and powerful relationships.

Brief misgendering; some violence

Megan Rupe

When Princess Amira rescues Princess Sadie from her tower, their adventure is just beginning. As Amira tries to figure out just what it means to be a hero, Sadie fights to overcome her sister's negative influence and her own doubt. Fortunately, they have each other and other allies, among them a cookie-obsessed unicorn and a chunky dragon!

Readers seeking a gentle fantasy and fans of unusual princess stories will find much to enjoy here!

Megan Rupe

In this epic space opera that feels like Romeo and Juliet meets Star Wars, lovers Alana and Marko overcame the odds and fell in love despite their races' long-standing war. The story follows these two as they raise their daughter Hazel while on the run from their respective governments. With a delightful queer supporting cast and constant action, you will not be able to put this series down.

Anyone looking for a sci-fi story that is less white and queerer than mainstream media, this series is for you.

Violence, blood and gore, nudity and depictions of sexual situations, depictions of childbirth.

Tayla Cardillo

A chance encounter with a mysterious old woman pulls Snapdragon into a world of taxidermy and magic. As she and Jacks form a bond over their mutual interests and Snap works on exploring her own magical gift, they discover they have more connections than they realized.

Readers who like magical coming-of-age stories such as The Okay Witch and Witch Boy will find much to enjoy here.

Scary moment with an ex-boyfriend

Megan Rupe

In this Heathers-meets-Mean Girls-meets-Teen Wolf tale, new girl Becca is adopted by the popular girls only to find out at a party during the full moon that under their plastic smiles are sharp teeth. Before she knows it this pack of popular girls has bitten off more than they can chew.

Anyone who's wished that your classic teen movie had a little more carnage, this graphic novel is for you.

Blood and gore, Murder, Man-eating (literally)

Tayla Cardillo

When 15-year-old Morgan is saved from nearly drowning by the mysterious Keltie, who seems to be more at home in the water than on land, her plan to keep her head down and wait to live as her authentic self once she leaves for college starts to fall apart. As both girls become closer they learn that neither of them can keep their secrets hidden forever.

Readers who have outgrown Ostertag's Witch Boy series will be excited to check out her sapphic take on the selkie myth.

Tayla Cardillo

When a cat steals their name, Amparo is cast into Bright World, a world that chews up the humans unfortunate to come there. Amparo is determined to get home, but they'll have to scrap and deal with the monsters of Bright World. And at what cost to them?

Fans of dark fantasy and horror

Some violence, blood; and dismemberment

Megan Rupe

In Aster's magical family, girls are witches and boys are shapeshifters. However, Aster is drawn to witch spells only to be thwarted by his family. Over the course of this trilogy, Aster's unique gifts help him to support his family and friends.

Readers looking for a charming coming-of-age story that explores friendship and gender identity will find much to enjoy here.

Megan Rupe