Recs if you like Arrows of the Queen...

JK Rowling is a bigot who uses her platform to hurt transfolks and other marginalized groups (plus she literally just quoted Mein Kampf on the bird site). If you're still supporting her in 2025, don't bother talking to me.

A list of First books in Fantasy series (or standalones) published in 1980s-2000s written by female authors. Many of these authors are/were prolific writers so most additions are limited to their debut book or most popular series. Go read more by these authors!

Fantasy titles that have become foundational to the genre and/or that are considered fantasy classics, written by women. Always open to suggestions!

Series starting points for getting into some of the most prolific women authors in sci-fi and fantasy from the 70s-00s.

less of the usual culprits if you please!

Non-exhaustive list of foundational reading for the fantasy genre; either foundational texts or classics that influenced the development of the genre and its conventions. Also some key modern texts + criticism.

fiction books that have a main character or prominent side character that fits the D&D Sorcerer class! here for the innate magic, the slinging spells, the "my bloodline is WHAT". recs and input welcome!

woman mc + women main cast

Note: Only the first book in a series are added. The goal is to try it, not dedicate oneself to it. Marion Zimmer Bradley has been added with caution--buy from a small business if not able to check out at the library.

YA and adult sci-fi/fantasy. Comment with suggestions!

Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar books were hugely impactful to me as a teenager, and as such I have very specific ideas about the best order in which to read the first 26 books because of the way that they work together to tell a single cohesive story. 😅 If this is your first introduction to the country of Valdemar and the world of Velgarth, start at the top of the list and work your way down to the bottom. I have an explanation in the pinned comment, and feel free to ask any questions here!

Your favourite female fantasy writer's... favourite female fantasy writer. Works of SFF by female writers which proved critically lauded or influential to subsequent writers.

Books - mostly fantasy, but some scifi - with fantastical creatures. 🐉🦄🐦‍🔥

• Features first book of series or first book in the series that creature(s) appear.
• Avoiding romantasy as there are many recommendation lists.
• Elves, fae, vampires, dwarves, weres, etc are Beings, not Creatures imo. So not included.

A collection of older, sometimes lesser-known, fantasy (or science fantasy) books written by incredible women and published primarily between the 1980s and early 2000s (with nods to a few older ones). In a time when female fantasy authors were few and far between, these authors carved out their own space in the genre. These stories might not be mainstream hits today, but they are full of brilliant magic, deep characters, and/or worlds that helped shape the genre. (First in Series / standalones only for now - open to suggestions!)

knights, magic, and classic fantasy feels

These series openers feature ensemble casts and secondary plot arcs that stretch over multiple books. Multiple genres and eras of fiction are represented, and most series are complete while others are ongoing.

A lot of classic fantasy features a farmboy—who might be more than he seems—going on an adventure and discovering the wide world beyond his agrarian sensibilities. While this list is called “farmboy,” I’m open to farm people of all genders. For series, only the first book is listed. As always, open to recs!

A publication order list of Lackey’s Valdemar books because most of the lists I found online were in-world chronological order. Note that this list does not include anthologies and yet-to-be-published novels.

Earliest books are at the bottom of the list, and the most recent are at the top!

A list of books selected for the Sword and Laser Podcast