In a book void rn - looking for recommendations: ~ equal gender balance (essential - my last book was a DNF for lack of female characters) ~ low/no spice ~ no animal death ~ swearing and violence okay, but not looking for grim-dark ~ all genres welcome, esp sff ~ self-recs welcome ~ MG to adult - ThreadSky

rosdando.bsky.social • 7 days ago

In a book void rn - looking for recommendations:

~ equal gender balance (essential - my last book was a DNF for lack of female characters)
~ low/no spice
~ no animal death
~ swearing and violence okay, but not looking for grim-dark
~ all genres welcome, esp sff
~ self-recs welcome
~ MG to adult

Comments

maladaptivehopes.bsky.social•22 hours ago

If you’re still taking suggestions, The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima! Raisa’s character development is one of the most realistic ones I’ve ever seen, and It also has a slow burn romance which is really cute! And the world building is so fun I love it so much!

maladaptivehopes.bsky.social•22 hours ago

And while it very much isn’t grimdark it doesn’t shy away from character death and the other grieving those deaths which I personally feel as if we don’t see enough when characters die in books typically

onechaoticauthor.bsky.social•7 days ago

If I may :)

It's a funny low stakes paranormal mystery with a queer main character, a demisexual coming out story as a subplot, a few swear words, no guts or gore (it's not the sort of horror I write) and some atmospheric creepy scenes.

https://bsky.app/profile/onechaoticauthor.bsky.social/post/3lhtvnblwqs2u

penguin-ponders.bsky.social•7 days ago

I don't even have a tag in my library for gender balance. something to think about.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree is a cozy fantasy

Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher has an animal rescue and no spice

The Keeper of the Mist by Rachel Neumeier is pretty balanced

👀📚

artfantastical.bsky.social•7 days ago

Have you read The Raven and the Reindeer by T.Kingfisher? Her book Illuminations is good too!

Also for Sci-fi, there is The Size of Nobodies by Amanda Mack, where two regular friends stumble into a big science fiction style conspiracy and have to handle it. It’s fun!

chrisjauthor.bsky.social•7 days ago

If I may...?
No spice, no animal death, them female characters are better (in pretty much every way) than the men, and the sequel is out later this year...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rise-Lesser-Prince-Christopher-Joyce/dp/B0C9KMB8V9?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

chrisjauthor.bsky.social•7 days ago

*the female characters...

aspiraldance.bsky.social•7 days ago

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Perception Check by @astridkwrites.bsky.social

Untouched by @jaymebeanauthor.bsky.social

Portals and Pantheons by @arkhorton.bsky.social

Sorcery of Thorns or An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Anything by Tamora Pierce

astridkwrites.bsky.social•7 days ago

Thanks for the rec, Amanda! Will say for Perception Check, there is some animal death, but very non-detailed and it’s fantasy animals (Direwolves.) Just as a heads up!

aspiraldance.bsky.social•7 days ago

Oh yeah, I forgot about that 🙈

astridkwrites.bsky.social•7 days ago

It’s so so brief, I don’t blame you lol

arkhorton.bsky.social•6 days ago

Thank you for recommending Portals & Pantheons! I do want to point out that’s a sequel to Heroes & Harbingers.

aspiraldance.bsky.social•6 days ago

Ah shit! Trust me to get them the wrong way wrong 🙈 I'm blaming brain fog - I was barely awake yesterday 😂

arkhorton.bsky.social•6 days ago

lol It’s okay! I’m really flattered that you thought of my books. 💙

conradaltmann.com•7 days ago

Near future first contact story from both sides. Balanced m/f characters with a light amount of romance. No animals at all, though there is a politician… “Metanoeia” https://conradaltmann.com/metanoeia/

marlynnofmany.bsky.social•6 days ago

I think this checks every one of those boxes!

There are four POV characters -- two female, two male -- one of whom is the gorilla.

https://bsky.app/profile/marlynnofmany.bsky.social/post/3ldrki2myzk26

wandavargasauthor.bsky.social•7 days ago

List covered! I’m always up for recommending mine. Parallel Circuit, crime drama, and Ignite Earth Red Giant, sci-fi doomsday. Book blurbs on my website. Reviews on Amazon. https://wandavargasauthor.com

arlenrenwrites.bsky.social•7 days ago

if you're looking for SFF I have to recommend Asunder by Kerstin Hall! it's the best fantasy book I've read in a LONG time. the worldbuilding, the prose...just fantastic.

I don't remember there being any animal death, but I just looked up TWs in reviews and someone flagged "Animal Cruelty (minor"

archbladecahouse.bsky.social•6 days ago

If you like indie Scifi/Fantasy with romance, adventure, sword/sorcery, necromancers/monsters, reluctant hero MMC, genius-level FMC, blend of science/magic, and an epic battle of good vs. evil, you'll enjoy my book:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP9Y37FN

erinthez.bsky.social•7 days ago

If I could suggest:

Lazers
Cyborgs
Anxiety by a neurodivergent
People finding hope in a dystoipa

MEMOIR OF A MAD SCIENTIST 💙
https://a.co/d/9je8btR

jolantru.bsky.social•7 days ago

YA fantasy with swords and matriarchal swordsmith clans. :) https://www.snowywingspublishing.com/book/fire-heart/

sockeyejo.bsky.social•7 days ago

Have you read any of @genevievecogman.bsky.social's books? Strong female characters abound! Her current series is a fey take on the Scarlet Pimpernel mythology (impatiently awaiting the final book in the trilogy). The series before that is called "The Invisible Library" and I reread it a *lot*.

rosdando.bsky.social•7 days ago

I *adored* The Invisible Library - a great series! I haven't looked at the current series, but will definitely add it to the list. Thank you!

thepangolinrepublic.com•7 days ago

If I may humbly suggest the SF adventure Flight of the Pangolin:

~ pretty well gender balanced
- plenty of female characters
~ absolutely no spice
~ no animal death, though there is a scene where pre-packaged dinosaur meat is prepared for consumption
~ definitely not grim-dark

samcclellon.bsky.social•7 days ago

Black drag queen protagonist, diverse cast of characters in gender, race, and sexuality, and recipes you can make yourself! ♥️

Self-published after my ex publisher tried using AI on the old book cover, but it was redone by a real commissioned artist!
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brown-sugar-divines-cafe-bakery-sa-mcclellon/1145701652

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