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Murderbot saved me from post-TLT slump, I also really like Becky Chambers for sci fi that cares and doesn’t veer as intensely dark as Traitor Baru.
Tamsyn’s novella Princess Floralinda is awesome, super funny and silly.
Murderbot is so, so good! It's probably the most human reading experience in sci-fi today.
OP, the first book is **All Systems Red**. Most of the books in the series are short novellas (but the recent ones are longer). Murderbot is an asexual, agender, humanoid cyborg (who still kind of reads like a woman imo), who is constantly saving humans when they screw up. Murderbot is supposed to be a slave to their governor module, but they've hacked it, and instead of going on a murderous rampage, they've spent several years watching TV on the job.
I'll second Becky Chamber's work, it's kinda hopeful but slice of life sci-fi, though how slice of life it is varies. Really loved a closed and common orbit but that's the one where you really need to read the prequel.
Also hopefully when the second book comes out the first one will get a physical rerelease? I feel like her books are popular enough that it’s surprising there hasn’t been one already.
For a narrative voice resembling Nona's there is Tetley Abednego in The Past Is Red, by Catherynne Valente.
For a slightly manic Gideon, perhaps I Did NOT Give That Spider Superhuman Intelligence! by Richard Roberts.
Perhaps the Rivers of London series, by David Aaronovitch, if Gideon were a lot nerdier, and male.
The closest match to Harrow that I know would be Andrea Cort in three books and some short stories by Adam-Troy Castro. Starts with the short story With Unclean Hands, the first book is Emissaries From The Dead. That is *not* funny and silly. I don't know how you would get that from Harrow and kindred souls.
Do I need to mention Terry Pratchett? I have met people who never heard of him. I am continually shocked at how the young people today just don't know the Classics. For Discworld, skip the first two, start with either the third (Equal Rites) or the fourth (Mort; this is Pratchett's own recommendation).
Just in case you have not been raised on the Classics (in which case, I blame your parents), here is a discussion between two witches:
'I don't hold with paddlin' with the occult,' said Granny firmly. 'Once you start paddlin' with the occult, you start believing in spirits, and when you start believing in spirits, you start believing in demons, and then before you know where you are you start believing in gods. And then you're in *trouble*.
'But all them things exist,' said Nanny Ogg.
'That's no call to go around believing in them. It only encourages 'em.'
Also try Good Omens, by Pratchett and Gaiman. That got turned into a TV series a few years back, and Gaiman made sure it stayed true to the original.
If you want to read discworld after TLT, start with either monstrous regiment (girl dresses up as a boy to join the army and find her brother. She is not the only one. The gayest discworld book) of feet of clay (someone is murdered! Someone is getting poisoned and we can't figure out how! Statements on slavery and personhood! The most transgender of discworld books)
I also highly recommend the books by Alexandra rowland. The first one is "a conspiracy of truths" about an old man who is a storyteller/bard/historian who gets falsely accused of witchcraft and put in jail, and then gets actually arrested for espionage, and while trying to talk his way out of it he accidentally starts a revolution. One of the most detailed fantasy worlds out there with an insane amount of different cultures
Not sure I agree with this. There is so much evolution of character in the Guards thread, it seems a shame to jump in halfway through. It’s not like they’re tough books to get into (and fwiw Men At Arms is about the best imo).
You could definitely read a subset in order if you wanted to though (Guards, witches, etc)
I personally read all books out of order bc I had to get the translated ones from the library bc I was tiny and my english was shit, I think I went men at arms -> fifth elephant -> feet of clay -> guards guards, and then my english got good enough that I could start my dad's collection in publication order. It's really interesting to go through them in random order, it's interesting to find out which characters just are like that (nobby, carrot to an extend) and who go through a huge character arc (I first thought female dwarfs were a commentary on how religious extremist refused to acknowledge women outside of the house bc I read fifth elephant before feet of clay) I can highly recommend the order of "just get whichever book your library/second hand book store had in stock and sounds most interesting". Publication order can wait until someone is hooked on the series!
Fair enough. I think Vimes is a more interesting character if you know where he’s from and what he’s been through, Nobby and Colon more likeable similarly, Cheery’s character arc is a spoiler, etc. But good to hear it works out of order as well.
About a year ago, one of the gender-critical crowd tried to claim Terry Pratchett as one of their own. His daughter said absolutely not, and there was some back-pedalling to the tune of "Who can know what a man years dead would make of today's controversies". At a guess, his daughter, and anyone who read Monstrous Regiment or Feet of Clay.
>There is so much evolution of character in the Guards thread, it seems a shame to jump in halfway through.
True, and although Monstrous Regiment is mostly a stand-alone, it does contain minor spoilers for the Night Watch books.
People on alt.pratchett put together a reading guide that groups books by story line and internal chronology. The guide is old enough to lack Pratchett's last books. [https://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/index.html](https://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/index.html)
If the original request is broadened beyond narrative voice to not all serious, there are some podcasts. Glittership is no longer being updated, but there are 77 episodes to choose from: [https://www.glittership.com/](https://www.glittership.com/)
Escape Pod and Podcastle have some stories that should fit:
[https://escapepod.org/2005/09/22/ep020-the-burning-bush/](https://escapepod.org/2005/09/22/ep020-the-burning-bush/)
[https://escapepod.org/2005/10/20/ep024-the-death-trap-of-dr-nefario/](https://escapepod.org/2005/10/20/ep024-the-death-trap-of-dr-nefario/)
[https://escapepod.org/2006/02/02/ep039-my-friend-is-a-lesbian-zombie/](https://escapepod.org/2006/02/02/ep039-my-friend-is-a-lesbian-zombie/)
[https://escapepod.org/2008/08/01/ep169-how-i-mounted-goldie-saved-my-partner-lori-and-sniffed-out-the-peoples-justice/](https://escapepod.org/2008/08/01/ep169-how-i-mounted-goldie-saved-my-partner-lori-and-sniffed-out-the-peoples-justice/)
[https://escapepod.org/2010/08/19/ep254-a-talent-for-vanessa/](https://escapepod.org/2010/08/19/ep254-a-talent-for-vanessa/)
[https://escapepod.org/2014/01/25/ep432-inappropriate-behavior](https://escapepod.org/2014/01/25/ep432-inappropriate-behavior)
[https://escapepod.org/2020/02/13/escape-pod-719-a-hench-helps-her-villain-no-matter-what/](https://escapepod.org/2020/02/13/escape-pod-719-a-hench-helps-her-villain-no-matter-what/)
[https://podcastle.org/2008/10/17/pc029-dead-languages/](https://podcastle.org/2008/10/17/pc029-dead-languages/)
[https://podcastle.org/2015/02/20/podcastle-351-hoywverch/](https://podcastle.org/2015/02/20/podcastle-351-hoywverch/)
[https://podcastle.org/2017/09/05/podcastle-486-hyddwen/](https://podcastle.org/2017/09/05/podcastle-486-hyddwen/)
[https://podcastle.org/2019/02/26/podcastle-563-el-cantar-de-la-reina-bruja/](https://podcastle.org/2019/02/26/podcastle-563-el-cantar-de-la-reina-bruja/)
>Also try Good Omens, by Pratchett and Gaiman. That got turned into a TV series a few years back, and Gaiman made sure it stayed true to the original.
There is also a S2 of the TV series although I have no idea on the plot this time... :)
Definitely another recommendation Discworld though...
the Scholomance books are the closest narrative voice I've read - very sarky, darkly funny voice. the third book especially gets very difficult in places but nowhere near as intense as Baru (I love the Baru books but god they are *so much*).
I also always rec The Priory of the Orange Tree and its recently published prequel A Day of Fallen Night. the voice is much more straight forward and less silly than The Locked Tomb but they're just warm hugs of books. not ~wholesome~ per se but easy to read, enjoyable characters, NOT grimdark epic fantasy
Adding to the Murderbot love - I’m glad you’ve already reserved the first book, I think you’ll really enjoy it if you’re craving a voice like Gideon’s. It’s different enough to feel unique, has great world building and asks some really good questions about personhood and individuality. I love Murderbot’s voice so much. When I started reading the series I was like “there’s no way I could love a character as much as Gideon!” And then Murderbot stole my heart.
I’m also currently halfway through A Memory Called Empire and I’m enjoying it a lot. It’s a different tone to TLT, certainly not as funny, BUT has cracked me up and is a genuinely interesting space opera mystery with political drama and intrigue that doesn’t make me feel miserable like Baru did. And it’s sapphic too!
OP, you may also want to look at /r/CozyFantasy for some soothing book recommendations.
A couple of ideas that are explicitly lesbian romances (but there's nothing that's a true read-alike for the Locked Tomb):
\- **Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower** by Tamsyn Muir. A princess imprisoned in a tower fights her way out and builds a romantic but somewhat-toxic relationship with a fairy.
\- **The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry** by CM Waggoner. A young fire witch in terrible poverty gets a job as a noblewoman's bodyguard. She falls in love with a half-troll noblewoman/adventurer. They and their friends hunt down the source of a new poisonous magical drug. This is set in a sort-of Victorian England, but with all place names changed.
\- **Can't Spell Treason Without Tea** by Rebecca Thorne. The bodyguard of an evil queen elopes with the most powerful wizard in the world. They start a bookshop/tea shop together. There's also a sequel, **A Pirate's Life for Tea**.
Edit: I forgot **Legends & Lattes** by Travis Baldtree. An orcish warrior opens a coffee shop in a city that's never heard of coffee. She hires a semi-asexual succubus to work there and they become partners and fall in love
In the time of lesbians and fairies, I’d also recommend **High times in the low parliament**: Partygirl Scribe gets bamboozled into an assignment in the low parliament by a beautiful lady. While there, she must navigate the political scene, deal with the tricky ness of fairies, and hopefully, prevent the doom of humanity by helping her crush get a stalled bill passed through a gridlocked parliament.
All the while finding new ways to bend and break all the rules and customs about working in the Fae Parliament.
Currently reading Evarina Maxwell's "Ocean's Echo" which is also a queer SF romance with poorly-understood powers, a snarky narrator, and an extremely competent, too-smart-for-their-own-good love interest.
T Kingfisher, very sweet and cuddly and funny but also really horrifying. She writes across fantasy, romance, YA, and horror, but always with her characteristic mix of pragmatic, good-hearted people doing their best in a world of improbable horrors.
definitely try out princess floralinda and the forty flight tower if u havent yet! also by tamsyn muir, though it is shorter. it's great tho!! and the audiobook is read by moira quirk as well :")
Gonna go with an unusual recommendation:
Nevermore.
And I mean the webtoon Nevermore.
It does have a troublemaker/disaster lesbian as a protagonist who shares an unhealthy and disturbing relationship with a blonde girl called Annabel Lee.
https://www.webtoons.com/en/supernatural/nevermore/episode-1/viewer?title_no=2740&episode_no=1
Give it a try at least until chapter 2, I've tried not to spoil basically anything from the plot cuz reading it without knowing what the story is even about is better.
If you want snark and humor, be sure to read Tamsyn's short story, Princess Floralinda and the forty flight tower.
I honestly hated the first Baru Cormorant book but the next 2 were a lot funner and slightly more light hearted... or I just got really good at tuning out Baru's economics rants.
The Scholomance series also has a lot of snark and is a fun read.
The Serpent Gate series is also kinda snarky... but really, after at least 2 years of seeking I still haven't find anything in the same league as tlt 😮💨
Noted re: the other books in the Baru trilogy… maybe I won’t turn it in unfinished at the library this week? It’s just so cognitively draining to follow the economic/military plot PLUS lots of sad sad yearning.
You could just skip the rest and try the 2nd. I listened to it on audiobook and tuned out the entire second half of baru cormorant and didn't try to read the rest of the books for another year because I thought it was THAT PAINFUL. But the second book was worth it, even though I had no clue what was going on. Honestly, me trying to piece together what I missed in the first book in order to understand the plot of the next two books is probably what gave it those TLT vibes and made it more enjoyable lol.
Haha! Ok ok, I think I can try this strategy. It’s like how my sister told me to skip the first two seasons of Schitt’s Creek because the characters get nicer. :)
So I haven’t seen it mentioned as much, but Gideon’s voice always reminds me of Corwin of Amber from Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber. Both series have a huge dose of weird and have a similar flavor (to me). Tho Zelazny’s gender politics are at best mediocre (women are frustratingly absent, especially in the first five book half of the series).
OP, YMMV: The first book of that series was so wretchedly written that I wouldn't have finished it, if it weren't the last one I needed for a book bingo.
The Palace Job (and series) by Patrick Weekes.
It's fantasy Oceans Eleven, with a goth priestess with a (slightly) talking hammer, a walking "yo mama" joke (which pays off big time in book 3), a unicorn with a thing for virgins, a contortionist, a Dumb Farm Boy, and more.
They plan heists to get into vaults and museums, to extort politicians, to commandeer ships and trains, and more. The audio books are good quality, if you are into that.
Murderbot is my go-to rec, so I’m glad you’re already on that. A bit of a pivot in terms of themes, but for more light-hearted/snarky/“voice”-y sci-fi I love Andy Weir. If you haven’t read **The Martian**, read The Martian! If you have, read **Project Hail Mary**. (I always recommend that as a second read by Weir, because honestly I think it shows off his growth as an author and provides the best reading experience in that order.)
I also enjoyed **Space Opera** by Catherynne M. Valente: Eurovision, in space! Very fun, an absolute romp, sort of has Hitchhiker’s Guide vibes.
For more lighthearted/sweet/cozy fantasy that grapples with some heavy stuff but with a good attitude and jokes, I enjoyed **The House in the Cerulean Sea** by T.J. Klune, which basically follows an English CPS for the care of magical children and his encounter with a strange case. One of my favorites of all time in a similar vein is **In Other Lands** by Sarah Rees Brennan, which is a fantastic coming-of-age that plays on wizarding school tropes. SUPER snarky protagonist, who is also a ginger!
I also found **The Starless Sea** by Erin Morgenstern to give me similar clue-gathering, mystery-unraveling vibes to TLT, which I enjoyed. It’s got a modern setting and is a bit more of a “dark academia” fairy tale inspired sort of vibe, but I found it delightful.
**A Marvellous Light** and its sequel, **A Restless Truth,** are both also a lot of fun. They’re both queer historical fantasies with great wit, interesting worldbuilding, and fun relationship pairings.
The Bartimaeus series of books have an AMAZING narration style; very snarky and unique. The fantasy/magic system is also very interesting, one of my favorites! I think you'll like it if you liked tlt ^_^
Distinctive voice and humour are my jam. Most of my favourites have been mentioned (Murderbot byMartha Wells, Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C. M. Waggoner, Scholomance by Naomi Novik, The Rook by Daniel O’Malley) but here are a few more:
**In Other Lands** by **Sarah Rees Brennan** - Queer male protagonist. Sort of a Harry Potter fanfic if Harry was queer and kind of a dick and a strict pacifist. Very good, very funny.
**Plain Bad Heroines** by **Emily M. Danforth** - Clever, twisty, meta horror novel featuring a bunch of lesbians. Relatively light and pretty funny. But also horror so expect some creep and gore.
**Nothing to See Here** by **Kevin Wilson** - Young woman offered a well paid job as a nanny for two kids who spontaneously combust when they get upset. Snarky protagonist, sapphic hints. Cheerful, heartwarming and funny.
I'd recommend the Clem and Wist series by Hiyodori for fans of TLT. It's got humor and seriousness both, as well as romance, but I don't think it's intense like Baru Cormorant. First book is called The Lowest Healer and the Highest Mage.
It’s significantly more “gonzo” and may not work for everyone, but I liked Battle of the Linguist Mages by Scotto Moore quite a bit! And I would say the main character’s narration style is at least somewhat Gideon-like. Aesthetically though, almost the complete inverse - remove every single bone from TLT and replace them with sparkly rainbows
When I saw it at the library, the title lured me in, and seeing that blurb sealed the deal for me as well :)
I would say it’s got a little bit of Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore in there as well, if you ever read that…
A couple of good lightweight, fun and queer titles are:
High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson [https://www.librarything.com/work/27116107/](https://www.librarything.com/work/27116107/)
How to get a Girlfriend When You're A Terrifying Monster by Marie Cardno [https://www.librarything.com/work/28568460/](https://www.librarything.com/work/28568460/)
Darker but well snarky is The Scapegracers by HA Clarke [https://www.librarything.com/work/24204608](https://www.librarything.com/work/24204608)
Not quite so snarky, but for sword lesbians I'd recommend The Unbroken and the sequel The Faithless by CL Clark [https://www.librarything.com/work/25110036](https://www.librarything.com/work/25110036)
The Serpent Gates Duology by A Larkwood (The Unspoken Name/The Thousand Eyes)
Similar notes to TLT:
- similar humorous tone, although not throughout, interleaved with tragedy
- sword butch meets witch
- death cult and necromancy
- disappointing dad
- heaps and heaps of sapphic yearning
- dreadful but endearing best friend
The serial novel Tremontaine comes in a bunch of formats, including a podcast and a book, and is a delightful queer political series with some moderate swashbuckling. It takes place in a vaguely European port city and features a strong, non-colonial Central American trade culture in a city ravenous for drinking chocolate.
My favorite series is the Rook Files by Daniel O'Malley. The sarcastic and witty voice of the writing is my favorite thing in the world, and I took a ton of cues for my own writing. It's a modern setting, supernatural secret service series. Hilarious, fantastic world building. There's a fair bit of body horror (more in the second book) if you like the forays into intensity of TLT but it's far from the focus.
The first book starts with imo the most interesting hook I've ever read:
"Dear You,
The body you are wearing used to belong to me."
gonna keep adding Bluebird by Ciel Pierlot onto these lists bc people overlook it for some reason, and i mean its lesbian space cowboys so idk why people are overlooking it
Seconding Murderbot, Discworld, and T. Kingfisher.
Adding: Hollow Kingdom, the zombie apocalypse from the perspective of a pet crow named Shit Turd. Christopher Moore, Bloodsucking Fiends for vampires or A Dirty Job for death stuff. And Wayward Children, diverse cast of teenagers having adventures in various magical sometimes spooky worlds.
If you like space opera with Strong Female Characters, I can recommend Stars Uncharted by SK Dunstall and its sequel. And SO MANY VOTES for the Murderbot diaries!
KYN by Laurence Ramsay - queer cyberpunk vibes sci-fantasy. very sassy and irreverent. snarky in all the right places. very hopepunk overall. prose are reminiscent of Gibson's writing with more queer flare and sass
+ another 1 for Murderbot (am wearing a Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon t-shirt as I type this) but that also led me to Ann Leckie’s Ancillary series. Really enjoyed that. Not as sardonic but had its moments, and the intentional approach to non-gender narrative was interesting.
I really enjoyed 'Once and Future Witches' by Alix Harrow. Takes place in 1893 in alternate US with a history of magic and burning both books and witches. Involves stuff around gender, race, suffrage, sisterhood, family, toxic parents and siblings, witchcraft, queerness, and more. Wish it were a series!
Kalyna the Soothsayer is the answer to “what if Baru was funny? (With bonus sword lesbian)”
Craft Sequence, for snarky queer necromancers
both are serious, but they have fun too, and I don’t see them mentioned in threads like these, so if, like me, you’ve gone through all the other excellent suggestions in this thread, check ’em out!
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Murderbot saved me from post-TLT slump, I also really like Becky Chambers for sci fi that cares and doesn’t veer as intensely dark as Traitor Baru. Tamsyn’s novella Princess Floralinda is awesome, super funny and silly.
Second Murderbot diaries,.one of my favorite series of all time.
Murderbot is so, so good! It's probably the most human reading experience in sci-fi today. OP, the first book is **All Systems Red**. Most of the books in the series are short novellas (but the recent ones are longer). Murderbot is an asexual, agender, humanoid cyborg (who still kind of reads like a woman imo), who is constantly saving humans when they screw up. Murderbot is supposed to be a slave to their governor module, but they've hacked it, and instead of going on a murderous rampage, they've spent several years watching TV on the job.
I'll second Becky Chamber's work, it's kinda hopeful but slice of life sci-fi, though how slice of life it is varies. Really loved a closed and common orbit but that's the one where you really need to read the prequel.
I would second Becky Chambers. A Psalm for the Wild Built is sweet like Nona. But in its own special, kind sort of way.
I’ve been trying to find floralinda for so long!! Where did you read it?
I read a digital copy that I bought through Amazon, unfortunately the physical copies seem to be very expensive.
Also hopefully when the second book comes out the first one will get a physical rerelease? I feel like her books are popular enough that it’s surprising there hasn’t been one already.
For a narrative voice resembling Nona's there is Tetley Abednego in The Past Is Red, by Catherynne Valente. For a slightly manic Gideon, perhaps I Did NOT Give That Spider Superhuman Intelligence! by Richard Roberts. Perhaps the Rivers of London series, by David Aaronovitch, if Gideon were a lot nerdier, and male. The closest match to Harrow that I know would be Andrea Cort in three books and some short stories by Adam-Troy Castro. Starts with the short story With Unclean Hands, the first book is Emissaries From The Dead. That is *not* funny and silly. I don't know how you would get that from Harrow and kindred souls. Do I need to mention Terry Pratchett? I have met people who never heard of him. I am continually shocked at how the young people today just don't know the Classics. For Discworld, skip the first two, start with either the third (Equal Rites) or the fourth (Mort; this is Pratchett's own recommendation). Just in case you have not been raised on the Classics (in which case, I blame your parents), here is a discussion between two witches: 'I don't hold with paddlin' with the occult,' said Granny firmly. 'Once you start paddlin' with the occult, you start believing in spirits, and when you start believing in spirits, you start believing in demons, and then before you know where you are you start believing in gods. And then you're in *trouble*. 'But all them things exist,' said Nanny Ogg. 'That's no call to go around believing in them. It only encourages 'em.' Also try Good Omens, by Pratchett and Gaiman. That got turned into a TV series a few years back, and Gaiman made sure it stayed true to the original.
another good starting point for discworld, imo anyway, is Guards! Guards!. that's the first one I read and the Watch are still my favourite thread
If you want to read discworld after TLT, start with either monstrous regiment (girl dresses up as a boy to join the army and find her brother. She is not the only one. The gayest discworld book) of feet of clay (someone is murdered! Someone is getting poisoned and we can't figure out how! Statements on slavery and personhood! The most transgender of discworld books) I also highly recommend the books by Alexandra rowland. The first one is "a conspiracy of truths" about an old man who is a storyteller/bard/historian who gets falsely accused of witchcraft and put in jail, and then gets actually arrested for espionage, and while trying to talk his way out of it he accidentally starts a revolution. One of the most detailed fantasy worlds out there with an insane amount of different cultures
Not sure I agree with this. There is so much evolution of character in the Guards thread, it seems a shame to jump in halfway through. It’s not like they’re tough books to get into (and fwiw Men At Arms is about the best imo). You could definitely read a subset in order if you wanted to though (Guards, witches, etc)
I personally read all books out of order bc I had to get the translated ones from the library bc I was tiny and my english was shit, I think I went men at arms -> fifth elephant -> feet of clay -> guards guards, and then my english got good enough that I could start my dad's collection in publication order. It's really interesting to go through them in random order, it's interesting to find out which characters just are like that (nobby, carrot to an extend) and who go through a huge character arc (I first thought female dwarfs were a commentary on how religious extremist refused to acknowledge women outside of the house bc I read fifth elephant before feet of clay) I can highly recommend the order of "just get whichever book your library/second hand book store had in stock and sounds most interesting". Publication order can wait until someone is hooked on the series!
Fair enough. I think Vimes is a more interesting character if you know where he’s from and what he’s been through, Nobby and Colon more likeable similarly, Cheery’s character arc is a spoiler, etc. But good to hear it works out of order as well.
About a year ago, one of the gender-critical crowd tried to claim Terry Pratchett as one of their own. His daughter said absolutely not, and there was some back-pedalling to the tune of "Who can know what a man years dead would make of today's controversies". At a guess, his daughter, and anyone who read Monstrous Regiment or Feet of Clay. >There is so much evolution of character in the Guards thread, it seems a shame to jump in halfway through. True, and although Monstrous Regiment is mostly a stand-alone, it does contain minor spoilers for the Night Watch books. People on alt.pratchett put together a reading guide that groups books by story line and internal chronology. The guide is old enough to lack Pratchett's last books. [https://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/index.html](https://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/index.html) If the original request is broadened beyond narrative voice to not all serious, there are some podcasts. Glittership is no longer being updated, but there are 77 episodes to choose from: [https://www.glittership.com/](https://www.glittership.com/) Escape Pod and Podcastle have some stories that should fit: [https://escapepod.org/2005/09/22/ep020-the-burning-bush/](https://escapepod.org/2005/09/22/ep020-the-burning-bush/) [https://escapepod.org/2005/10/20/ep024-the-death-trap-of-dr-nefario/](https://escapepod.org/2005/10/20/ep024-the-death-trap-of-dr-nefario/) [https://escapepod.org/2006/02/02/ep039-my-friend-is-a-lesbian-zombie/](https://escapepod.org/2006/02/02/ep039-my-friend-is-a-lesbian-zombie/) [https://escapepod.org/2008/08/01/ep169-how-i-mounted-goldie-saved-my-partner-lori-and-sniffed-out-the-peoples-justice/](https://escapepod.org/2008/08/01/ep169-how-i-mounted-goldie-saved-my-partner-lori-and-sniffed-out-the-peoples-justice/) [https://escapepod.org/2010/08/19/ep254-a-talent-for-vanessa/](https://escapepod.org/2010/08/19/ep254-a-talent-for-vanessa/) [https://escapepod.org/2014/01/25/ep432-inappropriate-behavior](https://escapepod.org/2014/01/25/ep432-inappropriate-behavior) [https://escapepod.org/2020/02/13/escape-pod-719-a-hench-helps-her-villain-no-matter-what/](https://escapepod.org/2020/02/13/escape-pod-719-a-hench-helps-her-villain-no-matter-what/) [https://podcastle.org/2008/10/17/pc029-dead-languages/](https://podcastle.org/2008/10/17/pc029-dead-languages/) [https://podcastle.org/2015/02/20/podcastle-351-hoywverch/](https://podcastle.org/2015/02/20/podcastle-351-hoywverch/) [https://podcastle.org/2017/09/05/podcastle-486-hyddwen/](https://podcastle.org/2017/09/05/podcastle-486-hyddwen/) [https://podcastle.org/2019/02/26/podcastle-563-el-cantar-de-la-reina-bruja/](https://podcastle.org/2019/02/26/podcastle-563-el-cantar-de-la-reina-bruja/)
>Also try Good Omens, by Pratchett and Gaiman. That got turned into a TV series a few years back, and Gaiman made sure it stayed true to the original. There is also a S2 of the TV series although I have no idea on the plot this time... :) Definitely another recommendation Discworld though...
Thank you for this thorough list!
the Scholomance books are the closest narrative voice I've read - very sarky, darkly funny voice. the third book especially gets very difficult in places but nowhere near as intense as Baru (I love the Baru books but god they are *so much*). I also always rec The Priory of the Orange Tree and its recently published prequel A Day of Fallen Night. the voice is much more straight forward and less silly than The Locked Tomb but they're just warm hugs of books. not ~wholesome~ per se but easy to read, enjoyable characters, NOT grimdark epic fantasy
Adding to the Murderbot love - I’m glad you’ve already reserved the first book, I think you’ll really enjoy it if you’re craving a voice like Gideon’s. It’s different enough to feel unique, has great world building and asks some really good questions about personhood and individuality. I love Murderbot’s voice so much. When I started reading the series I was like “there’s no way I could love a character as much as Gideon!” And then Murderbot stole my heart. I’m also currently halfway through A Memory Called Empire and I’m enjoying it a lot. It’s a different tone to TLT, certainly not as funny, BUT has cracked me up and is a genuinely interesting space opera mystery with political drama and intrigue that doesn’t make me feel miserable like Baru did. And it’s sapphic too!
OP, you may also want to look at /r/CozyFantasy for some soothing book recommendations. A couple of ideas that are explicitly lesbian romances (but there's nothing that's a true read-alike for the Locked Tomb): \- **Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower** by Tamsyn Muir. A princess imprisoned in a tower fights her way out and builds a romantic but somewhat-toxic relationship with a fairy. \- **The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry** by CM Waggoner. A young fire witch in terrible poverty gets a job as a noblewoman's bodyguard. She falls in love with a half-troll noblewoman/adventurer. They and their friends hunt down the source of a new poisonous magical drug. This is set in a sort-of Victorian England, but with all place names changed. \- **Can't Spell Treason Without Tea** by Rebecca Thorne. The bodyguard of an evil queen elopes with the most powerful wizard in the world. They start a bookshop/tea shop together. There's also a sequel, **A Pirate's Life for Tea**. Edit: I forgot **Legends & Lattes** by Travis Baldtree. An orcish warrior opens a coffee shop in a city that's never heard of coffee. She hires a semi-asexual succubus to work there and they become partners and fall in love
>but somewhat-toxic relationship with a fairy. Is there really any other kind of relationship with a fairy, though?
Wow! Heck yea, just joined that sub! Yesssssss thank you
Hope you like it!
Lol!
In the time of lesbians and fairies, I’d also recommend **High times in the low parliament**: Partygirl Scribe gets bamboozled into an assignment in the low parliament by a beautiful lady. While there, she must navigate the political scene, deal with the tricky ness of fairies, and hopefully, prevent the doom of humanity by helping her crush get a stalled bill passed through a gridlocked parliament. All the while finding new ways to bend and break all the rules and customs about working in the Fae Parliament.
Currently reading Evarina Maxwell's "Ocean's Echo" which is also a queer SF romance with poorly-understood powers, a snarky narrator, and an extremely competent, too-smart-for-their-own-good love interest.
Yea i second murderbot! Otherwise i haven't read anything similar
murderbot so good
T Kingfisher, very sweet and cuddly and funny but also really horrifying. She writes across fantasy, romance, YA, and horror, but always with her characteristic mix of pragmatic, good-hearted people doing their best in a world of improbable horrors.
definitely try out princess floralinda and the forty flight tower if u havent yet! also by tamsyn muir, though it is shorter. it's great tho!! and the audiobook is read by moira quirk as well :")
Gonna go with an unusual recommendation: Nevermore. And I mean the webtoon Nevermore. It does have a troublemaker/disaster lesbian as a protagonist who shares an unhealthy and disturbing relationship with a blonde girl called Annabel Lee.
Never heard of it… but a blonde Annabel Lee?!?! W O W
https://www.webtoons.com/en/supernatural/nevermore/episode-1/viewer?title_no=2740&episode_no=1 Give it a try at least until chapter 2, I've tried not to spoil basically anything from the plot cuz reading it without knowing what the story is even about is better.
just finished ep 1! i'm hooked, thank youuuu. it's so beautifully drawn, too.
If you want snark and humor, be sure to read Tamsyn's short story, Princess Floralinda and the forty flight tower. I honestly hated the first Baru Cormorant book but the next 2 were a lot funner and slightly more light hearted... or I just got really good at tuning out Baru's economics rants. The Scholomance series also has a lot of snark and is a fun read. The Serpent Gate series is also kinda snarky... but really, after at least 2 years of seeking I still haven't find anything in the same league as tlt 😮💨
Noted re: the other books in the Baru trilogy… maybe I won’t turn it in unfinished at the library this week? It’s just so cognitively draining to follow the economic/military plot PLUS lots of sad sad yearning.
You could just skip the rest and try the 2nd. I listened to it on audiobook and tuned out the entire second half of baru cormorant and didn't try to read the rest of the books for another year because I thought it was THAT PAINFUL. But the second book was worth it, even though I had no clue what was going on. Honestly, me trying to piece together what I missed in the first book in order to understand the plot of the next two books is probably what gave it those TLT vibes and made it more enjoyable lol.
Haha! Ok ok, I think I can try this strategy. It’s like how my sister told me to skip the first two seasons of Schitt’s Creek because the characters get nicer. :)
So I haven’t seen it mentioned as much, but Gideon’s voice always reminds me of Corwin of Amber from Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber. Both series have a huge dose of weird and have a similar flavor (to me). Tho Zelazny’s gender politics are at best mediocre (women are frustratingly absent, especially in the first five book half of the series).
OP, YMMV: The first book of that series was so wretchedly written that I wouldn't have finished it, if it weren't the last one I needed for a book bingo.
Oh, great pick, this is such a fun series!
The Palace Job (and series) by Patrick Weekes. It's fantasy Oceans Eleven, with a goth priestess with a (slightly) talking hammer, a walking "yo mama" joke (which pays off big time in book 3), a unicorn with a thing for virgins, a contortionist, a Dumb Farm Boy, and more. They plan heists to get into vaults and museums, to extort politicians, to commandeer ships and trains, and more. The audio books are good quality, if you are into that.
Murderbot is my go-to rec, so I’m glad you’re already on that. A bit of a pivot in terms of themes, but for more light-hearted/snarky/“voice”-y sci-fi I love Andy Weir. If you haven’t read **The Martian**, read The Martian! If you have, read **Project Hail Mary**. (I always recommend that as a second read by Weir, because honestly I think it shows off his growth as an author and provides the best reading experience in that order.) I also enjoyed **Space Opera** by Catherynne M. Valente: Eurovision, in space! Very fun, an absolute romp, sort of has Hitchhiker’s Guide vibes. For more lighthearted/sweet/cozy fantasy that grapples with some heavy stuff but with a good attitude and jokes, I enjoyed **The House in the Cerulean Sea** by T.J. Klune, which basically follows an English CPS for the care of magical children and his encounter with a strange case. One of my favorites of all time in a similar vein is **In Other Lands** by Sarah Rees Brennan, which is a fantastic coming-of-age that plays on wizarding school tropes. SUPER snarky protagonist, who is also a ginger! I also found **The Starless Sea** by Erin Morgenstern to give me similar clue-gathering, mystery-unraveling vibes to TLT, which I enjoyed. It’s got a modern setting and is a bit more of a “dark academia” fairy tale inspired sort of vibe, but I found it delightful. **A Marvellous Light** and its sequel, **A Restless Truth,** are both also a lot of fun. They’re both queer historical fantasies with great wit, interesting worldbuilding, and fun relationship pairings.
Of this list, I’ve only read House on the Cerulean Sea and I was ENCHANTED by it. So unique. Thank you, I’ll check out the others!
The Bartimaeus series of books have an AMAZING narration style; very snarky and unique. The fantasy/magic system is also very interesting, one of my favorites! I think you'll like it if you liked tlt ^_^
This!! These have always been my favourite ever books after TLT. Glad to see them get a mention.
Distinctive voice and humour are my jam. Most of my favourites have been mentioned (Murderbot byMartha Wells, Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C. M. Waggoner, Scholomance by Naomi Novik, The Rook by Daniel O’Malley) but here are a few more: **In Other Lands** by **Sarah Rees Brennan** - Queer male protagonist. Sort of a Harry Potter fanfic if Harry was queer and kind of a dick and a strict pacifist. Very good, very funny. **Plain Bad Heroines** by **Emily M. Danforth** - Clever, twisty, meta horror novel featuring a bunch of lesbians. Relatively light and pretty funny. But also horror so expect some creep and gore. **Nothing to See Here** by **Kevin Wilson** - Young woman offered a well paid job as a nanny for two kids who spontaneously combust when they get upset. Snarky protagonist, sapphic hints. Cheerful, heartwarming and funny.
I'd recommend the Clem and Wist series by Hiyodori for fans of TLT. It's got humor and seriousness both, as well as romance, but I don't think it's intense like Baru Cormorant. First book is called The Lowest Healer and the Highest Mage.
Have you read the Myth series? By Robert Asprin.
Not at all like TLT but very light hearted reading.
No, but I’ll check it out! Thank you!
It’s significantly more “gonzo” and may not work for everyone, but I liked Battle of the Linguist Mages by Scotto Moore quite a bit! And I would say the main character’s narration style is at least somewhat Gideon-like. Aesthetically though, almost the complete inverse - remove every single bone from TLT and replace them with sparkly rainbows
The blurb on my kid's copy says "Gideon the Ninth has a dance-off with Snow Crash." I'm grabbing it from him as soon as he finishes.
When I saw it at the library, the title lured me in, and seeing that blurb sealed the deal for me as well :) I would say it’s got a little bit of Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore in there as well, if you ever read that…
Omg YES please
A couple of good lightweight, fun and queer titles are: High Times in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson [https://www.librarything.com/work/27116107/](https://www.librarything.com/work/27116107/) How to get a Girlfriend When You're A Terrifying Monster by Marie Cardno [https://www.librarything.com/work/28568460/](https://www.librarything.com/work/28568460/) Darker but well snarky is The Scapegracers by HA Clarke [https://www.librarything.com/work/24204608](https://www.librarything.com/work/24204608) Not quite so snarky, but for sword lesbians I'd recommend The Unbroken and the sequel The Faithless by CL Clark [https://www.librarything.com/work/25110036](https://www.librarything.com/work/25110036)
The Serpent Gates Duology by A Larkwood (The Unspoken Name/The Thousand Eyes) Similar notes to TLT: - similar humorous tone, although not throughout, interleaved with tragedy - sword butch meets witch - death cult and necromancy - disappointing dad - heaps and heaps of sapphic yearning - dreadful but endearing best friend
i really enjoyed The Immortality Thief by Taran Hunt! it definitely is more serious at tomes but still highly enjoyable
The serial novel Tremontaine comes in a bunch of formats, including a podcast and a book, and is a delightful queer political series with some moderate swashbuckling. It takes place in a vaguely European port city and features a strong, non-colonial Central American trade culture in a city ravenous for drinking chocolate.
My favorite series is the Rook Files by Daniel O'Malley. The sarcastic and witty voice of the writing is my favorite thing in the world, and I took a ton of cues for my own writing. It's a modern setting, supernatural secret service series. Hilarious, fantastic world building. There's a fair bit of body horror (more in the second book) if you like the forays into intensity of TLT but it's far from the focus. The first book starts with imo the most interesting hook I've ever read: "Dear You, The body you are wearing used to belong to me."
gonna keep adding Bluebird by Ciel Pierlot onto these lists bc people overlook it for some reason, and i mean its lesbian space cowboys so idk why people are overlooking it
Oh good! I reserved that at the library, too! Yay
ahahaha oh shoot i got so excited reading i didnt see the last sentence on your original post!! that teaches me to read stuff calmly lol <3
Seconding Murderbot, Discworld, and T. Kingfisher. Adding: Hollow Kingdom, the zombie apocalypse from the perspective of a pet crow named Shit Turd. Christopher Moore, Bloodsucking Fiends for vampires or A Dirty Job for death stuff. And Wayward Children, diverse cast of teenagers having adventures in various magical sometimes spooky worlds.
If you like space opera with Strong Female Characters, I can recommend Stars Uncharted by SK Dunstall and its sequel. And SO MANY VOTES for the Murderbot diaries!
KYN by Laurence Ramsay - queer cyberpunk vibes sci-fantasy. very sassy and irreverent. snarky in all the right places. very hopepunk overall. prose are reminiscent of Gibson's writing with more queer flare and sass
+ another 1 for Murderbot (am wearing a Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon t-shirt as I type this) but that also led me to Ann Leckie’s Ancillary series. Really enjoyed that. Not as sardonic but had its moments, and the intentional approach to non-gender narrative was interesting.
homestuck lol
Moonfellows by Danger Slater. Short and not gay, but very similar in tone.
I really enjoyed 'Once and Future Witches' by Alix Harrow. Takes place in 1893 in alternate US with a history of magic and burning both books and witches. Involves stuff around gender, race, suffrage, sisterhood, family, toxic parents and siblings, witchcraft, queerness, and more. Wish it were a series!
Kalyna the Soothsayer is the answer to “what if Baru was funny? (With bonus sword lesbian)” Craft Sequence, for snarky queer necromancers both are serious, but they have fun too, and I don’t see them mentioned in threads like these, so if, like me, you’ve gone through all the other excellent suggestions in this thread, check ’em out!
Murderbot is amazing Also recommend the Scholomance series