Hidden Gems: 15 Indie Sapphic Books
By Alyssa Aspiotis & Gabby Aspiotis
Edited by Sherriece Hughes
Happy Pride Month! For this month, we wanted to highlight some amazing indie sapphic books (and some of our personal favourites). From vampires and goddesses, to arranged marriages and gay awakenings, there’s something for everyone!
In 1991, schoolteacher Cynthia becomes entwined with Safoa, an immortal Ghanaian vampire, at a party. Safoa reflects on her journey to becoming a vampire in nineteenth century Ghana, meeting Cynthia in New York, and a near future utopian Maryland.
Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao
Mira, a classics graduate, is struggling. She’s been sleeping on her best friend’s couch after a bad breakup. When she goes to the club one night, she gets harassed by her ex-boyfriend. Isabel, a union electrician with a tough exterior, comes to her defence and offers her a place to stay. Becoming roommates forces Isabel to lower her walls and Mira starts to realize, maybe she isn’t as straight as she thought she was.
The Witch Who Chases the Sun by Dawn Chen
Years after the Second War, Ying Cai-Li seeks to possibly rekindle her relationship with her ex-lover, Anne Barberry. But years of war have changed them both, and these two witches have their own battles to overcome. When old ghosts come back and truths are inevitably revealed, can they overcome the cycles of war to be together? Or is true love not strong enough?
Summer Breakdown by J.S. Jasper
Frankie’s rugby team is a few months away from being promoted to the Championship, and she is determined to keep her focus and stick to her routine. Jasmine wants this summer to be a fresh start. Starting over at thirty wasn't her plan, but she will do anything for herself and her children. When Jasmine and Frankie meet and have a whirlwind connection, they think they have finally figured everything out. Then Frankie leaves without a word, and both have to overcome unexpected challenges if they want to make their relationship work.
Esha is outspoken, loud, and opinionated, and the last person on earth anyone expected to agree to an arranged marriage. When she quits her MFA program and agrees to return to India to be wed, her family cannot be happier. To secure this wedding, Esha’s mother arranges a dance instructor to train her in traditionally Bollywood-style routines. Esha did not expect to enjoy her time with her dance instructor, Billu, let alone develop feelings for her. Torn between her growing closeness to Billu and her commitments to her family, Esha must decide whether to follow her heart, or make her family proud.
Unholy With Eyes like Wolves by Morgan Dante
In early 17th century Hungary, Noémie, a widowed and dishonoured noblewoman, has one chance to regain her honor: become the stoic and arrogant lady Erzsébet Báthory’s handmaiden. Noémie begins experiencing enigmatic dreams about a woman, and is struggling to accept her new role. As deaths and disappearances in the castle begin to occur, Noémie worries that she is next.
Unwieldy Creatures by Addie Brook Tsai
Plum is a biracial, queer, Chinese intern at the top embryology lab who finds herself on her own after running away with her (now ex) girlfriend. Dr. Frank is a biracial, queer, Indonesian scientist working at the same lab, but with a twist of her own. She has a nonbinary creation that was brought into the world from complications at birth. The question is, how far are they all willing to go in the name of scientific advancement?
Darknesses by Lachelle Seville
It’s been one year since Oasis succumbed to being an angel’s vessel. One year since she noticed wings carved into her back. One year since she last felt fully human. Oasis then meets Laura, the most recent face of Count Dracula who makes Oasis finally feel human. With one final ploy to kill Dracula, Oasis must come to terms that she may be a danger to everyone, including herself.
Aisla Laxmi is a wytch who neutralizes vampires. Jinn, an angry, grieving vampire, hates her at first. However, Jinn needs a wytch to perform a resurrection spell and is forced to get Aisla’s help. As the two begin to work together, their mutual hatred turns into heat, and they start to wonder if they can actually bring a loved one back from the dead.
The Muse of Missing Pieces by Thea Hawthorne
After a commission fails, Harriet, an artist, decides she’s done. Done trying, done failing, and definitely done chasing her dreams of becoming an artisan. When Artemisia Whitaker, a rising artisan, asks Harriet to collaborate with her on a commission, she can’t refuse, even though the stakes have never been higher. This time, Harriet’s failure won’t just affect her, it’ll destroy Artemisia’s future too.
Conjuring & Crossroads by Luciana
Hecate is the Greek Goddess of Crossroads and Witchcraft who has a plethora of responsibilities with no time for herself. Stefana is a witch under the Norse goddess, Freyja, where she finds herself struggling to manage her chaotic life. When these two meet at a winter solstice ball, they find the spark between them undeniable. But can they both make space for each other in their busy lives?
The Jinn’s Bargain by Fetin Sardaneh
Esin Sultan is desperate after she loses her home. Her brother is now cursed and her hope is dwindling by the second. In an act of desperation, she calls upon mysterious powers to help her. But Dark Magic is starting to bleed across the land, and something sinister is brewing within the shadows.
Marlowe will do anything for her son. When her ex kidnaps him, she sneaks into his starship and plans to make her ex’s life a living hell. Until she is caught and questioned by the captain, who Marlowe enlists to help rescue her son. The captain, Tanisira, agrees and soon they face feelings they have longed to bury. But can they find Marlowe’s son in time?
Kye Liatris, once a disgraced daughter of a noble house, is now crowned a living saint by the Vigil Order and tasked with stopping an apocalypse. Jude Arendall finds herself helping the Vigil after a strange death occurs in her village. They follow the pattern of stars extinguishing, and begin to grow closer to one another. However, Kye has been silently enduring ailments that are worsening, and Jude is realizing her family legacy is not what she thought. They must decide whether to follow their callings and trust one another.
The Flowers I Deserve by Tamara Jerée
Carlotta is forced to embrace her newfound power (a gift or a curse?) as the exchange to the court of King Emelia, where she finds herself working as the protector and food taster for the king. King Emelia is a demon who rose to power under mysterious circumstances, yet Carlotta can only see beauty in her. Carlotta must decide what she truly wants for herself in the face of seduction, or her own dead will come for her.
We hope at least some of these underrated books sound like they’re up your alley, and maybe, you’ll even find a new favourite! :)