By: Laura Moreno
Trio of Tempting Tales: New Fantasy Books by Anna Cowan, TJ Alexander & S.E. McPherson
by Laura Moreno
2026 is shaping up to be a watershed moment in LGBT literature, particularly for powerful, nuanced characters. Three recently released books brilliantly demonstrate that LGBT authors are at the forefront of reimagining historical romance and fantasy through a new lens, challenging genre conventions and celebrating complex identities.
“The Duke”
“The Duke” is a witty, sapphic regency romance by Anna Cowan. It’s a story of passion and intrigue set in an alternate egalitarian 19th-century in the world of British high society. The novel is filled with many actual historical details that are artfully blended into a radical reimagining of the period.
The novel’s protagonists are two powerful young women who must navigate a high-stakes environment governed by the rigid rules of class, reputation, and political maneuvering: fearless Kate, Duke of Howard, and her perfect match and biggest challenge Celine.
The captivatingly intelligent lasses are vaguely reminiscent of Mary and Elizabeth, history’s young red-haired first cousin queens of Scotland and England who were always pitted against each other by circumstance, when together they could have been unstoppable. (I’m pleased that other readers have also drawn this parallel.)
The two women’s desires and ambitions are as complex and compelling as the precariously political world that surrounds them. The duke’s struggle to maintain her position in a world that simultaneously accepts and undermines her authority speaks to the dynamics of power as well as to contemporary concerns of representation and tokenism.
Most fascinatingly, perhaps, the novel shows how personal relationships can silently influence political outcomes in surprising ways that feel as plausible as refreshingly modern.
“The Duke” by Anna Cowan, $26.99
https://us.macmillan.com
“A Lady for All Seasons”
TJ Alexander’s lighthearted “A Lady for All Seasons” is a highly imaginative novel that focuses on Eliza, who is a lesbian and a gentleman’s daughter. But because she lacks a dowry she must somehow figure out how to inveigle a suitable spouse on the treacherous marriage market.
Filled with witty banter and engaging social comedy, the story creates a compelling underdog narrative when Eliza takes a much-needed job as a companion to Lady Annabeth. When a mysterious poetess anonymously targets her Lady with cutting verses, a rivalry is introduced that threatens to unravel Eliza’s carefully laid plans.
This clever plot device allows author TJ Alexander to explore the rigid limitations placed on women in regency society while simultaneously celebrating their power to subvert those very constraints through intelligence and diligent determination.
“A Lady for All Seasons” by TJ Alexander, $18
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
“A Villain’s Hope”
“A Villain’s Hope” by S.E. McPherson is the second book of the Heart-Mage Trilogy, continuing a story that began with “A King’s Trust,” named a Top 100 Indie Book by Kirkus Reviews and a Top 6 Best LGBTQ+ Indie Book of 2025.
The novel centers on Elias, who has been granted magical abilities from a mage-king. His wishes have been fulfilled: he has the love and trust of his two royal companions Beau and Penny, and possesses the supernatural skills to protect them, as well as have influence with the nobles of Granvallée.
But the magic comes with a high price. The plot involves mages coming to collect their due on the deal with Elias, forcing him and his royal loves to reckon with the consequences of their agreement.
McPherson’s work stands out for its real emotional authenticity and nuanced portrayal of neurodiversity within a fantasy setting. In addition to an autistic protagonist with ADHD, the book features bisexual and polyamorous characters and found families as it explores what it means to be both powerful and vulnerable.
The moral complexity of the novel creates rich narrative terrain within which redemption is possible but not guaranteed. This moral ambiguity poses complex questions about power, sacrifice, and the very nature of love itself.
“A Villain’s Hope” by S.E. McPherson, $24.99
https://www.metaltailpress.com/