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A list for gay historical fiction novels -- any novel length work featuring a gay, bisexual, or transgender male protagonist, from any historical period. Differs from the 'Best Gay Historical Romance' list in that romance is not required; can be any genre of historical fiction.
1

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4.30 avg rating — 1,970,270 ratings
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2

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4.18 avg rating — 11,174 ratings
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3

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4.08 avg rating — 57,807 ratings
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4

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4.11 avg rating — 6,540 ratings
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5

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4.10 avg rating — 9,735 ratings
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6

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3.93 avg rating — 6,245 ratings
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7

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3.96 avg rating — 10,285 ratings
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8

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4.04 avg rating — 6,495 ratings
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9

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3.89 avg rating — 21,736 ratings
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10

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4.02 avg rating — 145,630 ratings
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11

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4.03 avg rating — 24,570 ratings
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12

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4.09 avg rating — 9,906 ratings
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13

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3.76 avg rating — 50,564 ratings
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14

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4.18 avg rating — 1,960 ratings
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15

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 126,371 ratings
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16

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4.02 avg rating — 118,258 ratings
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17

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4.17 avg rating — 1,336 ratings
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18

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4.22 avg rating — 8,271 ratings
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19

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3.75 avg rating — 2,611 ratings
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20

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3.70 avg rating — 248 ratings
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21

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3.97 avg rating — 963 ratings
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22

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4.10 avg rating — 1,136 ratings
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23

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4.50 avg rating — 73,624 ratings
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24

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3.96 avg rating — 29,369 ratings
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25

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4.28 avg rating — 6,117 ratings
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26

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4.39 avg rating — 379 ratings
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27

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3.71 avg rating — 1,537 ratings
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28

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3.76 avg rating — 914 ratings
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29

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3.97 avg rating — 2,600 ratings
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30

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3.88 avg rating — 1,466 ratings
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31

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4.03 avg rating — 1,104 ratings
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32

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4.08 avg rating — 2,325 ratings
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33

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4.34 avg rating — 2,174 ratings
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34

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3.79 avg rating — 307 ratings
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35

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4.12 avg rating — 5,826 ratings
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36

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3.83 avg rating — 2,290 ratings
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37

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4.24 avg rating — 5,281 ratings
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38

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3.99 avg rating — 47,674 ratings
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39

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3.74 avg rating — 283 ratings
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40

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3.77 avg rating — 125 ratings
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41

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4.17 avg rating — 14,081 ratings
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42

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3.92 avg rating — 20,516 ratings
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43

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4.25 avg rating — 5,869 ratings
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44

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3.94 avg rating — 128 ratings
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45

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3.69 avg rating — 249 ratings
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45

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3.60 avg rating — 413 ratings
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47

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3.85 avg rating — 1,227 ratings
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48

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4.27 avg rating — 4,850 ratings
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49

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4.09 avg rating — 4,251 ratings
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50

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3.97 avg rating — 10,339 ratings
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51

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4.22 avg rating — 3,794 ratings
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52

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3.98 avg rating — 4,729 ratings
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53

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3.90 avg rating — 978 ratings
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54

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4.34 avg rating — 249,655 ratings
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55

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3.90 avg rating — 306 ratings
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56

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4.24 avg rating — 35,662 ratings
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57

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3.71 avg rating — 33,219 ratings
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58

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3.75 avg rating — 491 ratings
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59

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3.49 avg rating — 73 ratings
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60

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4.33 avg rating — 3,446 ratings
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61

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4.10 avg rating — 23,392 ratings
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62

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4.10 avg rating — 593,115 ratings
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63

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3.88 avg rating — 8 ratings
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64

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4.27 avg rating — 63 ratings
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65

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4.42 avg rating — 40 ratings
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66

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4.12 avg rating — 263 ratings
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67

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3.81 avg rating — 8,509 ratings
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68

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4.06 avg rating — 64,347 ratings
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69

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3.63 avg rating — 853 ratings
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70

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3.69 avg rating — 2,691 ratings
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71

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4.02 avg rating — 147 ratings
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72

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3.78 avg rating — 1,081 ratings
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73

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3.73 avg rating — 1,734 ratings
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74

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3.83 avg rating — 124 ratings
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75

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4.05 avg rating — 78 ratings
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76

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3.71 avg rating — 49 ratings
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77

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3.97 avg rating — 27,009 ratings
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78

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4.13 avg rating — 4,943 ratings
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79

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3.87 avg rating — 3,653 ratings
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80

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3.75 avg rating — 28,623 ratings
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81

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3.83 avg rating — 74,407 ratings
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82

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4.32 avg rating — 2,648 ratings
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83

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4.37 avg rating — 46 ratings
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84

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4.14 avg rating — 206 ratings
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85

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4.06 avg rating — 78,160 ratings
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86

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3.89 avg rating — 75 ratings
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87

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4.28 avg rating — 612 ratings
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88

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4.05 avg rating — 687 ratings
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89

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4.13 avg rating — 70 ratings
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90

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4.02 avg rating — 176 ratings
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91

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3.63 avg rating — 326 ratings
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92

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3.71 avg rating — 336 ratings
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92

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3.57 avg rating — 1,106 ratings
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94

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4.23 avg rating — 6,611 ratings
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95

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 20 ratings
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96

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3.46 avg rating — 83,364 ratings
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97

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4.23 avg rating — 64 ratings
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98

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3.95 avg rating — 446 ratings
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99

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3.63 avg rating — 27 ratings
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100

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4.31 avg rating — 337 ratings
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365 books · 571 voters · list created May 29th, 2010 by M. Kei (votes) .
248 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


M. 199 books
107 friends
Nemesis 8690 books
88 friends
Michele 52 books
33 friends
Pradlee 86 books
0 friends
Jeang 16 books
0 friends
W 24 books
0 friends
Rhiannon 4370 books
123 friends
Rosie 1620 books
11 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 2: by Nan (new)

Nan Hawthorne More lesbian novels... I can think of one lovely one right off the top of my head.. hint hint.


message 3: by Nan (new)

Nan Hawthorne You can find most of these at www.glbtbookshelf.com ..


message 4: by M. (new)

M. Kei Anyone can add books to the list. Go to the upper right hand corner at the top of the list and click on "Add books to this list". Note however, that this list is for gay and bisexual male characters.

However, anyone can start a list of any sort they wish; go to the top of the page and click on 'Create New List.'


message 5: by Buzz H. (new)

Buzz H. Is anyone aware of any gay Arthurian novels or short stories other than Lancelot and the Wolf and its sequels?


message 6: by Kaye (new)

Kaye Buzz H. wrote: "Is anyone aware of any gay Arthurian novels or short stories other than Lancelot and the Wolf and its sequels?"

The Silurian, book ONE, The Fox and the Bear

This isn't quite a "romance," but neither is it just a fiction. Bedwyr is Arthur's best friend, and be harbours a love for Arthur. It's got a lot of straight romance, as well. As I am only reading book 3 out of 10, I'm not sure that they ever "get together," but the books are captivating. There's a fair amount of typos, but the writing is very true to the times. I have enjoyed them a lot, and they're full of emotion.

I suggest them, highly. Even for the mistakes L A Wilson sometimes makes, and the occasional slip into modern language, the books are very good.


message 7: by Steve (new)

Steve Novels by Benjamin Alire Saenz have are beautiful crafted with
realistic and honest portrayals of young gay Latinos. "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" is a good example.

Also, https://www.abebooks.com is a great source for gently read, used books at great prices. Many sellers ship free. I've bought scores of books for 1 to 3 dollars. Check it out!


message 8: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited May 13, 2017 02:36PM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Steve wrote: " Many sellers ship free...."

I yet have to come across the first seller that ships free, I'm afraid... :-(

And as to 'gently read', in my experience it always pays to ask the seller questions about the book's condition, as 'good' seems to have as many interpretations as there are sellers on Abebooks, unfortunately... Not that Abebooks isn't a great place to buy used books, it absolutely is, but just be careful and ask questions before buying, is my advise, or you could be in for a nasty surprise.


message 9: by Steve (new)

Steve I can't disagree with what you're saying. Always be cautious of the stated condition. I buy from just a few sellers I've had a track record with. A good example is Better World Books. A huge and varied inventory, and most pbs sell for $3.48 with free shipping. Most of the used books are donated to my town's library that relies on donations of cash and books, in the absence of very little public funding. I was a seller on ABE for a number of years, but my comments are strictly as a buyer.


message 10: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited May 13, 2017 09:40PM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Steve wrote: "A good example is Better World Books. A huge and varied inventory, and most pbs sell for $3.48 with free shipping.."

I've bought at Better World Books a few times. Their free shipping must be restricted to the US, I guess, as they charged me for it.


message 11: by Oliver (new)

Oliver how do I save this list or keep an eye on it?


message 12: by Capn (new)

Capn I'm not quite sure this qualifies, but since it wasn't represented (before today) on Listopia, I thought I might mention it: The Countess of Sedgwick (the protagonist (female) is married off to a man who is either gay or bisexual, I can't tell from the synopsis).


message 13: by Kathy (new)

Kathy This list needs serious updating.
I would also add The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai.


message 14: by Kathy (new)

Kathy Nan wrote: "You can find most of these at .."

URL no longer good.


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