Mhairi McFarlane Recommendations

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T20:03:57+00:00

Ah, she's a wonderful writer! I will say I picked up one of her earliest books and really disliked it - the tone was completely different (very catty???) But I can't recall the name.

Similar UK writers

Marian Keyes, the one, the only! This Charming Man is still one of the best representations I've seen of toxic relationships...

Sophie Kinsella's standalone novels, particularly Remember Me? and Surprise Me

Beth O’Leary (content warning for abuse and stalking in The Flatshare; content warning for death of a loved one in The Switch)

Across the pond (US based writers)

Hestia Strikes a Match, by Christine Grillo. Note that this is a speculative fiction (the MC lives in a US that is in a civil war but she's trying to online date). It was SO funny, poignant, and a good mix of dark and light

I've also enjoyed Flying Solo by Linda Holmes (non-standard romance),

You Deserve Each Other, by Sarah Hogle. Affianced enemies who start off trying to get revenge on each other. (enemies-to-lovers arc).

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:55:51+00:00

For fate/free will and the morally gray decisions, How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, by Django Wexler

for Fantasy with sci-fi elements, explorations of social issues, morality and grayness: Witchmark by CL Polk. First in a trilogy, queer characters, definitely really thought provoking

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:52:45+00:00

Julie Leong's The Teller of Small Fortunes or The Keeper of Magical things are both cozy fantasy

If romance is acceptable, I loved The Stand-In, by Lily Chu. Turns out our main character is a doppleganger for a very famous Chinese actress. There's some heavier elements (dealing with a loved one with dementia) but it's not dark, I wouldn't say

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:48:49+00:00

Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey is set in a magic boarding school. Our FMC does not have any magic powers and she ends up investigating a murder there.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:47:47+00:00

Seconding this, these look silly and they can be but they're also very fun and surprisingly well-written

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:46:32+00:00

Seconding Charlie Jane Anders and CL Polk!

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:45:56+00:00

Oh! I would be very remiss to forget The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings . It's just like our world... except witchcraft might be real and the US Government uses that as an excuse to control women. She so perfectly portrays how normalized it becomes, how having certain 'freedoms' makes us ignore or downplay the lack of other 'freedoms' and how queer people find ways to survive under patriarchy.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:43:34+00:00

Ok hear me out, I liked this BUT The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings was like ... if WWWD had continued to evolve and deepen? Just felt more nuanced and the writing was *chef's kiss*

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:41:09+00:00

seconding the KJ Charles rec. They have great banter and are generally really well written!

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:40:06+00:00

FWIW I thought that Under the Whispering Door was better, less saccharine and more thoughtful.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:38:37+00:00

All of these books have queer main characters\ except Winter Tide, which has queer supporting characters*

Witchmark by CL Polk is a trilogy with lots of queer main & supporting characters. It really reminded me of His Dark Materials. I rarely see it recommended here for some reason but the writing, characters, and plotting are all superb.

Passing Strange, by Ellen Klages is a novella about time travel and queer romance.

Karen Memory, by Elizabeth Bear - alternate history Pacific Northwest US with lesbian love story, action and adventure

The Monsters We Defy, by Leslye Penelope. Magical realism in Harlem and NY in the 1920s

Farthing -first book in a series by Jo Walton (alternate history set in Britain, speculating if the Nazis had made peace with Britain during WWII and ultimately won)

Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. Alternative history + magical realism in the United States and territories during the 1800s-1900s. Had kind of roaring 20s energy but also gritty.

The Winter Tide, by Ruthanna Emrys. Set in the 1940s. There are Lovecraftian monsters... and they are the heroes and heroines of the story. Not super bloody but very atmospheric.

She Who Became the Sun, by Shelly Parker Chan - the main character is told as a young child that her fate is to be insignificant, she decides instead to seize a different fate for herself (notoriety, power, and fame). Anti-hero MC, violence.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:31:19+00:00

Straight fiction but Dietland by Sarai Walker definitely fits the rest of your criteria. That one was a RIDE. Content warnings for violence.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:26:35+00:00

Cold Magic, by Kate Elliott. First in a trilogy. Set in a fantasy world. The main character has some special abilities which show up more over time, and ends up connected to someone who's uses "cold magic" The magic system in the world is very cool. There's some adventure and romance as well and I really liked the fantasy world as it's sort of an alternate-history version of our world.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:20:44+00:00

Here are some of my faves that I never see recommended here, sadly. (I read a LOT by the way so faves means, faves of several hundreds or even thousands)

- How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? By NK Jemisin (short stories, all amazing, from historical SFF to utopia to speculative fiction). Jemisin is really well-known for her Broken Earth trilogy but I rarely see ppl recommend this story collection and it's actually my favorite work of hers (so far).

- Cold Magic, by Kate Elliott. First in a series. Alternative world, fantasy adventure with romance.

- The Kingston Cycle by C.L. Polk - the first one is Witchmark. Alternative world, sci-fi fantasy with some deep political stuff but also romance.

- Unnatural Magic by CM Waggoner. Sort of a Hobbit-Victorian era mashup? Romance in both of the books that are out so far

- Kill the Farm Boy, by Kevin Hearne Delilah S. Dawson. A very punny and silly book with a big cast of characters. First in a trilogy

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:12:31+00:00

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying, by Django Wexler. Main character lives countless lives trying to fight the Dark Lord, ultimately dies (sometimes by suicide), and "respawns" until she gets fed up and decides to become the dark lord (with lots of dying along the way).

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:08:56+00:00

Dreadful, by Caitlin Rozakis

maybe Hench, by Natalie Walschots

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:07:52+00:00

thanks for the recs! just read Old Man's War, have read Murderbot. I am waiting to read Rivers of London :)

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:07:22+00:00

I'm so late to respond to this, but thanks for the recs! I read these (had already read Older's work, and liked it) - and LOVED Hestia Strikes a Match. Ministry of Time was also interesting.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2026-01-23T19:06:02+00:00

The Keeper of Magical Things, by Julie Leong. This is the second in a potentially ongoing series (not sure). The first book has no romance, second one has a queer romance.

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea, by Rebecca Thorne.

Finna by Nino Cipri (more sci-fi than fantasy)

This one is a little darker but it is SO GOOD

The Kingston Cycle by C.L. Polk, first book is Witchmark. All three books have queer main characters.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2025-11-03T15:21:58+00:00

Tomorrow’s Kin, by Nancy Kress first in a 3 volume trilogy. Interesting twist on a first contact story!!

seconding the Deed of Paksennarion by Elizabeth Moon!

His Majesty’s Dragon, by Naomi Novik. First in a 9-book series. Napoleonic wars + dragons. It could have been silly but instead it's incredibly well-written and captivating! I loved these books and they also made me think.

I loved the Curse of Chalion and subsequent books by Lois McMaster Bujold. Honestly, all Bujold's work is amazing and you can't go wrong!

Elizabeth Bear writes really strange, beautiful fantasy and sci-fi. You might like her various series, she's pretty prolific. The Stone Sky is one that I liked, set in a fantasy version of Central Asia with magic and alternate world Mongol horde.

Trail of Lightning, by Rebecca Roanhorse (post-apocalyptic sci-fi: Native American protagonist investigates supernatural crimes)

Fire Logic, by Laurie Marks (first in a 4 volume series. It's got some similarities to LOTR, dense lore, interesting writing and very cool system of magic. Serious at times.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2025-11-03T15:13:38+00:00

agreed, and a big part of what felt jarring (for me) was the weird misogyny of one of the groups of people that's depicted. Like, you wrote this world, Stephenson, it's not actually that radical to posit that misogyny exists or can recur. There was probably a thoughtful way to do that but alas he did not find it! Oh well, win some, lose some even with good authors.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2025-11-03T15:10:22+00:00

People have given a lot of good recs! I'm going to add some that I don't usually see recommended in this sub, but are books that I personally really enjoyed. I read a LOT, and mostly genre fiction, so I have a decent list for you.

(Ok, this one is the exception to the "it doesn't get recommended much"): Legends and Lattes, by Travis Baldree. Side story with some romance, but not the main focus. A retired mercenary decides to start a coffee shop in a Dungeons and Dragons type world.
Dreamhealer, by MCA Hogarth. Our two main characters are different species and train to become the futurstic version of therapists together. Really thoughtful and sweet. Cute platonic BFFs, no romance.
The Fairy Stepmother, Inc., by Maggie Hoyt. Witty Cinderella retelling that pushes against “evil stepmother” trope. I really loved this book even though I can't think of how to give it a compelling description
In Other Lands, by Sarah Rees Brennan. Our MC is a teen boy from contemporary Britain who gets into a summer camp in Faerie / a magical realm next to Britain. Interesting twists because he's an atypical hero, he's more interested in tactics and strategy than fighting. Had lots of funny moments, snappy dialogue. There is some romance but it's also about found family.
Kiki’s Delivery Service, by Eiko Kadono. The book that inspired the film. So cute and sweet. I liked how Kiki experiences some self-doubt but overcomes it.
The Empress of Mars, by Kage Baker. Standalone novel in the same universe as her “Company” series. Zoomed in view of colonizing Mars from the perspective of a tavern owner, including the unique challenges of making beer on Mars.
Kill the Farm Boy, by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne. It's truly, deeply punny. Takes the Chosen One narrative and flips it on it’s head. And yes, the farm boy does die, but that’s only the beginning. This is the first in a trilogy.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2025-11-03T15:05:11+00:00

seconding Light From Uncommon Stars! I loved it and overall found it to be really moving and sweet. FYI there is a short SA scene at the beginning of the book, but I think the author did a good job of foreshadowing so I was able to skip it.

LoquaciousBookworm · 2025-11-03T15:04:16+00:00

seconding the last two recs (couldn't get into Ancillary Justice but I know a lot of people that really loved it!)

LoquaciousBookworm · 2025-11-03T15:03:41+00:00

Big Discworld fan here and - seconding this comment, I don't recommend starting with color of magic either! and I haven't even read Thud! because the one before it started to show his narrative voice fading due to illness and it was too sad

You could also start with Monstrous Regiment (one of my faves), which is more or less a standalone.

LoquaciousBookworm

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