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The Winged Histories

Sofia Samatar

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Similar in characterization + relationships

These books are ranked using the characterization + relationships labels extracted for The Winged Histories. Books rank higher when they are close on every selected axis.

Characterization labels used: female protagonists, soldier, scholar, poet, socialite, noblewoman, priest's daughter, nomad singer, rebel, swordmaiden, marginalized women, complex characters, disaffected younger generation, wounded veteran, political pawn, queer women leads

Relationships labels used: sapphic relationship, f/f romance, female lovers, sister relationship, family conflict, romance, interpersonal tension, enemy and lover, community bonds, power imbalance, parent-child conflict, forbidden love

This does not mean the books share the same plot, setting, quality, or difficulty. It means their characterization + relationships embeddings are close.

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Escaping Exodus

Nicky Drayden · 2019 · Escaping Exodus

In a matriarchal society living inside a giant space beast, two young women uncover hard truths that could change everything.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: heir · beastworker · lower-caste worker · privileged protagonist · rebellious young woman · hardened revolutionary · naive protagonist · distinct voices · dynamic character growth · flat side characters · trope-y side characters

Relationships labels: sapphic romance · f/f relationship · polyamory · best friends to lovers · forbidden relationship · class-divided romance · family conflict · sister rivalry · rival love interests · community bonds · intimate enemies

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1504

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Countess

Suzan Palumbo · 2024

A queer Caribbean officer is framed, imprisoned, and driven to challenge an interstellar empire that subjugates her people.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: female protagonist · lesbian protagonist · queer protagonist · migrant protagonist · immigrant · colonized subject · loyal soldier · rank climber · resistance leader · fierce heroine · sympathetic protagonist · angry heroine

Relationships labels: found family · sapphic romance · established sapphic relationship · betrayal · family loyalty · community solidarity · rivalry · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1535

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Waiting on a Bright Moon

J.Y. Yang · 2017

A gifted portal singer in a space colony is pulled into rebellion and forbidden sapphic desire after a dead body arrives.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: gifted women · magical operators · law enforcer · high-ranking officer · starmage · ansible · rebellious protagonist · tender lovers · morally ambiguous characters · forced role

Relationships labels: sapphic romance · f/f relationship · forbidden romance · love during rebellion · power imbalance · queer love · affection under pressure · political alliance · lovers in conflict

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1550

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The Meadows

Stephanie Oakes · 2023

A queer teen enters a prestigious school that hides a conversion regime, then must outwit its control years later.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: reluctant rebel · traumatized protagonist · flawed heroine · indoctrinated protagonist · young adult protagonist · multi-complex characters · self-discovery · quiet resistance · adjudicator · matrons · best and brightest

Relationships labels: sapphic romance · forbidden attraction · friendship · found family · classmate bonds · community bonds · romantic loss · adoptive mother · mother-daughter · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1633

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Fable for the End of the World

Ava Reid · 2025

In a corporate debt-dystopia, a girl marked for a livestreamed hunt may fall for the assassin sent to kill her.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: female assassin · engineered weapon · conditioned killer · traumatized heroine · survivor · naive protagonist · protective sibling · abusive mother · morally complex characters · emotionally repressed character · queer protagonists · lamb-to-slaughter role · redeemable killer

Relationships labels: sapphic romance · enemies to lovers · forced proximity · hunter and target · sibling bond · abusive parent-child relationship · protective sibling · reluctant allies · tender antagonists · forbidden attraction

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1641

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Godslayers

Zoe Hana Mikuta · 2022 · Gearbreakers

A rebellious pair on opposite sides of war must fight brainwashing, empire, and each other to find their way back.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: corrupted heroine · brainwashed heroine · rebellious heroine · prisoner protagonist · badass heroines · found family cast · genius side character · unhinged character · feral character · traumatized youth · children in war · antagonist turned compelling

Relationships labels: sapphic romance · enemies to lovers · found family · soulmate feels · romantic tension · platonic love · sister relationship · best frenemies · obsessive love

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1647

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And Shall Machines Surrender

Benjanun Sriduangkaew · 2019 · Machine Mandate

On a Dyson-sphere utopia run by AIs, two estranged women investigate sudden suicides among human-AI hosts.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: female leads · queer women · cyborgs · AIs · ex-spies · ex-mercenaries · doctors · morally ambiguous protagonists · traumatized characters · competent protagonists · antagonist with motives · emotionally restrained characters · veterans

Relationships labels: lesbian romance · sapphic romance · second chance romance · ex-lovers · messy exes · power imbalance · betrayal · dependency · D/s relationship · complex female bonds · work partnership · political manipulation

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1659

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The Towers of the Sunset

L.E. Modesitt Jr. · 1993 · The Saga of Recluce

A young noble flees an arranged marriage and helps found a new island settlement amid magic, politics, and rivalry.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: young noble · soldier · musician · wizard · storm mage · powerful protagonist · strong-willed heroine · angsty heroine · overpowered protagonist · naive protagonist · female guard society · military matriarchy

Relationships labels: arranged marriage · enemies-to-lovers · toxic relationship · life-linked bond · power struggle · romance subplot · co-regents · family conflict · parent-child conflict · sibling conflict · mentor relationship · dependency

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1677

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The Dragonfly Gambit

A.D. Sui · 2024

A disabled former pilot infiltrates the empire that made her, plotting revenge through lies, seduction, and sabotage.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: disabled protagonist · former pilot · military veteran · bitter protagonist · ruthless protagonist · morally gray characters · schemer · charismatic narrator · female antagonist · ruling family

Relationships labels: sapphic relationship · enemies to lovers · enemies to enemies · toxic relationships · love triangle · ex-girlfriend · ex-best friend · attraction and hatred · power imbalance · sexual tension

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1694

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Article 5

Kristen Simmons · 2012 · Article 5

In a post-war America ruled by Moral Statutes, a teen girl flees to save her mother—with her first love now on the other side.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen heroine · rebellious mother · brooding soldier · tortured love interest · impulsive protagonist · naive protagonist · strong heroine · survivor · protective hero · moralistic authority figures

Relationships labels: mother-daughter relationship · childhood sweethearts · forbidden romance · exes to lovers · trust issues · love-hate relationship · protective relationship · romantic tension

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1701

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Iron Heart

Nina Varela · 2020 · Crier's War

A fugitive human and an Automa prince across enemy lines race to stop a war and keep their love alive.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: fugitive · handmaiden · rebel leader · queen · princess · sovereign's daughter · independent heroine · protective character · tortured lover · morally gray character · villainous ruler · side characters

Relationships labels: enemies to lovers · sapphic romance · slow burn · forbidden love · siblings · family conflict · reunion · separated lovers · power imbalance · found family

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1708

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The Warden

Daniel M. Ford · 2023 · The Warden

A newly graduated necromancer is sent to a remote village, where oddities force her to protect a town that fears her.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: aristocratic heroine · intelligent heroine · arrogant protagonist · snarky protagonist · ambitious protagonist · female necromancer · strong female lead · character growth · snobby academic · reluctant protector

Relationships labels: sapphic romance · slow-burn romance · found family · friendship · reluctant trust · community tension · romantic subplot · mentor-student tension · symbiotic dependence · selected companions

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1708

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