Looking for science fiction and fantasy written by women, as a break from the genre’s traditional male dominance? Whether you’re thrilled by time-travelling historians, orphans with magical powers or demon-hunting teens, our extensive catalogue of female-penned SF&F audiobooks will let you leave the everyday world behind. From established classics to ongoing series, here are 10 picks to get you started.
1. The Handmaid's Tale | Margaret Atwood
The feminist classic that inspired the hugely successful TV show is a must-listen. The Handmaid’s Tale is the story of Offred, a young woman attempting to survive in dystopian Gilead. Highly patriarchal, the new fundamentalist regime there has robbed women of almost all autonomy - including control of their own bodies, forcing the fertile to carry children for a ruling class of men.
Sadly no less relevant than when it was first published in 1985, the audiobook version is a treat for both fans of the TV show and those who haven’t got round to it yet. The main narrator is star Elizabeth Moss, and it also features the voices of Ann Down (Aunt Lydia) and Bradley Whitford (Commander Joseph Lawrence).
2. Throne of Glass Series | Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J Maas’s debut novel, Throne Of Glass, had an unorthodox publication history, initially posted online as a piece of fanfiction, when Maas was just 16. She imagined an alternate version of Cinderella, who instead of trying to woo a prince was attempting to kill him. The story was picked up by a publisher and went on to be a critical and commercial hit, spawning several sequels.
The series follows the adventures of teen assassin Celaena as she tries to navigate a web of conspiracies in the kingdom of Adarlan while hoping to uncover the secrets of her own past. The audiobooks are beautifully brought to life by Elizabeth Evans.
3. The Chronicles of St Mary's | Jodi Taylor
Jodi Taylor’s series follows the staff of St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research. They approach their work a little more practically than most historians, thanks to their handy ability to actually visit the events they’re studying.
Perfect for listeners who like their historical fiction with a dash of sci-fi, the stories see new recruit Max zipping back and forth through time, trying and usually failing to avoid getting involved with the events she’s researching.
Taylor's debut Just One Damned Thing After Another appeared in 2013, but she’s been prolifically adding to the St Mary’s series ever since, so there’s enough here to keep you listening for a good while. The audiobooks are read by the Audie Award-nominated Zara Ramm - apart from prequel The Very First Damned Thing which is read by author Jodi Taylor herself.
4. Wolf Hall Trilogy | Hilary Mantel
Okay, so strictly speaking Wolf Hall and its two sequels don’t qualify as fantasy or science fiction, as they’re about real historical figures doing real historical things. But anyone who was into Game of Thrones for the medieval politicking and power struggles as much as the dragons and ice zombies will easily find themselves sucked into the story of the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell in court of King Henry VIII.
Mantel did a vast amount of research to ensure the novels feature the right people doing and saying the right things at the right moment. And the reconstruction of history is an impressive bit of world-building as any work of fantasy.
The audiobooks of the trilogy are read by Simon Slater, Simon Vance, and Ben Miles respectively. The most recent volume, The Mirror and the Light, is also available in an abridged edition, split into self-contained 30-minute episodes. Purists, give it a go - you can always imagine a few dire wolves in the background.
5. The Dark Artifices Series | Cassandra Clare
Another author who graduated from the world of fanfiction to her own bestselling series, Cassandra Clare’s titles follow the Shadowhunters, a mysterious group of people born with angel blood and sworn to defend the world against demons.
The Dark Artifices trilogy, set in Los Angeles, finds young Shadowhunter Emma, destined to be the greatest of her kind. But will destiny be derailed by her forbidden love for fellow Shadowhunter Jules?
A follow-up to the best-selling series The Mortal Instruments, this is a must for urban fantasy fans. The voices behind the audiobooks will be familiar to enthusiasts of the genre - the first is read by Morena Baccarin (Firefly, Stargate, Deadpool), the others by James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
6. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street Series | Natasha Pulley
If you like your fantasy with a bit of Steampunk and Victoriana, this might be right up your street. These listens follow the adventures of Thaniel Steepleton, a man living the ordinary life of a Home Office clerk until a mysterious gold pocket watch turns up at his home, sounding an alarm to alert him to a bomb that’s about to kill him. This drags him into the machinations of the watch’s maker, who has the inexplicable ability to remember things that haven’t happened yet.
Twist, turns and Pulley’s healthy mix of history, mystery and wit make this series a must-listen. Narration is provided by award-winningly warm tones of Thomas Judd.
7. Grisha Series | Leigh Bardugo
Soon to become a Netflix series, Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha trilogy is set in Ravka, a fictional kingdom inspired by 18th century Russia (the author refers to it as Tsarpunk), where the line between science and magic is a little blurry.
The Grisha are those who practise the ‘Small Science’, tapping into the natural world to gain superhuman abilities. Protagonist Alina has just discovered that she might be one of them - and she may the only hope to save the kingdom.
If the trilogy leaves you wanting more, you can follow it up with The Language of Thorns, a collection of short stories set in the same world. All four audiobooks are engagingly read by Lauren Fortgang.
8. Harley Merlin Series | Bella Forrest
Anyone looking for a new fix of magical adventures could do a lot worse than Bella Forrest’s Harley Merlin series. Harley’s an orphan who believed she was the only one with magical powers before a chance encounter drags her into an entire world of monsters, witches and dark forces. If she can survive the plans of the nefarious Katherine Shipton, that is.
Though the premise may sound a little familiar, Forrest puts her own spin on things with a healthy mix of adventure, mystery and romance that’ll keep you guessing at every turn. Amanda Ronconi’s bewitching readings will carry you through all 14 volumes of the series to date.
9. Frankenstein | Mary Shelley
Female sci-fi authors are hardly a new phenomenon. 21-year-old Mary Shelley penned gothic classic Frankenstein back in 1818 and it’s been inspiring writers ever since.
Everyone knows the gist of the story of the eponymous mad scientist and his creation - it’s been translated to film, TV and stage countless times. But forget neck bolts and hunchbacked assistants and get to know the artfully interwoven narratives of the original work that started it all, which has a lot more to say than a few monstrous groans.
This Audie award-nominated reading by Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Legion) brings Shelley’s iconic text to hauntingly unnatural life.
10. All Souls Series | Deborah Harkness
Following the tradition of academic scholars turned fantasy authors (of whom a certain professor with the initials J R R looms large), Deborah Harkness’s All Souls trilogy goes one step further. Not only is she an academic but her lead Diana Bishop is too, albeit one who’s secretly a witch who finds herself falling for a vampire. It’s the Twilight with a doctorate you never knew you needed.
If it sounds familiar, you might have encountered the TV adaptation, which goes by the first novel’s title, A Discovery of Witches. But there’s no need to wait for them to finish the story there when you can listen to the original in full, read by the Audie award-winning Jennifer Ikeda.
If you’re left wanting more when it’s done, there’s also an audio version of The World of All Souls, a handy guidebook to Harkness's world, including an extensive behind the scenes interview with the author herself.
Discover more sci-fi and fantasy audiobooks here.
