Last updated 21/1/18 (added Magic Remains, Twelve O’Clock Sweet)
This page lists free-to-read/online fiction (prose stories, poems, comics and podcasts so far) which have asexual spectrum and/or aromantic spectrum characters in them. If you’ve got any fiction or notes you’d like me to add or corrections you think I should make, email or tweet at me! Feel free to link this page around!
💚 = aro character(s)
💜 = ace character(s)
🖤 = a-spectrum character(s)
🅰 = ace and/or aro creator (n.b. for creators I have seen publicly self-ID)
See also my Acey Recs, Asexual-Literature, agentaletha’s review blog, Asexuality in YA list, Aromantic and Asexual Speculative Fiction Database, Demisexuality in Fiction for some non-free fiction and non-fiction recs!
Free-to-read prose stories
•And If the Body Were Not the Soul by A.C. Wise (2015)
A SF short story about an autistic courier befriending an alien in a time of human-alien troubles.
💜 Ro: non-binary asexual (romantic ID unclear); non-human idealisation; nb/f & nb/non-human friendships
•How My Best Friend Rania Crashed a Party and Saved the World by Ada Hoffmann (2014)
An urban SF short story about a teen trying to break up with her boyfriend.
💚 EmmaL female aromantic (sexual ID unclear); f/f friendship
🅰 How to Become a Robot in 12 Easy Steps by A. Merc Rustad (2014)
❋aroace creator❋
An urban SF short story about a depressed enby wishing to become a robot and save a robot.
💚💜 Tesla: non-binary robo-romantic asexual; non-human idealisation; nb/m friendship; nb/robot relationship; depression (suicidal ideation); word “asexual” used
🅰 Iwunen Interstellar Investigations by Bogi Takács (2016–ongoing)
❋demiace creator❋
ongoing serial (unread)
💜🖤 Mirun: NB demisexual
💜🖤 Ranai: NB demisexual
🅰 Kin, Painted by Penny Stirling (2015)
❋aroace creator❋
An urban fantasy short story about someone finding their place amongst a talented and queer family.
💚💜 (unnamed): (gender unspecified) aromantic asexual, ?/f/m/nb familial relationships
🅰 Lemon & Salt by Claudie Arseneault (2017)
*arospec ace creator*
A flash story about a change in a working/queerplatonic partnership.
💚 Lemon: non-binary aromantic, nb/f queerplatonic relationship
💚 Salt: female aromantic, f/nb queerplatonic relationship
🅰 Owl Vs. The Neighborhood Watch by Darcie Little Badger (2017)
❋aroace creator❋
An Apache professor’s history with a harbinger of doom. Depression, suicidal ideation. Word of god.
💚💜 Nina: female aromantic asexual
🅰 Nkásht íí by Darcie Little Badger (2014)
❋aroace creator❋
An urban fantasy short story about two friends investigating a death and a ghost.
💚💜 Annie: female aromantic asexual, f/f friendship
•Sex With Ghosts by Sarah Kanning (2008)
❌ anti-recommendation ❌
A receptionist kidnaps the sexbot clone made without her consent. Sex scenes. Word “asexual” used.
💜 Carla: female asexual (romantic ID unclear)
🅰 Tanith’s Sky by Penny Stirling (2013)
❋aroace creator❋
An urban fantasy short story about a mathematician grieving Tanith’s death and thinking about their relationship after saving the world. Aro/alloro queerplatonic relationship, friendships. Death of aroace character. Amatonormativity.
💚💜 Tanith: female aromantic asexual, f/nb queerplatonic relationship
•The Bees Her Heart, The Hive Her Belly by Benjanun Sriduangkaew (2013)
female aro or grey-aro?; family
🅰 The Book of How to Live by Rose Lemberg (2016)
❋demiace creator❋ (unread)
💜 Efronia: female asexual, f/f romantic relationship
🅰 The Cannibalism Hypothesis by Chelsea Stickle (2016)
*greyro demiace creator*
❌ anti-recommendation ❌
A psychology student’s study date doesn’t go as planned. Sexual assault. Acephobia, arophobia, gender essentialism.
💚💜🖤 Jenna: female grey-romantic demisexual, f/f friendship
•The Crows Her Dragon’s Gate by Benjanun Sriduangkaew (2013)
‼ ❋recommended!❋ ‼
A mythical fantasy short story about the goddess Xihe. Aroace/allo (ex-)romantic and (ex-)sexual relationship. Questioning. Sex scenes. Amatonormativity.
💚💜 Xihe: female aromantic asexual, non-human (god), f/m (ex-)romantic and sexual relationship
•The Occidental Bride by Benjanun Sriduangkaew (2015)
female alloro ace; f/f romantic relationship
•Two Year Man by Kelly Robson (2015)
(unread)
•Under She Who Devours Suns by Benjanun Sriduangkaew (2016)
(unread)
•You’ll Surely Drown Here If You Stay by Alyssa Wong (2016)
(unread)
Free-to-read poems
🅰 Even Robots Learn by Penny Stirling (2014)
❋aroace creator❋ female aro; amatonormativity
•Hope of the Future by Elizabeth Barrette (2011)
male aro ace; m/m/f non-romantic relationship
🅰 stone by Penny Stirling (2015)
❋aroace creator❋ ? aro ace; ?/nb friendship; depression
•we come together we fall apart by Lisa Bradley (2012)
male alloro? ace; family; m/f romantic? relationship
🅰 Zucchini by Penny Stirling (2013)
❋aroace creator❋ female aro ace, f/f queerplatonic relationship
Free-to-read comics
•14 Nights by Kristina Stipetic
❋recommended❋
A finished literary comic about a man who doesn’t enjoy sex agreeing to try sexual acts for a fortnight with his new partner. Happy, pro-asexuality ending. Ace/allo romantic and (trial) sexual relationship. Sex scenes.
💜 Lucian: male asexual, main character, m/m romantic and (trial) sexual relationship
🅰 Ace by Kiku H
❋aroace creator❋ completed guest comic; non-fiction
💜 (guest comic on Oh Joy Sex Toy by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan which is a NSFW sex toy review comic)
🅰 Autobiographical Story about A Hopeless Aromantic (Becoming Loveless) by Chekhov
(Artist no longer IDs as aro.)
A finished one-shot autobiographical comic. Aro/alloro (ex-)romantic relationship. Word “aromantic” used. Amatonormativity.
💚 Chekhov: non-binary aro, nb/m romantic relationship
🅰 David Doesn’t Get It by David
💚💜 ❋aroace creator❋ completed; male aro ace; family; autobiographical (unread)
Dumbing of Age by David Willis
An ongoing slice-of-life college comic.
💜 Carla: trans female homoromantic asexual, ensemble character.
🅰 Eth’s Skin by Sfé R. Monster (2014–ongoing)
*ace creator*
Fantasy comic about a fisher’s quest to help a selkie.
💚 Rel: female aromantic (word of god), non-human (selkie) f/m/nb platonic relationships
💜 Töby: male alloromantic asexual, m/nb friendship
•Girls With Slingshots by Danielle Corsetto
💜 ongoing; female alloro ace; minor character; f/f romantic relationship
🅰 Heartless by Emily Griggs (2015–2017)
❋grey-ace creator❋
An action/adventure comic about vampires in Victorian London. Superpower asexuality, seduction magic> non-binary and a-spectrum erasure.
💜 Clara: female asexual, main character, non-human (vampire)
•heliosphere! by Eann Morai
An ongoing slice-of-life scifi comic about underpaid restaurant staff in space. Ensemble cast. Co-workers/friendships.
💚💜 Raquel: female aromantic asexual
💜 Gene: male heteromantic asexual, non-human (alien), m/f ace/allo long-distance romantic relationship
🅰 How I Learned to Love Being Aromantic by Kotaline Jones (2016)
💚💜 ❋aroace creator❋ completed; autobiographical; female aro ace; words “asexual”, “aromantic” used
•Hugo and Vern by Japh
💜 ongoing; male ace, main character; m/m non-romantic relationship
🅰 Ignition Zero by Noel Arthur Heimpel (2011–2016)
❋grey-ace creator❋ *recommended*
A group of friends get involved with a land spirit. Urban fantasy. Main/ensemble cast. Words “asexual”, “aromantic”, “queerplatonic” used. Ace/ace romantic relationship. m/m/nb friendships.
💚 Martin: male aromantic heterosexual, m/nb queerplatonic relationship
💜 Orson: male alloromantic asexual, m/m romantic relationship
💜 Robbie: male homoromantic asexual, m/m romantic relationship
🅰 Love Spells by Ryan and Sage (2015–ongoing)
A slow-burn lesbian romance set in a JRPG-inspired world.
💚💜🖤 Maria: female demiromantic asexual, f/f romantic relationship
🅰 Magic Remains by Sarah ‘Neila’ Elkins
*ace creator*
An ongoing fantasy comic about a magical girls in a post-apocalyptic world. Main characters. Word of god.
💚💜 Melee: female asexual aromantic
💜 Sparky: genderfluid asexual alloromantic, cyborg
🅰 M.F.K. by Nilah Magruder
❋aroace creator❋
An ongoing fantasy comic about two teens on a journey. Main characters. Word of god so far.
💜 Abbie: female asexual, f/m platonic relationship
💜 Jaime: male asexual, m/f platonic relationship, m/m/f familial relationships
🅰 Nwain: The Knight Who Wandered Dream by Terrana Cliff
❋grey-ace creator❋
An ongoing animated fantasy comic about a knight errant trying to return home. Word of god.
💚💜🖤 Nwain: non-binary grey-aromantic grey-asexual
🅰 Oh Hana! (formerly Oh THAT’s Why I’m Aro-Ace!) by Puteri Hana
💚💜 ❋aroace creator❋ ongoing; autobiographical; aro ace; family; words “asexual”, “aromantic” used
🅰 Oneiromancers by Matthew Cobb
💚💜 ❋aroace creator❋ ongoing; female aro ace (unread)
•Otherworldly by Becky Hopkins
💜 ongoing; male aro? ace; semi-non-human; ensemble character; word “asexual” used
•Questables by Bilvy (2017–ongoing)
D&D-inspired fantasy comic following questing adventurers. Ensemble cast.
💚 Arin: genderfluid aromantic, nb/m queerplatonic relationship, nb/m/f friendships
💜 Rose: male asexual, m/nb queerplatonic relationship, m/nb/f friendships
•Rechargeable by Bilvy (2015–2017)
Near-future SF comic following a black market crew. Ensemble cast. Word “asexual” used.
💚 Century: female aromantic homosexual, f/m/nb friendships.
💚💜🖤 iDroid: male demiromantic asexual, m/m romantic relationship, m/f/nb friendships
•Rock and Riot by Chelsey Furedi (2015–2017)
Slice-of-life comic set in the 1950s following opposing teen gangs. Ensemble cast. No terms used, several characters explain their orientations, some are still word of god. Ace/allo, arospec/alloro and acespec/ace romantic relationships. f/f, m/m, nb/nb friendships.
💚💜🖤 Ace: agender demiromantic asexual, nb/f romantic relationship
💜 Carla: female panromantic asexual, f/f romantic relationship
💚💜 Dett: genderfluid aromantic asexual
💚💜 Edd: male aromantic asexual
💜🖤 Gene: male homoromantic greyasexual, m/m romantic relationship
💜🖤 Rolly: trans female panromantic demisexual, f/nb romantic relationship
💜🖤 Skip: bigender demi-pansexual
💜🖤 Sasha: male panromantic demisexual, m/m romantic relationship
•Shades of A by Tab Kimpton
💜 completed; male alloro ace; poly; sex scenes; family; m/m romantic relationship; m/nb non-romantic relationship; main character; word “asexual” used
•Shortpacked! by David Willis (2005–2015) (link goes to most relevant storyline)
Slice-of-life urban scifi comic about a toyshop. Ace/allo (non-human/human) romantic and sexual relationship. Sex scenes. Word “asexual” used.
💜 Ultracar: female homoromantic asexual, ensemble character, non-human (robot), f/f romantic and sexual relationship, f/f/m friendships
•StarHammer by J.N. Monk et al (2015–ongoing)
Near-future urban SF comic where superpowers are common. A student unwittingly becomes the successor to a washed-up superhero. Word “acearo” used.
💚💜 Evelyn: female aromantic asexual, main character, f/f friendship, f/f mentorship
•String Theory by Dirk Grundy (2009–ongoing)
Alternate timeline near-future urban science fantasy comic where a disgraced scientist is out for revenge.
💚💜 Larry: male aromantic asexual, minor character, m/m friendship, word “asexual” used
•Supernormal Step by Michael Lee Lunsford (2009–ongoing)
Portal fantasy comic. Words “asexual”, “aromantic” used.
💚💜 Fiona: female aromantic asexual, main character, f/f/m friendships
•The Hues by Alex Heberling (2013–ongoing)
Urban fantasy comic about magical girls and alien invasion. Word “asexual” used.
💜 Sami: female panromantic asexual, main/ensemble character, f/f friendships
•Travelogue by Aatmaja Pandya (2015–ongoing)
Slice-of-life comic diary about four travelling companions. Fantasy.
💚 Emerene: male aromantic (sexual ID unclear), main/ensemble character, m/f/? friendships
•Twelve O’Clock Sweet by Amy (2017–ongoing)
Fantasy comic about an exiled vampire looking for revenge. Word of god.
💜🖤 Rowan: male biromantic demisexual, non-human (vampire)
•[un]Divine by Ayme Sotuyo (2016–ongoing)
Urban fantasy comic about a student who gives up his soul for a demon to help him with his troubles. Shenanigans and mysteries ensue. Word of god.
💜🖤 Daniel: male alloromantic grey-asexual, main character, soulless and becoming less human, m/demon slowburn romantic relationship
🅰 Victory Witch by Chu
💜 ❋ace creator❋ ongoing; female ace; f/f non-romantic relationship; main character
•Widdershins by Kate Ashwin
💚💜 ongoing; male aro? ace; m/m non-romantic relationship; ensemble character; word of god
•You Suck by Josh Lesnick
💜 ongoing; female ace; minor character; sex scenes (erotica comic); word “asexual” used
Free-to-hear podcasts
•ars PARADOXICA (transcripts available)
female aro ace (unheard)
• The Adventures Of Mechabetty (transcripts available)
(unheard)
•The Bright Sessions
female alloro or grey-aro ace (unheard)