Books
2018 TRAIL OF LIGHTNING
BY REBECCA ROANHORSE
Roanhorse, who is of both
Indigenous and African- American
descent, is known for centering
characters of color in speculative
settings. In Trail of Lightning,
Maggie and her ally Kai wield
fantastic abilities called “clan
powers” that allow them to
battle monsters and contend
with gods. For both characters,
the powers were awakened
in moments of trauma—a
trope that takes on renewed
resonance in this thoughtfully
constructed world.
2018 WITCHMARK
BY C.L. POLK
Miles Singer was born a healer
in a world where nobles use
magic to advance their political
agendas. Seeking freedom
and independence from his
family, Miles becomes a doctor
and hides his powers—until a
poisoned witch shows up at his
clinic. As Miles risks it all to solve
this murder mystery, Polk pushes
the boundaries of what period
fantasy can achieve through
descriptions of Witchmark’s
social and political hierarchies.
2019 BLACK LEOPARD,
RED WOLF
BY MARLON JAMES
The fantasy genre has long
been saturated with the myths
of Europe. James’ novel offers
a stunning corrective, drawing
instead on African mythology and
history for its character types
and narrative renderings in
the story of a missing boy and
the fantastical crew sent to
retrieve him.
2019 CHILDREN OF VIRTUE
AND VENGEANCE
BY TOMI ADEYEMI
The second installment of
Adeyemi’s YA trilogy finds its
fierce protagonist Zélie facing
unexpected consequences
from restoring the magic to her
kingdom. It’s a narrative that
interrogates the cyclical nature
of oppression and the systems
that enforce it. As Orïsha
begins to self-destruct in a civil
war between the maji and the
monarchy, Zélie must fight to
save it.
2019 THE DRAGON REPUBLIC
BY R.F. KUANG
In Kuang’s sequel to The Poppy
War, the citizens of the Nikara
Empire’s southern provinces
are no longer battling for
survival against an invading
force. Now, they set sail north
to defeat their former leader
and build a new government.
And protagonist Rin is not
just a soldier—she’s also the
provinces’ most powerful and
unpredictable weapon.2019 GODS OF JADE
AND SHADOW
BY SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA
While cleaning the home of her
cruel and wealthy grandfather,
18-year-old Casiopea Tun
accidentally sets free the spirit
of the Mayan god of death. He’s
seeking revenge on his brother
and needs her help to get it—and,
in exchange, promises to free
Casiopea from her Cinderella-like
existence. With a plot reminiscent
of the classics, Moreno-Garcia
seamlessly blends fairy tale
and folklore into an inspiring
quest narrative.2019 PET
BY AKWAEKE EMEZI
Monsters have been eradicated
from the city of Lucille—at least,
that’s what everyone is told. But
when a creature springs forth
from a painting to befriend a
trans girl named Jam, the city’s
illusions of stability begin to
crumble. Emezi has said their
YA book is an allegory for the
way the U.S. turns a blind eye
to its problems, specifically,
the high rates of murders of
Black trans women.2019 QUEEN OF
THE CONQUERED
BY KACEN CALLENDER
Set in a Caribbean-inspired
world where slavery is the main
economic driver, Queen of the
Conquered follows Sigourney
Rose, a former noble who has
been gifted with a peculiar
“kraft” to read minds and
potentially bend them to
her will. After colonizing
marauders massacre her
family, Sigourney strikes out
on a quest for revenge.2019 THE RAGE OF DRAGONS
BY EVAN WINTER
Touted as a cross between
Gladiator and Game of Thrones,
Winter’s debut is set among the
Omehi people, to whom everyso often a woman is born with
“the Gift” to control dragons
and their destructive power. The
book’s main character is Tau, a
swordsman from an oppressed
class who is out for retribution
after a terrible tragedy.2019 WE HUNT THE FLAME
BY HAFSAH FAIZAL
Inspired by ancient Arabia,
Faizal’s dazzling YA novel follows
17-year-old Zafira, who has been
traveling the cursed forests of
Arawiya disguised as a man
called the Hunter. In Arawiya,
women aren’t allowed to live
as freely as men do, leaving
Zafira to hide her identity on her
dangerous journey. Faizal creates
a moving portrait of a heroine
growing into her power as Zafira
fights against the oppression
of women.2020 ELATSOE
BY DARCIE LITTLE BADGER
Seventeen-year-old Ellie can
summon the ghosts of animals.
It’s a special skill that’s been
passed down for generations in
her Lipan Apache family—and
one she has to rely on when hercousin is mysteriously murdered.
While many fantasy stories
center on a character’s solo
quest, Ellie’s is about others’.
She’s buoyed by the support of
her community, whose love for
her is a palpable undercurrent
throughout the novel.2020 WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT
BY ISABEL IBAÑEZ
Exiled and persecuted by a
false king, a hidden queen and
her decoy attempt to lead their
people to peace and power.
Blending references to Bolivian
politics and history with Latin
American mythology, it’s a rich
tale of fierce independence,
loyalty and friendship.Writing and reporting by Aryn
Baker, Eliza Berman, Judy
Berman, Raisa Bruner, Andrew
R. Chow, Peter Allen Clark, Eliana
Dockterman, Mariah Espada,
Annabel Gutterman, Belinda
Luscombe, Cate Matthews,
Megan McCluskey, Lily Rothman,
Simmone Shah, Elijah Wolfson
and Stephanie Zacharek