I’ve read the two books from the Legendborn series that are out and I’m currently reading Children of Blood & Bone. Ive loved reading about books with Black leads so wish I had these when I was a teen, but now I am looking for something that’s less YA and more adult and high fantasy (extra points if there are queer characters.) I also would love something a part of a series but not necessary.
by Sea-Common-393
8 Comments
Check out Nnedi Okorafor.
**The Earthsea Cycle**, by Ursula Le Guin, was written by a white author but takes place in a setting where almost every character is some shade of brown or black. No one makes a big deal of this, it’s just the way everyone looks, but the few characters that **aren’t** definitely POC are explicitly mentioned as looking really strange to the eyes of an observer who’s only very rarely seen a pale face.
And because it doesn’t take place in our world, it doesn’t have the baggage of our world.
N.k. Jemisin’s the Fifth Season series. Some of the best fantasy I’ve ever read.
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole. Female black writer. Unexpected story. underlining premiss is very unexpected, altering what you think is happening in the book. loved it.
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Jemison) might fit your brief. I’ve only read the first two books. The main characters are POC. There is racism is the story- from the dominant culture towards the less powerful groups, but I don’t think it would be considered racial trauma.
Others have already suggested Nnedi Okorafor and NK Jemisin so I’ll add on Suyi Davies Okungbowa
Berserk (sexual trauma not racial trauma tho)
One of my reading goals for 2025 is to have half my reading list either AfroFuturism or Black Fantasy.