I'm on the hunt for a book that captures the charm, folklore aspect, and pacing as The Ancient Magus Bride or Mushishi (both are manga/anime).
Something that feels like I'm next to the fire place while my grandmother cautiously tells me stories passed down to her by our ancestors. Of customs foreign to most humans. Of creatures, spirits, fae, beings, and gods that live all around us —but we don't quite understand— and how the MC experiences/reconnects with them. Stories that engage curiousity, the mysterious side of what we don't know, what we shouldn't know, and what can happen if you aren't careful/respectful of the unknown.
Prefer adult fantasy recs but open to YA. The closest I've read is the His Dark Materials series. But its not quite what I'm looking for. I'm looking for something a bit more mystifying, unnerving, or leaning deeper into folklore.
I'm not interested in:
– plots focused on romance
– Tolkienesque levels of descriptions
– pure horror or gore
A plus if the stories are indigenous, central or south america, pacific islander, indonesian, filipino, african, or from countries in asia that are lesser know. There are lots of wonderful western/eastern european, mediterranean, chinese, and japanese stories that I love. But I'm super interested in something a little different (like the anthology Never Whistle at Night).
Thanks in advance for any recs!
by Curious_Cruisin