Most fantasy books I've read or have been recommended to me have world bulding based in European folklore. For example they'll have dwafs, elves, European style dragons and monsters. All set in basically medevil Germany or England just with some names mixed about.
I have nothing against these books however I would find it intresting to read some fantasy books set in diffrent environments and with different cultures as the inspiration for fantasy worlds.
by sir_jerry06
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**Alex Verus** is set in UK, but uses Middle Eastern mythology. **Eric Carter** is set in USA, but uses Aztec mythology.
Anpao: An American Indian Odyssey by Jamake Highwater
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose (Based on Native American Culture)
Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem (largely Egyptian-inspired)
Dreamblood duology by N.K. Jemisin. Both novels Re influenced by Middle-Eastern/African culture.
*The Golem and the Jinni* and *The Hidden Palace* by Helene Wecker. Both are excellent and built around Jewish/Eastern European and Arab/Middle Eastern folklore. Highly recommend!
*The Familiar* by Leigh Bardugo is set in Spain during the Inquisition and has some fun magic in it.
*When the Angels Left the Old Country* by Sacha Lamb focuses on angels and demons of old Jewish folklore, set mostly in America.
*Children of Blood and Bone* by Tomi Adeyemi was interesting for its worldbuilding in Africa. I don’t usually recommend it, because I didn’t actually find the characters or story to be very well-done (pacing was off and character development was all over the place), but I did really enjoy the African mythology underlying it.
Djinns!
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
– inspired by Sinbad from the 1001 Nights and the golden age of Islam. Medieval pirates of the Indian Ocean.
The Daevabad Trilogy by the same author
– set in 18th century Cairo
*Three Parts Dead* (and sequels) by Max Gladstone
*A Master of Djinn* by P Djeli Clark – this is more alternate history, with turn of the 20th century Cairo inhabited by djinn etc
*Phoenix Extravagant* by Yoon Ha Lee
*In the Vanisher’s Palace* by Aliette de Bodard
*Elatsoe* by Darcie Little Badger
@ books by Roger Zelazny – one takes Hindu mythology to the far future, “Lord of Light”, and he does the same with Navajo myths in “Eye of Cat”
The Maid and The Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko
Victory City by Salman Rushdie