—The Washington Post Book World. This series is about a young woman exiled from her community for fear of her magic. You can find her on her website. A series full of royal intrigue with a powerful message. He lives between Lagos, Nigeria and Tucson, Arizona where he teaches writing at the University of Arizona while completing his MFA in fiction. I’ve also been bad in the past about looking into authors unless I recognize the name from past books I’ve read. White people cannot afford to fight the dead without the help of Native and Black Americans. Reading genre fiction should expand your horizons, open your mind to new ideas. You can find him at his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In the walled city of Kos, corrupt mages can magically call forth sin from a sinner in the form of sin-beasts—lethal creatures spawned from feelings of guilt. Book 1 of 2 in the Kingdom of Souls series, Book 1 of 3 in the Nightmare-Verse Series, Book 1 of 2 in the Beasts Made of Night Series, Book 1 of 2 in the Legacy of Orïsha series. Since I got the Ultimate BB plugin, I’ve started reading author bios when I add them to my posts. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. And one of the ways to do that is to read their stories and pass them on to your friends who love great fantasy fiction, too. It is a really enjoyable book for children and YA readers, however, we are sure adults will love it as well. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle. Taken slave in childhood, Gorgik gains his freedom, leads a slave revolt, and becomes a minister of state, finally abolishing slavery. GDPR “An extraordinarily powerful and very different kind of physical and psychological migration story.” In a society that has been fighting an unwinnable fight for almost two hundred years, young gift-less Tau is destined to fight and die in the endless war. Engaged to track down a mysterious boy who disappeared three years earlier, Tracker breaks his own rule of always working alone when he finds himself part of a group that comes together to search for the boy. He has planned to get out of the war and settle down on a farm. =). It has been described as ‘Westworld meets The Handmaid’s Tale‘ and would be recommended for fans of either. He is up to his biggest job yet, a powerful wizard needs hunting down. The two girls are complete opposites of each other. We categorize the fantasy writers by their work in creating magical worlds, or creating magic in … In the search for stunning fantasy books by Black authors, we were lucky to come across another superb fantasy book. In this new America, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Education Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. A storm that might swallow the world is building in Brooklyn. =). on 23 Best Fantasy Books by Black Authors. You can find him on his website and on Instagram. Her role is important and so she has to attend combat school to defend the weak. His spirit companions come to him often, hounding him to leave his mortal world and join them in their idyllic one. The first book came out in 2019 to high acclaim, and we think Davis is a writer to watch. Prepare for a fascinating journey in a fantasy world full of odd creatures, devastating wars, and gods. This novella was a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, and Bram Stoker Awards. Great List!! Evan Winter was born in England to South American parents and raised in Africa near the historical territory of his Xhosa ancestors. McKinney has also written a graphic novel called Nubia. It’s filled with some of the must-read fantasy books for those who are looking for these kinds of books by Black authors. After he is framed for the murder of his closest friend, Neythan, a young assassin, finds himself hunted by his brotherhood. Born “with one foot on the other side,” she begins to develop separate selves within her as she grows into adulthood. From harrowing true stories and captivating literary fiction to hilarious rom coms and touching tales of friendship, these are some of the new books by black female authors … Nigerian author Suyi Davies Okungbowa combined some fan favorites to write an imaginative piece. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Always sticking together, they never give up even they are facing with an inhuman opposition. Note: I’m using “Black” instead of “African-American” because a number of these authors are not American. You are in for a memorable time if you pick The Deep up one evening. Tansy, the medic While we always keep all our book lists diverse and inclusive we decided to put together this list. But when families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies. Yes! Years later, when Hiram almost drowns in a river, that same power saves his life. He has published four novels: John Crow’s Devil (2005), The Book of Night Women (2009) and A Brief History of Seven Killings (2014), and Black Leopard, Red Wolf (2019). We are taken to a steampunk New Orleans, where Creeper does whatever necessary to get out of the cruel streets. When Taj is called to eat a sin of a member of the royal family, he’s suddenly thrust into the center of a dark conspiracy to destroy Kos. Only until she makes friends, who show them to a world, where being different means being unique. A native of Memphis, she lives in New York City. Victor LaValle is the author of four novels, two novellas, a short story collection, and a comic book. You can find her on Twitter. It’s impossible to talk about fantasy written by Black authors as a cohesive genre because, like writers of other skin tones, Black authors come from all over the world and write about a wildly diverse array of subjects in their own unique ways and voices. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Cairo, 1912: The case started as a simple one for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities—handling a possessed tram car. ―Entertainment Weekly. “Okri shares with García Márquez a vision of the world as one of infinite possibility… A masterpiece.” Tracker is known far and wide for his skills as a hunter. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. An up and coming African-American author, Joy is currently working on the second book in this African-royal fantasy series. This list includes middle grade, young adult, and adult books. Home » Books » Black Fantasy Authors To Read And Explore Unfamiliar Worlds. Charles R. Saunders was born in 1946 in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania and emigrated to Canada in 1970. Bad enough that he followed her to her parents’ home in the village of Makendha, now he’s disgraced himself by murdering livestock and stealing corn. Malik is grabbing the opportunity to flee his war-torn country for the flourishing city of Zirka. Black Fantasy Authors To Read And Explore Unfamiliar Worlds, Face Your Fear And Let The New Dune Trailer Pass Through You, Why We Should Abolish The ‘Classic Canon’ In Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction, Binti Adaptation From Nnedi Okorafor In The Works At Hulu, Fantasy Authors Team Up To Bring Us Free Short Fiction With The Decameron Project, An Interview With Andrea Stewart, Author of The Bone Shard Daughter, Philip Pullman Will Bridge The Gap Between His Trilogies With The Novella Serpentine, AMC Options Sorcerers, a Psychedelic Hip-Hop Fantasy Series, Book Review: The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso Is An Intriguing Beginning To A New Series, TKO Studios Signs Deal With Top Book Distributor Ingram Publisher Services / Publishers Group West. Callender is a gender-neutral African-American author from Philadelphia, whose fantasy also includes LGBTQ representation. Trapped in a life they would never have chosen. He has lost his best friend, Eddie, who left a journal behind. Sunny Nwazue lives in Nigeria, but she was born in New York City. Finding out the answers is going to be your new favorite journey in the wild west. British author Rivers Solomon’s work has been nominated for numerous awards because it is truly remarkable. Delany retired from teaching at the end of 2015. The following list of books that I’ve compiled is meant to be a starting place. These books by famous black authors each capture and celebrate the black experience. Working to combat the Jes Grew infection are the puritanical Atonists, a group bent on cultivating a “Talking Android,” an African American who will infiltrate the unruly black communities and help crush the outbreak. Here is my TTT! The country of Arketta calls them Good Luck Girls―but they know their luck is anything but. Upon meeting an Elsiran spy who tells her about the Mantle, she knows, her powers may be the key to Elsira’s survival. But as she’s finding her footing, Sunny and her friends are asked by the magical authorities to help track down a career criminal who knows magic, too. “Samatar’s sensual descriptions create a rich, strange landscape, allowing a lavish adventure to unfold that is haunting and unforgettable.” Kindred is an astonishing, fantastic book. From The Rage of Dragons to The Broken Earth, from heavy epics to fun romps, here are 10 of the best fantasy and sci-fi book series by Black authors. Get our guides to the best books, movies, games, unique travel destinations, accommodations, & foodie experiences from around the world. She teaches African literature, Arabic literature, and speculative fiction at James Madison University. The Good Luck Girls is the fantasy adventure series by Davis about former sex slaves who seek their freedom after one of them accidentally kills her first customer. I highly recommend it! Now, she’s trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. This fantastic historical fiction offers a little relief as Hiram Walker takes on the system. But that’s not a life Jane wants. Okorafor is an author whose talent spreads in all areas of SFF. When she realizes that her husband brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter, she knows no impossible anymore. Visibility is crucial for word to spread about a book. Her life turns upside down when a murder trial reveals much more about the world and herself than ever imagined. He has been the recipient of numerous awards including the World Fantasy Award, British World Fantasy Award, and the key to Southeast Queens. The Rage of Dragons: A Binge-Worthy Fantasy Debut ». A time, when over 12 million people lived in slavery. Dark Matter was honored with the 2005 and the 2001 World Fantasy Award and named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. It is time for Eva and her older sister, Isa to duel to decide who is the next queen. “Okorafor’s imagination is stunning.” And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems. Being hired by reclusive music producer Odi Huron to find a teenybop pop star should be her ticket out of Zoo City, the festering slum where the criminal underclass and their animal companions live in the shadow of hell’s undertow. 5-star review: "This book blew my mind. It’s a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane.