Fantasy Books by Black Authors

Earth shattering. People shaking. That’s the world of N.K. Jemisin’s “The Fifth Season,” a landmark in Black fantasy. Gifted folks like Essun bend the earth itself, but their power comes with a price: fear and control. Their kind? Hunted. Essun just wants to save her daughter.

She dives for refuge, but reality cracks open. Shocking secrets rewrite everything she thought she knew. This gripping tale? It’s resilience, motherhood, and survival on overdrive. Every page twists your expectations, blurring power and oppression into something breathtaking.

Sowing seeds of hope in a cracked world: “Parable of the Sower”
Imagine a future baked by drought, choked by dust, where society crumbles. That’s where Lauren Olamina blooms in Octavia E. Butler’s “Parable of the Sower.” This girl’s got grit, and a vision: Earthseed, a new belief to guide humanity through the ashes.

But safety, in this unforgiving wasteland, is as scarce as rain. Lauren’s journey? A test of strength, faith, and the kind of adaptability that could bend steel. Every sunrise brings a new peril, every choice a gamble. Yet, Lauren pushes on, her spirit blazing like a stubborn wildfire.

“A Song of Wraiths and Ruin” by Roseanne A. Brown is a thrilling gem among fantasy books by Black authors. In the vibrant city of Ziran, a festival turns deadly when Malik, seeking to save his sister, makes a dark deal with a vengeful spirit. Meanwhile, Princess Karina, mourning her mother’s assassination, sees a chance for revenge in Malik’s presence. However, their paths unexpectedly intertwine, leading to a treacherous journey where alliances shift, secrets unfold, and choices carry unimaginable consequences.

In “Blood Scion” by Deborah Falaye, a gripping addition to the world of fantasy books by Black authors, we meet fifteen-year-old Sloane, a Scion with the power to incinerate her enemies at will.

However, in a world ruled by the oppressive Lucis regime, her abilities mark her for death if uncovered. Forced into the Lucis army on her fifteenth birthday, Sloane seizes an unexpected opportunity: to conquer the brutal Lucis training and dismantle the regime from within.

Dive into Cairo, 1912! Magic hums in the air, but a grisly murder shatters the peace. Special Inspector Fatma, whip-smart and fearless, must crack the case.

Ancient rituals, forbidden relics, hidden motives… Fatma plunges into a shadowy world. The deeper she digs, the more shocking the truth. A city-shaking conspiracy lurks, fueled by rising tensions and a ticking clock.

Can Fatma navigate treacherous alliances and confront her own past to stop chaos from engulfing Cairo? “A Master of Djinn” blends history, fantasy, and heart-pounding mystery for a spellbinding ride until the very end.

Buckle up for a magical adventure! Forget fairy tales, Lkossa is a harsh city with no room for magic, at least not for Koffi. Trapped working at the notorious Night Zoo, her only dream is freedom for her family. But when danger strikes, she unleashes a hidden power, changing her life forever.

Meanwhile, Ekon, son of a hero, should be celebrating his warrior initiation. Instead, he faces the monstrous Shetani – a nightmare come true. Koffi saves him, but she vanishes, leaving him disgraced and desperate.

Arrah ain’t your average magic user. Sure, her family line is practically bursting with witchdoctor power, but for her? Nada. Zip. Zilch. Talk about feeling like a dud!

But when creepy snatchings rock the Kingdom, Arrah decides enough is enough. Forbidden magic? Bring it on! The power she gains is sweet, but it comes with a side of shocking truth and a darkness hungry for her loved ones.

Dive into “Kingdom of Souls” by Rena Barron! It’s a heart-pounding YA fantasy full of dark magic, surprising twists, and a heroine who’ll grab you by the feels. Plus, it’s a must-read for fans of amazing fantasy by Black authors!

“The Gilded Ones” by Namina Forna introduces readers to Deka, a sixteen-year-old girl awaiting a life-changing blood ceremony in her village. Despite her hopes for acceptance, her blood runs gold, marking her as impure.

However, a mysterious woman offers Deka a choice: stay and face her fate or join an army of alaki, gifted girls fighting for the emperor. Determined to find her place, Deka embarks on a journey to the capital, where she uncovers surprising truths about herself and the empire.

“Raybearer” by Jordan Ifueko introduces readers to Tarisai, raised in isolation by her mysterious mother, The Lady. Sent to compete in Aritsar’s capital to join the Crown Prince’s Council of 11, Tarisai longs for the family she never had.

However, The Lady commands Tarisai to kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Determined to forge her own destiny, Tarisai grapples with loyalty, fate, and love in this gripping fantasy tale. With rich world-building and captivating prose, “Raybearer” is a must-read.

In “Black Leopard, Red Wolf” by Marlon James, Tracker, a renowned hunter, breaks his rule to join a group searching for a missing boy.

However, their journey is fraught with danger as they encounter creatures set on destroying them.

As Tracker questions the truth and confronts lies, the novel delves into African history and mythology, offering a unique adventure.

In “Binti” by Nnedi Okorafor, Binti faces a life-changing decision when she’s offered a place at Oomza University, the galaxy’s most prestigious institution of higher learning. However, accepting the offer means leaving behind her family and immersing herself in a world vastly different from her own.

However, her journey is far from easy, as she encounters hostility and danger along the way. The world she seeks to enter is plagued by long-standing conflict with the Meduse, a terrifying alien race. Despite the risks, Binti is determined to pursue knowledge and expand her horizons.

In “The Unbroken” by C. L. Clark, Touraine is a soldier molded by the empire from childhood, yet her loyalty to her fellow conscripts is tested when she’s sent back to her homeland to quash a rebellion.

Caught between her ingrained allegiance to the empire and her newfound connection to her roots, Touraine grapples with the complexities of identity and duty.

In “Son of the Storm” by Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Danso, a scholar in the ancient city of Bassa, is on the verge of greatness, yet he finds himself drawn to forbidden stories and secrets beyond the city walls. When he stumbles upon a warrior wielding forbidden magic, his quest for knowledge propels him into a journey that unravels the city’s darkest secrets.

As Danso delves deeper into Bassa’s hidden history, he uncovers truths that challenge the very foundations of the empire. With each revelation, he realizes that the chaos sparked by his discovery could have far-reaching consequences, potentially bringing down an entire civilization.

In Justina Ireland’s “Dread Nation,” Jane McKeene navigates a world where the dead walk the battlefields of Gettysburg, altering America forever. Tasked with attending combat schools, Jane, trained in weaponry and etiquette, fights for survival amidst societal expectations.

As Jane nears the end of her education in Baltimore, she plans to return to Kentucky, ignoring the politics of eastern cities. However, when families go missing in Baltimore County, Jane becomes entangled in a conspiracy, battling powerful enemies to save her life.

In “Wings of Ebony” by J. Elle, Rue, a Black teen, finds herself straddling two vastly different worlds: the gritty streets of Houston’s East Row and the affluent enclave of Ghizon. Despite the contrasts, she’s learned to adapt, finding solace in her tight-knit community while yearning for the luxuries she sees across the water.

However, Rue’s world is shattered when her mother is brutally murdered, thrusting her into a whirlwind of grief and revelation. In the aftermath, she discovers her true heritage as a goddess, unlocking powers she never knew she possessed. Determined to seek justice for her mother and protect her community, Rue joins forces with a rebel group fighting against the oppressive forces that threaten to tear their world apart.

In “Skin of the Sea” by Natasha Bowen, Simi, once a mortal girl, now serves the gods as Mami Wata—a mermaid—guiding souls to the afterlife. However, when she defies ancient laws to save a boy from drowning, she triggers a chain of events that threaten both her existence and the balance of the world.

Forced to confront vengeful gods and navigate treacherous lands, Simi embarks on a perilous journey to seek redemption and protect her fellow Mami Wata. Along the way, she discovers secrets that challenge everything she thought she knew about her world and herself.

In Tracy Deonn’s “Legendborn,” sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews seeks solace from her mother’s death in a high school program. Yet, her plans unravel when she witnesses a magical attack, unveiling a hidden world of Legendborn students and ancient secrets.

As Bree delves deeper, she unlocks her own latent magic and unravels connections to her mother’s mysterious death. With the help of Nick, a disillusioned Legendborn, Bree navigates the society’s secrets while confronting her own destiny.

In Tomi Adeyemi’s “Children of Blood and Bone,” Zélie Adebola is determined to restore magic to the land of Orïsha, which has been plunged into darkness and despair after the ruthless eradication of all maji.

Haunted by the memory of her mother’s brutal death at the hands of the oppressive monarchy, Zélie embarks on a perilous quest with the help of a rogue princess named Amari. Together, they seek to retrieve an ancient artifact that has the power to bring magic back to their world.