By Naomi
Lots of people read to escape the real world. While it’s definitely useful to read about all the things you can do, it’s also very valuable to give your working mind a rest and try escapism for a while. Science Fiction, Fantasy and Fantasy Romance (or Romantasy) are some genres that are particularly suitable for diving into a new world and forgetting about your worries, at least for a bit. Everyone’s escapism looks different, but it can be hard to fully escape into a book when none of the characters are like you.
Historically, published Science Fiction and Fantasy has been pretty white. Luckily there are plenty of BIPOC, queer and disabled authors writing in these genres and as a buyer, I try to stock my shelves with their books. Reading and escaping should be for everyone, and this Black History Month we want to celebrate and promote some books by Black authors. We’re starting off with Fantasy recommendations, but keep an eye out for Romantasy and Science Fiction recommendations coming soon.
Happy Reading!
The Tainted Blood Duology by Ehigbor Okosun
If you’ve been looking for an epic fantasy duology inspired by Nigerian mythology, you’ve found it! The world-building and magic systems are excellent and the action starts right when the book opens. Dèmi comes from a magic people, living under a tyrannical non-magical regime. She gets a chance to save her people, and all she has to do is abduct a prince. The book is geared more towards a YA audience, but this tale of rebellion and redemption is a promising debut from an exciting new voice.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
This is a book that needs to be savored, perfect for a longer period of escapism. This historical crime fiction mythology is not an easy read (literally, beware the trigger warnings). Structured as an oral epic based on Central and West African mythologies, Marlon James created a world with lots of characters, and most of them are unreliable narrators. The dynamics are constantly shifting (and the characters are shape-shifting), the timeline is fluid. It’s an exploration of gender equality and political corruption, and a queer love story at its heart.
The Ending Fire Trilogy by Saara El-Arifi
The author has said that book one, The Final Strife, is “a manifestation of [her] desire to prove that all cultures are magical in their own way”. In an empire where the people are divided based on the color of their blood, Sylah, Anoor and Hassa must work together to start a revolution. She created a queer-normative world inspired by Ghanaian folklore and Arabian myths, with constant twists and turns. It’s an accessible read while also exploring deeper issues of oppression, class and violence.
Very loosely based on the myth of Hades and Persephone, Masquerade is a low-fantasy tale rooted in Nigerian folklore. Òdòdó, our scheming, power-hungry, morally gray heroine, is abducted by the warrior king of Yorùbáland. Suddenly a member of the high society, Òdòdó will do anything to make it to the top. This book is for the readers who support women’s rights and women’s wrongs.
