This post is part of our monthly series, “Decolonize Your Bookshelf!” Every month features a different genre, providing a curated recommended-reading list of fiction by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).
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“Not all those who wander are lost.”
— J.R.R. Tolkien, from the poem “The Riddle of Strider” in The Fellowship of the Ring
While fantasy-legend J.R.R Tolkien was wise to declare that wandering doesn’t necessarily mean we’re lost, it can sometimes feel so very good to get lost in a rich fantasy.
But when we get lost in a fantastical world, what does that world look like?
Most popularized fantasy worlds—like Middle-earth, Narnia, or Westeros—are reminiscent of Medieval Europe, drawing on a similar set of tropes, creatures, and images. While that can be a fun sandbox to play in, it’s far from the only possible container for magic, swordplay, and adventure.
In fact, fantasy authors of color have created deep and complex worlds influenced by a diverse range of histories, cultures, traditions, myths, legends, religions, and folklore. From epic fantasy, to sword and sorcery, to paranormal fantasy, and more—these worlds expand what’s possible in a genre already dedicated to exploring impossibilities.
Without further ado and in no particular order, here are ten spectacular fantasy novels by authors of color that bring us new and unique worlds to get lost in.
Continue reading 10 Outstanding Fantasy Novels by BIPOC to Get Lost In