Reading diversely is an excellent way to gain a deeper understanding of others’ lived experiences, and discussing these books allows us to empower own-voice authors and foster an inclusive environment in the bookish community.
In celebration of Black History Month, I wanted to share some of my favorite famous Black authors who use fantasy as a tool to discuss the world around us.
Famous Black Authors: Young Adult Fantasy
Tracy Deonn
#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Legendborn Cycle, Deonn holds a master’s degree in communication and performance studies from UNC. Her background includes work in live theater, video game production, and education. In addition to her novels, she enjoys writing short stories, which have appeared in numerous anthologies.
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
Car accident, death of a parent, racism, sexual assault
Legendborn is a gripping modern fantasy inspired by Arthurian legends. Following her mother's death, Bree is confronted with a secret society known as the Legendborn.
When a mage's attempt to wipe her memory fails, Bree's own magic is unlocked, which leads her to learn that there may be more to her mother's death than she thought—especially as a magical war begins to brew.
Legendborn was OwlCrate's book of choice for the October 2020 Young Adult Fantasy box, and they also did an exclusive limited edition of Bloodmarked, the second book in the series.
Kalynn Bayron
Kalynn Bayron is a classically trained vocalist and has earned awards and nominations for her writing. Known for her twists on classic fairy tales, Bayron’s work takes on modern feminist perspectives with beautiful queer romance.
Whether you’re into thrillers, fairy tale retellings, or Greek mythology, you’ll find a Kalynn Bayron book for you!
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
Animal death, arranged marriages, domestic abuse, misogyny, homophobia, sexual assault
Centuries after Cinderella’s happy ending, Cinderella is Dead follows Sophia, who is sent to the royal ball to be chosen by a man, even though she’s in love with her best friend.
When her night at the ball takes a turn for the worse, Sophia must run for her life and ends up hiding in Cinderella’s tomb, where she encounters someone who shows her that she has the power to change her own fate.
This Poison Heart was OwlCrate's book of choice for the July 2021 Young Adult Fantasy box, and more recently, Sleep Like Death was featured in the July 2024 Young Adult Fantasy box.
Tomi Adeyemi
Tomi Adeyemi resides in New York, and beyond being a well-known author, she is also an actress, model, and Harvard graduate with an honors degree in English literature.
Named one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2020, she is best known for her Legacy of Orïsha series.
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
Colorism, death, genocide, oppression, racial slurs, violence, war, torture, sexual assault
In Children of Blood and Bone, Zélie races to bring back magic to her land after a corrupt monarchy tries to eradicate it. As danger looms, she struggles to control her newfound powers and her feelings for an enemy.
This #1 New York Times bestseller is currently being adapted into a film!
GABI BURTON
Gabi Burton grew up in the Midwest and currently works as a paralegal. Her debut novel, Sing Me to Sleep, features an all-Black and Brown cast and has received countless praise.
To get you excited for what she has in store, Burton’s short story, The Last Night of Mourning, can be found in the Monsters in Masquerade anthology, which is due to be published by OwlCrate Press this spring!
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
Alcohol consumption, murder, sexual harassment, emotional manipulation
In Sing Me to Sleep, Saoirse is a siren undercover in a kingdom that would rather see her dead. As a soldier in training and top of her class, she also moonlights as an assassin for a dangerous group of mercenaries who seek to put an end to the Royal family.
When she is forced to work with the crown prince to hunt down the deadly killer plaguing their kingdom, Saoirse finds herself increasingly drawn to him. The only problem? Saoirse is the killer.
Hayley Dennings
Currently residing in California, Hayley Dennings is a bestselling author known for writing sapphic vampire romances. She has a BA in English and French from Loyola Marymount University and currently works for Fable as an editorial associate.
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
Blood, murder, racism, death of a family member, grief
This Ravenous Fate is a dual-POV story that follows Layla, a reaper (the in-world terminology for vampires who were once human), and her ex-best friend Elise, the heir to an empire that profits off the death of reapers.
When some reapers begin to turn human again, leaving trails of bodies in their wake, the two must team up to investigate and hope that their feelings for each other don’t get in the way of their goal—or their rivalry.
Last year, Jordan from Team OwlCrate interviewed Hayley Dennings at YallWest, and you can check it out over on OwlCrate's Instagram.
Famous Black Authors: Adult Fantasy
Saara El-Arifi
Drawing inspiration from her Ghanaian and Sudanese heritage for her books, bestselling author Saara El-Arifi worked in marketing and communications for ten years before completing a master’s degree in African studies. Having lived in numerous countries, she now resides in England with her two cats, Pudding and Noodle.
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
Animal deaths, slavery, torture, war, human trafficking, racism, sexually explicit content
Faebound follows sisters Yeeran and Lettle, who are exiled from the Elven lands and thrust into the fae world. There, they must do all they can to survive as their loyalties and hearts are tested, and secrets surrounding the Elven leaders begin to unravel.
Alexis Henderson
Known for her dark fantasy, Alexis Henderson has a penchant for black cats, witchcraft, and things that go bump in the night. Growing up in Savannah, Georgia, fostered her love for ghost stories and gothic horror.
She is most known for The Year of the Witching, but her latest release, An Academy for Liars, is well worth the read.
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
Animal cruelty, violence, death, gore, coercion, racism, suicide, relationship with power imbalance
An Academy for Liars is a gothic horror novel that follows Lennon Carter, who receives a mysterious invite to Drayton College, a secret magic school in Savannah. During her time at the school, she learns to master her power of persuasion and finds herself captivated by her advisor.
But as she masters her abilities, she starts uncovering more about the unsettling history of Drayton College and her mentor's past. Disturbed by what she finds, it seems her ultimate test is to embrace her magic without giving in to the power.
Marlon James
Jamaican-born Marlon James teaches literature and writing between Minnesota and New York. He graduated from the University of the West Indies in 1991 and received his master’s in creative writing from Wilkes University. He is the creator and writer of the HBO original show Get Millie Black, which premiered in November 2024.
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
Bestiality, domestic violence, murder, incest, misogyny, pedophilia, sexual assault, torture, sexually explicit scenes
Black Leopard, Red Wolf, the first book in the Dark Star trilogy, follows Tracker, a hunter tasked with finding a boy who disappeared years ago. To make this happen, he finds himself working with a group of unusual characters, including a shape-shifter known as Leopard. Drawing from African history and mythology, this book explores power, ambition, and violence.
N.K. Jemisin
N.K. Jemisin holds a B.S. in psychology and a Master of Education and has worked as a counseling psychologist, educator, and reviewer of sci-fi and fantasy for The New York Times Book Review. She is best known for her Broken Earth trilogy, thanks to which she became the first author to win three consecutive Hugo Awards for Best Novel, one for each book in the series.
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
Murder, infanticide (graphic), genocide, slavery, rape, child sexual abuse
Offering a fantastic blend of fantasy and science fiction, The Fifth Season follows Essun, who returns home to find her husband has murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. As the Sanze empire collapses and ash and darkness cover the continent, Essun will stop at nothing to save her daughter, navigating brewing wars as people fight for basic resources.
Rachel Howzell Hall
Critically acclaimed for her thrillers and mysteries, Rachel Howzell Hall lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and their feline GusGus. Her books have been nominated for numerous awards, and she formerly served on the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America. The Last One, the first book in her new fantasy series, was a Good Morning America Book Club pick!
Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
Violence, racism, war, death, sexual content, arranged marriage
In The Last One, Kai wakes in the woods with no memory of who she is, finding herself in the impoverished village of Maford, where her very presence is seen as a curse. When she is forced to accept the help of the handsome village blacksmith, they embark on an adventure to uncover the secrets of Kai's past and to find who, or what, the looming threat prophesied to bring an end to their very realm really is.
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