By Kathy Palm

“You can never truly know a culture until you've been bitten by one of its myths.”

― Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

Everyone’s read a dragon book, but what about books featuring a phoenix? Or fox spirit? Or that thing you thought was human, but something’s off, and it just did a weird thing that was DEFINITELY not human? Those are some of the best creatures that set you up for the most fantastic stories.


I love cool mythical creatures and learning about other cultures and mythology. While you wait for your next favorite dragon book, check out these fantasy stories full of amazing creatures from other cultures and mythology.

Cool Mythical Creatures Found Across Fantasy Books Include…

Phoenixes

Often attributed as a Greek mythical creature, phoenixes also have roots in Egyptian and Persian mythology. These magical birds can be portrayed in all shapes and sizes, but generally they all burn, have gorgeous feathers, and can not only die in a burst of blaze and glory but also rise from the ashes reborn.

Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto

Crown of Feathers, book 1 of 3

Genre: YA Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

emotional abuse, controlling relationship, animal death, some violence, war, death, slavery

This YA trilogy features a girl who won’t let her gender determine her fate, found family, and phoenix riders! There’s also rich worldbuilding, awesome animal magic, archery, and multiple points of view—some of my favorite things!


Veronyka is a poor orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider one day, regardless of the cost. It doesn’t matter that no one knows exactly what happened to the legendary phoenix riders, or that the empire will enslave anyone they suspect of having animal magic; Veronyka is going to find a way.


In this story, we also see this world through the eyes of an unwilling soldier and a son who struggles with his father’s expectations.

Crown of Feathers was included in OwlCrate’s February 2019 “Legendary Beasts” Young Adult Fantasy Subscription box, and Team OwlCrate must’ve loved the book so much that they did special editions of books 2 & 3 in the trilogy!

The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean

Standalone novel

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

animal death, panic attacks/disorders, gun violence, grief

I fell in love with the San Tamculo Zoo and their magical creatures. This story was a cozy and endearing tale of a very anxious bisexual phoenix keeper who puts her animals’ well-being above everything else. The Phoenixes in this story are on the smaller side, more like large birds of prey, which come in different varieties and colors.


Aila, the head phoenix keeper, has a soft spot for all creatures, magical or not. Humans are a bit trickier, and she’s happy to avoid them. When a big opportunity comes up at the zoo, Aila has to learn how to work with her colleagues and ask for help. Together, they might be able to make a difference in saving the species from extinction.

Four Guardian Deities

Chinese mythology has a lot of cool creatures, including the four guardian deities, which are often associated with directions and colors. Representing the North is Genbu, the black tortoise; the East has Seriyu, the azure (water) dragon; the South has Suzaku, the vermilion peacock (or firebird); and in the West, Byakko, the white tiger. Some tales hail them as revered gods and deity guardians, while others refer to them as demon gods who are the source of evil and chaos.

Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play by Yuu Watase

Fushigi Yûgi vol 1 of 18

Genre: YA Fantasy (Manga)

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

violence, war, sexual assault

A long-time favorite of mine, this series has found family vibes, quest adventures, and snarky dialogue . The world-building is super fun, including priestesses and celestial warriors.


Miaka and her best friend Yui find a mysterious book in the library, The Universe of the Four Gods. When they’re accidentally sucked into the book and teleported from modern-day Japan to ancient China, their lives are forever changed.


This 18-volume manga series chronicles Miaka’s adventures trying to navigate this world and the unknown dangers. In this series we primarily see the corners of the world influenced by Suzaku and Seiryu, but there are also two related manga series focused on Genbu and Byakko.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao

Song of the Last Kingdom book 1 of 2

Genre: YA Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

violence, death, death of a parent, colonization, war

Perfect for fans of wuxia and xianxia, this is one of my favorite duologies. The four demon gods are only spoken of in the legends, considered beings that can unleash untold power if awakened. I absolutely loved this complex world with its mythology, secret magic school, and themes of balance, fate, and anti-imperialism.


The story follows Lan, a girl trying to uncover her past, and Zen, a practitioner in hiding from the ruling colonizers. Lan has a strange mark on her skin only she can see, and she’s desperate to know why. Zen also has secrets, but he’d rather pretend they don’t exist. When their worlds collide, it’s more than fate, but their decisions will determine their destiny.

Djinns

Another creature that can be considered good or evil is the djinn (or jinn) found in Islamic, Arabic, and African cultures and mythologies. In Arabic, the term “jinn” means both “hidden from sight” and “demons/spirits.” Djinn are said to be created from fire, eager to make a deal, often able to move about unseen, and in some cases, they grant wishes. The term genie comes from the French variation of jinn. Djinn are often quite powerful, but their “gifts” may come at a steep price. Be careful what you wish for!

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Raybearer book 1 of 2

Genre: YA Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

emotional abuse, fire, death, murder, memory loss, genocide, misogyny

Another favorite duology of mine, Raybearer, should be on everyone’s reading list. This is the chosen one story you didn’t know you were waiting for, told by the best griots, and steeped in West African mythology. It’s high fantasy at its best, complete with found family, political drama, love, and destiny. In addition to djinn, there’s another kind of magical being, alagbato, as well as tutsu sprites.


Tarisai was raised in isolation by an absent mother known as the Lady. When she’s sent away to the capital to compete for a spot by the Crown Prince’s side, she’s eager to do whatever it takes. This fast-paced story shows how loyalty, fate, and wishes can all be dangerous. Will Tarisai forge her own path?


After reading the Raybearer duology, check out The Maid and the Crocodile. This stand-alone story takes place 10 years after the events of the duology.

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

The Daevabad Trilogy, Book 1 of 3

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

violence, blood, death, slavery, war, religious bigotry, rape, torture

This story may start off slow, but it’s worth the buildup. Full of rich world-building and a great female lead character, there are djinn, ifrit, political drama, magic, and secrets upon secrets.


In 18th-century Cairo, you couldn’t ask for a better con woman than Nahri, who knows better than to believe in magic. She uses her talents and tricks to swindle the Ottoman nobles and simply survive.


That is, until the day she accidentally summons a djinn named Dara, who puts her on a crash course with the city of Daevabad. What follows is an epic tale featuring Nahri the grifter, Dara the djinn, and Ali, the youngest prince of Daevabad.


In addition to the trilogy, don’t miss out on the short story compilation, The River of Silver, which includes stories set before, during, and after the trilogy.

Fox Spirits

Spirits come in all shapes and sizes. Many Asian cultures have some kind of fox spirit, which is a favorite of mine. Japanese culture has the Kitsune, Korean the Gumiho, Vietnamese the hồ ly tinh, and Chinese the Huli jing. All of these variations have their own specifics, but generally, the fox spirit can pass as a human despite being supernatural. They usually are capable of shape-shifting, tend to be mischievous, and are known as tricksters. Most cultures also have a variation of the nine-tailed fox, which is typically a higher-level spirit or demon.

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

Shadow of the Fox book 1 of 3

Genre: YA Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

death, violence, blood, body horror, gore, alcohol, torture, suicide, physical abuse

If you like adventure stories with a growing group of unlikely heroes who face terrible odds with honor, sarcasm, and sass, then this is the series for you! There are kodama (forest spirits), kitsune (fox spirits), yokai (spirits), oni (demons), and other great characters inspired by Japanese mythology.


Yumeko has trained her whole life to hide her wicked yokai (spirit) nature. She’s half kitsune, all mischief, and everyone looks down on her. The story starts when the temple she lives in burns down, and she’s charged with protecting the temple’s piece of the ancient scroll.

Shadow of the Fox was included in OwlCrate’s October 2018 “Lost In The Bookstore” Young Adult Fantasy Subscription box!

Shanghai Immortal by A.Y. Chao

Shanghai Immortal book 1 of 3

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

blood, violence, child abuse, panic attacks, bullying

For my second fox-inspired tale, I’d like to introduce you to Lady Jing. She’s the King of Hell’s ward, half-fox spirit, half-vampire, and all sasshole (her words!). This story kept me thoroughly entertained as Lady Jing’s mischievous inclinations barreled ahead.


Set in 1930s Shanghai (plus the underworld), Lady Jing is about to turn 100 and is mostly trying to stay out of trouble. It’s not her fault things keep tempting her. When the King of Hell requests that she take care of a very important mortal, she has to fight her instincts and keep her eye on the prize.


Semi-historical and semi-irreverent, this story was just the right kind of ridiculous while still touching on some heavy topics.

Aswangs

Now that you’ve met an irreverent half-fox spirit, half-vampire, are you ready to meet some more terrifying viscera-sucking creatures? The Aswang is a star in Filipino mythology and is considered a bit of a catch-all with strong ties to vampires. Often described as fierce, flesh-eating, and shapeshifting monsters, Aswangs are the perfect threat to keep your children on their best behavior.

When Oceans Rise by Robin Alvarez

Standalone novel

Genre: YA Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

emotional abuse, toxic relationship, gaslighting, physical abuse

This story has it all, ranging from Filipino mythological creatures to aunties with slippers and a tricky sea witch. I love how it covered some tough topics, such as getting out of an abusive relationship, while not feeling overwhelming.


At 17, Malaya thinks she has it all figured out. Curses aren’t real, aswang are just a myth to make your children behave, and her boyfriend loves her dearly and would never cheat. His controlling tendencies and frequent lies are all in her head.


After realizing just how bad things are, she finds herself striking up a deal with the Sea Witch for a second chance. But just what is the cost, and is she willing to play with others’ lives for her magical do-over?

Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

Standalone novel

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

death, toxic relationship, murder

Surrounded by a cast of ridiculous supernatural creatures, including demons, ghosts, and pearl-clutching archangels, Vi finds herself thrown into the paranormal world. Being an aswang in Chicago was definitely not on her life bingo board, but when you wake up in the state of un-dead, you learn to find a new path.


Real estate agent by day, vampire that shifts into a cat at night, Vi’s just trying to make ends meet. Unfortunately, the house she’s trying to sell is haunted, and the ghost has no intention of moving on. Naturally, the only thing to do is to seek a medium and appease the ghost. What she didn’t mean to do was hire the godson of death, Fox D’Mora, and get caught up in a high-stakes game full of supernatural characters and plenty of snark.

Masters of Death was included in OwlCrate’s October 2023 Adult Fantasy Subscription box, and for a good reason!

Upyrs

While the Aswang tend to be into eating flesh, a Slavic variation on vampires, the upyr have a vendetta to settle and mostly just want blood. Sometimes called upir or upor, these tend to be female vampire-like creatures who crawl out of their grave dead set on some unfinished and often bloody business.

Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova

The Witch's Compendium of Monsters book 1 of 2

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

death, emotional abuse, gun violence, toxic relationship, violence, murder

Upir, varkolak, and kikimora, oh my! This adult debut features some fantastic creatures and aspects of Slavic and Balkan folklore. In this variation, upirs drag themselves from the grave with the strong desire to torment the living.


It’s the New Year, and the Foul Days are here, bringing all the monsters out of the woodwork. Citizens know better than to roam outside during these days, but Kosara, a witch, finds herself in a tricky spot that is about to make her foul days even more foul.


Forced to make a bad deal, Kosara finds herself on the other side of the wall in the supposedly safe city of Belograd. But is anyone really safe from these monsters?

Foul Days was included in OwlCrate’s June 2024 'Here Be Monsters'  Adult Fantasy Subscription box.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

The Winternight Trilogy book 1 of 3

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):

death, death of a parent, religious bigotry, misogyny, child death, animal death, sexual assault, blood

Featuring a winter demon, a fantastic horse, and some creepy upyr, this beautiful dark fairy tale is one of my favorites. This is a slower and, at times, lyrical tale, full of history, mythology, and conflict. The story questions the role of women in society and pits religion against folklore and mythology with complex and wonderful characters.


Vasya is a pure and wild child who cares little for religion or society. As the youngest child, Vasya’s been allowed a lot of freedom. That ends when her father’s new wife declares the family Christian and bans honoring the household spirits. But how will this god-fearing woman explain the upyr or the other troubles plaguing their village? Vasya has her work cut out for her if she is to keep her family alive and in good graces with the creatures.

“I don’t know what I want. I only know the world is big, and I’m sick of pretending it’s smaller.”

― Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

I hope your world feels a little bit bigger now and that you’ve added some new, cool mythical creature books to your TBR. Happy reading!

Kathy (palmkdbooks) is a game-loving bookworm who spends her days playing with technology and her nights exploring fictional worlds. While she dabbles in most genres, her favorites are Fantasy and Sci-Fi.

The Nest App

⚪️ The app is 100% free and all are welcome!


⚪️ Created for the bookish community and powered by OwlCrate!


⚪️ We have exclusive live events always happening in The Nest, so  download the app  and join the community today!

Visual divider