Books by Black authors are criminally underrepresented in the publishing world, so I wanted to highlight some of my favourites. All of these books are phenomenal, and I fully recommend them!
- Legendborn by tracy deonn
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Legendborn is the first book in a YA fantasy series inspired by Arthurian legends. 16-year-old Bree is still grieving the death of her mother. She starts to see things she shouldn’t, like magic and demons, and decides to infiltrate the Legendborn society to see if she can find a connection to the death of her mother.
This book was phenomenal, and I couldn’t put it down! Bree is proud of who she is, what she looks like, and her heritage, and she won’t let any tell her otherwise. The book showcases the present-day struggles of anyone who is “different,” and brings light to a reality that we sometimes don’t like to acknowledge. I loved the concept of the Order and the incorporation of Arthurian legends and Black history. The characters were easy to relate to and the romance was well done. This is a story you need to read!
- Ace of spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
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Ace of Spades is a YA contemporary thriller that follows the story of Chiamaka and Devon, two students who attend a private school called Niveus Private Academy, as someone named Aces attempts to ruin their lives by revealing all their secrets. Make sure to look up trigger warnings, as this book deals with some heavy topics!
Ace of Spades is an LGBTQ, dark academia thriller that’s described as Gossip Girl meets Get Out. I can confirm that this description is 100% accurate and that this book is 100% worth the read! I personally haven’t read many thriller books, but this one had me hooked! Once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. This plot simultaneously scared me, stressed me out, excited me, and had me on the edge of my seat. It was beautifully written and well thought out, and I didn’t see the plot twists coming. It also did an incredible job of exploring themes of racism and homophobia. I wouldn’t change a thing about the plot; I loved it from start to finish, and I have nothing but good things to say!
- wings of ebony by j. elle
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Wings of Ebony is a YA urban fantasy that follows the story of Rue, a young woman whose mother is murdered and is subsequently taken in by her father who turns out to be a god of sorts. He takes her away from her home in East Row to Ghazan, a hidden country of magic. But when she returns to East Row to see her younger sister, she discovers the terrifying state of her neighbourhood. She must discover who is behind this evil that is plaguing both her home in East Row and her home in Ghazan.
This book was truly spectacular from start to finish! The characters were also so well done; Rue is a brutally honest protagonist whose voice is so important. She is strong, loyal, and stubborn, and she will do whatever it takes to protect her people and bring them justice. This story brought light to the current reality that Black people face in America. This story, while having a fantasy element, never hid from showing the hard truth, no matter how ugly it was. It truly helped educate me and really opened my eyes. I can’t recommend this book enough!
- so you want to talk about race by Ijeoma Oluo
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So You Want To Talk About Race is a nonfiction book that explores the concept of race through the lens of a Black woman in America. This book looks at things such as privilege, the Black Lives Matter Movement, police brutality, and systemic racism.
This is a book that everybody NEEDS to read. I’m not someone who is usually a fan of non-fiction books, but this book was really well-written. Oluo discusses race and various topics connected to it, while also supporting the points she makes through the use of personal experiences and factual evidence. She does not leave room for argument and makes it clear that this is a book for people who actually want to learn from it and do better. Oluo also provides advice on how to make a genuine, positive impact against racism, so the reader has really no excuses as to why they’re not doing their part to aid in fighting against systemic racism. As a person of colour, I felt so validated by this incredibly moving book. I also was able to learn a lot from this as well—knowledge that I can apply to my everyday life. Overall, this is a great book that in my opinion should be a required read for everyone.
- blood like magic by liselle sambury
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Blood Like Magic is a YA urban fantasy with sci-fi elements. It’s set in Toronto and features a diverse cast of characters. This story follows Voya as she attempts to complete her Calling, a task set for her by her ancestors which will define the future of her family. Her task is to kill her first love, so she must choose between her family and the boy she grows to love.
This book was amazing! I was in a huge reading slump before reading this, and Blood Like Magic yanked me right out. I really enjoyed the fact that basically the entire cast was POC, featuring an array of representation. My favourite thing about this book was the world-building—it was so amazing to read about a futuristic Toronto (very sci-fi-esque)! It combined the elements of the city that I grew up with with an amazing world that was so cool! The romance was also top-tier and used tropes like hate-to-love and lovers-to-enemies. Overall, this was a great book that you should definitely give a chance, especially if you’re a fan of urban fantasy!
I hope that this article will inspire you to pick up a book by a Black author, whether it be one of these recommendations or another pick! Black voices need to be highlighted more in the industry!