I barely ever * say this but…
My favourite thing of ever is FANTASY BOOKS.
Last week I mentioned I particularly enjoy diverse fantasy books. And why is that, you might be asking? ** It’s because THERE IS A WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE AND IT’S AWESOME. I’ve always been mildly obsessed with the world. Like, the whole lot of it. Back when I was a Small Human Specimen and homeschooled, I studied a lot about other countries. I researched them in my spare time for goodness sakes. I think I knew more Chinese history than Australian at one point. *** HIIIIISTORY. IT IS MY LOVE.
Moving forward.
I think there are too many interesting countries and cultures out there for fantasy books just to 90% dwell in British/American settings. Stahhhp, books. Go read an atlas. Diverse fantasy books are the cake of life. ****
* This is 1000% a lie. I say it, basically, ever week, and I know you’re all about to strangle me for being a repetitious reptilian. But instead! Just bury me in fantasy books and maybe THAT will shut me up! No guarantees, but I firmly believe it’s worth you trying.
** You’re probably not asking. You probably don’t care for reasons because here on Paper Fury, I am Queen, and I need no reasons for my statements and you’re used to that. I get it. But bear with me.
*** Fun fact! I have been to the capital of China, Beijing, but I HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA, CANBERRA. This is because Beijing has an awesome wall you can walk across and what does Canberra have??? Cranberries? (I don’t actually know. I haven’t been there, see.)
**** And by “cake of life” I mean, they are 10000% CRUCIAL to existence. Because you can’t actually live without cake. You die. Look at the dinosaurs. Where they eating cake? No. Where are they now? Dead. PLEASE LIVE AND LEARN.
Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is “Top Ten Books With X Setting” and I’m, obviously doing diverse fantasy settings. And also taking a gazillion photos because this is who I am now. Wholly obsessed with bookish photography and not even sorry.
1) THE WRATH AND THE DAWN
Persian (!!) folklore (!!!!) retelling of the 1001 Nights (!!!!!) Plus it is stuffed with the most delicious description of food I swear I ate my copy. This photo is just your imagination.
And I know Shazi looks like she’s judging you from within those covers. Don’t be scared. Except she totally is judging you.
And no, shhh, I haven’t read The Rose and the Dagger yet, stop. Don’t hurt me. I’ve just been distracted and I’m also terrified my ship won’t climb aboard their magic carpet and sweep away into the sunset AS THEY SHOULD.
2) ALL THE RUSSIA. LOVE THE RUSSIA
This is technically cheating for two reasons. (A) I’m squishing three books into one section (and do I look sorry? I do not look sorry) and (B) these are like 50% historical fiction with 50% fantasy elements. So the WORLD isn’t fantasy, the elements are. BUT WHO CARES. LOVE ME SOME RUSSIA.
- Deathless is a retelling of Koschei the Deathless and it is so beautiful and nonsensical and I love it.
- Egg & Spoon features BABA SASSMASTER YAGA which is enough reason to read it.
- The Crown’s Game is about wizards who build things and occupationally try to kill each other. #win
3) THE DEMON KING SERIES
PS. This series is criminally underrated.
I love love loooooove it. It has sassy thieves and sassier wizards and queens and ONE OF MY ULTIMATE OTPS (oh be still my beating heart). Excuse me, I’m just hyperventilating here in remembrance of the pain it caused me. (That’s a good thing, by the way.)
ANYWAY. BACK TO THE TOPIC AT HAND: I think it has Native American influences, and one of the main characters is half native with darker skin. And it really builds the culture too which: yessss.
4) LEGACY OF KINGS
Who’s desperate to read the sequel?! ME. Who desperately wants to buy the sequel but can only find it in a different size to what she already has?? ALSO ME. Who is having a mental breakdown over aforementioned issue? MEEEEEEEE.
Anyway. This is set in, also, a real place: Macedonia. But it has MAGICAL ELEMENTS. So don’t argue that it belongs on this list. It’s a retelling of Alexander the Great. It’s awesome.
And look at that cover! That bloody sword! So promising!
5) GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS
I actually remember like 4% of the story line, despite only having read it last year. But I FIRMLY remember how much I loved it. My brain is just Swiss Cheese for details. Anyway. It definitely had a Persian/Iranian or maybe…Spanish (????????) sort of setting, plus desert tribes and nomads and so many pastries. SO MANY PASTRIES.
Just read it for the pastries.
6) REBEL OF THE SANDS
Another gloriously Middle-Eastern inspired fantasy world. HELLO PERSIA AND DESERTS AND DJINN AND GUNS. It’s actually a surprising combination: fantasy + guns. Honestly it’s like mixing the wild west with Persia and SOMEHOW IT WORKS. I’m not arguing because I love shooty shooting books.
7) THE GRISHAVERSE
Did we already talk about Russian inspired books? Pfft. You’re imagining things. And even if you’re not — WE’LL TALK ABOUT THEM AGAIN BECAUSE #OBSESSED. (I actually don’t know why I’m so interested in Russia. But I am. I need to go there someday.) At least this time Ravka is (A) not really Russia, but (B) just inspired by Russia. Plus Six of Crows expands the world and I think has Scandinavian (Matthias?) and India (Inej?) influences.
(Also guess who just finished a re-read of Six of Crows to remind herself how absolutely in love with the Grisha world she is??? THAT WOULD BE ME. Also Kaz. <3 I swear, the more villainous he gets, the more I like. #notevensorry)
8) 5 TO 1
Is this dystopian?? Fantasy???? WHO EVEN KNOWS. But it’s set in India and the cover is so beautiful I need all the reasons to talk about it. Yes I did just say that. #ShallowBookworm (It’s also half written in verse, for those who are poetically inclined.)
9) STORMDANCER
As much as I wanted to like this one…I really spent 84% of the time confused. BUT REGARDLESS (!!) this is set in a fantasy-inspired-Japanese world. And it has Griffins. Which is basically like dragons. Which is definitely winning.
10) A GAME OF THRONES
A goodly hunk of this series is just your average British-inspired fantasy world. BUT. It does include a rather gargantuan world with (in my opinion; which luckily is always right) sort of Mongolian inspired Dothraki and India/Middle-Eastern inspired Summer Isles. And then of course there are all the LIVING DEAD which definitely counts as diverse.
I have Rebel of the Sands on my pile right now (thank God for buy one get one half price offers). I’m REALLY hoping that I get to it before I go back to uni. Otherwise it’ll have to wait until Christmas…:(
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Ooh, fingers crossed that you get time! Or at least it’ll be a nice christmas present for you? Like nothing better than gifting books to yourself. #winning
Awesome post; fantasy is by far my favourite genre! 🙂 Yessss Rebel of the Sands is SO GOOD. I’m not entirely sure how the author managed to make guns and magic work together, but it was done brilliantly. The diverse setting made the book, for me. XD
A country I’m mildly obsessed with? Hmm…countries like Jordan and Israel have always fascinated me, and I plan to travel there someday, especially to Petra. (I blame the teen Left Behind series that had Petra as one of the settings). 😀
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We are fantastically fantasy twins here, Melissa. OUR PRIORITIES ARE IN ORDER. And I totally agree about Rebel of the Sands. I’m still not sure how it worked??? But it did. And it was perfect.😂
Ohhhh I do love Israel/Jordan too. Have you heard of Broken Bridge by Lynne Reid Banks?!? I re-read that so many times as a Small Human. It’s not fantasy, just historical fiction but SO GOOD and set in Israel.
Fun fact: I have gone to Canberra but not China, Beijing!
Also, ahhhh I so want to pick up Stormdancer! I love Jay and sounds like I should (or not because you were confused?) BUT DRAGONS AND JAPAN RIGHT?!
Also 5 to 1’s cover is so gorgeous!!! AHHH THANKYOU FOR SHOWING ME THIS BEAUTIFULNESS! I so love books set in India so sounds like one that will appeal!
We COMPLETE each other, Julia. *hi fives*
And I hope you do well with Stormdancer! I’m sure I was just a deluded grape that day. I fully want to re-read it via audio and see if it meshes with me better. Because I so wanted to love it!!
GRISHA! Everyone keeps telling me to read Girl Of Fire and Thorns, so if I do I will tell you where I think it is set. Ha ha. Is it a standalone? I can’t think if any place I prefer a book to be set. I will say that not very many fantasy books are set in South or Central America, that’s for sure. Peru would be a great place to set a fantasy story, or the Amazon Forest. What do you think? 🙂
Omg please do!! I need help pinpointing it haha. It is actually a series, but I haven’t read the rest because I fail recreationally at series.
Ohhhh yes I would LOVE more books set in South America. YES PLEASE. (*whispers* I actually am writing a fantasy with vague South American influences.😂)
I am absolutely dying because YOUR BOOK PHOTOGRAPHY IS GIVING ME MAJOR ENVY. Ugh, why does it have to be so beautiful *angry glare at you* (lol jk. [Not really.]). Anyway, I am hanging my head in shame because I haven’t read any of these with the exception of Shadow and Bone, and I’ve only read the first book in that trilogy WHICH IS SUPER SAD CAUSE IT WAS AMAZING (well, I’ve watched GoT…so does that count?? :P). And yessss All the Russia, all the Middle-Eastern/Persian-y influenced books! There’s also an influx of books set in France/Italy now, and while that’s okay, books still need to be even MORE diverse, ‘cause hello… there’s a whole world out there. And I totally recommend City of a Thousand Dolls, which has Indian influences (I think), and is MAGICAL and BEAUTIFUL and ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS. Great list! I loved reading your commentary haha.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A SUPER NICE COMPLIMENT. BUT HERE, HAVE SOME CAKE SO YOU DO NOT DIE TOO MUCH. *sprinkles chocolate cake in your hair* And watching GoT totally counts.😂 It’s more traumatic to watch it than read it hahahahah. omg. I haven’t even seen the latest season because I’m not emotionally ready.
OH OH I HAVE READ CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS TOO!! (I totally admit the reason it’s not on this list is because I don’t own it and therefore can’t photograph it. Shallow? Me? YES.😂)
Wait. India. India north or India south? I’m so excited. I hope it’s the south and I hope they’ve gotten things right. *runs off to goodreads*
Eeep, I actually don’t know if it mentioned what part of India it was. (I’m assuming we’re talking about 5 to 1!)
Yes. I am. Let me check and see. ^_^
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I thought you forget the Grisha verse because it’s not in your Russia category! I think the setting is inspired from Dutch (ketterdam) and German (Fjerda) I don’t know if it’s true but I totally get the vibes xD I read Empire of Dust and IM SO CONFUSED. It’s my fault though. AND I DO HAVE DEATHLESS. I just haven’t read it yet (what’s wrong with me??) I think Cinder counts? It sets in futuristic Beijing. I’d also love to read more about Russia! Idk me and my friend have been having this werid adoration with Putin lately so… *shrugs*
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Hahhhah. NOPE. I had to have two Russian sections because I am that #obsessed. It’s a problem, but not one that I am ditching.😂 And omg YES I totally see the Dutch vibes for Ketterdam (how did I not see that earlier?!? Because Van Eck too!!) Ahem. And now that I think about it I reckon Jesper’s country might’ve been African influenced? ZOMG SO BASICALLY LEIGH BARDUGO HAS THE WHOLE WORLD IN HER BOOK AND I LOVE IT. And Cinder is awesome for it’s futuristic Beijing! I nearly put that on here too, but I figured it might’ve been more sci-fi? Idek.😂
FANTASY!!!! Aka the genre I always go back to after I’m sick of all the watered-down, sigh-worthy contemporaries.
I’m reading And I Darken and CAIT I AM HOOKED. LADA IS A WONDERFUL STABBY STABBER AND HER BROTHER RADU (am I right?!) IS AN ADORABLE ALBEIT SOFT LITTLE MUFFIN. Like literally, I am hoping for no school and weekends for eternity to finish it! 😝
And yes this is wonderful. I have been eyeing some books in your list for a long time. I have a copy of Rebel of the Sands, do you think I should read it? I stopped after around 50 pages for some reason..
Fantasy is definitely my go-to genre too. <3 And zomg I will 1000000% agree with you on the gloriousness that is And I Darken!! I was actually about to put it on this list and then I remembered it's historical fiction not fantasy. BUT IT'S STILL SO SO GOOD. EVERYONE IS SO STABBY AND GLORIOUS.
Omg yes you should absolutely read Rebel of the Sands. YESSS.
Oooh, what a glorious list this is! I’ve read Rebel of the Sands and LOVED It!
YAYYAYYAY. It was so amazing omg!! I loved how sassy everyone was. :’) Sequel = I need it immediately. *wishes quietly for time to go faster*
I haven’t read The wrath and the dawn yet! It’s on my TBR thought.
*though
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Oh oh I totally recommend it!! I mean, you probably picked that up from my excessive shouting.😂
Haha! 😂 I’m going to read it once I finish the book thief (the book I’m reading currently).
Oh my gosh, I have a list like this in my draft, but luckily we are both great devourer of books because we listed completely different titles <3 Bliss! I LOVE the sound of Egg and Spoon, can't get enough of Russia based fantasy. I also love the sound of Girl of Fire and Thorn because it's got such a unique setting!
Beautiful list, I shall add many books from here to my TBR 😉
OH OH I NEED TO READ YOUR LIST THEN. Like immediately. Because I need more books to read. 😂(I mean, obviously the billions I have in my room don’t count and I’m dying here.) Zomg Russia is just the best. More Russian based fantasy. Aaaall the Russian fantasy.
India?? Verse??? It looks like I’m reading 5 to 1 now!
OH GOOD. And that cover tho. Like I want to eat it or put it on my wall.😂
Hallo Cait! Okay, don’t ban me from your kingdom – BUT I do not really like fantasy. BUT the spin you gave on these, okay – I’ll look into it. Never even heard of Diverse Fantasy. (*Put down that rock you planned on throwing at me at once*). Eager to learn. Love the Russia settings….
As always, great post. I bow down in awe and slowly exits.
OMG HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE FANTASY. *has heartattack and dies* Ahem. Okay, maybe I shall just live to convert you, yes??😂
*slowly lowers rock*
*whistles innocnetly*
I’m super nice and not violent at all btw. So you’re safe here. PROMISE.😇😈
YAY a fantasy dedicated post and diversity makes it 38908234 times better. Also not to be superficial but fantasy books tend to have the most epic covers (and content of course). I haven’t read too many diverse fantasy books but I’m really intrigued about the change in culture and uniqueness so now I have a lot of books to add to my TBR now. I’ll just let it crush me. I don’t have a particular super special interest in a country for fantasy – there are just too many, but I would like to see fantasy books that aren’t set in a western civilisation. Great list Cait!!!
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Pfft, no judgement for superficial cover love here. IT IS LIKE MY LIFE TO BE IN LOVE WITH COVERS. (Also my downfall because I keep getting books solely because of covers hahah😂. Ahem.)
I’m glad you liked the list!! This makes me very happy. ;D And also if your TBR falls on your head, I *might* be kind enough to come dig you out. Yes yes you’re welcome.
Princess Bride AND Anastasia gifs for the WIN! 😉
As always I adore your writing voice and I definitely need to check out these books. YA fantasy (actually… ok… YA and fantasy too) is a genre that I really need to explore
My TTT
They’re only two of the best movies of ever amirite?!?😂
AWw, thanks, Carrie!! You always say SUCH nice things!! YA fantasy is definitely a glorious place to get lost in. I LOVE IT SO. (Like, I mean, that’s probably very hard to tell.😂)
I love your photos. Have you ever considered selling them as prints? I’d so have them on my wall.
Anyway, awesome list! I’ve just got The Demon King out of the library. I hadn’t heard of it before so I’m really happy to see it on your list! Makes me even more excited to read it. I also want to read Rebel in the Sand and The Wrath and the Dawn! Why is there not more hours in the day so I can read all of these?!
Happy Reading,
Rachel @ Paein-and-Ms4Tune
Ps there’s always room for more Russian set books especially if they’re by Leigh Bardugo!
I actually haven’t really considered selling my photos because I didn’t think anyone would be that interested.😂 I’m kind of flattered you think they’re good enough!! EEEEEP. <3 And zomg you have the Demon King. YOU HAVE THE DEMON KING. *tries to calm self* *FAILS* *FANGIRLS FOREVER INSTEAD*
I hope you love it!! NO PRESSURE FROM HERE OBVIOUSLY.😂 hehe.
(And yes, petition to have more hours in the day?!? That would be insanely helpful.)
I HAVEN’T READ ANY OF THESE. WHAT IS THIS LIFE?! I’ve been dying to read more fantasy books and these sound AMAZING! Especially because they’re diverse. BRILLIANT POST, CAIT!
LIFE IS SAD THAT’S WHAT IT IS WITHOUT THESE BOOKS. *piles them all on your head*
(But aww, thankyou!! <3)
I want to read all the Russian inspired fantasy books! I haven’t read much fantasy but I’m obsessed with all things Russian at the moment and there was a rabbit hole I fell down earlier in the year where all I was reading was Russian history and was driving my husband crazy with all my facts. The Wrath and the Dawn sounds amazing as well. Great list!
Oh oh I hope you try the Russian books!! I swear, everyone on my blog is going to start throwing socks at me if I don’t shut up about Russia.😂 BUT IT’S SO COOL. I spent a whole month basically just watching youtube documentaries on it. I’m 1000% ready to travel there, I tell you.😂
Absolutely gorgeous pictures!! <3
Haha fantasy is my favorite genre. I don't know how would I live without people's rich imaginations
OHHH WE ARE TWINS IN THIS FANTASY OBSESSION OF OURS. *hi fives* *shares fantastical cake with you* And yes, I would be a sad puddle without these incredible authors in my life.
Some of these I’ve read, and even if I didn’t like the style or the story, it was very interesting to determine the different cultural/national influences. Appreciating diversity in fantasy is a new idea, but it’s important. Realizing that every culture in the world has its own mythology and history is just as valid as recognizing its own language and customs today, etc. It’s not about being politically correct, as much as it is about – like you said – learning about other cool places and peoples. (My two cents.)
Fair enough! I think it’s very important for us western cultures, in particular, to learn about the whole world and I believe all fantasy should be diverse. 🙂
Oooohh I love your choice of topic, as per usual, DIVERSE FANTASY IS THE BEST! <3 TWATD is definitely the best, it's on my EVERY list because it's just so good and omg Cait you NEED to read the second book! I don't know who you're shipping for but if it's the same ship as most people, I'm sure it DOES NOT sink at all. In fact, it rides that magic carpet and flies so high. Alsooo, RUSSIA is fantastic! I always need to read more books set in Russia because they're just super awesome and I've been on the verge of reading Rebel of the Sands for a while now because TWATD just stole my heart on arabian fantasy but I'm scared because the rating keeps going down </3 also, I never knew where Game of Thrones take place… actually, I never even thought about it until you pointed it out but the Dothraki is kind of awesome! Drogo though </3 great list!
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I sooooo do need to read the second book. *cries because is terrible* But I’m reading The Star Touched Queen right now so YAY FOR THAT hehe. At least I’m working through my diverse fantasy TBR (which is quite mammoth tbh). Also I’m really pleased my little Shazi and Khalid have a HEA. I need that. I so so do. *nods*
Oh don’t worry!! Rebel of the Sands is VERY different to TW&TD and doesn’t follow the same mythology at all, so it’s pretty easy not to compare them too much. I was worried about that too.😂 But YUS. DIFFERENT HUZZAH!!
Ahh, I’m glad you agree about the Dothraki!! Heh. I was worried I was seeing things.😂
DO IT SOON! <3 Ohhh I actually wasn't a fan of The Star Touched Queen though, there were so many things that were off and felt rushed, but I hope you enjoy it more than I did 😀 mee too! I'm tackling my TBR one by one, I just finished Six of Crows and it was GLORIOUS! I'm starting And I Darken soon and I'm exciteeeeed! Khalid and Shazi are THE BEST I'm definitely obsessed with them hahaha and Rebel of the Sand is definitely next on my list as well!
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*whispers* I just finished The Star Touched Queen and wasn’t a fan either unfortunately.🙈🙊 The only thing I ended up liking was the sassy talking horse.
AND I DARKEN IS LIKE THE BEST OF EVER OMG I ADORE IT.
Hey, I love this post! Currently I’m busy with a magical realism story set in Prague, but before that a fantasy in guess what.. Russia XD I think it just has such a rich history and it’s just very intruiging to me lol. Also Six of Crows is partially inspired by the Netherlands omg. I soo want to read Rebel of Sands, it sounds amazing! 😉
OMG SET IN PRAGUE?!? That sounds amazing!! Also Russia, so basically you just won me over.😂
And I totally see that SoC has the Netherland/Dutch thing going on with Ketterdam now. *facepalm* How did I not realise that earlier?!?
I have only read the shadow series out of this list and I feel myself again BAD GIRL and sending myself to a corner to read a book. I do have soundless by Richelle Mead I may need that to indulge into!
*sends you to the corner with piles of books and also delicious snacks* 😂 I hope you have better luck with Soundless than I did, hehe.
OOOHHH SO MANY PRETTY COVERS SO MANY PRETTY BOOKISH PICTURES. tbh I just looked at the pictures because #illiterate. XD NOPE JUST KIDDING I READ EVERY WORD OF THIS. YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FLAWLESS. <3 I have read verrryyyy little fantasy, but tbh I would get very tired of the same setting/culture o'er and o'er again. *shakes head*
Honestly so many of these sound beautiful bUT BRB SQUEALING OVER THE ELEPHANT. LIKE WHAT AN ADORABLE ELEPHANT AND IT'S PAINTED LIKE THE BOOK IT'S SITTING ON. HOW ON EARTH ARE YOU SO AESTHETIC??? LIKE I DON'T UNDERSTAAAAND. All these pictures are flawless. I'VE SAID THAT ALREADY HAVEN'T I?? OH WELL IT BEARS REPEATING. THESE PICTUREEEESSSS.
*flails*
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I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKE MY PICTURES THAT IS LIKE THE ULTIMATE COMPLIMENT FROM YOU, OH PHOTOGRAPHY QUEEN. Because seriously, I am a squeaking preschooler in comparison to your photos.😂 But *gasp* You don’t read much fantasy? Abbie. Come to Australia right now and I will bury you in fantasy books. (That is totally kind and tempting, right?)
YES ISN’T THE ELEPHANT SO CUTE?! My parents brought it bake from Thailand about a billion years ago and I was looking through the house for props (aka: I was stealing things from my parents because AESTHETIC) and I was like “Yes this is coming with me for sure”.😂 I also steal the peacock feathers from my mother…I’m pretty sure she’s noticed what a devious child she has. But what can I do???? Bookstagram DEMANDS.
I NEED Empire of Dust and The Rose and the Dagger! Great picks!
*howls because needs Empire of Dust so so bad too* 😂
The Living Dead definitely counts as diverse. I’m glad they get a lot more representation in fiction than they used to. I think Mary Shelley and George Romero really helped in that movement.
Oh man, Legacy of Kings sounds like the book for me. I love me some ancient Greece and Alexander the Great retelling 😀
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Yes yes I totally agree. We should not discount the value of dead people in books. GO MARY SHELLEY FOR RAISING THE DEAD! Sort of…?? I think?? Omg just let’s all pretend I am speaking sensibly.
I hope you like Legacy of Kings! IT IS SO SO GOOD.
I LOVE that Anastasia gif! That’s one of my favorite movies! 😀
I want to start reading more fantasy books. The only books I can remember reading that are fantasy, is the Vampire Academy series. I LOVED IT!! I’ll be checking these books out! 😀 Thanks for stopping by my TTT!!
SAME. So much love for Anastasia!! I’m blaming it for my Russia obsession tbh.😂
I didn’t know about the Mongolian inspiration with A Game of Thrones O.O but now that you’ve said it I can 100% see it for sure. Also, I love this list! It’s always fun to see fantasy go into non-western cultures and settings and explore them. And of course I’m in love with the Grishverse
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Yes, it totally fits right?!? Like all the horse appreciation and all the plains they rode across and things? It was definitely how it fit in my brain.😂
I’m gonna bookmark this post, Cait! I have yet to read any of these, such a shame!
http://laxsourire.blogspot.my
*piles them all on your head* Your TBR just got huger.😂
I also believe that the Demon King series is seriously undervalued. One of my favorites that I always recommend to friends looking for a good fantasy. I love your photographs too, Very inspirational.
It so so underrated right?!? *hi fives* At least WE are here to appreciate it. I basically spend a lot of time throwing it at everyone’s faces because they need it in their lives.
Eeeep, thankyou!
So I wasn’t a huge fan of The Wrath and the Dawn, but I distinctly remember all of the food descriptions and how incredible they sounded – that book made me hungry.
I loved Deathless, Catherynne Valente is such a gorgeous writer. Haven’t seen much about Egg & Spoon, but it sounds amazing so I must find it and read it! Also excited to see 5 to 1 on here because I’ve never heard of it and I need a good India setting, I feel like I don’t get to see enough of those.
(I was also seriously confused throughout Stormdancer and didn’t even actually finish it.. whoops)
Really great list!
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TW&TD is like the ultimate example of foodie fiction, right?! I just wanted to devour everything about it.😂 And Deathless also wins for the food descriptions! (Or lack thereof. Omg I swear, I was always starving reading that because either the characters were eating and I wanted to be…or they were starving and my soul was hurting for them.)
And omg I’m SO relieved I’m not alone with Stormdancer.😂 I feel really guilty for not liking it?!? But #confused.
Huzzah, huzzah! I love that you did an entire post on DIVERSE fantasy, because that’s seriously something I LOVE reading. Of all the ones you’ve listed, The Seven Realms series is one that I have yet to check out – but I definitely plan to!
YAYYYY YOU DEFINITELY MUST BE DEVOURED BY THE DEMON KING SERIES!! It is 100% worth it. Omg, like one of the best fantasy series I have ever met. <3 And diverse fantasy is the best kind of fantasy. TBH all fantasy should be diverse, I think!
I didn’t know that Legacy of Kings was based on Alexander the Great! Now I want to read it even more 🙂 I just kind of auto-added it to my list without even reading what it was about because it was a fantasy novel :p
My TTT.
Yes yes you totally must try it!! It’s really quite historical-fiction, but with a dash of super creepy magic that just makes my heart beat faster tbh. <3 Magic is my OTP.
I LOVE The Wrath & the Dawn, The Crown’s Game, and Rebel of the Sands! And I just added Egg & Spoon and The Girl of Fire and Thorns to my TBR because they sound amazing. The sad part is that I can’t think of ANY diverse fantasy books that aren’t on this list already! I mean, the Peter and the Starcatchers series is partially set on Mollusk Island and partially set in Rundoon, which is inspired by the Middle East, but a lot of it is also set in London, so I´m not really sure whether to count it.
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I still need to read Peter and the Starcatchers! SO BAD BECAUSE ME + PETER PAN RETELLINGS = TRUE LOVE. *adds it to endless to-do list*
It would have to be the Irish for me Cait, though really I’m super interested in all the mythological cultures that exist, hence my 9 month study of mythology. Sadly, though, I have not come across too many fantasy books using the Celtic stories yet. There is a sci-fy series though, which is super popular so most everyone has heard of it, Artemis Fowl. Which I LOVE, just for the record. One two book series I read with Japanese flavor to it is The Girl From the Well & The Suffering. Those are horror though, but sooooooo good that if you haven’t heard of them ( which again, pretty popular so you probably have ), then you should read them because of reasons and because I only recommend horror if the story is worth the fear. Which is definitely is in this case.
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I haven’t read Artemis Fowl yet *hangs head in shame* I really really should just because it’s so so famous, right?! hehe. And I kind of love stories about evil masterminds, so there is that. And YES I love The Girl From the Well!! I didn’t consider that really epic fantasy though, since it’s modern. 😉 But I sooo need to read the sequel. EEEP.
I love diverse fantasy books as well! They are the best! I read and loved many of these (Game of Thrones, Girl of the Fire and Throns, 5 to 1, Grisha series, Six of Crows). There can never be enough of diverse fantasy books, right?
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Absolutely!! In a well-ordered universe ALL books would be diverse because that’s honestly how it is IRL anyway. :’)
I really liked the world in Megan Whalen Turner’s The Thief. It’s fictional, but it has a very Greek/Mediterranean sort of flavour to it. I remember lots of olive groves.
Other fantasies with interestingly diverse settings:
Tiger Moon by Antonia Michaelis (India)
The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb (Russia)
Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox (made up… but I got a kind of early 20th-century New Zealand-ish vibe from it)
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (there are so many creatures and cultures within the made-up world!)
I’ve read a couple of the books on your list (The Grisha trilogy and 5 to 1). I haven’t read any of the Game of Thrones books, but one of the major Canadian TV stations has been playing the full first season (amazingly, uncut and uncensored… and with a rather hilarious warning about all the content that even some adults may find offensive), so I’ve been watching that. Now I’m going to get hooked and have to buy some sort of cable channel or streaming service so I can watch the rest (which I’m sure is the idea behind giving us the first season only), and I might have to read the books. 😛
I’ve been recommended The Thief A LOT so I should probably get onto that eventually. Ohhh I haven’t heard of Tiger Moon?! CLEARLY NEED. And of course I need to read The Neverending Story. That is probably like bookworm required reading isn’t it?!😂
Ooh, I hope you survive Game of Thrones.😂 I quit the show before season 4 ended because my favourite character was going to die (I READ THE BOOKS FIRST SO I KNEW) and I couldn’t handle the stress. AREN’T I SO WEAK?!? bahah. Ahem. I do want to start again. Event hough the show has passed the books. *sobs* It’s actually kind of hard to read/watch simultaneously because they are quite different. (The books are better. <3)
I’ve been so curious about Legacy of Kings, but I read a review saying that it totally doesn’t deal with the fact that Alexander and Hephaestion were probably lovers, and that kind of put me off… Hm.
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It is a retelling, plus it has magic, so I’m supposing that it’s not following historical stuff 100%.
I guess so, but it still bothers me! The guy was almost certainly bisexual, it seems weird to erase that.
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Aww yes so many great books! I LOVED The Wrath and the Dawn (I still need to read The Rose and the Dagger too…), The Crown’s Game and the Grishaverse. I basically want to read all the books set in fantasy Russia, yes please! Oh and The Demon King series, I LOVED that series too (still need to read Flamecaster though…)
And Legacy of Kings and Rebel of the Sands are still on my TBR. Soon though, soon! 😉
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There are just too many books that need our attention right?!?😂 IT’S SO HARD TO FIT THEM ALL IN! I kind of want to re-read The Wrath and the Dawn before starting The Rose and the Dagger….but also time. Gah.
AFJDLKSAD I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE A DEMON KING FAN!! I am waiting on my reserve of Flamecaster at the library. So so keen. EEEEP.
Oh, I am 82% done in the 3rd Game of Thrones book. It is getting good, I hate the Davos parts though he is boring. The Crown’s Game is under a pile of books next to my bed, I keep meaning to start it. I’ll probably start it on the plane, I’m going on vacation next week. I need to read Stormdancer, tell me more! Oh, you should read anything by Ryan Graudin( Wolf by Wolf, and The Walled City). The Walled City is in CHINA! And Wolf by Wolf starts in Germany, and travels throughout Europe and I think some of the Middle East. I love Ryan Graudin’s books, she is an AWESOME world builder!
Ugh I agree, Davos is suuuuper boring. I like him in the show, but in the books it’s like “DAVOS HUSH ALREADY”. I also hated Theon’s POV omg he’s such a disgusting worm sometimes. And Bran was pretty boring too.😂 I mean, I like Bran??? But he always seems to have the historical info-dumps. GAH.
(OH I hope you have a marvellous vacation!!)
AHH I NEED TO READ RYAN GRAUDIN. I actually bought Wolf by Wolf and won The Walled City so IDEK why I haven’t read either. I am failing tbh.
Ooh, I recently got The Wrath & the Dawn from the library! I plan on tackling it after I finish some required summer reading I have to do.
The Crown’s Game sounds amazing?? And Egg and Spoon, omg, I love that cover. I might have to check out 5 to 1 as well – I’m such a poetry nerd. XD
Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality
Ellie @ On the Other Side of Reality recently posted…Beauty, Beast, and Blood – An Urban Retelling
Oh good luck with your required reading!! And yessss t all the Russian books. <3 Egg & Spoon is actually sort of slow at the beginning, but once you get to Baba Yaga and her scarily awesome sass = life is infinitely better.
Have you read “The Star-Touched Queen”?! I’m in LOVE with it! I think it’s set in India.
Also love the Winner’s trilogy (Marie Rutkoski). Kind of diverse, I think?
You gotta read Rose & Dagger, because OMG. The ship is fine!!
I actually just borrowed it from the library!! *flails* I AM SO EXCITED TO READ IT I AM FLAILING ALREADY. And yes! I wasn’t sure about The Winner’s Curse, but it is right?? It like has to have Grecian-Roman influences and Roshar’s country felt African to me.
AFJDSKALD OKAY SHIP IS FINE MAKES ME A LOT CALMER.😂
You’ll have to let me know your thoughts on Star-Touched Queen!! I’m @ohloveyourflaws on twitter (and my DM’s are open) 🙂
Yes!! Roshar’s country felt African to me too! I was/am picturing Renan Pacheco as Arin!
I was a mess when reading Rose and Dagger LOL.
AHhhh thankyou, Emmah!! 🙂
AND OMG THAT DUDE WOULD BE A MARVELLOUS ARIN. NO DOUBT. I always kind of pictured Arin with darker skin, but then I wasn’t sure about Kestrel because she’s pretty pale on the front covers of the books? Omg I have no idea. I just know I adore everything about that series.😂
No problem 🙂 I love talking to new people (online)! Social anxiety in real life, ack.
He’s so handsome haha. I’ve actually made edits of him with the grey eyes LOL. And I made an edit for Kestrel out of a picture of Ginny Gardner! (I can DM you them sometime)
I’d DM you them now, but I checked and I couldn’t because I guess you don’t have your DM’s open haha.
Is there such a thing as having closed DM’s??! OMG I DON’T EVEN KNOW. I AM TECHNOLOGICALLY INEPT.😭
I think for me to be able to DM you, you have to follow me?
For being technology inept, your layout is pretty haha.
Come now, read Murakami already!! Fantasy + Diversity in all its gloriousness!!!!
and… The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov!!! RUSSIAN (+ Israeli) goodness all wrapped up in one book + badass cats RULE!!
I love reading Japanese books (in translation of course… but may be I should learn Japanese? Naah, too much work…) I don’t even know why… it’s not so much the culture, rather, it just so happens that I like quite a few Japanese authors. There’s Haruki Murakami (fantasy, or more like magic realism at its best, READ HIS STUFF DUDE!) There are some other Japanese authors I love, love, LOVE, but I wouldn’t call their work fantasy I guess.
Honestly though, literature (fantasy or not) has how many years of history behind it already?! I think us readers of the English language totally miss the opportunity here… to learn about other countries and cultures. And what I find so very interesting is that, in contemporary literature in translation, while the characters themselves do not feel all that different from those of us who live in the US, per se, but the approach the authors take to describe a setting/scene/plot is so very uniquely different from Western authors! Even within the West, I feel a difference in the way US and English authors write something.. it’s very subtle, but it’s definitely there… and then I read a book by, say, a Japanese author, and it’s a whole world altogether. Even though the characters themselves are not very different…
Am I even making any sense at this point??? Oh well, I’m sure you know what I mean…
But yeah, dude, time you make your Haruki Murakami debut already!!!! And since you like Russian stuff, do check out The Master and Margarita, if you haven’t already.
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I WILL. I PROMISE…EVENTUALLY.😂 My TBR of 60+ books is screaming at me (and YOU😂) right now ahem. But I do want to at least try Murakami because yesssss.
I mean, I guess people are always going to miss out on stuff due to not speaking a certain language. I don’t get caught up on that though, because life is short. We should enjoy reading what we can. 🙂 And I do agree that writers from different countries ALWAYS present their books differently!! I see that just reading Aussie books as compared to American. Like I can sooo tell when an author is Australian. And same with British. So I can imagine it’d be the same for any author in any country! It’s awesome how writers bring their own unique cultural perspectives to topics, right?!?
Aww… naah I’m just being a busybody… I recommend him cause he’s my favorite but well, hehe. I agree that it’s impossible to not miss out. And truthfully that’s not why I read diverse authors’ work… I just, one way or another, found these writers and got hooked! And look at me…. as long the lovely books you mentioned… I haven’t read a single one of them!!
Oh well… that’s life I guess… good luck with your tbr… mine only seems to get taller… and not the other way round… I don’t even….
Ah love Rebel of The Sands! Haven’t read any of the others, but a few of them are on my TBR.
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Rebel of the Sands was just ALL SORTS OF EPIC. <3
I LOVED Rebel of the Sands and like you I found the whole Persia/Wild West mix really freakin cool!
I hadn’t heard of 5 to 1 before reading your post but wow that cover is gorgeous! I want it in a frame and on my wall!!!
There are so many amazing looking books on this list that I now really really want to read! Thanks for making my TBR even longer! Haha 🙂
It was so well done right?!? Like if you’d said “hey let’s mix Arabian nights + wild west” to me before reading it I would’ve probably be like “noooo”. 😂 BUT I’VE BEEN SO VERY CONVERTED. And yes yes the 5 to 1 cover WINS AT LIFE OMG. *pets it*
This list is AMAZING! I went back and added so many of these to my TBR shelf so I wouldn’t forget any of them! Such a great variety! I’ve had my eye on Shadow and Bone forever and I may just have to pick it up (along with nearly everything else you listed!)
OMG YAY. That’s what I want to hear.😂 SHADOW AND BONE THOUGH!!! <3 Book 2 is the absolutely best thing of ever.
THE WRATH AND THE DAWN sounds like my kinda book, And I read Rebel of the Sands on your recommendation and really liked it. I have also read Stormdancer….. it was funny, and diferent but that is about all I can say for it.
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OH YAY. I’m so glad you liked Rebel of the Sands! (Like I always get slightly nervous in case my recommendations are secretly horrible.😂) And ahh, yes that’s basically me and Stormdancer. It’s one of the few books I’m annoyed at myself for not liking? But still. I just….not clicking sadly.
I’m really going to have to check out The Demon King series. It’s always interested me but now that you mention it seems like there are Native American influences, I’m really interested.
OH YAYYY!!! I always get so freakishly excited if I get anyone interested in it because: omg SO UNDERRATED. The characters are just so so incredible and the magic is ajfldksadj. I hope you enjoy it!!
Oh I love this topic! It kind of makes me want to read because several of these series are in my TBR pile and yet it also makes me want to pack my suitcase and travel to faraway places 😉
AGREED. We can do both right? I mean, someone sign me up for India because the food sounds DELICIOUS.
What fun photos! I haven’t read much fantasy, but I am jealous of your knack for creating such amazing images with books! 🙂
AHhh THANKYOU. *flails happily* I did have such fun with this photoshoot. :’)
Oh, oh yes! Sadly, my own books have not yet reached the point where I”m writing i9n diverse fantasy worlds, but maybe one day… (Actually, I’ve never thought of doing it before reading your posts about it.) Okay, maybe I have… My first “fantasy” story I ever wrote had a lot of Peruvian influences in it, so does that count? As I said, though, I should try again. 🙂
Aidyl from Noveltea
You totally should!! I write diverse fantasy 100% of the time, although I mostly just go “based on” hahah, because my research skills aren’t the best.😂 Ahem. BUT PERUVIAN DEFINITELY COUNTS. Which is also awesome, I might add.
Uprooted. Read it. You’ll love it. It’s Polish-Slavic-esque. And I’m looking at Egg and Spoon right now. I love Baba Yaga. My niece and nephew are half-Russian and live in Moscow and I’m like haha BABA YAGA IS GONNA GET YOU…because I’m the best Auntie ever. lol. And I have Rebel of the Sands right now and it’s all queued up on my reading list. Great list! I love it. Traveling the world is the best. Especially when it’s in the form of reading and never actually leaving your bed except for coffee and snacks. 😉
I HAVE READ IT!! *flails because creepy forest* Egg & Spoon is pretty slow, but the Baba Yaga section is so worth the slow beginning. Omg, you are the best auntie. AND ALSO RUSSIAN CONTACTS HUZZAH. I have like 4 sisters and none of them married a Russian. I’m super disappointed in them.
(And 100% agree: travelling via books is so great. No inconveniences. No insects. Just coffee and comfort. #winning)
Haha…why am I not surprised you’re taking a fantasy twist on this prompt? 😉😂 And I love your recommendations! The setting in 5 to 1 was absolutely fantastic because of how eerily realistic it is. And the Russian influence in The Crown’s Game & the Grisha books is wonderful. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous choices! <3
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I’M SO PREDICTABLE AREN’T I OMG. 😂 5 to 1 is probably definitely dystopian in retrospect, but I totally needed an excuse to talk about that cover didn’t I?! No regrets. :’)
Love the diverse cultures! I didn’t know some of these were from different cultures. I have Legacy of Kings on my iPad. Never knew it was based on Alexander the Great. Cool!
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Yes so cool, right?! It’s mostly historical fiction except it does have magic in it WHICH IS AWESOME.
The only one I’ve read out of these is The Wrath and the Dawn (SERIOUSLY READ TRATD. STOP STALLING), but SO MANY OF THESE ARE ON MY TBR. ESPECIALLY 5 TO 1 BECAUSE OF AFOREMENTIONED COVER. And Game of Thrones just came in for me from the library as an audiobook and I CANNOT WAIT. I’VE HEARD SOOOOOOOO MANY GOOD THINGS.
And no, I don’t really have a particular setting that I like; I just enjoy seeing new ones. Right now I’m super obsessed with diverse characters’ stories (if you know what I mean) that are not ABOUT their diversity. Does that make any sense???
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I’M SORRY FOR STALLING TR&TD. *cries* I actually feel like I should reread TW&TD?? So that’s probably a big reason why I’m procrastinating.😂 Or I am just a chronic procrastinator…there is that too. Ahem.
OHhhh, tell me how you go with Game of Thrones?! It’s heavy going with the writing style, but I SO loved that series. I’m so destroyed. It’s grand. :’)
AND YES THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE. I wrote a whole post that once actually, so I’m with you!😂 I love when diversity just IS. Because that’s how it should be.
YOU SHOULD BE. Hahaha nothing wrong with that!
I WILL. I’m trying to finish up my #ReadThemAllThon books first but here’s hoping I get to it soon!
Ooooo yes!!! Does the post have recommendations in it? Because I LOVE those!
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Noooo, I didn’t put recommendations in the post. But maybe I should do a follow up post for that?! EXCELLENT IDEA, AMY.
YES. I SHALL READ THAT POST.
This is such a great post! I’m a huge fantasy fan too. The first thing I thought of when you mentioned Russia was Shadow and Bone, and then you give it a bullet point all its own 😄
It DEFINITELY deserves a section all of it’s own. SOOOO much appreciation for the Grishaverse.😍😍😍
I am SO fascinated by history too! I contemplated (REALLY HARD) whether I should do a double degree in History and Writing, but I didn’t end up doing it *sob* and now I am slightly sad about it. BUT j think I might try and snag up some online courses about history…
BUT anyway, I love fantasy books that are either inspired or set in different places other than Western countries. I love seeing different cultures come alive in fantasy stories! Gah! 💗
HISTORY IS JUST THE BEST. Plus so much fodder for writing! I’m like sure half the reason I am a writer now is because I got so many ideas from history studies.😂 *pats shoulder* Ah at least you can be a history nerd in your spare time. (I mean, if you have spare time. Who has spare time omg?? Probably no one.😂)
Great list! I have found myself steering away from fantasy, but I do have Egg & Spoon on audio.
Fair enough. Fantasy isn’t for everyone….but I do loooooove it so. <3
Argh so many of these books are on my TBR list 😩 I want to read them all NOW but I keep misplacing NOW and having to read them LATER. #Logic
The Girl of Fire and Thorns though, this book is haunting my Wishlist with determination. Literally has been on my buy-this-already list for yonks *sigh* and also Legacy of Kings – I need that like, yesterday.
LET’S NOT GET ME STARTED ON THE WRATH AND THE DAWN BECAUSE THAT. FOOD. OH. MY. GOD.
It is so so easy to get “NOW” and “LATER” confused though. Omg. I hear the pain, I feel the suffering. *nods* (And tbh, I’m terrible because I want to finish the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy because THE FIRST WAS SO GOOD but I have forgotten everything. Let me cry, Kirstie. MY BRAIN IS THE WORST.)
YES LET’S GET STARTED ON THE WRATH AND THE DAWN. WHEN CAN I EAT IT?
I am still a big fan of The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley for the way it sucks you in and gradually reveals the depth and history of the Hill people’s culture.
Oh that sounds AMAZING. And I’ve only vaguely heard of Robin McKinley before, so I should go look her up further. 🙂
She is amazing! *resisting the urge to keep hitting the exclamation mark* My sisters made me tell them Beauty every night before bed.
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I feel like I’ve only read maybe one or two books from a certain culture or place, like 5 to 1. Like give me more Indian settings! Russian settings, Greek! I don’t know whatever!
Egg & Spoon looks like the book for me. I need it in my life haha.
Yessss, same! WHATEVER IT IS, I DON’T EVEN MIND, I JUST WANT IT. The world is so so interesting and fascinating and I would just like to devour it in aaaall the books.
Where do you get your graphics? They’re really pretty! 🙂
I buy them from creativemarket.com or thehungryjpeg.com. 🙂
AHHH, CAIT I HAVEN’T READ ANY OF THESE!!! I mean…I read Shadow and Bone, but I stopped there. Everyone keeps sayign Six of Crows is awesome though, so maybe I should give that a shot??? And I started watching Game of Thrones recently, which makes me want to read the books for sure. But they’re SO LONG… SEND ME MOTIVATION (and cake). A motivation cake? Is that a thing?
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YES YES ABSOLUTELY YES PLEASE TRY SIX OF CROWS. *wild enthusiastic flailing* Although I mean, I wasn’t enamoured with Shadow and Bone but Siege and Storm???? YOU MEAT STURMHOND AND LIFE IS 10000% BETTER.
Motivational cake should be a thing. It is the most motivational thing I’ve considered tbh. (And GoT is super long.😂 I listened to the audiobooks so I wouldn’t break my wrists on the actual books.)
Love this list! I’d add Tamora Pierce’s books, though I’ve only read the Emelan series. I haven’t found much in the way of Philippine-set fantasy series, only Alternative Alamat and Janus Silang, both of which I haven’t read. I’ll try to find some more, because Philippine fantasy would be so interesting and diverse due to all the influences from trading with Asian neighbors and multiple colonizers.
I have never read a Philippine set story at all. Not even in any genre. *hangs head* So I agree, I wish there were more! (I bet there are tons, just none that I’ve seen though. My bad!)
Ohhh I had never heard of Egg & Spoon, I soooo want to read it now! Good job 😉 Deathless has also been on my radar for quite some time, I’ll have to pick it up somewhere!!
Totally agree with this whole list, except maybe Stormdancer because I heard many bad thing about the japanese representation? I haven’t read it so I don’t really know, I guess I’ll have to check for myself!
And as always: wonderful book pictures!! *heart eyes*
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Deathless is AMAZING. I listened to the audiobook which pretty much saved my life because it has a lot of Russian words in there.😂 And tbh, I don’t know about the representation in Stormdancer, but I think it IS fantasy. It’s not like supposed to be 100% the real world, so I think it’s fair to give fantasy books some leniency there. 🙂
I’m surprised you’ve never been to the capital of your country! I dunno why, I’ve always lived in the capital of Ireland… soo… I don’t know, man.
I haven’t read many fantasy books. However, I definitely want to check out Girl of Fire and Thorns for the Spanish/Arabian culture, 5 to 1 for the Indian and Stormdancer for the Japanese. Yup yup.
They’re on my TBR library list. I hope nobody has read them yet.
Okay, but I must point out how BIG Australia is compared to Ireland. 😉 Especially when you’ve lived half your life at the TOP of Australia and the capital city is at the bottom.😂
oooh, I hope you do manage to try those ones! Girl of Fire and Thorns, particularly, is SO GOOD and totally underrated!
I love diverse fantasy oh so much. I mean medival ish Europe gets SO boring. I like that Exquisite Captive has lots of Middle Eastern influence, and Days of Blood and Starlight is in Morocco, Trickster’s Queen is like about the caribbean sort of, and Brown Girl in the Ring is in post apocalyptic toronto, but with magic, mafia, and lots of lots of Caribbean culture. Hmmm… Thailand, and I would LOVE a book set on a pacific island (like Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, etc.)
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Omg basically I need all of these then *nods* Except I HAVE read Days of Blood and Starlight SO WINING THERE. (I was going to put that on the list and I probably should’ve instead of 5 to 1 since that’s more dystopian hahaha. But oh well.😂) And yes yes to a Pacific Island based book. I didn’t even know I needed that until you said it. *petitions the universe*
Baba Yaga! So sassy in Egg and Spoon. I liked that 🙂
I so agree!! The sass was on point in that book.😂
THIS IS SUCH A FABULOUS LIST. Interestingly enough, the book you liked the least is the one I just added to my TBR . . . because GRIFFINS.
I’ve been slowly working my way through The Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb, which is set in a very, very soggy rainforest and includes characters who are discriminated against because they have patches of scales. Also, it’s about dragons.
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GRIFFINS ARE AWESOME THO. And honestly I wanted to love Stormdancer so so much, hence I featured it. haha.a 😂 I’m considering re-trying it on audio so hopefully I don’t get so confused? *fingers crossed*
OMG THE RAIN WILDS CHRONICLES SOUNDS AMAZING. Draaaagons.
As a Macedonia, I’m not very inclined to read Legacy of Kings at all. No Brandon Sanderson or Neil Gaiman on this list? You need to read Neverwhere asap.
Oh? I’m curious as to why that turns you off Legacy of Kings?
I wouldn’t consider Brandon Sanderson diverse fantasy at all.😂
I think you just got me to buy the Demon King series, you sound so excited, and it involves everything I like! Yayy!
Btw, your pics are beautiful!
OMG I AM SO SO GLAD!!!!! THIS MAKES ME THE HAPPIEST I TELL YOU. *shrieks from the rooftops* Definitely come flail with me after you’ve read them.😂
I so agree! We really need more diverse fantasy books, not only ones set in medieval Britain! I love Rebel of the Sands and its Middle Eastern background, because we don’t get enough of those. Also, the Grishaverse! Russia all the way! 😀 I will definitely check out all the books on this list! 🙂
Ahhh I’m glad you liked my list! And omg YES Rebel of the Sands was just brilliant. Hilarious and fun and SHOOTY. (I mean, I could say shooting? But shooty is more fun.)
Loved this post! I was so unaware about these fantasy books being diverse! I have been looking for some diverse books, and this seems like a great place to start! Once again, I really loved the pictures that you featured in this post!
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OMG THANKYOU. <3 I did have fun with this photoshoot for sure!😂
LOVE. THIS. I think 5 to 1 is like, straight up dystopian? But definitely in India, so… Also, you just totally sold me on Legacy of Kings. Like, for sure. I was on the fence, I was. But I am not any longer and it is getting moved to my “read me soon” shelf. So thanks! Super curious about Deathless, too! I didn’t know that Girl of Fire and Thorns was so diverse either, there’s another reason to buy it! I feel you with Russia, too. Russia is such a unique place in real life, and books enhance that, so it’s just extra wow!
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WELL PROBABLY BUT SHHHH. I just wanted a reason to take photos of 5 to 1 basically. And omg GOOD. Legacy of Kings is completely underrated. There are tons of narrators and half of them are pointless, but Alex is a glorious stabby thing and the book is good. :’)
Russia is everything. I’m sure continually watching Anastasia as a kid is why I’m so obsessed with it.😂
Snap with Game of Thrones but that is the only one I have read from your amazing list! I love the sound of all of them though and I fear my wish list may grow in consequence 🙂
Eeep, I’m glad you liked the list! I AM HAPPY.
Girl of fire and thorns is definitely Hispanic influenced. And now you’ve convinced me I need to give the demon series a try. I had a hard time with the grid crouched because of the constant main character swamp with each book, which wouldn’t be do bad if the characters from other books played more of a role in later books. Something like The Raben books where it’s really an ensemble and each book lets different characters take center stage.
OMG GOOD!! I WASN’T TOO OFF.😂 Okay I was totally off, ahem. But in my defence, I really don’t read many (any?!) books with Spanish/Hispanic influences so that clearly needs to change!
Okay so I’ve only read The Crown’s Game and the first Grisha book, so this list is really useful 😀 Don’t mind me I’m just adding 4902953278 more books to my Goodreads TBR (okay exaggeration but you get the point lol)
YOU ARE WELCOME. Although I just read your review of The Crown’s Game hhaha. 😂 I hope you have better luck with some of these other ones tho? 😉
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to fantasy because I’m terrified of long books (Game of Thrones was so exhausting I have yet to start the second book). But I love diversity, you see. I definitely have to read Legacy of Kings. And more Russia books. And just…all the books, basically. I especially would like more North books.
BUT YOU’RE DOING SO WELL WITH THE FANTASY NOW!! Like I’m so proud of you for reading Game of Thrones. :’) Next you’ll be devouring fantasy all over the place and I will be so proud of the monster I created. (Um, I probably had 0% reason behind why you read GoT BUT JUST LET ME LIVE IN MY DELUSIONS.) Ahem. Russia tho. Why is not everything set in Russia.
I’ve heard the “Wrath and Dawn” books are amazing though I’ve not made time to read them yet. Also, “The Crown’s Game” is high on my must-read list. 🙂 Great Top Ten Tuesday, as always, Cait.
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Ahh, thank you Rissi! *twirls happily* You leave such nice comments. :’) And I hope you like TW&TD when you try it!
A lot of these are on my to-read list, but I haven’t gotten to read them, unfortunately.
I recommend The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi, which is a middle-grade about Middle Eastern magical Jumanji, basically. I haven’t read it since it’s not actually out yet, but I’m pretty excited for that. There’s also Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George, which has 19th century Romanian shapeshifters, and then there’s Passenger by Alexandra Bracken, which I guess is actually more sci-fi, but it has multiple settings all over the world during different time periods!
I’m also interested in reading about Russia, as well as anything Middle Eastern as long as it’s portrayed well. 😀
OMG THOSE SOUND AMAZING THOUGH. Particularly the magical Jumunji because insta-need for that.😂 I have read Passenger! But I wouldn’t consider that epic fantasy…I mean, I did just say “fantasy” for this post but I was aiming for more epic fantasy.😂
Right? 😀 But it comes out in 2017 which is way too faaar.
Ah, okay! I was just focused on the diverse part more. xD
OMG I AGREE. WHERE IS A TIME MACHINE. WE NEED IT.
THE U.K.
THE U.K. HAS A LOT OF TIME MACHINES
OR AT LEAST A LOT OF FICTIONAL CHARACTERS WITH TIME MACHINES
Can I just say, I love your pictures. So beautiful and creative, I’m blown away. Gorgeous! Then I will squee over the Demon King Series! Love you Raisa! It is so incredibly rare that I meet a prince or princess in a fantasy novel that I actually like and even respect. And Chima does not hesitate to go for the gut punch; her novels are impossible to put down.
Native American culture and history is my particular fascination, so I love finding analogs in fiction, and they appear my own stories quite a bit. A couple years ago I traveled to the Western US and got to go inside the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings. A memory I will never forget.
OMG YOU MAY DEFINITELY SAY THAT. *twirls happily* Honestly that makes my day. <3
AHAHAHHA ANOTHER DEMON KING FAN!!! We are few and far between, right?! *hi fives* And omg I completely agree about Raisa. She was not whiny, which I feel like a lot of princesses in books are??? And Han just...ajfdksaldj I just completely am in love with Han and not even sorry.😍😍
Oh that sounds amazing about going into cliff dwellings! SO good for writing inspiration right?!
So many good looking books, I have only read Game of Thrones but I am so looking forward to getting in to Six of Crows soon!
I so so hope you enjoy Six of Crows!! And it’s the perfect time to be reading it tbh because the sequel is coming out in just a month!! *FLAILS FREAKISHLY*
Omg, Cait. This post is perfect. Your writing is damn hilarious; how do you make me laugh every few sentences!? But seriously, you are so unintentionally funny… though, the more I read your blog, I think you are trying to make us laugh on purpose so we come back! Hmmm. It’s working..
Your pictures are making me seriously cry. I’m sure you’ve heard this a billion times, but this is like the second time I’ve visited your blog and so I’m still processing all the beauty. They really are painfully gorgeous. It’s a beautiful thing that a book-photography-obsessed person is who you are now. Be proud!
And of course, awesome list. Some of these books are new to me! I’m happy to see Renee Ahdieh’s series. A Song of Ice and Fire is basically my life, so definitely glad to see it make the cute. No Lunar Chronicles, though? Don’t particularly care, but I expected to see it on the list before I clicked the link. 😛
It is most definitely in my evil plan to get you laughing whilst reading my blog so you have HAPPY FEELS AND NEVER WANT TO LEAVE. #evilmastermindplan 😈😂 Ahem.
But awww, I really appreciate the comments about my photos!! That’s so nice of you! <3
I didn't include Lunar Chronicles because I don't consider them fantasy. 🙂 They're sci-fi IMO whereas I was trying to go for epic fantasy here (okay but 5 to 1 still doesn't really fit ahhahahh...but sort of?? If we don't think about it too hard.😂)
I love this whole idea, and I am SO with you! I actually really enjoy the medieval England based fantasies, it just seems traditional to me, but at the same time, it’s brilliant to mix things up a bit, and to be perfectly honest, I haven’t really read many fantasies that are set elsewhere. I so want to read The Star-Touched Queen which I know you’re reading now, and The Crown’s Game, which just sounds incredibleeee!
I was going to suggest Eon by Alison Goodmand, but saw on Goodreads that you’ve read it already (I have not). BUT, in the “Readers also enjoyed” section, it suggested Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriot, which is a fantasy fairy tale retelling of Cinderella set in Japan, and Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon which is a Chinese inspired fantasy, I believe – and according to Goodreads, you haven’t read them. I’m afraid I can’t think of any others to suggest.
Great post, Cait!
The Crown’s Game is SO SO GOOD!! And I just finished The Star Touched Queen and honestly it had no plot.😂 But I’m a minority for not liking it because everyone else seems to adore it, right?! hehe. And YES. I have read Eon! And I have Shadows on the Moon on my TBR but I just never get around to librarying it. I neeeeed more hours in my day.😂 Thank you for these recs, Jo!! I SO APPRECIATE IT!!
SO many recs. I literally just spent so much time making sure I have all of these on goodreads. THANK YOU CAIT! I like diverse books and I adore fantasy!
YOU ARE MOST WELCOME. AND YOUR GOODREADS IS WELCOME. AND YOUR TBR IS WELCOME. (I hope it doesn’t fall on your head.😂)
Oh wow, there are so many great looking series in this post. The Wrath and the Dawn made me SO HUNGRY and I loved it. I also love that you have an Anastasia GIF. I am not ashamed to say that I love Disney movies and I loved that one. I need to read The Crown’s Game. I am so interested in books about Russia. And I am considering taking a cruise to St. Petersburg next year, so yay! Great post!
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But but but Anastasia is not Disney.😂 I FORGIVE YOU THOUGH, BECAUSE IT IS THE GREATEST ANIMATION MOVIE OF ALL TIME. And I 100% blame it for my obsession with Russia hahhaa. *hugs Anastasia* And omg a cruise to St. Petersburg?!? Can I come? Can you like pack me up in your suitcase? I will provide a fabulously witty commentary and you won’t regret it.
Ever since watching Anastasia as a kid, I’ve absolutely loved Russia. It’s so magical and beautiful and elegant and THAT CULTURE.
But my number one favorite place to read about is India. Mostly because I’m Indian. But realistically speaking, there is SO MUCH CULTURE and the food and the traditions and the clothes and the jewelry and everything is so so so diverse that a million unique YA books could be churned out of it.
The best (…and only…) Indian YA book I’ve read is The Star-Touched Queen. Yeah, it’s also inspired by Greek mythology but the only Greek thing about it is that the MC and the love interest are a little like Hades and Persephone. Otherwise, it’s an absolutely gorgeous retelling of Indian mythology. You can FEEEEEEL the India in that book. Pretty sure you’ve already heard, but it has A SASSY DEMON HORSE and you like sassy talking animals right Cait?!?!
Oh yeah, and have you read Plain Kate? It’s lovely, bittersweet, and Russian-inspired. This one has a–wait for it–A SNOBBY TALKING CAT omg omg SO MUCH ADORABLE. Oh yeah, and the ending isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. You’re gonna love it! BTW I have a Russia shelf on Goodreads, if you’d like more suggestions:)
https://www.goodreads.com/EvonaEvonica
Saaaaame. I’m pretty sure Anastasia is the reason I’m so Russia obsessed. AND NOT EVEN SORRY ABOUT IT. And omg I completely love India too!! Your country is incredible, might I just say. And yes YES so many amazing books could come out of India, I don’t even know why it’s not a more popular setting?!? I’ve only read a handful of books based off India. *sad noises* I just finished The Star Touched Queen actually! ;D But omg I didn’t realise it was a Hades/Persaphone retelling. But I totally see it now!! THE SASSY DEMON HORSE WAS ACTUALLY MY FAVOURITE THING OF EVER.
Omg I hvae not read Plain Kate but I didn’t even know it was Russian inspired!!!! YOU HAVE SOLD ME.
*dashes off to stalk your shelf*
This was so many forms of wonderful. Books inspired by Russia are definitely worthy of obsession!
Huzzah! Because my Russian obsession doesn’t look to be letting up any time soon haha. *hugs all the Russian books*
One great big YAAAAAAAAS to this post! This is what I’ve been looking for 🙂 I wrote a similar thing on Middle Eastern influenced fantasy recently, but there are so many other possibilities.
Six of Crows is also Dutch inspired – Ketterdam = Amsterdam, with its canals and straats and other Dutch inspired words 🙂 That made me super happy to read it because since I left the Netherlands I’ve been trying to find all the Dutch related books, of which there are few (especially fantasy).
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OH YES. I totally see the Dutch influences now that you’ve pointed them out! I’m actually kind of ashamed I didn’t notice that before. I mean Van Eck, right?!? DUH, CAIT, DUH.😂 So that would make it my first ever slightly-Dutch influenced book, eeep. We definitely need more out there!
So I’m currently reading Anna Karenina and I’m just all RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA! I would love to go to Russia! I mean, maybe not right now, what with present world sitch. But one day. My #1 place I want to go is PRAGUE and I’m reading the Bartimaeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud, which I think you would love because it’s narrated by a very sassy demon who USES FOOTNOTES, and the second book is partly set in Prague! It draws on a lot of Czech magic traditions. And no, no, I’ve still not read Daughter of Smoke and Bone BUT I’M GOING TO and when I do I’ll revel in all the Prague-ness and probably die.
Ooh, ooh, and I just read Cinder! AT LAST. After you/everyone telling me to do so for legit four years. I had some qualms with it (qualms mostly called Kai … and I totally predicted the ending, which any reader of fantasy could easily do because it is the SAME as, eg, Throne of Glass, and also EVERY OTHER FANTASY EVER … and Cinder isn’t even really fantasy … UGH @ TROPES). But anyway, despite my qualms, I was loving the Chinese culture!
Love this list. Cannot wait to read The Wrath. And Grisha. Ooh and also I currently have A Dance With Dragons: After the Feast in my possession … but I’m SCARED … !
Omg I really need to read Bartimaeus! I actually own the first one and I’ve read hte graphic novel.😂 SO I’LL GET THEREI PROMISE. RIGHT AFTER I FINISH SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT. And omg I loooove that it’s got Czech magic. That just totally convinces me. *tosses everything and goes to read it*
Yeah, I’m pretty sure Cinder is the most predictable book ever, right?!?😂 Like “oh there is a lost princess…WHO COULD IT BE? SURELY NOT THE PROTAGONIST”.😂 Ahem. But it was still such a fun story! AND SASS. And the books get better and better. :’)
Be scared about ADWD. Be very very scared….
*tries to think of a recommendation* Um…..The Raven King trilogy by Stephen R. Lawhead. It’s set in Wales, so at least it’s not set in England. The only other series I can think of that was set in Wales was The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper(WHICH YOU TOTALLY SHOULD ALSO READ. IT’S AMAZING. MAGGIE STIEFVATER LOVED IT TOO)
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I HAVE READ THE DARK IS RISING. *awards self with cake* 😂 Aren’t I good? Have you seen the movie? I loooove the movie.
oMG THERE’S A MOVIE?! HoW DID I NOT KNOW THIS ASDFGHJKL.
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I loved, loved Rebel of the Sands. I liked how it mixed fantasy and guns. It’s almost like Persian lore mixed with the wild west? I’m not normally a fan of western movies, but the author kept the best parts: GUNS and TRAIN HEISTS! I don’t know why, but I always love a good train heist/chase. I love it when they’re running through the cars and crawling on the roof. (Even in TLC’s Scarlet.) Not to mention the sass.
*ahem*
So I have never hears of this Legacy of Kings. Nor this Demon King. I MUST LOOK IT UP POSTHASTE!
Love all of your photos! And the zentangles in the background!
YES. That’s the best way to describe Rebel Of the Sands! I don’t even know how that combination works, but it does.😂 AND YES SO MUCH YAY FOR GUN BATTLES ON MOVING TRAINS.😂 That just made my day, omg. I’m not even a huge wild west fan, buuuut…I do have a weakness there.
The Demon King calls to you. IT BEGS FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *quietly piles it on your head*
Aww, thankyou!
AAAAAAH! I love this post so much, it’s not funny! I adore adore adore EVERYTHING ABOUT FANTASY, and I kept running away to check the Indian book prices for the books I hadn’t heard of. (I’m going to need a million dollar gift card right about now)
I haven’t read The Rose and The Dagger either – but SOON and I loved Rebel and Soc SO MUCH, I’m dying while I wait for the sequels/
Lovely post Cait!
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I need a million dollar gift card too, tbh. CAN YOU FIND ONE FOR ME TOO, PRETTY PLEASE? 😂 And omg sooo much pain waiting for Crooked Kingdom. I NEEDED IT LIKE YESTERDAY. *howls*
AAARGH, I WANT TO READ THEM ALL. I’m glad there’s someone else out there with a weird semi-obsession with Russian themed literature???
WE CAN BE SEMI-WEIRDLY OBSESSED WITH RUSSIA TOGETHER. <3 I spend an unreasonable amount of time watching youtube documentaries on Russia.😂
As someone writing a fantasy novel set in a world that pulls heavily from Ethopian culture with Roman Empire influences, I’m loving this post! So glad the word is ready for diverse books 🙂
OMGGGGG, REALLY?!? OKAY YOUR BOOK IMMEDIATELY SOUNDS SPECTACULAR. I’m actually really annoyed that I can’t find many African based fantasy books!! I want some! SO YAY.
YESSSSSS FOR DIVERSE FANTASY! I am up for all kinds of diversity, but diverse fantasy is one special snowflake if you ask me! I love reading books based on and inspired by different folklores and features of a flair of diverse cultures.
I adored Wrath and the Dawn! It was beautiful. And those descriptions!!!! Just perfect! While I definitely liked the grisha trilogy, Six of Crows is what cemented my love for that universe. And I yet have to read Rebel of the Sands – it sounds amazing and I can’t wait to read it!
You should really try out The Star Touched Queen. It’s a bit slow, and has dragging-middle-part-syndrome, but otherwise is absoultely gorgeous!!! And there’s a lot of food mentioned as well!
Eeeep, SAME with Six of Crows!!😍 Like I loved it in Shadow & Bone but Six of Crows is just IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN GLORIOUS OWN I AM SO IN LOVE AJDFKLADSJ. I really hope Leigh Bardugo writes mooooore in the Grishaverse. I will like literally give anything.😂
I did end up reading the Star Touched Queen!! I wasn’t as much a fan as I wanted to be *cries* but it was still gorgeously written!
Can I confess that I just want to sit and stare at your photography for forever and then I need to pinch myself and remind myself that there are WORDS here to be read as well? Never fear, I read all the words as well – and I love them. Diverse fantasy is amazing – I’ve read a lot of these, but not all of them. Need to check out The Demon King Series because I really haven’t heard of that one.
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AWWW YOU’RE TOO NICE TO ME. *blushes* I’m so glad you like my photos!! 🙂
the Demon King series is SO underrated omg, I probably will just end up duct taping them to my head and walking around so people realise they exist and can go read them all immediately. #sensible
I read Rebel of the Sands when it first came out and i finished it the night i bought it, I loved it! My friend just recommended me A Court of Thorns and Roses which I’ve just started.
Oooh, I’m so glad you loved Rebel of the Sands too!! Addictive right?!? I read it in one day too *hi fives* IF ONLY THE SEQUEL WOULD COME FASTER.😂