Recs if you like Aru Shah and the End of Time...

JK Rowling is a bigot who uses her platform to hurt transfolks and other marginalized groups (plus she literally just quoted Mein Kampf on the bird site). If you're still supporting her in 2025, don't bother talking to me.

SFF with worldbuilding that informs the plot, prose, characters, and underlying narrative in deeply meaningful, intentional, and complex ways, so much so that changing the world means changing the shape of the story itself. Or: worldbuilding that goes beyond simple set dressing and becomes a vehicle for the story and narrative. Always open to recs and suggestions! ❤️

You liked Harry Potter but you’re angry at the author for being a huge transphobe and you would like some alternatives because you don’t want to give money to her so she can finance transphobia and you have enough of Harry Potter’s racist stereotypes like Cho Chang and other problematic themes in this saga? You’re in the right place! I haven’t read all, if some are misplaced, let me know! Also, if you want more fantasy recs, I have a queer fantasy list! It is addressed to different ages.

If we are going to do Qwordy's the Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do 3.0 - we should probably get some Pagebound badges along the way! I'm specifically going to be adding books from Quests and readalongs that go past the July start date and match at least one of these title prompts: Periodic Table, Familial Terms, Rainbow of Words (also Joseph's coat), Numerical Titles, Titular Counting 5+, Pun in the Title, and First & Last Name in the Title. Recommendations welcome!

“They will probably be some type of middle grade adventure, with lots of humor and action, and probably draw on myth or folklore in some way. Our goal is to publish great middle grade authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds, to let them tell their own stories inspired by the mythology and folklore of their own heritage." (From his website)

Indian inspired/set fantasy and folklore. Crowd-sourced from an ask in the Asian-inspired Fantasy quest, so check that out too, but always open to suggestions ☺️ Mostly Desi authors, though not exclusively. I have yet to read any, so join me as I work my way through these (and thanks to everyone who suggested them 🤍)

books inspired by a range of mythologies (mostly Greek, Egyptian, & Hindu)

Who TF needs JKR anymore? We got way better books out there dude

These middle grade series may not have seven movies, a TV show, and a literal theme park dedicated to them, but they sure deserve it! Especially because they weren't written by JKR. All recommended by Pagebound users, and suggestions are always always welcome -- middle grade fantasy/mystery series-starters only, please! Let's foster a love of reading in kids without supporting bigotry and hatred.

Growing up, I didn't see myself represented in any of the books I read. Today, I get excited when I find a book with a South Asian character. This is an incomplete list of middle grade and YA novels with South Asian characters by South Asian authors that I have found so far!

Fantasy Books that are inspired by asian culture, folklore, history, values, legends, and myths.

Recommendations are welcome; add a comment.

A non-exhaustive list of magical middle grade alternatives to the series which shall not be named. Only the first book of those that are part of a series is listed so as not to overwhelm. This will grow as more alternatives are found / published.

Books that tell stories from Indian religions. From Hinduism and beyond. Books that brings forth the history of religious characters from varying perspectives.

Indian or Indian-inspired fantasy books by authors of Indian origin, set in either India or abroad.

Desi at heart, Desi as charged

How cooked are we?

Just getting back into reading and feeling a bit overwhelmed at all the options? These were my go to recommendations for people while I was a longtime bookseller! I've tried to touch on most genres in this master list so you have a good selection, but I definitely could have missed a few since there are so many.

Pair with "Level 1 – The Ancient World" book.