Recs if you like Aicha...

Representations of the Black experience through fantasy, science fiction, and speculative fiction. Recommendations welcome!

Fantasy settings based on African geography, cultures, folklore, myths, legends, or histories — inspired by the Quest with Asian stories of this kind. Suggestions welcome!

I'm sure some of these are already on your TBR, so might as well add some more! Let me know if I am missing any of your favorites!

a list of fantasy book recs free of problematic authors so you can discover without any stress of promoting them!

Looking for monster & alien romance / erotica with BIPOC baddies getting their backs blown out? Look no further! 😏

These reads feature Black, Indigenous, Southwest Asian & North African (SWANA aka Middle Eastern), Asian, & Latine main characters. Relationship pairings include MM, sapphic, poly, queer, MF, & more.

This list is primarily standalones, with a few series starters plus some “standalone-y” books from interconnected series. Open to recs! 🥵🌶️🔥

books with covers that look like another

A woman's place is in the revolution. Featuring magical/gifted women who disobey the powers that be and rage against the machine.

Protagonists using Indigenous knowledge to magically fight for their people against systemic oppression

Fantasies that take inspiration from Africa and/or African Countries (myths, setting, etc.)

Books of the polyamorous sort. Haven't read all of them so I could be wrong on some. Some of these are set in non-monogamous cultures even if the protagonists themselves are not engaging in romance or polyamory.

Big thanks to AthenatheStorier who often finds and recommends these books through instagram or tiktok videos!

Also if you're a lover of polyamorous stories of any kind/medium, let me know. I want to co-write a collaborative analysis of polyamorous stories and you could help!

This includes books coming out by SWANA* authors in Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Lit-Fic and more!

*SWANA: South West Asia or North Africa (decolonial term for MENA or Middle East & North Africa)

A list of all the books featured as monthly picks for the Illumicrate Sub. ◽️ Not Including sequels or special editions outside of the monthly sub.◽️ I will include new books about a month after release to avoid spoilers.

Wanting to read something new in fantasy or romance that isn’t going to make you wait around in agony for a sequel? I’ve got you.

All the Illumicrate, Afterlight, Evernight, Starbright, etc. picks for 2026

books featuring sister duos (mostly fantasy) (why is the older sister always overprotective and the younger sister always chaotic?)

Books where the cover features only one person

Name generators my beloveds. Just a list made by someone whose D&D characters were mostly christened with the help of RNG. The one and only criterion: Title is a first/given name (or nickname too)! Some are verified by the book actually containing a character with that name.

For the Fae and Flame Society book club, often our seasonal book bingo includes a square for 'a debut author.' Here is a list of books from debut authors published in 2025 and 2026.