Non-Humans & Empathy (Fiction, Realistic)
One of several Non-Humans & Empathy -themed lists by @Myth.Ink (See also: Non-Fiction, GNs/Manga+, Youth Titles, Creature Feature, & the Official @Myth.Ink Curation) | This list is the FICTION edition, including fictional interactions and considerations of interactions between plausibly realistic non-human beings of all types (trees, robots, animals, ai, aliens, objects, science-experiment beings, etc) and humans, empathy and lack thereof. | Suggestions more than welcome!






Badge Gremlins
Shorter books (under 200 pages) that are part of at least one quest. Many are also in the public domain, making them easily accessible when you want to grind for that next badge.






talking animals
i love when animals get the chance to yap and/or narrate their own stories :)
recommendations welcome!






Paper for the Win
Book that have an element you’ll miss out on if you read as an audiobook, whether it’s fun formatting or illustrations






Ergodic & Odd Formatting Strictly- (W/ NOTES by me)🔠📖
I’ve seen lists, but not one strictly about Ergodic/odd formatting where it’s vital to read the e/physical because of the formatting and/or text —non inclusive of illustrated versions, and just adding non-vital images, etc.
These are the books where if you don’t read the physical (maybe the ebook) you’re MISSING something VITAL to the experience.
I often read audiobooks and don’t know I’m missing out 🫠
PLS recommend W/ explanation (& avoid spoilers) & feel free to argue cases!!
Examples & notes in comments!!!






Non-humans confused or fascinated by humans
Books with prominent non-human characters who are confused, horrified, fascinated, or delighted by human behavior!
Please add suggestions in the comments because I need more books like these 💜






List of oddball fantasy/sci-fi recommendations ⋆˚࿔
(Broadly defined) Poetic, dreamy, strange, odd fantasy/sci-fi. Doesn’t have to be all of these things at once, mostly it’s fantasy/sci-fi that ‘breaks the norm’ (in style, prose and story)- whatever that means. Or books wonderfully odd, in any sort of way.
I’m not such a fast reader, neither do I have the golden touch finding only books that fit in this list… ‘Breaking the norm’ can be seen as rather subjective, so I’d love any suggestion that you feel fit (and why do you feel they fit?).






sorry i misheard, what does the fox say??
a list inspired by the nighttime feature of London - street foxes! includes both fiction and non-fiction! (and my obsession with the fox narrative in Fleabag)
book recommendations always welcome!






god forbid an animal have hobbies
alternate titles broke: weird girl lit woke: weird wildlife lit freak fauna creatures serving cunt in a god-fearing way animals want me, literary fiction fears me
these are not just books about animals. these are books where an owl/crow/deer/shark/bear/genderqueer mountain lion/other concerning critter arrives carrying the entire emotional weight of the novel and nobody does anything about it.






Xenofiction (animal POV)
A collection of novels that step outside the human perspective, inviting readers into the minds of animals. From intimate character studies to unsettling psychological tales, these stories use animal narrators to explore grief, survival, morality, and what it really means to be human.






Animal POV
Let the animals tell the story! I am trying to be as comprehensive as possible with the exception of children’s books, graphic novels and comics (too many to list!)-although there are some.






I’m not cry… Oh for FOX sake 😮💨🦊
Stories that might make you cry (I mean, are you made of stone? No) and also feature a fox (or is from the POV of a dog because that one book made me howl). If you’re thinking Disney’s Hound & Fox, then yeah. That’s kinda the vibe here - we’re shedding tears but make it adorable👌🏼✨
Suggestions welcome! 🙏🏽😇






Animal POV
A collection of books where the main characters are animals
Warning!! Pearl by Josh Malerman is considered a horror (extreme horror?) So check your triggers!






Animal Instincts
Fiction from an animal perspective! Good for grown-up fans of Erin Hunter series.






Short Illustrated Books & Graphic Novels
Short narrative books that I enjoy a lot! And accompanied with illustrations! Alongside graphic books that I enjoy






'granola girl' books
exactly what it says on the tin






short & satisfying
small books that have had a big impact on me over the years





