Recs if you like The Ghost Bride...

myth and folklore woven into reality to explore the legacies of colonialism: displacement, cultural erasure, trauma, the question of identity, and resistance. these books revolt against the idea of a single, rational, western worldview, reclaiming indigenous beliefs and knowledge systems as valid forms of truth.

after all, what looks like "magic" may simply be reality seen through other eyes.

recs always welcome :)

katabasis (n.) “descent”; often referring to a descent into the underworld, or the realm of the dead.

fiction books taking place after death

audiobooks where the narrator is the author! any book goes, no matter the genre. there may be multiple versions of the audiobook, but at least one version has the author as narrator. please suggest more in the comments!

Books set in an Asian or Asian-inspired setting or incorporates elements of an Asian culture or mythology. Only the first book in a series is listed.

An on-going attempt to track Asian authors in my Interested/TBR (and hopefully Finished) categories. Books are generally fiction/lit fic/fantasy with some memoirs. Authors span West to East Asia, the Asian diaspora, and mixed-race folx.

featuring loosely "gothic" inspired stories from outside of the european / western literary canon (by no means a rigid, all encompassing list or academic designation.)

as always welcome to suggestions !

Science fiction and fantasy books by Malaysian authors. N.B. This list is not meant to be exhaustive.

A mix of classics & modern literature, that have to do with the witchy, gothic and horror genres ✨

I realized that in Asia, magical and supernatural beliefs are steeped in our day-to-day lives. It’s so normalized that we or I, didn’t even think about it. So, I wanted to read more books in this category where magic occurs in everyday life

Protagonists and supporting characters who see and/or hear the dead / ghosts

These books are historical fiction from different area and time periods. I did not add WW2 books as they are already highly popular and I wanted to focus on lesser known time periods or countries in the genre. Please suggest similar books.

23 books of all genres by non-white non-male authors for the anti-brainrot challenge by thisstoryaintover

I love historical fiction, but it's too easy to get stuck in WWII Europe or the US Civil War. These are just a few of my favorites set in different areas of the globe. I usually use the Historical Novel Society 's definition of a historical novel as my guide (events 50 years old or did not happen in the author's lifetime). I also include ones that cross genres.

Fantasy that is not set in the US or the UK

Book set in or inspired by South East Asia. This is specifically for @mangopopsicles but everyone else is welcome to use this too lol!

Written SEAns and set or inspired by Southeast Asia

Books by AANHPI authors and/or AANHPI stories. I added Pinoy specifically because while I want all stories for this group I will make a point in finding stories by Filipinos or about Filipino stories. These books aren’t all that are out there. Just what is on my radar.