Contemporary Literary Fiction where nothing out of the ordinary happens but the characters’ inner lives are rich, complicated, and layered.

All of her groundbreaking works, exploring themes of Afrofuturism, power, and survival.

An introduction to Literary Fiction, these books are part of the cultural zeitgeist or the 'canon' that many would recognize. Look for more niche titles in later Starter Pack volumes.

Morally grey or straight up baddies? A collection of books written from a villainous/morally grey POV. Only the first book from a series is included.

Intersectional feminist texts that explore the complexity of feminism, centering voices from communities that are often the most excluded.

This isn't Disney's little mermaid! A collection of horror, dark fiction, and gothic romances featuring mermaids.

stories that break convention and will convince you that maybe we don't need punctuation like we think we do

Welcome to the wonderful world of Plants! Celebrate the leafy, fungal, flowering world with these non-fiction titles. Through science writing, memoirs, and essays (and more!), learn about the inner workings of plants, explore the interconnected nature of nature, and discover just how vast the mycelium network really is.

For those ready to dive deeper into the genre, these books offer a range of authors and topics. Brand new to this genre? Check out Volume I for the most popular texts.

For those ready to dive deeper into the genre, these books offer a range of authors and topics. Brand new to this genre? Check out Volume I for the most popular texts.

From the provocative and challenging to the emotional and quiet, Japanese literary fiction tends to be nuanced, introspective, and minimalistic. These books contain layered cultural commentary and may lean on psychological, surreal, or fantastical elements to convey their message.

Forced into unending sleep or perilous insomnia, repeating tedious daily routines until your body rots, watching as your skin starts to glow or your hands sprout scales—these novels feature illnesses that are far from typical.

This Quest was inspired by the List "Black Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Speculative Fiction" created by heathersdesk, winner of Q1 2026 community voting.

Dramatic battles, tense political intrigue, unique world building...and is that maybe some romance I'm sensing? These books are not Romantasy but focus primarily on the SFF elements. Romance is a subplot and may not appear until later in the series, but when it does, you won't be disappointed.

Subversive reads from authors unafraid to tackle taboos.