February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate and learn about the experiences of Black Americans. In the publishing industry, it is important, but often neglected, to showcase a wide range of perspectives. Especially in fantasy, stories tend to lean towards white and European-based settings.
We need to ensure those aren’t the only stories being told. So, here are some fantasy books that focus on Black characters, draw on African history and mythology and tell incredible stories.
“This Poison Heart” by Kalynn Bayron follows Bri, short for Briseis, an adopted girl from Brooklyn who can make seeds become full-grown plants with a touch of a hand. When her aunt dies and wills her an old, crumbling estate overgrown with plants in rural New York, Bri and her moms head there for the summer to see if anything can help explain – or control – her powers.
From the first sentence, Bayron’s story centers on plants. It is a love letter to nature. From roses to nightshade, this book especially loves flowers. But, it is also a story of a young Black girl discovering herself. As the novel unfolds, it quickly becomes clear that more has happened with Bri’s biological family behind the scenes than we were initially told. How did her birth mother die? How did her aunt find her? Why do the people in her family consistently seem to be finding mysterious (and early) deaths? Without spoiling too much, Bri’s story is also one of diaspora and uses elements of Greek mythology. For anyone raised on “Percy Jackson” like me, this book has a similar vibe, but explores more mature themes and is told from a Black, queer lens.
Besides all that, what I love most about this book is Bri herself. “Never judge a book by its cover” and all that, but this cover is gorgeous. Look at her! Bri is confident, powerful and completely stunning. She’s wonderfully persistent, even if it puts her in danger, and as impulsive as she is, she’ll do anything for her family.
This book also has a wonderful ensemble of side characters. Bri’s moms are equally supportive and hilarious and add a lovely levity to some of the darker aspects of the novel. Karter befriends Bri as she navigates her new surroundings, and Marie, the mysterious girl she meets soon thereafter serves as an ingenue-type character to parallel Bri and offer her camaraderie (or more) when she needs it the most. Alongside Karter, who quickly befriends Bri as she navigates her new environment, Marie and the community provide sources of strength for Bri as she explores her new home and legacy.
“Raybearer” by Jordan Ifueko is yet another book I love. It follows Tarisai, who was raised alone in a palace-like fortress by servants and an often-absent mother she knows only as “the Lady.” At a young age, Tarisai realizes she has a strange power: If she touches anyone, she can absorb their memories – All except her mother’s. Because of this, the Lady has forbidden any of the servants from touching her skin directly. Tarisai wants more than anything to know people, and she gets this chance when the Lady sends her to compete to become a member of the Crown Prince’s Council. If she wins, she will finally have the connection that she’s always wanted.
Unlike “This Poison Heart,” whose ties to mythology come primarily from ancient Greece, “Raybearer” is fully immersed in African mythology and folklore. Primarily, it draws from the history of Yoruba and Edo empires in its worldbuilding. I personally listened to “Raybearer” as an audiobook, which I think is the right way to do it, because it makes use of the oral histories of storytelling in West African tradition. The novel contains a lot of songs, and hearing them aloud makes the world really come to life. (Also, the woman who narrates, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, has a wide range of voices and accents for all the characters, which I loved.)
“Raybearer” and “This Poison Heart” are such beautifully written books that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a genuinely incredible fantasy novel.
Enjoy both of these books this February!
