Fantasy and sci-fi are two of my all-time favourite genres. I love exploring unique worlds, or seeing a fun technological twist on the future of the human race. Cyborgs, spaceships, magic and dragons, they’re all words designed to instantly capture my attention. But you can’t read too many of these books without noticing that most fantasy worlds are based off a very medieval European sort of idea. And for sci-fi, it’s rare to find one that’s not centred around America. Not that there is anything wrong with these kinds of books. They all amazing and unique in their own ways, and I have plenty of favourites among them. However, there is hole where fantasy and sci-fi inspired by more diverse cultures should reside. One of my favourite things about The Lunar Chronicles is the fact that it’s set in futuristic China and futuristic France, as two examples, rather than being set in America, like so many others are. Which is why I’m so excited to have these four books on my shelf at the moment. They’re all inspired by various African cultures, or are set in Africa itself, and the change in cultures is so refreshing. Three books in my favourite genres with a more diverse worldview? Yes please!
War Girls | Tochi Onyebuchi
The year is 2172. Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of earth unlivable. Only the lucky ones have escaped to space colonies in the sky.
In a war-torn Nigeria, battles are fought using flying, deadly mechs and soldiers are outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs meant to protect them from the harsh, radiation-heavy climate. Across the nation, as the years-long civil war wages on, survival becomes the only way of life.
Two sisters, Onyii and Ify, dream of more. Their lives have been marked by violence and political unrest. Still, they dream of peace, of hope, of a future together.
And they’re willing to fight an entire war to get there.
I’m in the middle of reading War Girls at the moment, and let me tell you, it is every bit as good as this description makes it sound. It’s set in war-torn Nigeria, with a group of female soldiers augmented with cyborg parts, and has great themes of sisterhood and found family. I keep sitting down to read just one or two chapters, and getting sucked into the world and Onyii and Ify’s troubles so quickly that I can’t stop. Tochi Onyebuchi has such a beautiful writing style in his other books. I loved Beasts Made Of Night, which is another fantastic African-inspired fantasy. War Girls has been on my TBR ever since then, and I’m so happy that the experience of reading it is living up to the anticipation.
The Gilded Ones | Namina Forna
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.
But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.
Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.
Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.
Blood ceremonies are never not going to grab my attention. I haven’t read this book yet, but I am absolutely anticipating the struggle for belonging and acceptance that being born with the wrong coloured blood is going to bring. I’m hoping for something that really grabs my heart. Also, I’m a huge fan of the trope of the outcasts being the only ones who can stop the threat, so I’m absolutely anticipating a great story here. And maybe a touch of found family with the girls as they have to fight together? Between the glorious cover, the promise of fierce female warriors, and what I hope will be a rich fantasy world with non-European centric roots, this book is looking pretty tasty right now.
A River Of Royal Blood | Amanda Joy
Sixteen-year-old Eva is a princess, born with the magick of marrow and blood–a dark and terrible magick that hasn’t been seen for generations in the vibrant but fractured country of Myre. Its last known practitioner was Queen Raina, who toppled the native khimaer royalty and massacred thousands, including her own sister, eight generations ago, thus beginning the Rival Heir tradition. Living in Raina’s long and dark shadow, Eva must now face her older sister, Isa, in a battle to the death if she hopes to ascend to the Ivory Throne–because in the Queendom of Myre only the strongest, most ruthless rulers survive.
When Eva is attacked by an assassin just weeks before the battle with her sister, she discovers there is more to the attempt on her life than meets the eye–and it isn’t just her sister who wants to see her dead. As tensions escalate, Eva is forced to turn to a fey instructor of mythic proportions and a mysterious and handsome khimaer prince for help in growing her magick into something to fear. Because despite the love she still has for her sister, Eva will have to choose: Isa’s death or her own.
I picked this one up very recently, mostly because I’m a sucker for a fight between siblings for a throne, especially when it. has the added wrinkle of the fact that the siblings actually like each other, which leads me to wonder why they’re fighting for it in the first place. Definitely also picked it up in the hopes of a different sort of fantasy world, with its African roots. Add in a touch of the main character being born with rare magic and living in the shadow of someone else’s legacy, plus the suggestion that there might be fey in this book as well, and this is definitely shaping up to be a fun read.
Children Of Blood And Bone | Tomi Adeyemi
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
I read this one a while back, and when I first come up with this list, I knew that I had to add this one on. It’s just such a good book. From the epic journey, and the tentative alliances that could be broken at any moment, to the massacre of magicians, and the struggle to topple an evil monarchy who is willing to do anything to retain control of the throne, this book is such a good read. Plus, I did love the fact that while of course there is an obligatory romance between the main character and a prince, her main help is actually coming from a rogue princess instead, which is a lovely, and unexpected twist. I want to see more of these female alliances in books please.
In general, I just feel like more books should be inspired by cultures outside of the usual European or America influences. These four Afrian inspired books all seem to be lovingly crafted, and draw on cultures and experiences that make these fantasy or dystopian worlds all the richer and more unique because of it. I for one would love to read more books like these in the future. Let’s mix up our sources of inspiration, find some new influences, and shake up fantasy and sci-fi conventions, shall we?
Have you read any of these books? Are any of these on your TBR? What other books set in Africa, or inspired by African cultures, do you recommend I read? Let’s chat in the comments!
