A Unique Fantasy World Awaits You in JY Yang’s Brilliant Debut Duology

The Black Tides of Heaven sticks by the twins—Mokoya and Akeha—over a 35-year period, through separation, rebellion, and loss. In companion volume The Red Threads of Fortune, Mokoya and her herd of velociraptors hunt a dragonlike Naga. They stories can certainly be read independently of one another, in whatever order you choose, but if you’re going to read them both (and you’ll want to), you’d be best served reading Black Tides first, because everything that happens there feeds into the events of Red Threads. Experiencing the stories this way pulled at me in all the right ways.
I hope it doesn’t undercut the lovely character work to praise these novellas as a masterclass in worldbuilding. The pan-Asian fantasy setting pieces together the familiar (mosques, congee, and guns are all touchstones of our reality, and yet…) with elements that are truly strange: nagas, velociraptors, megafauna, and much else dwelling alongside humanity; prophecy as a talent used to guide nations; a culture where children control nothing of their own destiny, yet can choose their own genders.
Let’s talk about gender. In Black Tides, Mokoya and Akeha are introduced using the gender-neutral pronoun “they.” (If that sounds confusing, you needn’t worry; it is never unclear which “they” Yang is referring to in these sections.) The most refreshing moments of the book are found in the tension between the siblings, which is never about neutrality, but about choosing a gender. The deftness with which Yang manages issues of identity is beautiful, and certainly something I want more of in my reading. After Mokoya and Akeha are confirmed in their genders, their lives diverge. They choose different paths, and from there, the story becomes about the twins, separated, fighting for their separate worlds.

The representation of different kinds of heroes is striking. Mokoya is disabled, her damaged arm replaced with the help of magic. The section describing this lizard graft prosthetic is a particularly satisfying bit of worldbuilding, a disability aid that fits the setting so outrageously, I couldn’t help but feel joy. It’s rare to find a story in which disability is so well integrated, and in a way that feels so true to the world. Mokoya is whole, with her lizard prosthetic, and the result is perfect.
The writing is lovely. Not a page goes by without a striking image or a well-turned phrase, a nugget of prose both true and beautiful. It’s compelling, and thoughtful, and does justice by the world. From lizard grafts that change color with the bearer’s mood, to the slackcraft fueling the magic of the world, the fantastical elements of this duology are exquisitely crafted.
This is an entirely fresh take on fantasy. A non-western setting, inventive societal gender politics, and a whole bunch of delightfully crafted creatures await you. These are stories of rebellion, family, and siblinghood. Stories about loss, and what you gain when you make a hard choice. Stories about a world where the dangers aren’t just in the wilds of the countryside, but right at home.
The Black Tides of Heaven and The Red Threads of Fortune are available now.