8 Must-Read Diverse YA Fantasies

The Wrath And the Dawn, by Renee Ahdieh
In this atmospheric retelling of A Thousand And One Nights, Shahrzad is on a murderous mission, one that will cost her everything. But as she spins a story as part of her plot to kill Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, who’s responsible for the death of her of her best friend and countless other girls, she finds herself confounded by his dark, mysterious ways. And trust me, you’ll fall under his spell, too. This is fantasy done right: sumptuous writing, a smart, feminist heroine, a slow burning romance, masterful world-building that doesn’t collapse into cultural clichés, and an infuriatingly delicious cliffhanger of an ending, that will leave you thankful this is a trilogy.

King, by Ellen Oh
Yes, Ellen Oh is the founding force behind the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement. She’s also the author of the heart-pounding Prophecy series, which wraps with its third installment, King, this month. The series follows demon-slaying Kira, a ferocious and precocious misfit of a teen who discovers that, according to the Dragon King prophecy, it’s up to her to protect the town of Hansong and its people—even if they’ve kind of been brats about the whole thing. Rich Korean folklore melded with swordplay, dragons, demons, and just a touch of romance make this a world worth visiting.

Luminous, by Dawn Metcalf
Uncomfortable in your own skin? That’s how Consuela feels nearly all of the time. So when she realizes she can abandon her body for the Bones, it’s strangely liberating—even more so as she learns to take on cloaks from air, fire, water and other elements to save those who nearly die before their time. As she enters the Flow and discovers others like her, though, she soon learns her newfound abilities bring with them great danger. Dark and sharp and rife with twists and turns, this fantasy is at once poetic and horrific.

Soulprint, by Meg Miranda
Alina Chase has spent her 17 years imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit—at least not in this lifetime. She’s doing penance for June Calahan, the cyber-criminal and whistleblower who was one of her soul’s previous incarnations. But when she finally escapes with the help of three others, she realizes she’s still carrying June’s shadow with her…and that means history just might repeat itself. With breakneck pacing that still allows for small moments of teenage angst—like that of first love—Miranda takes the reincarnation myth to the cutting edge.

Dirty Wings, by Sarah McCarry
A prequel to Sarah McCarry’s gorgeous All Our Pretty Songs, this retelling of the Persephone myth centers on the relationship between Cass—pretty and perfect, but unbearably sheltered by her adoptive parents—and Maia, a runaway and a witch, who helps her escape her circumstances. The two couldn’t be more different, but share an inseparable bond—that is, until they meet rocker Jason, and the earth between them shifts, quite literally. Lyrical and complex, this lush, literary YA will suck you in and leave you reeling. Luckily, you can nab the first book now, and the final installment in the trilogy, About a Girl, hits shelves in July.

Shadowshaper, by Daniel Jose Older
Talk about starting with a bang: Sierra Santiago’s enjoying a sweltering Brooklyn summer, until a corpse crashes the first party of the season. And murals cry. And Sierra discovers, with the help of fellow artist Robbie, that she has the power to imbue art with the souls of the long-departed. Like his previous works, Half-Resurrection Blues and Salsa Nocturna, Shadowshaper is frightening and funny, with language that truly transports. And in Sierra, he offers up a strong, brown heroine who’s at once sure-footed and startled, reveling in her newfound strength and fearing what exactly it might cost her.

An Ember In the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir
So much hype, right? Believe every word. Debut author Tahir sets up a world where the scholars live in fear of the Empire’s slaughter. As a Scholar and a Mask, Laia and Elias should be sworn enemies, but the two have to work together to save her brother—then realize so much more is at stake. With impeccable world-building, breakneck pacing, and strong, conflicted characters, this fantasy is a study in tension and epic in scope. For now a standalone, it will have you begging Tahir (and Penguin!) for a sequel. But sit tight: it’s highly likely you’ll see this one on the big screen soon.

Otherbound, by Corinne Duyvis
Every time Nolan closes his eyes, he finds himself transported into the mind of Amara, a mute servant girl living in a harsh, unforgiving world filled with danger and intrigue. Can the pair unite to escape the curse that binds them to a renegade princess and her deadly curse? Here, the mundane meets the fantastic, and elements of diversity—ethnic, LGBTQ, and disabled characters—are woven in seamlessly and organically. But it’s the twists that will keep you reading, and guessing, in this well-executed debut.