February is Black History Month, and while Black voices deserve space on our shelves year‑round, this month feels like the perfect excuse to be intentional about what we’re reading. If you’re craving immersive worlds, powerful magic systems, and speculative stories that don’t shy away from big themes, Black‑authored fantasy and sci‑fi deliver every time.
This isn’t meant to be exhaustive—consider it a curated starting point. A stack‑building nudge toward stories that challenge, enchant, and linger long after the final page.
📚 Fantasy & Speculative Fiction
Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi
A West African–inspired fantasy bursting with magic, rebellion, and grief. High stakes, fierce emotions, and a world that feels both epic and deeply personal.
Legendborn – Tracy Deonn
Arthurian legend collides with modern Southern Black history and generational trauma. This one blends contemporary fantasy with razor‑sharp commentary—and it hits hard.
Parable of the Sower – Octavia E. Butler
Chillingly prophetic and painfully relevant, Butler’s speculative classic explores survival, belief, and community in a collapsing world. Essential reading.
Who Fears Death – Nnedi Okorafor
Dark, mythic, and unapologetically bold. This Africanfuturist novel weaves magic and destiny into a story that confronts violence and power head‑on.
Raybearer – Jordan Ifueko
A lush, West African–inspired fantasy centered on found family, loyalty, and choosing your own fate. Beautifully written and emotionally rich.
An Unkindness of Ghosts – Rivers Solomon
Speculative fiction set aboard a generation ship structured by brutal hierarchies. Unsettling, incisive, and impossible to forget.
💬 Why These Stories Matter
Fantasy and speculative fiction allow us to explore real‑world truths through imagined futures and re‑envisioned pasts. Black authors in these genres continue to push boundaries—reshaping what magic looks like, who gets to wield it, and whose stories are centered.
If you’re looking to expand your fantasy TBR this Black History Month, start here—and keep going.
What Black‑authored fantasy or speculative reads would you add to this list?
literary gluttony 
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