7 Must-read Standalone Asian Fantasy Books For Your Next Adventure
If you're reading to set sail on your next literary adventure, look no further! Here are 7 of our favorite fantasy stories written by Asian authors that are essential to add to your reading list.
Perfect for both the devoted fantasy enthusiasts and newcomers to the genre, these books are standalone gems that offer a complete and immersive experience without the need for reading an entire series.
Blue Skinned Gods by S.J. Sindu
From the award-winning author of Marriage of a Thousand Lies comes a brilliantly written, globe-spanning novel about identity, faith, family, and sexuality.
In Tamil Nadu, India, a boy is born with blue skin. His father sets up an ashram, and the family makes a living off of the pilgrims who seek the child’s blessings and miracles, believing young Kalki to be the tenth human incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. In Kalki’s tenth year, he is confronted with three trials that will test his power and prove his divine status and, his father tells him, spread his fame worldwide. While he seems to pass them, Kalki begins to question his divinity.
Over the next decade, his family unravels, and every relationship he relied on—father, mother, aunt, uncle, cousin—starts falling apart. Traveling from India to the underground rock scene of New York City, Blue-Skinned Gods explores ethnic, gender, and sexual identities, and spans continents and faiths, in an expansive and heartfelt look at the need for belief in our globally interconnected world.
Why should you read it?: Immerse yourself in a captivating journey of self-discovery in "Blue-Skinned Gods." This award-winning novel delves into themes of identity, faith, family, and sexuality as it follows Kalki, a boy born with blue skin in India, who is hailed as a divine incarnation. Witness his struggle with societal expectations, grapple with his family's unraveling, and embark on a global exploration that challenges his beliefs and pushes him towards self-acceptance in a world yearning for meaning.
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
“No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers.” Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill—but she doesn’t care. She’d rather play a monster than a maid.
But in Luli’s world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes—even if that means becoming the monster herself.
Siren Queen offers up an enthralling exploration of an outsider achieving stardom on her own terms, in a fantastical Hollywood where the monsters are real and the magic of the silver screen illuminates every page.
Why should you read it?: Dive into "Siren Queen" for a captivating blend of historical fiction and dark fantasy. Experience the glittering yet perilous world of pre-Code Hollywood, where Luli Wei, a talented Chinese American woman, defies stereotypes to become a star. As she navigates a system fueled by ancient magic and ruthless ambition, the line between on-screen monsters and the real threats in the industry blurs. Luli must confront not only prejudice but also the potential price of fame, all while fighting to carve her own path in a world that seeks to control her.
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
An adventure set in California's San Gabriel Valley, with cursed violins, Faustian bargains, and queer alien courtship over fresh-made donuts.
Shizuka Satomi made a deal with the devil: to escape damnation, she must entice seven other violin prodigies to trade their souls for success. She has already delivered six.
When Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway, catches Shizuka's ear with her wild talent, Shizuka can almost feel the curse lifting. She's found her final candidate.
But in a donut shop off a bustling highway in the San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka meets Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four. Shizuka doesn't have time for crushes or coffee dates, what with her very soul on the line, but Lan's kind smile and eyes like stars might just redefine a soul's worth. And maybe something as small as a warm donut is powerful enough to break a curse as vast as the California coastline.
As the lives of these three women become entangled by chance and fate, a story of magic, identity, curses, and hope begins, and a family worth crossing the universe for is found.
Why should you read it?: Immerse yourself in a captivating Californian adventure where music and magic collide. "Shizuka Satomi" is a story about redemption, defying fate, and finding love in unexpected places. Follow Shizuka, cursed to collect souls for the devil, as she encounters Katrina, a talented violinist on the brink, and Lan, a kind stranger with a mysterious past. As their lives intertwine, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, challenging societal norms and the cost of ambition. Filled with cursed violins, otherworldly connections, and the warmth of fresh donuts, this tale explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the power of love and community to overcome even the darkest pacts.
Black Water Sister by Zen Cho
A reluctant medium discovers the ties that bind can unleash a dangerous power in this compelling Malaysian-set contemporary fantasy.
Jessamyn Teoh is closeted, broke and moving back to Malaysia, a country she left when she was a toddler. So when Jess starts hearing voices, she chalks it up to stress. But there's only one voice in her head, and it claims to be the ghost of her estranged grandmother, Ah Ma. In life Ah Ma was a spirit medium, the avatar of a mysterious deity called the Black Water Sister. Now she's determined to settle a score against a gang boss who has offended the god--and she's decided Jess is going to help her do it.
Drawn into a world of gods, ghosts, and family secrets, Jess finds that making deals with capricious spirits is a dangerous business. As Jess fights for retribution for Ah Ma, she'll also need to regain control of her body and destiny. If she fails, the Black Water Sister may finish her off for good.
Why should you read it?: Escape to contemporary Malaysia in "Black Water Sister," where a reluctant medium named Jessamyn confronts the ghosts of her past and awakens to a hidden world of gods and spirits. Jess, struggling with unemployment and her identity, must contend with her deceased grandmother's spirit who possesses her body to settle a score with a powerful gang leader. This captivating blend of family drama, cultural exploration, and supernatural thrills will keep you on the edge of your seat as Jess navigates bargains with mischievous deities and fights for her own agency.
The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
Inspired by a classic of martial arts literature, S. L. Huang's The Water Outlaws are bandits of devastating ruthlessness, unseemly femininity, dangerous philosophies, and ungovernable gender who are ready to make history—or tear it apart.
In the jianghu, you break the law to make it your own.
Lin Chong is an expert arms instructor, training the Emperor's soldiers in sword and truncheon, battle axe and spear, lance and crossbow. Unlike bolder friends who flirt with challenging the unequal hierarchies and values of Imperial society, she believes in keeping her head down and doing her job.
Until a powerful man with a vendetta rips that carefully-built life away.
Disgraced, tattooed as a criminal, and on the run from an Imperial Marshall who will stop at nothing to see her dead, Lin Chong is recruited by the Bandits of Liangshan. Mountain outlaws on the margins of society, the Liangshan Bandits proclaim a belief in justice—for women, for the downtrodden, for progressive thinkers a corrupt Empire would imprison or destroy. They’re also murderers, thieves, smugglers, and cutthroats.
Apart, they love like demons and fight like tigers. Together, they could bring down an empire.
Why should you read it?: Embark on a revolutionary adventure in S. L. Huang's "The Water Outlaws," where a band of unconventional rebels defies expectations and fights for a just world. Lin Chong, a skilled warrior ostracized by a corrupt society, joins forces with the notorious Liangshan Bandits. These outlaws, known for their ruthlessness and unconventional ways, share a common goal: toppling the oppressive empire that seeks to control them. As they fight for their survival and their ideals, "The Water Outlaws" offers a thrilling exploration of rebellion, challenging societal norms, and the complexities of pursuing justice in a world stacked against you.
Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. This thrilling female-led Robin Hood remix reframes the legend’s tales of the Third Crusade from a Muslim perspective, rewriting its origin’s male and overwhelmingly white Euro-centric narrative.
Jerusalem, 1192. The Third Crusade rages on. Rahma al-Hud loyally followed her elder sister Zeena into the war over the Holy Land, but now that the Faranji invaders have gotten reinforcements from Richard the Lionheart, all she wants to do is get herself and her sister home alive.
But Zeena, a soldier of honor at heart, refuses to give up the fight while Jerusalem remains in danger of falling back into the hands of the false Queen Isabella. And so, Rahma has no choice but to take on one final mission with her sister.
On their journey to Jerusalem, Rahma and Zeena come across a motley collection of fellow travelers—including a kind-hearted Mongolian warrior, an eccentric Andalusian scientist, a frustratingly handsome spy with a connection to Rahma's childhood, and an unfortunate English chaplain abandoned behind enemy lines. The teens all find solace, purpose and camaraderie—as well as a healthy bit of mischief—in each other's company.
But their travels soon bring them into the orbit of Queen Isabella herself, whose plans to re-seize power in Jerusalem would only guarantee further war and strife in the Holy Land for years to come. And so it falls to the merry band of misfits to use every scrap of cunning and wit (and not a small amount of thievery) to foil the usurper queen and perhaps finally restore peace to the land.
Why should you read it?: Experience a unique perspective on the Third Crusade in this reimagining of Robin Hood. "Travelers Along the Way" flips the script on the classic tale, offering a Muslim viewpoint through the eyes of sisters Rahma and Zeena. As they fight to protect their home from invaders, they encounter a diverse cast of characters who join their cause. With wit, courage, and a touch of mischief, this band of misfits embarks on a thrilling adventure to thwart a power-hungry queen and bring peace to the war-torn land.
Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
Two intrepid girls hunt for a legendary treasure on the deadly high seas in this YA remix of the classic adventure novel Treasure Island.
1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Dragon Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more. Its ruthless leader, a woman known only as the Head of the Dragon, is now only a story, like the ones Xiang has grown up with all her life. She desperately wants to prove her worth, especially to her mother, a shrewd businesswoman who never seems to have enough time for Xiang. Her father is also only a story, dead at sea before Xiang was born. Her single memento of him is a pendant she always wears, a simple but plain piece of gold jewelry.
But the pendant's true nature is revealed when a mysterious girl named Anh steals it, only to return it to Xiang in exchange for her help in decoding the tiny map scroll hidden inside. The revelation that Xiang's father sailed with the Dragon Fleet and tucked away this secret changes everything. Rumor has it that the legendary Head of the Dragon had one last treasure—the plunder of a thousand ports—that for decades has only been a myth, a fool's journey.
Xiang is convinced this map could lead to the fabled treasure. Captivated with the thrill of adventure, she joins Anh and her motley crew off in pursuit of the island. But the girls soon find that the sea—and especially those who sail it—are far more dangerous than the legends led them to believe.
Why should you read it?: Set sail on a thrilling adventure in "Clash of Steel," a YA reimagining of Treasure Island. Join Xiang, a determined young woman yearning to prove herself, as she teams up with the enigmatic Anh to decipher a hidden map leading to a legendary pirate treasure. Their quest takes them across treacherous seas, where they face danger and uncover the truth about Xiang's own family history. This captivating tale of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery promises an unforgettable journey for readers seeking a fresh twist on a classic.
