#ReadThis 3 Awesome Non-Western Cultural Fantasy Books
The theme for this month’s Monthly Motif Reading Challenge is Diversify Your Reading. Here are 3 of my favorite non-Western Cultural Fantasy Books that you should absolutely add to your reading list.
The Wrath and the Dawn, Renee Ahdieh
This book is a retelling of the Arabian Nights story, where a king takes a wife, but she has to tell him stories every night to survive. The author of course put her own spin on things – and came up with a winner! The book feels authentic to it’s setting and while not a perfect book, I enjoyed it and recommend it to fans of fast paced, young adult books.
[Buy The Wrath and the Dawn @ Amazon]
The Killing Moon (Dreamblood #1), N. K. Jemisin
Jemisin is a MASTER! A master at World-building – imaginative histories with detailed descriptions … a master at character building – making me feel like I know them and am 100% invested in what happens to them … and a master at sucking me into a story set in an alternative ancient Egypt – leaving me wanting to read more and more, even after it’s finished.
In the ancient city-state of Gujaareh, peace is the only law. Upon its rooftops and amongst the shadows of its cobbled streets wait the Gatherers – the keepers of this peace. Priests of the dream-goddess, their duty is to harvest the magic of the sleeping mind and use it to heal, soothe – and kill those judged corrupt.
[Buy The Killing Moon @ Amazon]
Throne of the Crescent Moon, Saladin Ahmed
At first I was going to the say that the strengths of The Crescent Moon are the well developed characters & the wonderfully imaginative World. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that what I love is not necessarily either of those 2 things, but it’s how incredibly descriptive everything is … without seeming to be so. It’s not the World building that thrilled me, but the details of living in that World – the life of the people of the city of Dhamsawaat. We’re not just given glimpses into what everyday life is like – but a portal through which we can view everybody from the main characters, to the vendors in the Square – at least, that’s how the author made me feel.
[Buy Throne of the Crescent Moon @ Amazon]
Have you read any of these books – or any books by these authors? Which book(s) would you add to this list?
Claudia
Those books are definitely outside my usual sphere, but Throne of the Crescent Moon does sound like one I might enjoy trying.
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight
I LOOOOVED The Wrath and The Dawn (and The Rose and the Dagger, too)! Such a phenomenal series, I cannot wait for Renee’s next book! I have not heard of the other two (though I do have a book by N. K. Jemisin that I just got as a gift and cannot WAIT to get to) but The Killing Moon absolutely sounds like something I would love. Throne of the Crescent Moon may be a little *too* high fantasy for me (sometimes it overwhelms me 😉 ) but your description of it makes me want to give it a chance anyway! Thanks so much for sharing these, I am adding them to my list!
Tanya Patrice
@Shanon Throne of the Crescent Moon definitely won’t overwhelm. You’ll fall in love with the old cranky ways of the main character, promise 🙂
Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense
I love The Wrath and the Dawn duology. Ahdieh is such a beautiful writer. I cannot wait to read more from her. I just bought The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin. I hear she is simply amazing and I’m looking forward to picking up all her books.
Tanya Patrice
@Alicia I only read the 3rd book in The Hundred Thousand trilogy and it was so good. I’m slowly working my way through all Jemisin’s books.
Anne Bennett
I liked The Wrath and the Dawn but for some reason never felt the desire to read the second book in the duology. Did you read it?
Tanya Patrice
@Anne I haven’t read the 2nd book yet, but plan on it for this year. i’m interested to see where they go with the series.