Most of these will be fantasy, though I do read in other genres. All links are affiliate (I earn a smidgen from any sales, at no extra cost to you).
The Greenbone Saga by Fonda Lee – Japanese-inspired Dark Urban Fantasy Gang War
- memorable characters who make bad decisions based on their personalities
- martial arts/magic mash up
- political intrigue
- realistic, well-written villain
- Asian, disabled, bi, and gay rep
- open door sex scenes, which I dislike, but can be skipped
- BIPOC author, excellent narration
Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca Roanhorse – Indigenous-inspired Epic Dark Fantasy Religious Conflict
- main characters are on opposite sides of the same conflict
- a blind warrior god-avatar, a bisexual siren ship captain, a naïve priest who just wants everyone to get along
- religion grants magic
- political intrigue
- crows
- BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQ rep
- multiple narrators
Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike – D&D-inspired Satirical Look at the True Costs of Adventuring
- dysfunctional D&D group with a goblin mascot
- healing potion addicts
- lots of humor but serious stakes
- I told my D&D group about this. Three of them immediately read it and loved it.
- SPFBO Winner
- great narration
The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne – Norse-inspired Epic Dark Fantasy
- down on his luck guy bent on revenge, retired badass who just wants to be left alone, princess who gave up her life to go raiding
- more people on opposite sides of same conflict
- lots of violence and monsters
- god-descended people are feared and rounded up to be made slaves
- zealots trying to bring back a dead god
Catch Me if You Can by Frank W. Abagnale – Teenage Conartist Scams His Way Across the Globe
- definitely worth a listen even if you’ve seen the movie as they’re pretty different
- Abagnale rationalizing his worst decisions and making himself out to be awesome, but it’s highly entertaining
- just fucking FUN
- narrator uses old-timey voice that’s perfect
- Abagnale’s claims have been disputed so don’t take this at face value
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir – Guy Sent into Space to Save the World has Amnesia
- hard sci-fi
- two timelines (current and flashbacks)
- it’s really hard to talk about this one without giving away major spoilers
- science!
- touching relationship
