These Vicious Delights: other

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For a genre about new worlds, mythical beasts, and magical heroes, fantasy has been historically very white, male, and imperialist. It always cheers me up to see more non-Western-inspired fantasy, but to truly decolonize your mindset, you have to go deeper: grapple with history, understand the nuances of culture, and separate yourself from subconscious biases.

Let's decolonize adult SFF. Here’s a short list of books that tackle non-Western culture, history, and have an anti-imperialist message. Smart, nerdy, but socially relevant.

[This was originally posted as a thread on Twitter here]

THE POPPY WAR

This epic is half-fantasy, half-historical. Inspired by Chinese history, it tackles war, classism, colorism, and anti-imperialism. A stellar read that deserves all the hype. Super complex deep dive. The author is a historian; she KNOWS her stuff.

It helps to have at least some surface level knowledge of Chinese history and culture and Asian geopolitics here. It takes place in a fantasy 20th century so there’s the Sino-Japanese war, British colonialism, even indigenous suppression. Fully immerse yourself in the mindset.

THE WOLF OF OREN-YARO

More visible in its sequel, THE IKESSAR FALCON, but you have to start here. This Filipino-inspired fantasy begins as a queen’s adventure to reunite with her husband and escape trouble. But it also explores sexism, regionalism, imperialism, and class divides all from a native Filipino lens.

Most striking is how our queen grapples with her privilege, and how this affects her relationships with her subordinates. Motherhood, duty & love, filial piety, teleserye-level romance. Mirrors relevant Philippine social issues from past & present

References may fly over your head if you aren’t Filipino, but I think it’s universal enough. If you ARE Filipino, then this is a must read.

QUEEN OF THE CONQUERED

This Caribbean fantasy tackles slavery and European colonialism head-on. Most interesting, however, is the fact that our native Caribbean protagonist is a local elite who profits off the oppression of her own people. Very dark, very nuanced take.

If you want a complex novel that tackles slavery but ISN’T USA-centric, then this is for you.

A MEMORY CALLED EMPIRE

This Aztec-inspired space opera centers its SF worldbuilding on culture: mainly language and literature. Our ambassador protagonist may be an outsider, but in some ways she loves & understands the Imperial culture better than her own. Isn’t that familiar?

THE BLACK GOD’S DRUMS

Now for something more lighthearted. This is a fun African mythology-inspired fantasy novella set in a steampunk New Orleans. Wildly original, cute, and easily digestible. Features a younger protagonist, but manages to tackle mature themes.

BATTLE ROYALE

So, reading this will make you realize how much of a rip-off The Hunger Games is. Takes place in an alternate Republic of Greater East Asia (ehem), with staunch anti-establishment themes. Very good insight into the late 90s Japanese youth mindset.

Bonus: MEXICAN GOTHIC

Ok, this is horror, but the gothic genre is RIPE for re-writing from a marginalized lens. Not only is this super fun & spooky, but Moreno-Garcia also tackles racism and eugenics—seemingly outdated gothic tropes that are creeping back into the world today.

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Have you read any of these books before? What are your thoughts?

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Do you enjoy reading but aren't in the mood for long 400 page novels? Here's a rec list of (diverse) novellas.

This was originally posted as a thread on Twitter here.

1. THE MONSTER OF ELENDHAVEN

My favorite novella on earth! Dark, gay, and spine-tingling. This story about monsters, violence, and vengeance is not for the faint of heart.

2. THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR

Basically Killing Eve... with time travel. Told through twisty narration (hey, they're time travelers; no wonder it's confusing) and epic love letters, this novella is worthy of its Hugo award

3. SILVER IN THE WOOD

Quiet, romantic, and perfect for autumn. Reads like a dreamy fairytale.

4. THE BLACK GOD'S DRUMS

Appropriate for all ages, this fun steampunk novella contains African-inspired mythology, alternate history, and anti-imperialist themes

5. THE DESCENT OF MONSTERS

While this is book 3 of the series, it can be read on its own. This badass silkpunk fantasy centers on an official who is desperate to solve the mysterious massacre in an isolated government facility, even if everyone else would rather brush it aside...

6. THE MURDERS OF MOLLY SOUTHBOURNE

Hey, fellow Vicious fans, this is for you! This novella is so twisted and gripping that you can binge read it in a day. At least, I did.

7. THE BALLAD OF BLACK TOM

This one works better if you've read the Lovecraft story it's based on (I haven't). This cosmic horror story set in the 1920s grapples with race and social class.

8. THE BLOODY CHAMBER (and other stories)

Before there was edgy DeviantArt Disney fanart, before Tim Burton, there was Angela Carter. She took classic fairytales and turned them dark and feminine. Blood, sex, violence, you name it. Complete with amazing prose.

9. THE ORDER OF THE PURE MOON REFLECTED IN WATER

This might be a wuxia fantasy, but did you know that it's actually set in Malaysia? It's not really an action-packed fantasy; more like a tale that focuses on found family and identity.

10. A LITTLE LIGHT MISCHIEF

Just in case you're in the mood for a romance but can't handle a full length novel. This sweet little story features women falling in love and getting revenge on the men who wronged them.

11. CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN

A lot of translated fiction can fall into this category! This novella is hilarious, but it's also an excellent read for any adult woman facing pressures on career and marriage

12. AFTER DARK

This is a good place to start with Haruki Murakami. Quiet, introspective, and a little weird... but not too weird. It takes place over the span of one night in Tokyo, and how various people's lives collide.

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How about you? What's your favorite novella?

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Okay, I'm belated in posting this. Now it's June and so I greet you all: Happy Pride Month! Last month, in May, I participated in the Asian Books Challenge hosted by Books and Boba on Twitter.

Each day, I recommended a new book by an Asian author or with an Asian protagonist.

You can find the master thread on Twitter here. (I'm more active there nowadays)

day 1: first book you read by an asian author

bit ridiculous since i’ve been reading asian authors from a young age, but i’ll go with 1q84 — one of my fave haruki murakami novels and one of his better ones! this is a good introduction to him; weird, enjoyable, but not TOO weird

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day 2: favorite 2019 book by an asian author

we hunt the flame by hafsah faizal! this YA arabian fantasy has a special place on my favorites shelf ❤️❤️ it’s enemies to lovers too

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day 3: book with an asian on the cover

how about the wolf of oren-yaro by ks villoso! it’s an adult asian-inspired fantasy with a filipina lead. you dont usually see southeast asians on book covers, much less SFF covers, so this was so lovely ❤️ plus THAT ART!!

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day 4: set in an asian country you’ve never been to

the silence of bones. it’s a YA historical murder mystery set in the year 1800, korea. this really transported me to another world — not /just/ another country — because hur’s detailed account of the year 1800 was eye-opening!

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day 5: sci-fi novel by an asian author

ignite the stars by maura milan! 5⭐️ to this novel. it's got enemies to lovers, enemies to best friends, and a protagonist who's nicknamed the blood wolf of the skies. isn't that the most badass thing you've heard?

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day 6: Asian-inspired fantasy

forest of a thousand lanterns by julie dao. this is a /truly dark/ YA fantasy which tells the story of a xifeng, a peasant girl who will stop at nothing to become empress. she manipulates the courtiers, seduces the emperor, and eats raw hearts 🖤

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day 7: lgbt asian mc

empress of salt and fortune. this little novella stars chih, a nonbinary cleric whose job it is to catalogue history. an old woman named rabbit tells chih about her life as a handmaiden to the empress she was in love with...

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day 8: read the book, watched the adaptation

crazy rich asians! one of the few cases where i loved the movie as much as the book. (i binge-read the first 2 when they came out) it was hilarious, dramatic, and meant a lot to every asian to see it on the big screen <3

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day 9: historical fiction with asian mc

the night tiger by yangsze choo. this is a magical novel set in 1930s malaysia. there's romance, mystery, characters chasing their dreams... and an exploration of colonialism, which is often ignored in historical fiction of this time

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day 10: ya novel by an asian author

is it cheating if its co-written? i love burn for burn by jenny han & siobhan vivian. this ya contemporary about girls getting revenge on a boy who wronged them is a rollercoaster🔥🔥🔥

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day 11: translated work by an asian author

convenience store woman by sayaka murata. this one is both a punch to the face AND very funny. recommended reading for any woman who struggles with what is socially acceptable and what her family expects her to become

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day 12: south asian mc

the devourers. this book isnt for everyone but WOW. it is so much more heartwrenching than i expected. it’s magical & timeless & talks about monsters, humanity, love, gender, sexuality... to the twin backdrops of modern india & 17thc india

tw: rape

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day 13: romance with asian mc

of curses & kisses! this ya contemporary is a romance between an indian princess and the british heir to her family’s sworn enemy. and yes, this is the same author who wrote when dimple met rishi :)

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day 14: fave series by an asian author

i’m so bad at finishing series 😭 so im going with a manga! bungou stray dogs. also choosing this because it introduce me to a lot of japanese literature! the characters are all named after famous authors :)

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day 15: central asian mc

okay this was hard. i had to rely on google. the kite runner by khaled hosseini, which i read as a child and absolutely wrecked me

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day 16: mixed-race asian mc

the gilded wolves. my fave character enrique is spanish-filipino. and while chokshi got a lot mistaken about his culture & ph race relations (lmao) it’s still a very fun book! 2 other MCs are mixed, and another MC is desi :)

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day 17: asian retellings

why not a whole anthology? a thousand beginnings and endings features numerous short stories by asian YA authors who have retold myths from their cultures!

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day 18: mystery/thriller by an asian

i’ve read so many asian thrillers so IT’S SO HARD TO CHOOSE. but i’m going with smaller and smaller circles. 2 filipino priests track down a serial killer in manila. more than the mystery, it’s also got social commentary on govt corruption

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day 19: southeast asian mc

it's not out yet but i'm so excited for last tang standing, an adult romance set in singapore. andrea is a successful lawyer but her mom is pressuring her to get married... so who does she choose? attractive rival at firm? wealthy businessman? herself?

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day 20: MG novel by an asian author

my fate according to the butterfly is a more middle grade child-friendly novel about the philippine drug war & addiction. the manila-based filipina author also set her novel in manila!

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day 22: asian muslim mc

mad, bad, & dangerous to know. this ya contemporary features a teen girl who dreams of being an art historian. she goes to paris to study byron, only to discover the untold story of an enigmatic woman who had inspired all the great 19th c authors...

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day 23: graphic novel by an asian author

trese! this filipino fantasy noir comic features trese, a female detective who solves supernatural crimes in manila. neil gaiman said he’s a fan too 🖤

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day 24: asian superhero

does a supervillain disguised as a superhero count? nova artino from the renegades series is half-filipina... and she has my heart ❤️

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(i skipped days 25 & 26 because i havent read any, but recs are highly appreciated!)

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day 27: west asian mc

the wrath and the dawn by renee ahdieh. this YA fantasy is a retelling of the arabian nights. a girl named shahrzad marries a caliph who is known for killing all his wives... and plans to take revenge on him

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day 28: summer trip to the “motherland”

loveboat, taipei. ever wong dreams of being a dancer, but her strict parents want her to be a doctor. she’s sent to chinese school in taiwan for the summer, where for the first time there’s no parents. just boys, parties, freedom...

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day 29: non-fiction by an asian

given the recent historical revisionism on twitter... i’d like to share this article on comfort women. it happened to women all over asia under the japanese occupation and until now, justice has eluded them

TW: RAPE

Read:

South Korea's surviving 'comfort women' spend final years seeking atonement from Japan

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day 30: 2020 debut by an asian author

i am SO HYPED for these violent delights by chloe gong. romeo & juliet meets the godfather in 1920s shanghai. two rival gang leaders need to work together to stop a supernatural force. enemies to lovers deliciousness

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day 31: next asian book on your tbr

naming multiple because why not

-descendant of the crane (waiting for paperback: sept release)
-want to finish jade city
-the burning god (nov release?)

You don't have to wait for a certain month to start reading more diversely. So check out these Asian books! Which ones are your favorite?

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