Wrote one on ur other post before I saw this:
Scholamance by Naomi Novik. Hands down the most well thought out and versatile allegory Iโve ever read, while simultaneously managing to have its messaging crystal clear. I have some very Jewish thoughts abt it, despite it not being explicitly Jewish, and I think that was intentional but donโt wanna spoil by saying more. Magic school setting, sarcastic narrative voice in a way not dissimilar to Gideon the Ninth, with lots of darker elements treated in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek way making it a lighter read than it would otherwise be.
Broken Earth by N K Jemisin: All-time favorite series. Set on a highly geologically active earth with frequent (every 1-2 centuries) volcanic winters that can last decades. It deals with themes of racism, cycles of abuse, trauma, and fighting for something better in the face of immeasurable loss. Each book won the Hugo in the year it was published making Jemisin the first person to win a Hugo 3 years in a row, as well as the first to win for each book in a trilogy. It is the most brilliant piece of fiction I have ever read.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty: Islamic fantasy about a woman pirate on the Indian ocean in the 12th century. Delightful story, tons of fun. Extraordinarily refreshing to have fantasy not based on white christian mythology. The sequel just came out and it is ALSO excellent.
Daevabad Trilogy by Shannon Chakraborty: Same world as the other series, but you donโt need to have this to follow the other. A heavier read than the last one. Follows the politics of a Djinn city under apartheid and deals with interwoven themes of cycles of interpersonal abuse and cycles of political violence each propelling the other. Has one of my favorite romance subplots, which I usually donโt get all that into. Had a moment/series of events which blindsided me more than just abt anything else Iโve encountered in fiction in an absolutely brilliant way.
To Shape a Dragonโs Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose: Indigenous dragon riders story set in an alternate history of our world where the Vikings ended up as a major colonial power in Europe instead of Rome. I gotta finish the second book still bc my audio processing has been shot due to an ear infection and I have the audiobook of it. Hopefully will be able to finish soon.
Got these ones off the top of my head, could come up with more as well.
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