10 awesome science fiction and fantasy books by Black authors

4. The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden

The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden is a standalone novel like nothing you’ve ever read before. This is Drayden’s debut book, and while she’s since written several more that have gone on to receive great reviews, this is still one you have to read to believe. In a word, it is weird. In the best way.

Blending many elements from across sci-fi and fantasy, this book follows a group of disparate characters in a near-future South Africa. There’s a demigoddess who is by turns terrifying and darkly hilarious, as she’s determined to break away from her day job as a nail technician and reclaim her former glory by feasting on the blood of dying humans. There’s a young teen whose afraid to tell his grandfather that he’s gay, and ends up trying a new hallucinogenic drug that is taking over the town; it has some serious, magical side effects. There’s a young girl who has enough power to level a town. A robot AI uprising. A diva with a dark past, and a politician who masquerades as a transgender pop star by night.

The Prey of Gods is nothing if not unique. Nicky Drayden weaves all these ridiculously different plot elements together into a story that has some real heart and enough humor to make comedians cry tears of envy.