10 fantasy and science fiction books to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month
By Daniel Roman
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States and Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and while the month may be nearing its end, there’s still plenty of time to find your next favorite book.
People of East Asian and Pacific Islander descent have made vast contributions to the fields of science of fiction and fantasy throughout history, and May is the perfect month to honor that by checking out books by AAPI authors. We’ve rounded up 10 recent books that no science fiction and fantasy bookshelf should be without.
This post contains affiliate links, where we may receive a percentage of any sale made from the links on this page. Prices and availability accurate as of the time of publication.
The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso (Chronicles of the Bitch Queen #1)
The first volume in author K.S. Villoso’s Chronicles of the Bitch Queen, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro follows the queen of an island nation inspired by the Philippines as she fights to retain power from those who would seek to steal it from her. After being double-crossed and left for dead, Queen Talyien must fight to stay alive and regain her crown. But that’s much easier said than done as assassins and betrayals lurk around every corner.
"Born under the crumbling towers of her kingdom, Queen Talyien was the shining jewel and legacy of the bloody War of the Wolves. It nearly tore her nation apart. But her arranged marriage to the son of a rival clan heralds peace. However, he suddenly disappears before their reign can begin, and the kingdom is fractured beyond repair. Years later, he sends a mysterious invitation to meet. Talyien journeys across the sea in hopes of reconciling their past. An assassination attempt quickly dashes those dreams. Stranded in a land she doesn’t know, with no idea whom she can trust, Talyien will have to embrace her namesake."
The following two books, The Ikessar Falcon and The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng, finish out Talyien’s tale, so if you want a complete series to lose yourself in, this got you covered. The author also has several standalone novels set in the same world.
Find The Wolf of Oren-Yaro on Amazon.
The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart (The Drowning Empire #1)
Andrea Stewart swept onto the fantasy scene in 2021 with her fantastic debut novel The Bone Shard Daughter. It’s the tale of an empire propped up by a grisly magic order that keeps its populace in check, and the various memorable characters who work to topple the system. Stewart combines fantasy with horror in ways that feel fresh, with monstrous constructs sewn together from various bits of different animals stalking palace corridors and horrific costs to perform magic.
It’s not all grim though; this series also has a fantastic sense of humor, complete with one of the most lovable animal companions around. The Drowning Empire is set on a drifting island chain and features plenty of inter-island politicking and adventure.
"The emperor’s reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire’s many islands. Lin is the emperor’s daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic. Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright – and save her people."
Book two of The Drowning Empire, The Bone Shard Emperor, came out in late 2021. The final book of the trilogy is expected sometime in 2023.
Find The Bone Shard Daughter on Amazon.