Once, the fantasy genre was primarily dominated by European-inspired fantasy filled with knights, dragons, and the like. But these days, the genre and its inspirations have broadened to a much more vibrant place, as authors from many different backgrounds have transported readers into fantasy worlds inspired by cultures from around the world.
Since today is Indigenous Peoples' Day in the United States,, it's a perfect day to honor some of the excellent genre books out there from Indigenous writers — and discover some of your next favorite novels. These books draw on the cultures native to the Americas to deliver fantastical tales filled with beautiful mythology, compelling characters, and stories that are every bit as expansive and wondrous as the older pillars of the genre. So prepare for your TBR to get a little bit bigger!
1. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Black Sun is the first volume in Rebecca Roanhorse's sweeping fantasy series Between Earth & Sky, and it is transcendent. If you came into this list looking for an epic fantasy on par with any of the classics, this is the book for you.
Between Earth & Sky is set in a secondary fantasy world inspired by the ancient empires of Central and South America, like the Maya and Aztec. It features many different viewpoint characters, all of whom are drawn together around a deadly prophecy which is set to reorder their society at the next eclipse. From blind crow priest Serapio to the rogue sailor Xiala and the politicians of the capital city, there are a ton of intriguing characters who propel the story along. This series won the Hugo Award for Best Series this year, beating out stiff competition that included Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive. In my opinion, it was very well-earned.
Best of all, Between Earth & Sky is a finished trilogy, so you can now experience the entire saga without waiting between books.
2. To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
To Shape a Dragon's Breath is the debut novel from Moniquill Blackgoose, the first book in her Nampeshiweisit series. It puts a fresh spin on dragonriding fantasy, and received a ton of acclaim since its release in 2024, netting Blackgoose a Nebula Award as well as the Astounding Award for Best New Writer at the 2025 Hugos.
Nampeshiweisit follows Anequs, a young girl living on a remote island who bonds with a dragon hatchling. She is revered by her people, but the Anglish conquerors who have colonized their land have a very particular process for training new dragonriders, one which Anequs has no choice but to navigate even though it is designed to work against her. Should she fail to find a way to succeed at the Anglish dragonriding school, her dragon will be killed.
To Shape a Dragon's Breath is a coming-of-age story of a young girl coming into her power, and realizing that power may be enough to change the world around her as well. The sequel, To Ride a Rising Storm, is due out January 27, 2026.
3. Elatsoe by Darcy Little Badger
Elatsoe is a YA fantasy novel set in an alternate America which was shaped by the magic and myths of the peoples who lived there. Like Between Earth & Sky and To Shape a Dragon's Breath, this book has won awards, earned a number of nominations, and garnered great critical acclaim. The prequel novel, Sheine Lende, won Best Young Adult novel at this past year's Hugos. (Yes, Indigenous writers swept the Hugos this year; even more reason to dive into some of these works.)
In the alternate America of this story, a Lipan Apache girl named Elatsoe is drawn into a murder mystery when her cousin is seemingly killed in a car crash. She has the ancestral ability to raise the spirits of dead animals. This sets her on the path to uncovering the truth about her cousin's death thanks to her ghost dog, Kirby, who insists foul play was afoot. But the people of the town where the murder took place are strangely resistant to her investigation, and it isn't long before the danger level rises.
Elatsoe toes the line between horror, noir, and fantasy, with a deep spiritual undercurrent thanks to its title character's abilities and ancestry. It's the sort of exceptional young adult novel that can appeal to readers no matter their age.
4. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
Next up we're going to step away from fantasy and into the realm of horror. Stephen Graham Jones is a master of literary horror who is perhaps best known for his 2020 novel The Only Good Indians. His latest work, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, dips even farther into fantastical elements to deliver a spine-tingling tale of revenge.
In 1912, the diary of a Lutheran priest is discovered hidden in a wall. It contains an account of a Blackfeet Native American named Good Stab, who has lived an unnaturally long life...and made good, bloody use of it to right a horrific massacre that took place in the early days of the state of Montana. This novel is a spiritual successor to books like Bram Stoker's Dracula and Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire, but set in the Americas and firmly centering a Native American experience. Jones excels at creeping dread and psychological horror, so prepare for a harrowing read that's hard to put down with this one.
5. Empire of the Wild by Cherie Dimaline
We round out our list with another fantastical horror novel: Empire of the Wild by Cherie Dimaline. This book is a contemporary horror with fantasy elements, which digs into a Canadian Métis legend about a monster called the Rogarou. Think werewolves, but even more chilling.
Empire of the Wild follows a Métis woman named Joan, whose husband Victor goes missing. Some time later, Joan encounters a man who looks just like Victor, except he has no memory of her and claims he's a reverend who's trying to convert the local people to the ways of Jesus. This reverend goes by the name of Eugene Wolff.
Determined to find out what happened to her husband and whether there's any of him left inside this sinister preacher, Joan teams up with an elder named Ajean who knows the legends of the Métis like the back of her hand, and her young nephew Zeus. The investigation into whether Victor can be saved leads them deep onto the trail of an ancient evil force which has been haunting the region for centuries.