It’s officially the holiday season, and books are some of the most fun gifts to give. When I was a teen in the 00s, there weren’t a lot of sci-fi, fantasy, or horror books that featured protagonists my age. Now, there are plenty to choose from. To celebrate this plethora of Black YA speculative fiction, here is a list of fantasy books that I feel are worth introducing to a young reader.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

A contemporary retelling of Arthurian legends, this book tells the story of sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews. After her mother dies in an accident, Bree attends the residental program of her mother’s alma mater, UNC–Chapel Hill. When Bree witnesses a magical attack the first night on campus, a buried memory reveals that a mage calling themselves a “Merlin” was at the hospital where her mother died. In order to find the truth behind her mother’s death, Bree must infiltrate the secret society of knights and mages known as the “Legendborn.” A story of generational trauma and grief with a Black Southern gothic twist, Legendborn is a powerful coming-of-age tale. It is also the first in a series known as the Legendborn cycle, with the second book being titled Bloodmarked and the upcoming third book titled Oathbound.

The Nightmareverse Series by L. L. McKinney

This urban fantasy series is a modern retelling of Alice In Wonderland set in Atlanta, Georgia. Its Black bi heroine, Alice Kingston, is a complex and relatable protagonist who you will root for, and the supporting cast is fun as well. There is also rich lore and worldbuilding that bridges reality and fantasy in a compelling way. With influences that range from the aforementioned Alice in Wonderland to the Japanese anime series Sailor Moon, this book series is a fun and poignant tale of overcoming grief and embracing your own power. Read my review of book 1, book 2, and book 3.

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

Tackling clinical depression through poetry, myth, and folklore, this novel in verse is a powerful and lyrical read. It stars Whimsy, a Black hoodoo conjurer girl with clinical depression who also loves fairy tales. Many years ago, she was touched by Sorrow when her brother Cole disappeared in a magic forest, and she vowed never to enter it again. One day, Whimsy meets Faerry, a Black fae boy who shares struggles and fears similar to Whimsy’s. As the two of them get to know each other, they discover that the forest and Sorrow that haunt them both must be faced head-on. Read my review.

That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams

Sixteen-year-old Joan Sands is a gifted craftswoman who creates and upkeeps the stage blades for William Shakespeare’s acting company, The King’s Men. Joan’s skill with her blades comes from a magical ability to control metal—an ability gifted by her Head Orisha, Ogun. Because her whole family is Orisha-blessed, the Sands family have always kept tabs on the Fae presence in London. Usually that doesn’t involve much except noting the faint glow around a Fae’s body as they try to blend in with London society, but lately, there has been an uptick in brutal Fae attacks. After Joan wounds a powerful Fae and saves the son of a cruel lord, she is drawn into political intrigue in the human and Fae worlds. Filled with swashbuckling, dark fairy encounters, and our heroine flirting with men and women, this book is a rollicking great time.

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

Tavia Phillips is a siren who must hide her powers in order to keep herself alive. Her best friend, Effie, is struggling with a painful past and strange happenings in the present. While they are trying to navigate their junior year of high school, a siren murder trial shakes Portland, Oregon, to the core. In the aftermath, Tavia and Effie must come together and come to terms with themselves. Read my 2020 review.

Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis

Katrell doesn’t mind talking to the dead; she just wishes it made more money. Clients pay her to talk to their deceased loved ones, but it isn’t enough to support her unemployed mother and Mom’s deadbeat boyfriend-of-the-week. But magic doesn’t come for free, and soon dark forces are closing in on Katrell. The further she goes, the more she risks the lives of not only herself, but those she loves. Katrell faces a choice: resign herself to poverty or confront the darkness before it’s too late.