7 Incredible Reads from AAPI Authors I Couldn’t Put Down
I strive to read diversely all year round. Do you? It’s easy to get into the habit of reading what’s familiar, but I’ve found some of my favorite stories from authors I might never have discovered if not for searching them out. If you’ve been wanting to add some new authors to your TBR you haven’t read before or perhaps from a different background than your own, I’d encourage you to check out the #diversifyyourshelf tag on IG and TikTok. But, if you’re looking for some quick recs, keep reading. You all know I love adding great books to people’s TBRs, so I’ve pulled together a list of seven of my favorite reads from Asian American/Pacific Islander authors to celebrate National AAPI Heritage Month this May. I’ve also shared a couple from my TBR that I cannot wait to read!
Skyhunter + Steelstriker by Marie Lu
QUOTES: “I am a Striker for Mara, the last free nation on this side of the sea. We are legendary bringers of death, assassins of monsters. And the only thing standing between our home and our annihilation.”
“That's the thing about inventing new things, you can only control the genesis of it, not the evolution. And I have evolved.”
THOUGHTS: This one’s a two-fer. A dystopian future, a main character who cannot speak, and a twisted power turning people into monsters. Talin is a refugee who’s become a warrior for her adopted country, and is still looked at with disdain. Skyhunter has some of the most beautiful writing, and disability rep I’ve ever seen. I completely fell in love with all of the side characters as well, which makes the story even more heart-wrenching. And the villain has depth. Yes, you loathe him, but you get a glimpse of how and why he became what he is. While there is some predictability, it didn’t bother me like it usually does. In book two, we get two POVs, which really opens up the story even more. Yes, it’s a rollercoaster ride reading these, but so worth it.
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
QUOTES: “All men can love a forbidden thing, generally speaking, and in most cases knowledge is precisely that; lost knowledge even more so.”
“A flaw of humanity,” said Parisa, shrugging. “The compulsion to be unique, which is at war with the desire to belong to a single identifiable sameness.”
Six people with exceptional magical abilities, recruited to a secret society to protect the Great Library of Alexandria, which wasn’t actually destroyed. The catch? Only five of them can ultimately make it in. People either love or hate this book. I’m firmly planted in the love side. Are all the characters pretentious? Ok, yes. But they each have such distinctive personalities, and some you love to hate. If you enjoy a mix of science and magic, you will love this book. It’s also heavy on character development, and while some people say this book has no plot, I would argue it has a long term plot and we’ve only seen a snippet of it (yes, this is book one in a series). I cannot wait for book two!
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
QUOTE: “I understand the mechanism of my own thinking. I know precisely how I know, and my understanding is recursive. I understand the infinite regress of this self-knowing, not by proceeding step by step endlessly, but by apprehending the limit. The nature of recursive cognition is clear to me. A new meaning of the term "self-aware."
One of my favorite sets of short stories. Ever. Have you seen the movie, Arrival, with Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner? It’s based on one of the stories in this book. There were a couple I liked less than others, but they all make you think. Deeply. I don’t think you can read this book without having an emotional reaction of some kind. Chiang has a way of creating some of the most unique stories in modern science fiction, and I cannot recommend this collection enough. If you’re looking to dip your toes into sci-fi, or want a quick read, pick this up.
The Wrath and the Dawn + The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh
QUOTES: “They buried us, but they didn’t know we were seeds.”
“If you ask me, the best way to go about flying is to cut the strings tying you down.”
Another double feature. This duology is a beautiful retelling of 1001 Arabian Nights. Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid, the Caliph, out of revenge, because he executes her best friend (he does this at sunrise with each new bride he takes). While it does have a little bit of insta-love (girl, how did you fall for this man so fast?!), keep in mind, it is YA. I personally enjoyed book two even more than book one where we see a lot more of the political intrigue, and the ramifications of a love triangle. With some magical elements thrown in and a complex relationship with her father, there are some interesting twists. My one caveat with these is the writing is quite flowery. If you don’t mind intricate descriptions of the makeup, clothing, and food that make you want to go shopping in the Souks or eat an entire medieval Arabian table, you’ll be fine. I did find it over the top on occasion, but I loved the story, so it’s forgivable.
The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart
QUOTE: “Listening is an art. It’s not so much sometimes in letting the other person speak as it is in asking the right questions.”
This book has one of the coolest magic systems I’ve ever encountered. Bone magic, animal constructs, and multiple POVs with distinct voices. Yes, it’s confusing, but on purpose. Lin is the Emperor’s daughter and is learning to manipulate the constructs, created to protect the empire. Every person in the land must relinquish a bone shard, and when theirs is put to use, they are slowly drained of energy and often die young. Obviously people aren’t too happy about this. But what’s really going on? You’ll just have to read to find out!
#ProTip: This hardcover has an AR cover that comes to life if you use the Google lens on your app.
What’s Next on my TBR?
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
All I hear about this series is how dark it is, but I still don’t know hardly anything about it. Just that it’s the best thing people have read, and it destroys them. Perfect.
The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart
The sequel to The Bone Shard Daughter mentioned earlier. Since book one ended in a bit of a shocking reveal, I’m so excited to dive back into this world.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
This one’s a memoir, about growing up as a Korean American, and developing her own identity. Everyone on Booktok and Bookstagram has been RAVING about it.
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P.S. If you end up getting a copy of any of these through an affiliate link here, you’ll be helping me support this site and newsletter! Thanks in advance for supporting a fellow bookworm! BTW, I will always disclose affiliate links when they’re present! :) Happy reading!