13 Must-Read Books by Black Authors

Amari and the Great Game, was a captivating read that many people may relate to. Although Amari goes through a lot in the story, there is a positive outcome at the end. The author did an excellent job of conveying Amari's mental and emotional struggles, as well as her treatment as a different individual with magical abilities. Life is similar to an obstacle course and a competition, with each person competing against themselves. Amari is not only competing against the challenges she faces but also with herself to overcome them. The book is an excellent representation of real-life experiences that everyone goes through, and readers can learn from it.

The Merciless Ones, which, like every book by these authors, provides a valuable lesson. It is the second book in the series, with The Gilded Ones being the first, both written by Namina Forna. In this book, the main character, Deca, is on a journey of self-discovery and has to navigate whom to trust and whom not to trust. As the story progresses, she learns that there are always two sides to a story and has to decide which side to take. I particularly enjoyed the realism of the book, as it touches on experiences that many of us can relate to. Deca's character is relatable, especially as she learns from her naivety and starts to understand the consequences of her actions. Overall, I highly recommend reading The Gilded Ones before reading The Merciless Ones, and I'm looking forward to the third book in the series to see where Deca's journey takes her.

The next book I'd like to talk about is "Akata Woman" by Nnedi Okorafor, which I read at the beginning of this year. It is the third book in the series, featuring Sunny and her friends, and promises more exciting adventures. I was happy to discover that there will be more books in the series, as the story ended with some loose ends. The friendships and relationships Sunny develops throughout the series are a pleasure to read, and I love the diverse creatures and elements in the book. Nettie Okorafor is an incredible writer, and I highly recommend starting with the "Akata" series to get an introduction to her writing style. Don't miss out on this amazing read, pick up the books today!

I recently created a Vlog about the next book I read, Soul of the Deep by Natasha Bowen. While I won't go into too much detail about it, I must give it some praise because it was an amazing book that moved me to tears. The book touches on the theme of making choices, particularly when faced with the decision of choosing someone else or yourself. Semi, the main character, is faced with such a choice and her journey is chronicled in both Soul of the Deep and the preceding book, Skin of the Sea. Despite the challenges and hardships she encounters, Semi persists in her quest to help others and herself. The book concludes with a thought-provoking ending that left me feeling a bit melancholic.

The book "Blood Trials" by NE Davenport is an adult fantasy that is often mistaken for a young adult book because of its cover. It is a thrilling and intense read that I highly recommend. If you prefer something lighter, "Blood Scion" by Deborah Falaye is similar but intended for a younger audience. The story is about Akena, who has the blood gift that runs through the elite warhouses of the Republic of Marine. She is on a mission to find out who murdered her grandfather and is willing to risk everything to get revenge. The book is a great blend of magic and technology, and it also touches on themes of racism and misogyny, which make it relatable to real life. I highly recommend this book, but I understand it may not be for everyone.

The book "Blood Scion" is about a girl named Sloan who possesses the power of fire and lives in a society where children are forced to become soldiers at the age of 15. The book contains content warnings about war, violence, and sexual assault. Sloan's friend suggests they escape, but the penalty for attempting to escape is death. Sloan has to prove her loyalty by killing her best friend and hiding her magical abilities. The book teaches the importance of valuing and appreciating loved ones because we never know when we will lose them. Despite the hardships, Sloan learns to find herself and love herself more. This book is a great read for those who want to be awakened and to think about the preciousness of life. The cover of the book is beautiful and resembles the animated series "Avatar".

This book is available on Amazon, Audible, and the author's website. The story follows Aaliyah, a witch who is unaware of her powers, and Eric, a vampire ward who is tasked with protecting supernatural creatures in the city. When Aaliyah saves Eric's life, she is drawn into a world of magic and danger, where she discovers she has a rare and powerful ability that every creature in the city wants to get their hands on. The book is a page-turner, and the characters are well-developed and lovable. I particularly enjoyed the audiobook version, which has different narrators for each character. However, I must mention that the book has content warnings for depictions of death, assault, suicide, cutting, self-harm, vivid nightmare imagery, childhood trauma, depression, and anxiety. If you're a fan of vampire stories with a touch of romance and magic, I highly recommend checking out this book!

This book reminds me so much of Storm from X-Men due to the protagonist's hair and its powers. It tells the story of Onyeka, a girl whose hair has powers that she didn't know about until she saves her friend from drowning. Her mother reveals to her that she is a Solari, part of a secret group of people with psychokinetic powers unique to Nigeria, and takes her to the Academy of the Sun to train her. The book also deals with Onyeka's insecurities about her hair, which she learns to embrace once she discovers her powers. As someone who has struggled with insecurities about her own hair, the book resonates with me, and I believe it would have been helpful to have read it as a child.

This book was fantastic and had me on an emotional rollercoaster. It is a story about self-discovery, finding oneself, and learning who to trust. It also touches on the need for restructuring society. Although I could go on about this book, I'll briefly mention the others. It made me think about our world today and how society needs to be restructured to avoid certain classes being more superior than others. I highly recommend reading it.

I won't deeply into the next book I reviewed, as it moved me to tears and shed light on how women's rights have been affected this year. It's crucial for us to have the autonomy to make decisions regarding our bodies and lives. The book in question is Take My Hand by Dolene Perkins-Valdez, and it centers on a nurse who visits two young girls and is requested to put them on birth control. One girl has yet to experience menstruation, while the other is too young. This story highlights how society still tries to strip women and children of their choices and rights, something that resonates with me deeply. Although I've reviewed this book, I won't elaborate too much, as I tend to ramble on about books I adore. Suffice it to say, it's a fantastic read.

The next book I want to discuss is The City We Became by NK Jemisin. Although it was published last year, I recently read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is set in New York City, and each borough has its own avatar facing a threat that could destroy the city. I particularly loved this book because I have visited the different boroughs and the descriptions made me feel like I was home. I even jokingly asked my husband if we should move there, despite the high cost of living. This book was one of the few that made me feel that way, and I highly recommend it. The sequel was released this year, but I will read it next year since I cannot fit it into my reading list this year.

This book is just so darn good. However, I now comprehend why people are angry with Jessica; I get it now. I wouldn't say I'm furious, but I'm really frustrated with Jessica. People are very agitated with her, and now I understand why. I got the gist of it, but they say it only gets worse with each book, and I'm thinking, "Oh no, Jessica." Everything that happened is because of her, and I'm thinking, "Girl, when are you going to learn to stop?" Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I highly recommend "Blacktop Wasteland" by S.A. Cosby, which I read for the Blackaween-a-thon. The book follows the main character, Beauregard "Bug" Montague, who is a husband, father, son, and business owner trying to make ends meet. When he's offered a chance to make some extra money, Bug's carefully built new life starts to crumble. Despite his past life of crime, Bug is forced to get back into the driver's seat for a jewelry store heist. The book is realistic in depicting how people are pushed to their limits by poverty, race, and circumstances, and how they have no choice but to swim when their backs are against the ropes. The story is captivating, and S.A. Cosby is a genius writer.