I am so happy I watched this video. I recently watched a caucasian YouTuber talk about how she came across a fantasy novel written by a black author and how she was excited to read it cause she had never read anything by a black female author in this genre. That author was N.K. Jemsin and she was talking about the Hundred Thousand Kingdom. I immediately went to my library to get this book as well cause I was intrigued about reading this book and so I got it and started it right away. I loved that book so much I went out an bought the whole series but the thing I was now coming too was that I didn’t know anymore black authors who write for this genre until now. Thank you so much for your recommendations. I will be hitting these books up cause I am totally excited. I really would like to read Kindred. I am also shocked to know that L.A. Banks , Tomora Pierce and Libba Bray are all black authors. That’s astonishing to me. I know I shouldn’t be but I am. Please excuse my ignorance as I try my best to become more well rounded in my reading life.

great topic, love your commentary Sis,..Nice personality, Very well read..

I’m always happy to see you uploading a new video! They’re always educational and always enjoyable!

So happy for these recommendations. I’ve been trying to diversify my reading and was really disappointed when I realized how little my selection of books by authors of color was. This will really help with continuing my new trend 🙂

I love all of your videos and have for a long time . My old phone wouldn’t let me comment but now I finally can so yay !

Thank you.

There really is such a problem with whitewashing in sci-fi and especially fantasy. I almost jumped for joy when they cast Shadow for the American Gods adaptation and he was actually a POC. I was convinced they were going to whitewash him. We really shouldn’t have to be so grateful whenever they cast a role as it was meant to be cast. It should be a given, but it’s all-too-often not. On to the topic proper, N.K Jemisen is one of my favorite recent fantasy authors. She creates these amazing, living worlds. When I first stumbled across her Inheritance Trilogy in the library, I was just going to read it for a little bit before I went home, but sat there and read for like three or four hours because I was so sucked in. Like, hypnotized. From the way she had Yeine’s voice down to the cosmology of her world to just…everything.

what i dont get it

I love this list! There are a few authors you listed that I knew of but I need them all in my life!

Wait? Tamora Pierce is black? Huh. (Unless I misunderstood that your recommendations were only black authors)Lots of great recommendations here. I put Foxglove Summers down as a soon-to-be read(but really I noted all the books) since my main complaint about the magicians was Quinten being such a pain (also, such a white cast. When blonde french girl is the most diverse it gets, there’s a problem.)
I wasn’t a big fan of Akata Witch, but I put that down as me being too old for that genre. Will have to read “who fears death” soon.

Melina, how do you avoid becoming too jaded? You say at the end those books are the whitest books you’ve read in a long time. Do you ever go through phases when you just give up on white authors altogether?

Octavia Butler’s Kindred inspired me to write a story about time travel and slavery when I was 16 (and posted it online even though it was terrible lol), I read it about three times. I’ve read a few of her other books but Kindred really had this profound effect on me. Awesome video 🙂

Thank you thank you! I love your reviews! and thank you for these suggestions!!!!!!!

I love your videos and I’ll definitely check out these recommendations. Do you take requests for videos? Because if you do, I have one: Can you review “How Starbucks Saved My Life”? I can’t be the only one who thinks that book is ridiculous.

i recommed a comic book series saga it’s feature a black female character named alana.

You say thanks for taking the time to watch your videos… Girl thanks for taking the time to make them! I always look forward to more Melina 🙂

Very enjoyable video (I especially like the voice changes). This comment is provided by an old white lady who’s been reading SF/F for 45 years. I encountered Octavia E. Butler very early on, via Harlan Ellison’s Dangerous Visions short fiction collections (read in college), and have been a fan of her writing ever since. Kindred is brilliant, I agree. My favorites are still the two Parable books. As for Fledgling, yes, it’s a disturbing read, but I really would have liked to see where she took that whole world; sadly, she died too soon.

Minor note: Nnedi Okorafor is pronounced neh-di oh-KOR-a-for. K. Tempest Bledsoe has posted several videos on books she’s read (google her name if it isn’t familiar), including one on Okorafor, and I believe she’s met the writer in person at least once.

Do please continue your vid series, as and when you’re able. It’s very refreshing (for old pharts like me).

Everyone should read GEMINI by Artistry Employs. Millions have asked for this type of writing for decades. Go to: artistryemploys.org

The solution is to write your own stuff read it, then give it to friends and family see what think; don’t think too much about getting it published if your focused on making money your going to write shit.

what I feel like the problem with black fiction is. is that they make the stories too serious. I don’t really know how to explain what I mean. but like let’s say it’s based on medieval fantasy, they don’t make it as exciting and adventurous as I would like. they make it about social problems or problems with them being black and the kingdom kicking them out. but without making the black protagonist fights back like if we are watching an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. instead it has an extremely serious tone and the main character doesn’t fight and go on willing adventures. I honestly don’t like that black authors and movie writers almost never do that