Yesterday we learned a bit about qi and how it relates to fantasy. I found the article fascinating and realized I had read very few books set in/or based on an East Asian setting. So I asked people on Twitter and Facebook to suggest fantasy (and sci-fi, horror, etc.) books they’d read in this setting. Here are a bunch of the recommendations I received. Many I had never heard of and lots are going on my to-be read list! Please let us know in the comments if you have a favorite that we missed!
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Philippine Speculative Fiction Volume 1 edited by Dean Francis Alfar
(Anthology / The Philippines)
With stories by Cyan Abad-Jugo, Tyron Caliente, Andrew Drilon, Francezca C. Kwe, Nikki Alfar, Joseph Nacino, Angelo R. Lacuesta, Jay Steven Uy Anyong, Pauline Orendain, Gabriela Lee, Ian Rosales Casocot, Vincent Michael Simbulan, J. Pocholo Martin Goitia, Khavn, Sean Uy, K. Mandigma, and Douglas L. Candano. First book in a series of Philippine anthologies.
Naamah’s Kiss by Jacqueline Carey
(Fantasy / Romance)
First book in the Moirin Trilogy, which is the third trilogy in the Kushiel’s Legacy series. This book takes place more than a century after the events of Kushiel’s Mercy.
White Tiger by Kylie Chan
(Urban Fantasy / China)
First book in the Dark Heavens trilogy, which is the first trilogy in the Xuan Wu series.
Alternative Alamat: Stories Inspired by Philippine Mythology edited by Paolo Chikiamco
(Anthology / Mythology / The Philippines)
With stories by Timothy James Dimacali, Mo Francisco, Raissa Rivera Falgui, David Hontiveros, Celestine Trinidad, Dean Francis Alfar, Andrei Tupaz, Eliza Victoria, Rochita Loenen-Ruiz, Budjette Tan, and Raymond G. Falgui.
The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu
(Science Fiction)
First book in the Tao series.
Thai Horse by William Diehl
(Thriller / Mystery / Hong Kong & Thailand)
Standalone published in 1987.
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (aka – The Two Pearls of Wisdom and Eon: Rise of the Dragoneye) by Alison Goodman
(YA Fantasy / Dragons)
First book in the Eon series.
Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn (aka – Gillian Rubinstein)
(Historical Fantasy / Japan)
First book in the Tales of the Otori series.
Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart
(Historical Fantasy / China)
First book in The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox series.
Songs of Insurrection by J. C. Kang
(Fantasy / Dragons)
First book in The Dragon Songs Saga.
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
(Historical Fantasy / China)
First book in the Under Heaven series.
Nightblade by Ryan Kirk
(YA Fantasy)
First book in the Nightblade series.
Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
(YA Steampunk / Dystopia / Japan)
First book in The Lotus Wars series.
The Leopard Mask by Kaoru Kurimoto
(Fantasy / Japan)
First book in The Guin Saga.
The Three-Body Problem written by Cixin Liu and translated by Ken Liu
(Science Fiction / Aliens / China)
First in the Remembrance of Earth’s Past series.
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
(Fantasy / Steampunk)
First book in The Dandelion Dynasty series.
Invisible Planets edited and translated by Ken Liu
(Anthology / Science Fiction / China)
With stories by Chen Quifan, Xia Jia, Ma Boyong, Hao Jingfang, Tang Pei, Cheng Jingbo, and Liu Cixen.
The Blood of Whisperers by Devin Madson
(Fantasy)
First book in The Vengeance Trilogy.
The Stone Road by G. R. Matthews
(Fantasy)
First book in The Forbidden List series.
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
(Fantasy / Magical Realism / Japan)
Standalone published in 1985.
Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson
(Fantasy)
Novella set in the same world as Elantris.
Shanghai Sparrow by Gaie Sebold
(Alternate History / Steampunk / China)
First book in the Shanghai Sparrow series.
The Sunset Warrior by Eric Van Lustbader
(Fantasy / Science Fiction)
First book in the Sunset Warrior Cycle, first published in 1977.
Black Wind by F. Paul Wilson
(Horror / Historical Fantasy / Japan)
First published in 1988.
Unsouled by Will Wight
(Fantasy)
First book in the Cradle series.
The Middle Kingdom by David Wingrove
(Science Fiction / China)
First book in the Chung Kuo series, first published in 1989.
The Black Tides of Heaven by J. Y. Yang
(Fantasy / LGBT)
First novella in the Tensorate series.
Kojiki by Keith Yatsuhashi
(YA Urban Fantasy / Japan)
First book in the Kojiki series.
Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama
(Mystery / Crime / Japan)
Standalone translated by Jonathan Lloyd-Davies.
The Terracotta Bride by Zen Cho
(Fantasy / LGBT / China)
A novella with an amazing log line: “A tale of first love, bad theology and robot reincarnation in the Chinese afterlife.”
The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard
(Urban Fantasy)
First book in the Dominion of the Fallen series.
Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts
(Fantasy)
First book in The Empire Trilogy.
The Crimson Labyrinth by Yusuke Kishi
(Horror / Japan)
First published in 1999.
Southern Fire by Juliet E. McKenna
(Fantasy)
First book in The Aldabreshin Compass series, which is the second of her series set in this world.
The Emperor’s Blades by Brian Staveley
(Epic Fantasy)
First book in the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series.
The Weavers of Saramyr by Chris Wooding
(Fantasy)
First book in the Braided Path series.
Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny
(Fantasy / Science Fiction / Hindu)
First published in 1967.
From Convent to Consort by Leigh Anderson
(Historical Romance / Erotica / China)
First book in The Lotus and the Phoenix Book series.
Kitsune: A Little Mermaid Retelling by Nicolette Andrews
(Fairy Tale / Romance / Japan)
First book in the Tales of Akatsuki series.
Xiao Xiao and the Dragon Pearl by Joyce Chng
(YA Historical Fantasy / China)
Frist book in the Dragon Sisters series.
Marrying a Monster by Mel Dunay
(Paranormal Romance)
First book in the Jaiya series. It is related to the rest of the series, but also works as a standalone.
Champion Standing by Mark Gardner
(Historical Fiction / Wuxia / China)
Set during the Han Dynasty.
Pratima’s Forbidden Book by S. A. Gibson
(Steampunk / Adventure / India)
First book in The Protected Books series.
Lost to Tomorrow by J. J. Green
(Science Fiction / Taiwan)
A sci-fi novella and three short stories in one discounted bundle: Death Switch, At the Shadow’s Edge, North to Taibei, and The Collector.
Calamity Rising by Z. V. Hunter
(Urban Fantasy / Japan)
First book in the Deathwalker series.
Eun Na and the Phantom by Erica Laurie
(Historical Fantasy / Dragons / Korea)
“Inspired by a folktale, this magical story is set in a fictional world based on historic Korea.”
“The Journey through Nanking” by Travis Lee
(Horror / Historical Fantasy / China)
Short story that takes place in China in December, 1937.
Gunpowder Alchemy by Jeannie Lin
(Steampunk / China)
First book in The Gunpowder Chronicles series.
Tiger Lily by K. Bird Lincoln
(Historical Fantasy / Japan)
Standalone originally published in 2012.
Whispers of the Dead by James Litherland
(Science Fiction / Dystopia / Japan)
Frist book in the Miraibanashi series.
Disciple by Kassandra Lynn
(YA Fantasy / Sword & Sorcery)
First book in the Book of Immortals series.
Blade’s Edge by Virginia McClain
(Sword & Sorcery)
First book in the Chronicles of Gensokai series.
Preserving Eternity by Mercia McMahon
(Fantasy)
Second world fantasy with cultures based on Japan, Sri Lanka, Ainu, and Korea.
Six Celestial Swords by T. A. Miles
(Epic Fantasy)
First book in the Celestial Empire series.
All The Saints Are Dead by Douglas Milewski
(Fantasy / Wuxia)
First book in the Swan Song series.
Removed by S. J. Pajonas
(Science Fiction / Dystopia / Japan)
First book in The Nogiku series.
Live Wire by Bill Patterson
(Science Fiction / Japan)
Novella is the Paradisi Series.
Murder in the Forbidden City by Amanda Roberts
(Mystery / Historical Fiction / China)
First book in the Qing Dynasty Mysteries.
Ten Thousand Thorns by Suzannah Rowntree
(Fairy Tale / Wuxia / China)
An action-packed novella, retelling the story of Sleeping Beauty in the style of a Chinese martial arts epic.
Fake by Lori Saltis
(Urban Fantasy)
First book in the Crossroads series.
Dancing with Cupid by Jennifer Stevenson
(Urban Fantasy / Comedy / Hindu)
Third book in the Slacker Demons series.
Jaeth’s Eye by K. S. Villoso
(Epic Fantasy)
First book in The Agartes Epilogues series.
Numbercaste by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
(Science Fiction)
Winner of the 2017 Virtual FantasyCon Award.
The Ex-Pacifist by Sarah K. L. Wilson
(YA Science Fiction)
First book in the Matsumoto Trilogy.
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From November 3rd through the 5th you can get a selection of the above titles for only 99¢! More information is available by clicking the banner below!
Geoff Matthews
Julia Kitvaria Sarene
The Girl with Ghost Eyes, by M.H. Boroson
China and Japan do get used a bit in fantasy but it is the other big power of the East that is criminally overlooked – I’m talking of India.
Interestingly, I have started to look into Indian influenced fantasy in the last few days and it is incredibly rare, which is somewhat odd given just how old and intriguing the Indian civilisation is, as well as its mythology.
Check out books by David Hair,s moon tide quartet, simoquin prophesies by Samit badu(boy it’s so damn funny-spoof on Indian epics) you could try ashok bankers take on ramayana, Amish-Shiva trilogy, Krishna udayashanker’s version of Maha bharath..i could go on.. But this is a primer.. Try Samit Basu..
Snake Agent by Liz Williams
(Science Fiction/China/Paranormal)
First book in the Inspector Chen series.
Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter by Richard Parks
(Fantasy/Japan/Paranormal)
First collection in the Yamada Monogatari series.