Tomi Adeyemi is a Nigerian-American novelist best known for her fantasy series beginning with Children of Blood and Bone. Her work stands out for its electrifying pace, vivid worldbuilding, and powerful use of West African mythology.
If you love Tomi Adeyemi's blend of magic, high stakes, and emotionally resonant storytelling, these authors are well worth exploring next:
Nnedi Okorafor writes imaginative fiction that brings together African folklore, science fiction, and fantasy in fresh, memorable ways. Her books often explore identity, culture, and belonging through richly drawn characters and inventive settings.
A great place to start is Akata Witch, which follows Sunny, a Nigerian-American girl who discovers she possesses extraordinary magical abilities.
Sabaa Tahir builds intense fantasy worlds charged with emotion, danger, and hope. Her stories often center on resistance, oppression, and survival, with characters who are easy to invest in.
In An Ember in the Ashes, the lives of Laia and Elias become entwined as they struggle to survive under a brutal empire and fight for freedom.
Leigh Bardugo is known for creating dark, immersive fantasy worlds filled with magic, deception, and morally complicated characters. Her fiction frequently examines power, loyalty, and redemption.
Shadow and Bone introduces the Grishaverse through Alina Starkov, a young woman whose hidden powers pull her into a dangerous world of court politics, magic, and looming darkness.
Namina Forna writes bold, empowering fantasy that takes on patriarchy, gender expectations, and personal strength. Her books combine magical elements inspired by African culture with fierce heroines determined to challenge the world around them.
In The Gilded Ones, Deka discovers the truth of her heritage and her power after her society casts her out as dangerous.
Jordan Ifueko tells imaginative, emotionally rich stories about destiny, friendship, and difficult choices. Drawing from African traditions, she creates lush worlds and memorable female protagonists.
Her novel Raybearer follows Tarisai, a girl raised in isolation and sent on a dangerous mission, as she begins to define herself on her own terms.
Roseanne A. Brown writes vibrant fantasy inspired by West African folklore and mythology. Her stories balance romance, magic, and political intrigue with strong emotional stakes.
Her novel A Song of Wraiths and Ruin follows two characters pulled into a deadly competition shaped by destiny, sacrifice, and dangerous secrets.
Readers who enjoy Tomi Adeyemi's immersive worlds and myth-inspired adventures will likely find Brown a natural next pick.
N.K. Jemisin creates ambitious fantasy worlds that pair extraordinary imagination with sharp explorations of race, power, and social justice.
Her novel The Fifth Season is a striking story set in a world on the brink of catastrophe, driven by complex characters and big, challenging ideas. If you appreciate Adeyemi's mix of magic, oppression, and resilience, Jemisin is an excellent choice.
Marlon James writes epic fantasy infused with African mythology, commanding narrative voices, and layered themes of identity, power, and violence.
In Black Leopard, Red Wolf, he takes readers on a dark, intense journey through an ancient world populated by unforgettable characters and mythic dangers.
His daring imagination and mythic scope make him especially appealing to readers drawn to Adeyemi's culturally rooted fantasy.
Bethany C. Morrow combines speculative fiction with strong character work, often exploring identity, race, and belonging.
Her novel A Song Below Water centers on two young Black women trying to understand themselves and their voices in a world shaped by mythological elements and real social pressures.
Readers who value Adeyemi's blend of fantasy and contemporary relevance should find Morrow especially compelling.
Tracy Deonn crafts contemporary fantasy that skillfully blends folklore, history, and magic. Her stories are gripping while also engaging deeply with ancestry and identity.
In Legendborn, a young Black woman uncovers hidden truths and her own ancestral power in a bold reimagining of Arthurian legend.
Much like Adeyemi, Deonn writes fantasy that feels both thrilling and emotionally grounded.
Natasha Bowen blends African folklore with lush, vivid fantasy, creating stories filled with striking imagery and compelling emotional stakes.
Her novel Skin of the Sea follows Simi, a mermaid who breaks the rules to save a drowning boy, setting off a journey shaped by danger, magic, and rich West African mythology. Readers who love Tomi Adeyemi's fusion of fantasy and African cultural inspiration should definitely take a look.
Dhonielle Clayton writes lush, thought-provoking fantasy that often examines beauty, power, and identity.
In her novel The Belles, she imagines a glittering yet deeply unsettling society where beauty is prized above everything else and controlled by gifted young women.
If you enjoy fantasy with sharp social critique alongside strong worldbuilding, Clayton is a rewarding choice.
Justina Ireland writes fast-paced, adventurous fiction that blends history with fantasy and horror elements.
Her book Dread Nation envisions an alternate America where the Civil War is interrupted by the rise of the undead, and Jane McKeene must battle for survival while confronting racial injustice.
Fans of Adeyemi's fierce protagonists and attention to systems of oppression will find a lot to admire here.
Rena Barron creates richly imagined worlds inspired by African culture and fills them with determined characters facing supernatural threats.
Her debut novel, Kingdom of Souls, follows Arrah, a young woman born into a powerful magical family who lacks magic herself and is pushed toward desperate choices to stop a growing evil.
Anyone captivated by Adeyemi's emotional intensity and sweeping magical adventures should give Barron a try.
Tochi Onyebuchi creates vivid, emotionally powerful worlds shaped by injustice, sacrifice, and human struggle.
In Beasts Made of Night, he imagines a Nigerian-inspired fantasy where sins become monstrous creatures, and Taj must hunt them while absorbing their corruption in a deeply unequal society.
Readers drawn to Adeyemi's West African-inspired magic and morally layered storytelling will find Onyebuchi's work especially rewarding.
