Books like 'Bestiary'
Readers who enjoyed Bestiary by K-Ming Chang also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary fantasy supernatural magical-realism lgbtq literary-fiction wlw myths poc-mc family
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The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan
28 ratingsAt last, the breathtaking, action-packed finale of the #1 bestselling Trials of Apollo series is here! Will the Greek god Apollo, cast down to earth in the pathetic moral form of a teenager named Lester Papadopoulos, finally regain his place on Mount Olympus? Lester's demigod friends at Camp Jupiter just helped him survive attacks from bloodthirsty ghouls, an evil Roman king and his army of the... -
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
36 ratingsAfter her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.A flying demon feeding on human energies... -
The Tyrant’s Tomb by Rick Riordan
30 ratingsIn his penultimate adventure, a devastated but determined Apollo travels to Camp Jupiter, where he must learn what it is to be a hero, or die trying.It's not easy being Apollo, especially when you've been turned into a human and banished from Olympus...Categorized as:
coming-of-age historical-fiction lgbtq low-fantasy myths poc-mc retellings action-adventure -
Charlie Foxtrot 101 by Martha Carr, Michael Anderle
12 ratingsIdina Moorfield is officially a soldier in the army – with a little extra firepower. Her dark and magical little secret.Can she keep the new powers under control?Jump School may be her undoing.It takes focus, determination, and steely courage to face her fears and jump out of a C-130 aircraft from 1,200 feet. That’s exactly what brings Idina’s abilities forward at inconvenient moments...Categorized as:
coming-of-age low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book contemporary -
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Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson
26 ratingsThe award-winning poet Anne Carson reinvents a genre in Autobiography of Red, a stunning work that is both a novel and a poem, both an unconventional re-creation of an ancient Greek myth and a wholly original coming-of-age story set in the present...Categorized as:
coming-of-age historical-fiction lgbtq literary-fiction magical-realism myths poc-mc retellings -
Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
6 ratingsThe powerful sequel to the instant New York Times bestselling and award-winning Legendborn—perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Margaret Rogerson!The shadows have risen, and the line is law. All Bree wanted was to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. So she infiltrated the Legendborn Order, a secret society descended from King Arthur’s knights—only to discover her own ancestral power... -
Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
16 ratingsEcho Brown is a wizard from the East Side, where apartments are small and parents suffer addictions to the white rocks. Yet there is magic . . . everywhere. New portals begin to open when Echo transfers to the rich school on the West Side, and an insightful teacher becomes a pivotal mentor...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family historical-fiction lgbtq literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc -
Trickster Drift by Eden Robinson
16 ratingsFollowing the Scotiabank Giller Prize-shortlisted Son of a Trickster comes Trickster Drift, the second book in Eden Robinson's captivating Trickster trilogy.In an effort to keep all forms of magic at bay, Jared, 17, has quit drugs and drinking. But his troubles are not over: now he's being stalked by David, his mom's ex--a preppy, khaki-wearing psycho with a proclivity for rib-breaking...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family lgbtq literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths poc-mc -
The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies
18 ratingsThe complete volume of Robertson Davies's acclaimed trilogy, featuring Fifth Business, The Manticore, and World of Wonders, with a new foreword by Kelly Link Fifth Business Ramsay is a man twice born, a man who has returned from the hell of the battle-grave at Passchendaele in World War I decorated with the Victoria Cross and destined to be caught in a no man's land where memory, history, and... -
Chew the Bullet by Martha Carr, Michael Anderle
8 ratingsIdina Moorfield isn’t the only one on her team with unusual powers.Her buddy, Stop remembers everything he sees, and Cake is a new kind of man of steel.That’s the last two, which means everyone in Idina’s unit has a unique talent.Why would the Army want to bring them all together?Her commander, Hines is still refusing to answer her questions...Categorized as:
coming-of-age low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book contemporary -
Chaos and Gunfire by Martha Carr, Michael Anderle
10 ratingsIdina Moorfield is a new kind of magical with a dark and twisty lineage.Any other combat engineer in the 82nd Airborne Division would be proud of how far Idina's come, but the visions and voices in her mind are only getting worse.When it affects her work, Idina gets transferred to a new unit—a unit of misfits with their own problems...Categorized as:
coming-of-age low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book contemporary -
The Oversoul Seven Trilogy: The Education of Oversoul Seven, The Further Education of Oversoul Seven, Oversoul Seven and the Museum of Time by Jane Roberts, Robert F. Butts
10 ratingsJane Roberts has contributed to The Oversoul Seven Trilogy as an author.Roberts was considered one of the most important psychics of the twentieth century...Categorized as:
literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism adult anthologies contemporary fiction philosophy -
A Trip to the Stars by Nicholas Christopher
14 ratingsA young boy and his adopted aunt become separated when the youngster is kidnapped by his wealthy, eccentric great-uncle, but mysterious ties continue to link the two unknowingly over the fifteen-year separation... -
Mama Day by Gloria Naylor
20 ratingsA fascinating novel that reworks elements of Shakespeare's The Tempest. On the island of Willow Springs, off the Georgia coast, the powers of healer Mama Day are tested by her great niece, Cocoa, a stubbornly emancipated woman endangered by the island's darker forces...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family historical-fiction literary-fiction magical-realism myths poc-mc retellings -
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This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
20 ratingsDarkness blooms in bestselling author Kalynn Bayron's new contemporary fantasy about a girl with a unique and deadly power.Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with a single touch.When Briseis's aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents decide to leave Brooklyn behind for the summer... -
We Can Be Heroes by Kyrie McCauley
8 ratingsKyrie McCauley, author of If These Wings Could Fly, delivers a powerful contemporary YA novel about a trio of girls fighting for each other in the aftermath of a school shooting and the lasting bonds of friendship. Perfect for fans of Laura Ruby and Mindy McGinnis... -
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
24 ratingsSome stories refuse to stay bottled up...When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now, the tigers want it back... -
Imagineer by Honor Raconteur
10 ratingsImagination has no limit… Our Heroine: Me. And boy, are we all in trouble. A seventeen-year-old with a love of fantasy and unmanageable hair? Hardly anyone’s idea of the knight in shining armor. I went about life with no idea the world around me was not as it seemed, until one dark night I saw glimpses of things I knew shouldn’t exist...Categorized as:
coming-of-age low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book contemporary -
Every Gift a Curse by Caroline O'Donoghue
12 ratingsA spellbinding supernatural teen drama and final book in the Gifts series from a New York Times bestselling author.With the return of the Housekeeper on the cards, Maeve must find out everything she can about the vengeful tarot spirit in order to finally defeat her...Categorized as:
lgbtq romantic-love wlw magical-realism coming-of-age low-fantasy fantasy young-adult -
A Very Declan Christmas by Maggie Stiefvater
14 ratings"I’ve done a holiday short for the last few years. Here’s another one from the Raven Cycle universe... -
Lobizona by Romina Garber, Romina Russell
18 ratingsSome people ARE illegal.Lobizonas do NOT exist.Both of these statements are false.Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida.Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered... -
Soul Stone Mage Complete Collection Boxed Set by Sarah Noffke, Martha Carr
6 ratings“Magic could be the very death of you…or it could be what saves the world.” In the Kingdom of Virgo, witches and wizards have lived peacefully for thousands of years. On the other side of the Dark Forest resides the Land of Terran. The humans of Terran treat those from Virgo as second-class citizens, disgracing and trapping them at every turn...Categorized as:
coming-of-age low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book contemporary -
Three Scenarios In Which Hana Sasaki Grows A Tail by Kelly Luce
6 ratingsThree Scenarios in Which Hana Sasaki Grows a Tail is a debut collection of stories from Kelly Luce. Hana Sasaki will introduce you to many things—among them, an oracular toaster, a woman who grows a tail, and an extraordinary sex-change operation. Set in Japan, these stories tip into the fantastical, plumb the power of memory, and measure the human capacity to love...Categorized as:
literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism adult anthologies contemporary dark fiction -
Philippa Fisher And The Fairy's Promise by Liz Kessler
12 ratingsPhilippa is looking forward to spending New Year in the village where her new friend Robyn lives... -
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Flames by Robbie Arnott
14 ratingsA young man named Levi McAllister decides to build a coffin for his twenty-three-year-old sister, Charlotte—who promptly runs for her life. A water rat swims upriver in quest of the cloud god. A fisherman named Karl hunts for tuna in partnership with a seal. And a father takes form from fire...Categorized as:
family lgbtq literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism 21st-century adult animals -
Return of the Trickster by Eden Robinson
14 ratingsThe third and final book of the brilliant and captivating Trickster Trilogy, from the bestselling author of the Scotiabank Giller-prize finalist Son of a Trickster and Trickster Drift...Categorized as:
coming-of-age literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths poc-mc retellings audiobook -
The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doyle
16 ratingsCatherine Doyle's stunning middle-grade debut, an evocative tale of ancient magic, bravery, and family bonds.“Fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson can add Fionn Boyle as a generous and brave hero from the Emerald Isle.” – School Library ConnectionWhen Fionn Boyle sets foot on Arranmore Island, it begins to stir beneath his feet...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure audiobook -
Afterlove by Tanya Byrne
16 ratingsIn this powerful, all-encompassing YA love story, a girl who becomes a grim reaper must figure out what the future holds—especially when it comes to the girlfriend she left behind. When Ashana Persaud meets Poppy Morgan on a school trip, she’s sure it’s too good to be true. Ash has never had much luck with girls, but Poppy proves different... -
Ghosts of Greenglass House by Kate Milford, Jaime Zollars
16 ratingsWelcome back to the irresistible world of Greenglass House where thirteen-year-old Milo is, once again, spending the winter holidays stuck in a house full of strange guests who are not what they seem. There are fresh clues to uncover as friends old and new join in his search for a mysterious map and a famous smuggler’s lost haul...Categorized as:
family historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths poc-mc retellings action-adventure -
The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris
18 ratingsThe compelling new novel from the author of the bestselling Chocolat.Vianne Rocher has settled down. Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, the place that once rejected her, has finally become her home. With Rosette, her 'special' child, she runs her chocolate shop in the square, talks to her friends on the river, is part of the community. Even Reynaud, the priest, has become a friend... -
A Dark and Starless Forest by Sarah Hollowell
8 ratingsWhen her siblings start to go missing, a girl must confront the dark thing that lives in the forest—and the growing darkness in herself—in this debut YA contemporary fantasy for fans of Wilder Girls.Derry and her eight siblings live in an isolated house by the lake, separated from the rest of the world by an eerie and menacing forest... -
Never Have I Ever by Isabel Yap
8 ratings“Am I dead?”Mebuyen sighs. She was hoping the girl would not ask.Spells and stories, urban legends and immigrant tales: the magic in Isabel Yap’s debut collection jumps right off the page, from the joy in her new novella, 'A Spell for Foolish Hearts' to the terrifying tension of the urban legend 'Have You Heard the One About Anamaria Marquez'... -
Avi Cantor Has Six Months to Live by Sacha Lamb
8 ratingsAvi Cantor Has Six Months To LiveAvi comes across these foreboding words scrawled on the bathroom mirror, but what do they mean? Is this a curse, a prediction, or a threat from Avi's emboldened bullies? And how to they know his real name when he hasn't even told his mother yet?Then there is Ian—the cool new guy at school, who is suddenly paying attention to Avi... -
The Anatomy of Curiosity by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton
10 ratingsThe follow-up to the acclaimed title The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff.In an unassuming corner of Brooklyn, a young woman learns to be ladylike, to love context, and to speak her mind from a very curious sort of tutor...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family historical-fiction lgbtq magical-realism myths anthologies contemporary -
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Cazadora by Romina Garber, Romina Russell
10 ratingsIn Cazadora, Romina Garber weaves together Argentine folklore and what it means to be illegal in a timely, intimate, and emotionally powerful narrative.Werewolves. Witches. Romance. Resistance.Enter a world straight out of Argentine folklore.. -
The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia
18 ratingsThe People of Paper reveals the ever-elusive prophesies of the Shandean Baby Nostradamus and the approximate temperature and incendiary potential of halos. Herein disillusioned and AWOL saints reclaim their crowns and fight purses, while a gang of flower pickers go off to war, led by a lonely man who can not help but wet his bed in sadness...Categorized as:
historical-fiction literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc adult book classics -
Man Tiger by Eka Kurniawan
18 ratingsA wry, affecting tale set in a small town on the Indonesian coast, Man Tiger tells the story of two interlinked and tormented families and of Margio, a young man ordinary in all particulars except that he conceals within himself a supernatural female white tiger. The inequities and betrayals of family life coalesce around and torment this magical being... -
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
26 ratingsSeventeen-year-old Iris Hollow has always been strange. Something happened to her and her two older sisters when they were children, something they can’t quite remember but that left each of them with an identical half-moon scar at the base of their throats. Iris has spent most of her teenage years trying to avoid the weirdness that sticks to her like tar... -
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
26 ratingsAn extraordinary debut novel, Freshwater explores the surreal experience of having a fractured self. It centers around a young Nigerian woman, Ada, who develops separate selves within her as a result of being born "with one foot on the other side...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family lgbtq literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths poc-mc -
Lanny by Max Porter
26 ratingsThere’s a village sixty miles outside London. It’s no different from many other villages in England: one pub, one church, red-brick cottages, council cottages and a few bigger houses dotted about. Voices rise up, as they might do anywhere, speaking of loving and needing and working and dying and walking the dogs... -
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
25 ratingsThe Montoyas are used to a life without explanations. They know better than to ask why the pantry never seems to run low or empty, or why their matriarch won’t ever leave their home in Four Rivers—even for graduations, weddings, or baptisms...Categorized as:
family historical-fiction lgbtq literary-fiction magical-realism myths poc-mc action-adventure -
Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson
18 ratingsLisamarie Hill, the protagonist of Eden Robinson's coming-of-age novel Monkey Beach, is a terror. She'll run out of an evacuating car to get a better view of a tidal wave. She'll drag you unconscious to a deserted island with nothing but cigarettes, marshmallows, and the need to get you talking. Whatever her age, she'll ask awkward questions...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family historical-fiction literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths poc-mc -
Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova
16 ratingsThree sisters. One spell. Countless dead.Lula Mortiz feels like an outsider. Her sister's newfound Encantrix powers have wounded her in ways that Lula's bruja healing powers can't fix, and she longs for the comfort her family once brought her. Thank the Deos for Maks, her sweet, steady boyfriend who sees the beauty within her and brings light to her life... -
Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
16 ratingsAn urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is, she’s never been in love—she’ll have to find the perfect guy before she can kill him.After years of waiting for her Calling—a trial every witch must pass in order to come into their powers—the one thing Voya Thomas didn’t expect was to fail... -
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All the Bad Apples by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
16 ratingsThe day after the funeral all our mourning clothes hung out on the line like sleeping bats. 'This will be really embarrassing,' I kept saying to my family, 'when she shows up at the door in a week or two.'When Deena's wild and mysterious sister Mandy disappears - presumed dead - her family are heartbroken. But Mandy has always been troubled. It's just another bad thing to happen to Deena's family...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family historical-fiction lgbtq magical-realism myths wlw action-adventure -
Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
14 ratingsIn this gripping debut tinged with supernatural horror, a young Cree woman's dreams lead her on a perilous journey of self-discovery that ultimately forces her to confront the toll of a legacy of violence on her family, her community and the land they call home.When Mackenzie wakes up with a severed crow's head in her hands, she panics... -
Kabu Kabu by Nnedi Okorafor, Alan Dean Foster
13 ratingsKabu Kabu - unregistered, illegal Nigerian taxis - generally get you where you need to go, but Nnedi Okorafor's Kabu Kabu takes the reader to exciting, fantastic, magical, occasionally dangerous, and always imaginative locations... -
Colorful by Eto Mori
12 ratingsA beloved and bestselling classic in Japan, this groundbreaking tale of a dead soul who gets a second chance is now available in English for the very first time."Congratulations, you've won the lottery!" shouts the angel Prapura to a formless soul. The soul hasn't been kicked out of the cycle of rebirth just yet—he's been given a second chance...Categorized as:
asian-mc literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc 20th-century anthologies audiobook -
The Threads of the Heart by Carole Martinez
12 ratingsThey say Frasquita knows magic, that she is a healer with occult powers, that perhaps she is a sorcerer. She does indeed possess a remarkable gift, one that has been passed down to the women in her family for generations... -
Blue-Skinned Gods by S.J. Sindu
12 ratingsFrom the award-winning author of Marriage of a Thousand Lies comes a brilliantly written, globe-spanning novel about identity, faith, family, and sexuality.In Tamil Nadu, India, a boy is born with blue skin...Categorized as:
asian-mc coming-of-age family historical-fiction lgbtq literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism
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