Here at Epic Reads, there is no surprise we love a great fantasy book and can you blame us?! We love the intricate worldbuilding authors create in their stories for us to dive into. There’s the use of languages—real and those formed—and the creation of new countries, cultures, and histories we can learn about. Historically, unfortunately, most fantasy stories mostly focus on European-inspired locations. While that’s cool and all, most of book publishing’s history has given very little opportunity for fantasy stories influenced by non-European worlds to shine. On the upside, thanks to aut ..read more

Stories featuring Black girls are vital–any they don’t always need to be about struggling with racism or social pressures. These Black Girl Magic books in particular still factor those in—as all good stories draw from the real world around them—but also set the heroines on courses of viral fame and thrilling capers. It sets them into fantastical new worlds and watches them slay the demons that plague them. These books will have you rooting for its characters and then leave you pumped to get out there and changed the world as you know it. So, you think you’re ready for such a dose of incredibl ..read more

Travel back in time with us, readers. We’re taking a deep dive into one of our absolute favorite genres—historical fiction—with an emphasis on stories by Black authors, about Black characters. These books cover centuries of Black history (some with a fantastical twist), from the brutality of Antebellum America to life in the early 2000s, each new story just as compelling, engaging, and powerful as the last. You truly can’t go wrong with any book on this list. Add them to your shelves and hold them in your hearts.    Historical Fiction by Black Authors TWELVE BOOKS TO ADD TO YOUR SH ..read more

Welcome to an Epic Reads feature on books with Black male protagonists! From compelling horror, to wild thrillers, to a trove of coming-of-age tales, these pages are filled with nuanced characters whose love, courage, and drive shine through the pages. We’ve gathered a list of award-winners, YA classics, and some newer hidden gems for you to dive into. Scroll on down, pick a story (you truly can’t go wrong), and get ready for an incredible book that will absolutely blow your mind.   Books With Black Male Protagonists WE CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO READ   1. Seven Minutes In Candyland by B ..read more

Attending an educational institution where almost everyone else comes from a different background than you can be a complex experience—and a lonely one. In a sea of dissimilar faces, it’s hard not to feel all the ways you’re disconnected from your peers, while also feeling the need to fit in—if not, just to get through the day. In those situations, these YA novels offer a lifeline of connection, hope, and illumination. These stories tackle the challenges faced by BIPOC individuals in predominantly white schools head-on, giving voice to emotions that often remain unspoken. You’ll meet protagon ..read more

Magic is real. (Or at least, we’d like to believe it is.) And that’s part of the reason we love fantasy so much, it lets us escape our (sometimes boring) reality to go off on other-worldly adventures filled with fantastical creatures, powerful heroines, and (ideally) a not-so-bad boy who is secretly a prince who doesn’t like anyone but the MC…but we digress. Whether we’re reading a fairy tale retelling or an urban fantasy, we’re transported to worlds where the mundane is magical. This is especially true when it comes to the genre of magical realism, where authors weave fantasy and reality tog ..read more

Looking for books featuring Latine characters with stories infused in culture? We’ve got you covered! Here at Epic Reads we know that there is still so much more left to be done in regards to Latine representation in YA literature—we also understand the importance of lifting those voices. As the ultimate connoisseurs of YA, we’re always on the hunt for books centering Latine characters and stories, whether that be in contemporary fiction or a fantasy land far away. What better time to share some of these gems than during Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month? And what sweeter tales than those of ..read more

Can’t get enough of the aspirational glamour, delicious romance, and action-packed adventure in Abigail Hing Wen’s instant bestseller Loveboat, Taipei? Us either! From a summer of breaking the rules and discovering who you truly are, to love interests that have us sizzling with the tension between them, we’re looking for books that bring us all these emotions and more. And with the Love in Taipei movie coming out on Paramount+ on August 10th, we absolutely buzzing to read more books like this! Luckily for you, we have plenty of book recs to tide you over until Loveboat Forever releases on Nov ..read more

Insert opening line here where we gush about how much each member of Team Epic Reads loves love. You can literally read Shannon keysmash about it here. But love comes in many forms—between friends, between family members, between rivals who lock eyes and immediately know there’s something magnetic about their connection. There’s also a love of adventure, and we think that’s something that many members of the YA community have in common. Why else would we read ourselves into so many life-threatening missions?! While we focus on supporting new and upcoming books by Black authors, it’s impo ..read more

If you’re like us at Epic Reads HQ, you love love. You love love stories that surprise you, tropes that feel fresh and new, and characters to root for as they find love. It’s our belief that an individual is already whole, and a significant other is there to just add a little more brightness. For your love story fix, here are some books with Asian characters as the main leads! Whether they’ve been friends from childhood, or need to fake date to get out of a messy situation (only to end up in an even messier one!), these stories will make you believe in love again.   Love and Romance Stor ..read more