Sabaa Tahir grew up in Californias Mojave Desert at her familys eighteen-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brothers comic book stash, and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks, and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
Stars and Smoke (2023) (Stars and Smoke, book 1) Marie Lu "A nail-biting thriller and a breathless romance, a keen character study and a wildly entertaining international caper . . with characters so charming and wounded and well-crafted that you'll want them to walk off the page."
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow (2022) Zoulfa Katouh "A searing story of war, loss, family and love, of seeking grace in madness and hope in tragedy, AS LONG AS THE LEMON TREES GROW is a phenomenal tale, a piercing keen for the Syria that was and the Syria that is. An absolute must read."
Violet Made of Thorns (2022) (Violet Made of Thorns, book 1) Gina Chen "An enchanting dark fantasy that turns tropes upside down while making us fall in love with the titular Violet, whose droll opinions and cunning self-protectiveness offer us a beautifully layered and endlessly fascinating narrator."
Hollow Fires (2022) Samira Ahmed "With Hollow Fires, Samira Ahmed offers us an impossible-to-put-down thriller that is both spectacularly haunting and deeply thoughtful. Safiya and Jawad are not narrators we usually see, and their harrowing story is a wholly original commentary on perception, community, and the way society weighs one life against another."
An Emotion of Great Delight (2021) Tahereh Mafi "A raw yet astoundingly elegant examination of identity, loneliness and family that is unflinching in its honesty and power. Tahereh Mafi holds nothing back and the reader is better for it."
Realm Breaker (2021) (Realm Breaker, book 1) Victoria Aveyard "The entire time I was reading REALM BREAKER, I wanted one thing: for the book to never end. It is classic yet groundbreaking, romantic yet edgy, a rollicking adventure that carries you along at a relentless pace. A true fantasy masterpiece."
Wings of Ebony (2021) (Wings of Ebony, book 1) J Elle "Wings of Ebony is an intense, page-turner of a book about magic, sisterhood, community and family. Debut author J. Elle offers us a richly-wrought world, weaving together past and present with a rare blend of deft insight and keen humor that leaves the reader wanting more."
The Damned (2020) (Beautiful Quartet, book 2) Renée Ahdieh "This is a one of a kind book, by a singularly original author."
The Grace Year (2019) Kim Liggett "The Grace Year seethes with love and brutality, violence and hope. It is a remarkable and timely story of the bonds between women, the cost of breaking those bonds, and the courage it takes to defy a patriarchy intent on crushing feminine strength. Everyone should read this book."
Infinity Son (2019) (Infinity Cycle, book 1) Adam Silvera "With Infinity Son, Adam Silvera has created an immersive, mind-bending world built around a sibling relationship that is both thoughtful and heart-wrenching."
The City of Brass (2017) (Daevabad Trilogy, book 1) S A Chakraborty "The City of Brass is the best adult fantasy I've read since The Name of the Wind. It's stunning and complex and consuming and fantastic. You must read it."
Beasts Made of Night (2017) (Beasts Made of Night, book 1) Tochi Onyebuchi "Tochi Onyebuchi deftly balances humor and tragedy, beauty and darkness. Beasts Made of Night is an exquisitely crafted, imaginative and absorbing tale. Taj, the hero, is both imperfect and hilarious--I wish we could hang out."
Exo (2017) (Exo, book 1) Fonda Lee "Fonda Lee's Exo is a deeply immersive story that balances fantastic, original world building with spine-tingling adventure. Days after finishing, I was still thinking about it."
Caraval (2017) (Caraval, book 1) Stephanie Garber "With CARAVAL, Stephanie Garber spins a spellbinding tale of sisterhood, love and betrayal. Like her characters, I lost myself in the dangerous, enchanting world she created-and never wanted to come out."
The Crown's Game (2016) (Crown's Game, book 1) Evelyn Skye "The Crown’s Game is a captivating tale that deftly transports readers to a mysterious and fascinating fantasy world, one teeming with hidden magic and fiery romance."