McKinney’s reimagining of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland brings forward glorious action, magic portals around the world and a Black Alice whose, “will they/won’t they” liaisons with various characters ratchets up the tensions in the first two books of the series in delicious ways. With elements of Southern gothic storytelling emphasized by the setting and the time twists PLUS captivating interrogations of generational trauma, Deonn provides a unique context for engaging legends that seem to be set in stone but can actually be reborn in inventive ways. Bree ends up chasing her mother’s story through time and root magic, while also trying to stay out of trouble and undergoing medieval-style trials in order to join the stereotypically creepy Order of the Round Table, the university’s secret society binding together heirs of King Arthur and his knights. Bree Matthews is a genius sixteen-year-old searching for answers about her deceased mother on the literally and figuratively haunted campus of her mom’s alma mater. The possibilities for engaging with the text across various social issues that can intersect with race are endless and not less poignant because of the fantastic landscape, the emphasis that Ifueko creates is critical and contemporary.Ī contemporary Arthurian retelling that centralizes and emphasizes the reality of Black folks being all up and through medieval histories while also critiquing the overwhelming whiteness of these mythologies is the YA novel I didn’t know I needed until I read it. Although this story should and could be celebrated for the comprehensive world-building alone, not-too subtle social commentary on ethnic discrimination as well as class and gender inequality ensure that this book is epic for a multitude of reasons.

All of the mystery leads to multiple confrontations where Tarisai must decide if and how she will develop her own path toward personal and public liberation. With, “fathomless black eyes,” rich dark skin, high cheekbones, and a coily cloud of black hair, Tarisai is the mirror image of her mother and unknowingly carries the legacy of hatred and betrayal that had her mother banished from the royal court where people seem to know her story but refuse to share it with Tarisai.

Set on the fictional continent of Aritsar which has lushly imagined regions that run the gamut of diverse weather patterns and geographies, from the Asiatic mountains of Songland to Swana’s “balmy grasslands”, Raybearer details the journey of the would-be child assassin and half-djinn, Tarisai of Swana, who is charged by her mother with endearing herself to the crown-prince of Aritsar so that she can murder him. Ifueko’s tale of murderous intent, palace intrigue and young love that’s both familial and romantic is a gorgeously told fantasy inspired by West-African cultures and communities.

Breanna j mcdaniel