Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles is an absolute favourite YA fantasy with themes of smashing sexism + rebelling against systems in the midst of romantic yearning and an air of mystery.
Rise of the Red Hand by Olivia Chadha is a a South Asian science-fiction dystopia that impressed me with its timely themes of climate change and classism around a revolution against technocracy.
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi is a heist-filled YA historical fantasy set in 1889 Paris with diverse characters, complex magic, romance and excellent themes. An absolute favourite of mine.
We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal is the first in a YA fantasy duology set in ancient Arabia where darkness and cold is creeping over a kingdom of sand and sun. An absolute favourite of mine.
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong has easily become one of the best reads of the year and taken a place in my list of absolute favourites. It’s a historical fantasy romance set in 1926 Shanghai.