by Ben Schrag

I grew up loving fantasy books. Fantasy represented an escape from the ordinary. It represented the feeling that no one was too small for a big adventure. But, over time, that initial spark grew dull. Genre tropes became tired and repetitive. I almost gave up on fantasy books altogether. But, thankfully, I work at a library with lots of books at my disposal!

Today I want to highlight a few that I’ve discovered that share a common thread. These fantasies are all by Filipino authors!

The first is a middle grade book, “Marikit and the Ocean of Stars” by Caris Avendaño Cruz. In a premise worthy of a Pixar film, Marikit’s seamstress mother makes her a patchwork dress for Marakit’s 10^th birthday. But, unbeknownst to Marakit, her mother is a Diwata and the patchwork dress is actually a magical map that Marikit must use when she embarks on a fantastical journey to find the other half of her magic.

Next is a young adult book, “The Moonlight Blade” by Tessa Barbosa. Seventeen-year-old Narra Jal is on a search for her mother that brings her to the capital city. Through deception, she enters the competition to become the ruler of Tigang. This book was fast paced and thrilling, with plenty of mystery. As a fan of The Wheel of Time, I enjoyed Barbosa’s exploration of past lives as a part of the main plot.  

And, finally, an adult book: the lyrical and explosive “The Spear Cuts Through Water” by Simon Jimenez. Much like “Game of Thrones,” this is not for the feint-of-heart. But it is also beautiful and strange in ways that completely blew me away! The plot kicks off with a literal bang when the dying Moon Goddess is freed from her prison by her grandson, Jun. Escaping from the Emperor’s sons, the Three Terrors, Jun finds himself in a reluctant alliance with Keema, a one-armed man. Through the many dangers and adrenaline infused action sequences, Jun and Keema also fall in love. As the book itself says, “this is a love story to its blade-dented bone”.

Fantasy can get stale when it’s overly reliant on familiar tropes. Fantasy can get stale when it’s overly reliant on the same authors. I encourage you to explore the work of any of the incredibly talented Black or brown writers. You might just find yourself on a big adventure!