These Black authors are on the rise, and some already making waves. From magical HBCUs and spellbinding fantasy to gripping political dramas and raw, real-world stories, these up-and-coming authors are redefining storytelling. Whether you crave magic, romance, or raw emotion, these fresh voices are shaking up the literary world. Join the excitement with us, it’s worth the ride.
‘Til Death by Busayo Matuluko
Lagos is about to host a killer wedding. In the wake of her cousin Dérin’s big day, Lara Oyinlola, a true-crime fan, discovers anonymous threats to the bride-to-be. Once she discovers this, Lara’s sleuthing skills are challenged as she uncovers sinister secrets and malicious crimes. Can she stop these threats before they tear the family apart?
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I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming
Wildlife biologist Dorothy Valentine’s PhD pursuit takes a detour when she’s attacked by a lion and then abducted by aliens; talk about wild. When she’s crash-landed on a dinosaur-infested planet with her lion bestie, Toto, she’s rescued by the sexy alien Sol. Together with Lok, the equally hot, possibly criminal Dory explores their new world, battling prehistoric creatures and questioning her desire to return to Earth.
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Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Set in a dystopian alternate reality, Loretta Thurwar and Hurricane Staxxx are stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, a brutal prison entertainment program. Competing in gladiator-style fights for freedom, they’re fan favorites. As Thurwar nears release and fights for her fellow Links’ humanity, CAPE’s owners unleash devastating consequences, blurring the lines between fiction and a terrifying possible reality.
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Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours
Sariyah Lee Bryant has a secret ability—she can hear what people need, from small items to urgent necessities. But when she helps her friend Deja just before she vanishes, Sariyah starts questioning whether her gift is more of a curse. With little trust in the police, she and her friends take matters into their own hands, but as personal struggles mount, Sariyah’s decision to monetize her ability might not only help find Deja—it could put her in grave danger.
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The Love Simulation by Etta Easton
Career or love—what will Brianna choose? As vice principal, she’s desperate to secure funding for a new school library, leading her to join a Mars simulation competition. But her teammate, Roman—the principal’s son—proves both infuriating and irresistible. Brianna must decide which she’d rather have: the future she’s built or the love she’s falling for as their chemistry builds and secrets unravel.
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Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine
Sixteen-year-old Junie is enslaved on Bellereine Plantation, haunted by the loss of her sister, Minnie, and desperate for freedom. When a reckless act calls Minnie’s spirit back, Junie finds hope—but also danger. With Caleb’s help, she uncovers Bellereine’s buried secrets and risks everything for love, liberation, and a future that’s finally her own.
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Bones at the Crossroads by LaDarrion Williams
In the sequel to Blood at the Root, LaDarrion Williams returns with book two. Freshman year at Caiman University should be normal for Malik, but a summer of loss and betrayal haunts him. His newfound family is fractured, and his mother may be the biggest threat. Amidst intertribal tension and rising Bokor power, Malik must find his place in a world he barely understands, confronting the darkness within himself.
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Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel
Three siblings—Calla, Dre, and Jamie—are bound by family but strained by circumstance. Calla struggles as Jamie’s guardian while Dre pursues his own life. Haunted by nightmares of their deaths, Calla’s fears become reality when Jamie’s protest leads them on the run. Now, seeking refuge in a remote cabin, they face a terrifying new threat where their lives and reality hang in the balance.
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So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
The first in the Divine Traitors series, this Jamaican-inspired fantasy follows sisters Faron and Elara in the wake of a brutal war. When Elara bonds with an enemy dragon at a fragile peace summit, the gods demand Faron kill her to break the bond. Trying to find another way, Faron dabbles in dangerous magic while Elara discovers secrets that could bring the empire crashing down.
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