Today we’re going to keep up building a list of Diverse books I want to read.

Prompt 5: Middle East Inspired

Inspired by ancient Arabia, this book tells the story of Zafira, the Hunter, who disguises herself as a man to feed her people. She sets out on a quest to uncover and restore magic to the land. Nasir, the Prince of Death and his father’s assassin, simultaneously sets out on a similar mission: get the artifact and kill the Hunter. As each of them rush forward towards their goal, an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds and truths are revealed about the artifact.

This book has been on my shelf for so long and now there’s a sequel. I really want to get to this as soon as I can.

Other Prompts satisfied: Different Culture than Yours, POC on the cover, non-western setting, Diverse Book with More than 300 Pages.

Prompt 6: Focuses on Identity

How Beautiful the Ordinary is a collection of short stories and nontraditional narratives that focus on various identities.

I’m really interested to see where this goes and hope it will get me out of my comfort zone. It is always good to broaden your horizons regularly and growth happens outside the comfort zone.

Other Prompts: Diverse read more than 300 pages.

Prompt 7: Diverse Contemporary

The Hate U Give focuses on Starr Carter who is caught between her suburban prep school and her poor inner city neighborhood. Everything screeches to a halt when she witnesses the death of her childhood friends at the hands of police. Facing threats from both the police and a drug kingpin, Starr is the only one who knows what happened that night and her words can change her community forever.

I must be the last person who hasn’t read this book. I don’t usually read contemporary books, but I growth happens outside the comfort zone.

Other Prompts: POC on cover, Own Voice, Diverse book with more than 300 pages

Prompt 8: By a LatinX author

Shortly after her cousin marries a charming white aristocratic family, Noemi and her family receive a letter claiming she is being poisoned. Noemi leaves her posh 1950s Mexican City socialite life to go tend to her. When she arrives, things aren’t quite as they seem. As Noemi stays longer, she begins to realize things are not at all as they should be or seem and things are very dangerous.

A gothic horror novel set in 1950s Mexico that has been billed as Jane Eyre (a favorite) meets Lovecraft (total racist and xenophobe, but the work people have done with the mythos is fantastic). Its on my TBR this month. I swear I will finish it. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a fantastic author and one of my new must-read authors. Pick up one of her books now.

That wraps up this week’s very late Monday post. I am thrilled to pick this up again and to diversify my TBR. As always, thanks to Noura at The Perks of Being Noura (@NunuKz) for letting me use their graphic. Read diverse and challenge your comfort zone.

See you later this week. Have a safe and happy week.

Mariah