Asian Fantasy Fiction

Nura has worked all her life in the mica mines, earning just enough to keep her family afloat–and enjoy the odd delicious gulab jamun from the market. Some day she's going to find the Demon's Tongue, a legendary treasure buried deep in the mines, and her family will never have to worry about money again. But when a terrible accident buries her best friend below ground, Nura goes in search of him and passes over into the magical and terrible world of the jinn. Across a pink sea and under a purple sky, she finds her way to a palace, where great riches and a whole new life are on offer.

Mei and Yun Wu have always been different from the other kids in the village. They’ve learned not to talk about why. But now, as this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the twelve-year-olds find that they are exactly like everyone else: bursting with excitement. That’s because word of their grandfather’s incredible mooncakes has reached the Emperor of China himself. And on festival night, the emperor’s son will arrive to sample Grandpa’s mooncakes and report back to His Majesty.

The Chai House is a haunting debut novel that explores the complexity of community when individuals are unaware of their own roles in upholding systems of oppression. Swati has spent her entire life trying to live up to her family’s expectations of her. She has learned it is easiest to just do what is asked of her, without resistance; a skill that has helped her survive in the early years of the Knights, an authoritarian regime. When her mother has a request for Swati, she agrees to it as it is the only way to help her young niece have some sort of future.

A young guy named Jack Hong hitchhikes throughout America following the keilin, a mystical unicorn out of Chinese mythology. The keilin leads him to 10 adventures with ghosts and other supernatural figures. These experiences reveal to him not only parts of American history he never knew but also his own identity and the role he will choose for his life.

Born into slavery, Mai's horizons are limited to one simple desire: to catch the eye of a handsome mate. She dares not dream for more, for like all humans, she's been taught from birth that her life belongs to the orcs, her destiny to serve.

The three tales in this audiobook are adapted from stories told by the peasants in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They are drawn from some books I found in shops when I visited the former USSR in 1988 as part of a citizen diplomacy group. I was intrigued by these folktales, since my paternal grandmother lived for some time in Odessa in the Ukraine. Also, I found these stories share a common theme - the poor peasant is able to succeed despite obstacles against an unfair ruler.

Xander Miyamoto should be feeling great. It's the beginning of summer vacation, his mother has returned from a long absence, and he has learned that he is Momotaro, a warrior with special powers. But instead of reveling in it all, Xander is plagued by questions and nightmares. To chase at least the nightmares away, Xander's grandmother gives him a special baku charm - but he must not to rely on it too much. If he does, the baku will take the dreams of everyone in the house away forever.

Pirates, sorcerers, and witches battle for an ancient magical treasure. Amlina the witch has fled the city of the tyrant Archimage of the East. She plans to return the fabled Cloak of the Two Winds to its rightful owners. But Amlina’s ship is waylaid by barbarian pirates at the South Polar Sea. Lonn the Iruk skipper has led his boat away from the hunt after dreaming of fabulous treasure. When his crew captures the witch’s ship, they get more than they bargained for. After carrying off her possessions, they are robbed in turn. Worse, one of their crew is taken.

All Michelle Jamieson wants is a fresh start. She’s ready to rebuild her life and put the memories of her abusive ex-boyfriend behind her, but her ex isn’t ready to let her go, even after his death. Security consultant Sinjin Heath is on leave while recovering from a mission that went tragically wrong. The physical scars may have healed, but he still doubts his ability to protect anyone ever again. When Michelle arrives at the lakeside cabin next door to Sinjin, things start heating up fast.

Continually harried by agents of Darkness, their quest to restore the seals ensuring Ea’ae’s safety from extradimensional incursion not yet complete, Yip, Aroganji, Wrindanneth, and Slate race against the Cabal to secure their world’s future. With little hope for success, unable to strike directly against the Cabal, the Four must find a way to halt the Shadow’s advance forever. Lords of Light is the third and final book of the Chronicles of the Fists, an epic fantasy trilogy recounting Yip and his allies’ adventures to bring hope to a world gripped by despair. Lords of Light is an...

Jolina can't take Claudine's bullying any longer! Though Jolina knows she's still in training to use her grandfather's arbularyo magic, she sneaks into his potions lab. Jolina brews a batch of gayuma, a powerful love potion. And it works. The love potion conquers Claudine's hateful nature. In fact, Claudine doesn't just stop bullying Jolina - now she wants to be Jolina's BFF, and does everything and anything Jolina asks. But magic comes with a cost, and bad intentions beget bad returns. Controlling another person's ability to love - or hate - will certainly have consequences.

When Ran, the Shadow Warrior, is dispatched to investigate rumors of an invasion massing to the north, he signs on as protection for a trade caravan. But once underway, the caravan is attacked by an overwhelming force of slavers who take Ran and several others captive. Dragged into the bowels of the earth as slave labor for a despot-in-exile eager to reclaim his throne, Ran must make a desperate escape with his friends if he has any hope of uncovering the truth about the invasion above ground.

Star Anise dreams of being a star. But nobody in Spice Town seems to notice her, so she sets off in search of stardom. Join Star Anise as she goes on a flavourful adventure and finds out what it really means to be a star. This tasty tale is about caring for others.

The Spice Kids' friends from overseas, the Herbs, have come for a visit. Everyone is excited! Everyone, except for Cinnamon. He is afraid the Herbs want to move in and take everything away from them. So he comes up with a plan to get rid of them. Will it work? Find out in this delicious tale about jealously, trust and friendship.

The Asian Spice Kids move to a new home and they find their spice corner a little too small. Shallot annoys her friends by getting in their way and they chase her away. But when the Spice Kids come face to face with a giant, Shallot unexpectedly saves the day. This is a hearty tale about respect, friendship and the courage to stand up for what is right.

Oh no! Chilli has lost her flavour! If she can't help the chefs make her dishes sharp and spicy, she might get tossed out of the Asian Spice Kitchen. What can Chilli do? Find out in this spicy tale about working hard and doing your best.

Clove always helps people with their problems. But now she has a problem--and nobody can help her. She has been chosen to speak at the Spice Town show and tell programme, but she is too afraid to speak! Can she help herself this time? This is a zesty tale about finding the courage to do things differently.

A collection drawing from the many areas of Mary Anne Mohanraj's work, Silence and the Word includes everything from enticing erotica to Sri Lankan-American immigrant tales, from romantic poetry to provocative essays, like “Esthely Blue” (a magical-realist semi-autobiographical story of sex, work, and disappearing body parts), “At the Gates of the City” (a Mormon ghost story), and the award-winning story “A Gentle Man” (an affecting tale of an immigrant father’s attempt to reconcile his own yearning for home with his children’s individual needs and desires). Mohanraj boldly explores sexuality, ethnicity, and their interactions with the human heart.

Tala lost her family to the empress' army and has spent her life avenging them in battle. But the empress' crimes don't haunt her half as much as the crimes Tala has committed against the laws of magic...and her own flesh and blood. Jimuro has inherited the ashes of an empire. Now that the revolution has brought down his kingdom, he must depend on Tala to bring him home safe. But it was his army who murdered her family. Now Tala will be his redemption - or his downfall.

In Lonnie’s Warrior Sword, Lonnie is the daughter of Mulan. She’s strong. She’s fearless. And she’s willing to fight for what she wants. When Lonnie takes her friends on an forbidden trip to the Imperial City to get the sword that belonged to her mother, she must prove she’s a true warrior. In Carlos’s Scavenger Hunt, Carlos is the son of Cruella de Vil. He’s thoughtful. He’s sweet. He’s kind. But when Carlos joins up with Evie and Jane for the Auradon Prep Scavenger Hunt, he decides it’s his chance to prove that he’s more than Mr. Nice Guy.