"It’s just so rich, lush and imaginative!”
South Asian authors have been making waves with their fantasy novels.
They have introduced fresh perspectives, cultural influences, and original world-building to the genre.
These stories transport readers to lands filled with magic, mystery, and monsters.
From epic adventures inspired by ancient scriptures to contemporary tales that reimagine traditional legends, South Asian fantasy novels are redefining the genre.
Whether you’re an avid reader or a fantastical newcomer, there is something for everyone in these books.
Join DESIblitz as we delve into ten fantasy novels with South Asian authors.
The Empire of Sand – Tasha Suri
In an empire built on the dreams of enslaved gods, The Empire of Sand is set around a nobleman’s daughter with magic in her blood.
It follows the Amrithi, who are outcasts and descendants of desert spirits.
They are in hiding and have been persecuted throughout the Empire because of the powers in their blood.
The protagonist, Mehr, is the illegitimate daughter of an imperial governor and an exiled Amrithi mother, who she barely remembers.
However, she carries her mother’s likeness and magic, and when her power comes to the attention of the emperor’s most feared mystics, she must give it her all to resist their cruel agenda.
If she fails, the gods themselves may awaken and seek vengeance.
This book also contains romance, with her marriage to a mysterious man named Amun with magical powers.
Together, they must navigate the dangers of the Empire, battle their growing attraction to each other, and stay true to themselves.
The novel is often praised for its world-building, complex characters and how it incorporates South Asian influences into the fantasy genre.
One fan said: “This was the perfect recipe for many of my favourite things.
“An original world with mythology and gods and dream magic. Themes of love and bonds and vows and family.
“A slow-burn romance is a significant plot point, but it is woven into the plot so masterfully that it doesn’t distract from the plot.
“A fierce powerhouse main character, both fragile and strong.”
Hunted by the Sky – Tanaz Bhathena
Hunted by the Sky follows Gul, a girl who has spent her life running.
She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and girls with these birthmarks have disappeared for years in the kingdom of Ambar.
Gul’s mark caused her parents to die at the hands of the King’s ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect herself.
When a rebel group called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescues her, takes her in, and trains her in warrior magic, Gul wants revenge.
She meets Cavas, who is about to sign his life away to the King’s army to save his terminally ill father.
Sparks fly as the chemistry between them grows. They become entangled in a mission of vengeance and discover unexpected magic.
This novel, set in medieval India, explores identity, class struggles and a high-stakes romance.
Author Kristen Ciccarelli praised the book: “Get ready for this gem!
“It’s everything you want in a fantasy novel: intricate worldbuilding, beautiful mythology, lush prose, fiercely complex girls and a tender-hearted romance.
“I loved every bit of it.”
Another reviewer said: “I love everything about this.
“It is the best Indian mythology/history/culture inspired by fantasy that I’ve read all my years on this planet.”
The book is part of a duology that concludes the storyline of the Wrath of Ambar.
The Gilded Wolves – Roshani Chokshi
This story is set in 1889 Paris, a city on the cusp of industry and power.
The Gilded Wolves follows treasure hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie, who monitors the city’s dark truths.
When the elite and powerful Order of Babel coerce him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered an unimaginable treasure: his true inheritance.
As he hunts down the ancient artefacts that the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a group of unlikely experts.
These include an indebted engineer, an exiled historian, a dancer with a sinister past, and a brother in arms if not blood.
Together, they join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris.
What they find might change the course of history, but it depends if they can stay alive.
The cast has diverse, interesting characters who have become fan favourites.
Virginia, a fan on Goodreads, said: “I loved these characters and their diversity!
“The plot was so much fun, and I adored the puzzles and the fact that this book kept me on my toes and forced me to pay attention to what was happening.”
The book is part of a trilogy and follows these characters throughout.
Kaikeyi – Vaishnavi Patel
This novel follows the titular character, Kaikeyi, the only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya.
She was raised on tales about godly might and benevolence and how they churned the vast ocean to ensure the prosperity of Bharat.
However, she watches as her father banishes her mother, listening as her worth is reduced to the marriage alliance she can secure.
They never seem to hear when she calls upon the gods for help.
In desperation for independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone.
With it, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat and most favoured queen.
As evil from her childhood stories threatens the cosmic order, her path clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family.
Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak and what legacy she intends to leave behind.
Kaikeyi is the vilified queen from Ramayan, and Vaishnavi Patel brings her character into new lights, making her open to empathy and showing her resilience.
It is filled with magic, adventure, political intrigue and feminist themes.
One reader said: “Before reading this, I knew nothing about the Ramayan, but now I want to know everything.”
Another said: “Kaikeyi has genuinely become my favourite book of all time.
“The friendships and bonds within this book will stay with me for years to come, and I hope this book will take place on shelves among other greats.”
The Tiger at Midnight – Swati Teerdhala
This novel, inspired by ancient Indian and Hindu mythology, features deception between a rebel assassin and a reluctant young soldier who must bring her to justice.
The Tiger at Midnight follows Esha, who, as a child, lived a happy existence with her family as close companions to the royal clan.
This was until a bloody coup took everything she ever loved away from her.
Now a fighter for the exiled prince’s resistance, she has dedicated her life to avenging the murder of her parents and taking down the current regime.
By day, she plays the role of the innocent merchant’s daughter, who sells poppy seeds at the market.
At night, she assumes the mantle of the Viper – a mysterious assassin who takes down important enemies for the rebels.
When Esha meets the soldier, Kunal, they both think they are calling the shots but are not the only ones moving the pieces.
As the bonds that hold their land in order deteriorate and the sins of the past meet the promise of the future, both rebel and soldier must make unforgivable choices.
This first book in Swati Teerdhala’s debut fantasy trilogy captivates with electric romance and stunning action.
A reviewer said: “I really, really love these characters. Swati Teerdhala writes tension so phenomenally well.
“Kunal and Esha are explosive together.”
The Candle and the Flame – Nafiza Azad
The Candle and the Flame tells the story of Fatima, a girl with Djinn fire who lives in Noor City.
Qirat has many musical languages, and people of all faiths weave their lives together.
However, the city bears deep scars from the past, when the chaotic Shayateen djinn tribe slaughtered the entire human population, barring Fatima and two other people.
The Maharajah now rules the city, and Noor is protected by the Ifrit, the djinn of order and reason, and their commander, Zulfikar.
When one of the most powerful Ifrit dies, Fatima’s life changes unimaginably and in ways that scare her loved ones.
Fatima becomes drawn into the interests of the Maharajah and his sister, Zulfikar and the Djinn, and the dangers of a magical battlefield.
This story is perfect for those looking for a fantasy story with strong female empowerment.
It seamlessly includes languages such as Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bahari and Arabic and wraps the reader in action with touches of heart-stirring romance.
One fan said: “The world-building is fantastic! I loved the city and the country’s history. It’s just so rich, lush and imaginative!”
Another said: “I absolutely adored this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves rich and evocative fantasy.”
Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove – Rati Mehrotra
This book follows Katyani, whose role in the kingdom of Chandela has been clear: becoming the advisor and protector of the crown prince Ayan when he ascends to the throne.
Katyani grew up in the royal family because she was bound to the Queen of Chandela through a forbidden soul bond.
She has become the best guardswoman the Garuda has ever seen.
When assassination attempts threaten the royals, Katyani is shipped off to the Gurukul of the famous Acharya Mahavir as an escort to Ayan and his cousin Bhairav.
She must hone their skills to protect them so they are prepared to become leaders.
Katyani is stuck in a monastic school in the middle of a forest, and nothing annoys her more than her run-ins with Acharya’s son, Daksh.
He can’t stop talking about the rules, and his gaze makes her feel like he can see into her soul.
When Katyani and the princes are quickly summoned back to Chandela before their training is complete, tragedy strikes, turning Katyani’s life upside down.
Alone and betrayed in a land full of monsters, Katyani must find answers about her past and save her loved ones.
Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove is fast-paced and filled with mythical creatures, political games and romance.
A reviewer on Goodreads said: “I found it hard to put this gorgeous book down, even carrying it to and from work each day.
“It’s that good. Put it on your TBR!”
Another said: “Reading this was hilarious, and it made me cackle.
“The slow burn was satisfying, and it got into the action from the very beginning.”
We Hunt the Flame – Hafsah Faizal
In We Hunt the Flame, Zafira is a hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people.
Nasir is the Prince of Death. He assassinates those who defy his autocratic father, the Sultan.
Both have to hide something. If Zafira’s sex is revealed, all her achievements will be rejected.
If Nasir displays his compassion, his father will punish him in the most brutal ways.
Both of them are famous in the Kingdom of Arawiya, and neither of them wants to be.
With a war brewing and the Arz sweeping closer with each passing day, it engulfs the land in shadow.
Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artefact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz.
Nasir’s father sends him on a similar mission to retrieve the artefact and kill the hunter.
However, as their journey unfolds, an ancient evil stirs, and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can anticipate.
One fan wrote: “I am in love with each character and their evolution, the group dynamic, the romance, the fantasy world, the plot twists!”
Another said: “Okay, WOW! The writing in this book is art. The prose moved me. It was literal poetry.”
The City of Brass – SA Chakraborty
This story is set in 18th Century Cairo. We meet Nahri, who has never believed in magic.
She is a con artist with unsurpassed talent, and she knows that palm readings, healings, and cars are all tricks and learned skills used to swindle Ottoman nobles.
However, when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly djinn warrior to her side, she is forced to accept that the magical world is real.
The warrior tells her tales of the legendary city of brass, Deavabad, a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.
In that city, behind gilded brass walls with lace enchantments and the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering.
When Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce.
The magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics, and she soon learns that even the cleverest schemes have deadly consequences.
The City of Brass is the first book in the Daevabad Trilogy – which is one of the greatest collections of fantasy novels.
A book fan said: “I was entranced from the beginning of this book.
“Politics, schemes, magic, brutality and beauty all wrapped into one. I cannot wait to continue with this series.”
An Ember in the Ashes – Sabaa Tahir
This novel follows Laia, an enslaved person and Elias, a soldier. Neither of them are free. In the martial empire, defiance is met with death.
Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the emperor risk the execution of their loved ones.
In this brutal world inspired by Ancient Rome, Laia lives with her grandparents and her older brother.
The family lives in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the empire as they have seen the consequences.
When Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, she must make a decision.
In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them within the Empire’s most outstanding military academy.
There, Laila meets Elias, the school’s finest but secretly unwilling soldier. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce.
He and Laila soon learn that their destinies are intertwined and that their choices are fate-changing.
This fantasy novel is part of a four-part series and has become a fan favourite.
Candace, on Goodreads, said: “If you’re looking for a fantastic story full of action and adventure, this is a great place to start.
“There was never a dull moment in this book. Some danger was always brewing, and I never knew what would happen next.”
The work of South Asian authors, with their cultural richness and wide tapestry of South Asian lore, sets them apart from other authors.
As the diversity in the literature space increases, South Asian writers remind us that some of the most compelling stories come from embracing the unique heritage that shapes each story.
These novels show the importance and benefits of advertising a range of fantasy novels which are written by South Asian authors.
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