Matched to readers who loved He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
A queer reimagining of Chinese history where ambition, identity, and empire collide in spectacular, brutal fashion.
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The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison — Court intrigue and political maneuvering, though with a more optimistic tone and less morally ambiguous protagonist.
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin — Features protagonists struggling with hidden identities while navigating oppressive systems and personal transformation.
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin — Complex power dynamics and morally gray characters in a fantasy setting that challenges traditional genre expectations.