Big Books of 2026

Listopia > Book Lists Voted on by Thistle & Verse (29 Lists)



The Gilded Ones by Namina FornaRaybearer by Jordan IfuekoThe City We Became by N.K. JemisinA Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. BrownRiot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
2020 Fantasy and Science Fiction Books by Black Authors
51 books — 61 voters
Fledgling by Octavia E. ButlerThe Gilda Stories by Jewelle GomezDayBlack by Keef CrossVoice Of The Blood by Jemiah JeffersonImage of Emeralds and Chocolate by K. Murry Johnson
Vampire Books by Black/ African Descended Authors
20 books — 7 voters

The Deep by Rivers SolomonA Song Below Water by Bethany C. MorrowSiren's Call by Jessica CageRise of the Jumbies by Tracey BaptisteBayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Mermaid Books by Black/ African Descended Authors
17 books — 10 voters
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
Queer Merfolk
262 books — 278 voters

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth AcevedoKingdom of Souls by Rena BarronA River of Royal Blood by Amanda JoyChildren of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi AdeyemiSlay by Brittney Morris
Black Heroines 2019
68 books — 27 voters
Escaping Exodus by Nicky DraydenThe Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí ClarkThe Rage of Dragons by Evan WinterPet by Akwaeke Emezi
BooktubeSFF 2020 Nomination Ideas
38 books — 21 voters

Deathless Divide by Justina IrelandLegendborn by Tracy Deonn
Black Heroines 2020
33 books — 49 voters
Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord
Best "Folklore/Mythology" Retelling Books
59 books — 19 voters

Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston
2018 Nonfiction Books by African-Americans
76 books — 34 voters
The Deep by Rivers SolomonRise of the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
Books About Mermaids and Sea Folklore
117 books — 99 voters

The Annotated African American Folktales by Henry Louis Gates Jr.Her Stories by Virginia HamiltonThe People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton
Mythology/Folklore
600 books — 203 voters
Every Tongue Got to Confess by Zora Neale HurstonHer Stories by Virginia HamiltonMules and Men by Zora Neale HurstonThe Annotated African American Folktales by Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Myths, Legends, and Folklore of African-Americans
102 books — 12 voters

Binti by Nnedi OkoraforHome by Nnedi OkoraforThe Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí ClarkThe Night Masquerade by Nnedi OkoraforThe Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson
Tor.com Publishing Releases
154 books — 140 voters
Tempest by Beverly Jenkins
Class Differences in Historical Romance
262 books — 119 voters

Pride by Ibi Zoboi
Class Differences in Contemporary Romance
87 books — 55 voters
Dread Nation by Justina IrelandBrown Sugar Fairies by Aiysha Sinclair
Best Children and YA Books without romance
160 books — 22 voters

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Be Glad You Don't Go to This School
36 books — 27 voters
The Galaxy Game by Karen LordThe Belles by Dhonielle ClaytonDread Nation by Justina Ireland
I Go To A "Special" School
292 books — 146 voters

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
YA Novels in Verse (LMS)
17 books — 3 voters
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Best Books Ever
76,035 books — 282,449 voters

The Lake by Tananarive Due
Expert Liars
18 books — 6 voters
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. ButlerDawn by Octavia E. ButlerWho Fears Death by Nnedi OkoraforThe Fifth Season by N.K. JemisinWild Seed by Octavia E. Butler
Best Science Fiction With a Female Protagonist
1,389 books — 2,821 voters

Redemption in Indigo by Karen LordThe Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton
Best "Strong Female" Fantasy Novels
4,453 books — 18,208 voters
The Stone Sky by N.K. JemisinHome by Nnedi Okorafor
Best Picks: Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Novels of 2017
229 books — 681 voters

Beloved by Toni Morrison
Books That Everyone Should Read At Least Once
31,461 books — 119,794 voters
The Belles by Dhonielle ClaytonI Am Magical by Briana LawrenceDread Nation by Justina IrelandThe Magical Adventures of Pretty Pearl by Virginia HamiltonThe Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden
Books That Should Be Made Into Movies
32,226 books — 68,027 voters

Unraveling by Karen LordEscaping Exodus by Nicky DraydenThe Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda PetrusThe Forgotten Girl by India Hill BrownKingdom of Souls by Rena Barron
Can't Wait Books of 2019
1,500 books — 3,367 voters