Children’s Books

Starting with the littlest readers, here are some children’s books sure to captivate your kiddo with enchanting illustrations and thought-provoking themes:

Gwei the Hungry Ghost written by Emeline Lee; illustrated by Basia Tran

With Chinese folklore, mouthwateringly vivid food, and a thoughtful exploration of loneliness and the power of community, Gwei the Hungry Ghost is the perfect read for foodies longing to explore the Hungry Ghost Festival alongside the sweetest ghost friends.

Mr. Chow’s Night Market written by Emily Sun Li; illustrated by Yu Ting Cheng 

Powerful, welcoming, and heartwarming, Mr. Chow’s Night Market celebrates the joy and power of community, creativity, being yourself, and trying new things, highlighting the importance of collaboration and asking for help when you need it amidst the backdrop of Taiwan’s first night market.

Music of the Bells written by Anitha Rao-Robinson; illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

Vibrant and empowering, Music of the Bells beautifully highlights the power of movement and dance, introducing readers to Kathak (a classical Indian dance form) and exploring dance as a storytelling medium.

Where Do Stories Live? by Meenal Patel

Where Do Stories Live? enchants as it brilliantly emphasizes the power of stories and the myriad ways in which they are born through beautifully peaceful, calming illustrations. 

Middle-Grade Books

For middle-grade readers, here are some sweeping stories with magic and adventure galore:

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

Brimming with Hindu mythology, found family, and a hilarious cast, Aru Shah and the End of Time is the cinematic first book in the Pandava series. 

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

With Korean mythology, fox-magic, and gripping action, Dragon Pearl is an unputdownable space opera.

Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien 

Joyful, playful, and fierce, Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword is a delightful fantasy that blends martial arts and figure skating. 

Squalo & Mage vs. the Rage of the Bakunawa: A Graphic Novel by Kara Bodegón-Hikino 

Filipino folklore, an action-packed journey perfect for fans of Pokémon games, and heartwarming friendship await readers in Squalo & Mage vs. the Rage of the Bakunawa: A Graphic Novel.

Young Adult (YA) Books

For YA readers, here are some irresistible reads with everything from horror to fantasy to romance to game-show shenanigans:

A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen 

Heartfelt, sweet, and scrumptious, A Bánh Mì for Two is a sapphic romance set in Vietnam featuring street food, family, and friendship.

Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim 

Celestial Banquet is a riveting, delicious fantasy with Chinese and Southeast Asian folklore and a propulsive, vicious cooking competition.  

Coming Out Perfect by Richard Mercado

Coming Out Perfect beautifully explores Filipino culture and the weight of familial expectations, fitting in, and coming out, offering a welcoming and uplifting graphic novel. 

Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee 

With sea-swept imagery, a compelling murder mystery, and a dash of romance, Heiress of Nowhere delivers an immersive historical mystery set on Orcas Island, Washington, in 1918.

I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

Evocative and immersive, I Am Not Jessica Chen thoughtfully presents themes of burnout, imposter syndrome, and love against a dark academia backdrop.

Just Between Us by Adeline Kon

Just Between Us is an addictive, fierce, and romantic YA graphic novel with a swoon-worthy sapphic romance and figure skating.

Midnights with You by Clare Osongco

With a tender romance, late-night driving lessons, and a powerful exploration of family trauma, Midnights with You is an emotional, romantic contemporary novel.

Seyoon and Dean, Unscripted by Sujin Witherspoon

Featuring an action-packed wilderness game show, a witty cast of characters, and an adorable romance, Seyoon and Dean, Unscripted is an addictive, cinematic contemporary novel.

Strike the Zither by Joan He

Strike the Zither is a fierce retelling of the Chinese classic The Three Kingdoms, filled with political intrigue and star-crossed lovers.

That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall 

Haunting, propulsive, and raw, That Which Feeds Us is a horror-infused thriller with sisterhood and sapphic love that celebrates and honors Hawaiian culture, history, folklore, and resilience.

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha

The Fox Maidens is a sweeping graphic novel set in 16^th-century Korea with a sapphic romance and Korean mythology.

The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker 

Immersive, gritty, and magical, The Keeper of Night brilliantly weaves Japanese folklore into a gripping adventure that takes readers to London, Japan, and the Japanese underworld.

The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

Medical-inspired magic and a Vietnam-inspired world unite in The Last Bloodcarver, a lush and mystery-infused fantasy.

The Last Tiger by Julia and Brad Riew

Inspired by true stories from the authors’ grandparents’ love story, The Last Tiger is a powerful, romantic, and adventurous tale with hope, high stakes, and magic.

Zhara by S. Jae-Jones

Zhara is a witty, creative, and addictive fantasy with East Asian mythology, found family, and a pinch of Cinderella.

Adult Books

For adult readers, here are some books to satisfy your literary cravings, from mythology to monsters to magic to mystery:

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa

Magical, cozy, and emotional, A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang serves up a heartfelt and compelling story set in an enchanted bakery.

Aunt Tigress by Emily Yu-Xuan Qin

Splendidly strange and wonderfully haunting, Aunt Tigress is a compelling urban fantasy with sapphic love inspired by Chinese and First Nation mythology.

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Vibrant and propulsive, Black Salt Queen captivates with its Filipino-inspired world, powerful cast, and political intrigue.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a spellbinding, romantic fantasy with Chinese mythology and lush prose.

Local Heavens by K.M. Fajardo

Set in New York City, 2075, Local Heavens delivers an addictive reimagining of The Great Gatsby, filled with cyberpunk technology, queer love, lyrical prose, and a Filipino American Nick Carraway.

Red City by Marie Lu

Vicious, dark, and magical, Red City presents an alternate Los Angeles with alchemy and star-crossed love.

The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung 

A cinematic standalone featuring Chinese culture, a powerful mother-daughter bond, and political intrigue, The Last Mandarin is a gripping thriller from start to finish.

The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg 

Adventure, love, and Thai mythology meet in The Last Phi Hunter, a witty and action-packed fantasy debut.

The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li

A twisty and haunting gothic thriller, The Manor of Dreams delivers a compelling concoction of sapphic love, family drama, mystery, and a haunted garden.

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

The Poet Empress is a lush, immersive, and vicious fantasy with court politics, magic, and Chinese mythology.

The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei 

The Stardust Grail delivers an innovative and unputdownable adventure with a treasure hunt, found family, and riveting heist.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard 

Brimming with Indian mythology, hilarious characters, and swoon-worthy romance, The Starlight Heir is a sweeping romantasy.

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu

The Subtle Art of Folding Space delivers a heartfelt, propulsive, and creative sci-fi novel with delicious dim sum, generational trauma, and physics.

These are just some of the countless incredible books waiting to join your TBR list this AANHPI Heritage Month! Many are out now, and some release later this year, making it the perfect time to preorder to continue the celebration and amplify AANHPI stories throughout 2026. Happy AANHPI Heritage Month, and happy reading!

The post 36 Books To Add To Your AANHPI Heritage Month TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Keala! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m a hapa Native Hawaiian author of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, currently living in Los Angeles as part of the diaspora. I’m best known for my work on Disney’s A Twisted Tale series (How Far I’ll Go and Nobody Gets Left Behind), where I get to reimagine stories for characters like Moana and Stitch.

When I’m not writing, I’m probably co-running Pacific Islanders in Publishing, a community I co-founded to support other Pacific Island creators, hiking with my dog Mele, playing video games, or looking for a new book to read.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Honestly, it’s hard to say when exactly as I feel like I’ve always been writing. But when I was eight, my older brother got me into fanfiction writing about Inuyasha. Those stories were really my first “published” work, and writing them taught me that I could take a world I loved and make it my own.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: My older brother read The Invasion (Animorphs) to me, but the first book I ever read entirely on my own was Inuyasha Vol. 1 by Rumiko Takahashi. After that, I got hooked on reading and read everything in the house, from The Hobbit to every romance novel my family had by Jude Deveraux and Nora Roberts.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Her prose made me ache, and I realized that I wanted to learn how to write sentences that could make someone else feel that deeply.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Circe by Madeline Miller. Her reimagining is the only way I can see Circe’s story now.

Your latest novel, That Which Feeds Us, is out May 5^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Hawaiian Gothic about paradise’s cost.

What can readers expect?

Expect a mix of Hawaiian folklore, atmospheric horror, and a critical look at wealth and escapism. If fans enjoyed Mexican Gothic or Welcome to Derry, this book is designed for them.

Where did the inspiration for That Which Feeds Us come from?

I was homesick and needed to go home, even if it was only on the page, so I started writing a story about a diaspora Native Hawaiian girl going home for the first time. But to show readers the real Hawaiʻi I knew, I realized I had to uproot the commodified, tourist-driven myth of my homeland they were familiar with: a paradise created for consumption.

Influenced by social commentary horror (Jordan Peele’s work, Mexican Gothic, and When No One is Watching), the story naturally evolved into a modern Hawaiian ghost story to tackle the haunting, ongoing impacts of colonialism.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I enjoyed writing Lehua’s dry humor and her observations about the resort’s guests. I also have a soft spot for the resort manager Chiyo.

What do you hope readers, especially those unfamiliar with Hawai‘i’s history, take away from the novel?

Although That Which Feeds Us is fiction, the novel’s supernatural elements serve as metaphors for the very real suffering and injustices Native Hawaiians endure. I hope readers recognize that the pervasive view of Hawaiʻi as paradise is a carefully constructed myth. One that has a very real human cost. And the only way to achieve real change is to acknowledge the truth of the past, rather than the fantasy of the present.

How did you approach reimagining traditional gothic tropes within a Hawaiian cultural landscape?

The gothic was a natural fit, given its focus on isolation, the inescapable influence of the past, and how it can prey upon the present, as I wanted to explore the haunting impact of colonialism and the ghosts that still linger in our homeland. I shifted the traditional gothic setting from a haunted house to a luxurious Hawaiian island resort to explore the gothic tradition of homesickness through a diasporic lens. In That Which Feeds Us, Lehua comes home to a land that has been transformed by tourism, making her feel like an outsider in her ancestral homeland. For the horror elements, I wove in my own upbringing and the Hawaiian folklore I grew up learning about.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Like all writers, I run into writer’s block and imposter syndrome. While I haven’t figured out a way to overcome the latter, when I get stuck in a story, I try to check my outline and ask myself either 1) “What’s the worst thing that could happen”, or 2) “What would make me feel more excited about this scene?” to push myself to think outside the box and get unstuck.

What’s next for you?

I’m staying busy! I’m working on another Hawaiian Gothic about possession gods set within a haunted Hawaiian homestead community. I’m also looking forward to meeting more readers in May when That Which Feeds Us releases. Beyond that, I’m continuing my work with Pacific Islanders in Publishing to help bring even more Pasifika voices to the shelves.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I recently read, loved, and blurbed Salt Water Blood by Manuia Heinrich. It’s a haunting YA thriller packed with Tahitian culture. It follows a girl who can hear the sea’s prophetic thoughts, and she has to embrace her gift to clear her brother of murder. It comes out November 17 and is available for pre-order now.

You can find Keala on Instagram, TikTok,  Bluesky, and Goodreads.

Will you be picking up That Which Feeds Us? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Keala Kendall, Author of ‘That Which Feeds Us’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

About And The River Drags Her Down: She has always known the rules – never resurrect anything larger than the palm of her hand, but that was before her sister died. A chilling, compulsive exploration of sisterhood, loss, and revenge. Out October 9th in the UK and October 7th in the US. PLUS you can check out an excerpt from the audiobook at the end of the guest post!

As an author whose debut horror novel is coming out very soon, I absolutely jumped at the chance to shout about some of my favorite horror and horror adjacent things across media. Bear with me—as horror is wont to do, it’s going to get a little weird (and don’t we all love that?)

They Bloom At Night by Trang Thanh Tran

Since my book is a YA novel, I would be remiss to not begin with some recent YA horrors I loved. I don’t know if it’s about my general mounting climate anxiety, but I’ve been very obsessed with oceanic/waterlogged horrors lately: Private Rites by Julia Armfield, Those We Drown by Amy Goldsmith, and now this one, by Trang Thanh Tran.

Let me briefly set the scene: after a devastating hurricane, the town of Mercy, Louisiana is beset by strange red algae blooms which is causing the local wildlife to mutate. Here, the main character Nhung is coerced by a local crime boss to capture one of these creatures so he can add it to his sketchy sea emporium.

This book is a triumph, braiding together so many themes—queerness, the inability of parents to truly face their children, grief, climate change—all made more stark in this post-apocalyptic landscape that strips the interpersonal interactions raw because the decorum of day-to-day life and societal expectations have broken down. It also meditates on the way some might find comfort in this rupture.

They Bloom at Night is only Tran’s second book, but it’s cemented their spot as an auto-buy author for me.

That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall

This book isn’t out until Summer 2026 (and as of me writing this list, it doesn’t even yet have a cover) so I won’t say too much other than: if you love YA gothic horror, this needs to be on your radar. It follows a diaspora Native Hawaiian teen who returns to her homeland in search of her missing twin sister. The search leads her to an ultra-exclusive luxury resort for the 1% that is built atop an old plantation, and things quickly turn insidious from there.

Lush, muscular prose with strong anticolonial themes—a winner all around. I can’t wait for others to experience this book.

One Hand to Hold One Hand to Carve by m.shaw

A cadaver split vertically into halves wakes up on a mortuary table—Left and Right. They escape from the mortuary, holding their bisected, formaldehyde-soaked selves together and try to remake a life on the outside, even as their personalities and desires for the future begin to diverge.

This is truly one of those books that is best read knowing very little going in, so I will leave it at that. This is magical realism at its weirdest, and an absolute fever dream of a horror novel.

A Tale of Two Sisters

I absolutely love horror novels—it’s one of my favorite genres—but I’m very much a wimp when it comes to visual horror of any kind. Though I watched it between my splayed fingers, I make an exception for A Tale of Two Sisters, the 2003 Korean horror movie directed by Kim Jee Woon. The title of the movie, in Korean, directly translates to Rose Flower, Red Lotus (Janghwa, Hongryeon) after the Joseon dynasty era Korean folk tale of the same name of which this is a retelling.

In this tale, two sisters, Sumi and Moohyeon, return to their home after some time institutionalized but have trouble reintegrating with their emotionally neglectful father and cold stepmother. Soon enough, strange happenings begin to occur around the home, suggesting that it may be haunted. This movie is a psychological horror that leans more toward the device of dread and premonition rather than violence or jump scares (though there are certainly some of those as well!) It’s also a film I really admire for its complex emotional landscape and how it integrates grief into every aspect of the film—the way loss can sharpen like a blade. Can cut and turn inward. AND THE RIVER DRAGS HER DOWN is also based on the same folktale that this movie was, and it interrogates much the same themes.

Also, the cinematography is gorgeous.

Octopath Traveler 2

This is not really a horror, but I can’t help but recommend it here. Octopath Traveler 2 is an RPG by Square Enix where you play as a group of eight travelers who band together as a party, but still each have their own unique independent storylines.

Something I absolutely delight in is when a piece of media begins as one thing and suddenly detours sharply out of the parameters it has set up for consumers to expect. That’s what this game does on occasion.

It is, for the most part, a cozy and heartfelt fantasy game with nostalgic 16-bit graphics. But occasionally, it takes an unexpected dip into the nightmarish. An NPC sprite will generate beneath a lakeside pagoda, only for you to go there and find them gone—a ghost offered without explanation. You’ll come across a haunted house and the cheery music will come to a halt. Inside, paintings of the mansion’s former tenants have been defaced, slashed across the eyes. You talk to a bedraggled NPC who is spouting word salad, but when you extract only the randomly capitalized letters, it spells out: HELP ME. You later find out they’re possessed.

It’s the unexpectedness that makes these moments feel more spine-chilling.

The creepy side of Ahn Ye Eun’s discography

Ahn Ye-Eun is a Korean musician known for blending Korean traditional folk (mostly a musical storytelling style called Pansori) with pop. I feel like she’s most known for her folk ballads, but I love her most when she leans a little into her creepy side.

This first song “Changgwi” is about the eponymous spiteful ghost of a person who has been killed by a tiger and must serve said tiger until it’s able to lure another hapless soul to take its place.

This second one, “지박,” which translates roughly to “that which lingers or causes to linger” is from the perspective of a ghost warning intruders to leave the house it is haunting. The music video is nightmare fuel, but beyond the scary visuals, I’m so fascinated by the song’s hybridity. Both of the marriage between folk and the modern, but also the tension between menace and playfulness in the melody.

Audiobook out October 7th from Penguin Random House

The post Author Jihyun Yun’s Horror Recommendations appeared first on The Nerd Daily.