Asian Women Authors of Young Adult Fiction

If you're looking for a more accurate representation of Asian women. or just looking to broaden your horizons, ICPL has a wonderful collection of women's stories by Asian authors. Here are a few of my favorites.

Yolk

Choi, Mary H. K., author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Choi Mary

Jayne and June are nothing alike. Their family moved from Seoul to San Antonio and finally New York. The sisters don't want anything to do with each other... until June gets cancer. And Jayne becomes the only one who can help her. Now, flung together by sickness, bound by family secrets, they learn more about themselves and each other than they may be willing to confront. -- adapted from jacket

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A modern and moving tale of two estranged sisters. Their tendencies for self-destruction were so relatable. The characters are complex and interesting. The portrayal of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders is really accurate and isn't stigmatizing.
- Mykle

Three dark crowns

Blake, Kendare, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Blake Kendare

On the island of Fennbirn, triplet sisters who each wield a coveted magic skill and claim an equal right to the throne must fight to the death when they turn sixteen for the title of Queen Crowned.

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This is the first book in a series of magical and dark high fantasy novels. Triplet sisters with unique powers are forced into a fight for the throne and their lives. Complicated characters and prose make this a wonderful read.
- Mykle

A thousand steps into night

Chee, Traci, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Chee Traci

In the realm of Awara, where gods, monsters, and humans exist side by side, Miuko is an ordinary girl resigned to a safe, if uneventful, existence as an innkeeper's daughter. But when Miuko is cursed and begins to transform into a demon with a deadly touch, she embarks on a quest to reverse the curse and return to her normal life. Aided by a thieving magpie spirit and continuously thwarted by a demon prince, Miuko must outfox tricksters, escape demon hunters, and negotiate with feral gods if she wants to make it home again. But with her transformation comes power and freedom she never even dreamed of, and she'll have to decide if saving her soul is worth trying to cram herself back into an ordinary life that no longer fits her... and perhaps never did.

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In an amazing world where demons, gods, and humans live together, a young woman fights against both societal expectations and a demon bent on controlling the world. Will she choose hew own humanity or the power to save everyone she loves? This book is my favorite on this list. Love, love, love it.
- Mykle

The star-touched queen

Chokshi, Roshani, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Chokshi Roshani

Scorned and feared because of a formidable horoscope, Maya commits herself to her education only to land in an arranged marriage that culminates in her sudden elevation to the throne, a situation threatened by dark secrets and magic.

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This book is a whirlwind of a tale. Escaping a forced suicide designed by her scheming father, our doomed princess, Maya, is whisked away by her arranged husband. He's not quite what he seems but neither is Maya. She must confront her past to ensure her future.
- Mykle

The bone witch

Chupeco, Rin, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Chupeco Rin
Young Adult, Fantasy

Tea's gift for death magic means that she is a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community, but when an older bone witch trains her to become an asha--one who can wield elemental magic--Tea will have to overcome her obstacles and make a powerful choice in the face of danger as dark forces approach.

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In a high fantasy world where you can literally give your heart to someone, a young necromancer accidentally raises her dead brother. Taken to a faraway island, she must learn to control her power amidst the threat of mysterious villains. This book really introduces a series that gets better with each book.
- Mykle

Angelfall

Ee, Susan.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Ee Susan

While trying to escape their apartment after the angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world, Penryn meets Raffe, an angel whose wings have been cut off by the angels who kidnapped Penryn's sister, Paige.

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In a post-apocalyptic San Fransisco, angels and humans are at war. Penryn must team up with the enemy if she hopes to save her sister. This book was self-published but was good enough to get picked up and made into a series.
- Mykle

Shine

Jung, Jessica, 1989- author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Jung Jessica

Six years ago Korean American Rachel Kim was recruited by DB Entertainment, one of Seoul's largest K-pop labels. The rules are simple: Train 24/7. Be perfect. Don't date. Now, as the dark scandals of an industry bent on controlling and commodifying beautiful girls begin to bubble up, Rachel wonders if she is strong enough to be a winner, or if she will end up crushed. When she begins to develop feelings for K-pop star and DB golden boy Jason Lee, it's not just that he is charming, sexy, and ridiculously talented. He's also the first person who really understands how badly she wants her star to rise. -- adapted from jacket

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This book was written by a real-life K-Pop star. It's a whirlwind tale of expectations, love, sabotage, and betrayal. We also have the 2022 sequel, Bright!
- Mykle

Six crimson cranes

Lim, Elizabeth, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Lim Elizabet

Shiori, princess of Kiata, has a secret: Forbidden magic runs through her veins. On the morning of her betrothal ceremony she loses control, and it forestalls the wedding she never wanted-- but it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother. Using a dark magic of her own, Raikama banishes the princess, turns her brothers into cranes, and warns Shiori that for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die. Peniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers-- and uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne. Now she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to contain. -- adapted from jacket

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This is a pretty fun retelling of an old fairy tale. Wicked stepmother banishes our hero and turns her six brothers into cranes that will die if she speaks. Bonus points bc there's a dragon in it. The sequels have more dragons!
- Mykle

Legend

Lu, Marie, 1984-

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Lu Marie

In a dark future, when North America has split into two warring nations, fifteen-year-olds Day, a famous criminal, and prodigy June, the brilliant soldier hired to capture him, discover that they have a common enemy.

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This one is pretty interesting. The government pits our hero against a peer but they accidentally meet and realize they have a lot in common, mainly the government. It kinda reminds me of the Divergent series but this book is better.
- Mykle

God storm

Ma, Coco, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Ma, Coco

"Everything has a price. In the kingdom of Axaria, a darkness has fallen. After defeating the evil mother who summoned an immortal demon to kill her, newly coronated Queen Asterin Faelenhart should have every reason to celebrate. Her kingdom is safe, forbidden magic eradicated, and her friends are alive. Except Asterin's triumph has come at a devastating cost -- forced to choose between a lifelong friend and true love, she's lost both. But the shadows in Axaria have begun to stir once again, and no one is more starved for vengeance than Asterin... Yet it soon becomes clear that the shadows plaguing her kingdom are just the beginning. Another realm coexists with the mortal world -- the beautiful, nightmarish Immortal Realm ruled by the wicked God of Shadow, King Eoin. When their paths entwine, Asterin realizes that Eoin possesses exactly what -- and who -- she seeks most. And the fates of all those that she holds dear -- Orion, her missing Guardian; Luna, the friend she could not save; Harry, the demon who saved them all; and Quinlan, her beloved broken prince -- ultimately rest in the god's hands. But in a world of magic, not everyone is always as they seem. When shocking discoveries threaten everything and everyone that Asterin has sworn her life to protect, she won't be the only person forced to make a choice... a choice that will change the mortal world forever. And maybe even destroy it" --Amazon.

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This is the second book in the series, but it's so good I had to include it. The first book, Shadow Frost was written by Ma at the age of 15. Still she did such a great job of writing complex characters (Way better than Christoper Paolini).
- Mykle