The matriarch of the family is a clairvoyant. It has been raining in a town for five years. A young woman’s emotions spill over into the food she prepares and excites all the guests at her sister’s wedding. If no one bats an eye when something like this happens, you might be reading magical realism or fantasy.
Born in Latin America and popularized by writers such as Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende, magical realism is a literary movement where the extraordinary is the ordinary. Tying in with its close cousin, Fabulism, it’s a tradition where the supernatural is the mundane, and I’m particularly drawn to it in times of struggle or conflict. No matter how light or heavy the subject matter, there’s something about the twists of reality in these books that makes anything feel possible. That ability feels like hope, and it feels like magic can be found in unexpected places.
These seven books are new and recent works of magical realism and fabulism, ranging from historical fantasy inspired by Taíno mythology to anti-colonial fantasy. And if you’re participating in the 2026 Read Harder Challenge, all of these titles satisfy Task #7: Read a work of magical realism or fabulism.
Must Read Magical Realism and Fabulism
carnival animals By Rosalia Rodrigo
This historical fantasy (with a gorgeous cover!) is based on a world inspired by Puerto Rico and Taíno mythology, incorporating Caribbean carnival culture and magical realism. Isla Bestia is a mysterious island where wealthy aristocrats come to have all kinds of fun. Sophia is an independent woman from a nearby colonized island who has come there to find her missing twin brother. Her resolve is strong at first, but there is something about this place that threatens to destroy her. To find her twin and get out of Isla Bestia alive, she must pull back the curtain and find out what is really going on in this magical place.
valley of vengeful ghosts by kim fu
I was very attracted to Fu’s writing through his short stories Lesser known monsters of the 21st centurySo I’m glad to hear that we’re getting a new novel from this award-winning author. I love a novel set in the uncanny valley and this story about a woman who was not traumatized by the death of her controlling mother, a woman who has always been obedient, buying a house built on shady foundations with her inheritance, sounds right up my alley. lesser known monsters Taught me that Fu is a writer of profound storytelling based on worldly issues and haunted by ghosts. —Sharifa Williams
we don’t need no wings by Ann Davila Cardinal
Tere Sanchez is a professor, wife and mother who is grieving the loss of her husband when he begins to spontaneously fly. These events soon prove to be of great suffering, and Terre remembers that her family is allegedly related to the medieval Saint Teresa of Ávila, who famously experienced levitation. Terre dropped everything and booked a trip to Spain to see what she could learn about her ancestor and, hopefully, herself. This story of self-discovery is a gentle exploration of grief, second chances, mysticism, and what it feels like to be seen as a woman of a certain age.
cursed daughters By Oyinkan Braithwaite
It is a literary horror novel by author Oyinkan Braithwaite my sister, serial killer. Ebun gave birth to her daughter Anyi on the same day that her family buried her cousin Monifé. Immediately, everyone sees the connection between Enii and Monif and worries that Enii will suffer the same tragic fate. Between that and the family curse, will Enyi have to live a life of sorrow and heartbreak? Or will she be able to break this cycle? —emily martin
queen of swords By Jazmina Barrera, Christina McSweeney (trans)
Jazmina Barrera apparently did not plan to write this book. Her intention was to write a short essay about Elena Garro, the influential Mexican novelist, journalist, playwright, screenwriter, and OG of the magical realism movement. But the more she researched Garrow through traditional methods, the less she felt she understood her subject. Barrera embarked on a journey to truly see the author in all her complexities, and the result is this book. More than a biography, it is presented as an alternative history of Mexico City and a “homage to the unknown”.
week of colors By Elena Garrow, Megan McDowell (trans.)
Remember thirty seconds ago when I told you who Elena Garrow was? Well look here, it’s a book he wrote! Available in English for the first time, these tales of feminist horror and anti-colonial fantasy were forged in the fire of the early magical realism movement. It’s no surprise (and quite fitting) that they were translated by the amazingly talented Megan McDowell, who we have to thank for her translations of Samantha Schweblin and Mariana Enriquez’s books. If you’re a fan of these masters of Latin American horror, spend some time with the work of the “cursed mother of magical realism” who paved the way for them to do their work.
Dolores Moore’s Many Mothers By Anika Fajardo
Thirty-five-year-old Dolores Moore has been fired from her job and is going through a breakup, and is now grieving the loss of her mother. She is tasked with sorting out her inheritance, while a Greek chorus of voices from dead relatives follow her around offering unsolicited advice. Those voices have big feelings about the promise Dorri made to her mother to return to her birthplace in Colombia, but she feels this is the worst time to leave home. Then a minor medical emergency brings an old flame back into her life, who offers to house sit so Dory can keep his promise. With the chorus encouraging her and a hand-drawn map of Cali, Colombia, she sets out on a journey she will never forget.
For even more magical realism and fantasy, check out some magical realism books released in 2024, this roundup of magical romance novels, and this list of historical fantasy books with magical realism elements.
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