I love a good urban fantasy, and The City We Became takes the genre to the next level. In Jemisin’s version of the world, major cities are sentient, and travel through the world in human form. The a mysterious enemy injures the avatar of New York, the city spawns five new avatars – one for each borough – in response. This crew, diverse in talent and background, must band together to face The Enemy.

Jemisin’s writing is engaging, and the story creates a sense of wonder and exploration. Each of the new avatars represents the “soul” of a borough, and their diversity of origin and power reflects the changing spirit of New York. The premise creates a compelling set of puzzles as the avatars learn to work together. How will musical powers work with mathematical ones? What new city lore can the team bring to the fight?

Jemisin also makes great use of the modern setting, and our protagonists face both analog and digital challenges. Her writing exposes layers of threat to modern life – from social networks to business sponsorships. Despite the relatively small cast, the city setting makes for a battle of epic proportions, waged on all fronts. This is a story that could only take place in a city, and in New York specifically. It made me want to hop on the next flight and have an adventure.

I’ve already sung the praises of A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark – it was one of my favorite fantasy reads of last year – but they’re worth repeating. Clark’s novel follows a magical government agent in an alternate-universe Cairo as she investigates mysterious killer in a golden mask. As she tracks down the culprit, Fatma uncovers deep magical roots that cause her to question the very foundations of Cairo’s power structure. The novel explores peak colonialism alongside more modern issues of colorism and feminism, all with a deft hand.

That’s not to say this is an expository or preachy slog – quite the reverse. A Master of Djinn starts out as a murder mystery, takes us through a fantasy origin story, and resolves in an epic battle. The magic system and worldbuilding are intricate and made me excited to learn more about IRL Egyptian cultural traditions. And the characters were thoughtfully crafted – a great balance of fun and thoughtful, the kind of characters you want to be friends with. I love this book, and if “steampunk magical murder mystery – with Djinn” sounds intriguing, you should give it try.

Sometimes you’re looking for a cozier fantasy adventure – and for me, The Kingston Cycle by C. L. Polk hits the sweet spot. The trilogy starts with Witchmark, which follows Miles Singer, a magical psychologist in Aeland (alternate universe England). One day, he sees a patient who tells Miles he’s been murdered, spurring him to start an investigation. He quickly meets the mysterious and powerful Tristan – and together, they uncover secrets that go straight to the heart of Aeland.

C. L. Polk creates a fleshed-out world, in which magic ability informs class status and societal norms. They’re able to use this magical system to comment on colonialism and slavery. Instead, readers can get drawn in by the story and the compelling characters. There’s rich interpersonal drama that brings the societal injustice to life. This gives a cozy, lived-in feeling to a story with deep and compelling themes. I devoured The Kingston Cycle and would recommend it to anyone looking for a warm, rich “gaslamp” fantasy.

Rounding out our list is a historical, magical murder mystery series by Nicole Glover. The Murder and Magic series takes place in an alternate magical universe, and follows two former Conductors on the Underground Railroad. After the Civil War ended, Hetty and Benjy settle down in Philadelphia, where they work as a seamstress and a blacksmith. But the justice system ignores the crime in Black neighborhoods, especially the magical ones, so they moonlight as magical detectives. The first novel, The Conductors, follows the pair as they investigate the death of a close community member.

For some reason, this series hit closest to home for me. Glover’s magic system mirrors and enables the structure of systemic racism. The resulting conflicts reflect ongoing questions, including the relationship between Black Americans and law enforcement, and the challenges of class mobility. The book kept these themes bubbling close to the surface, and reminded me to reflect on the roots of challenges that endure today.

The characters and storytelling are compelling as well. Glover uses flashbacks to great effect, establishing the ties between Reconstruction challenges and Civil War traumas. She also elevates and celebrates stories of Black success in Reconstruction that are often untold in history books. She’s able to spend time establishing a broad cast, and fits in some time for fluffy romance as well. It’s a fun read that quickly turns into a thought-provoking one.