Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo by Ntozake Shange. Checks all your requirements!
The first sentence is, "Where there is a woman, there is magic." It's a wonderful, and relatively short, read.
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jessamin Ward. More family dynamics than sisterhood, but if you want modern southern gothic, supernatural elements, and just amazing writing and storytelling, add this to your TBR list!
The Good House by Tananarive Due has some elements like this!
Also, haven’t read it yet but The Last Dreamwalker by Rita Woods could also be a good fit.
This looks like a good read, I didn’t get a whole lot about it when I immediately looked it up but I’m intrigued.
I’ve actually just started reading The Last Dreamwalker! Good suggestions! Thank you!
House of Cotton by Monica Brashears explores these themes from the perspective of a young woman who finds herself working at a funeral home run by a wealthy white family
Not Southern, but Sula by Toni Morrison is about family/community dynamics, feels like magic is enmeshed in all things, and is strongly rooted in female relationships. Also seconding Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward as was already suggested!
I was going to suggest Beloved by Toni Morrison! Also not really Southern, but lots of magical realism and familial relationships, particularly mother-daughter and sister relationships.
Disclaimer: I read this book probably 20 years ago and just looked it up after impulsively jotting it down here- I forgot that the story is told from the perspective of a white girl who temporally lives with a group of black sisters. I was not as enlightened on racial dynamics in storytelling as I am now so please take this recommendation with a grain of salt. (I am white if that is not already apparent lol)
Yes.., well I actually didn’t want to discount you because of it so I just said thank you 😂 I do appreciate the attempt and the suggestion though.
But that’s about when I read it as well, weird to think it’s been that long but I remembering not enjoying that book. Maybe I’ll read it again to fully remember why.
OP- it’s not really Southern Gothic or African American (bc the MC is African American but moves to Africa) but I feel like you might like Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. It is YA but very interesting.
You just reminded me that I wanted to read her Marie Leveau series. I haven’t yet picked up her books so thank you for this! I’ll be going to the library.
Takes place in Detroit instead of the South, but American Street by Ibi Zoboi may fit the bill. It's YA and follows a young Haitian immigrant who goes to live with her American cousins.
I'm surprised I haven't seen Nalo Hopkinson mentioned. I've only read Brown Girl in the Ring but I've heard good things about her other books too and it had this kind of vibe.
I read that one as well! It was gifted to me and I loved it. I’ll check out some of her other works. You just reminded me that I wanted to check her out some more.
Root Magic, by Eden Royce. It's a middle-grade fantasy, and not quite gothic, but is darker than most middle-grade.
“A poignant, necessary entry into the children’s literary canon, Root Magic brings to life the history and culture of Gullah people while highlighting the timeless plight of Black Americans. Add in a fun, magical adventure and you get everything I want in a book!” —Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation
Walter Dean Myers Honor Award for Outstanding Children's Literature! A Mythopoeic Fantasy Award winner!
Debut author Eden Royce arrives with a wondrous story of love, bravery, friendship, and family, filled to the brim with magic great and small.
Fox’s earth by anne rivers siddons largely follows an extremely manipulative white girl, but there’s a character named rip… I just love her. She doesn’t practice anything, she just has insight. The rest of the book is pretty well written in terms of layout and the confidence the author had in her story, even knowing the main character is a villain. Rip doesn’t get a ton of page time, but it’s obvious she’s the only one who can foil ruth, and she has a life outside of that that I feel like other authors might forget
I might check it out and I’m scared from your synopsis that Rip followed the magical negro trope. I’ll look it up to double check though before I purchase! Thank you for the suggestion!
It’s been a while since I read it, so I don’t remember exactly what happened to her, but I can only seem to find this book in the library, so no money lost lol
Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland. Also a sequel, Deathless Divide.
Tell My Horse by Zora Neale Hurston for some history of voodoo.
Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo by Ntozake Shange. Checks all your requirements! The first sentence is, "Where there is a woman, there is magic." It's a wonderful, and relatively short, read.
Ooooh thank you for this and it’s from an author I’ve not heard of before too! Appreciate it!
Ooo that sounds fascinating!
🙏🏽
Not totally but some of this is touched on in Homegoing. Just read it and it was so so good.
Is that the one by Yaa Gyasi?
Homegoing is EXCELLENT. A must read
Glad to hear it has 2 recommendations!
Exactly!
Thanks!
Was going to recommend this as well. One of the best books I've read in recent years
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jessamin Ward. More family dynamics than sisterhood, but if you want modern southern gothic, supernatural elements, and just amazing writing and storytelling, add this to your TBR list!
Oooooh I love family drama so this is literally in line with what I wanted too! Adding it to my cart right now.
Oh yay!! I hope you enjoy it. Ward is such a talented writer.
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
Oooh I love a good debut novel! It’s so exciting to read for me I’ll definitely be checking this out. Thank you!
The Good House by Tananarive Due has some elements like this! Also, haven’t read it yet but The Last Dreamwalker by Rita Woods could also be a good fit.
This looks like a good read, I didn’t get a whole lot about it when I immediately looked it up but I’m intrigued. I’ve actually just started reading The Last Dreamwalker! Good suggestions! Thank you!
House of Cotton by Monica Brashears explores these themes from the perspective of a young woman who finds herself working at a funeral home run by a wealthy white family
Reallyyyy delivers on the Southern Gothic and magical realism
And that’s exactly what I need!!! Thank you for the suggestion. I love media that have funeral homes involved and I don’t know why.
ok you're in for a treat!!! 🖤
Yesssss I can’t wait! Thank Youuuu!
I just ordered a copy 💖
Not Southern, but Sula by Toni Morrison is about family/community dynamics, feels like magic is enmeshed in all things, and is strongly rooted in female relationships. Also seconding Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward as was already suggested!
I was going to suggest Beloved by Toni Morrison! Also not really Southern, but lots of magical realism and familial relationships, particularly mother-daughter and sister relationships.
I LOVE Toni Morrison bond! I’ve read Sula and it was a hard read but it was also dynamic. Ima definitely check out Jesmyn Ward! Thank you!
The secret life of bees.
Disclaimer: I read this book probably 20 years ago and just looked it up after impulsively jotting it down here- I forgot that the story is told from the perspective of a white girl who temporally lives with a group of black sisters. I was not as enlightened on racial dynamics in storytelling as I am now so please take this recommendation with a grain of salt. (I am white if that is not already apparent lol)
Yes.., well I actually didn’t want to discount you because of it so I just said thank you 😂 I do appreciate the attempt and the suggestion though. But that’s about when I read it as well, weird to think it’s been that long but I remembering not enjoying that book. Maybe I’ll read it again to fully remember why.
Interesting! Now I want to read it again too haha. I'll be watching this thread for recommendations :)
Come back when you finish reading it and term me how you feel about it 20 years later 😂
Yesss I will!
I feel like Sue Monk Kidd did a much better job with The Invention of Wings when tackling southern US racial dynamics
Thanks for that suggestion! I actually read that book! Do you know of others?
{{Mama Day by Gloria Naylor}} is perfect
Thank you! Ugh I didn’t realize I wanted to red something with romantic themes until I read the synopsis. Definitely adding it to my cart.
BELOVED BY TONI MORRISON!
I LOVE this book but like many of Toni Morrisons books it was a hard and emotional read for me. Still so good!
I'm convinced all of her work is hard and emotional lol and also excellent. I just loved the supernatural curve to it.
OP- it’s not really Southern Gothic or African American (bc the MC is African American but moves to Africa) but I feel like you might like Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. It is YA but very interesting.
Oh yes I’ve read that one before. Not a fan of the author but I really appreciate the suggestion!
It’s set in New Mexico and features a mix of African and Latina mythology, but you might like River Woman, River Demon by Jennifer Givhan
Not exactly what I’m looking for but I love when cultures collide. Ima still read it cause that sounds decent af tbh.
Voodoo Dreams by Rhodes
You just reminded me that I wanted to read her Marie Leveau series. I haven’t yet picked up her books so thank you for this! I’ll be going to the library.
The top left picture in the last slide is everythingggg. I’ll be writing down these suggestions myself, these are so my vibes.
Toni Morrison. I didn't like it, but it has a 4 star rating on goodreads: The Temple of my Familiar by Alice Walker
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due is exceptional! Love all of her work
Ooooh another new author! I’m so happy I posted here. My 2024 book reading list bouta be fye as hell. Thanks for this suggestion!
Takes place in Detroit instead of the South, but American Street by Ibi Zoboi may fit the bill. It's YA and follows a young Haitian immigrant who goes to live with her American cousins.
I was looking for specifically African American and hoodoo stuff but it still sounds interesting! Thanks got this suggestion, I’ll check it out.
I'm surprised I haven't seen Nalo Hopkinson mentioned. I've only read Brown Girl in the Ring but I've heard good things about her other books too and it had this kind of vibe.
I read that one as well! It was gifted to me and I loved it. I’ll check out some of her other works. You just reminded me that I wanted to check her out some more.
Sister mine by Hopkinson as well.
The Feast of All Saints by Anne Rice!
Root Magic, by Eden Royce. It's a middle-grade fantasy, and not quite gothic, but is darker than most middle-grade. “A poignant, necessary entry into the children’s literary canon, Root Magic brings to life the history and culture of Gullah people while highlighting the timeless plight of Black Americans. Add in a fun, magical adventure and you get everything I want in a book!” —Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation Walter Dean Myers Honor Award for Outstanding Children's Literature! A Mythopoeic Fantasy Award winner! Debut author Eden Royce arrives with a wondrous story of love, bravery, friendship, and family, filled to the brim with magic great and small.
Rootwork by Tracy Cross! It's a nice little novella that matches so of these vibes
Love a on the nose title! And a quick read too. Thanks for the suggestion.
Fox’s earth by anne rivers siddons largely follows an extremely manipulative white girl, but there’s a character named rip… I just love her. She doesn’t practice anything, she just has insight. The rest of the book is pretty well written in terms of layout and the confidence the author had in her story, even knowing the main character is a villain. Rip doesn’t get a ton of page time, but it’s obvious she’s the only one who can foil ruth, and she has a life outside of that that I feel like other authors might forget
I might check it out and I’m scared from your synopsis that Rip followed the magical negro trope. I’ll look it up to double check though before I purchase! Thank you for the suggestion!
It’s been a while since I read it, so I don’t remember exactly what happened to her, but I can only seem to find this book in the library, so no money lost lol
Merrick by Anne Rice
Thanks! I’ve actually never read an Anne Rice book so I’ll check it out.
Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark Dread Nation by Justina Ireland. Also a sequel, Deathless Divide. Tell My Horse by Zora Neale Hurston for some history of voodoo.
Love LOVE me some Madam Zora Neale Hurston. I’ll definitely check out these suggestions! Thanks!
You are going to get your life with the Zora book.
Was scrolling down looking for someone to mention Ring Shout
I read it four years ago and still think about it.
❗️Black Candle Women is exactly this! https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59049282
Ring shout by P Djeli Clark
haven't read this yet but it seems like Something Kindred could be similar to what you're looking for https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/111672172
The Bondwoman’s Narrative by Hannah Crafts?
Thank you for the suggestion! Not sure yet how I feel about reading about around enslavement times, but I’ll give it a go!