41 Books By Asian Authors: YARC 2019 Wrap-Up

Around this time last year, I decided to channel my inner Professor Snape. No, I didn’t go around sneering at eleven-year-old boys with famous lightning scars…not that those are in large supply anyways. And no, I didn’t let my hair get disturbingly long and greasy. Instead, I made an Unbreakable Vow. But unlike Snape, I didn’t stake my life on the promise to protect Draco Malfoy; rather, I staked it on my ability to read 51 books written by Asian authors for the Year of the Asian Reading Challenge 2019.

Why did I do this ridiculous thing, you might ask? Well, first and foremost because I wanted to support and celebrate Asian authors. And I still do – it’s something I feel very passionately about, actually. Secondly, *points finger accusingly at nobody in particular* IT WAS LOVE THAT MADE ME DO IT. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. But apparently, the feeling wasn’t mutual. Let me explain: if I read more than 50 books by Asian authors in 2019, then I would conquer YARC’s highest challenge level and earn the Bengali Tiger badge (insert overly enthusiastic jazz hands here). I mean, just look at how adorable this little guy is:

“I’m going to get that Bengali Tiger even if it kills me.” I said. Like, those were my actual words; go check out the post if you don’t believe me. Well, I guess I’m dead now because SPOILER ALERT…no, dear reader, I did not get that Bengali Tiger. I broke an Unbreakable Vow; I was 10 books short of my goal. While I shall forever lament that I cannot include “Proud Owner of a Bengali Tiger” on my professional resume, all hope is not lost.

I still read a lot of waffley amazing books written by POC authors, and I wouldn’t call that a failure by any means! (Gotta throw that obligatory waffle pun in here somewhere, amirite?) But even if I had only read one book for this challenge, I would still consider that a success. SO YAY FOR ME! If you’re curious, scroll down to see the complete list of 41 books by Asian authors that I did read last year for YARC.

📖 RELATED POST: My Sign Up Post for The Year of the Asian Reading Challenge 2019

41 Books By Asian Authors I Read in 2019

The Midnight Star by Marie Lu: A compelling ending to an amazing series that, while not perfect, was a heart-wrenching delight to read.

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco: An imaginative high fantasy novel with unique storytelling and mind-explodingly great worldbuilding.

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon: An average romance novel full of average characters and an average storyline.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi: Although Chokshi’s writing style is undoubtedly beautiful, it tries too hard to be lyrical and that distanced me from the plot.

Love, Hate, and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed: This fabulous debut is the perfect tie-dyed mix of fluffy romance and hard-hitting topics, such as racism and Islamophobia.

American Panda by Gloria Chao: An emotional contemporary that beautifully depicts Taiwanese culture and the importance (yet sometimes difficult nature) of family relationships.

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo: A happy-go-lucky romance with an engaging and authentic writing style that made my insides turn to cotton candy.

Legend by Marie Lu: This book offers its readers a typical opening to a Dystopian trilogy, following many familiar story beats that have become commonplace in the genre.

My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma: A love letter to all things Bollywood, this vibrant novel is full of drama, movie references, and romance.

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han: A relaxing, stress-free read that made me smile and smile and smile.

Want by Cindy Pon: A wonderfully diverse story set in a futuristic Taipei, this novel is full of romance, action, and timely political commentary.

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed: A relevant, thought-provoking read about indentured servitude that shows life can be both harsh and full of hope.

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee: An utterly unique blend of Fantasy and Sci-Fi elements that’s completely unlike anything I’ve ever read before!

Prodigy by Marie Lu: A surprising second entry to the Legend series that overturned the expected tropes and made me curious as to what will happen next.

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa: A hauntingly poignant and bittersweet read that highlights a forgotten part of today’s society in Japan.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han: A sweet ending to an even sweeter series, this stress-free book is full of fun and chocolate chip cookies!

Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao: A predictable Asian-inspired Snow White retelling filled with one-dimensional characters.

Champion by Marie Lu: Full of political intrigue, angsty teenage love, and bittersweet goodbyes, the conclusion to the Legend series was one of the best dystopians I’ve read in a long time.

For A Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig: A unique and diverse fantasy that draws inspiration from the French colonization of Colombia and Vietnam and has #ownvoices Bipolar Representation.

Fruits Basket, Volume 1 by Natsuki Takaya: In honor of the 2019 anime remake, I revisited this gem from my middle school days, and it brought back all the nostalgic feels.

Internment by Samira Ahmed: A poignant political commentary that was a bit heavy handed, but full of heart.

Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim: An uplifting story about the magic of food, the power of new beginnings, and the importance of family.

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram: A sincere and heartwarming story about cultural identity, family, and finding your way in the world that has excellent depression representation.

A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna: A seamless blend of fantasy and sci-fi inspired by Indian Mythology that caught me off guard and knocked my socks off.

Stronger than a Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan: A China-inspired fantasy with steampunk elements and robot dragons that failed to live up to its amazing premise.

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He: An well-crafted fantasy world full of political intrigue, murder mysteries, and unexpected twists that kept me guessing.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi: An impactful and emotional story that fearlessly rips back the curtain and spotlights the sad truth behind prejudice in America.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi: A lushly written novel full of heists, electrically engaging dialogue, and lovable characters.

Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa: A disappointing sequel to one of my favorite books of 2018, this book has a plot that meanders through pointless side quests that feel like a lot like filler.

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon: A romance between two filmmakers that started out promising, but ended with an unlikable heroine that I struggled to root for or empathize with.

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn: A new all-time favorite book about a fashion-obsessed teen who visits Japan and finds not only love, but herself.

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho: A delightful urban fantasy set in modern-day Korea that’s full of magical foxes and complex relationships.

Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo: A cute, feel-good romantic comedy with relatable characters and a fast, easy-to-follow pace.

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim: A fantastical tale about magical sewing scissors, a roguish enchanter, and an impossible quest that will leave you spellbound.

Midsummer’s Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca: A creative and clever retelling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream that is both delectable and delightful.

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones: A hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric fantasy with a dark romance and an even darker Goblin King.

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang: An unforgettable war tale full of action and heart that shows the power a mother’s love can have.

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee: An inventive and humorous retelling of “A Journey to the West” that left me laughing out loud and clutching my sides.

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga: Full of beautiful prose that will stick with you long after you finish reading the last page, this book is nothing short of a modern masterpiece.

The Stonekeeper (Amulet, #1) by Kazu Kibuishi: A rather forgettable graphic novel with an overly familiar plot obviously meant for a younger audience.

A Step from Heaven by An Na: A hard-hitting story about the cruelty of reality and the weight of broken dreams.

Year of the Asian Reading Challenge 2020 Sign-Up

My name is Kat. I was bitten by a desperate need to support Asian authors and for the last year I’ve been participating in YARC 2019. I’m pretty sure you know the rest. I read a bunch of novels, fell in love with fictional fantasy worlds, added some new releases to my TBR, and then I added some again and again and again…And uh… I did this:

We don’t really talk about this. ⤴

But after everything, I still love books by Asian authors. I mean, who wouldn’t? So no matter how many goals I fail to reach, I always find a way to come back. Because the only thing standing between those books and oblivion is me. There’s only one Kat. And you’re looking at her. *wink*

Okay, enough with the obnoxious movie quoting already. It’s time to move onto the really exciting part of this post. *Clears throat and begins to talk in a ridiculously proper voice: * I would like to formally announce my sign up for 2020’s Year of the Asian Reading Challenge, which will again be hosted by the lovely Lily, Shealea, Vicky, and CW.

I’m setting my sights a bit lower this year with a more attainable (read: less stressful) goal of 25 books. This is tier three of the YARC 2020’s six challenge levels, and its completion comes with this heart-eyes-inducing Malayan tapir badge:

To Sum It Up

Although I joked a lot about not reaching my YARC 2019 reading goal in this post via some pretty bad HP references and by painfully misquoting Into the Spider-Verse, I’m still proud of the 41 books by Asian authors that I read last year. What’s more, I’m eager to participate in the Year of the Asian Reading Challenge again in the coming year!