Here for this!!!!
My absolute favorite book series is The Expanse by James S.A. Corey. If you like sci-fi built from real science, plus an exploration of humanity, with themes of justice, genocide, oppression, colonialism, scientific ethics, and resistance, THIS IS FOR YOU. I’m on my third read of this series now.
There’s also a very good show on Amazon Prime and it covers the first six books. Final three will probably be adapted at some point- but the show and book are solid, diverse- and has KICK-ASS female, LGBTQ+, and gender non-conforming characters. First book is “leviathan wakes.” Seriously, this series changed my life- I’d always been a fantasy person, hated sci-fi.
The book and show have both delivered some of my favorite badass characters and quotes. They’re both amazing as a pairing, slightly different. (For those in the Expanse club, OPA forever, BELTALOWDA! Lol.)
Reread The Daevabad Triology by S.A. Chakraborty (first book, City of Brass) - excellent fantasy based in middle eastern tradition and lore (versus a western locus).
Reread The Priory of the Orange Tree and A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon (!!!!) If you love Fourth Wing you will love these books! They are MASTERPIECES of modern fantasy.
“Babel” by RF Kuang, amazing speculative historical fiction where Oxford houses a translation department capable of magic. Handles racism, colonialism, resistance - got a bit annoyed by the main character a lot- but perhaps that’s the point? Still amazing!
Godkiller and Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner - amazingly unique fantasy set in a world of fallen gods and the humans they use.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo - fun speculative historical fiction about magic during the Spanish Inquisition. absolutely breathtaking writing, akin to her other classics (Ninth House!!!! Hell Bent!!!), love story was a bit annoying (didn’t feel like it fit) but loved overall.
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young. Holy CRAP this novel was achingly beautiful, about loss and time travel.
The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey - by the expanse author, a supremely unique, heavily science-based science fiction work. Very interesting exobiology and anyone with experience in academia will enjoy the general viewpoints of some of these characters.