8 Fantasy Books With Native American Mythology Themes
Native American mythology is a living, breathing force—woven from sacred stories passed down through generations. These tales are rich with trickster spirits, shape-shifting animals, celestial beings, and ancestral magic, all deeply tied to the land and the rhythms of nature. Fantasy novels that draw from these traditions are not just stories; they are echoes of the past, reshaped into new and powerful narratives.
If you crave fantasy infused with Indigenous legends, here are 8 mesmerizing books that bring Native American mythology to life.
1. Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
🌩 A Monster Slayer in a Post-Apocalyptic Diné World
The gods and monsters of Navajo legend have awoken, and Maggie Hoskie, a hardened monster hunter, is one of the few who can stand against them. In a world devastated by climate catastrophe, the Navajo Nation—now Dinétah—has become a land where ancient powers reign once more. But Maggie’s latest hunt uncovers something darker than she ever imagined, forcing her to face her past, her abilities, and the trickster god Coyote himself. Roanhorse’s fast-paced, electrifying novel blends dystopian fantasy with Diné mythology in a way that is utterly unforgettable.
2. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
🌞 A Prophecy, a Solar Eclipse, and the Gods of the Sky and Sea
Inspired by pre-Columbian Indigenous cultures of the Americas, Black Sun takes readers to the holy city of Tova, where a rare celestial event is about to bring destiny to fruition. A blind priestess, a sea captain with forbidden magic, and a vessel carrying a boy marked by the gods all find themselves drawn into a cosmic storm of fate, prophecy, and political upheaval. This epic fantasy, rich with Indigenous myth and lore, is a breathtaking reimagining of celestial mythology and power struggles.
3. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
🌙 A Dystopian Future Where Dreams Hold Power
In a world ravaged by climate collapse, non-Indigenous people have lost the ability to dream. The key to restoring this ability? The marrow of Indigenous people, who are now hunted for their bones. Frenchie, a young Métis survivor, travels with a small group of others, seeking safety while holding onto the old stories that connect them to their ancestors. The Marrow Thieves is a powerful, heartbreaking novel that fuses Indigenous oral traditions with dystopian fantasy, creating a chilling yet hopeful vision of resistance and survival.
4. Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias
🐺 A Dark, Gritty Blend of Myth and Horror
This genre-defying novel is a visceral mix of Indigenous folklore, borderland magic, and supernatural horror. Set in the American Southwest, Coyote Songs follows multiple characters—including a child who sees ghosts, a cartel enforcer haunted by spirits, and a mother who makes a terrifying sacrifice. Each of their stories intertwines with ancient myths of the trickster Coyote, exploring themes of vengeance, grief, and the deep scars of colonialism.
5. Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo
🌊 A Wandering Monk Collecting Folk Tales of the Rivers
Though inspired by East Asian and Indigenous storytelling traditions, this novel shares a kinship with Native American mythologies through its deep connection to nature and oral traditions. The protagonist, Cleric Chih, travels the riverlands, collecting stories about legendary figures—some human, some more than human. This beautifully written book carries the essence of Indigenous storytelling, where history, myth, and reality blur.
6. Even As We Breathe by Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle
🍂 Cherokee Legends and a Mystery in the Smoky Mountains
Set during World War II in a secluded resort in North Carolina, this novel follows Cowney Sequoyah, a young Cherokee man who stumbles into a web of espionage, forbidden romance, and ancestral secrets. While not strictly fantasy, Even As We Breathe is infused with Cherokee legends, dreamlike storytelling, and the presence of unseen forces guiding the protagonist’s journey. The Smoky Mountains, rich with spiritual significance, become a living entity in this haunting tale.
7. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
🦌 A Ghostly Revenge Born from a Hunting Mistake
Blending horror and fantasy, this novel follows four Blackfeet men haunted by an event from their youth—a hunt that disturbed a sacred force. Now, something is coming for them, something with antlers and vengeance in its bones. Jones masterfully weaves supernatural terror with Indigenous mythology, crafting a chilling story about guilt, survival, and the inescapable pull of tradition.
8. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
❄ An Ojibwe Community Faces the End of the World
When the power goes out and society collapses, an isolated Anishinaabe community in northern Canada must rely on their traditions to survive. But as winter deepens, tensions rise, and an outsider brings a dangerous new ideology. Drawing from Ojibwe mythology and survivalist themes, this novel is a quiet, eerie exploration of what happens when Indigenous wisdom clashes with the chaos of a dying world.
Echoes of the Ancestors in Every Story
Fantasy rooted in Native American mythology is more than just storytelling—it’s a bridge to ancient wisdom, a reclamation of cultural identity, and a reawakening of the sacred connection between humans, nature, and the unseen world. Whether woven into dystopian futures, haunting horrors, or epic quests, these books carry the voices of ancestors and spirits, whispering truths that are both timeless and powerful.
Which of these books speaks to you the most? Do you have a favorite fantasy novel inspired by Native American myths? Let me know! 🌿✨
