Magical realism was created by Latin American authors and creators, originally as biting political commentary and subversion, but today it’s known for its similarities to our everyday world with some alternate reality concepts, like magic. As artists all over the world began using this storytelling device and structure, new sub-genres began to form, like surrealism and fabulism. I’d also recommend reading these really wonderful articles about why magical realism is so important to the Latin American diaspora and why it shouldn’t be conflated with fabulism or surrealism but often is. Also on the rise in mainstream pop culture have been LGBTQIA+ stories, and in the past few years, a good number of these novels have been in the fabulist and magical realist genres, putting queer characters at the front and center of their own magical journeys. A quick note: I aimed to find as many representations as possible with this list, but the genre seems to be lacking in books with intersex characters. Here are some contemporary books about intersex people you can read until we see some more representation in this category.
LGBTQIA+ Magical Realism & Fabulism Books
Want to read some classics in the magical realism and fabulism genres, or are you looking for YA magical realism and fabulism books? Either way, we’ve got you covered!
