Mythology is one of the best settings for any story, fictional, non-fictional, or otherwise. We’ve beensteeped in mythsfrom across the world for as long as we’ve been a civilization, from America’s stories of Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed to Nordic gods, Japanese spirits, and Chinese mythology.
Chinese mythology has been trending lately, mostly thanks toBlack Myth: Wukong, leaving many of us wondering how we can begin to learn about this rich, deep, beautiful history. If you’re looking for some books based on Chinese mythology, we’re here to help. Here are some of our favorite novels that pay respect to the genre.
Many of these novels have political intrigue or mysteries as their main plot points. Mentioning these plots in depth may spoil them, drastically harming the novel’s impact. We’ll be speaking vaguely - and shortly - on these stories to ensure we don’t accidentally ruin any of them for you.
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
Deaths in the family
Set in Manchuria in the early 1900s, The Fox Wife is an excellent action and intrigue novel. Yangsze Choo’s story follows the tale of a vengeful, mysterious woman on the hunt for a murderer.
Set in the early 1900s in the nation of Manchuria, The Fox Wife opens during the last days of the Qing Empire. Detective Bao finds themselves investigating the murder of a mysterious, anonymous woman, trying to find her identity amidst rumors of murderous trickster foxes.
At the same time, we follow the thread of a family cursed to see their eldest sons die young. All of our threads are interrupted by a mysterious woman, Snow, seeking vengeance for her dead child. Hunting a murderer across Asia, this story features mythology, intrigue, and murderous
Journey To The West by Wu Cheng’en
Mythology-based and 600-ish years old!
Looking for a novel that’s a bit older than the others? Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en is a novel from around the 16th century, showing the pilgrimage of the fictional Buddhist monk Xuanzang.
Are you looking for something that provides a more in-depth look than many modern stories are able to do? Journey to the West is one of the most famous novels to have ever come out of China, with many considering it the greatest novel from Eastern Asia in history. This novel tells a traveling account of the fictional Chinese Buddhist monk, Xuanzang.
Xuanzang’s journey takes him to 7th century India, where he’s traveling to seek out Buddhist scriptures. The novel takes real-world details into account, but is also deeply intertwined with fantasy, folk tales, mythology, and more. This novel also has one of the most famous depictions of the Monkey King, Sun Wukong.
Ninetails: Nine Tails by Sally Wen Mao
Read them when you have the time
Seductive, vengeful fox spirits; assassination plots and royal intrigue. Ninetails: Nine Tales by Sally Wen Mao is a collection of nine short stories that each heavily feature our favorite bits of mythology.
Not certain if you want to commit yourself to a full novel? We love Sally Wen Mao’s Ninetails: Nine Tales for that purpose. This collection is a set of nine short stories that are all inspired by Chinese mythology, making it easier for you to sit and read them one at a time rather than committing.
These stories vary in themes from seductive trickster spirits to surrealist fiction. Whatever you prefer, this collection is a great place to find it.
A Magic Steeped In Poison: The Book Of Tea, Book 1 by Judy I. Lin
The first of two
Tea’s great, but it’s not so great when it’s used to murder your mother and almost takes your sister from you. A Magic Steeped In Poison is the first of two novels in the Book of Tea series.
Tea is often present in many stories inspired by Chinese mythology, but it’s not usually a source of tension - and even less rarely a source of death. In A Magic Steeped In Poison, Judy I. Lin spins a tale where tea is center stage.
In danger of losing her sister to a poisoned tea that she brewed herself, the shennong-shi Ning travels to the imperial city to earn a favor from the princess. This favor is the only hope left to stop Shu from dying from the tea, though Ning finds themselves beset by court politics, intrigue, and romance.
The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
Save yourself some time and buy all 3 at once
Part sci-fi and part fantasy, The Poppy War is the first novel in a trilogy of the same name. This fantasy novels follows a tale of bloodshed, tradition, military action, and more.
If you’re looking for a trilogy, The Poppy War is a can’t-miss series to jump into. This is a dense series, but it’s a riveting one that we don’t anticipate you putting down until you’ve finished all three. It’ll end up being one of thebest fantasy novelsyou’ve read by the end of the first book, quickly becoming a favorite series.
Following an orphan who’s drastically unhappy with her life, we watch Rin passing the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth - the Keju test. Her abilities earn her admission to the most exclusive, elite military school in the Empire, saving her from a dull life of misery and servitude - but placing her somewhere much more dangerous.
Daughter Of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Romance, Chang’e, and mythology abounds
Inspired by the tale of the Chinese moon goddess Chang’e, this story puts a young woman on a quest to free her mother from her binds. In doing so, our protagonist finds themselves facing one of the most powerful beings.
Based on the Chinese myth of Chang’e, this surreal story is the first of the Celestial Kingdom novels. Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows Xingyin, a young woman growing up on the moon with her exiled mother. After a magic flare-up alerts the Celestial Emperor to her existence, Xingyin finds herself fleeing her lunar life, embarking on a quest to save the mother she was forced to leave behind.
Descendant Of The Crane by Joan He
No magic allowed - plenty of magic present
Taking place in a world where magic has been outlawed, Princess Hesina finds herself placed as the queen of an unstable kingdom after her father’s murder. Delving into the magic her kingdom has shunned, the now-queen finds herself desperate to find her father’s killer.
Many mythological stories feature some level of magic. That makes it a bit surprising that Descendant of the Crane takes place in a kingdom where magic has been outlawed, the power shunned by the citizens and the ruling bodies. Of course, more surprising is how swiftly Princess Hesina finds herself breaking these rules.
Shoved onto the throne after the assassination of her father, now-Queen Hesina employs a soothsayer to help her find her father’s murderer. It’s part intrigue, part mystery, and all magical from start to stop.
FAQ
Are Mythology-Based Books Safe For Kids?
It depends on the myth. Many of the books we’ve listed here have violence, but nothing too graphic. Some also feature romance or sexual themes. If you’re worried, alwaysread a bookbefore giving it to your kids.
Where Can I Find Good Books To Read?
We like to use platforms like Amazon, but we also strongly suggest you support your local businesses. Check brick and mortar shops near you to see if they’re carrying the novel you’re searching for. If not, consider ordering online.
