Alison Rose asked Alix E. Harrow:

Currently reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January & curious about January's identity--we have explicit statements about her being non-white but thus far nothing specific as to her ethnic/racial background. Sometimes it sounds as though she's (at least part) Native American, sometimes Black or something else. Are we meant to know for sure? And is this ownvoices rep, i.e., do you share January's identity in this area?

Alix E. Harrow Thank you so much for asking, because it gives me the chance to be super clear: THIS BOOK IS NOT #OWNVOICES. I am white and my protagonist is a young woman of color in the early 1900. (Her specific lineage is a fairly sizeable spoiler, and the confusion of labels early in the book is a representation of the early-20th-century obsession with racial classification, and a reflection of its limitations). I hope I have represented January's experiences with both historical accuracy and empathy, but readers specifically looking to read and support authors of color should skip mine.

There are better/smarter lists out there, but if you're looking for authors of color writing adult fantasy, I've recently LOVED Rebecca Roanhorse, P. Djeli Clark, Cass Khaw, Rivers Solomon, and R.F. Kuang. (And N.K. Jemisin, but that goes without saying).

And also, while I'm here...THIS BOOK IS NOT YA! I adore YA, and this book definitely has some crossover appeal--there's nothing R-rated in it--but it was written for adult readers.

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