A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope

Sixteen stories by bestselling and award-winning authors that explore the Black experience through fantasy, science fiction, and magic—coming together in one stunning narrative of hope.

“Fulfills its promise of celebrating Black girl protagonists . . . an enormously electric and entertaining collection.”—Locus

“As interrogative as Octavia E. Butler, as fierce as Beyoncé, as thoughtful as Phillis Wheatley, [and] as revolutionary as Ida B. Wells.”—Tor

“Delightfully queer . . . as diverse as the Black experience.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Bestselling, award-winning, and talented fresh voices weave together past, present, and future worlds in tales of love, betrayal, strength, and resistance. Together, these stories chronicle the Black experience, centering Black women and gender-nonconforming individuals through folktales, futuristic societies, and everything in between. Witches and scientists, sisters and lovers, priestesses and rebels: the heroes of A Phoenix First Must Burn shine brightly. You will never forget them.

Authors Include: Amerie, Elizabeth Acevedo, Rebecca Roanhorse, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Somaiya Daud, Justina Ireland, L.L. McKinney, Dhonielle Clayton, Patrice Caldwell Danny Lore, Ibi Zoboi, Danielle Paige, Ashley Woodfolk, Charlotte Nicole Davis, Karen Strong, and J. Marcelle Corrie