Preeta Samarasan’s Tale of the Dreamer’s Son is set in post-1969 after the race riots in Kuala Lumpur, within the Muhibbah Center for World Peace, a former tea planter’s mansion that serves as a commune that strives for unity amid religious diversity and racial blindness. The novel explores Malaysian identity splinters as Salmah, a Malay Muslim, disrupts the peaceful coexistence with her mixed-race son, challenging the community’s harmony and forcing a critical examination of modern Malaysia.

Viji Krishnamoorthy’s intriguing debut novel 912 Batu Road was long-listed for the 2023 Dublin Literary Award. The novel follows the experience of two families, the Iyers and the Tans, during the Japanese occupation of Malaya, juxtaposed with the story of a modern-day secret love affair between their descendants in the 2000s. A portion of the book set in the World World II era Malaya was inspired by Viji’s grandfather, who migrated to Malaya from India.         

See also: A Chat with Viji Krishnamoorthy Makes Her Literary Debut With '912 Batu Road'

In Malaysia-born, UK-based author Zen Cho’s gripping contemporary fantasy, Black Water Sister, Jessamyn Teoh, a reluctant medium, grapples with a dangerous power rooted in family ties. Returning to Malaysia, she dismisses the voices she hears as stress until realising it’s her estranged grandmother, Ah Ma, the spirit medium for the deity Black Water Sister. 

Don’t miss: The Malaysian Women Who Have Been Honoured With Prestigious International Awards

Ah Ma seeks revenge against a gang boss, enlisting Jess to settle the score, thrusting her into a realm of gods, ghosts, and family secrets. As Jess fights for justice, she must reclaim control over her body and destiny, facing the perilous consequences of dealing with capricious spirits.

The young adult novel that arguably propelled author Hanna Alkaf to fame, The Weight of Our Sky is a poignant retelling of the 1969 Kuala Lumpur race riots through the eyes of a young Malay teen.

The compelling young adult novel follows the story of music-loving 16-year-old Melati Ahmad, who gets separated from her mother during the outbreak of violence, navigating her way back to her mother with the help of a Chinese boy named Vincent as she struggles to confront her own biases and overcome societal divisions.

Hanna’s latest young adult novel, The Hysterical Girls of St Bernadette’s, is set to come out in September 2024, exploring complicated relationships, trauma, and what it takes for girls to be believed—set against an incident of mass hysteria at an all-girls convent school.    

Described by Good Reads as Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away for adults, Yangsze Choo’s The Ghost Bride is set in 1890s colonial Malaya when a young Chinese woman, Li Lan, faces a haunting proposal from the wealthy Lim family to marry their deceased son. Her desire for the living heir, Tian Bai, complicates matters. After a visit to the Lim mansion, Li Lan becomes entangled in the Chinese afterlife—a realm of vengeful spirits, bureaucratic complexities, and ghostly landscapes. The novel was eventually adapted into the first original Netflix series in Mandarin from Malaysia in 2020.   

See more: 7 Book Adaptations To Watch On Netflix

Set in 1990’s Malaysia during the turbulent ‘Reformasi’ period, journalist Delonix Regia is the protagonist of Bernice Chauly’s debut novel, Once We Were There, a skilfully-woven tale that traverses corruption, vice and loss in a city that’s rapidly changing. When Delonix’s two-year-old daughter Alba is kidnapped, she must confront the terrible secret of a city where babies are sold and girls are trafficked.

See also: The Many Hats of Bernice Chauly

Vanessa Chan’s bestseller The Storm We Made is set in 1930s Malaya and revolves around discontent mother and wife Cecily Alcantara who, in becoming a spy for the Japanese, unwittingly ushers in the most violent war her country has ever seen. Cecily’s choices lead to brutal consequences as the war unfolds, putting her family on the edge. This saga spans years and is narrated by four characters, exploring the complexities of war, colonial relationships, and moral ambiguity in the pursuit of survival.

Sarawak-born author Nadia Mikail’s award-winning novel, The Cats We Meet Along the Way, centres on 17-year-old Aisha, who separated from her sister June for two years. Faced with an impending calamity, Aisha, her mother, and a diverse group, including her cat and boyfriend, embark on a poignant road trip through Malaysia. This heartwarming debut, born from Nadia’s pandemic-induced separation anxiety, explores familial bonds and the pursuit of reconciliation amidst impending uncertainties.

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