Best Monster Books That Question Heroes and Villains

Here is a 167-word summary of the news article: Fantasy author Ayana Gray recommends several books that challenge traditional notions of heroes and villains. In these stories, the "monsters" are not always the antagonists, but complex characters that defy simple categorization. Gray highlights "Legendborn" by Tracy Deonn, which features a Black teenage protagonist investigating her mother's death and uncovering a secret society of demon slayers. Another recommendation is "A Deadly Education" by Naomi Novik, about a young sorceress attending a dangerous magic school. Other noteworthy titles include "The Poppy War" by R.F. Kuang, which explores the moral ambiguity of war, and "The Bone Shard Daughter" by Andrea Stewart, a fantasy epic centered on an emperor's daughter with a mysterious connection to powerful constructs. Overall, the books Gray suggests move beyond traditional hero-villain archetypes, offering nuanced explorations of morality, identity and the nature of monstrosity itself.