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Here is the place to discuss retellings, traditional tales, or books set in the desert.

I am going to go to Louis L'amor for this one

The Haunted Mesa

Set in the US Southwest desert.

Some more suggestions

Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody series, which takes place in the deserts of Egypt.

The Dune series

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn and Chee series, set in the US south west desert.

Some desert recs.

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland: An inventive YA novel set in the Arizona desert, about immigration, aliens, and fairytales.

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse: A very entertaining Indigenous urban fantasy set in the American desert after an apocalypse.

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad: A YA fantasy set in a city in the desert.

She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor: African futurist novella set in the deserts of West Africa.

The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi: A fantasy quest novella set in the desert of a fictionalized Nigeria.

Race the Sands - desert fantasy. Strong woman protagonist.

Ozsaur wrote: "Race the Sands - desert fantasy. Strong woman protagonist."

How'd I forget that one! That was a 5-star read for me. Loved it.

Race the Sands was the book that turned me on to Sarah Beth Durst. I'm not sure I would have read The Spellshop if it hadn't had her name on it.

Ozsaur wrote: "Race the Sands was the book that turned me on to Sarah Beth Durst. I'm not sure I would have read The Spellshop if it hadn't had her name on it."

Same! I need to read some of her older books. I've heard so many good things about The Queen of Blood.

I'm counting The Four Profound Weaves, which I just read for the Trans Rights Readathon, for this challenge. It's got some interesting in-world mythology, and made me interested to read more of Lemberg's Birdverse.

Kelsey wrote: "I'm counting The Four Profound Weaves, which I just read for the Trans Rights Readathon, for this challenge. It's got some interesting in-world mythology, and made me interested to ..."

I enjoyed that one, too. I haven't read more Birdverse books yet, though. I might for this challenge.

I still have not decided what I will read for this prompt, but just wanted to mention several books I have really enjoyed that take place in the desert :
The Painted Boy
The Wind in His Heart
The Mystery of Grace
Medicine Road
All 4 books are by Charles de Lint
The Painted Boy and The Mystery of Grace were 5 stars for me, the other 2 books 4 stars.
For people who read his middle grade book Seven Wild Sisters, Medicine Road is the sisters when they grow up.
As Margaret already mentioned, She Who Knows takes place in the desert, as do Nnedi Okorafor’s other books in that series, Who Fears Death ( my personal favourite) and The Book of Phoenix

How could I have forgotten ? The Wood Wife
All the books I’ve mention I’ve read so I still don’t know what I’ll read!

Jalilah wrote: "How could I have forgotten ? The Wood Wife
All the books I’ve mention I’ve read so I still don’t know what I’ll read!"

I love that one too! Surprised I forgot it.

Margaret wrote: "Some desert recs.

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland: An inventive YA novel set in the Arizona desert, about immigra..."

I will be reading Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything for this prompt! I’m so happy my library has it and excited about this read! Have you read other books from this author?

Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Some desert recs.

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland: An inventive YA novel set in the Arizona dese..."

I have not, but I did really enjoy that one! I want to read her others.

Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Some desert recs.

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland: An inventive YA novel set in ..."

In spite of all the teenage angst, I really enjoyed Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything. I liked the combination of sci-fi, Mexican folklore and current issues like migrants and border deportations
Thanks for letting me know about this book!

Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Some desert recs.

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland: An inventive..."

So glad you ended up enjoying it! I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it.