Which Adventure Fiction Novels Feature Rising Heroes In Exotic Settings?

I think a lot of folks immediately go to the classics like 'The Hobbit' or 'King Solomon's Mines' for this, but I've been getting more into the newer stuff that twists the formula. One that really hooked me was 'The Bone Shard Daughter' by Andrea Stewart. The setting is this archipelago of floating islands ruled by a mysterious emperor, and the 'exotic' feel isn't just backdrop—it’s woven into the magic system, which is based on constructing creatures from bone shards. The hero, Lin, starts from a place of weakness and ignorance, trying to prove herself to a father who doesn't seem to care. Her rise is so messy and fraught with moral ambiguity, which feels more real than a straight path to glory.

Another fantastic one is 'The Rage of Dragons' by Evan Winter. The Omehi society is inspired by African cultures, which is a refreshing departure from the usual European medieval template. The setting of the endless war with the dragon-like creatures is brutal and unforgiving. The protagonist, Tau, isn't chosen by destiny; he’s fueled by a vicious, all-consuming rage after a personal tragedy. His rise is less about noble heroism and more about grinding himself into a weapon through sheer, painful willpower. It’s a relentless climb, and the exoticism of the setting is in the social structures, the magic of the Gifted, and the ever-present threat from above and below.

I also have to give a shout-out to 'Black Sun' by Rebecca Roanhorse. The Meridian continent, based on pre-Columbian Americas, is breathtakingly different. The rising hero here is actually multiple characters, but Serapio’s journey is the one that sticks with me. He’s being groomed for a dark, celestial purpose from childhood, traveling toward the holy city of Tova. The sense of a destiny both grand and terrifying is palpable, and the setting—with its towering cliff cities, crow-based magic, and political intrigue—is a character in itself. His ascent is intertwined with the very fabric of the world's mythology, making the exotic setting essential, not just decorative.

My take is a bit different—I gravitate toward the older pulp adventures where the exotic setting is the main attraction. Something like H. Rider Haggard's 'She' or Edgar Rice Burroughs' 'A Princess of Mars'. John Carter waking up on Mars, with its low gravity and strange civilizations, is the pure essence of this. The hero rises because he's a fish out of water who adapts and uses his earthly strength. It’s not psychologically deep, but the thrill is in the sheer wonder of the setting itself. That sense of discovering a completely alien world, with its own rules and dangers, is what makes the hero's journey feel so expansive. Those books are like a shot of pure, undiluted adventure escapism.