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Library Reads: Summer Reading Recommendations for Middle Grade & Teen Readers

It's been a while since I've written up a post about what I've been doing as a librarian. And, since Summer Vacation has started for some of the schools in the U.S., I decided to compile this post containing some recommendations for Middle/Junior and High School students. This list is NOT based on "Required School… Continue reading Library Reads: Summer Reading Recommendations for Middle Grade & Teen Readers

Advice and Suggestions · American History · Asian Influence · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Black History · Book Review · Books · Debut · Dystopia · Fairy Tales · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Gender Roles · graphic novels · history · Horror · identity · Indie Books · LGBTQ · Mark Lawrence · Metaphysical Fiction · Military Fiction · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Review · School · Science Fiction · Seanan McGuire · Sequel · speculative fiction · Stephen King · Trilogy · Young Adult Fiction

Book Stack: Frequent SFF Book Recommendations

This is a topic I've seen some of my fellow bookbloggers post on their sites. I thought it was an interesting topic and it got me thinking about some books, particularly speculative fiction books, I recommend to other individuals to read. And, believe it or not, I wrote down my list of 10 titles I… Continue reading Book Stack: Frequent SFF Book Recommendations

ARCs · Asian Influence · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Haul · China · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Duology · Fantasy · First in a Series · Love · Mark Lawrence · Middle Grade Books · Middle Grade Fiction · Reading · Science Fiction · Sequel · Space Opera · speculative fiction · Young Adult Fiction

Reading Check-In: May 6, 2023

I'm going to be honest: I barely got any reading done last month. Not since I was in grad school has my reading been so unproductive. It's not that I didn't read anything, it that I didn't read enough to finish any book. Hopefully, I will read more than 1 book this month. What have… Continue reading Reading Check-In: May 6, 2023

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Why You Need to Read: “The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi”

Amina al-Sirafi, #1: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi By: Shannon Chakraborty Published: February 28, 2023 Genre: Historical Fantasy, Folklore Retelling, Adventure, Pirates I received an advanced copy of this book (Goodreads Giveaway & NetGalley) in exchanged for an honest review.             Yes! “That” Captain Amina al-Sirafi. The smuggler, the pirate. The blasphemer that men of letters accuse… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi”

Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Theories · Books · Comics · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Folklore · Gaming · graphic novels · history · humanity · Ideas · identity · Literature · mythology · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Science Fiction · Space Opera · speculative fiction · Time · Video Games · Writing · Young Adult Fiction

Speculative Fiction Narratives with Expansive Worlds & Histories: Part 1

This is a topic I've been thinking about for some time. I figured with life stressing me out to the point where I'm worried about getting burned out, I might as well get some of these thoughts about the speculative fiction genre out of my mind. One of the aspects about speculative fiction which lure… Continue reading Speculative Fiction Narratives with Expansive Worlds & Histories: Part 1

American Society · ARCs · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Review · Book Theories · Books · Fairy Tale Retellings · Fairy Tales · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Folklore · Gender Roles · identity · Literature · magic realism · novella · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Review · speculative fiction

Why You Need to Read: “The Crane Husband”

The Crane Husband By: Kelly Barnhill Published: February 28, 2023 Genre: Folklore, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Fairy Tale Retelling *I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.             I dreamed of my mother standing in the endless fields beyond our yard, where no one was allowed to go, wings erupting from her… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Crane Husband”

ARCs · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Book Theories · Books · Education · Favorite Books · humanity · identity · Literature · Metaphysical Fiction · Predictions · Reading · Review · School · Sequel · speculative fiction

Why You Need to Read: “Assassin of Reality”

Metamorphosis, #4: Vita Nostra, Book 2: Assassin of Reality By: Marina and Sergey Dyachenko; Translated (English) by: Julia Meitov Hersey Published: March 14, 2023 Genre: Sequel, Metaphysical Fiction, Dark Academia *I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. **NOTE: There are some minor spoilers from Vita Nostra.             Yesterday, January 13, a student of the Institute… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Assassin of Reality”

ARCs · Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Haul · Book Review · Books · Debut · Duology · Family · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Gender Roles · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · magic realism · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Military Fiction · mystery · mythology · Parents and Parenting · Religion · Sequel · speculative fiction · Trilogy · TV · Young Adult Fiction

Reading Check-In: March 4, 2023

I apologize for yet another "list post," but I wanted to give an update on everything that happened since the beginning of February; and, I want to make sure I have more than 1 book review ready to post. What have I finished reading recently? I just finished reading this book, and I'm glad I… Continue reading Reading Check-In: March 4, 2023

Asian Influence · Australia · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Books · Debut · Fantasy · First in a Series · Horror · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · novella · Predictions · Reading · Review · Science Fiction · Sequel · Short Story · Social Media · Space Opera · speculative fiction · Writing

SCKA 2023: We’re Back!!!

It's time foe the Subjective Chaos Kind of Awards for 2023! I was asked to be a judge again; and, this year will be the 3rd year I've participated in this speculative awards with other bookbloggers. I’m very excited about this year’s awards and nominees! This year, there are fewer categories (compared to the extra… Continue reading SCKA 2023: We’re Back!!!

Advice and Suggestions · American History · American Society · ARCs · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Theories · Books · Fairy Tale Retellings · Fairy Tales · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Folklore · history · Horror · Indie Books · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · Middle Grade Books · mythology · novella · Reading · Science Fiction · Sequel · Short Story · speculative fiction · Young Adult Fiction

Hello from Boskone!

Hello everyone! I apologize for another non-review post; but currently, I'm attending the Boskone 60 Convention in Boston! This is the first in-person Con I've been able to attend since before the pandemic. It's amazing when you recall how much fun these events are and why authors, writers, and fans attend them. So far, I… Continue reading Hello from Boskone!