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

African Influence · Africanfuturism · ATLUS · Audiobook · Australia · Book Haul · Books · Christianity · Coming-of-Age · Education · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Gaming · Harry Potter · Literature · magic realism · Middle Grade Books · Middle Grade Fiction · Reading · School · Sequel · speculative fiction · Trilogy · Video Games · Young Adult Fiction

Reading Check-In: December 25, 2021

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it! Because today is a holiday and I'm a bit of a workaholic, I'm keeping this week's post simple and straightforward. What have you finished reading recently? I did it! I finished this book, which is the 20th book released in 2021, which means I'll be able to present… Continue reading Reading Check-In: December 25, 2021

A Song of Ice and Fire · Asian Influence · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Theories · Books · Christianity · Debut · Dystopia · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Gaming · Gender Roles · George R.R. Martin · Grimdark · Horror · humanity · Ideas · Indie Books · Literary Awards · Literature · Mark Lawrence · Military Fiction · Reading · speculative fiction · Trilogy · TV · Video Games · Vigilantism · Writing

An Analysis of the Genre: Grimdark, Horror & Dark Fantasy

NOTE: This post is a rewrite of an assignment I wrote for a graduate school course. If you would like to read the original essay, then click here. Also, this is written in APA Format. Speculative fiction is the general term used when describing books which fall under the genres of fantasy, science fiction and horror,… Continue reading An Analysis of the Genre: Grimdark, Horror & Dark Fantasy

A Song of Ice and Fire · Africanfuturism · American History · American Society · Anime · Asian Influence · ATLUS · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Black History · Book to Media Adaptations · Books · Children's Fiction · Coming-of-Age · Fairy Tale Retellings · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Gaming · Gender Roles · Harry Potter · His Dark Materials · Historical Fiction · history · humanity · identity · Japan · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · magic realism · Metaphysical Fiction · Movie Spoilers · Movies · mythology · novella · Old Magic · Paranormal · Parents and Parenting · Reading · School · Science Fiction · Seanan McGuire · Sequel · speculative fiction · supernatural · The Chronicles of Narnia · The Golden Compass · Trilogy · Video Games · Wayward Children · Young Adult Fiction

My Favorite Speculative Fiction Narratives

***My 200th Blog Post!!!*** For this post, which marks a new milestone for me, I decided to discuss one of the most enjoyable—and the most dreadful—topics: favorites. We all know why favorites is a fun topic, but it can be daunting for opposing reasons: others have them as their favorites, they are ubiquitous, they are… Continue reading My Favorite Speculative Fiction Narratives

Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Books · Gaming · Ideas · identity · Literature · Reading · Review · Writing

Bookblogger Appreciation Week: Thank You

This past week was Bookblogger Appreciation Week; and, while I participated in this recognition event, I did not know such a thing existed! Not to mention, I did NOT realize how many people read my reviews and my essays on my blog, and my other content (S.F.W.A., podcasts & Fantasy-Faction) elsewhere. We all went through… Continue reading Bookblogger Appreciation Week: Thank You

Advice and Suggestions · African Influence · Asian Influence · Audiobook · Australia · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Book Theories · Books · British History · Celtic and Welsh Mythology · China · Christianity · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Dystopia · Fairy Tale Retellings · Family · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Gaming · gothic · Greek and Roman Mythology · Grimdark · Historical Fiction · history · Horror · identity · Indie Books · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · magic realism · Metaphysical Fiction · Military Fiction · Paranormal · Reading · religious beliefs · Review · Science Fiction · Sequel · Space Opera · speculative fiction · supernatural

TBRcon21: Another Success for Virtual Cons

It’s 2021, the pandemic is ongoing, and it still sucks. Fortunately, we’ve gotten better at entertaining ourselves through our hobbies and interests. Readers and bookbloggers have been able to make the most of lockdown by reading (or, trying to read) our TBR piles and helping authors and publishers with promoting any books we get our… Continue reading TBRcon21: Another Success for Virtual Cons

Africanfuturism · American Society · Asian Influence · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Black History · Book Review · Book to Media Adaptations · Books · Children's Fiction · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Dystopia · Education · Fairy Tale Retellings · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Gaming · Gender Roles · Harry Potter · Horror · J.K. Rowling · magic realism · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Middle Grade Books · Military Fiction · Movies · mythology · Old Magic · Paranormal · Parents and Parenting · Parody · Reading · religious beliefs · Review · School · Science Fiction · Sequel · speculative fiction · supernatural · The Chronicles of Narnia · Trilogy · TV · Video Games · Young Adult Fiction

Speculative Fiction Starters for Children and Young Adults

This article was written for the Martian Chronicle blog, but it was never posted so I decided to rewrite and to present it on my blog. Enjoy!             When children and adolescents show an interest in reading, we—as adults, and as readers ourselves—want nothing more than to load our recommendations and favorite books on to them. Unfortunately, not… Continue reading Speculative Fiction Starters for Children and Young Adults

Advice and Suggestions · American Society · Anime · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Review · Book Theories · Book to Media Adaptations · Books · British History · Cartoonists · Catholic Church · Children's Fiction · Christianity · Comics · Coming-of-Age · Education · Fairy Tale Retellings · Fantasy · Folklore · Game of Thrones · Gaming · graphic novels · Grimdark · Harry Potter · history · Horror · Ideas · Indie Books · Literary Awards · Literature · magic realism · Manga · Movies · mythology · Neil Gaiman · Paranormal · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · School · Science Fiction · Social Media · speculative fiction · Superheroes · The Chronicles of Narnia · TV · Urban Fantasy · Video Games · Young Adult Fiction

Adult Fantasy: Is There Such a Thing?

Video games, graphic novels and comic books and manga, and fantasy literature continue to share the same criticism from those who are neither fans nor creators: they are for children and/or they have no place in a classroom or in an academic setting. The fact that such notions continue to be made is a disconcerting… Continue reading Adult Fantasy: Is There Such a Thing?

Authors/Writers · Award Winner · Book Theories · Books · Fantasy · Folklore · Gaming · graphic novels · history · Literature · Movies · mythology · Reading · School · speculative fiction · Time · TV

Speculative Fiction: A Label for the Growing Spectrum of the Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction & Horror

*My 100th Blog Post!* For the past year in which I have devoted more time to working on my blog, I have gained a larger audience—followers, readers and other supporters—than I thought possible. Remember, even the most successful bloggers and vloggers start out as “small channels” and are thankful for those who support them. I… Continue reading Speculative Fiction: A Label for the Growing Spectrum of the Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction & Horror

Folklore · Gaming · Japan · Technology · Video Games

Why E3 2018 Was Great for Gamers and Relevant for Media

E3 2018 lived up to everyone’s expectations! Now, this isn’t about which games were the best and which moments were the worst (NO MORE MACRHING BANDS). Instead, I want to go into why this year’s E3 was monumental, especially after the great year in gaming that was 2017. Long awaited games, expected sequels and remasters,… Continue reading Why E3 2018 Was Great for Gamers and Relevant for Media