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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”

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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 History · American Society · ARCs · Asian Influence · Audiobook · Book Haul · Books · Children's Fiction · Debut · Duology · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Gender Roles · Goodreads · graphic novels · Grimdark · Literary Awards · Middle Grade Books · Middle Grade Fiction · Military Fiction · mythology · Reading · speculative fiction · Trilogy · Young Adult Fiction

Reading Check-In: April 1, 2023

March was a very productive month for me. As you will see, I managed to finish reading some books and start and/or pickup other books. What have I finished reading recently? This is a brilliant start to a new series by Shannon Chakraborty. Did the author drop a hint for how many books there will… Continue reading Reading Check-In: April 1, 2023

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

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!

African Influence · ARCs · Asian Influence · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Books · Children's Fiction · Debut · Duology · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Goodreads · Historical Fiction · Horror · LGBTQ · Literature · magic realism · Middle Eastern Fantasy · mythology · Norse mythology · novella · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Science Fiction · Seanan McGuire · Sequel · Space Opera · speculative fiction · Stephen King · Trilogy · Young Adult Fiction

Books I Didn’t Get to Read in 2022, But I Hope to Do So in 2023

We're in a new year, which means new books; and, a look at the books from the previous year that we missed out on. This is a new list containing new books. If you want to see the books from 2021 that were on my 2022 list, then click here for that list. Remember in… Continue reading Books I Didn’t Get to Read in 2022, But I Hope to Do So in 2023

African Influence · ARCs · Asian Influence · Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Haul · Books · Children's Fiction · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Duology · Fairy Tale Retellings · Fairy Tales · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Goodreads · gothic · graphic novels · Grimdark · Historical Fiction · Horror · Indie Books · LGBTQ · Literature · magic realism · Mark Lawrence · Metaphysical Fiction · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Middle Grade Books · Middle Grade Fiction · Military Fiction · mythology · novella · Occult Fiction · Paranormal · Predictions · Reading · Science Fiction · Seanan McGuire · Sequel · Short Story · silkpunk · Space Opera · speculative fiction · supernatural · Trilogy · Wayward Children · Young Adult Fiction

Why You Need to Read…My Most Anticipated Speculative Fiction Books of 2023

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! A new year means new books to look forward to reading, alongside the ones from last year that we haven't read yet. 2023 looks to be an exciting year once again for book releases. At the same time, it's daunting to know that with several prequels/sequels/companion novels getting published this year,… Continue reading Why You Need to Read…My Most Anticipated Speculative Fiction Books of 2023

African Influence · American History · American Society · ARCs · Asian Influence · Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Review · Books · Children's Fiction · Comics · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Duology · Dystopia · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Goodreads · gothic · graphic novels · Historical Fiction · Horror · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · Metaphysical Fiction · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Middle Grade Books · Middle Grade Fiction · Military Fiction · mythology · novella · Reading · Review · Science Fiction · Seanan McGuire · Sequel · speculative fiction · supernatural · Trilogy · Wayward Children · Young Adult Fiction

Why You Need to Read…My Selections for Best Speculative Fiction of 2022

And, we made it to the end of 2022! For me, it was a very busy year! Now, I'm a full-time librarian and I'm attempting to make time for even more books to read (for work and for fun). I'm still working on balancing a career and life while continuing to pursue my other goals,… Continue reading Why You Need to Read…My Selections for Best Speculative Fiction of 2022

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TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials”: “Lyra and Her Death”

Mrs. Coulter returns to the “World of Daemons” in the Intention Craft is stole from Asriel and The Republic of Heaven. However, she learns she didn’t travel alone with only her daemon for company. Mrs. Coulter turns herself to The Magisterium and, “His Grace,” Cardinal MacPhail.              Meanwhile, Lyra, Pan, and Will enter the Land of… Continue reading TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials”: “Lyra and Her Death”

ARCs · Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Review · Book to Media Adaptations · Books · Children's Fiction · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Duology · Fairy Tales · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · gothic · graphic novels · Greek and Roman Mythology · His Dark Materials · Historical Fiction · humanity · Literary Awards · Literature · Metaphysical Fiction · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Middle Grade Books · Middle Grade Fiction · Military Fiction · mythology · Reading · Review · School · Science Fiction · Seanan McGuire · Sequel · Short Story · speculative fiction · The Golden Compass · Trilogy · TV · TV Show Review · TV Show Spoilers · Video Games · World Cup · Young Adult Fiction

Reading Check-In: December 3, 2022

The last few weeks have been very busy for me. Work and life has kept me occupied; and, while I haven't read as many books as I wanted, I've been able to read enough to write up some reviews and, hopefully, reach my reading goals by the end of this year. What have I finished… Continue reading Reading Check-In: December 3, 2022