A Song of Ice and Fire · ARCs · Asian Influence · Audiobook · Australia · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Haul · Books · Debut · Fairy Tale Retellings · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Game of Thrones · Gender Roles · George R.R. Martin · gothic · Grimdark · Historical Fiction · humanity · identity · LGBTQ · Literature · Military Fiction · novella · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Science Fiction · Sequel · Space Opera · speculative fiction · Trilogy

Reading Check-In: September 17, 2021

What book have you finished reading recently? One series on my list is complete. And, I stick with what I said about this series in my ASoIaF Read-Alike Book Recommendations: this series is the most "identical" to George R.R. Martin's. Another fun read by this author. And yes, it's full of folklore and fantasy references!… Continue reading Reading Check-In: September 17, 2021

African Influence · Africanfuturism · ARCs · Asian Influence · Australia · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Books · China · Coming-of-Age · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Freedom · Gender Roles · graphic novels · Grimdark · Historical Fiction · Literature · Military Fiction · Old Magic · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Science Fiction · Sequel · speculative fiction · supernatural · Trilogy · Urban Fantasy · Young Adult Fiction

Current Speculative Fiction Series I Need to Complete

The Poppy War, #3: The Burning God (2020) by R.F. Kuang As I mentioned in the last post, I've been meaning to read this final book in this bloody and brilliant historical grimdark trilogy. I did read the first couple of chapters, so I know that this story begins immediately where The Dragon Republic left… Continue reading Current Speculative Fiction Series I Need to Complete

American History · American Society · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Books · Coming-of-Age · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Folklore · Gender Roles · identity · Literature · Love · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Reading · Review · School · Seanan McGuire · Sequel · speculative fiction · Time · Wayward Children · Young Adult Fiction

Why You Need to Read: “In An Absent Dream”

Wayward Children, #4: In An Absent Dream By: Seanan McGuire Published: January 8, 2019 Genre: Fantasy             This, then, was Katherine Victoria Lundy: pretty and patient and practical. Not lonely, because she had never really considered any way of being other than alone. Not gregarious, nor sullen, but somewhere in the middle, happy to speak when spoken to,… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “In An Absent Dream”

African Influence · Africanfuturism · Asian Influence · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Review · Book to Media Adaptations · Books · Coming-of-Age · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Gender Roles · Horror · identity · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · Love · mythology · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Religion · Review · School · Science Fiction · Sequel · silkpunk · speculative fiction · Thriller

Novella Series Speculative Fiction Readers Need to Read: Part I

Novellas are stories which range from 17,500 to 40,000 words, and they can be read within one sitting. Novellas—along with novelettes and short stories—continue to be written, published and read by all within the publishing industry and the reading community. While novellas are written for all literary genres, in recent years, more of them have… Continue reading Novella Series Speculative Fiction Readers Need to Read: Part I

Advice and Suggestions · American Society · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book to Media Adaptations · Books · Debut · Education · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Gender Roles · George R.R. Martin · Harry Potter · history · Horror · humanity · identity · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · Predictions · Reading · Science Fiction · Social Media · speculative fiction · Time

The Disclosure Behind the 2020 Hugo Awards

A lot can happen in a week. Politics and COVID-19 aside, it seems like “everyone” wants to return to a time when “things were the way they used to be.” Out of all of the prejudices that’s been going around, it seems that ageism continues to be accepted widely due to the notion that “the… Continue reading The Disclosure Behind the 2020 Hugo Awards

African Influence · Afrofuturism · American History · American Society · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Black History · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Books · Coming-of-Age · Dystopia · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Freedom · history · Horror · humanity · identity · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Review · Science Fiction · Sequel · speculative fiction · Trilogy · Vigilantism

Why You Need to Read: “The Obelisk Gate”

The Broken Earth 2: The Obelisk Gate By: N.K. Jemisin Published: August 16, 2016 Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian *Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel 2017*             “We’re going somewhere you can be better,” he says gently. “Somewhere I heard of, where they can help you.” Make her a little girl again, and not…He turns… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Obelisk Gate”

American Society · Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Theories · Books · Dystopia · Education · Family · history · humanity · Ideas · identity · Indie Books · Literary Awards · Literature · Love · Movies · Time · TV

What We Can All Learn From Virtual Cons and Events

The obvious difference between this pandemic and those of the past is how humanity has been spending their time throughout the outbreak. Yes, many public places and events are closed, cancelled and/or postponed; and, there have been several cases and deaths due to COVID-19 throughout the world. Yet, it seems a lot of people have… Continue reading What We Can All Learn From Virtual Cons and Events

Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Theories · Book to Media Adaptations · Books · Children's Fiction · Comics · Debut · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Horror · Literary Awards · Literature · Movies · Predictions · Reading · Science Fiction · speculative fiction · TV · Video Games · Young Adult Fiction

My Shortlist Award Reading Challenge 2020

Yes, I am late with this post, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been keeping up with the news surrounding the nominees for this year’s speculative fiction awards. The good news is that thanks to all of my reading throughout the previous year, I’ve read a lot of the books that have been nominated for… Continue reading My Shortlist Award Reading Challenge 2020

Authors/Writers · Book Review · Books · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Horror · identity · Literary Awards · Literature · Love · mystery · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Review · School · Science Fiction · speculative fiction · Time

Why You Need to Read: “The Murders of Molly Southbourne”

Molly Southbourne #1: The Murders of Molly Southbourne By: Tade Thompson Published: October 3, 2017 Genre: Horror, Science Fiction Winner of the Nommo Award for Best Novella 2018             The rules are simple.             “If you see a girl who looks like you, run and fight.             Don’t bleed.             If you bleed, blot, burn, and bleach.             If you… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Murders of Molly Southbourne”

Authors/Writers · Book Review · Books · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Freedom · Gender Roles · history · Islam · Literary Awards · Literature · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Old Magic · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Religion · Review · speculative fiction · Trilogy

Why You Need to Read: “The City of Brass”

The Daevabad Trilogy: Book 1: The City of Brass By: S.A. Chakraborty Published: November 14, 2017 Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction             “Nahri had spent her entire life trying to blend in with those around her just to survive. Those instincts were warring even now: her thrill at learning what she was and her urge to flee back… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The City of Brass”