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Banned & Challenged Books: When Society Overrides Personal Choice

***My 250th Blog Post             Banned and challenged books have become a “hot topic” in 2022; or maybe the Shutdown brought more attention to them because many people returned to reading due to the Pandemic. Yes, throughout 2020 and 2021 A LOT of attention was given to books about race and ethnic issues. Then earlier this year,… Continue reading Banned & Challenged Books: When Society Overrides Personal Choice

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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

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Why You Need to Read: “The House in the Cerulean Sea”

The House in the Cerulean Sea By: T.J. Klune Published: March 17, 2020 Genre: Fantasy *Winner of the 2021 ALA Alex Award*             It was set up a hill on a cliff overlooking the ocean. It looked as if it were at least a hundred years old. It was made of brick and had a large… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The House in the Cerulean Sea”

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Why You Need to Read: “Every Heart A Doorway”

Wayward Children, #1: Every Heart A Doorway By: Seanan McGuire Published: April 5, 2016 Genre: Fantasy *Winner of: Hugo Award for Best Novella 2017, Nebula Award for Best Novella 2016, Locus Award for Best Novella 2017, ALA Alex Award 2017             …the wanting. You want to go back, and so you hold on to the habits you… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Every Heart A Doorway”

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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

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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”

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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

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The Popularity and the Revolution of Fantasy Thanks to S.P.F.B.O.

S.P.F.B.O. 5 is over, and this year’s winner—The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang—received one of the highest scores in the competition’s short history, 8.65. While this year’s competition was fierce and resulted in a close 2nd place, the hype and the feedback circulated to where bookbloggers with a larger platform started discussing the competition and published… Continue reading The Popularity and the Revolution of Fantasy Thanks to S.P.F.B.O.

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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”

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Why You Need to Read: “Rosewater”

The Wormwood Trilogy: Book 1: Rosewater By: Tade Thompson Published: first published November 15, 2016; reprinted September 18, 2018 Genre: Science Fiction/Afrofuturism  Winner of the Nommo Award for Best Novel 2017 Apart from the classified stuff about sensitives and the xenosphere, most information about the dome is in the public domain, but it is amazing… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Rosewater”