African Influence · ARCs · Authors/Writers · Book Review · Books · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Freedom · Gender Roles · Goodreads · identity · Parents and Parenting · Reading · religious beliefs · Review · speculative fiction · Young Adult Fiction

Why You Need to Read: “The Gilded Ones”

The Gilded Ones, #1: The Gilded Ones By: Namina Forna Published: February 9, 2021 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains elements of rape, misogyny, familicide, dismemberment, human trafficking, and violence against females. Be advised.             Confusion lines my face, and I frown at her. “An invitation for what?”             “For you, Impure One. Emperor Gezo… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Gilded Ones”

ARCs · Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Books · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Gender Roles · LGBTQ · Literature · Predictions · Reading · religious beliefs · Review · Sequel · speculative fiction

Why You Need to Read: “The House of Always”

A Chorus of Dragons, #4: The House of Always By: Jenn Lyons                                                                        Published: May 11, 2021                                                         Genre: Fantasy                                                                                              Thank you Tor for sending me an eARC of this book. I listened to excerpts of the audiobook, too. Note: There are a few spoilers from the first three books in A Chorus of Dragons series.              After I have my… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The House of Always”

American Society · ARCs · Authors/Writers · Book Review · Books · Coming-of-Age · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Freedom · humanity · identity · LGBTQ · Literature · Parents and Parenting · Reading · religious beliefs · Review · speculative fiction · Vigilantism

Why You Need to Read: “First, Become Ashes”

First, Become Ashes By: K.M. Szpara Published: April 6, 2021 Genre: Urban Fantasy TRIGGER WARNING: Be advised. This book contains elements of self-harm, imprisonment, rape, torture, abuse, and non-consensual sex.  I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. All thoughts are mine alone.             Her voice drips with pity I… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “First, Become Ashes”

ARCs · Authors/Writers · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Books · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Gender Roles · history · humanity · identity · LGBTQ · Literature · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Review · Sequel · speculative fiction · Time

Why You Need to Read: “The Memory of Souls”

A Chorus of Dragons, #3: The Memory of Souls By: Jenn Lyons Published: August 25, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Thank you Tor Books for sending me an eARC of this book! And, thank you for your patience on waiting for my review. Note: There are a few spoilers from the first two books in A Chorus of Dragons series.              “The… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Memory of Souls”

Authors/Writers · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Book Theories · Book to Media Adaptations · Books · Catholic Church · Children's Fiction · Christianity · Coming-of-Age · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Freedom · Gender Roles · His Dark Materials · identity · Literature · Middle Grade Books · mystery · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Review · Science Fiction · Sequel · speculative fiction · Trilogy · TV · TV Show Review · TV Show Spoilers · Young Adult Fiction

TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials”: “The Cave”

This episode opens up with Lyra crossing over into another world—our world—to learn more about Dust and about the similarities between her Oxford and Will’s Oxford. Unfortunately, Lyra has to learn how to adapt to this “new” world as she experiences technology—the scene with the car is straight from the books—and people without daemons, poor… Continue reading TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials”: “The Cave”

Audiobook · Australia · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Review · Books · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · First in a Series · Gender Roles · identity · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · Reading · Review · speculative fiction

Why You Need to Read: “City of Lies”

Poison Wars, #1: City of Lies By: Sam Hawke                                                                      Audiobook: 18 hours 16 minutes Published: July 3, 2018                                                          Narrated by: Rosa Coduri, Dan Genre: Fantasy                                                                                                         Morgan                         I was seven years old the first time my uncle poisoned me, (1: Jovan).             “The Land Down Under,” is also known as the continent, Australia. Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania make up the region… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “City of Lies”

Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Review · Books · Christianity · Coming-of-Age · Fairy Tale Retellings · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Folklore · Freedom · Gender Roles · Historical Fiction · history · identity · Literature · Love · magic realism · mythology · Old Magic · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Review · speculative fiction · Trilogy

Why You Need to Read: “The Girl in the Tower”

Winternight Trilogy, #2: The Girl in the Tower By: Katherine Arden Published: December 5, 2017 Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Folklore/Magic Realism/Coming-of-Age             Highborn women, who must live and die in towers, were much given to visiting. Now and again, they stayed overnight for company, when their husbands were away, (1: The Death of the Snow-Maiden).             Folklore maintains traditions and cultures that… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Girl in the Tower”

Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Review · Book Theories · Books · Catholic Church · Christianity · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Education · Fairy Tale Retellings · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Gender Roles · Historical Fiction · identity · Literature · magic realism · Old Magic · Paganism · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Review · speculative fiction

Why You Need to Read: “The Bear and the Nightingale”

Winternight Trilogy, #1: The Bear and the Nightingale By: Katherine Arden Published: January 10, 2017 Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Folklore/Magic Realism/Coming-of-Age             Vasya’s head hurt with thinking. If the domovoi wasn’t real, then what about the others? The vodyanoy in the river, the twig-man in the trees? The rusalka, the polevik, the dvorovoi? Had she imagined them all? Was… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Bear and the Nightingale”

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 · Love · mystery · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Reading · Science Fiction · Sequel · speculative fiction · Terrorism · Time · Trilogy · Vigilantism

Why You Need to Read: “The Stone Sky”

The Broken Earth 3: The Stone Sky By: N.K. Jemisin Published: August 15, 2017 Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian/Fantasy *Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel 2018, Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel 2017, Winner of the Locus Award for Best Novel 2018*             The job you “have” to do is the easier of the… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Stone Sky”

Authors/Writers · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Book Theories · Books · Coming-of-Age · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Grimdark · identity · Literature · Old Magic · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Review · Sequel · speculative fiction · Terrorism

Why You Need to Read: “The Shadow Saint”

The Black Iron Legacy: Book 2: The Shadow Saint By: Gareth Hanrahan Published: January 7, 2020 Genre: Fantasy, Grimdark             Ten months ago, at the height of what some call the Crisis and others the Gutter Miracle, a new city exploded into being within Guerdon, (Chapter 2).             When you read a book that becomes one of your favorite… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Shadow Saint”