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Why You Need to Read: “The Once and Future Witches”

The Once and Future Witches By: Alix E. Harrow Published: October 13, 2020 Genre: Historical Fantasy, Folklore, Paranormal             …“The Tale of Saint George and the Witches.” It’s never been one of her favorites, but she reads it anyway.             It’s the usual version: once upon a time there were three wicked witches who loosed a terrible… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Once and Future Witches”

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Why You Need to Read: “Tower of Mud and Straw”

Tower of Mud and Straw By: Yaroslav Barsukov Published: February 21, 2021 Genre: Fantasy             The tower took the length of the world—only it was an alien world, replicating itself over and over as it climbed to a distinct, ghostly gap into the clouds. Or did he stare down a well? (Part I. The Duchy. 5).             Critics have an… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Tower of Mud and Straw”

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Why You Need to Read: “Beneath the Sugar Sky”

Wayward Children, #3: Beneath the Sugar Sky By: Seanan McGuire Published: January 9, 2018 Genre: Fantasy             The Queen of Cakes would never have been defeated: Sumi had died before she could return to Confection and overthrow the government. Rini wasn’t just saving herself. She was saving a world, setting right what was on the verge of… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Beneath the Sugar Sky”

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Why You Need to Read: “Ring Shout”

Ring Shout By: P. Djèlí Clark Published: October 13, 2020 Genre: Horror/Folklore/Supernatural/Historical Fiction Thank you Tor.com for sending me an ARC of this book.             “The Birth of a Nation” had delivered all the souls they needed to stir up them old evil powers. Across the country, white folk who ain’t even heard of the Klans… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Ring Shout”

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End of 2020 Releases I’m Looking Forward to Reading

By some miracle, we survived to the end of September (2020). It seems that books and video games have managed to remain constant throughout the year—as in some delays and/or minimal postponement. I’m still working my way through my TBR pile as it continues to grow. Fall 2020—September-December—continues the unceasing releases within the literary world… Continue reading End of 2020 Releases I’m Looking Forward to Reading

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Why You Need to Read: “Black Sun”

Between Earth and Sky, #1: Black Sun By: Rebecca Roanhorse Published: October 13, 2020 Genre: Fantasy/Folklore/Historical Fantasy             This year, the solstice will be marked by the rarest of celestial occurrences. As the year divides into old and new, so also will the earth, sun, and moon align in the Convergence. Over our very heads, we will… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Black Sun”

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Speculative Fiction Books that Kept My Interest in the Genre

Please note the title of this post refers to books! I will write a separate list containing movies, TV shows and video games related to speculative fiction sometime in the future. And, expect that list to consist of “originals,” not just media adaptations of books. Also, these are NOT my favorite speculative fiction books of… Continue reading Speculative Fiction Books that Kept My Interest in the Genre

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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”

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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”

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The Midpoint of 2020: Favorite Speculative Fiction Books…So Far

Well, we made it to the halfway point of the year 2020, which will go down as one of the most pivotal (and the wackiest) years in living memory. Just like everyone else, I’ve been affected by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the murders which led to the international Black Lives Matter movement, as well… Continue reading The Midpoint of 2020: Favorite Speculative Fiction Books…So Far