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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”

Asian Influence · Australia · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Books · Debut · Fantasy · First in a Series · Horror · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · novella · Predictions · Reading · Review · Science Fiction · Sequel · Short Story · Social Media · Space Opera · speculative fiction · Writing

SCKA 2023: We’re Back!!!

It's time foe the Subjective Chaos Kind of Awards for 2023! I was asked to be a judge again; and, this year will be the 3rd year I've participated in this speculative awards with other bookbloggers. I’m very excited about this year’s awards and nominees! This year, there are fewer categories (compared to the extra… Continue reading SCKA 2023: We’re Back!!!

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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

American Society · ARCs · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Haul · Books · Comics · Dystopia · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Horror · novella · Paranormal · Reading · Seanan McGuire · Sequel · speculative fiction · Wayward Children

Book Haul: October 2022

I realized I have received A LOT of books this month. There are even more anticipated releases coming out before the end of this year. That being said, here are the books I received from the last 2 weeks. Note: These are print editions. I may or may not do a separate post about e-Galleys… Continue reading Book Haul: October 2022

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

A Song of Ice and Fire · Advice and Suggestions · African Influence · Asian Influence · Australia · Authors/Writers · Award Winner · Book Review · Books · Debut · Dunk and Egg · Essos · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Game of Thrones · George R.R. Martin · graphic novels · Grimdark · LGBTQ · Literature · Mark Lawrence · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Military Fiction · mystery · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · speculative fiction · Trilogy

Why You Need to Read: These Books While Waiting for “The Winds of Winter”: Part II

Here we go again. It’s been almost 3 years since I complied the 1st list of book recommendations; and, we’re still waiting for The Winds of Winter, the next book in A Song of Ice and Fire series. Many of us continue to wait, patiently, for this book by reading similar books by authors who write fantasy stories. There… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: These Books While Waiting for “The Winds of Winter”: Part II

ARCs · Authors/Writers · Book Haul · Book Review · Books · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Mark Lawrence · Reading · Science Fiction · Sequel · Space Opera · speculative fiction · Trilogy

Book Haul: Indie Bookstore Day Edition

On Saturday, April 24th, it was Indie Bookstore Day (and my younger brother's birthday)! The purpose of Indie Bookstore Day is to support your local and/or your favorite indie bookstore by purchasing merchandise and/or books from them. One of my favorite indie bookstores is Strand Bookstore in Manhattan, New York! Besides being a bookstore with… Continue reading Book Haul: Indie Bookstore Day Edition

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

African Influence · ARCs · Asian Influence · Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Books · China · Fairy Tale Retellings · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Gender Roles · Grimdark · Historical Fiction · history · Horror · humanity · identity · LGBTQ · Literature · Love · mythology · Old Magic · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Science Fiction · Sequel · speculative fiction · Trilogy · Young Adult Fiction

Reading Check-In: March 20th 2021

Yes, I'm "borrowing" this idea from Realms of My Mind This is not a review post. While I prepare to participate in some upcoming events (watch the livestream I participated for The Bone Shard Daughter here), I will continue to catch up on some of my reading. The reviews will be posted as they are… Continue reading Reading Check-In: March 20th 2021

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Why You Need to Read…My Most Anticipated Speculative Fiction Books of 2021

How many books will I read in 2021? Let me rephrase the question: how many books coming in 2021 will I get to read in 2021? I ask this question because I’m still going through all of the books I didn’t get to read last year—including all of the books that came out in 2020.… Continue reading Why You Need to Read…My Most Anticipated Speculative Fiction Books of 2021