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Speculative Fiction Narratives with Expansive Worlds & Histories: Part 1

This is a topic I've been thinking about for some time. I figured with life stressing me out to the point where I'm worried about getting burned out, I might as well get some of these thoughts about the speculative fiction genre out of my mind. One of the aspects about speculative fiction which lure… Continue reading Speculative Fiction Narratives with Expansive Worlds & Histories: Part 1

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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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Why You Need to Read: “The Fires of Vengeance”

The Burning, #2: The Fires of Vengeance By: Evan Winter                                                                     Audiobook: 15 hours 32 minutes Published: November 10, 2020                                              Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi Genre: Epic Fantasy/Military Fantasy ***WARNING: This review contains some minor spoilers from the previous book in this series.                            You have been warned.             You call me a monster because I won’t let you treat me like… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Fires of Vengeance”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Unbroken”

Magic of the Lost, #1: The Unbroken By: C.L. Clark Published: March 23, 2021 Genre: Historical Fantasy, Military Fantasy             Touraine’s faith in Luca’s ability to keep the rebels from turning the guns on the Sands dwindled to nothing.             This time, the princess didn’t try to touch her again, even though now a part of Touraine wanted… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Unbroken”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Burning God”

The Poppy War Trilogy, #3: The Burning God By: R.F. Kuang                                                                       Audiobook: 23 hours 47 minutes Published: November 17, 2020                                              Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller Genre: Historical Fantasy, Grimdark, Military Fantasy, Folklore             What was wrong with her? She’d started and ended wars. She’d buried a god. She’d incinerated a country. There wasn’t an entity on the planet that… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Burning God”

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Why You Need to Read: “A Spindle Splintered”

Fractured Fables, #1: A Spindle Splintered By: Alix E. Harrow Published: October 5, 2021 Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Folklore             …I’ve fallen out of my own story and into one that might have a happy ending. Because this is my last chance to have a real adventure, to escape, to do more than play out the clock, (2).… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “A Spindle Splintered”

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Why You Need to Read: “Velocity Weapon”

The Protectorate: Book 1: Velocity Weapon                           By: Megan E. O’Keefe                                        Audiobook: 18 hours 22 minutes Published: June 11, 2019                                  Narrated by: Joe Jameson Genre: Science Fiction/Space Opera I am called “The Light of Berossus,” the voice said, (Chapter 1, The Aftermath of the Battle of Dralee).  For every individual in a fandom, there is the moment, in which they were… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Velocity Weapon”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Priory of the Orange Tree”

The Priory of the Orange Tree By: Samantha Shannon                                    Audiobook: 25 hours 52 minutes Published: February 26, 2019                          Narrated by: Liyah Summers Genre: Epic Fantasy             A low growl rolled through Nayimathun. She spoke as if to herself. “He is stirring. The shadow lies heavy on the West,” (Chapter 25, East).             Avid readers—especially those who read history, biographies and memoirs,… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Priory of the Orange Tree”

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Why You Need to Read: “Realm of Ash”

The Books of Ambha: #2: Realm of Ash By: Tasha Suri Published: November 12, 2019 Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Coming-of-Age NOTE: Some minor spoilers from Empire of Sand. You have been warned.              “My blood—my Amrithi blood in this loyal Ambhan body—is part of the curse. But it’s also part of the cure. I just don’t know how. But the… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Realm of Ash”

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Why You Need to Read: “Riot Baby”

Riot Baby By: Tochi Onyebuchi Published: January 21, 2020 Genre: Speculative Fiction/Contemporary             The look on her face, that’s what people told me today wasn’t no kind of victory. That when people joke and call me Riot Baby for being born when I was, it ain’t with any kind of affection, but something more complicated. The… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Riot Baby”