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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 Liar’s Knot”

Thank you to Orbit Books for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. Rook & Rose, #2: The Liar’s Knot By: M.A. Carrick                                                                    Audiobook: 23 hours 14 minutes Published: December 9, 2021                                                 Narrated by: Nikki Massoud Genre: Fantasy/Sequel             This was her true home, the place where she and Tess had launched this con. The one place… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Liar’s Knot”

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Why You Need to Read: “Where the Drowned Girls Go”

Wayward Children, #7: Where the Drowned Girls Go By: Seanan McGuire Published: January 4, 2022 Genre: Fantasy ***WARNING: SOME SPOILERS FROM PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE WAYWARD CHILDREN SERIES. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.***             “You said it was where students go when they want to believe that everything that happened on the other side of the door was just a… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Where the Drowned Girls Go”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Mask of Mirrors”

Rook & Rose, #1: The Mask of Mirrors By: M.A. Carrick                                                                    Audiobook: 23 hours 13 minutes Published: January 21, 2021                                                   Narrated by: Nikki Massoud Genre: Fantasy             Still, she insisted that obsequiousness was part of the role, and no amount of correction from either Ren or Alta Renata could stamp it out. Sighing, Renata put in her earrings—formerly Letilia’s—while… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Mask of Mirrors”

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

This episode opens with Carlo Boreal giving Mrs. Coulter a description of our world, which is extremely accurate—“Their government is more corrupt than ours; their world is built on consumerism, not faith.” Boreal continues to explain how our world operates to Mrs. Coulter, and that includes her getting a makeover so she can blend into… Continue reading TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials”: “The Scholar”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Cerulean Queen”

The Nine Realms #4: The Cerulean Queen By: Sarah Kozloff Published: April 21, 2020 Genre: Fantasy             I am Cerúlia, the daughter of the late, brave Queen Cressa the Enchanter and the heroic Lord Ambrice.              I. Am. Your. Queen, (Chapter Five).             When the end of a story draws near, there lies a range of emotion from sadness to anxiousness.… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Cerulean Queen”

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TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials: The Idea of North”

The episode wastes no time resuming where it left off. Lyra Belaqua arrives in London with Mrs. Coulter, and Roger arrives in London to where the other kidnapped children are being held, including Billy Costa. Both children have no idea why there are wanted, but they have no choice but to go along with their… Continue reading TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials: The Idea of North”

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Why You Need to Read: “Darkdawn”

The Nevernight Chronicle: #3: Darkdawn By: Jay Kristoff Published: September 3, 2019 Genre: Fantasy, Grimdark, Historical Fantasy, Folklore NOTE: This review contains spoilers from both Nevernight and Godsgrave.             Goddess, if only we’d known what she’d become…(Chapter 33, Wellspring).              Darkdawn is the stunning conclusion to The Nevernight Chronicle. Jay Kristoff gives his readers a blood-soaked conclusion to his antiheroine that rivals… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Darkdawn”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Survival of Molly Southbourne”

Molly Southbourne #2: The Survival of Molly Southbourne By: Tade Thompson Published: July 9, 2019 Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Sequel  WARNING: Spoilers from The Murders of Molly Southbourne and The Survival of Molly Southbourne. You have been warned.             Molly Southbourne was a freak whose blood grew genetically identical duplicates of her. One drop of blood, and a new… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Survival of Molly Southbourne”

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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”