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Why You Need to Read: “The Weight of Blood”

The Weight of Blood By: Tiffany D. Jackson Published: September 6, 2022 Genre: Horror, Young Adult, Retelling             …“the Bloody Prom,” when a girl named Madison Abigail Washington nearly burned down her entire town, killing two hundred people, including the majority of her senior class, at their first racially integrated prom, (Two).             Identity is one of… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Weight of Blood”

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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”

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Why You Need to Read: “Down Among the Sticks and Bones”

Wayward Children, #2: Down Among the Sticks and Bones By: Seanan McGuire Published: June 13, 2017 Genre: Fantasy *Winner of: ALA Alex Award 2018, ALA RUSA Fantasy Award 2018             It did not occur to Jill that Jack’s avoidance, like her own, had been born purely of parental desire and never of a sincere wanting. Their parents… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Down Among the Sticks and Bones”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Sword of Kaigen”

The Sword of Kaigen: A Theonite War Story By: M.L. Wang Published: February 19, 2019 Genre: Fantasy/Asian Literature/Standalone/Self-Published             When Misaki hid her sword, she nailed the floorboards down over it. It was a promise to herself. She might never be able to destroy the part of her that was aggressive and willful, but she could… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Sword of Kaigen”

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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: “The Rage of Dragons”

The Burning #1: The Rage of Dragons By: Evan Winters                                               Audiobook: 16 hours, 15 minutes Published: July 16, 2019                                    Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi Genre: Fantasy/Military/Historical Fiction/Folklore             And if Tau didn’t feel better, it had to be because there was still so much to do. He needed to go to Kigambe and test to become an Ihashe. Then he’d… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Rage of Dragons”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Deep”

The Deep By: Rivers Solomon; with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes Published: November 5, 2019 Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction/Folklore/Historical Fantasy             “Our mothers were pregnant two-legs thrown overboard while crossing the ocean on slave ships. We were born breathing water as we did in the womb. We built our home on the sea floor, unaware of… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Deep”

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

The episode starts with a reminder that “The Gobblers” are kidnapping children—and keeping them in nets, cages and locked rooms—and have been discreet, until the Gyptians started to track their movements. Meanwhile, Mrs. Coulter abuses her connections with the Magisterium in order to find Lyra. And, it’s obvious that while Mrs. Coulter wants Lyra back,… Continue reading TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials: The Spies”

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Why You Need to Read: “Vita Nostra”

Metamorphosis: #1: Vita Nostra By: Marina & Sergey Dyachenko Translated (English) by: Julia Meitov Hersey Published: 2007 in Russia & Ukrainian; November 13, 2018 in the U.S. Genre: Metaphysical, Speculative Fiction, Psychological, Bildungsroman  Winner of the PocKoH 2008 Vita nostra brevis est,                                                 Our life is brief, Brevi finietur;                                                             Soon it will end; Venit mors velociter,                                                   Death comes quickly, Rarit… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Vita Nostra”