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”
Tag: Magic
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
Why You Need to Read…My Selections for Best Speculative Fiction Books of 2020
What. A. Year. It was a great year for stories—not necessarily publication—but a terrible year for everything else. While the pandemic brought about more time for some readers, I did NOT fall into that category. If anything, then the pandemic had me being more occupied, which brought about less time for reading. Don’t get me… Continue reading Why You Need to Read…My Selections for Best Speculative Fiction Books of 2020
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”
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
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”
Why You Need to Read: “Uprooted”
Uprooted By: Naomi Novik Published: May 19, 2015 Genre: Fantasy/Fractured Fairy Tale or Fairy Tale Retelling/Coming-of-Age Story The Dragon didn’t always take the prettiest girl, but he always took the most special one, somehow: if there was one girl who was far and away the prettiest, or the most bright, or the best dancer, or… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Uprooted”
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”
Why You Need to Read: “Gideon the Ninth”
The Locked Tomb #1: Gideon the Ninth By: Tasmyn Muir Audiobook: 16 hours 50 minutes Published: September 10, 2019 Narrated by: Moira Quirk Genre: Dark Fantasy/Gothic When as a young and disinclined member of the Locked Tomb Gideon had painted her face, she had gone for the bare minimum of death’s-head that the role demanded: dark around the eyes,… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Gideon the Ninth”
Why You Need to Read: “The Stone Sky”
The Broken Earth 3: The Stone Sky By: N.K. Jemisin Published: August 15, 2017 Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian/Fantasy *Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel 2018, Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel 2017, Winner of the Locus Award for Best Novel 2018* The job you “have” to do is the easier of the… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Stone Sky”