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Why You Need to Read: “The Obelisk Gate”

The Broken Earth 2: The Obelisk Gate By: N.K. Jemisin Published: August 16, 2016 Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian *Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel 2017*             “We’re going somewhere you can be better,” he says gently. “Somewhere I heard of, where they can help you.” Make her a little girl again, and not…He turns… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Obelisk Gate”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Bone Ships”

The Tide Child #1: The Bone Ships By: R.J. Barker Published: September 24, 2019 Genre: Fantasy             Joron sat opposite the man who had made sure he was condemned to a ship of the dead, and, in so doing, he heard of the miracle that would make him part of a legend, (12: To All Who Serve, Comes A-Calling).             The… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Bone Ships”

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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: “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”

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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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Why You Need to Read: “The Kingdom of Copper”

The Daevabad Trilogy #2: The Kingdom of Copper By: S.A. Chakraborty Published: February 21, 2019 Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction             She shook her head. “Whatever the consequences, Dara acted to protect my daughter from a fate I fought for decades. I cannot fault him for that. And if you think Ghassan wasn’t looking for a reason to crack down… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Kingdom of Copper”

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Why You Need to Read: “A Queen in Hiding”

The Nine Realms #1: A Queen in Hiding By: Sarah Kozloff Published: January 21, 2020 Genre: Fantasy/Coming-of-Age/Military Fantasy             Though dusty sits the Nargis Throne             While tyrants befoul and bluster;             Though citizens do their yoke bemoan,             And the Fountain’s lost its luster:             Someday the drought shall be broken,             And the wondrous Waters course clean,             One dawn the words… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “A Queen in Hiding”

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Review of Season One of “His Dark Materials”

Season one of His Dark Materials, based on The Northern Lights/The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman has completed its run on the BBC and on HBO, and they didn’t alter the ending! Overall, season one was a great adaptation to the books and some of the “fillers” worked well for the narrative that was presented to the audience.… Continue reading Review of Season One of “His Dark Materials”

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TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials: Betrayal”

The season finale of Season One begins with both Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel—Lyra’s parents—preparing for what they’ve been planning for since the first episode. The former is planning to kill Lord Asriel under the orders of the Magisterium, and the latter is planning something that involves the aurora—a.k.a. the northern lights—and this involves his… Continue reading TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials: Betrayal”

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TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials: The Fight to the Death”

This episode picks up where the last episode, and the books, left us. Lyra survives her fall from Lee Scoresby’s balloon, only to be captured by the panserbjørne—the name the Ice Bears call themselves in the books (and in the movie)—and brought before King Iofur Raknison. Lyra learns her father is alive, her friends survived… Continue reading TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials: The Fight to the Death”