American Society · ARCs · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Review · Book Theories · Books · Fairy Tale Retellings · Fairy Tales · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Folklore · Gender Roles · identity · Literature · magic realism · novella · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Review · speculative fiction

Why You Need to Read: “The Crane Husband”

The Crane Husband By: Kelly Barnhill Published: February 28, 2023 Genre: Folklore, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Fairy Tale Retelling *I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.             I dreamed of my mother standing in the endless fields beyond our yard, where no one was allowed to go, wings erupting from her… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Crane Husband”

ARCs · Authors/Writers · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Books · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Gender Roles · history · humanity · identity · LGBTQ · Literature · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Review · Sequel · speculative fiction · Time

Why You Need to Read: “The Memory of Souls”

A Chorus of Dragons, #3: The Memory of Souls By: Jenn Lyons Published: August 25, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Thank you Tor Books for sending me an eARC of this book! And, thank you for your patience on waiting for my review. Note: There are a few spoilers from the first two books in A Chorus of Dragons series.              “The… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Memory of Souls”

Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Book Theories · Books · Coming-of-Age · Education · Fairy Tale Retellings · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Folklore · Freedom · Gender Roles · gothic · Horror · humanity · identity · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · Love · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Reading · Review · School · Seanan McGuire · Sequel · speculative fiction · Time · Wayward Children · Young Adult Fiction

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”

ARCs · Authors/Writers · Book Review · Books · Catholic Church · Christianity · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Folklore · Gender Roles · His Dark Materials · Historical Fiction · humanity · identity · Judaism · LGBTQ · Literature · Love · mystery · Old Magic · Paganism · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Review · speculative fiction

Why You Need to Read: “The Year of the Witching”

The Year of the Witching By: Alexis Henderson Published: July 21, 2020 Genre: Dark Fantasy/Occult Fiction             Immanuelle had always felt a strange affinity for the Darkwood, a kind of stirring whenever she neared it. It was almost as though the forbidden wood sang a song that only she could hear, as though it was daring… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Year of the Witching”

ARCs · Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Review · Book Theories · Books · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Freedom · identity · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · mystery · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Reading · Review · speculative fiction

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”

African Influence · Afrofuturism · American History · American Society · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Black History · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Books · Coming-of-Age · Dystopia · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Freedom · history · Horror · humanity · identity · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · Love · mystery · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Reading · Science Fiction · Sequel · speculative fiction · Terrorism · Time · Trilogy · Vigilantism

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”

African Influence · Afrofuturism · American History · American Society · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Black History · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Books · Coming-of-Age · Dystopia · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Freedom · history · Horror · humanity · identity · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Review · Science Fiction · Sequel · speculative fiction · Trilogy · Vigilantism

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”

Authors/Writers · Book Spoilers · Book Theories · Book to Media Adaptations · Books · Children's Fiction · Christianity · Coming-of-Age · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Gender Roles · His Dark Materials · identity · Literature · Middle Grade Books · mystery · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Review · Science Fiction · speculative fiction · The Chronicles of Narnia · The Golden Compass · TV · TV Show Review · TV Show Spoilers · Young Adult Fiction

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”

Authors/Writers · Book Spoilers · Book to Media Adaptations · Books · Catholic Church · Children's Fiction · Christianity · Coming-of-Age · Education · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Gender Roles · His Dark Materials · identity · Literature · Middle Grade Books · mystery · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Review · Science Fiction · speculative fiction · The Golden Compass · TV · TV Show Review · TV Show Spoilers · Young Adult Fiction

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”

Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Review · Books · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · First in a Series · Folklore · Freedom · Gender Roles · Historical Fiction · identity · Literary Awards · Literature · Love · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Old Magic · Parents and Parenting · Reading · religious beliefs · Review · speculative fiction

Why You Need to Read: “Empire of Sand”

The Books of Ambha: #1: Empire of Sand By: Tasha Suri Published: November 13, 2018 Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Coming-of-Age Winner of the Brave New Words Award 2019             The Emperor’s hatred had not grown suddenly, as Mehr had so foolishly believed when Maryam had warned her of his messages to his nobles. His hatred was a… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Empire of Sand”