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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”

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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”

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Why You Need to Read: “Middlegame”

Middlegame By: Seanan McGuire Published: May 7, 2019 Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction/Metaphysical             Dodger was never going to be a linguist, any more than Roger was going to be a mathematician, but they could cope, which was more than some of their fellows ever learned. They balance each other, (Variation).              Seanan McGuire is an author whose books you’ve… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Middlegame”

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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: “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 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 Queen of Raiders”

The Nine Realms #2: The Queen of Raiders By: Sarah Kozloff Published: February 18, 2020 Genre: Fantasy             I could lend my Talent to (the) Raiders. I could attack the Oros in their lair, (Chapter Thirteen, Slagos to Alpetar).             The wait between books in a series are often long. There are times when the book comes out the next… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Queen of Raiders”

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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: “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”