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Why You Need to Read: “Firebreak”

Firebreak By: Nicole Kornher-Stace                                                      Audiobook: 13 hours 42 minutes Published: May 4, 2021                                                          Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian/Cyberpunk             Out of the twelve real SecOps operatives, only three—06, 08, and 22—are still among the living. The other nine—05, 28, 02, 33, 38, 11, 21, 42, and 17—are dead. We lost 11 and 21 earlier this year:… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Firebreak”

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Why You Need to Read: “She Who Became the Sun”

The Radiant Emperor, #1: She Who Became the Sun By: Shelley Parker-Chan Published: July 20, 2021 Genre: Historical Fantasy, Military Fantasy             She reached out and touched the amulet. Chongba had become nothing. “If he took my fate and died…then perhaps I can take his, and live.”             Her worst fear might be of becoming nothing, but that didn’t… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “She Who Became the Sun”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Jasmine Throne”

Burning Kingdoms, #1: The Jasmine Throne By: Tasha Suri Published: June 8, 2021 Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy             She had fought to have this opportunity,…All of it, in order to have this: a maidservant who was likely ‘not’ simply a maidservant, standing before her within the walls of this blighted prison, (13: Malini).              Readers love when authors release… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Jasmine Throne”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Unbroken”

Magic of the Lost, #1: The Unbroken By: C.L. Clark Published: March 23, 2021 Genre: Historical Fantasy, Military Fantasy             Touraine’s faith in Luca’s ability to keep the rebels from turning the guns on the Sands dwindled to nothing.             This time, the princess didn’t try to touch her again, even though now a part of Touraine wanted… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Unbroken”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Gilded Ones”

The Gilded Ones, #1: The Gilded Ones By: Namina Forna Published: February 9, 2021 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains elements of rape, misogyny, familicide, dismemberment, human trafficking, and violence against females. Be advised.             Confusion lines my face, and I frown at her. “An invitation for what?”             “For you, Impure One. Emperor Gezo… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Gilded Ones”

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Why You Need to Read: “The Bone Shard Daughter”

The Drowning Empire, #1: The Bone Shard Daughter By: Andrea Stewart Published: September 8, 2020 Genre: Fantasy             I knew who I was. I was Lin. I was the Emperor’s daughter. I shouted the words in my head, but I didn’t say them. Unlike my father, I kept my face neutral, my thoughts hidden. Sometimes he liked it… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Bone Shard Daughter”

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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

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Novella Series Speculative Fiction Readers Need to Read: Part I

Novellas are stories which range from 17,500 to 40,000 words, and they can be read within one sitting. Novellas—along with novelettes and short stories—continue to be written, published and read by all within the publishing industry and the reading community. While novellas are written for all literary genres, in recent years, more of them have… Continue reading Novella Series Speculative Fiction Readers Need to Read: Part I

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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”