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TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials”: “The Intention Craft”

Lyra has been rescued by Will, and they argue about where they should go next. Both of their reasons for wanting to go to their desired locations are understandable, but which world’s needs are more imperative? However, neither one of them can go anywhere until they figure out a way to fix the Æsahættr. It’s a good… Continue reading TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials”: “The Intention Craft”

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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: “The Empire of Gold”

The Daevabad Trilogy, #3: The Empire of Gold By: S.A. Chakraborty  Published: June 30, 2020 Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction             Daevabad, in all its glory and infamy. The mighty brass walls embellished with the facades of its founders, her ancestors. The crush of ziggurats and minarets, temples and stupas; the dizzying array of clashing architecture and eras—each… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Empire of Gold”

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Why You Need to Read: “Tower of Mud and Straw”

Tower of Mud and Straw By: Yaroslav Barsukov Published: February 21, 2021 Genre: Fantasy             The tower took the length of the world—only it was an alien world, replicating itself over and over as it climbed to a distinct, ghostly gap into the clouds. Or did he stare down a well? (Part I. The Duchy. 5).             Critics have an… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Tower of Mud and Straw”

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TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials”: “The Cave”

This episode opens up with Lyra crossing over into another world—our world—to learn more about Dust and about the similarities between her Oxford and Will’s Oxford. Unfortunately, Lyra has to learn how to adapt to this “new” world as she experiences technology—the scene with the car is straight from the books—and people without daemons, poor… Continue reading TV Episode Review: “His Dark Materials”: “The Cave”

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Why You Need to Read: “Harrow the Ninth”

The Locked Tomb, #2: Harrow the Ninth By Tamsyn Muir                                                                    Audiobook 19 hours and 51 minutes Published: August 4, 2020                                                      Narrated by: Moira Quirk Genre: Horror/Gothic/Dark Fantasy             The Reverend Daughter Harrowhark Nonagesimus ought to have been the 311th Reverend Mother of her line. She was the eighty-seventh “Nona” of her House; she was the first Harrowhark. She was… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “Harrow the Ninth”

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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 Girl in the Tower”

Winternight Trilogy, #2: The Girl in the Tower By: Katherine Arden Published: December 5, 2017 Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Folklore/Magic Realism/Coming-of-Age             Highborn women, who must live and die in towers, were much given to visiting. Now and again, they stayed overnight for company, when their husbands were away, (1: The Death of the Snow-Maiden).             Folklore maintains traditions and cultures that… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Girl in the Tower”

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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: “The Name of All Things”

A Chorus of Dragons #2: The Name of All Things By: Jenn Lyons                                                                       Audiobook: 25 hours 46 minutes Published: October 29, 2019                                        Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld, Dan Genre: Fantasy                                                                                   Bittner, Lauren Fortgang                                                                    In the twentieth year of the hawk and the lion, beneath the silver sword, the sleeping beast’s prison shatters. The dragon of swords devours demon falls as… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The Name of All Things”