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Why You Need to Read…My Selections for Best Speculative Fiction of 2022

And, we made it to the end of 2022! For me, it was a very busy year! Now, I'm a full-time librarian and I'm attempting to make time for even more books to read (for work and for fun). I'm still working on balancing a career and life while continuing to pursue my other goals,… Continue reading Why You Need to Read…My Selections for Best Speculative Fiction of 2022

African Influence · Australia · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Book Theories · Books · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Historical Fiction · LGBTQ · Literature · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Middle Grade Fiction · mystery · Reading · Sequel · speculative fiction · Thriller · Trilogy

Why You Need to Read: These Middle Books that Do NOT Suffer from “Middle Book Syndrome”

I've been noticing the topic of "middle books" being mentioned in a few reviews (both bookbloggers/BookTubers and professional reviewers). So, I decided to point out the ones which continues the excitement and the plot within the series. When a series is mentioned, there are concerns as to whether or not the "next book in the… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: These Middle Books that Do NOT Suffer from “Middle Book Syndrome”

Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Book Review · Books · Egypt · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Folklore · Gender Roles · Islam · LGBTQ · Literature · Love · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Reading · Review · speculative fiction · Trilogy

Why You Need to Listen to (and to Read Later On): “The River of Silver”

The River of Silver: Tales from the Daevabad Trilogy By: S.A. Chakraborty                                                                         Audiobook: 9 hours 45 minutes Published: March 1, 2022 (audiobook)/October 11, 2022 (print) Genre: Fantasy                                                                                    Narrated by: Soneela Nankani             She had been to Daevabad once as a girl and still remembered the awe of sailing through the veil that hid the island. Its brass walls… Continue reading Why You Need to Listen to (and to Read Later On): “The River of Silver”

African Influence · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Award Winner · Books · Christianity · Debut · Dystopia · Fantasy · First in a Series · Gender Roles · Grimdark · Historical Fiction · Horror · LGBTQ · Literature · Occult Fiction · Old Magic · Reading · Science Fiction · Space Opera · speculative fiction · supernatural · Trilogy · Urban Fantasy

Books and Book Series I Hope to Read in 2022

This year, 2021, is almost over. And, while I should be plowing through what's left of my reading for this year (and writing up reviews), I wanted to post about speculative fiction titles that were released in recent years that I haven't been able to read yet for multiple reasons (i.e. grad school). These are… Continue reading Books and Book Series I Hope to Read in 2022

African Influence · American History · American Society · Asian Influence · Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Award Nominee · Book Review · Books · Coming-of-Age · Debut · Fairy Tale Retellings · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · gothic · Grimdark · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · magic realism · Middle Eastern Fantasy · mythology · Predictions · Reading · Science Fiction · Seanan McGuire · Sequel · Space Opera · speculative fiction · Trilogy · Wayward Children · Young Adult Fiction

SCKA 2021: The Nominees, the Finalists & the Experience

One of the best things about being a bookblogger is the book awards. Besides the “big awards” such as the Hugo and the Nebula Awards—which many of us have read at least half of the nominees—there are the SPFBO and the SPSFC—which gives bookbloggers and (indie) reviewers the chance to propel indie books towards more… Continue reading SCKA 2021: The Nominees, the Finalists & the Experience

A Song of Ice and Fire · Advice and Suggestions · African Influence · Asian Influence · Australia · Authors/Writers · Award Winner · Book Review · Books · Debut · Dunk and Egg · Essos · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Game of Thrones · George R.R. Martin · graphic novels · Grimdark · LGBTQ · Literature · Mark Lawrence · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Military Fiction · mystery · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · speculative fiction · Trilogy

Why You Need to Read: These Books While Waiting for “The Winds of Winter”: Part II

Here we go again. It’s been almost 3 years since I complied the 1st list of book recommendations; and, we’re still waiting for The Winds of Winter, the next book in A Song of Ice and Fire series. Many of us continue to wait, patiently, for this book by reading similar books by authors who write fantasy stories. There… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: These Books While Waiting for “The Winds of Winter”: Part II

A Song of Ice and Fire · ARCs · Authors/Writers · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Books · Egypt · Fairy Tale Retellings · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Favorite Books · Folklore · Gender Roles · Historical Fiction · identity · Islam · LGBTQ · Literature · Love · Middle Eastern Fantasy · mythology · Old Magic · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Review · Sequel · speculative fiction · Trilogy

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”

ARCs · Asian Influence · Audiobook · Authors/Writers · Book Review · Books · Debut · Fairy Tale Retellings · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · LGBTQ · Literary Awards · Literature · Metaphysical Fiction · mythology · Reading · Religion · Review · Science Fiction · Sequel · silkpunk · speculative fiction · Trilogy · Women's History

Why You Need to Read…My Selections for Best Speculative Fiction Books of 2020

What. A. Year. It was a great year for stories—not necessarily publication—but a terrible year for everything else. While the pandemic brought about more time for some readers, I did NOT fall into that category. If anything, then the pandemic had me being more occupied, which brought about less time for reading. Don’t get me… Continue reading Why You Need to Read…My Selections for Best Speculative Fiction Books of 2020

Authors/Writers · Book Review · Book Spoilers · Books · Coming-of-Age · Education · Egypt · Family · Family Dynamics · Fantasy · Folklore · Freedom · Gender Roles · Historical Fiction · identity · Islam · LGBTQ · Love · Middle Eastern Fantasy · mystery · Old Magic · Parents and Parenting · Predictions · Reading · Religion · religious beliefs · Review · Sequel · speculative fiction · Trilogy · Vigilantism

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”

Authors/Writers · Book Review · Books · Fantasy · Favorite Books · First in a Series · Folklore · Freedom · Gender Roles · history · Islam · Literary Awards · Literature · Middle Eastern Fantasy · Old Magic · Parents and Parenting · Reading · Religion · Review · speculative fiction · Trilogy

Why You Need to Read: “The City of Brass”

The Daevabad Trilogy: Book 1: The City of Brass By: S.A. Chakraborty Published: November 14, 2017 Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction             “Nahri had spent her entire life trying to blend in with those around her just to survive. Those instincts were warring even now: her thrill at learning what she was and her urge to flee back… Continue reading Why You Need to Read: “The City of Brass”