Cooper’s River of Ink is an exquisite offering whose words sing in the blood. Ink spills across the cover like the eponymous river, evoking the beautiful nature of the story within. This is a tale of conquest, change, and forbidden love. Likewise, it is a tale of ancient Sri Lanka. Above all, it is the […]
Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor is the stunning finale to the mystical Nsibidi Scripts trilogy that blends African folklore, and Nigerian culture/ traditions with contemporary life. Themes of friendship, identity, and personal growth take center stage, as Sunny and her Leopard Knocks friends navigate complicated magical politics and face immense battles. The world-building resonates with […]
The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan is a sweeping and ambitious follow-up to The Eye of the World. The novel picks up where the previous book left off, with an even greater sense of urgency and peril. The stakes are higher this time around, as the protagonists find themselves embroiled in a deadly hunt for […]
Jordan’s The Eye of the World is an engaging start to a fantasy series that immerses readers in quite a vast and intriguing world. The story follows Rand al’Thor and several of his friends as they flee their home after creatures of myth attack his village. They are shepherded by Moiraine and Lan, an Aes […]
The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco is an atmospheric horror novel that will leave readers with a sense of unease. The story follows Okiku, a vengeful spirit who haunts those who harm children. The author’s writing style is hauntingly beautiful, with vivid descriptions that bring the story to life. The novel is told […]
Nothing But Blackened Teeth, a novella by Cassandra Khaw, is a chilling and atmospheric horror story that will leave readers with goosebumps. The setting is a decaying Japanese Heian-era mansion, which is described in visceral detail, and adds a haunting backdrop to the tale. Khaw’s prose is sparse, yet evocative, making for a chilling and […]
Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt is a haunting and unsettling novel that blends horror and fantasy to create a chilling and immersive reading experience. Rock climber Nick Grevers tackles the imposing peak that is the Maudit, and fails. A serious accident leaves Nick horribly disfigured, and haunted. Nick’s lover, Sam Avery, witnesses his descent into […]
The Queen’s Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler This book is the first in a series and follows a young boy who becomes the hostage of a dangerous ruler after his family is betrayed. Graceling by Kristin Cashore This book is the first in a YA fantasy series and follows a young girl with the ability […]
Lore of the Land, by Claire Cock-Starkey and Samantha Dolan, revolves around the traditions, legends, and myths surrounding the natural world. Six chapters focus on a different habitat, from the sea, to forests, to mountains. Each starts off with a myth or legend from around the world, followed by more diverse categories under that habitat. […]
The United States of Cryptids by JW Ocker takes readers on a journey through the lore of myriad mystery monsters in America. Broken down into four broad categories- the Northeast (Jersey Devil, Puckwudgie), the South (Wampus Cat, Rougarou), the Midwest (Piasa Bird, Wendigo), and the West (Fresno Nightcrawler, Shunka Warak’in). Ocker’s playful, and at times […]