In Nona the Ninth, the third book in The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir, readers get a ton of backstory about how this necromantic space empire came to be. We also get to spend a lot more time with some of the characters who had been secondary in earlier books. Like Gideon and Harrow,…
REVIEW: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy Is a Satisfying Chapter in the Monk and Robot Series
Like A Psalm for the Wild-Built before it, A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is a meandering and gentle novella, exploring what it means to have purpose and be satisfied with yourself and your role in your community. It’s beautifully written and philosophically engaging. A Prayer for the Crown Shy picks up where A Psalm for…
Twelve Percent Dread will Resonate and Satisfy: An Interview with 100% of Emily McGovern
Emily McGovern’s latest graphic novel, Twelve Percent Dread, might increase your personal dread percentage, even as it entertains. It’s about roommates and former couple Katie and Nas, scrambling to get Nas’s visa approved and to survive in the gig economy. It’s also about a tech giant making terrible ethical decisions, and how their employees become…
The Grief of Stones Deepens Katherine Addison’s World: Spoiler-free review
The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison is her latest mystery in the world of The Goblin Emperor. It follows The Witness for the Dead, presenting the Witness again solving murder mysteries and engaging in more derring-do than he, personally, wishes for. Slow-paced until a sudden action scene, the build has great pay off and…
Reading March to Celebrate the Freedom to Read with Creators Assemble!
A few weeks ago, a copy of March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell arrived in the mail. This was mysterious, since I’d read and loved all three volumes of March already and hadn’t ordered this copy. There was no note, but it was certain that whoever had sent it had…
The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess dives deep into my heart
Our favorite hero for young readers meets new friends and new foes in The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess, a delightful addition to the Princess in Black series.
House of El Book Two: The Enemy Delusion Cranks Up the Suspense
The countdown to the end of Krypton speeds up in House of El Book Two: The Enemy Delusion by Claudia Gray and Eric Zawadzki. In this middle book of the trilogy, all the problems get satisfyingly more pressing.
Queering Cozy Classics for the Winter!
The weather is getting chillier where I live, and I’m starting to yearn for afternoons curled up with a hot drink, rereading something cozily canonical like Austen or Shakespeare. Part of what’s cozy about that scene, for me, is the interpretations of characters I developed on first reading, and still stand by. In fandom, “headcanons”…
YUMMY: A History of Dessert Will Leave You Full and Satisfied
In YUMMY: A History of Desserts by Victoria Grace Elliot, adorable dessert sprites lead us on a whirlwind tour of deliciousness.
REVIEW: Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld Will Shine for Kids
In Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld, written by Shannon and Dean Hale with art by Asiah Fulmore, a lost princess returns to her world with a giant sword and makes adorable friendships.
Current and Kind: Light From Uncommon Stars and Other Speculative Fiction to Restore and Revive
Sometimes I want to escape to the stars, or to the future, or to a magical land where people are just cozily, reliably nice to each other. Luckily, I’m not alone in this wish, as a current wave of speculative fiction is prioritizing kindness in its characters. Here’s a list of current books with plots…
REVIEW: Whistle – A New Gotham City Hero is Doggone Good
Whistle is my favorite new hero of the year. She cares about her city neighborhood, her friends, her mom, and her dogs. That’s a character I’d love even if she didn’t have superpowers, but luckily, she does. Whistle joins Peter Parker, Kamala Khan, and the Teen Titans in the ranks of teens who gain powers…