While we do love us some books, believe it not, we do have a life outside of reading. So to highlight our other pop culture interests, on the last Monday of each month, we each will highlight three other “happenings” from the last month. Big events on favorite TV shows, new movies we’ve watched, old movies we’ve “discovered,” etc. Pretty much whatever we found of particular interest outside of the book world during the last month. Share your own favorite things in the comments!
Like many video game players, I had never heard of this game until it dropped a few weeks ago. For me, it seemed to come out of nowhere and taking the gaming world by storm! After watching the trailer, I was easily sold on the visuals alone. It doesn’t hurt either that the cast is phenomenal (we’ve got Charlie Cox AND Andy Serkis!). But even with all the hype, even I wasn’t expecting how much I would love this game! It’s beautiful, heart-wrenching, and had me fully engrossed for its entire play through. One of those games that leaves you with a gaming hangover, wondering where to go next. Probably back to “Baldur’s Gate 3” for a comfort run, honestly…
TV Show: “Top Chef: Destination Canada”
I feel like have a variety of cooking reality shows I go to for different things. Want something kind of trashy but fun? “Master Chef.” Want something full of trash people getting yelled at this is all about the drama and barely about food at all? “Hell’s Kitchen.” However, if I want a show about people who can actually cook well who will be evaluated objectively by quality judges, than “Top Chef” is the obvious choice. I’ve even got my husband watching it with me, and it’s the perfect “end of the day” wind down kind of comfort show I need after the craziness that is the end of the school year madness.
The last few years of Marvel movies has been…rough. However, other than the most recent “Captain America” movie that I’m waiting to catch on streaming, I have managed to keep up with it. However, it’s felt more like an obligation done in the hopes of being prepared for a return to greatness at some point. And while “Thunderbolts” may not have been considered “great” when Marvel was at the height of its powers, it’s by far the most enjoyable movie I’ve seen in the franchise for quite some time. Honestly, the executives at Disney/Marvel should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars that they somehow managed to nab Florence Pugh years ago. Wisely, they now seem to recognize the talent they have and, while the movie definitely has an ensemble cast, Pugh takes center stage through much of it. Not only does she bring the necessary gravitas the movie needs, but her deadpan humor also reigns in the goofy/aggressive quirkiness that has too often overtaken Marvel movies recently. The rest of the cast is also excellent, and by the time I got to the end of this movie, I found myself in the almost novel state of being excited to see what comes next!
Conan O’Brien has been a fave of mine since I was in high school (probably like many weirdo elder millennials), and I’ve followed his career through the years, constantly impressed with the way he expands his horizons and niches. His travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go” is back, and it’s still as charming and entertaining as ever! This season, Conan goes to visit Spain, Austria, and my very favorite place in the world, New Zealand! We get some really interesting insights into the culture and history of the places he visits, but we also get the trademark Conan humor and quirkiness as he interacts not only with locals, but also celebrities that call these countries their home. And while I loved seeing Taika Waititi for New Zealand showing off his Kiwi pride, it was Javier Bardem in Spain who REALLY entertained, as you could tell that he and Conan were having a blast (also I have a huge thing for Javier Bardem). Their chemistry was palpable. My only complaint? I want MORE than three episodes a season! Oh well.
I’m trying to prevent another burn out moment this summer, as LAST summer I was in a pretty rocky place right around this time going through June. So I’m taking more time to rest, more time to connect with friends, AND I’m leaning in to more cozy things. One of those things is the video game “Hello Kitty Island Adventure”! It’s basically “Animal Crossing” with Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty, Keroppi, My Melody, and more. You get to design your own character, and then go on puzzles and quests to restore an island community and theme park with known adorable favorites. And it also has a cameo from Retsuko of “Aggretsuko” fame! I’m playing with my daughter, who adores Hello Kitty, and that has been a fun experience as well (though she has a LOT of opinions about what I should be doing). It’s just cute and cozy, and it’s so easy to get lost as I fish, create, help out friends, and explore.
Whenever a season of the regular “RuPaul’s Drag Race” wraps up, it’s guaranteed that “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” will be hot on its heels. But I’ve been a bit reticent when it comes to “All Stars” in the past few years, and I’m not quite ready to pass judgement on the season as a whole yet. BUT, there is another drag show that I am fully on board with, and that show is “Drag Den”! Hosted by my all time favorite Ru Girl Manila Luzon, “Drag Den” is a drag/pageant competition that showcases and focuses on Filipino Drag and Pageantry. Based in the Philippines, “Drag Den” has a number of Filipino drag artists competing for the title of “Next Drag Supreme”. The contestants are all quite talented, the focus on Filipino culture, drag and otherwise, is refreshing and enlightening to this Western drag fan, and I just love having Manila on the screen again. Some of my favorites in Season 1 are Barbie-Q, Shewarma, and Naia. And something I LOVE about this show is that no one gets eliminated episode by episode, instead giving them points that will determine the top 3. So they all get to shine and show off all their talents the entire run! Show off that Pinoy Pride, queens!!!
Don’t just take it from us, other readers like these books, too! And we have decided that we would like to showcase other reviewers and bloggers that have their own thoughts and feelings about books that we have loved. Here are a few of the books we’ve enjoyed recently and what other bloggers have to say about them.
Book: “Upon a Starlit Tide” by Kell Woods
Book Description:Saint-Malo, Brittany, 1758. For Lucinde Leon, the youngest daughter of one of Saint-Malo’s wealthiest ship-owners, the high walls of the city are more hindrance than haven. While her sisters are interested in securing advantageous marriages, Luce dreams of escaping her elegant but stifling home and joining a ship’s crew. Only Samuel—Luce’s best friend and an English smuggler—understands her longing for the sea, secretly teaching her to sail whenever she can sneak away. For Luce, the stolen time on the water with Samuel is precious.
One stormy morning, Luce’s plans are blown off course when she rescues Morgan de Chatelaine, the youngest son of the most powerful ship-owner in Saint-Malo, from the sea. Immediately drawn to his charm and sense of adventure, she longs to attend the glittering ball held in honor of his safe return and begins to contemplate a different kind of future for herself.
But it is not only Luce’s hopes at stake—the local fae are leaving Brittany and taking their magic with them, while the long-standing war with the English means Saint-Malo is always at risk of attack. As Luce is plunged into a world of magic, brutality, and seduction, secrets that have long been lost in the shadowy depths of the ocean begin to rise to the surface. The truth of her own power is growing brighter and brighter, shining like a sea-glass slipper.
Book Description:Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy lost her world, her father, even her name. Desperate to escape the stain of her father’s crimes, she lives under a fake name, never staying in one place long enough to put down roots.
Then she receives a mysterious letter with four impossible words Your father was innocent.
To uncover the truth, she poses as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy—the dangerous magic that allows couriers to enchant letters and deliver them to other worlds. But looking into her father’s past draws more attention than she’d planned.
Her secretive, infuriatingly handsome mentor knows she’s lying about her identity, and time is running out to convince him to trust her. Worse, she begins to receive threatening letters, warning her to drop her investigation—or else. For Maeve to unravel the mystery of what happened seven years ago, she may have to forfeit her life.
Book Summary:Let us fly now to the empire of Orrun, where after twenty-four years of peace, Bersun the Brusque must end his reign. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders compete to replace him. They are exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists—the best of the best.
Then one of them is murdered.
It falls to Neema Kraa, the emperor’s brilliant, idiosyncratic High Scholar, to find the killer before the trials end. To do so, she must untangle a web of deadly secrets that stretches back generations, all while competing against six warriors with their own dark histories and fierce ambitions. Neema believes she is alone. But we are here to help; all she has to do is let us in.
If she succeeds, she will win the throne. If she fails, death awaits her. But we won’t let that happen.
Book: “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones
Book Description: A chilling historical horror novel set in the American west in 1912 following a Lutheran priest who transcribes the life of a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice.
A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow. Told in transcribed interviews by a Blackfeet named Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar life over a series of confessional visits. This is an American Indian revenge story written by one of the new masters of horror, Stephen Graham Jones.
Book Description: A haunted woman stalked by a serial killer confronts the horrors of fairy tales and the nightmares of real life in a breathtaking novel of psychological suspense by a Bram Stoker Award–winning author.
It started the night journalist Briar Thorne’s mother died in their rambling old mansion on Chicago’s South Side.
The nightmares of a woman in white pleading to come home, music switched on in locked rooms, and the panicked fear of being swallowed by the dark…Bri has almost convinced herself that these stirrings of dread are simply manifestations of grief and not the beyond-world of ghostly impossibilities her mother believed in. And more tangible terrors still lurk outside the decaying Victorian greystone.
A serial killer has claimed the lives of fifty-one women in the Chicago area. When Bri starts researching the murders, she meets a stranger who tells her there’s more to her sleepless nights than bad dreams—they hold the key to putting ghosts to rest and stopping a killer. But the killer has caught on and is closing in, and if Bri doesn’t answer the call of the dead soon, she’ll be walking among them.
Book: “The Unworthy” by Agustina Bazterrica & Sarah Moses (Translator)
Book Description: The long-awaited new novel from the author of global sensation Tender Is the Flesh: a thrilling work of literary horror about a woman cloistered in a secretive, violent religious order, while outside the world has fallen into chaos.
From her cell in a mysterious convent, a woman writes the story of her life in whatever she can find—discarded ink, dirt, and even her own blood. A lower member of the Sacred Sisterhood, deemed an unworthy, she dreams of ascending to the ranks of the Enlightened at the center of the convent and of pleasing the foreboding Superior Sister. Outside, the world is plagued by catastrophe—cities are submerged underwater, electricity and the internet are nonexistent, and bands of survivors fight and forage in a cruel, barren landscape. Inside, the narrator is controlled, punished, but safe.
But when a stranger makes her way past the convent walls, joining the ranks of the unworthy, she forces the narrator to consider her long-buried past—and what she may be overlooking about the Enlightened. As the two women grow closer, the narrator is increasingly haunted by questions about her own past, the environmental future, and her present life inside the convent. How did she get to the Sacred Sisterhood? Why can’t she remember her life before? And what really happens when a woman is chosen as one of the Enlightened?
A searing, dystopian tale about climate crisis, ideological extremism, and the tidal pull of our most violent, exploitative instincts, this is another unforgettable novel from a master of feminist horror.
While we do love us some books, believe it not, we do have a life outside of reading. So to highlight our other pop culture interests, on the last Monday of each month, we each will highlight three other “happenings” from the last month. Big events on favorite TV shows, new movies we’ve watched, old movies we’ve “discovered,” etc. Pretty much whatever we found of particular interest outside of the book world during the last month. Share your own favorite things in the comments!
I ended up watching this one mostly for the cast, as it’s jam packed with talent. I was also intrigued by the concept itself, which follows the intrigues uncovered during a conclave as the Cardinals of the Catholic Church work to elect a new Pope. And it really delivered on most of it! I will say, I think Ralph Fiennes really carries this thing, as much of the story lives and dies around the viewers’ investment in him and his motivations. There were a bunch of great twists and turns throughout, as well. Though I will say that final twist felt a bit like it was there for shock value, but failed to deliver any actual point along with the reveal. I just wanted a bit more there. But overall, it was still a great watch!
We usually highlight movies/shows/games that we enjoyed on this list. However, there’s no rule that it has to be positive! And, boy, was this not a positive experience! And look, I enjoyed the first season of this show. Sure, it was a bit pretentious at times, but the cast was likable and the concept super interesting. But man, this second season was a mess. Rev up the pretentiousness to the maximum level, reduce the amount of time focused on the core cast and instead devote entire episodes to side characters we don’t care about, and then, worst of all, spend you entire last episode with characters working their way through difficult choices only to completely undercut all of it (including characterization that goes back to the first season!!) in the last five minutes of the episode. Truly, this was a hot mess. It was badly in need of editors to rein it back in, and I now have almost zero faith that there is any true foundation or plan at the heart of this story. Sure, I’ll watch the third season. But my expectations of a satisfying conclusion are now near rock bottom.
Game: “Baldur’s Gate” – Achievement Unlocked!
So, this is both a brag and also a confession. On the bragging side, I’m super proud of myself to have finally completed my Honor Mode run of BG3. (For those who don’t know, this is the max difficulty where you only have one save file for the entire game. So if you die, that’s it. Game over. Hours wasted. Start over.) I think somewhere like 2% of players get this achievement, but that’s probably because they aren’t crazy people like me. Since then the confession, of course, is that I’ve been devoting an unhealthy amount of time to playing this game over and over. I think I’ve done four full play throughs now, including the Honor Mode one, and a few that I got halfway through before abandoning (mostly because I wasn’t enjoying my main character). It’s truly an unhealthy obsession. And now that I’ve finally checked off the hardest achievement in the game, I’ve dove straight into the world of mods and, yep, here we go again!
Hooray, my soapy murder mystery satire show is back! After a so so first season and a great second season (at least in my opinion), the third season of “The White Lotus” is finally here and we are still following shallow and horrible wealthy people and slimy and shady ne’er-do-wells at yet another White Lotus resort, this time in Thailand! This is one of the shows my husband and I both enjoy watching as a couple, and thus far we are both enjoying the season. I’m especially enjoying Parker Posey as a constantly drugged up wealthy wife to an unraveling businessman played by Jason Isaacs, as her one liners are iconic. Though honestly my favorite is Walton Goggins’s Rick. Because oh man Walton Goggins is VERY much my cup of tea. I’m curious to see how it all pulls together by the end, and who dies as one always must on this show (please not Walton Goggins!).
Hooray, one of my favorite procedurals is back! I absolutely adore “Dark Winds” and the characters of Leaphorn and Chee, and they are on a new case on the Navajo Reservation, six months after the end of season 2. We find Leaphorn still a part of the Tribal Police, with Chee now back on the squad after being a PI last season, and Bernadette trying to adjust to her new border patrol job. While Leaphorn and Chee are dealing with two missing boys, Bernadette is convinced that she has found evidence of human trafficking, though her boss doesn’t really give a shit one way or the other. And there may be something supernatural afoot this time around. Zahn McClarnon is still a stellar Leaphorn, and seeing his emotional distress this season after what happened LAST season AND a missing child case (making him think of his own dead son) is a gut punch, and he’s killing it. Can’t wait to see where this goes.
It took me a long time to finally sit down and watch season 2 of this show, and it’s not because I disliked season 1. On the contrary, I loved it. I think the reason I waited was because I knew what was coming. I was excited for some things; Théâtre de Vampires! More Armand and maybe some queer subtext with Daniel (or in this case, supertext?)! But I also knew that it meant that Claudia’s arc was going to hit, and hit hard. All that said, when I finally did sit down and watch it, I was enthralled and devoured it. I loved seeing Armand’s theater coven, I loved seeing Daniel peel back secrets between Louis and Armand, and I LOVED seeing Lestat come back. Because we knew he would. And yes, it had its emotional gut punch moments that left me sobbing. And hints to what is to come (hellooooo, Talamasca!). I really, really enjoyed Season 2 even though it was devastating in some ways. Bring on Season 3. Especially since it’s going to cover “The Vampire Lestat”.
It has been a very long while indeed since we have done a book list based on what we think characters from a beloved franchise would like to read. But with the new Suzanne Collins “Hunger Games” book “Sunrise on the Reaping” finally out, we were inspired to bring this back once again! Here are some books that we think would pair well with some of our favorite characters in Panem!
We’re pretty sure that we’ve recommended this classic fantasy to other fictional characters before, but it was just too on point to not pick it for our reluctant hero Katniss Everdeen, who ends up being the symbol of a revolution in a brutal dystopian world. Katniss and Frodo Baggins, after all, have a fair amount in common, at least in terms of how their journey progresses. Both find themselves with a huge amount of responsibility that they never wanted or anticipated, with Katniss becoming the Mockingjay and Frodo becoming the Ringbearer. Both are devoted to their loved ones, whether it’s Katniss’s fierce protectiveness over sister Prim, or Frodo’s love for his community in The Shire. And both find themselves deeply traumatized and carrying a heavy burden as their journey gets harder and harder, and more and more loss and despair is heaped upon them. But like Frodo, Katniss knows that she can’t give up, and after all is said and done, while she is still haunted by her ordeal, much like Frodo she does, ultimately, find peace.
Haymitch Abernathy was Katniss’s mentor during her first Hunger Games, and was a winner of his own (and is the protagonist in “Sunrise on the Reaping”), and while he was helping train Katniss and Peeta, he was also working within the system to start the rebellion against Panem during “Catching Fire”. And because of his inner workings before the full on rebellion, I think that he would have found value in “The Simple Sabotage Field Manual”, a guide written by the United States OSS to resist against Nazi/authoritarian rule in Nazi occupied/ wartime Europe. It’s a quick read, with lots of practical and easy information on how to gum up the works and resist against authoritarian oppression, and it was declassified in 2008 for anyone to read. As a rebel working inside as a mentor who ends up playing a huge part in overthrowing Snow’s regime, we think this would be a good choice for him.
Johanna is one of Kate’s very favorite “Hunger Games” characters, and one of those reasons is how angry she is from the moment we meet her until the moment we say goodbye. And rightfully so! Like so many victors, she was subjected to a horrific Games, and even as victor she still lost everything and everyone important to her thanks to Snow and the Capitol. Only to be thrown into the Quarter Quell, into a rebellion, and into a hostage situation thereafter. Of COURSE she was angry. And because of that, she would probably really enjoy, or at least relate to, “Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger” by Soraya Chemaly. In this non-fiction book, Chemaly examines the reasons a woman may be enraged, from microaggressions and mild sexism that she is subjected to every day, to outright violent misogyny that leads to pain and harm. It also encourages women to turn that anger into a tool against their oppressors. And man, would Johanna REALLY love that.
Peeta is the OG soft boy king. And as such, he deserves all the nicest things, including one of the most wholesome cozy fantasies currently published! Really, I think the entire cozy fantasy genre was made for this character. And while there are plenty of books in this subgenre featuring bakeries, I thought that the coffee shop found in this one would fit just as well. Beyond the coffee/pastries of it all, I think the strong focus on re-creating a life for oneself after many previous years of violence would appeal to a character like Peeta. The found family aspect, I think, would also appeal, for a character who naturally inspired trust and friendship from others.
Coriolanus Snow: “Vicious” by V.E. Schwab
This is a quote from the book: “Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human.” I mean, can that be more perfect for a character like Snow? While Snow definitely goes the straight villain route, most of the characters in this book take the anti-hero route. But as the prequel shows us, characters who turn down dark paths often have many moments when they could have chosen a different direction. The book also has a strong emphasis on themes of ambition and the risks we are willing to take in the pursuit of power. What’s more, we see what happens when these risks go wrong, and the lessons that are (and are not) learned. Themes that definitely hold true for Snow, though we know where it all leads for him, and it’s not great.
Effie is an interesting character, in that she clearly cares for Katnis and Peeta in her own way and has brief heroic moments. But she’s also fully bought in to the Hunger Games system and revels in all the benefits that she reaps from her involvement in it. And, of course, she is something of a trend setter in the fashion world! That being the case, the blending of ruthless competition and glittering ballgowns found in “The Selection” would be a perfect fit for Effie! If given the choice, I’m sure she would have preferred a competition that focused on jewels and gowns all in the pursuit of a handsome prince, rather than the brutality of the Hunger Games. Rather than perhaps empathizing with the heroic main character of this trilogy, however, Effie would likely have preferred the role of the party master behind it all!
We each have our own preferred genres of choice. Kate loves horrors and thrillers, really anything that will keep her up at night! And Serena enjoys escaping through hidden doors into realms of magic and adventure. We also read mysteries, historical fiction, graphic novels, etc. etc. And that’s not even counting the multitude of sub-genres contained within each greater genre. In this series, one of us will present a list of our favorites from within a given sub-genre of one of our greater preferred genres.
There is a near constant debate going on right now about the definitions and delineations between what constitutes “romantasy” and what should be categorized as fantasy romance. Part of the problem, I think, comes down to simple word order and what it says about the type of book you’re picking up. As readers will have noticed following this series of posts about subgenres, or about these terms in general, is that the primary genre is always the last word, preceded by some sort of descriptor that gives additional detail into the specifics of the subgenre. So, for fantasy, you have things like urbanfantasy or gothic fantasy. Further, for subgenres within romance you see things like dark romance or historical romance. Descriptor followed by primary genre.
Now, if you break apart the term “romantasy” you would get “romantic fantasy,” seeming to indicate that you are reading a fantasy book first and foremost with a dash of romance added in. It should meet all fantasy expectations with more free reign on how the romance is dealt with, as it is the “sub” of the greater “genre.” Unfortunately, this is NOT what “romantasy” means. Instead, it’s the opposite, a subgenre of the romance genre with all the requirements for the romance genre coming in first consideration, with fantasy used only as a support frame for the love story.
This all leaves it very confusing for the readers who are truly looking for the “romance” subgenre of fantasy, instead of the “fantasy” subgenre of romance that is so often being marketed to them. To make matters worse, more and more people are saying that this former option should be called “fantasy romance.” Which, as I just laid out, reads as completely opposite of the way that readers understand and approach genres and subgenres! To those not in the know, “fantasy romance” should be shelved right next to “historical romance” in the romance section; it only makes sense!
As you can see, I’ve labeled this post “romantic fantasy” and I truly think we should push this as the term used for this subgenre. “Romantasy” is so established as a term on its own at this point that I don’t think there would be any confusion regarding the fact that it was originally a combination of these two words. Instead, by using “romantic fantasy” instead of “fantasy romance” we’d be following the traditional rules of categorizing subgenres, thus making it easier for fantasy readers to find their preferred subgenre within this greater whole.
So, all of that said. Here are some “romantic fantasy” books that I think represent the subgenre well. I’ve intentionally tried to pick books that can be seen as the fantasy counterbalance to many of the popular “romantasy” tropes being put out today. Unlike those, these books follow fantasy genre conventions first and foremost, with the romance coming in second fiddle. Per the usual with fantasy, several of these are series, and as such, the romance plays out as slow-burn throughout, with love stories moving only incrementally (if at all!) in some books.
“Wildwood Dancing” by Julier Marillier
Fairie/Fae Romance – Faerie romances are by far one of the most popular sub-subgenres seen in “romantasy” currently. There’s no denying the power of Maas and her influence in this area. On the other side, Marillier is a go-to for any fantasy reader looking for the romance subgenre within. I’m pretty sure every single one of her books would fit within this category. But this one is the closest to the sort of faerie romance that we typically see in “romantasy.” Unlike those, the romantic interest isn’t actually Fae, but much of the story still revolves around faerie, their wonder and danger. A couple other great examples for this with actual Fae romantic interests would be “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faerie” by Heather Fawcett and “Spinning Silver” by Naomi Novik. I highly recommend both of those as well, but I’m using another book by Novik below and I reviewed the latest “Emily Wilde” book just last week!
“Kushiel’s Legacy” trilogy by Jacqueline Carey
Dark Romance/Enemies-to-Lovers – While I don’t read much of it, I know that “dark romance” is another very popular version of “romantasy” currently making the rounds. And it goes without saying that “enemies to lovers” is the current GOAT of tropes. The romantic fantasy comparable option for this one is a no brainer! “Kushiel’s Dart” goes into undeniably dark directions, both in its exploration of lust and sexuality and in the violence of this world. But there is also one of my favorite love stories at the heart of this trilogy as well! Beyond that, it’s political fantasy novel first and foremost, with detailed world-building and a strong focus on the political manipulations and strategizing of the characters that make up the story. Phedre is probably one of my Top 10 favorite fantasy heroines of all time, and that’s saying something considering just how many great ones there are out there!
“The Books of the Raksura” by Martha Wells
Monster Romance – Ruby Dixon and her “Ice Planet Barbarians” is probably one of the most popular examples of this in “romantasy.” There are less human/monster love stories in fantasy (other than the typical urban fantasy fare with vampires and werewolves, but at this point, those barely count as monsters, as bizarre as that is!). But this was a perfect excuse to shine a light on one of Wells’ most over-looked trilogies! The story follows Moon, a shapeshifter who finds out he has a great destiny. As you can see from the cover art on this and the other books, Wells’ characters are wholly unique species with only small nods to humanistic traits. There is a ton of action and adventure to be found in this trilogy, but also a sweet romance at its heart. I’m hopeful that now that Wells’ other back catalog titles are getting re-prints that we’ll see new editions of these soon!
“Scholomance” trilogy by Naomi Novik
Dark Academia/Rivals-to-Lovers – I’ve already mentioned Naomi Novik on this list, as she has several others books that would easily fit within this subgenre (“Uprooted” is another great example that falls more on the fairytale re-telling side of things). But I wanted to highlight this trilogy as comparable titles to the dark academia trend seen a lot in “romantasy.” I love everything about this trilogy, but the stand-out feature is probably the narrator, El, who has one of the strongest voices as a narrator that I can think of. She’s also prickly and stand-off-ish, and her awkward stumble into the central romance is incredibly endearing.
“A Darker Shade of Magic” trilogy by V. E. Schwab
Multi-POVs/Multi-Romances – To be fair, multi-POV books are by far more common in the fantasy genre than in the romance genre. But as I couldn’t really think of any comparable options for why-choose/throuple romances, here we are. There are two lovely romances in this one, but true to the fact that they are fantasy novels first and foremost, neither love story really starts up until the second book. The central one follows Kel and Lila, the main characters of the story. And the second is a M/M romance that kind of came out of nowhere, but turned out to be heart-wrenching all on its own. Beyond that, the trilogy as a whole is so perfectly crafted that I think it’s one of those rare series where each book individually would warrant a “10” rating.
“The Rook and the Rose” trilogy by M. A. Carrik
Slow Burn – I have to say, it’s hard to think of a true slow burn in “romantasy.” But, as I’ve talked about extensively now, as a subgenre of the romance genre, it’s a bit hard to work a slow burn love story into a true HEA romance novel. But slow burns are a staple of romantic fantasy. As many of the above books highlight as well, the love stories often don’t even get truly started until the second book in. So too with this one. Instead, the focus is more on the intricate world-building, various hidden identities, and the careful balance who know s which of the numerous secrets floating around. The first book barely hints at the central romance, but it really blossoms in the second one!
What romantic fantasy books are your favorites? Let us know in the comments!
So far it’s been cold, but the snow has been lacking, for now the second year in a row! We know other places have been getting their share (if not MORE than their share at times). Why are we hitting negative digits but having to stare out at dirty, brown lawns?? Oh, who are we kidding. Our eyes are too glued to our books to be looking out windows. Here are some upcoming titles we can’t wait to check out!
Serena’s Picks
Book: “The Beasts We Bury” by D. L. Taylor
Publication Date: Feb. 4, 2025
Why I’m Interested: For one thing, I just think this cover is incredibly unique and interesting. For another, the subject matter sounds super unique and interesting! If a bit traumatic, since one of the main character’s abilities seem to be tied to animal death. I don’t love that topic, but if done well, I can also see how it could be used to craft a powerful character arc revolving around power and cruelty. It’s a duel POV title, however, between two love interests, something that I often struggle with. So we’ll see how this one goes!
Book: “Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales” by Heather Fawcett
Publication Date: Feb. 11, 2024
Why I’m Interested: Well, obviously. This is probably my most anticipated sequel of the year, honestly. After the wild success of the first two books, I have every confidence that Fawcett will nail the landing on this one, too! I’m not sure if this is the last one in the series or not (hopefully not!), but the stakes have definitely never been higher! Emily and Wendell are finally making their way together back into Fae to reclaim Wendell’s kingdom. Of course, this is an excellent academic opportunity. But Fae politics are also nothing if not dangerous. It’s really been killing holding off on reading my early copy of this one until an appropriate time!
Book: “Upon a Starlit Tide” by Kell Woods
Publication Date: Feb. 18, 2025
Why I’m Interested: This one could go either way. On one hand, while the first book by this author I read had potential, I by no means loved it. It was maybe a 6 or 7? I also didn’t fail to notice the two portraits of men on the cover, heavily implying there will be a love triangle involved. But, on the other hand, I love fairytale fantasies, and “The Little Mermaid” has been a particularly difficult one to nail down. On the other, OTHER hand, I’m not so sure about the inclusion of “Cinderella,” as well! So, as you can see, I have some very mixed feelings going into this one. But the cover is gorgeous, and I’ve definitely had some surprises from authors on my second attempt with them!
Kate’s Picks
Book: “The Vengeful Dead” by Darcy Coates
Publication Date: February 18, 2025
Why I’m Interested: We are finally at the end of Darcy Coates’s “Gravekeeper” saga, and while I am eager to see how it ends, I’m also not ready to say goodbye to Keira and her ragtag group of friends and her ghostly adventures. I am such a fan of Coates and her really scary stories, but this sort of cozier and lighter series has been such a joy and has shown off her range. I am really hoping that she sticks the landing, but knowing her she will nail it.
Book: “Listen to Your Sister” by Neene Viel
Publication Date: February 4, 2025
Why I’m Interested: I am always on the look out for new voices in the horror genre, and this one has been getting a bit of buzz from other creators and horror reviewers that I generally trust. And when you are comparing it to the works of Jodan Peele I’m absolutely going to be very, very interested. “Listen To Your Sister” is a horror novel about family, hardship, sibling love and complications, and the way that our siblings can be both the most important thing in our life AND a huge stressor. This one caught my eye and I am very interested to see how it all shakes out.
Book: “Deep End” by Ali Hazelwood
Publication Date: February 4, 2025
Why I’m Interested: Well I am once again putting a book that is out of genre for me on my most anticipated list, and it in all likelihood won’t end up reviewed on here, but I don’t care, let me live! I have enjoyed almost everything Ali Hazelwood has put out, and she keeps up with the sub-genre jumping by taking on a sports romance with “Deep End”! I’ve had this one on pre-order from one of my favorite local bookstores for awhile now, and I can’t wait for it show up on my doorstep!
What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!
There are always so many books to look forward to each year. So in this post, we tackle the impossible task of choosing some favorites that we’re most excited about in the next twelve months!
Serena’s Picks
Another year absolutely packed with great books! Now that we’ve finally started doing these “year of” lists, I’m not almost thinking that we need to do one every six months. As you’ll see, this list is heavily loaded towards the first half of the year, mostly because those are the ones that we have firm dates for at this point. I’m sure there will be tons more this coming fall that I haven’t even discovered yet. This year seems to be the year of sequels and returning authors, however, as after I made these lists, I only then noticed they were all picks from authors I’ve enjoyed in the past. To start, here are a few honorable mentions that didn’t make the list: “Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales” by Heather Fawcett, “Hemlock & Silver” by T. Kingfisher, “Queen Demon” by Martha Wells, “Upon a Starlit Tide” by Kell Woods (this is an author I read before but didn’t love, so there you go, almost like a new pick!), and “The Witch Roads” by Kate Elliott.
Book: “The Amber Owl” by Juliet Marillier
Publication Date: February 25, 2025
Book Summary: Stasya lives in an isolated farming village on the edge of the mysterious Heartwood Forest with her unusual dog for company. Thought odd by the locals, she is tolerated for her rare gift with animals. Engaging with her fellow humans is difficult, with one goatherd Lukas, who shares her love of storytelling.
The peace of Heartwood is shattered when a group of soldiers descends, under orders from the Ruler of the Northlands. Their to hack a path through the forest and find the fabled treasure said to lie deep within. Under the grueling decree, Stasya’s village falls into chaos. The task is clearly impossible. The forest is alive with bears and wolves, and the old tales speak of evil spirits, monsters and uncanny beings. Nobody has ever gone deep into Heartwood Forest and returned safe and well.
When Stasya raises her voice in protest she is removed from her beloved home and transported to court – a different world. Word of her special skills has reached the Ruler’s ears, and Lady Elisabeta has a job for her. But Stasya will not break her vow to protect the forest, even under the most appalling threat. Help comes from an unlikely quarter.
Secrets abound; dangers lie everywhere; and it is hard to tell friend from foe. As Stasya and her band of unlikely allies embark on a perilous mission, it becomes apparent that uncanny forces may indeed be involved. Maybe the old tales of the Hermit are true.
Book: “The Floating Word” by Axie Oh
Publication Date: May 13, 2025
Book Summary: Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.
Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.
Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn’t realize she’s the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined…
Book: “The Listeners” by Maggie Stiefvater
Publication Date: June 3, 2025
Book Summary: JANUARY 1942. THE AVALLON HOTEL AND SPA offers elegance and sophistication in an increasingly ugly world. Run with precision by June Hudson, the hotel’s West Virginia born-and-bred general manager, the Avallon is where high society goes to see and be seen, and where the mountain sweetwater in the fountains and spas can wash away all your troubles.
June was trained by the Gilfoyles, the hotel’s aristocratic owners, and she has guided the Avallon skillfully through the first pangs of war. Now, though, the Gilfoyle family heir has made a secret deal with the State Department to fill the hotel with captured Axis diplomats. June must convince her staff—many of whom have sons and husbands heading to the frontlines—to offer luxury to Nazis. With a smile.
She also must reckon with Tucker Minnick, the FBI agent whose coal tattoo hints at their shared past in the mountains, and whose search for the diplomats’ secrets disrupts the peace June is fighting so hard to maintain. Hers is a balancing act with dangerous consequences; the sweetwater beneath the hotel can threaten as well as heal, and only June can manage the springs.
As dark alliances and an elusive spy crack the polished veneer of the Avallon, June must calculate the true cost of luxury.
Book: “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil” by V. E. Schwab
Publication Date: June 10, 2025
Book Summary: Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 1532. London, 1837. Boston, 2019.
Three young women, their bodies planted in the same soil, their stories tangling like roots.One grows high, and one grows deep, and one grows wild.And all of them grow teeth.
Book: “Katabis” by R. F. Kuang
Publication Date: August 28, 2025
Book Summary: Katabasis, noun, Ancient Greek:The story of a hero’s descent to the underworld.
Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. She has sacrificed everything to make that a reality: her pride, her health, her love life, and most definitely her sanity. All to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge, the greatest magician in the world.
That is, until he dies in a magical accident that could possibly be her fault.
Grimes is now in Hell, and she’s going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her very future in his now incorporeal hands and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her dreams….
Nor will the fact that her rival, Peter Murdoch, has come to the very same conclusion.
With nothing but the tales of Orpheus and Dante to guide them, enough chalk to draw the Pentagrams necessary for their spells, and the burning desire to make all the academic trauma mean anything, they set off across Hell to save a man they don’t even like.
But Hell is not like the storybooks say, Magick isn’t always the answer, and there’s something in Alice and Peter’s past that could forge them into the perfect allies…or lead to their doom.
Kate’s Picks
At the beginning of the year I always love to scour through the titles that are gong to be coming out, and this year we have some GOODIES. So many authors I have adored in the past have books coming out this year, including Joe Hill, though his new book is a little mysterious at this point. After 2024 where I suffered some serious mental health burn out which affected my reading habits, I hope that this year will have more reading in it, no matter what it brings, though this is only the tip of the ice berg when it comes to titles. I’m sure I’ll have more by the time I leave ALAAC in June. But here are the ones that are sticking out right now! Some honorable mentions that didn’t make the final list definitely need a shout out though. So other books I’m looking forward to include “This Book Will Bury Me” by Ashley Winstead, “The Bewitching” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, “Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins-Reid, “Vanishing Daughters” by Cynthia Pelayo, and “Lucky Day” by Chuck Tingle.
Book: “The Haunting of Room 904” by Erika Wurth
Publication Date: March 18, 2025
Book Description: From the author of White Horse (“Twisty and electric.” —The New York Times Book Review) comes a terrifying and resonant novel about a woman who uses her unique gift to learn the truth about her sister’s death.
Olivia Becente was never supposed to have the gift. The ability to commune with the dead was the specialty of her sister, Naiche. But when Naiche dies unexpectedly and under strange circumstances, somehow Olivia suddenly can’t stop seeing and hearing from spirits.
A few years later, she’s the most in-demand paranormal investigator in Denver. She’s good at her job, but the loss of Naiche haunts her. That’s when she hears from the Brown Palace, a landmark Denver hotel. The owner can’t explain it, but every few years, a girl is found dead in room 904, no matter what room she checked into the night before. As Olivia tries to understand these disturbing deaths, the past and the present collide as Olivia’s investigation forces her to confront a mysterious and possibly dangerous cult, a vindictive journalist, betrayal by her friends, and shocking revelations about her sister’s secret life.
The Haunting of Room 904is a paranormal thriller that is as edgy as it is heartfelt and simmers with intensity and longing. Erika T. Wurth lives up to her reputation as “a gritty new punkish outsider voice in American horror.”
Book: “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones
Publication Date: March 25, 2025
Book Description: A chilling historical horror novel set in the American west in 1912 following a Lutheran priest who transcribes the life of a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice.
A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow. Told in transcribed interviews by a Blackfeet named Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar life over a series of confessional visits. This is an American Indian revenge story written by one of the new masters of horror, Stephen Graham Jones.
Book: “The Staircase in the Woods” by Chuck Wendig
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
Book Description: A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents.
Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what. Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something a mysterious staircase to nowhere. One friend walks up—and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears.
Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy—and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods. . . .
Book: “Not Quite Dead Yet” by Holly Jackson
Publication Date: July 22, 2025
Book Description: In seven days Jet Mason will be dead.
Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, Vermont. Twenty-seven years old, she’s still waiting for her life to begin. She’ll do it later, she always says. She has time. Until, on the night of Halloween, Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder. She suffers a catastrophic brain injury. The doctor is certain that within a week, she’ll suffer a deadly aneurysm.
Jet never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new her family, her ex-best friend turned sister-in-law, her former boyfriend.
She only has seven days, and as her condition deteriorates she has only her childhood friend Billy for help. But nevertheless, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish. Jet is going to solve her own murder.
Book: “The Possession of Alba Díaz” by Isabel Cañas
Publication Date: August 19, 2025
Book Description: When a demonic presence awakens deep in a Mexican silver mine, the young woman it seizes must turn to the one man she shouldn’t trust… from bestselling author Isabel Cañas.
In 1765, plague sweeps through Zacatecas. Alba flees with her wealthy merchant parents and fiancé, Carlos, to his family’s isolated mine for refuge. But safety proves fleeting as other dangers soon bare their teeth: Alba begins suffering from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions. She senses something cold lurking beneath her skin. Something angry. Something wrong.
Elías, haunted by a troubled past, came to the New World to make his fortune and escape his family’s legacy of greed. Alba, as his cousin’s betrothed, is none of his business. Which is of course why he can’t help but notice her every time she enters a room or the growing tension between them… and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood grows stronger.
What books are you all looking forward to this year? Let us know in the comments!
Welcome to 2025, for better or for worse! We never know what we’re going to get with a new year, but one things is always guaranteed: there are sure to be great books in the year ahead! We’ll be posting our regular monthly picks here, but look forward to our list of top picks for the entire year of 2025 coming in a few weeks!
Serena’s Picks
Book: “A Sea of Unspoken Things” by Adrienne Young
Publication Date: Jan. 7, 2025
Why I’m Interested: Adrienne Young is one of those awesome writers who not only produces incredible books, but also manages to pump that out practically on a yearly basis! Between her and Silvia Morena-Garcia, I’m always guaranteed a few great reads a year! This one sounds like another entry into her recent foray into contemporary romantic fantasy stories. Again, we follow a young woman with a mysterious past as she returns to a home town she fled from years before. Of course, there’s a second chance romance in there as well!
Book: “Water Moon” by Samantha Sotto Yambao
Publication Date: Jan. 14, 2025
Why I’m Interested: While I’m not a big fan girl of Studio Ghibli, I was also intrigued by the description of a highly whimsical contemporary fantasy story that follows the owner of a pawn shop that deals in regrets. The cover itself is also pretty great! Plus, it promises a nice romance at its heart, so there’s a lot of potential here! Can’t wait to check it out soon!
Book: “A Crown So Silver” by Lyra Selene
Publication Date: Jan. 21, 2025
Why I’m Interested: I really enjoyed “A Feather So Black” when I read it last year. Not only was it a unique version of “Swan Lake,” but it managed to tack in a love triangle that I didn’t end up hating. It didn’t end on a cliffhanger per se, but there was definitely a lot left to be handled in the sequels. As the middle book in a trilogy, this one faces an uphill battle, but I’m excited to see how this one manages it! Mostly, I hope that the main couple doesn’t fall into the trap of pointless drama in the pursuit of “tension.” We shall see!
Kate’s Picks
Book: “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes” by Clay McLeod Chapman
Publication Date: January 7, 2025
Why I’m Interested: Clay McLeod Chapman is one of my favorite horror authors writing today, and I am always excited and apprehensive to pick up one of his novels because I know that he doesn’t hold back. Enter “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes”, his newest horror novel where he satirizes far Right wing media and the way that it seems like it brainwashes its consumers, and poisons the rest of American society. In this case, Right Wing cable news viewers (as well as other Right Wing media consumers) turn into violent possessed automatons who attack anyone who doesn’t think like them. A bit on the nose for 2025, but that’s the point. Buckle up. It’s gonna be rough.
Book: “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” by Grady Hendrix
Publication Date: January 14, 2025
Why I’m Interested: I also really enjoy Grady Hendrix and the quirky horror stories that he comes up with, usually with a bit of a tongue in cheek flair. But this time around he’s not only taking on witchcraft, but also the tragedies and injustices of young unwed mother homes and the traumas that came with such circumstances for many, many teenage girls in the years before Roe v Wade. As someone who is deeply disturbed by the way we’re movie backwards on reproductive rights in America AND who loves witchcraft stories, this is a book that has been on my radar for AWHILE. I’m sure it will be heartwrenching as well as quirky. Which it absolutely should be.
Book: “Mask of the Deer Woman” by Laurie L. Dove
Publication Date: January 21, 2025
Why I’m Interested: Procedurals continue to be a guilty pleasure of mine, and I’m always thrilled to see procedurals written from more diverse perspectives. Berkley was kind enough to send me access to “Mask of the Deer Woman” by Laurie L. Dove, which is not only a police procedural dealing with missing women themes, it is also starring an Indigenous female former cop now working on a reservation who want to look into the disappearances of multiple Indigenous women. Throw in some mythology involving Deer Woman and I am even more excited. I hope that this is a start to a new series I can follow!
What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!
Another a year, another almost impossible task trying to each choose our Top 10 Reads of the year! For me, the word “favorite” is an important part of this list. As I go through the last year’s worth of reading, I often found that some books would strike particular chords within me more deeply than others, even if, quality-wise, another book might be stronger. Of course, this just makes it all that much harder to put them in any order. But here it goes! Today I’m going to countdown my favorites reads, five through 1. And since it’s the end of the reading year, don’t forget to enter our “12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!”
While this list often includes authors that I’ve read and loved for years, I’m always the happiest about entries from authors who are new to me! Such is the case with this one! I typically have a decent idea of what sort of book I’m getting when I first pick one up (not spoilery, but I’ve usually done some research into themes and tropes and such), but this one was almost a blank slate for me and I think this made it better than ever! I called this one “hard fantasy” in my review, and I stand by this definition. This is the ultimate case of a second world fantasy story where the reader is dropped into a completely strange world, full of magic, creatures, and even forms of transportation that are almost totally unrecognizable from anything we have in the real world. And the author doesn’t hand hold you; readers are left to piece it together for themselves! Some enjoy this more than others, but I, for one, love it! It also didn’t hurt that I loved the main character and the sub-sub-plot romance that was included.
4. “Dark Water Daughter”/”Black Tide Son” by H.M. Long
Every year there’s some sort of…well…”cheating” is an awfully strong word now isn’t it, on this list. But I read both of the books in this series this year and within a few months of one another and loved them both, so there’s no real way of picking one over the other. Instead, as a pair, they tell an excellent nautical fantasy story featuring two fantastic characters and a swoon-worthy romance to boot! I loved the magical elements included in this world and, while I thought this was just a duology when I read the second one, I’m incredibly excited to return to this world when the next book comes out this summer!
See, now I could have cheated on this one, too, as I read both books in this duology this year as well! But, while I loved them both, I did enjoy the first one more than the second, so I was good and am just including this one on the list. But this is also another example of a brand new to me author hitting it out of the park! I loved the folklore-style of this fantasy story and the team up between a grumpy witch and the more golden retriever-esque cop that she must work with. However, while that sounds rather fluffy, this book doesn’t shy away from getting into some dark topics about abusive relationships and the deep cuts they can leave on a person. The second book was an excellent conclusion, and I highly recommend the duology as a whole!
I said this in my review but I’ll say it again: Emily Lloyd-Jones is one of the most underrated YA fantasy authors writing today! Honestly, it’s criminal that her books seem to get so little hype considering how vastly superior they are in every way to many of the other YA fantasy books that blow up! You’ve got complicated, believable characters, rich, immersive world-building, and sweet but complex romances! I’ve yet to read a book by her that wasn’t a banger, and this one was no exception. Instead, I was yet again impressed by Lloyd-Jones willingness to truly commit to the characters and story she is writing. People make truly morally grey decisions, and then others react to those decision in complicated ways. It’s so refreshing to see an author who isn’t just playing it safe with their storytelling. I highly recommend this one, especially if you enjoy fairytale-like fantasy stories!
This was one of those books where I turned the last page and felt fairly confident that I’d just read my number 1 read for the year. And this was way back in the spring! But it’s just that good! I’ve enjoyed Bardugo’s books in the past, but this one felt like it reached a new level, somehow perfectly blending fantasy, historical fiction, and literary fiction all into one beautifully written tome. There wasn’t a misstep to be found. It was one of those books where I lost myself in the story, but at the same time, was aware of just how beautiful the writing itself was. I could honestly rave about this book for ages, but at this point you’ve read not only my original review but also the bookclub reviews that Kate and I posted, so I’ll just leave it with this: if ever a book deserved the top slot on my “Top Ten” list, this was it!
So, there we have it, my top reads for the year! Now it’s time to cheat and include some honorable mentions that didn’t make the list. Some of these I would have included but for the fact that I listed another book in the series last year, so I didn’t want the list to get repetitive. Others were just shy of making the cut on their own, but still well worth a shout out! Here they are:
Another a year, another almost impossible task trying to each choose our Top 10 Reads of the year! Like past years I won’t be including re-reads, sometimes my opinion of a book could change and evolve after I had read it, so some surprises may be up near the top, as well as perhaps a book or two that didn’t make my reviews on here initially due to genre limitations. But here they are, ready for a countdown! And since it’s the end of the reading year, don’t forget to enter our“Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway”! Today I’m going to countdown my favorite reads, five to one.
I really loved Kendare Blake’s take on the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” characters in her reboot series, and her final installment really lived up to all my expectations. “Against the Darkness” didn’t just do a satisfactory job of wrapping up all the loose ends of her original characters, specifically that of Willow’s Slayer-Witch daughter Frankie and her friends, but it also was a treat for this Elder Millennial “Buffy” fan who was absolutely in love with Spike, as her characterization of him was spot on, bringing out the humor and the sentimentality of this sarcastic dork of a vampire (and as a Spuffy fan, it was SO good). I was so thrilled it wrapped up the way it did.
Boy are there a lot of vampire stories on my list this year, but given that we are kind of in a vampire renaissance in horror fiction at the moment it isn’t really surprising. My favorite vampire tale of the year, however, is very clearly “First Light”, Liz Kerin’s sequel to “Night’s Edge” (which made my list last year). We follow Mia after the events of the first book, having lost her vampire mother and hoping to get her revenge against the vampire that ruined their lives, and man oh man is it an emotional rollercoaster about loss, grief, and ultimately healing. And the continued themes of mothers and daughters and the fraught complexities that can come with that really put me through the emotional ringer. Just fantastic.
I know that Holly Gibney is a bit of a polarizing figure for Stephen King fans, but I have always loved her, and his newest book about her REALLY blew me away. Not only did we get to see Holly having to maneuver through a particularly difficult case involving missing people and a malevolent elderly couple that does horrifying things with their murder victims, we also see her having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the difficulties that came with the Delta Wave, especially for a coded neurodivergent woman such as herself. I found this story to be incredibly engaging and absolutely haunting, with one particular moment sure to stick with me for a long, long time.
2. “I Was A Teenage Slasher” by Stephen Graham Jones
Since I love the slasher sub-genre of horror, as well as a glam metal soundtrack AND some serious pathos in basically any of my stories, “I Was A Teenage Slasher” was destined to make my top five reads of 2024. And it is also hands down my favorite of Stephen Graham Jones’s novels, with his usual deconstruction of the genre really working overtime here to create a scary and deeply emotional coming of age tale about a reluctant but burgeoning teenage slasher killer in 1980s Texas. It had moments of high suspense and well done horror beats, while also bringing tears to my eyes multiple times. Jones is such a treasure, and this is him at his best.
This was my first Tananarive Due novel, as I’d read a few short stories by her before this, and man oh man did it ever blow me away. It was one of the first books I read in 2024, and I knew from the jump that it was going to be hard to beat as my favorite for the year. Due is a master of not only conveying some really eerie supernatural horrors in this book, but also the very real horrors of American racism, specifically in Jim Crow Florida as a young Black teen is sent to a reformatory school as punishment for a minor crime that he didn’t deserve punishment for. I’ve been recommending this to basically anyone who will listen to me, and now I am happy to showcase it as my very favorite read of 2024. Absolutely astounding.
That’s it for my favorite reads of 2024! What were some of yours this year?
The Library Ladies 