I thought this was such a cute YA read! And as a scholar and linguist myself, I was fascinated by the dilemma our group of young students faced in Language X. But the stars of the show were definitely Naomi and Daziel.
There’s just something about a high-stakes, conspiracy-packed mystery that I find easy to fall into. I know, I know—they all follow a certain rhythm; you can feel the twists coming, you know there’s going to be corruption and secrets stacked on secrets…
I really appreciated how real this story felt. Not just because it is based on a true story, but because it feels as though it captures life as it actually could have been—during the war and particularly in its aftermath, in both Europe and the United States—without necessarily being overly detailed…
While this book could use a bit more developmental editing and a good copy edit, I kind of… loved it? Ha. It was easy to read and get hooked on, I enjoyed Stark’s writing style and the world-building, and I especially liked the banter and relationship between the main characters.
Much like Good Stab had to tell his story to Pastor Beaucarne in a piecewise fashion, I felt like I had to read this book in a similar manner to fully absorb it.
Birth of a Dynasty by Chinaza Bado is a fantastic start to an epic fantasy series set in a remarkable African-inspired world. The prologue was excellent, and I was instantly hooked (in fact, I ended up reading the whole book in less than 24 hours).
Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles is often shelved as science fiction, but it reads more like a mirror held up to humanity—warped, poetic, and devastatingly clear. Published in 1950, it masquerades as a speculative account of Earth colonizing Mars. But it isn’t really about Mars. It’s about us. About mankind. Our failings. Our nostalgia. Our brilliance. Our destructiveness. What we export when we go somewhere new. And what we can’t seem to leave behind.
The Secret Market of the Dead by Giovanni De Feo is just as much about being a woman in a “man’s” world (if not more) as it is delightfully strange.
A Song in the Storm by Riley Knight is a bold, multi-POV epic with rich world-building, layered politics, a touch of romance, and a story that rewards patience. It kept me guessing the entire time—and I loved watching all the threads come together. If you’re into fantasy that doesn’t spoon-feed you but absolutely delivers, pick this one up.
The Mender’s Curse is everything I want in a classic fantasy—magic, rebellion, an epic quest, and a cast of characters I actually care about. The world is wonderfully immersive without being overwhelming, and the story hits that perfect balance between action, heart, and quiet moments of healing and development.
This Is How You Lose the Time War is a dazzling, albeit oftentimes overwhelming, masterpiece—a love story that defies time, space, and the very nature of its own existence. Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone craft a tale that is as much a literary experience as it is a science fiction adventure, blending lyrical prose with an achingly tender sapphic romance.
I never thought I’d rave about a book about snails (I’m only partially joking lol), but here we are…
Maria Reva’s Endling is a profound exploration of survival, identity, and the intricate dance between humanity and nature, set against the backdrop of contemporary Ukraine.
