13 books to read when you’re feeling defeated

One thing I love about the fantasy genre is that everything is heightened, like a photo filter set to "vivid." The challenges are more demanding, the stakes are higher, and the obstacles appear to be insurmountable. And because of that, our heroines and heroes have to be elevated until they have what it takes to …

Continue reading 13 books to read when you’re feeling defeated

Spinning Silver Book Review

Spinning Silver is set in the snow-swept kingdom of Lithvas, a land ruled by an arrogant tsar and terrorized by the ruthless, otherworldly Staryk. Novik lightly draws inspiration from the Legend of Rumpelstiltskin, a folktale with European roots that shares the lessons to be learned from greed, the pursuit of power, and “getting out of …

Continue reading Spinning Silver Book Review

Why it’s time to stop admitting you love YA fiction

How do we define a good story, and how has that changed over time? What makes a book Great or Classic Literature, versus a passing fad? Whose voice matters in these discussions, and why? These are the questions that came to mind as I scanned my recent reading list, trying to decide which book I would review …

Continue reading Why it’s time to stop admitting you love YA fiction