How far would you go to save a loved one? For this mother and daughter pair, the limit does not exist. Grace Walker's debut novel, The Merge, is a thought-provoking story that examines the meaning of self-sacrifice, the power of love, and the importance of human autonomy. Amelia is only 23 years old when her mother…
Wow, has the snow been falling, and falling with panache at that! This winter wonderland (or snowy wasteland, depending on who's asking) is definitely here to stay. It's only when I'm able to grab a sweet, warm treat for my troubles do I find the courage to step outside. Despite my aversion to the chill,…
"In August, when every self-respecting Roman left the city, he stayed behind and worked out the formulas for the dyes he will use for three thousand costumes, each one of them hand-tailored. Vats of onion skin and marigold, woad and madder. If Federico is the maestro, he is the magician, stirring his cauldron in the…
“No man will call your house, home. And if they try, they will not have peace. Your daughters are cursed – they will pursue men, but the men will be like water in their palms.” – Cursed Daughters How do I describe Cursed Daughters, author Oyinkan Braithwaite’s sophomore…
“There was something sad about leaving your sadness behind.” — Aja Gabel, Lightbreakers If you could travel back in time to visit a loved one that you had lost, would you? Aja Gabel examines this loaded question in her second novel, Lightbreakers. Following three individuals bound by grief, this work of literary science fiction transcends…
Climate fiction is having a moment, isn’t it? Stories of near-futures beset by ecological disasters – and the characters who struggle to navigate them – are on every bestseller and big awards list. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or just starting out, Yume Kitasei’s latest novel, Saltcrop, is not to be missed. With…
"Let's be serious, said Taku. Just for a second. You said she's getting older, right? Does she need help? Ha, said the son. Not from me. What makes you say that? Please. I've never met anyone more self-sufficient. Then it's obvious, said Taku. She must care for you." Bryan Washington, Palaver, pg. 17 By…
“No one needed a magic wardrobe that opened to Narnia if they had a library card; if you had a library card, you had a thousand magic wardrobes to choose from, ten thousand….A library card was as good as a sword drawn from a stone” - King Sorrow, by Joe Hill Warning: This book…
“I think it’s the only form of hope we have. For our survival, I mean. What good is any other virtue without love?” - Lily King, Heart the Lover There are novels that affect you, and then there are novels that move you. I can say with certainty that, for me, Heart the Lover belongs…
"The land in Alabama is made up of layers of soil tinted red and brown and black, enriched with clay, sand, iron, and the remains of whoever lived on and fought to stay on it at the time. A primary reason hazard-yellow and hell-red signs gleam from the creamy earth and from the peeling bases…
