Riot New Media – Page 32

Reese’s Book Club Picks a New YA Book and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 29, 2024

Sponsored by

Book friends, hello!

I’m back in Seattle. The Austin trip was so fun, and yes, I did get to pop into a couple of bookstores. I came home with a suitcase heavy with books. Not gonna lie. I also saw a few movies (I highly recommend I Saw the TV Glow). But again, we are here to talk books, so let’s do it.

Book Deals and Reveals

YA book picks are back at Reese’s Book Club, and they’re kicking it off with Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth! Check out the announcement on Instagram now.

Here’s the trailer for My Lady Jane, a new series based on the novel by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. The show will stream on Amazon Prime Video starting on June 27.

Paste has the exclusive cover reveal and an excerpt from the upcoming horror novella Pocketknife Kitty by Shannon Riley. The book is out from Ghoulish Books on June 24.

And here’s the cover of the latest novel from Sally Rooney, Intermezzo. Rooney’s highly anticipated novel hits bookstores everywhere on September 24.

Abigail Hing Wen, author of Loveboat, Taipei, has a new book coming, and here’s an excerpt! Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies hits shelves on August 13.

Alice Oseman has shared a big update on the final chapter in the Heartstopper series! In their Instagram stories, the author wrote, “I think I have a first draft of vol 6. (Just the writing, haven’t started the drawing yet). I think it’s probably too long [right now] but maybe I can make it work… but mostly feeling pretty good about it. Gonna share with some friends and colleagues and get some opinions, then make some tweaks probably.”

George R.R. Martin’s latest series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be coming to HBO next year, but the author says fans can expect a very different tone from Game of Thrones. Martin says the new spinoff series “will be a lot shorter than Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, with a much different tone. But it’s still Westeros, so no one is truly safe.” The show is slated to premiere in June 2025.

The winner of the 2024 International Booker Prize has been announced! And it’s Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Michael Hofmann.

Summer is almost here! Get ready by adding some of these 120 summer reads to your TBR list.

Book Riot Recommends

Hi, welcome to everyone’s favorite segment of Book Radar called Book Riot Recommends. This is where I’ll talk to you about all the books I’m reading, the books I’m loving, and the books I can’t wait to read and love in the near future. I think you’re going to love them too!

Make this your most bookish summer yet with personalized reading recommendations from Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists (aka professional book nerds) are standing by to help you find your next favorite read. Get your recommendations via email, or opt to receive hardcovers or paperbacks delivered right to your door. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Get started today from just $18!

Can’t Wait for This One!

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (Berkley, January 14, 2025)

This is probably one of my favorite Grady Hendrix covers of all time, and that’s really saying something because Grady Hendrix has quite the history of cool book covers. I can’t wait to have this stunner on my shelf, but more importantly, I can’t wait to read it. Not just because I will look super cool while I read it on the bus. But also because Grady Hendrix is one of the best horror authors of all time, and I’m always excited about his books.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is set in a maternity home in Florida in 1970. It follows five young women living in the home who come across a guide to witchcraft. And yeah, as you can imagine, everything goes haywire from there. According to the publisher, Berkley, Hendrix’s new book is like “Rosemary’s Baby set in a home for unwed mothers in 1970,” and it will “deliver fresh takes on traditional horror tropes with [Hendrix’s] signature voice full of humor, heart, jump scares and a bit of a wink.”

In the early 1970s, these types of homes for unwed mothers were popping up all over the United States. Hendrix told People he took inspiration for his novel from the real-life terrors young women went through when entering these homes. They were meant to be safe havens, but they often turned out to be anything but. It sounds like a lot of research and thought went into constructing this story, and with Hendrix’s ability to always find fresh ways to explore horror tropes, I’m excited to see what he does with this material.

Unfortunately, we are going to have to wait until 2025 for this one, but I’m certainly counting down the months!

Words of Literary Wisdom

“Freddy never uses a gun, does he? Ghostface? Michael? Jade can’t even imagine Michael Myers using a gun. They’re so impersonal, so ‘all at once’ instead of ‘one at a time.’ Jason Voorhees? C’mon. He’ll use a speargun, sure, but that’s just for a 3-D gag. No, any self-respecting slasher finding a pistol in his hand, what he’s supposed to do is look down at it like it’s a strange bug, then shake his hand until this bitey, attention-drawing thing is gone again.”

— Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

Bonus Thursday Book Meme

Since we didn’t get a Monday meme this week, here’s a Thursday meme to get you through. I think I need to start asking my booksellers for notes. This is genius.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

Today, I leave you with a picture of the most beautiful girl cat, Cersei Anne. She wants me to tell you that she hopes you have a wonderful weekend, and we’ll see you back here on Monday for more book talks.

Emily

Swords and Spaceships

8 Spectacular Backlist Sci-Fi and Fantasy Series Worth Reading

Post author By Samm Saxby
Post date May 29, 2024

Sponsored by

This post is written by Chris M. Arnone.

What is a backlist book, you might be asking? Backlist has a very specific meaning in the world of book publishing. It’s a book that’s been out for at least a year but is still in print. This is opposed to frontlist, which is a new book that a publisher is pushing and placing prominently in stores and online.

So when putting together a great list of backlist science fiction and fantasy (SFF) series, I was looking for slightly older but still-in-print books. This immediately threw out some of my favorite series that are too new or have, sadly, fallen out of print. I also decided to avoid classics or other series that I’ve written about a lot. Let’s spice things up a bit, shall we?

This list is a pretty balanced blend of science fiction and fantasy, spanning cultures and space, past and future, and authors familiar and under-the-radar. Some of these books are doorsteps, while others might be considered novellas. There’s a little YA sprinkled in because great books can be aimed at young readers, too. Trilogies abound, though there’s a nine-book series in there as well.

Enough preamble. Here are eight great backlist sci-fi and fantasy series worth reading.

The Centenal Cycle by Malka Older

We all need a little cyberpunk in our lives, particularly when the commentary hits so close to home. A search engine company created a monopoly two decades ago. Since then, the world moved from nation-states to a global micro-democracy. The Heritage Party, a corporate coalition, has been in power for a long time, but an election looms. When absolute power is at stake, who can you trust with the future?

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

I did promise some YA, didn’t I? This four-book series was romantasy before we had the term, and it’s a great one. Laia grew up on the streets, forever in fear of the empire. When her brother is captured, she’s forced to spy on the empire from inside the military academy. There, she meets Elias, an unwilling cadet. Together, do they have what it takes to bring an empire to its knees?

The Expanse by James. S.A. Corey

The most popular series on this list is also the longest, coming in at nine books. Set in our solar system but significantly in the future, The Expanse follows the ragtag crew of the Rocinante as they navigate complicated politics, warring factions, and an alien protomolecule that threatens to end all life.

The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie

The First Law Trilogy is a dark, epic fantasy series. Told through rotating points of view, the characters in this series are eclectic. A down-on-his-luck Barbarian, a selfish captain, a disabled torturer, and a temperamental wizard. Their paths are on a collision course that will likely change the face of the world.

Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie

Not only did this series take the SFF world by storm, but it also pushed the boundaries of gender in the process. There is a soldier known as Breq. She’s alone, but she used to be part of the larger AI consciousness for a ship called Justice of Toren. With her larger self and the crew destroyed, she wants revenge and finds that to get it, she’ll have to go all the way to the top of a galactic empire.

Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson

Here’s the oldest series on this list, and still one of the best backlist sci-fi and fantasy series you can find. The year is 2026, and 100 Earth colonists are trying to terraform Mars. Some are looking for medical breakthroughs, others for scientific discovery, while yet others just want a fresh start. Amidst the incredible hard science of the novel are the very human stories of 100 people very far from home.

The Nsibidi Scripts by Nnedi Okorafor

Looking for those little wizard boy vibes without the problematic TERF author? Look no further than this great series. Sunny lived in New York until recently when her family moved back to their native Nigeria. That’s enough to make a young woman feel out of place, but she has albinism. Desperate to fit in, she soon discovers that she and her closest friends are “free agents” gifted with powerful magic. They’re not alone — there’s also a serial killer hunting free agents, and only Sunny and her friends can stop them.

The Tensorate Series by Neon Yang

Looking for a quicker and beautiful fantasy read? Then, get these books on your TBR. As children, Mokoya and Akeha were sold to the Grand Monastery, even though they’re the twin children of the Protector. Mokoya has the gift of prophecy, and Akeha always knows how to manipulate adults. Rebellion is growing in the Tensorate, forces moving against Mokoya and Akeha’s mother, and both children must choose a side, even if they aren’t on the same side.

What are your favorite backlist sci-fi and fantasy series? Do you dig into the classics or opt for more recent books? They may not be as popular on BookTok or Bookstagram, but I stan the backlist.

What's Up in YA

8 YA Books for Fans of Greek Mythology

Post author By Samm Saxby
Post date May 29, 2024

Sponsored by

This post is written by Grace LaPointe.

Figures from Greek myths want to be remembered forever, cheat death, know the future, or see their (living or dead) loved ones again. These are deeply relatable desires. Fate, irony, arrogance, and courage are universal concepts, and ancient Greek literature explored them in ways that still resonate today.

Immortals who can become mortal and demigods (the children of gods and humans) still inspire today’s immortal fantasy characters. From Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+ to myth-retelling novels for adults, it’s obvious stories from ancient Greek literature influence pop culture today. And re-imaginings make ancient stories more accessible to many readers.

Though ancient Greek epics, poetry, and drama have endured for millennia, of course, they originated from a specific culture. In 2023, for BR, Lyndsie Manusos interviewed several Greek authors on their opinions about Greek myth retellings. They all said diverse retellings are important, which should include renditions by modern Greek authors. Ancient Greek literature and history were central to 18^th and 19^th-century British and U.S. educations and still get co-opted by white supremacists. A culture is not a vibe or aesthetic.

If you love Greek mythology, these books below have elements that may also appeal to you. They’re not all strict retellings. Some are inspired by ancient Greek myths in subtler ways or use their names, themes, and figures in modern settings.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

Helping out in her mom’s nursery, Briseis discovers she can make plants bloom. She inherits an estate from her aunt and uncovers even more secrets. The setting is Gothic and modern, but it also incorporates the elixir of immortality and other ideas and figures from Greek mythology. Briseis’ name originates from a prisoner of war in The Iliad. The original Briseis has no agency and is trafficked from one powerful man to another. So, it’s great to find such a powerful character with that name.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

If you’ve ever imagined how gods might feel when they become mortal, or vice versa, you might love this book. It has a unique take on the demigods and generational curses of ancient Greek mythology. On a seven-year cycle, nine gods turn mortal, so descendants of human heroes, like Achilles, can hunt them. This is an urban fantasy set in modern NYC with vivid characters. The hunt, the Agon, is named after the main conflict in ancient Greek drama.

Spin by Rebecca Caprara

This YA fantasy-in-verse has a protagonist who’s often overlooked, even among retellings. Arachne’s mother teaches her to weave and tells her stories of the gods and goddesses. The book also mentions concepts from ancient Greek drama: hubris (arrogance) and hamartia (a character’s tragic flaw). These become relevant to Arachne’s story when she says her tapestries are better than Athena’s. The details are vivid, and the subject and structure of this book are unique. Maybe skip this one if you have a strong phobia of spiders, though!

Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews

Historians think Spartan women had more freedom than women from other ancient Greek city-states and were taught to handle weapons. This allows Daphne to replace her brother in a competition, though she’s still one of the mothakes (outsiders). The goddess Artemis needs Daphne’s help. This novel is partly inspired by the story of Daphne and Apollo. In Roman poet Ovid’s version of the myth, Daphne was turned into a laurel tree to avoid being raped by Apollo. Many ancient myths, like this one, have fascinating potential for YA and feminist retellings.

Icarus by K. Ancrum

This is a contemporary thriller inspired by the myth of Icarus and his inventor father, Daedalus. In the myth, Daedalus makes wax wings for Icarus, who flies too close to the sun. In this novel, Icarus’ father, Angus, is an art forger, and Icarus steals originals and replaces them with Angus’ imitations. As metaphors, the danger and arrogance of flying too near the sun fit the art heist premise perfectly. I also recommend Darling, Ancrum’s modern crime thriller that reimagines Peter Pan.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Maya, the raja’s daughter, is cursed, according to astrology. When one of her father’s wives dies, the other wives blame Maya. In this interview, the author explained that her Filipine and Indian heritage, as well as the ancient Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, inspired the book. Maya’s kingdom, Bharata, shares a name with a legendary emperor from Sanskrit texts, and characters can be reincarnated.

Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

This Pura Belpré Honor book is a retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth set in The Bronx in recent times. Eury moved to NYC from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017. The novel has alternating chapters narrated by Pheus and Eury, whose names play on Orpheus and Eurydice. Pheus is a musician (a guitarist and songwriter), like the bard Orpheus with his lyre. Literally and figuratively, never looking back is important to the myth, and it fits the young protagonists’ journeys.

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

This novel is a retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which was recorded by the Brothers Grimm. Annaleigh’s sisters are cursed to dance every night past the point of exhaustion. This book blends genres: horror, mystery, portal fantasy, and more. The names and atmosphere draw from Edgar Allan Poe. Although it’s NOT a Greek myth retelling, the gods and world-building are reminiscent of ancient Greek mythology. Annaleigh’s family lives on an island and worships nautical gods. Their main god reminded me of Poseidon. Like the ancient Greek gods, their gods walk among humans, and they are often petty. Some are even half-human demigods.

More on Ancient Greek Myths:

In 2020, BR listed 50 must-read books on Greek myths, divided by genre and age category.

Giveaways

052924-EACInternalPushes-May2024-Giveaway

Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date May 29, 2024

We’re teaming up with Dreamscape to give away a 12-credit bundle to Libro.fm to one lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win, or click the image below!

Here’s a bit more about the Dreamscape Audiobook Newsletter: Sign up to learn about Dreamscape’s newest audiobook releases, hear about audiobooks deals, and be the first to know about our giveaways!

True Story

Unforgettable Memoirs

Post author By Kendra Winchester
Post date May 28, 2024

Sponsored by

Over the holiday weekend, my spouse and I took the Corgis on a hike. Naturally, their favorite part of the hike was playing in the river. Gwen especially ADORES swimming in the river, snatching sticks out of the water and chasing her brother around the sand bar. Dylan prefers to dig in the wet sand and grows frustrated at how the water keeps refilling all of the holes that he’s painstakingly made. Bless their little furry hearts.

At any rate, this week, I have another incredible selection of true stories to tell you about. But first, let’s jump into bookish goods!

Bookish Goods

a photo of a copper book mark with the words "to be continued" engraved on the side.

Copper Personalized Bookmark by BestEngravings

I love this copper bookmark. You can personalize the color, the engraving and the ribbon color! $25+

New Releases

The Heart That Fed: A Father, a Son, and the Long Shadow of War by Carl Sciacchitano

In his new graphic memoir, Carl Sciacchitano writes about his experience growing up with a father who experienced PTSD after serving in Vietnam. While Sciacchitano’s father seemed “fine” on the surface, he experienced ongoing mental illness that impacted him and his family for decades.

Pretty: A Memoir by KB Brookins

In this new memoir from queer Black trans writer KB Brookins, they share their experience moving through the world appearing as one gender, while having an ID that says another. Pretty is a call for change and acceptance of Black trans bodies in the face of ongoing prejudice and violence.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

a graphic of the cover of I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Former Nickelodeon star Jennette McCurdy writes about her life as a child star, a job she never really wanted, but one her mother insisted she did. What’s more, McCurdy shares how her mother was incredibly abusive, forcing McCurdy to submit to intimate inspections of her body, even into her teen years, and restricting McCurdy’s diet to keep her looking younger longer. McCurdy’s reflection on her mother can be very clinical and removed from the emotions of the event, which reflects how she kept herself from thinking too deeply about her and her mother’s relationship. But after her mother dies from cancer, McCurdy must confront the trauma from her childhood if she is ever to truly move on.

a graphic of the cover of Good Talk by Mira Jacob

Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob

In Good Talk, Mira Jacob describes how her son asked her why his Jewish paternal grandparents would vote for Trump, a man who hated immigrants, like Mira and her parents. This question launches her into even more questions that she’s not quite sure how to answer. She works through these conversations in Good Talk, illustrating them on the page and giving readers a fuller picture. I read this graphic memoir while waiting for a delayed flight at the airport. I felt consumed, and barely even noticed spending the extra four hours surrounded by disgruntled passengers.

a photo of the book Bite by Bite laying on a multi-colored carpet. Dylan, a red and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi, is laying next to the book, but all you can see are his little arms and toe beans.

You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, on TikTok @kendrawinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.

Happy reading, Friends!

~ Kendra

Unusual Suspects

Jake Gyllenhaal Repeatedly Insists He’s Not Guilty in ‘Presumed Innocent’ Trailer

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 28, 2024

Sponsored by

Hello, mystery fans! The Fall Guy is a great movie that you can now stream at home. Here’s the trailer!

Bookish Goods

a white sweatshirt with bubble black font on back printed to say " My tbr is long, but my patience is short"

My TBR is long, and my patience is short sweatshirt by BottlesUpTexas

Relatable. ($36: 8 color options, up to size XXXL)

New Releases

cover image: a wolf like monster in a skirt and blouse

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters Book Two by Emil Ferris

For fans of crime graphic novels, love of monsters, and clever middle grade sleuths!

This completes the two part story, so you’re going to want to start with My Favorite Thing is Monsters Book One. If, like me, you’ve been eagerly and impatiently awaiting the completion of the story, yay, it’s finally here!

The overall story: This book is the graphic diary of ten-year-old Karen Reyes, who is obsessed with monsters and is trying to figure out life in her uptown Chicago neighborhood during the ’60s. Living with her mom, who is ill, and her brother, who is artistic and always in trouble, Reyes escapes into pulp magazines and B-movie horror. When an upstairs neighbor is murdered, Reyes puts herself on the case!

The Last To Pie (Pies Before Guys Mystery #3) by Misha Popp

For fans of vigilantes, desserts, and a tiny sprinkle of magic!

Daisy Ellery has the gift of being able to infuse food with emotion, which allows her to create deadly pies for awful men — her side business. She’s not a monster and gives the abusers an opportunity to right their ways before eating the pies, but if they don’t, she lets them eat the poisoned pies—with the benefit that if anyone else eats the pie, no harm will come to them. Daisy’s new case has her hesitating to take it: while the woman says she’s in an abusive relationship, Daisy thinks there is a chance she’s being set up by the police instead — until the woman goes missing and Daisy sets off to find her, placing herself in danger!

If you’d like to start at the beginning, pick up Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies.

Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Here are two backlist titles that both have “questions”!

The Night in Question by Nic Joseph

For fans of murder mysteries that question the line of good vs bad, with inserted chapters from the detectives’ POV!

Paula’s husband was in an accident that left him with a disability that he has adjusted to. Paula, on the other hand, is listening to the doctor who wants her husband to try an experimental surgery in Europe at the cost of $200,000. As a rideshare driver, she ends up blackmailing a recent passenger in hopes of getting the money, but when she suspects the passenger of murder, she finds herself cornered: how can she go to the police without implicating herself in blackmail?

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

For fans of a university setting, return to past school, a past murder mystery being reexamined, and a true crime podcast host!

Bodie Kane, now a popular podcaster, once attended the New England boarding school Granby School. She’s been asked to now teach a film class, which one would think she’d decline, based on having not enjoyed her time as a student and her roommate having been murdered. But she accepts and ends up having one of her students decide to focus her assignment on the solved murder case of Kane’s roommate. Maybe they got it wrong the first time…

(TW brief mention past drug overdose, brief mention past addiction and death unknown if suicide, detail/ brief mention past domestic abuse/ mentions sexual assault case/ eating disorder/ rumors of statutory student teacher/ past memory possible suicide attempt/ recounts past groping/ mentions suicide cases, method mentioned/ mentions of terminal cancer diagnosis and death)

News and Roundups

The Ripped Bodice event: “To celebrate, we’re hosting an LA book launch with Justine Pucella Winans on Friday, June 7th at 7pm. They will chat about their queer mystery with Edward Underhill. There will be a book signing to follow. This is a ticketed event including the book. Can’t attend the event? Signed books from Justine and Edward are available for LA in-store pick-up and shipping. Must order by May 31st.”

Samantha Irby Substack: “an exhaustively researched compilation of the greatest black erotic thrillers ever made, i.e. the reason i still pay full price for a subscription to starz!“

Jake Gyllenhaal Repeatedly Insists He’s Not Guilty in Presumed Innocent Trailer

Dexter Prequel Series Casts Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, Molly Brown in Lead Roles

7 Japanese Murder Mystery Novels To Add To Your Reading List

Murders solved by senior citizens? How ‘cozy mystery’ books combine crime with comfort

Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2024 releases and mysteries from 2023. Check out this Unusual Suspects Pinterest board and get Tailored Book Recommendations!

Until next time, keep investigating! In the meantime, come talk books with me on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy — you can find me under Jamie Canavés.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own, you can sign up here.

Past Tense

Stormy Weather in Historical Fiction

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date May 28, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, historical fiction fans,

How is it almost the end of May? Didn’t 2024 start, like, two weeks ago? I guess time flies when you’re running around and reading books. I tried out a new reading challenge called Bookspin Bingo over on Litsy this month, and I do think it helped me read a little more after several months of lagging behind. What methods do you use to challenge/inspire yourself to read?

Bookish Goods

A handmade ceramic mug in a white speckled color with a curvy handle is held up by a white person's hand. The mug features an illustration of a single shelf with books in blue, green, orange, red, and tan colors.

Ceramic Book Mug from Erin Killian Pottery

Can you ever have too many mugs? Probably, but I refuse to believe it. This handmade bookshelf mug would be perfect for your collection. $55

New Releases

The Stolen Daughter by Florence Ọlájídé

When her Yorùbá village is attacked by slave raiders, 14-year-old Ṣìkẹ́mi is torn from her family and sold to a powerful slave trader named Madam Tinúbú. She’s eventually able to convince Madam Tinúbú to train her as a warrior, but Ṣìkẹ́mi never gives up on her determination to be reunited with her family once again.

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

In a rural Dutch province in 1961, buildings are being rebuilt after the war and life is returning to how it should be. Isabel is content with life until her brother brings his girlfriend to stay with her for the season. Eva and Isabel are polar opposites, and Isabel is driven to distraction by Eva’s loud, impetuous nature. Soon, though, her infuriation turns to infatuation—and she realizes neither Eva nor the house she’s been living in are quite what they seem.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

My community was hit by several tornadoes over the weekend, and while I am extremely fortunate to have come out of it fine, it got me thinking about how much storms impact humans and human history. Tornadoes don’t seem to make frequent appearances in historical fiction, but other types of storms certainly do.

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

The Last Train to Key West was the first book that came to mind when I thought about storms in historical fiction. In the book, three women are confronted with the fury of nature during the infamous Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 decimated Key West with winds of up to 200 mph.

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Another book about a hurricane, Salvage the Bones follows a Black family in rural Mississippi in the lead up to Hurricane Katrina. We experience these events through the eyes of 14-year-old Esch, who invites us into the lives of her family as her absentee father grows increasingly concerned about the hurricane growing in the Gulf. It’s admittedly a more recent “historical” fiction novel, but considering it takes place almost 20 years ago, I think it counts.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons. What about you?

Read This Book

Read This Book…

Post author By Kendra Winchester
Post date May 28, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome to Read this Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that needs to jump onto your TBR pile! Sometimes these books are brand new releases that I don’t want you to miss, while others are some of my backlist favorites. This week, let’s talk about one of my most anticipated literary fiction novels of the season.

Exhibit by R. O. Kwon

I adored R. O. Kwon’s debut novel, The Incendiaries and have been watching out for her next novel ever since. There’s something about Kwon’s stripped-down writing style that captures readers’ imaginations and spurs us on to keep reading.

In Exhibit, we follow Jin Han, a photographer living in San Francisco with her husband. One night at a party, she meets Lidija Jung, and her world feels like it’s been turned upside down. Lidija is a one-of-a-kind ballerina, brimming with talent and poise. But after an accident, she’s been forced to take a leave of absence as she tries to recover from her injury. Both women bond over their art and their drive to keep going, even under difficult and discouraging circumstances.

Soon Jin and Lidijia are sharing their innermost thoughts and desires. Jin reveals that her husband now wants children, something she’s never wanted — and will never want — and Lidjia suspects that her accident was actually planned by a competitive colleague. Soon they are exploring hidden desires, finding satisfaction in each other like no one else before.

In this sexy novel full of art, queer sex, and hopelessly entangled human relationships, Kwon explores characters’ desires to the fullest, filling her short novel to the brim with complex motivations and the impulse that drives humanity’s need for connection with others. As Jin explores her newfound queer sexuality, she stands to lose every relationship that she’s ever held dear.

Ami Park performs the majority of the audiobook, with Sue Jean Kim narrating brief interludes between select chapters. Park captures the intense electricity between Jin and Lidjia, which she sustains throughout the novel. Her performance is intimate, imbuing the characters with a quiet strength as they’re forced to make decisions that will impact them for the rest of their lives.

That’s it from me this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, on TikTok @kendrawinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.

Happy reading, Friends!

~ Kendra

The Stack

Remind Me What This Newsletter Is About?

Post author By Eileen Gonzalez
Post date May 28, 2024

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Oh, that’s right, comics! Always has been, always will be.

So how does it feel to be officially, unofficially in summer? My dog is not fond of the heat, but fortunately, she is inside with air conditioning most of the time anyway. Be sure to take care of your fur friends this summer!

Bookish Goods

A black frame containing eight mini Lego figures of superheroes. Text addressed to "Daddy" reads "You are our favorite superhero."

Personalized Superhero Dad Mini Figure Frame by iuLigen

Father’s Day is coming up quick! If you haven’t found a gift yet, maybe give this cute display a try? $36

New Releases

Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders cover

Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders Volume One by Jordie Bellaire and Koi Carreon

Inspired by the ’90s cartoon of the same name, this comic finds Princess Gwenevere taking a break from protecting the kingdom as a Jewel Rider. But when danger threatens once again, she and her old pals are the only ones who can stop it!

My Favorite Thing is Monsters Vol 2 cover

My Favorite Thing is Monsters Book Two by Emil Ferris

The adventures of Karen Reyes continue — and conclude — with this volume. Still on the hunt for the person who killed her neighbor, Karen makes surprising discoveries about her neighbor’s past, navigates the politically turbulent year of 1968, and learns a lot about herself, too.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: amnesia! Naturally, it doesn’t work in real life the same way it does in countless soap operas, sitcoms, or comic books, but it’s still an intriguing storytelling device.

Canopus Volume One by Dave Chisholm

When she wakes up on a seemingly abandoned world, Helen remembers only two things: her ship needs repairs, and she needs to get back to Earth, now. As she works to fix her ship, her memories slowly start to return, and the story they tell may be more complicated and dangerous than she is prepared to handle.

A Witch’s Guide to Burning by Aminder Dhaliwal

Yew-Veda, a witch doctor, saves a young witch named Singe from being burned at the stake, but she is not quick enough to stop all of the fire’s effects — namely, its destruction of Singe’s powers and memories. Now, it’s up to Singe, Yew-Veda, and the toad Bufo Wonder to get those powers back before it’s too late!

Now don’t forget that my next newsletter will be coming direct to your inbox in just two days’ time!

~Eileen

Swords and Spaceships

Nine-Tailed Foxes, Dragon Slayers, and More New SFF

Post author By Alex Acks
Post date May 28, 2024

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Happy Tuesday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’m coming at you with new releases for this last week of May, plus a couple of indie new releases from earlier in the month. I hope everyone who got a holiday weekend had a good one. Mine was…not the most fun, since I got exiled from my own room all weekend while my floor was being repaired, and my idea of a good time is not sleeping on the floor while my old man cat randomly screams because he’s mad there’s a closed door — in his house. But at least that’s over now! The only way to go is up. Stay safe out there, space pirates, get some extra sleep for me — and I’ll see you on Friday!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

DarkKitsune Enamel Pin by Dragibuz

My weakness for a good enamel pin strikes again! To honor the nine-tailed foxes we’ve got a book about this week, I found this absolutely gorgeous pin. $20

New Releases

Ninetails by Sally Wen Mao

This collection of nine stories imagines the fox spirit seen across East Asian mythology as different figures united in solidarity, vengeance, and liberation.

The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond

Maddileh is a rarity in her land: a female knight, and in some ways the misogyny of her peers is a greater foe than the dragons she’s called on to slay. And this might well be why a minor infraction becomes a major stain on her honor. The only way to redeem herself is to retrieve a fabled sword from the legendary dragon called the White Lady.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Here are a couple of small/indie press new releases from this month for you to check out!

The Man Who Saw Seconds by Alexander Boldizar

Preble has a strange and mostly useless ability — he can see five seconds into the future. Then those five seconds give him the chance to literally dodge a bullet, leaving another man to die in his place. This revelation of his ability makes him the most wanted for a lot of agencies and groups — some above board, many not. It’s up to Preble to protect his family, his freedom, and his humanity.

Cecilia by K-Ming Chang

Seven and Cecilia knew each other once, back in their school days. A chance meeting brings the two women together, and they end up on the same bus, each claiming they are definitely not following each other. But their desire for each other is so deep and profound that soon they are lost in memory, in bodily transformation, and becoming unmoored from time itself.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.