Breanna, Business and Education Sales Coordinator
Favorite Genres: Middle grade, anything fantasy (especially epic, the larger the better), YA (but mostly fantasy), stories based in mythology or fairy tales, witchy books
Favorite Authors: Robert Jordan, Samantha Shannon, Brandon Sanderson, Rick Riordan, Margaret Owen, Natalie Goldberg
Dragon riders done differently. After bonding with a dragon hatchling, Anequs is forced to attend a colonizer-run school, where the Anglish make no secret of their disapproval—if Anequs can’t assimilate and pass her exams, her dragon will be killed. Written by an Indigenous author, this is an inventive fantasy with captivating magic, a fascinating steampunk era world, and a humbling perspective on colonization.
After Luz’s brother is run out of Denver by a white mob, she receives visions of her ancestors’ origins. As she struggles to navigate life in 1930s Denver, she understands how her Indigenous Chicano family flourished and how they were threatened. Fajardo-Anstine crafts an incredible generational saga—poignant in its realism, tragic in its circumstance, and absolutely beautiful in its resiliency.
Now into her middle age, the infamous pirate Amina al-Sirafi came out of retirement only for a simple job. She didn’t want to fight demons, murderous sorcerers, sea monsters, and especially not her hell of an ex-husband. This swashbuckling tale, full of heart and snark, is a fantastic blend of adventure, history, and fantasy. Escape into this book and let Amina tell you, in her own irreverent words, how she became a legend.
Would you go back in time, even if you knew the present wouldn’t change? In this novelization of a Japanese play, a particular seat in this cafe lets you do just that. But you can’t change the present, you can’t leave the cafe seat, and above all—you must return before the coffee gets cold. I was captivated by this beautiful story, a simple yet touching look at how we choose to live the life we are given.
I loved this book so much, it made me want to get up and dance with happiness. Miller does a beautiful job of turning Circe, an immortal and mythical figure, into a character with struggles as keen as any of us mortals. I was so steeped in the story that I felt as if I was there on Aiaia with Circe, sharing her exile and watching the myths unfold over the centuries.
This book utterly consumed me. When I wasn't reading it, I couldn't stop thinking about it. In Norse myth, Angrboda is only mentioned briefly as the giantess who births Loki’s three monstrous children. In The Witch’s Heart, she becomes a powerful tragic figure: a witch who has altered the course of the world, a mother devoted to her children, a woman betrayed by her lover. I can’t put this in your hands fast enough.
Whether or not you’re familiar with Kaikeyi from the Indian epic the Ramayana, this is a powerful and captivating story of a woman forging her destiny in a world where the gods have forsaken her. Not only does Patel’s reimagining shine nuance and compassion on the oft-vilified queen, it brings forth a lovely emphasis on bonds of sisterhood and empowering women everywhere. Fans of Circe need to read this one.
Inspired by Chinese myth, Xingyin is the secret daughter of the imprisoned moon goddess, Chang'e. Determined to free her mother, our bold and driven heroine sets off on epic quests through a full and beautiful fantasy world, finding a gentle prince and a badass, magic bow along the way. If you're like me and want more epic fantasy written by women, you must absolutely be swept up in this dazzling, gorgeous adventure.
Love fantasy? Want something light and comforting that won’t stress you out? You need Legends and Lattes, the coziest of cozy fantasies. Orc and retired mercenary Viv decides to hang up her sword and start the first coffee shop in the quiet village of Thune—despite the fact that no one’s ever heard of this thing called coffee. This delightful read will leave you content and craving a hot beverage and cinnamon roll.
The Stardust Thief is simultaneously a thrilling and dangerous quest for a magic relic and a beautiful, lyrical story about found family and inner demons. While reading, I was transported to the desert land filled with jinn magic and could not read fast enough. Inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, this is the kind of storytelling you’ll want to luxuriate in.
If you, like me, are thinking “it’s too soon for a pandemic novel”, I promise you that it’s not too soon for diary entries from Princess Mia Thermopolis as she leads Genovia during the pandemic. Rather than relive a traumatic experience, Mia’s diary offers a safe harbor in which she perfectly captures the surreal, the bizarre, and the frustrating of COVID 19. This book is a dear hug from an old friend.
In this Norse-inspired world, three Viking warriors set out on quests for vengeance and battle fame that will collide at the graveyard of the gods and change the course of the world. With thrilling battles and brilliantly rendered historical details, it’s an addicting saga to lose yourself in. It’s great for anyone who likes spending hours in Skyrim, wants Game of Thrones with less politics, or just appreciates some good axe throwing!
When Ivan the Terrible threatens all of Russia, half-mortal healer and witch Yaga must leave her secluded home in order to protect the humans she holds dear. But Ivan is not the only threat, and Yaga must learn to embrace her divinity as well as her mortality. This is a grand epic battle of gods and men, and at the same time a moving story of love and motherhood. This mix of Russian history and Slavic folklore is a must read.
