It's our favorite time of year - the Hugo Award winners have just been announced! Congratulations to all the finalists, we think you're out of this world!
Jessi's review: "A princess turned nun goes on a quest to free her sister from her abusive prince husband in this unique, funny, feminist fairytale that subverts expectations. On her journey, she teams up with a witch and her demon chicken, an ex knight, and a few terrifying godmothers. I loved this fairytale romp and am eager to read more of T. Kingfisher's fantasies."
"Sweet, light, and as fluffy as a chocolate croissant, Legends and Lattes was the perfect D&D coffeeshop AU fantasy. I have a soft spot for big scary orcs with hearts of gold, and watching Viv assemble a community of people was so heartwarming and lovely. I'm throwing this one at D&D folks, at coffee shop employees, at anyone who wants to reinvent themselves and challenge people's perceptions of self." - Jessi
"This book made me scream cry and throw up figuratively. Respectfully, WHAT THE FUCK TAMSYN?
So far, despite all its jaw dropping reveals and mind blowing twists, this Locked Tomb series centralizes a death defying love that beats the odds, and I just think that's beautiful. Nona is by far the most hopeful volume and then, it plunges its fist into your chest and rips your heart out as a final fuck you. I loved it and Nona with all my heart even as I bled out." -Jessi
Jessi's review: "If you were a dinosaur kid, or are a dinosaur adult, or love BIG MONSTER MOVIES, this book is gonna be the most fun you've had in ages. Yes, the kaiju are extremely dangerous, but they're also vulnerable, and when alternate universes get involved, both the kaiju's lives and all of Earth's existence is threatened. Honestly a must - read for anyone who was on Team Dinosaurs during their read of Jurassic Park."
Jessi's review: "This quirky, unconventional, but mind-blowing debut from Tamsyn Muir is one you won't want to miss. Gideon Nav is a breath of fresh air, a straight shooter, and a badass swordsmaster whose only dream is to leave the miserable existence of indentured servitude to the Ninth House, a planet of dusty skeletons and humorless necromancers. When Gideon is given a chance to earn her freedom by posing as the Reverend Daughter's cavalier in a necromancer competition at First House, she leaps at the opportunity. Harrowhark and Gideon's witty and vulgar banter MADE this book. GIDEON THE NINTH surprised me, made me laugh, shocked me, and broke my heart, leaving me as crushed as a pile of old bones. I'm already looking forward to the next installment."
Jessi's review: "
Naomi Novik has done it again with her new series that is a Harry Potter/ Ninth House chimaera!
A DEADLY EDUCATION follows Galadriel, a.k.a. El, as she tries to survive as a loner at a notoriously deadly magic school and fights her natural affinity for powerful dark magic. However, her social sphere is changed forever when she is the unfortunate recipient of Chosen One Orion Lake's attention after he saves her from one of the maleficaries that lurk around every corner, plotting to devour every student they can get their tentacles on.
This book balances danger and humor on a knife's edge, with snark and sarcasm and terrifying monsters who feast on the flesh and souls of freshman wizards. With a diverse cast and a cutting dialogue on class and privilege, A DEADLY EDUCATION aims to show the dark side of magical academies and put the spotlight on a biracial multilingual girl who is shockingly powerful."
Jessi's review: "If you loved Into the Spiderverse and feminist fairy tales, this is an absolute must-read. Whip-smart writing, lovable characters, and morally gray villains make this second installment in Fractured Fairytales a fun romp through the story of Snow White."
Jessi's review:
Kingfisher is an expert at writing unnerving and macabre body horror, and she really shines on What Moves the Dead, a gothic horror retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher.
If you like some freaky fungi with your horror (like Mexican Gothic), you’ll love this one."
