I am so thrilled to announce that Dawn of Chaos, the second book in The Sapeiro Chronicles, has won Gold in the Literary Titan Book Award!
I received the news over the weekend and am over the moon. The first book in the series, A Forgotten Past, had previously won Silver when it first came out. So to have one-upped myself with the sequel is a really fantastic feeling. This also means that so far, The Sapeiro Chronicles is an award-winning series!
To celebrate, I’m putting both A Forgotten Past AND Dawn of Chaos on sale! Now’s your chance to get both books in the series for a superb price!
As we bid farewell to 2023, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the books that left a mark. I slightly exceeded my reading goal by reading 36 books in total, mostly some shade of fantasy or science fiction, which have always ben my go-to’s.
Lots of strong contenders this year, but below are the top five books that I found riveting, exhilarating, or that just kept knocking about my head long after the last page was done.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Pierce Brown’s “Red Rising” is a riveting space opera that thrusts readers into a dystopian future on Mars. Darrow, a Red miner, discovers a world of oppression and deception after he infiltrates the Gold elite. The narrative unfolds with breathtaking intensity as Darrow battles for justice and equality. Brown’s masterful storytelling, coupled with complex characters and a richly developed world, makes “Red Rising” an absolute page-turner. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions as you navigate the twists and turns of this epic adventure.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Did I jump in on the hype? You bet your talons I did. Rebecca Yarros takes readers on a thrilling ride in “Fourth Wing,” a gripping tale that seamlessly weaves together romance, suspense, and a touch of the supernatural. As secrets unravel and the stakes heighten, Yarros skillfully builds tension, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Is it the best book ever written? No. Is some of the romance cringy? Yes. But ultimately, this is an engaging read that kept me glued to the page and wanting more. Thank goodness I didn’t have to wait long for the sequel, Iron Flame!
Songs for the End of the World by Saleema Nawaz
In “Songs for the End of the World,” Saleema Nawaz explores the complexities of human relationships against the backdrop of a global pandemic. The novel follows a diverse cast of characters as they navigate the challenges and uncertainties of a world in crisis. Nawaz’s poignant prose captures the essence of resilience and the enduring power of human connection. This book was thought-provoking and really on the money. It came out shortly before the actual Covid-19 pandemic that upended our lives, and makes you wonder if Nawaz had some sort of crystal ball to see into the future.
Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
John Scalzi’s “Kaiju Preservation Society” is a delightful blend of science fiction and humor that brings giant monsters into the limelight. The novel introduces readers to a world where humanity coexists with colossal creatures, and a group of dedicated individuals strives to protect these behemoths. Scalzi’s witty writing style and inventive world-building make “Kaiju Preservation Society” a standout in the genre. Prepare for a journey that is equal parts thrilling and amusing as you dive into this unique and imaginative tale.
Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
“Illuminae” by the dynamic duo Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman is an epic space opera combines breathtaking action, intricate plotting, and a cast of lovable characters. As the stakes reach their zenith, the narrative unfolds with heart-stopping intensity, leaving readers on the edge of their seats.
In conclusion, 2023 was a great year with many great reads, each offering a unique and unforgettable reading experience. Whether you’re drawn to the depths of dystopian Mars, the mysteries of supernatural abilities, the intricacies of human relationships in a pandemic, the humor of kaiju-filled worlds, or the grandeur of epic space adventures, these novels have something for every reader. Happy reading, and here’s to another year of literary discoveries!
Why, hello there. How’s it going? Are you glad that we’re now switching gears into fall?
So I did a funny thing. At least, I choose to see it as funny.
A couple months ago, I acquired the rights back to A Forgotten Past. Commissioned a cover, re-wrote the whole thing, and even set a publishing date.
And then? I forgot to tell anyone about it.
To be fair, I was busy. I got married! I thought I could organize a wedding and launch a book, but seems I was a smidge overconfident. But now everything is signed and done, and hubby and I have returned from our honeymoon. Which means, I can launch A Forgotten Past properly!
To celebrate, I’m putting both A Forgotten Past AND Dawn of Chaos on sale! Now’s your chance to get both books in the series for a superb price!
The one downside of relaunching A Forgotten Past has been that I’ve lost all of my reviews from the first edition. If you’ve already read the book, consider leaving a review on Amazon! Every review counts, and every single one brings me immense joy.
So much has happened, and I am SO excited to share the good news.
A few months ago I announced I had re-acquired my rights to A Forgotten Past, the first book in The Sapeiro Chronicles. After months of editing and tinkering, I’m so happy to reveal the beautiful new cover, as well as announce that the book will be republished on August 29!
The new book has a STUNNING new cover, new re-formatted interior, and a re-edited story.
Here’s the new cover for A Forgotten Past! I’m so very happy with it. I find it really sets the vibe for the story and for Lily’s struggles.
In the land of Sapeiro, everyone has a touch of magic.
Lily lives a quiet life with her adoptive parents in the small village of Basolt. But everything changes when she discovers she has a power that hasn’t been seen in centuries. Suddenly, her very identity comes under scrutiny. Problem is, she has no memory of her life before Basolt. As Lily desperately tries to uncover her forgotten past, she suddenly finds herself at the center of a power struggle she never knew existed.
But forgetting your past doesn’t mean you can’t choose your future. And Lily will need to decide if her secrets are worth dying for.
I am so excited for this launch, and I hope you are too!
While you’re waiting for book 1 to come back out, make sure to get your hands on Dawn of Chaos! And remember, If you’ve enjoyed the story, make sure to leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon!
Reviews are SO important to authors, and every one counts!
I hope your summer has been good so far! Have you picked up any interesting books to read?
I’ve been sitting on a major announcement these past few months, but I’m finally ready to spill the beans.
Earlier this year, I re-acquired my rights to A Forgotten Past, the first book in the Sapeiro Chronicles! It was a decision I’d been grappling with for a while, and I am so happy to have made the plunge.
So, what does this mean?
Well for one, a brand-spanking new cover, which I’ll be getting soon. It also means a completely re-edited story and re-formatted interior.
I’m partway through re-editing the manuscript, and will be sharing more news soon regarding publication day. For now, the book is currently unavailable on all platforms, but I’ll be sharing news of the re-publishing day soon.
I am so excited for this next step!
While you’re waiting for book 1 to come back out, make sure to get your hands on Dawn of Chaos! And remember, If you’ve enjoyed the story, make sure to leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon! Reviews are SO important to authors, and every one counts!
I recognize that updates have been sparse for a while. But I promise that it was for a good reason – and now, I can explain why.
I’ve been struggling with trying to decide on what direction to bring The Sapeiro Chronicles in. Specifically, regarding book 2 in the series, Dawn of Chaos. After a lot of hesitation, peppered with moments of intense motivation, I’ve made the terrifying and exciting decision to strike it out on my own and continue the series as a self-published author!
This is the first time I’ll be responsible for every facet of a project, from beginning to end. Although daunting, the creative freedom this decision comes with is also thrilling, and I am so excited to share my vision of what Dawn of Chaos is about with you!
Stay tuned for more news about Dawn of Chaos, coming this April 2023! The blurb, cover reveal and exact publishing date will follow soon.
Now that the news is out, I am also happy to open applications for ARC readers! These readers would get an advance copy of the book, with the promise of leaving an honest review on Amazon, Kobo, Goodreads, and any other platforms they feel like.
This year, International Women’s Day (IWD) is on Tuesday, March 8. IWD is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
The theme for the 2022 edition of IWD is #BreakTheBias. There are, of course, several ways to highlight this. But as a bookworm, I want to talk about feminist books that in one way or another, imbue this theme of breaking through societal norms in their storytelling.
I like to think of the term ‘feminist’ as a fluid one, one that evolves to fit the progress we’ve made as a society, and adapts to help overcome new injustices. For example, a ‘feminist’ in the past would have been someone who supported the woman’s vote. A feminist now could be someone fighting for equal pay, and for both maternity and paternity leave.
There are hundreds of ways to advocate for gender parity. The stories below all feature characters fighting the crushing weight of the patriarchy in their own way, whether its by trying to learn how to infiltrate and navigate the ruling class, or burning it to the ground.
Iron Widow, Xiran Jay Zhao
The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.
When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it’s to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.
To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.
The Gilded Ones, Namina Forna
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.
But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.
Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.
Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.
The Grace Year, Kim Liggett
No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.
In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.
Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for a chance to grab one of the girls in order to make a fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.
With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in-between.
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, Kiersten White
Elizabeth Lavenza hasn’t had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her “caregiver,” and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything–except a friend.
Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable–and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable.
But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth’s survival depends on managing Victor’s dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.
A Thousand Ships, Natalie Haynes
From the Trojan women whose fates now lie in the hands of the Greeks, to the Amazon princess who fought Achilles on their behalf, to Penelope awaiting the return of Odysseus, to the three goddesses whose feud started it all, these are the stories of the women whose lives, loves, and rivalries were forever altered by this long and tragic war.
A woman’s epic, powerfully imbued with new life, A Thousand Ships puts the women, girls and goddesses at the center of the Western world’s great tale ever told.
My personal goal was 25. It had been a long, long time since I’d read that many books in a whole year, mainly because I just didn’t have that many available and didn’t quite know where to start. That changed recently. For one, book-buying has become one of my pandemic hobbies and comfort purchases. And secondly, I recently moved and acquired beautiful bookshelves that needed to be filled. Two birds, one stone, right?
All that to say, this year I nearly doubled my goal and read a whopping 46 books. I don’t think I’ve ever read this many in a single year! So let me tell you: when it came to picking the top six, it was both very hard and very easy. Some stellar reads stood out from the first page, while for others, it was a tossup.
Without further ado, here is the list of the top books I read in 2021:
Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
Set in the days of civilization’s collapse, Station Eleven tells the story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.
One snowy night a famous Hollywood actor slumps over and dies onstage during a production of King Lear. Hours later, the world as we know it begins to dissolve. Moving back and forth in time—from the actor’s early days as a film star to fifteen years in the future, when a theater troupe known as the Traveling Symphony roams the wasteland of what remains—this suspenseful, elegiac, spellbinding novel charts the strange twists of fate that connect five people: the actor, the man who tried to save him, the actor’s first wife, his oldest friend, and a young actress with the Traveling Symphony, caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous self-proclaimed prophet.
Without a doubt, this book was beautiful to read. The prose and wordsmithing were like nothing I’d ever seen before. This is not your typical ‘fighting for survival after a catastrophic worldwide collapse’ story. It is hopeful, it is optimistic in its own way. Reading it during a global pandemic was cathartic, but Station Eleven was a beautiful reminder that life goes on, and that even in the darkest days there is always an ‘after’.
The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.
When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it’s to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.
To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.
Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s tale in this futuristic story, set in a world inspired by Chinese cultural elements. Iron Widow is fast-paced, edgy, and unabashedly feminist. Zetian does not mince words, and has no problem with taking down those who she feels have crossed her. As she becomes more powerful, and therefore more dangerous to those who wish to maintain the status quo, Zetian will have to decide if she wants to change the world, or burn it down to the ground. I loved this book and had a hard time putting it down. The story was like nothing I’d ever read before, and it reads almost like a villain origin story, which was different from what you usually find in the YA genre. There is nothing soft about this book, it’s full of rough edges and hard truths. I highly recommend!
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that’s been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it’s up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.
This book was an automatic five-star read for me. The story is told in two timelines: the present, where the MC, Ryland Grace is on the Hail Mary, and the past, which come in the form of burst of his memories. These memories also happen to contextualize what is happening in the present, and I found it a brilliant way to show the reader what happened, without telling them outright. The back and forth also did a great job in cranking up the tension, especially as it becomes clear that Earth’s position is even more dire than initially thought.
And, without giving any spoilers…the ending of the book was one of the most beautiful I’ve read in a long time. I teared up reading those last few pages, and was completely taken by surprise. This is for sure going to become a classic in the sci-fi genre!
Kingdom of Ash, Sarah J. Mass
Aelin Galathynius has vowed to save her people ― but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve is unraveling with each passing day…
With Aelin captured, friends and allies are scattered to different fates. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever. As destinies weave together at last, all must fight if Erilea is to have any hope of salvation.
I finished reading the whole Throne of Glass series for the first time this year, and I finally understood the hype around Aelin and her adventures. The series as a whole was so good, and the finale, Kingdom of Ash, is a fantastic end to the series, where all the different plots converge and come together to form a beautiful tapestry of storytelling. This series has redefined how I think of good storytelling, and the importance of worldbuilding to push the narrative forward.
The Cruel Prince (series), Holly Black
One terrible morning, Jude and her sisters see their parents murdered in front of them. The terrifying assassin abducts all three girls to the world of Faerie, where Jude is installed in the royal court but mocked and tormented by the Faerie royalty for being mortal. As Jude grows older, she realises that she will need to take part in the dangerous deceptions of the fey to ever truly belong. But the stairway to power is fraught with shadows and betrayal. And looming over all is the infuriating, arrogant and charismatic Prince Cardan.
I’m always down for a story that incorporates politics and political intrigue. The Folk of the Air series does exactly that, and it does it very well. I was really impressed with the storytelling, plot, and love story. It felt like one of the most genuine enemies to lovers stories I’ve read, and I really liked how the immortal love interest was an authentic idiot kid, at the beginning of his long immortal lifespan.
There’s so much I enjoyed in this trilogy, from the political intrigue and subterfuge to the MC needing to acquire power in impressive ways to make up for her otherwise lackluster defenses as a human in a world of magic. Overall, it was *chef’s kiss*.
The Grace Year, Kim Liggett
No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden. In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.
Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for a chance to grab one of the girls in order to make a fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.
With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in-between.
This book came in just under the wire to be able to count in my 2021 reading tally. I’d heard a lot about The Grace Year, and so my expectations were pretty high. Yet still, I was floored by how amazing this story was. I was tense reading it the entire time, waiting to see what would happen next. The plot kept me on edge and I was always questioning myself on what was happening, and whether anything was really real. It was SO good and was one of the rare stories that I can call jaw-dropping.
So tell me in the comments: what were some of your top reads in 2021?
Enter not the forest deep. Beyond the bells, the dark fiends keep.
Summer is slowly winding down. The changing of the seasons brings with it the chill of autumn, ripe with spooky tales and creepy crawlies. Who doesn’t like a twisted tale that makes you glance over your shoulder?
Small Favors is the perfect book to read during the tail-end of summer, when nights are starting to become longer and colder. This is author Erin A. Craig’s second novel. Her first book, House of Salt and Sorrows, was a NYT bestseller and one of my personal favorite reads this year. You can check out that review here.
Here’s the synopsis for Small Favors:
Ellerie Downing lives in the quiet town of Amity Falls in the Blackspire Mountain range–five narrow peaks stretching into the sky like a grasping hand, bordered by a nearly impenetrable forest from which the early townsfolk fought off the devils in the woods. To this day, visitors are few and rare. But when a supply party goes missing, some worry that the monsters that once stalked the region have returned.
As fall turns to winter, more strange activities plague the town. They point to a tribe of devilish and mystical creatures who promise to fulfill the residents’ deepest desires, however grand and impossible, for just a small favor. But their true intentions are much more sinister, and Ellerie finds herself in a race against time before all of Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves go up in flames.
Craig draws upon the same elements in Small Favors that made House of Salt and Sorrows such a riveting success: creepy vibes, strangers with dark secrets, and a young girl trying to save her family from destruction.
One of the main themes in the book is the sense of community, of family, and how painful it can be when the bonds that hold us all together begin to fray. It also touches on the chaos that inevitably comes after a community implodes into itself, when people who were once viewed as friends are suddenly regarded upon as strangers, or worse: enemies with a familiar face.
The pace of the storytelling and drama increases gradually throughout the book, the tension mounting and building up until the very last page. There is mystery upon mystery, and the town seems to be the epicenter of it all. The tension in the story slowly becomes more taut as the narrative progresses, until everything becomes so tightly woven that something has to give. Which, of course, it eventually does. The last arc of the book, where everything gets resolved, are complete page-turners. I don’t recommend starting the final few chapters just before bed, unless you don’t have to wake up early the next day!
What I also appreciated about Small Favors is that not all of the characters are redeemable. I genuinely believe this is a strength to Craig’s storytelling. Not everyone can have a happily ever after. And frankly, not everyone deserves to be forgiven for their terrible sins and choices.
Overall, the book has just the right amount of claustrophobia that is reminiscent of stories with spooky vibes and undercurrents of mystery and horror. As things begin to crumble around Ellerie and her family, the feeling of being stuck with nowhere to go becomes stronger.
If you enjoy stories with a single point-of-view, that are slow-burning and heavily lean into unsolved mysteries and family secrets, then I highly recommend this book. Hopefully Craig writes another one soon!
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