Greetings,
all, and happy spring. I hope you and yours are well!
I'm
taking a bit of a different angle on my contribution to the blog
today. As you know from my last post in February, I'm super crunched
for reading time in the spring. I've also had some pretty intense
health problems, but rather than back out of this month's post, I've
decided to share a few books from my Want to Read pile and to tell
you why. I'm familiar with these authors from Realm Makers, an
international organization of Christian authors of speculative
fiction, so I can promise that all of these recommendations are
appropriate for audiences who read only clean fiction.
My
first pick for you is Curio by Evangeline Denmark. Here's the blurb:
“Grey
Haward has always detested the Chemists, the
magicians-come-scientists who rule her small western town. But she
has always followed the rules, taking the potion the Chemists ration
out that helps the town’s people survive. A potion that Grey
suspects she—like her grandfather and father—may not actually
need.
By
working at her grandfather’s repair shop, sorting the small gears
and dusting the curio cabinet inside, Grey has tried to stay
unnoticed—or as unnoticed as a tall, strong girl can in a town of
diminutive, underdeveloped citizens. Then her best friend, Whit, is
caught by the Chemists’ enforcers after trying to protect Grey one
night, and after seeing the extent of his punishment, suddenly taking
risks seems the only decision she can make.
But
with the risk comes the reality that the Chemists know her family’s
secret, and the Chemists soon decide to use her for their own
purposes. Panicked, Grey retreats to the only safe place she
knows—her grandfather’s shop. There, however, a larger secret
confronts her when her touch unlocks the old curio cabinet in the
corner and reveals a world where porcelain and clockwork people are
real. There, she could find the key that may save Whit’s life and
also end the Chemists’ dark rule forever.”
I”ll
be honest with you, The first thing that drew me to this book is its
cover. I mean, the colors are gorgeous and the image promises
steampunk fantasy – what's not to love? Also, Grey's conflict is
realistic and personal while coinciding with the epic nature of
saving the world, so I'm super intrigued.
My
next pick is Kitsune-Tsuki by Laura VanArendonk Baugh. The blurb for
this one reads:
“How
does one find a shapeshifter who may not even exist?
The
onmyouji Tsurugu no Kiyomori, a practitioner of the mystic arts, has
been engaged to protect the warlord's new bride from the fox spirit
rumored to be near. Tsurugu and the shadow-warrior Shishio Hitoshi
face an impossible challenge in teasing out a kitsune shapeshifter
from the samurai and servants – if such a creature is even present
at all.
The handsome mute twin servants belonging to Lady
Kaede are certainly suspicious, but it is the beautiful and
strong-willed lady herself who draws Shishio’s mistrust. Tsurugu
and Shishio must move carefully, for accusing the warlord’s bride
falsely would be death. But failing to identify the kitsune to the
warlord is equally perilous, and there is more to discover. For an
onmyouji knows secrets even the shadows do not….
Kitsune-Tsuki
is a historical fiction novelette, the introduction to the series
KITSUNE TALES. By reader request it includes a full glossary as
well.”
I
can't wait to dive into this one because I LOVE Japanese fairy tales
and absolutely adore kitsune. Yes, I know they're traditionally
demonic, soul-sucking man-devourers, but I'm enamored with the
non-evil renditions: the woman-to-fox shape-shifting, the mystique,
and the cunning beauty. Add that to the concept of this story, and
I'm all in.
My
third recommendation for you today is Havok Magazine. The blurb for
the first edition says:
“Enjoy
the debut issue of Havok Magazine, your source for the highest
quality speculative flash fiction. New York Times bestselling author
Tosca Lee headlines this issue with the beautiful story of a young
woman who faces incredible odds when a murderous horde attacks her
people.
Staff
member Lindsay Franklin enlightens our audiences with "Hardwired,"
a story of a cyborg who falls in love. Plus, read six other
speculative fiction stories ranging from a steampunk Pinocchio to a
woman who literally married a monster.”
Full
disclosure: I'm cheating a little bit with this one. I follow Havok
on their Instagram page and subscribe to the magazine already, and I
very much enjoy it. I'm not including it in this list because it's in
my to-be-read pile, I'm including it because it should be in yours.
You can get a taste for what's inside this magazine by reading the
free story of the day on their website at https://gohavok.com/.
Do
it. Do it now.
If
you read any of these recommendations, I'd love to know what you
think. Leave a comment or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram.
Until
next time, happy reading!
