East coast transplant Donna spends her free time reading, knitting, and listening to Kpop, that is, when she's not being distracted by her two adorable but needy chiweenies. She loves reading anything and everything, but her truest literary loves will always be science fiction & fantasy. Her literary crushes include Dickon from The Secret Garden, Luc from The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and Jane from One Last Stop.
A female John Wick! Set in gritty San Francisco’s Chinatown!! Fighting demons pulled straight out of Japanese folklore!!!
Need I say more? GO READ IT!!!~Donna
Have you ever watched The Princess Bride and wondered, why didn’t Buttercup just go find Westley when he was kidnapped? This is the charming, cozy fantasy for you!
I fell in love with Tress, her crewmates, and the incredible world right off the bat, and consumed this book in just one day! You will love it too! ~Donna
Nicola Griffith’s writing in this slim novella is somehow both lush and direct, complex yet straightforward. I am not even a fan of Arthurian retellings in general, but this genderbent, queer fable drew me in from the first page. The stunning illustrations by Rovina Cai enhance Griffith’s words even more. Highly recommend!
~Donna
This dark, lush fairy tale retelling takes some cues from its source material, Little Red Riding Hood, but it expands upon the tale in such a compelling way.
Featuring a slow-burn, enemies to lovers romance that had me frantically turning the pages with their epic tension, this book, with its beautiful writing and complex world-building, is a must-read. ~Donna
This stunning novel is a follow-up to Angeline Boulley’s incredible debut, Firekeeper’s Daughter. In Warrior Girl Unearthed, we jump forward 10 years to follow Daunis’s niece, Perry, as she seeks justice for the stolen remains of her ancestors and fights for the protection of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in her community. Powerfully and masterfully written, this novel will stay with me for a long time. ~Donna
I immediately fell into this Asian-inspired world set on a chain of islands that migrate with the seasons! The world-building, captivating characters, and a slow-burn mystery that builds in tension over the course of the novel had me riveted to the page. I'm so glad this is a completed series because I just want to race through the rest of them! ~Donna
Untethered Sky is a fantastic novella that follows a young woman on her journey to raise and train a Roc, a large falcon-like creature used to hunt down vicious Manticores that terrorize the countryside. I felt every moment of Ester’s joy, determination, and heartbreak in this short 150 page novella. I was left satisfied, but still wanted more! ~Donna
This is a perfect jewel of a sapphic historical romance. It’s so well-written, with compelling characters and a swoon-worthy romance. Aside from the romance, the novel also explores how aspiring female scientists and thinkers have always been excluded from male-dominated scientific spheres. Highly recommended! ~Donna
Damsel takes the Sleeping Beauty we all know and rips back into its dark, seedy, origins. In this world, not all princes are dashing and honorable, not all damsels are weak and without power, and not all dragons are villains.
This gut punch of a young adult novel left me reeling, and I still can’t get the ending out of my head.~Donna
I can’t stop thinking about this novel! It’s at once surreal and indescribably odd, but also fascinating. It follows a young woman named Sasha who’s recruited into a strange school where the gibberish assignments she’s tasked with start disassociating her with her sanity, and ultimately, her humanity.
This book confused and baffled me, but it also will stay with me. ~Donna
I loved this cute, fluffy sapphic romance! Tansy is desperate to save her family’s bookstore, and Gemma Van Dalen is soon there with a solution! If they marry, Tansy will get the finances to buy the bookstore, and Gemma will be able to take over her family’s media empire. Soon though, this marriage of convenience starts to feel like more when feelings start developing. I loved that the main characters really seemed to care about each other, and they communicated too!
Recommend to fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue and Delilah Green Doesn’t Care. ~Donna
“There is no water in the City of Lies…”
This novella reads like a gut-punch. We follow a young boy, desperate to save his mother, who ventures out into the desert to find water. He soon encounters others who are also roaming to find something they desperately need, and together, they all start searching for something darker and more insidious: the truth about the Ajungo, and the Cities of Lies. ~Donna
With lush, vivid prose reminiscent of the darkest, most delicious fairy tale you could want, this novel had me in its grips from the very first page. This stunning novel follows two perspectives, the Bridegroom in the present, and Indigo, a mysterious girl from his bride’s past. The way their stories intertwine and unfold was so satisfying, and I loved reading every minute of it. ~Donna
This sharp and insightful dystopic novel follows Sonya, the one-time innocent face of the totalitarian regime, the Delegation. Now that the Delegation has fallen, Sonya languishes in a prison the size of a city block, with other high level Delegation loyalists. She’s given a single opportunity to gain her freedom though, when she’s asked to find a missing girl taken by the Delegation. Sonya must face the ghosts of her past and the choices she made, and somehow come to terms with them. ~Donna
This charming middle grade novel set in the mountains of Colombia was a delight to read! It follows Valentina and her brother Julián as they’re dragged along on their father’s cryptid quest. Suddenly, an earthquake separates them, and somehow transports the siblings to the forgotten realm of Tierra de los Olvidados, where Madremonte and creatures from myth and legend reign. Vale and her brother find both friends and foes as they search for a way home. I loved this mythical tale, and you will too! ~Donna
How can you fight back when colonizers take everything from you, including your language and your name? Amélie Wen Zhao explores this question in her action-packed and highly emotional homage to Chinese WuXia epics.
If you’re a fan of the Untamed, Iron Widow, or Daughter of the Moon Goddess, you won’t want to miss this one! ~Donna
I never thought I would enjoy a book about video game development as much as I did this one. Then again, it’s not really about that. It’s the story of two childhood friends whose lives are inextricably tied together as they navigate creative hurdles, fame, and tragedy. An absolutely beautiful book; I could not stop reading it! ~Donna
This is the perfect book to read on a cozy afternoon with a delicious baked good and a steaming cup of coffee (or cocoa, or tea!) by your side.
It’s the story of Viv, an Orc who’s tired of the adventuring life and desperately wants to find a place to call home and build something good. Through hard work and a bit of luck, she finds the perfect spot to open a coffee shop, and soon after, the beginnings of a true found family. ~Donna
The first in a stunning trilogy, Jade City is an epic urban fantasy. On the island nation of Kekon, in the sprawling metropolis reminiscent of our world’s Kowloon in Hong kong, Jade has long been a closely guarded magical substance that lends power to carefully chosen Green Bone warriors. The old guard is dying out, and now a new generation of warriors have risen up, vying for power and control over the city, its people, and most importantly, its Jade. ~Donna
Aspiring explorer Safia won't let a small thing like blindness get in the way of her dreams of adventure. But sinister forces seem to be causing problems throughout her journey, and her aunt isn't quite what she seems to be.
Vibrant, hilarious, and moving in equal measure, you've never read a graphic novel quite like this one! ~Donna
Aria Tang West expected to spend her last summer before college partying with friends. Instead, she's stuck in the Bay Area with her artist grandmother, and not a friend in sight. Unexpectedly, finds herself falling in with a working-class group gay and genderqueer musicians. As the summer unfurls, and against the historic backdrop of the legalization of gay marriage, Aria explores her artistic side and her growing attraction to the one woman she shouldn't want.
A beautifully-written and bittersweet tale of first love, A Scatter of Light is a fitting companion to Malinda Lo's award-winning Last Night at the Telegraph Club.. ~Donna
Kate Beaton is better known for her hilarious, literary-inspired cartoon series, Hark a Vagrant. In this stunning, stark memoir though, she dives deep into her personal trauma, and the result is a work of art.
In her two years in the Alberta oil sands, working hard in lonely, isolated conditions to pay off student loans, Beaton came across the worst of humanity. But she also finds friendship and beauty where she least expects it. A must-read. -Donna
Laini Taylor has crafted such a vibrant world, with stunning writing and characters that you’ll fall in love with right away.
The story of Karou, the beautiful girl with blue hair, and tattoos of eyes on the palms of her hands, captivated me immediately. I cannot believe I waited over ten years to read this book! -Donna
Enter the Scholomance, a magic school where there are no teachers, no holidays, and no respite from the scores of blood-thirsty monsters trying to drain the magic out of all the students.
El (don’t call her Galadriel) is just one student trying desperately to survive. Between worrying she’s a dark sorceress in training, and the fact that the school’s resident golden boy won’t stop saving her life, El is in for a heck of a junior year. -Donna
This stunningly epic tale of one Korean family's struggles to survive in Japan is one of my all-time favorites. Though it may seem daunting at a page count of 512, it's actually one of the quickest books I've ever read. I simply could not put it down, and loved every minute of it. -Donna
Airi Sano is a legendary Prankmaster, and she's bringing her A-Game to her new classroom in beautiful Hawaii. After all, all the other teachers on the other military bases she's lived in have given up on her after too many pranks (pros: less homework, cons: disappointing mom & dad), and she has a plan to make Mrs. Ashton give up on her too.
But Mrs. Ashton is surprisingly tenacious, and Airi starts to realize that maybe pranking isn't the only thing she's good at after all. Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and the Terrible Two, this hilarious book will leave you rolling on the floor laughing. - Donna
Kelly Barnhill has done it again! In the same vein as her critically-acclaimed and well-loved novel, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, this book is a gentle, beautiful fairy tale for a modern audience.
Readers will be captivated by the story of the kindly Ogress who secretly helps the town of Stone-in-the-Glen, and the orphans who are her friends. -Donna
Fed up with the pressure, stress, and indignity of being a household pet, one dog takes his fate into his own paws, he will fulfill his lone wolf destiny!
But… being a lone wolf is lonely, and what’s a pup to do when he spots his best friend with *gasp* another dog?! Read and find out in this hilarious and touching book! - Donna
This book is a gorgeous, lushly-written fable following Xinyin, the titular daughter of Chang’e, the goddess of the Moon. Long exiled for a slight against the Emperor of Heaven, the two have stayed hidden on the Moon, until an accident reveals them. Xinyin is forced to go on the run, and embarks on a quest to save her mother from the wrath of the Emperor.
I have such fond memories of hearing my own mother telling me the legend of Chang’e, and this beautiful fantasy brought those memories back to life. Highly recommend! ~Donna
This is a book about women spontaneously turning into dragons. But it’s mostly a book about dysfunctional families, the complicated relationships between women, and how the patriarchy hurts everyone, but especially hurts women who dare to dream of things beyond what’s expected of them.
I simply could not put down this beautifully written book. If you’re looking for a light fantasy with a strong element of family drama, this is the book for you! ~Donna
The newest ambassador from her backwater mining station to the shining City at the center of the Teixcalaanli Empire, Mahit Dzmare arrives eager to fulfill her role, but totally overwhelmed by the death of her predecessor, and the political intrigue that surrounds her.
Filled with incredible worldbuilding and endearing characters, A Memory Called Empire is a stunning space opera in the tradition of Ancillary Justice and Leviathan Wakes. I absolutely cannot wait to continue the series. ~Donna
Charlie Hall is an ex-thief and con artist just trying to stay out of trouble, keep her car running, and pay for her younger sister’s tuition. But in a world of shadow magicians, sinister crime bosses, and relentless reminders of her past, she can’t help but be drawn back into darkness for one last job.
Holly Black has woven such a dark, gritty story for her first adult novel, and I was hooked from the very start. ~Donna
From the moment I started reading The Maid, I was completely captivated by the main character’s voice.
Molly Gray sees the world very differently from most people, and she relies on rules from her Gran to help her navigate her job at a posh hotel. But when her beloved grandmother dies, she’s left on her own. Even worse, she comes across a dead body in one of her meticulously maintained rooms, and is soon embroiled in a tawdry police investigation. What’s an innocent but clever hotel maid to do? ~Donna
This is peak sci-fi for me, a book that explores ethical quandaries of scientific experimentation, the inevitable consequences of that experimentation, and ultimately, what it means to be human.
Clocking in at less than 300 pages long, it’s one of the best sci-fi thrillers I’ve ever read, and the bombshell ending will live rent free in my head forever. ~Donna
It’s the Roaring 20s, and aspiring flapper Evie O’Neill has been sent to live with her boring old uncle in New York City. But events quickly become a lot less boring as a series of gruesome murders hits the city that never sleeps. Evie must use her developing telepathy to try and stop the killer terrorizing the streets. Along the way, she meets other young people with similar strange powers. Don’t miss out on this fantastically inventive series! ~Donna
Don’t let the length of this book scare you off! It is so well written, with such amazing world-building, that I finished it desperately wanting more from the world. I mean, what’s better than badass secret warriors, the various kingdoms they’re sworn to protect, and two kinds of dragons?!
I couldn’t put this one down, and I’m so excited for future books to come! ~Donna
This stunning retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, set in a fantasy version of Lithuania, is one of the most accomplished fairy tale adaptations I’ve ever read. Naomi Novik’s writing sparkles like freshly fallen snow in telling the story of three women whose fates become intertwined as a result of the machinations of both fiery and icy creatures straight out of folklore.
A must-read for fans of The Bear & the Nightingale and The Wolf & the Woodsman. ~Donna
I could not stop reading this book! If you love books about Fae lands, court intrigue, smoldering love interests, and kick-butt female protagonists, you will also love this book!
Basically, if you’re a fan of Cruel Prince, A Court of Thorns and Roses, or An Enchantment of Ravens, you have to read this! ~Donna
Stay away from Gallant. These are the last words Olivia’s mother ever wrote to her. But for a girl without a voice, the invitation from a long-lost uncle to her strange ancestral home seems a better option than the cold, gray orphanage she’s spent her whole life in.
But when she arrives at Gallant, Olivia finds herself faced with unfriendly family members, ghostly remnants of her mother, and a door in a hedge that inevitably draws her closer.
A book that demands to be devoured in one sitting, with beautifully haunting black & white illustrations, Gallant is not to be missed. ~Donna
A fantastic new retelling of Rumpelstiltskin by the queen of fairy tale adaptations, Gilded is a fantastic read that cannot be missed! Follow the story of Serilda, a miller’s daughter whose spellbinding but untrue story accidentally and catastrophically catch the ear of a king from another realm. A must-read! ~Donna
The epic saga of the Montague siblings concludes with this action-packed and hilarious book about Adrian, the youngest of the three. Desperate to find the origin of his mother’s mysterious spyglass and a solution for the endless anxiety that plagues him, Adrian must brave storms, pirate, and, most importantly, his relationships with his newfound siblings to find the truth. ~Donna
The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Knives Out in this fast-paced, mysterious fantasy set in a world where magical paintings can change the physical appearance of their subjects. ~Donna
The well-deserved winner of this year’s National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, Last Night at the Telegraph is a beautifully written novel about first and forbidden love set in 1950s San Francisco’s Chinatown. The author’s dedication to historical accuracy really brought the time period to life and completely drew me in. --Donna
Don’t miss this incredible, action-packed modern take on Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Aspiring underwater explorer and linguist Ana Dakkar stumbles into the middle of a century-long school rivalry that is turning deadlier by the day, and the secret of her mysterious heritage is finally revealed. --Donna
This beautifully-written, atmospheric, and spooky novel follows a young girl, Ellerie, who, unlike her twin brother who can roam the town at will, can only spend her time tending her family’s bees and caring for her sisters.
But when mysterious entities start granting wishes for the townsfolk, no matter how grand or impossible, Ellerie must find strength within herself to fight the creatures and save her town and everyone she loves. --Donna
This epic fantasy, based on real Chinese history, but with a genderqueer twist, is one of my favorite reads of the year.
From the very first page, the main character’s voice had me completely enthralled. Her journey from nameless girl with a fate of nothing to esteemed general in a rebel army was full of twists, turns, and surprises, and I enjoyed every minute. --Donna
What if there was a multiverse full of different Sleeping Beauties? What if there were some of them who decided to stop being victims in their stories, and instead become the saviors? And what if the dark fairy at the heart of the story isn’t who she seems?
These are the questions being answered in Alix E. Harrow’s newest novella. Harrow is quickly becoming a must-read author, with her lush but readable prose, instantly engaging characters, and incredible imagination. Highly recommend! --Donna
Meddie Chan is just trying to be the best daughter and niece she can, helping out with her family’s upscale wedding business (“Don’t leave your big day to chance, leave it to the Chans!”), when a disastrous first date turns into an accidental homicide! Now it’s up to Meddie and her well-meaning but chaotic mom and aunties to hide the body and make sure the wedding they’re in charge of goes off without a hitch.
Of course, hijinks ensue.
I devoured this book, laughing the entire time. --Donna
I loved Casey McQuiston’s debut novel, so I was more than eager to get my hands on this book. It did not disappoint me. In fact, I loved it so much I immediately bought another copy so I could lend out my first one!
This beautiful and queer love story follows August, a student who lives with a hilariously quirky group of roomates. One day she encounters Jane on the subway and her life is never the same. Because though Jane returns August’s feelings, they can only meet on the train, because Jane is unmoored through time. It takes all of August’s love and resolve to save her. --Donna
Felix Love has never been in love. How ironic. Then again, he’s also worried that he has one too many marginalizations, being Black, queer, and transgender, to ever be truly happy. And when he starts getting hateful messages sent to his social media, his worst fears start coming true.
I loved reading along with Felix’s journey as he navigates school, bullies, and struggles with his art. Kacen Callender’s writing moved me to tears, and the book left me wanting to read more from such a talented author. --Donna