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Bright Ruined Things: Samantha Cohoe Creates An Average Magical 1920s Fantasy that Features Spirits, Secrets, and a Determined Heroine

It’s no surprise that young adult characters are sometimes judged from a mature, experienced lens for decisions that are very much based on their ‘young’ age. So I always set a reminder for myself while reading YA books: don’t judge the protagonist too much for their choices and simply comment on them from the story’s…

Every Variable of Us: Charles A. Bush Lets Young Characters Be Messy and Flawed While Exploring Individual Queer Journeys

We’ve often come across opinions about adult readers being a target audience for young adult books or not. Of course, the demographic is meant for the young readers but with the growing space for more YA books, a lot of stories might read like it’s meant for those who were teenagers. While all sorts of…

12 YA Queer Books by Authors of Color To Start Pride Month With

It’s Pride Month and while we must read queer books all throughout the year, June definitely gives us a great reason to find more LGBTQIA+ books! But of course, a lot of the time, there’s an unintentional focus on queer books by white authors and while those stories are certainly valid and worth celebrating, such…

The Wonders: Elena Medel Boldly Interprets Class Hardships & Trauma Through the Lives of Three Spanish Women

This debut novel in English by the Spanish poet feels like a collection of short stories that weave back and forth through time. Attempting to bypass and often unknowingly giving in to intergenerational trauma, two working-class women try creating lives of their own for freedom from patriarchal constrictions, financial hardships, and everlasting grief, while these…

110 Fiction Books by Asian & Pacific Islander Authors

This reading list is a tiny attempt at recommending works by authors of the Asian diaspora and Pacific Islander authors in its true sense. Here are such 110 recent, new, and upcoming books for Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

Iron Widow: Xiran Jay Zhao Crafts An Intimidating & Unapologetic Science Fiction Full of Feminist Rage

While picking up a feminist SFF, some might expect the men in these stories to find an independent place for themselves within these fictional worlds. Because that’s true feminism for many, right? We can’t have a heroine who drives the male protagonists’ arc by herself, with her strength, on her power. Of course, this isn’t…

05 New Mystery & Thriller Books of May 2022

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson(Delacorte Press, May 03) Alice’s five-day disappearance used to be the biggest scandal in Castle Cove—until her ex-boyfriend is accused of murdering his new girlfriend, and Alice must pair up with her tutor to clear his name by using the wisdom of the mystery queen herself. Karen M.…

Can’t Resist Her: Kianna Alexander Lets the Characters Shine Individually in This Sapphic Romance

There’s something to be said about readers often and rightly complaining about the lack of stories featuring Black characters that don’t revolve around racism, but not supporting tales that actually centre Black love and their families, heritage, and inner conflicts. Can’t Resist Her quickly unravels a second-chance romance with excellent steamy scenes, great potential for…

A River Enchanted: Rebecca Ross Explores Music, Myths, and the Meaning of Home in This Scottish-Inspired Fantasy

Some books really force you to decide what you like more: a fast-paced plot or a slowly-evolving character arc. A River Enchanted gives you enough reasons to go with the latter. Fantasy books, especially when not in the the young adult demographic, are often expected to let a complex plot, an extensively built world, and…

Mini Reviews — A Middle Grade Fantasy Explores Grief, A Political Dystopian Intrigues, And A Paranormal Romance Entertains

Furthermoor by Darren Simpson Bren is still grieving the tragic loss of his sister Evie and has numbed himself while going through the daily routines of home and school. Simultaneously, the school bully, Shaun, preys on the saddened Bren while also marking down a new kid. Bren is happy he at least has an imaginary…

Sofi and the Bone Song: Adrienne Tooley Hits the Right Notes in This Magical & Musical Fantasy of Self-Discovery and Deception

The myth of the tortured artist has turned real for many creatives all through past and present, like Vincent van Gogh who battled mental illness and secured his spot as the suffering artist when he chopped off his ear with a razor blade. But at the core of a creative world, the idea of suffering…

An Arrow to the Moon: Emily X.R. Pan Beautifully Blends Love and Lore in This Magical Mix of Romeo & Juliet and Houyi & Chang’e

Retellings have been trending on book lists and for all the right reasons. Whether it’s Chloe Gong’s YA romantic historical fantasy, These Violent Delights, or CB Lee’s fresh exploration of Treasure Island, as part of the “Remixed Classics” series by BIPOC authors, A Clash of Steel. Even reimaginings of Hindu epics like Ramayana (Vaishnavi Patel’s…

Four Treasures of the Sky: Jenny Tinghui Zhang Unravels A Tragic Story of Reclamation in This Debut

It’s often interesting to see what motivated an author to craft a particular story. Especially when the push to create something powerful comes from empathy for the powerless. Like Sabaa Tahir who says her own experience of growing up as a kid who didn’t fit in and then reading about various stories of some absolutely…

10 New SFF Books of May 2022 To Read

May is truly bringing some of the most anticipated books across the genres, but especially on the shelves of fantasy, science fiction, and speculative fiction. From a fresh take on Disney’s Brave by the New York Times bestselling author of The Raven Cycle series to an adult debut inspired by Middle Eastern stories and a…

A Magic Steeped in Poison: Judy I. Lin Brews Loyalty & Treachery in Beautiful Cups of Aromatic Magic

Blending threads of mythology with courageous heroines and hints of romance against a mysterious fantastical backdrop inspired by folklore has recently found a huge space on bookshelves, and deservedly so. Whether it’s the recent YA fantasy, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh that retells a Korean folktale or the recent adult…

Asian Heritage Month — 12 Middle Grade Books By South Asian Authors

May is all about Asian books! Here are twelve recent South Asian middle grade books for all readers.

10 Diverse Picture Books Celebrating The Love Of Mothers

On Mother’s Day, here are ten diverse picture books for kids to see themselves, their mothers, and the love between them on beautifully illustrated pages.

Twelve Stunning Fantasy Books by Muslim Authors

We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal A thrilling young adult fantasy set in an Arabian-inspired world where a huntress masquerades as a boy and the Prince of Death, the son of an autocratic father, is tasked to kill her. Zafira is determined to brave the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people…

Salma Hussain Recommends Twelve Canadian Writers Creating Stories Around Muslim Characters

Salma Hussain, author of The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan (May 2022), recommends twelve books with Muslim characters written by Canadian authors.

“If dark academia is meant to be about the darkness of academia…what is darker than structural or institutional racism?”

Q/A with Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, author of Ace of Spades (2021) on her debut thriller featuring Black queer teens and crafting a YA fiction with social themes like institutional racism.

“It has been a pleasure to craft…an embrace of warmth and acceptance around a young brown girl”

Q/A with Karuna Riazi —author of The Gauntlet (2017) and A Bit of Earth (2023)— on her upcoming contemporary retelling, crafting middle-grade stories, and writing a biracial character.

“I hope that young queer Muslim readers understand that you’re perfect just the way you feel”

Q/A with Naz Kutub on his upcoming debut novel (The Loophole, 2022), portraying tough themes in the midst of heart and humour, and writing a young queer Muslim protagonist.

“As an adult they seem incongruous, but as children we knew seemingly opposite things can co-exist…as long as we made the space”

Nina Hamza, the author of Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year, on the power of ‘and’ when crafting a middle-grade coming-of-age story about identity.

“Both [my] characters soon come to realise that, like everything that ascends, they must come down eventually where their problems still remain”

Aneesa Marufu, the author of The Balloon Thief, writes a guest post on how feelings of prejudice and unbelonging drove this debut fantasy.

“As a writer, I believe it’s extremely important to try and create, as much as possible, diverse stories about a community”

In January 2019, a mix of humour, heart, and high-stakes drama provided a timely and honest portrait of what it’s like to grow up feeling unwelcome in your own culture. The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali showed a young Muslim queer fighting for love, fighting for family, and fighting for herself. Through the prism…

“I wanted a brown kid at the center, the protagonist of her own life, abolishing the misconstructions society has of Desis and Muslims”

In July 2022, a debut novel set in rural Pakistan and centred around a young Muslim girl will whisk away readers into a magical palace in the jinn world. In this mysterious world, a rich heritage and the chilling reality of child labour will be shown. And Nura is a protagonist everyone would cheer for…

“I wanted to explore Aafiyah’s denial, acceptance, and guilt…but also show that she is much more than a bad habit”

Q/A with Reem Faruqi, author of Golden Girl & Unsettled, on her middle-grade novels-in-verse, compassionate stories about young Muslim girls, and poetic finesse with a focus on family.

“Faith is not a static thing; it may ebb and flow, and I attempted to illustrate the same fluctuations”

In January 2022, a romantic tale took readers on a heartfelt journey of faith, family, and love. Salaam, With Love captures the feeling of being different, of not fitting in, while also exploring one’s relationship with their cultural and religious heritage. And of course, it’s about first love. Set in New York, this comforting and…

“I honestly don’t think it’s possible for me to write a story that doesn’t have a healthy dose of family drama”

A young Muslim girl joins a boy band at her new middle school to fit in while navigating faith, family, and friendships. Pitched as Julie and the Phantoms meets Amina’s Voice, this middle-grade story is sweet, powerful, and joyous. Published in October 2021, Barakah Beats takes readers on a journey where love for music and…

“The shape of the trauma may be different, but the taste of tears on their tongue is the same”

In August 2021, a feminist fantasy unapologetically took readers on a journey of sisterhood, anger, and resilience. The Wild Ones is a heart-heavy, lyrical, and magical tale that doesn’t shy away from acknowledging and tackling societal flaws, institutionalised wrongs, and trauma. With characters who navigate the myriad meanings of empowerment and vulnerability, the author —whose…

“An Urdu phrase I loved including was ‘aaj jaane ki zidd na karo,’ which…loosely translates to: today, don’t insist on leaving”

A spoiled princess who fiercely loves her family and people is challenged by circumstances to become more while also being romantically intrigued by someone who’s forbidden—an intriguing ambassador. Pitched as a Pakistani-inspired retelling of The Lady or the Tiger, this fantasy brings forward a stunning culture, fascinating court politics, and an angst-filled love story. Published…

“It was incredibly cathartic for me to portray the spiritual struggles of my protagonists”

In March 2021, a fantasy set in a colonised Indo-Persian world and inspired by pre-Islamic Arabian mythology was published. The Descent of the Drowned is a dark, immersive, and powerful debut that also has undertones of the political and sociocultural issues of the region. But it’s biggest asset is characterisation. The morally ambiguous protagonists make…

12 Adult SFF Books of 2022 By Authors of Colour You Can’t Miss

Adult SFF is a label often conveniently associated with only works by white cishet authors but that’s a clear disservice to not only those from marginalised communities who have contributed to diversify the tag, but also to those upcoming books that might otherwise be quickly labelled as young adult for one single reason: they’re written…

“Every time someone connects with Michie I feel like I’ve given a voice to this thing that no one really talks about”

Sixteen-year-old Michie lives with her grandmother and hopes to get into her dream college, but the scholarship essay is a difficult one to write, especially when she shares a complicated relationship with her mother. Derek is the new kid at this high school and very much interested in Michie. Both are absolute sweethearts and the…

12 Romance Books By Authors Of Color You’ll Love Reading

Valentine’s Day might be anything for you but I like to assume it’s the perfect day to add some romance books by authors of color to my never-ending TBR. After all, picking up a book with romantic themes and obsessing over fictional characters who are finding or fighting their love sounds way more exciting than…

Book Review: Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi

In her youth, Tara was wild. She abandoned her arranged marriage to join an ashram, took a hapless artist for a lover, rebelled against every social expectation of a good Indian woman – all with her young child in tow. Years on, she is an old woman with a fading memory, mixing up her maid’s…

Book Review: Love Marriage by Monica Ali

Yasmin Ghorami in twenty-six, in training to be a doctor (like her Indian-born father), and engaged to the charismatic, upper-class Joe Sangster, whose formidable mother, Harriet, is a famous feminist. The gulf between families is vast. So, too, is the gulf in sexual experience between Yasmin and Joe. As the wedding day draws near, misunderstandings,…

Book Review: The Witch, the Sword, and the Cursed Knights by Alexandria Rogers

Twelve-year-old Ellie can’t help that she’s a witch, the most hated member of society. Determined to prove her worth and eschew her heritage, Ellie applies to the Fairy Godmother Academy—her golden ticket to societal acceptance. But Ellie’s dreams are squashed when she receives the dreaded draft letter to serve as a knight of King Arthur’s…

Cover Reveal: The Man or the Monster by Aamna Qureshi

Today this blog is so excited to reveal the cover of The Man or the Monster by Aamna Qureshi — sequel to The Lady or the Lion, a YA fantasy set in a Pakistan-inspired world full of forbidden love and court intrigue. The title, second in the The Marghazar Trials, will be released on July…

Book Review: Skinship by Yoon Choi

An exquisite collection from a breathtakingly new voice–centered on a constellation of Korean American families, these stories announce the debut of a master of short fiction. A long-married couple is forced to confront their friend’s painful past when a church revival comes to a nearby town . . . A woman in an arranged marriage…

Blackathon TBR — For Team SFF, Four Books by Black Authors I’ll Be Reading This February

Blackathon is an annual readathon to celebrate literature by Black voices. While Black authors should be supported and their works read all year round, February does give everyone an opportunity to turn a purposeful focus on Black literature and this readathon sets up a fun structure to do so. Four teams, three prompts, and one…

Mini Reviews — Two Middle-Grade Books, Two Contemporary Romances, And A Translated Fiction

A Mystery at Lili Villa by Arathi Menon Enid Blyton’s Five Find-Outers meets Carolyn Keene’s Nancy Drew in this small-town mystery set against the beautiful backdrop of Kerala, India. For a desi kid, summer vacations are more than school holidays: they’re the perfect time for meeting up with distant family, delicious food, running wild while the elders napped in…

The Six Best Books I Read In January 2022

January always brings a new wave of enthusiasm for a reader—you have a chance to leave behind last year’s goals, the disappointing reads, and the sadness of not getting a chance to pick up your most anticipated books the entire year. And while I did read quite a few books in this first month of…

23 Graphic Novels To Get A Lead on Your Reading Challenge

This might come across as a surprise to you but 2022 has been here for a month now. Yes, yes! I’m shocked; how was January the slowest month that went by too fast? Anyway, February has brought all of us two possibilities: either your yearly reading challenge is right on track or you’re so far…

Book Review: Not Here To Be Liked by Michelle Quach

Emergency Contact meets Moxie in this cheeky and searing novel that unpacks just how complicated new love can get…when you fall for your enemy. Eliza Quan is the perfect candidate for editor in chief of her school paper. That is, until ex-jock Len DiMartile decides on a whim to run against her. Suddenly her vast qualifications mean squat…

Weekly Reading Check-In — A New Favorite I Found, One Big Disappointment, and Three Romances I’m Reading

February is here! I had some big reading goals set up for January but sadly, the pandemic reached my house and I had to keep everything on the backburner to focus on my health. Now I’m definitely more enthusiastic for this month, having come back from a long break, ready to tackle my TBR. If…

Book Review: When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord

Nothing will get in the way of Millie Price’s dream to become a Broadway star. Not her lovable but super-introverted dad, who after raising Millie alone, doesn’t want to watch her leave home to pursue her dream. Not her pesky and ongoing drama club rival, Oliver, who is the very definition of Simmering Romantic Tension.…

Book Review: Minor Detail by Adania Shibli, Tr. Elisabeth Jaquette

Minor Detail begins during the summer of 1949, one year after the war that the Palestinians mourn as the Nakba—the catastrophe that led to the displacement and exile of some 700,000 people—and the Israelis celebrate as the War of Independence. Israeli soldiers murder an encampment of Bedouin in the Negev desert, and among their victims they capture…

Book Review: If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich

Eighteen-year-olds Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are two members of the boy-band Saturday, one of the biggest acts in America. Along with their bandmates, Angel Phan and Jon Braxton, the four are teen heartbreakers in front of the cameras and best friends backstage. But privately, cracks are starting to form: their once-easy rapport is straining…

Book Review: House of Glass Hearts by Leila Siddiqui

Maera and her ammi never talk about the Past, a place where they’ve banished their family’s heartache and grief forever. They especially never mention the night Maera’s older brother Asad disappeared from her naana’s house in Karachi ten years ago. But when her grandfather dies and his derelict greenhouse appears in her backyard from thousands…

Book Review: For All Time by Shanna Miles

Tamar is a musician, a warrior, a survivor. Fayard? He’s a pioneer, a hustler, a hopeless romantic. Together, Tamar and Fayard have lived a thousand lives, seen the world build itself up from nothing only to tear itself down again in civil war. They’ve even watched humanity take to the stars. But in each life…

Book Review: Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan

Jade Fire Gold is a debut young adult fantasy that borrows xianxia elements and is inspired by Chinese mythology. Published by HarperTeen in September 2021!

Pondathon II TBR — 40 Fantasy Books I Hope To Read This Year

Read books. Collect plants. Decorate a garden. Sounds simple and exciting! And now I have forty fantasy books I hope to read in 2022. Check out what backlist fantasy titles I’ve decided to read this year, and leave a little ‘good luck’ in the comments.

40 Best New Books of February 2022 To Read

February is ready to bring some of the most anticipated books of 2022, from fantasy to contemporary. Debut authors like Laila Sabreen and Vanessa Lenare stepping in with a young adult contemporary and a young adult fantasy respectively; and Amari and the Great Game is a sequel to one very well received middle-grade fantasy of last year.

Book Review: Kololo Hill by Neema Shah

Kololo Hill is a historical fiction featuring Ugandan Indians who traverse the horrors and hope of home. Released in 2021 by Picador Books UK!

30 More South Asian Books To Read in 2021

In addition to the list of 84 books by South Asian authors that was curated earlier this year on the blog, here are 30 more such 2021 titles by desi authors that you can add to your shelf.

Book Review: Sway With Me by Syed M. Masood

Sway With Me is a coming-of-age YA romantic comedy featuring Muslim Pakistani-American characters. Released in 2021 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers!

24 Best New Books of January 2022 To Read

January is ready to bring some of the most anticipated books of 2022, from fantasy to contemporary. Debut authors like Akshaya Raman and Sue Lynn Tan are stepping in with an Indian-inspired fantasy and Chinese mythology-inspired fantasy respectively; and some books like Ashes of Gold and Beyond the End of the World are sequels to two very well received fantasy books.

Book Review: It All Comes Back To You by Farah Naz Rishi

It All Comes Back to You is a coming-of-age YA romantic drama featuring Muslim Pakistani-American characters. Released in 2021 by Quill Tree Books!

Book Review: The Archer by Shruti Swamy

The Archer is a coming-of-age novel set in 1960-70s Bombay and told through a protagonist who loves kathak. Released in 2021 by Algonquin Books!

Writing Log 01 — Wondering How to Track Progress While Outlining

For Camp NaNoWriMo, I set a goal for this month of July: write a detailed outline for #KaliYugWIP —a Hindu eschatology based dark adult fantasy set in ancient northwestern India. That is exactly when I realised what my attention-deficit brain needed: a way to track this outlining process.

10 Reasons Why I Love Reading Fiction Books So Much

There is something about reading I love so much that it has become more than just a hobby, more than just a habit I wish to commit to. This post attempts to breakdown what makes reading such an intricate part of my life: ten reasons why I love reading fiction books so much.

Ten Books I Recently Read & My Thoughts On Them — Vol. 01

Thoughts on my recent reads: A Pho Love Story, The Scapegoat, Jay’s Gay Agenda, An Emotion of Great Delight, Pashmina, We Are Totally Normal, and others!

40 Best New Books of July 2021 To Read

July is shining bright with these forty books, from fantasy to mystery. Authors like Anuk Arudpragasm and Jasmine Guillory are returning with shiny new novels and debuts like She Who Became The Sun & The Lady or the Lion have already won many hearts. Pick up one of these July 2021 releases and enjoy them as summer reads.

84 Books by South Asian Authors to Read This Year

This year is giving us some of the best stories by south asian authors. From fantasy to contemporary and from science fiction to romance, these 2021 books must be on your tbr!

Book Review: Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Firekeeper’s Daughter is a young adult mystery and thriller that dedicates culture and justice through a Native biracial protagonist. Released in 2021 by Henry Holt & Co!

10 Best New Books Releasing This Week: June 22, 2021

This week of June 22, 2021 is bringing some great books to the bookshelves, like Rising Like A Storm, Filthy Animals, Love Scenes, Darling, My Contrary Mary, and more!

Book Review: Rea and the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi

Rea and the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi is a middle grade fantasy that thrills through a secret quest and explores family dynamics. Released in 2021 by Mango & Marigold Press.

10 Best New Books Releasing This Week: June 15, 2021

This week of June 15, 2021 is bringing some great books to the bookshelves, like Much Ado About Baseball, Broken Web, The Maidens, Sisters of the Snake, Blood Like Magic, and more!

Book Review: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna is a young adult fantasy that places women with power in the centre and examines patriarchy through beliefs. Released in 2021 by Usborne Publishing.

15 Best New Books Releasing This Week: June 08, 2021

This week of June 08, 2021 is bringing some great books to the bookshelves, like The Jasmine Throne, Of Princes and Promises, The Wolf and the Woodsman, For Vacation Only, Dear Senthuran, and more!

11 Queer South Asian Books to Read For and After Pride Month

Check out these eleven south asian books featuring LGBT+ main characters, including Love After Love, The Death of Vivek Oji, The Henna Wars, The Carpet Weaver, The Wish Maker and more!

15 Best New Books Releasing This Week: June 01, 2021

This week of June 01, 2021 is bringing some great books to the bookshelves, like Ace of Spades, The Force of Fire, Jay’s Gay Agenda, The Chosen and the Beautiful, With Teeth, and more!

26 Asian Books From A to Z [Challenge by Books and Boba]

For Asian Heritage Month, this post lists twenty-six books by Asian authors — both, diaspora and homeland — according to the ABC challenge put forward by Books and Boba.

Book Review: Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles

Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles is an absolute favourite YA fantasy with themes of smashing sexism + rebelling against systems in the midst of romantic yearning and an air of mystery.

Five Books for Reading in Translation Readathon 2020

From December 21-31, I’ll be reading these five translated books for the Reading in Translation Readathon: Women of Sand and Myrrh, Timeless Tales from Marwar, Kim Jiyoung Born 1982, An Apartment on Uranus, and Moustache.

Five New Fantasy Sequels by South Asian Authors

Five 2021 sequels to fantasy books by south asian authors are being anticipated the most. Read more about these titles: The Chariot at Dusk, Aru Shah and the City of Gold, Rising Like a Storm, We Free the Stars, and A War of Swallowed Stars.

Book Review: The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi is a heist-filled YA historical fantasy set in 1889 Paris with diverse characters, complex magic, romance, and themes around colonialism and hierarchical power.

I Dissect My First Ever ARC Review As A Book Blogger

I recently came across my first ARC review and decided to dissect each paragraph, so this analysis dives into how my reading preferences and reviewing style has changed over the last two years.

Book Review: We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal

We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal is the first in a YA fantasy duology set in ancient Arabia where darkness and cold is creeping over a kingdom of sand and sun. Released in 2019 by Pan Macmillan!

Book Review: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong has easily become one of the best reads of the year and taken a place in my list of absolute favourites. It’s a historical fantasy romance set in 1926 Shanghai.

Book Review: This Is All Your Fault by Aminah Mae Safi

This Is All Your Fault by Aminah Mae Safi is a YA contemporary where three young girls try to save their workplace, an independent bookstore on the verge of being closed; blog tour + giveaway!

5 Of My Favourite Poetry Collections

I recommend these five poetry collections by authors of colour with all my heart: Fierce Fairytales, Child of the Moon, Circus Folks & Village Freaks, Sisters’ Entrance, and Chameleon Aura.

The Zumra Book Tag [Original by Star Is All Booked Up]

Find out which characters from my book recommendations would relate to the amazing characters of We Hunt The Flame in The Zumra Book Tag.

Interview: Janella Angeles, author of Where Dreams Descend

Q/A with Janella Angeles, the debut author of the first in a fantasy duology, Where Dreams Descend. Read through the answers that explore this book’s beauty, marvel, and magic.

Guest Post: Writing A Medieval India-Inspired Fantasy World [Tanaz Bhathena]

Tanaz Bhathena creates a fantasy world inspired by medieval India and takes elements of Indian and Persian mythology in Hunted by the Sky. This guest posts elaborated on the same by the author.

Book Review: A House Is A Body by Shruti Swamy

A House Is A Body by Shruti Swamy is a set of short stories published on August 11, 2020 by Algonquin Books. Read this book review to know why I rated this South Asian collection four stars.

33 Upcoming Books by Authors of Color

So many diverse books waiting to be released in the last four months of the year 2020! Check out these 33 upcoming books by authors of color you should be reading, supporting and boosting.

Book Review: Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar is a YA standalone with fast-paced mythology-inspired fantasy plot and lush writing that makes you want to be lost in the shine of a star. Released in August 2020 by HarperTeen!

Interview: Sandhya Menon, author of 10 Things I Hate About Pinky

Sandhya Menon has created yet another entertaining, fun, and character-driven YA contemporary with desi expectations in 10 Things I Hate About Pinky. So here’s a quick Q/A with the author!

Book Review: 10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon

10 Things I Hate About Pinky is a desi young adult summer romance with a refreshing frenemies-to-lovers trope. Released in 2020 by Simon Pulse!

Read These four South-Asian Romance Books; More Than Just A Pretty Face Blog Tour

More Than Just A Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood is set to release on 04 August, 2020 and this ownvoices YA contemporary romance is a delight to pick up. Read these four amazing South-Asian romance books, including this one. This post is part of a promotional blog tour.

Book Review: The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon is an insightful adult contemporary romance with strong personalities countering important themes. Released in 2020 by Forever Publishing!

Book Review: Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena

Hunted by the Sky is an Indian and Persian mythology inspired fantasy romance where tyrants are thrown. Released in 2020 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux!

SJ Sindu Recommends The Best Queer Books To Read—Author of Marriage Of A Thousand Lies

As part of the Pride Month Features on this blog, I have SJ Sindu—whose south-asian queer book, Marriage of a Thousand Lies, is a commendable read—to share her favourite queer books!

Interview: Phil Stamper, author of The Gravity Of Us

As part of the Pride Month Features, read a Q/A with Phil Stamper—author of The Gravity of Us—where he discusses gay romance in YA historical fiction, and writing comfort books.

Kelly Quindlen Wants You To Read These Queer Books by Black Authors For Pride—Author of Late To The Party

As part of the Pride Month Features on this blog, I have Kelly Quindlen—whose queer YA contemporary, Late to the Party, is perfect to explore the theme of sexual identities—to share her favourite Black queer books!

Book Review: You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

You Should See Me in a Crown is a fluffy contemporary romance that is crafted amidst the chaos and charm of a high-school prom, and shines a spotlight on being a Black, queer young girl. Read on to find out all the great points of this YA 2020 release!

Natalia Martinez on The Impact of LGBTQIA+ Representation & Book Recommendations—A Queer Booktuber

Natalia Martinez, a queer booktuber is here to word the impact of LGBTQIA+ representation in books and has five book recommendations for everyone to read this Pride month, and later.