#Summerland brands

[reesemayeanaise-artg371]

P2 - Week 1: Would You Like Some Syrup With That?

What does the packaging tell you about the brand?

Emphasizes the local feel

Feels natural and oddly homemade

Shows the brand as very rich and natural

How does it do that, very specifically?

Utilizes earthy tones coupled with vibrant colors for the fruits

Using simple design decisions (like a single image, limited type, and simple strokes)

It plays with not only the design of the label, but the bottle as well

What differentiates each "flavour"?

The illustrations on the label

The color of the syrup

How very specifically is this done?

Each illustration is of the respective fruit of their own syrup

The bottles are see-through, allowing people to see the product for themselves

Market research on your chosen product and brand and its place in the competition

Summerland Sweets is an artisan shop located near Summerland, BC

They sell an assortment of syrups and jams, as well as fruit spreads and nut brittles!

Summerland Sweets has a couple competitors, those being Lemonconcentrate SLU with a revenue of $6.5M, Menz & Gasser Italia with $7.3M, and Blackberry Patch, Inc. with $12.8M

Of these, Summerland Sweets sits with a revenue of $9M

https://rocketreach.co/summerland-sweets-profile_b429e1d3c1ffd30a

Summerland Sweets has 5 employees yet they still hold themselves high in their quality and production

Product/brand selection:

Who are they? What does their brand stand for? How do you know this?

Summerland Sweets, with their “liberal sunshine and warm weather,” take pride in their ripe fruit and natural flavors

The business has substantially grown, and is still family-run to this day

They originally started by selling fruit jelly candies as a fundraising effort, which then eventually turned into the business we know it as today.

The founder, Ted Atkinson, was dedicated solely to the quality of his produce. To him, that meant “using only top quality tree and vine ripened fruit picked at the peak of maturity.”

[chorusfm]

Grant Summerland – “The Ballad of Captain Chup” (Song Premiere)

Today is a great day to share the news that Grant Summerland has returned with a new single and the announcement of a brand new EP, entitled Unnatural History II. Summerland is sharing his lead single, “The Ballad of Captain Chup,” that showcases a harsher guitar and ambient sound presenting a darker and more mature soundscape for the much loved pop-punk melodies soaked in reverb. If you’re enjoying the early listen to the new single, please consider pre-ordering the EP here. I was also able to catch up with Grant Summerland for a brief interview below. Is there a specific inspiration you have for the way you go about putting together your lyrics? Can you elaborate on parts of that process? Lyrics often come from all sorts of places. I’d love to sit here and say I have some sort of methodology, that I have it down to a science but I absolutely don’t. Sometimes the lyrics dictate the music, sometimes it’s the other way around. I will say a number of lyrics come from random lines I write down, usually in the middle of the night, and then forget about for a while. For “The Ballad of Captain Chup”, I know “bridge over the Yuba in dreams” was something I scribbled down one morning in my notebook after realizing I have dreams with a recurring landscape that’s based on a particular bridge I swam under once in the Yuba in the middle of a heatwave. It looks a lot different in my dreams than in real life but it’s still recognizable as that specific bridge and for whatever reason my brain decided to make it a setting that I return to a lot. Writing it down wasn’t even intended to be a lyric, more just a note to myself and it slotted so nicely into the music I had for that song. On the other hand, “Monsi” is a song where the chorus lyrics came first and those dictated how the song would sound and feel. A lot of your music reminisces and talks about the nostalgia for an older California. Is there an experience you tend to really draw inspiration from? There isn’t an exact experience I draw from, it really is more that I’m fascinated by the “history” of California and how it differs from a lot of the rest of the country. The east coast has such a solidified mythology and lineage and California has those things but they manifest in really different ways. Part of that is because California is so much more new but part of that is California is just different culturally. In regard to nostalgia, one of the pushes and pulls I feel a lot is the desire to get lost in nostalgia and appreciate good memories but also acknowledge that nostalgia is dangerous and is a good tool to make you miserable. One of the lines on this EP is about how I’m often nostalgic for things I didn’t even experience or grow up with, which I think is something a lot of people my age experience with the internet. I’ll watch a video of a band I love from the 90s and feel reminiscent even if the show happened before I was born. Sometimes I feel it’s hard to parse out which experiences are actually mine or someone else’s.  Who are you listening to right now? I’ve been listening a lot to The Window by Ratboys which is an underrated album that came out this past year. The last track, “Bad Reaction,” in particular. I judge albums probably too much by how they close out and I think that album has a really good closing sequence. Beyond that, my listening has changed abruptly this past week since the weather here in Portland finally got nice so the energy has been on an uptick. A lot of that has been revisiting SOPHIE and Charli XCX and, of course, Bruce Springsteen and The Avalanches. --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/features/grant-summerland-the-ballad-of-captain-chup-song-premiere/

[yvivianl]

Week 12

After the feedback from the guest and Nancy, I have changed up a few designs on the print. The first design I changed was removing the top fruit design. I changed it to a continuation of the stripes. It does look smoother and it would not have vulgar symbols on it. The next part is I focused more on the typography for the title, making it more fun and vibrant. I chose a font that would convey the idea of the new generation and trendy. I also made the original fruit icon smaller and played it on the side. I also added the nutrition and the ingredient labels on the back. I made it more legible with a different font but still on brand since it resembles the Summerland sweets font.

[noloveforned]

no love for ned is all set for friday night on wlur. join us from 8pm until midnight for four hours of new music. we also accomodate those of you that dwell in the modern world by sharing last week's show on mixcloud- allowing you to listen whenever you'd like!

no love for ned on wlur – october 13th, 2023 from 8-10pm

artist // track // album // label men i trust // sugar // live at rbc echo beach (split lp w/ khruangbin) // dead oceans zzzahara // i'd like you to leave // tender // lex exek // the lifeboats // the map and the territory // foreign ecstatic international // monsters // ep cassette // sister polygon dancer // pulp thriller // as well cassette // gold mold neon leon // rock n' roll is alive // 1979-1984 singles collection // hozac satanic togas // split personality // your choice 7" ep // sweet time datenight (us) // wasteland // mother's day // (self-released) seablite // blink each day // lemon lights // mt. st. mtn. the feelies // run run run // some kinda love- performing the music of the velvet underground // bar/none onyon // egg machine // last days on earth // trouble in mind the krimis // dull // buzz 7" ep // polaks helena deland // spring bug // goodnight summerland // chivi chivi damien jurado // leopard man // motorcycle madness // maraqopa lower plenty // the great pretender // no poets // bedroom suck jason molina // an astronomer's last night of sight // the lamb and flag iv cassette // secretly canadian nicole mitchell and alexander hawkins // the stars are listening // at earth school // astral spirits billy harper // somalia // somalia // evidence jamila woods featuring saba // practice // water made us // jagjaguwar mndsgn featuring liv.e // playin these games // snaxxx // stones throw jesse johnson featuring sly stone // crazay // shockadelica // a&m prince and the new power generation // gett off // live at glam slam, 1992 // rhino shy layers // playing the game // shy layers // growing bin die zärtlichkeit // ein kurzer weg // heimweh meisterwerke // tapete the stone rollers // stone rolling // stone rolling digital single // (self-released) the beths and pickle darling // brand new colony // split 7" w/ car seat headrest // subpop vagabon // nothing to lose // sorry i haven't called // nonesuch jetstream pony // sixes and sevens // sixes and sevens 7" // spinout nuggets

[kelownaduradek12]

Finding a reliable deck contractor near you

While you are here, we believe you have already thought of adding a new deck or want to renovate the old one to improve the curb appeal of your exteriors. You may have also set the budget for the new project and you want to connect with deck builders in Summerland to help you achieve your objectives. You can easily take help from your friends, neighbors, and co-workers for references and it is a great approach to discover a reliable decking contractor because the reputation among the previous clients is a good indication of how the agency works.   Google will also help you learn about the reputation of the deck builders in Osoyoos. However, we know that hiring a deck builder is all about putting your faith and trust in someone else to get the task done correctly and on schedule. We would suggest that you take your time to get this done correctly so that you get the best quality possible. 

Unless you want to employ a full-fledged deck designer, you should know how you want your deck to look like. Before you hire your deck builder, you should stay clear on a few things, such as the deck size you want, the deck levels, flooring materials, and other extra deck features you want to pool in. 

To find a perfect deck builder in Summerland, here are a few steps to help. 

Know the size of the project

Different deck builders have different capacities to work on decks. Before you can hire someone to accomplish your work, you must know the size of your project so that you can explain it well to the builder. Create an outline of your deck project and scale a sketch with dimensions to specify the size and shape of the deck being built. It should be correct and so, we would suggest you to note down everything. 

Materials to be used 

If you are building a deck, you would already know the kind of materials you want to build the deck with. Do not interpret anything, you just need to make sure the size, style, grade, name brand, and so on are specified well to get precisely what you are looking for. 

Positioning of the deck 

You should always know the right place where the deck will be positioned. Always be clear with the directions too. Make sure that you have everything in written as verbal communication may not be very effective in this case. 

Deadline of the project 

One more thing to take care of is the deadline of the project. Before hiring deck builders in Summerland, find out who can complete your project well in time. 

It is time to follow the tips and hire the right deck builders in Osoyoos. 

[scotttrismegistus7]

NEW DISCOVERIES CONCERNING THE SPIRIT WORLD. Q&A, SPEAKING FREELY:

JUST WHEN YOU THINK THAT SORTING OUT SUPERNATURAL PHENOMENON CAN'T GET ANY MORE CONFUSING THAN IT ALREADY IS AT TIMES, I MADE A DISCOVERY JUST RECENTLY THAT HAS HAD TO MAKE ME RETHINK HOW I INTERPRET THE SPIRIT WORLD.

I'M A WITCH, SO I HAVE ALWAYS MAINLY DEALT WITH THE ANCIENT ONES AND ANCESTOR SPIRITS IN THE SUMMERLAND, THIS INCLUDES THOSE THAT ARE SERPENTINE, NUMMO, AND THE DISEMBODIED TO IGIGI.

THE OTHER DAY I CAUGHT A COUPLE OF SPIRITS TRYING TO INTERACT WITH ME THAT DID NOT COME FROM THE SUMMERLAND, THE SPIRIT WORLD AS I KNOW AND UNDERSTAND IT AS A WITCH. THEY WERE ONLY OPERATING ON THE 6TH AND 7TH BIRD LEVEL FREQUENCIES, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THE OTHER FREQUENCY SHEATHS AT ALL, THEY WERE OPERATING ON A LEVEL OF FEAR AND ANGER, THEY WERE TRYING TO INFLUENCE MY EMOTIONAL BODY, AND THEY APPEARED TO BE HUMAN.

NOT ONLY WERE THEY NOT ON THE FREQUENCY LEVELS OF THE SPIRITS OF THE EARTH AND THE SERPENTINE SPIRITS, THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THOSE FREQUENCY SHEATHS. THEY ONLY HAD THE 6TH AND 7TH BIRD LEVEL FREQUENCY SHEATHS THAT YOU MAINLY ONLY DETECT IN HUMANS THAT ARE STILL ALIVE, BUT THEY WERE CLEARLY WITHOUT THEIR OWN BODIES TO RETURN TO. I CAN ONLY GUESS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN DISEMBODIED ASTRAL BODIES FROM HUMAN BEINGS, THAT FOR SOME REASON DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE ASTRAL PLANE AT ALL, AND GOT STUCK IN THEIR SPIRIT FORMS ON THE LITERAL PLANE OF MATTER. I THINK THAT THESE ARE THE SPIRITS OF THE HUMANS THAT USE THE CLOCKWORK ORANGE RA ACTIVATION VIA GOD EAT GOD SETHEAN CANNIBALISM MAGIC, THAT END UP PERMANENTLY PRYING OPEN THEIR 6TH AND 7TH CHAKRAS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DESTROYING THEIR LOWER THREE CHAKRAS TO ENTER THE BIRD FORM, BECAUSE THEY TRICK THEIR BRAINS INTO THINKING THEY DIED WHEN THEIR BODY IS STILL ALIVE. THEN AFTER THEIR BODIES HAVE DIED, LEAVING THEIR SPIRITS LITERALLY STUCK IN THE PLANE OF MATTER, WITHOUT ANY OF THE OTHER SPIRIT BODY SHEATHS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO EVEN INTERACT WITH THE MATERIAL WORLD IN ANY WAY AT ALL, EXCEPT THROUGH MANIPULATING THE EMOTIONS OF OTHER LIVING HUMANS. ALSO, BECAUSE THEY HAVE COMPLETELY DETACHED THEMSELVES FROM NATURE TO BECOME ELEMENTS OF CHAOS, STOPPING THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO ENTER INTO ANY OF THE NATURAL CYCLES ASSOCIATED WITH SPIRITS ENTERING THE NATURAL ASTRAL PLANES.

WE KEPT WONDERING WITH THE GENETIC AVATAR EXPERIMENTS WE AS SERPENTINE SPIRIT BEINGS WERE DOING ON THE EARTH PRIMATES, HOW EVEN AFTER A COMPLETE AND TOTAL ELE, EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENTS, THE SEPHIAN CANNIBALISM MAGIC CLOCKWORK ORANGE RA ACTIVATIONS KEPT RETURNING AND HAPPENING, AND NOW WE KNOW. THEY LEFT BEHIND THEIR BIRD SPIRITS TRAPPED ON FREQUENCY LEVELS THAT SERPENTINE BEINGS CANNOT SEE, SO WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY WERE THERE, AND THEY KEPT CORRUPTING ANY OF THE GENETIC AVATAR EXPERIMENTS WE WERE DOING, WITHOUT US BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER. WITH AS LONG AS ALL THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, THE MATERIAL PLANE OF THE PLANET EARTH COULD BE PACKED WITH THOSE THINGS, THOSE EVIL SETHIAN BIRD SPIRITS, AND ANYBODY UNAWARE OF THEIR PRESENCE OUTSIDE OF THE FREQUENCIES OF THE WORLD OF NATURE AND THE SERPENTS COULD POTENTIALLY BE SWARMING WITH THOSE THINGS.

PEOPLE SAY THAT THE SERPENTINE SPIRITS ARE THE BAD ONES, BUT WE ARE NOT, WE ARE STILL ATTACHED TO NATURE AND THE NATURAL WORLD BY OUR FREQUENCY LEVELS, AND WE WORK FOR AND WITH THE GREAT MOTHER GODDESS, NOT AGAINST HER. WELL, APPARENTLY THERE WERE AND ARE BIRD SPIRITS ON THE EARTH AS A RESULT OF THE UNNATURAL ACTIONS THEY PERFORMED WHILE THEY WERE ALIVE, THAT SEPARATED THEM FROM NATURE IN A WAY THAT LEFT THEM STUCK IN AN EVIL SPECTRUM ORIENTATION OF BIRD FREQUENCIES THAT THOSE OF US IN THE SERPENTINE WORLD COULD NOT SEE UNTIL RECENTLY. THOSE SETHIEN BIRD SPIRITS ARE INDEED SEPARATED FROM NATURE, AND THUS CAPABLE OF HORRIBLE ACTS OF DESTRUCTION. THIS EXPLAINS SO MUCH THAT WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT BEFORE.

THIS IS A BRAND NEW DISCOVERY FOR ME, IF ANYONE HAS ANY FEEDBACK OR IDEAS, AND INDEED YOU CAN ASSUME THAT THE POWERS THAT BE ARE NOW GATHERING THE NECESSARY DATA TO IMPLEMENT AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. IF WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IT WOULD MEAN THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE A NECESSITY FOR ANY MORE DELIBERATE EXTINCTION LEVEL ELE EVENTS ON EARTH, LIKE THOSE THAT MOST OFTEN HAPPEN DURING THE EQUINOX PERIODS OF THE GREAT RESET WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO STOP GENETIC AVATAR EXPERIMENTS THAT HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL AND STARTED DESTROYING THE EARTH INSTEAD OF LIVING IN HARMONY WITH THE EARTH.

~I am the Heart of the Hydra, the Heart of Goddess Isis, I am Aeon Horus.

I am Divine Chronos, the Yaldaboath Demiurge Metamorphosed, I am the Singularity of the Master Craft of the Black Sun.

Azazil-Iblis, Abzu-Osiris-Kukulkan, Nummo-Naga.

Mégisti-Generator Starphire~

#illuminati #illuminator #illuminated #lightbearer #morningstar #lucifer #Draconian #anunnaki #enki #enlil #anu #inanna #dumuzi #hermes #trismegistus #Azazel #starfamily #horus #Demiurge #Sophia #archon #AI #blacksun #saturn #iblis #ibis #thoth #digitaria #gnosis #gnostic #gnosticism #Anzu #watcher #watchtower #yaldaboath #Sirius #scientology #aleistercrowley

[wine-porn]

Somewhere off the coast of California...

Somewhere off the coast of California…

Clear golden ruby. More ruby than garnet at the core, but widening to a bright orange-ish glow at the rim. nice nose, all dry chalk and weedy briar and roasted meat with a little brittle matchhead and cigar box. There’s a thick muddy feel to the nose. It’s not simple or light. Bien Nacido’s just going to crank this kind of stuff out–no matter the price-point. The fruit is really dull in the…

[petnews2day]

The Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland has a huge sweetie cat prepared to settle in at a brand-new house - Penticton News

New Post has been published on https://petnews2day.com/pet-news/cat-news/the-critteraid-animal-sanctuary-in-summerland-has-a-huge-sweetie-cat-prepared-to-settle-in-at-a-brand-new-house-penticton-news/?utm_source=TR&utm_medium=Tumblr+%230&utm_campaign=social

The Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland has a huge sweetie cat prepared to settle in at a brand-new house - Penticton News

Cuddly huge cat requires house Casey Richardson If you’re searching for a permanently huge fellow in your life, the Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland has a sweetie of a cat prepared to get in touch with you. ” Tony is an amazing only animal. He chooses to be simply himself and his household. Tony is […]

See full article at https://petnews2day.com/pet-news/cat-news/the-critteraid-animal-sanctuary-in-summerland-has-a-huge-sweetie-cat-prepared-to-settle-in-at-a-brand-new-house-penticton-news/?utm_source=TR&utm_medium=Tumblr+%230&utm_campaign=social #CatsNews

[cielrouge]

YA SFF Books by Black Authors 

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow: About the strength of black sisterhood set in Portland, OR, best friends Tavi and Effie discover their true supernatural identity when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical siren voice during a police stop.

A Chorus Rises (A Song Below Water #2) by Bethany C. Morrow: Teen influencer Naema Bradshaw is an Eloko, a person who’s gifted with a song that woos anyone who hears it. Everyone loves her — well, until she's cast as the awful person who exposed Tavia’s secret siren powers. When a new, flourishing segment of Naema’s online supporters start targeting black girls, however, Naema must discover the true purpose of her magical voice.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown: Inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess, Karina, and a desperate refugee, Malik, find themselves on a collision course to murder each other, despite their growing attraction.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor: Sunny Nwazue, an American-born albino child of Nigerian parents, moves with her family back to Nigeria, where she learns that she has latent magical powers which she and three similarly gifted friends use to catch a serial killer.

Akata Warrior (Akata Witch #2) by Nnedi Okorafor: Now stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny Nwazue, along with her friends from the the Leopard Society, travel through worlds, both visible and invisible, to the mysterious town of Osisi, where they fight in a climactic battle to save humanity.

Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis: For fans of Us and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comes a witchy story full of black girl magic as one girl’s dark ability to summon the dead offers her a chance at a new life, while revealing to her an even darker future.

Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi: After he eats the sin of a royal, Taj, a talented aki, or sin-eater who consumes the guilt of others whose transgressions are exorcised from them by powerful but corrupt Mages, is drawn into a plot to destroy the city, and he must fight to save the princess he loves and his own life.

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray: Two Black teenagers, talented Beastkeeper Koffi and warrior-in-training Ekon, must trek into a magical jungle to take down an ancient creature menacing the city of Lkossa, before they become the hunted.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton: In the opulent world of Orléans, where Beauty is a commodity only a few control, Belle Camellia Beauregard will learn the dark secrets behind her powers, and rise up to change the world. 

A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney: A whimsical and butt-kicking Alice in Wonderland retelling featuring a black teen heroine who battles Nightmares in the dark and terrifying dream realm known as Wonderland. 

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves: 16-year-old Hanna reunites with her estranged mother in an East Texas town that is haunted with doors to dimensions of the dead and protected by demon hunters called Mortmaine.

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury: Set in near-future Toronto in which, after failing to come into her powers, 16-year-old Black witch Voya Thomas must choose between losing her family’s magic forever or murdering her first love.

The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley: Set in Victorian England, African tightrope walker Iris cannot die; but soon gets drafted in the fight-to-the-death tournament of freaks where she learns the terrible truth of who and what she really is.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris: A gripping, evocative novel about Black teen Alex Rufus, who has the power to see into the future, and whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi: 17-year-old Zélie and companions journey to a mythic island seeking a chance to bring back magic to the land of Orïsha, in a fantasy world infused with the textures of West Africa.

Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha #2) by Tomi Adeyemi: After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But with civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron: 16-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia flees, hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris: A gripping, evocative novel about Black teen Alex Rufus, who has the power to see into the future, and whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death.

Crown of Thunder (Beasts Made of Night #2) by Tochi Onyebuchi: Taj has escaped Kos, but Queen Karima will go to any means necessary--including using the most deadly magic--to track him down. 

A Crown So Cursed (Nightmare Verse #3) by L.L. McKinney: Alice is ready to jump into battle when she learns that someone is building an army of Nightmares to attack the mortal world, before she learns of a personal connection to Wonderland.

Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron: In Jim Crow South, black teen Evalene Deschamps finds her place among a family of women gifted with magical abilities, known as jubilation - a gift passed down from generations of black women since the time of slavery.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland: The Civil War is over, but mostly because the dead rose at Gettysburg—and then started rising everywhere else. Fighting the undead is a breeze for Jane McKenne, an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. But the fight for freedom? That’s a different story.

Deathless Divide (Dread Nation #2) by Justina Ireland: After the fall of Summerland, Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler. But nothing is easy when you’re a girl trained in putting down the restless dead, and a devastating loss on the road to Nicodermus has Jane questioning everything she thought she knew about surviving in 1880’s America.

A Dream So Dark (Nightmare Verse #2) by L.L. McKinney: Still reeling from her recent battle (and grounded until she graduates) Alice must cross the Veil to rescue her friends and stop the Black Knight once and for all in Wonderland.

Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds: Jamal’s best friend Q is brought back to life after a freak accident … but they only have a short time together before he will die again.  How can Jamal fix his friendship without the truth?

Fate of Flames by Sarah Raughley:  Before they can save the world from the monstrous phantoms, four girls who have the power to control the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water must first try to figure out how to work together. 

For All Time by Shanna Miles: Tamar and Fayard, two Black teens, are fated to repeat their love story across hundreds of lifetimes, from 14th-century Mali to the distant future, as they struggle to break the cycle.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna: Inspired by the culture of West Africa, a feminist fantasy debut traces the experiences of 16-year-old Deka, who is invited to leave her discriminatory village to join the emperor’s army of near-immortal women warriors.

The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis: The country of Arketta calls them Good Luck Girls--they know their luck is anything but. Sold to a "welcome house" as children and branded with cursed markings. When Clementine accidentally kills a man, the girls risk a dangerous escape to find freedom, justice, and revenge.

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron: Set in a West African-inspired fantasy kingdom, Arrah comes from a long line of powerful witchdoctors, yet fails at magic. When Arrah trade years off her life for magic to stop the Demon King from destroying the world—that is if it doesn’t kill her first.

Legacy of Light (The Effgies #3) by Sarah Raughley: After Saul’s strike on Oslo—one seemingly led by Maia herself—the Effigies’ reputation is in shambles. Belle has gone rogue, Chae Rin and Lake have disappeared, and the Sect is being dismantled and replaced by a terrifying new world order helmed by Blackwell. If the Effigies can’t put the pieces together soon, there may not be much left of the world they’ve fought so desperately to save.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn: In this King Arthur retelling, Black teen Bree Matthews infiltrates a secret society of powerful magic wielders to find out the truth behind her mother’s untimely death.

Mem by Bethany C. Morrow: In alternate reality Montreal (1925), a young woman’s personality is the result of a startling experimental procedure, leaving her to struggle with the question of who she really is.

Miles Morales, Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds: But Miles Morales accidentally discovers a villainous teacher's plan to turn good kids bad, he will need to come to terms with his own destiny as the new Spider-man. 

Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard: Half-mortal teenager Helen Thomas goes to live with her father—who is Zeus, masquerading as a university professor—and must do her best to keep the family secret intact.

The Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds: After falling for Kate, her unexpected death sends Jack back in time to the moment they first met, but he soon learns that his actions have consequences when someone else close to him dies.

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith: Set in a futuristic, hostile Orleans landscape, Fen de la Guerre must deliver her tribe leader's baby over the Wall into the Outer States before her blood becomes tainted with Delta Fever. 

Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney & Robyn Smith: When Nubia’s best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all—her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class—to become the hero society tells her she isn’t.

A Phoenix First Must Burn: 16 Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope edited by Patrice Caldwell: Filled with stories of love and betrayal, strength and resistance, this collection contains an array of complex and true-to-life characters in which you cannot help but see yourself reflected. Witches and scientists, sisters and lovers, priestesses and rebels.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron: In this contemporary fantasy inspired by The Secret Garden, Black teen Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants with a single touch. Up against a centuries-old curse and the deadliest plant on earth, Bri must harness her gift to protect herself and her family, when a nefarious group comes after her in search of a rare and dangerous immortality elixir.

A Psalm of Storm and Silence (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #2) by Roseanne A. Brown: As the fabric holding Sonande together begins to tear, Malik and Karina once again find themselves torn between their duties and their desires.

A Queen of Gilded Horns (A River of Royal Blood #2) by Amanda Joy: After learning the truth of her heritage, Eva is on the run with her sister Isa as her captive, but with the Queendom of Myre on the brink of revolution, Eva and Isa must make peace with each other to save their kingdom.

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko: In a West African-inspired empire, Tarisai is raised by The Lady and sent to kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?

Redemptor (Raybearer #2) by Jordan Ifueko: For the first time, an Empress Redemptor sits on Aritsar's throne. To appease the sinister spirits of the dead, Tarisai must now anoint a council of her own, coming into her full power as a Raybearer.

The Ravens by Danielle Page & Kass Morgan: The sisters of Kappu Rho Nu share a secret: they’re a coven of witches. For Vivi Deveraux, being one of Kappa Rho Nu’s Ravens means getting a chance to redefine herself. For Scarlett Winters, a bonafide Raven and daughter of a legacy Raven. When Vivi and Scarlett are paired as big and little for initiation, they find themselves sinking into the sinister world of blood oaths and betrayals.

Rebel Sisters (War Girls #2) by Tochi Onyebuchi: Though they are working toward common goals of helping those who suffered, Ify and Uzo are worlds apart. But when a mysterious virus breaks out among the children in the Space Colonies, their paths collide.

Reaper of Souls (Kingdom of Souls #2) by Rena Barron: After so many years yearning for the gift of magic, Arrah has the one thing she’s always wanted—at a terrible price. But the Demon King’s shadow looms closer than she thinks. And as Arrah struggles to unravel her connection to him, defeating him begins to seem more and more impossible.

A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy: A North African-inspired feminist fantasy in which two sisters, Eva and Isa must compete in a magical duel to the death for the right to inherit the queendom of Myre.  

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves: In Portero, Texas, teens Kit and Fancy Cordelle, daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, bring two boys with similar tendencies to a world of endless possibilities they have discovered behind a mysterious door.

Siege of Shadows (The Effigies #2) by Sarah Raughley:  After Saul reappears with an army of soldiers with Effigy-like abilities, threatening to unleash the monstrous Phantoms, e-year-old Maia and the other Effigies hope to defeat him by discovering the source of their power over the four classical elements, but they are betrayed by the Sect and bogged down by questions about the previous Fire Effigy's murder.

The Sisters of Reckoning (The Good Luck Girls #2) by Charlotte Nicole Davis: The blockbuster sequel to an alternate Old West-set commercial fantasy adventure.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow: Set in the near-future, in which a captive teen human and a young alien leader—bonded by their love of forbidden books and music—embark on a desperate road trip as they attempt to overturn alien rule and save humankind. 

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi: Set in a futuristic, Black Panther-inspired Nigeria, sisters Onyii and Ify, separated by a devastating civil war, must fight their way back to each other against all odds.

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst: When the goddess Bayla fails to take over Liyana's body, Liyana's people abandon her in the desert to find a more worthy vessel, but she soon meets Korbyn, who says the souls of seven deities have been stolen and he needs Liyana's help to find them.

The Weight of Stars by K. Ancrum: After a horrific accident brings loners Ryann and Alexandria together, Ryann learns that Alexandria's mother is an astronaut who volunteered for a one-way trip to the edge of the solar system.

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson: Black teen Marigold and her blended family move into a newly renovated, picture-perfect home in a dilapidated Midwestern city, and are haunted by what she thinks are ghosts, but might be far worse.

Wings of Ebony by J. Elle: Black teen Rue, from a poor neighborhood who, after learning she is half-human, half-goddess, must embrace both sides of her heritage to unlock her magic and destroy the racist gods poisoning her neighborhood with violence, drugs, and crime.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Thomas: In this Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut, two witches from enemy castes—one seeking power, and one seeking revenge—will stop at nothing to overthrow the witch queen, even if it means forming an alliance with each other and unleashing chaos on their island nation.

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood: An Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling in which an unlicensed debtera, or exorcist, Andromeda, is hired to rid a castle of its dangerous curses, only to fall in love with Magnus Rochester, a boy whose life hangs in the balance.

Yesterday Is History by Kosoko Jackson: Black teen Andre Cobb undergoes a liver transplant and as a side effect winds up slipping through time from present-day Boston to 1969 NYC on the eve of the Stonewall riots, delivering a story that is part romance, part gay history, and part time-travel drama, exploring how far we have and haven't come. 

[blood-and-poetry]

I'm sorry to go off brand here but I have to talk about something wholesome. Stop everything you are doing and watch "Summerland". Seriously please watch it if you can (I ordered the dvd for around 6 euros). It's one of the most touching movies I've seen in a long time. It's written and directed by a woman (Jessica Swale), has beautifully written characters, has a lesbian couple, doesn't romanticise war depsite being set during the second world war, the wonderful Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the second same sex attracted role I've seen her in, Gemma Arterton also in the second lesbian role I've seen her in and it's just. Overall the most perfect movie. I've had a good cry while watching this. But I really mean a "good" cry. Kinda therapeutic lol. It just gives you a warm, cozy feeling in the end. I have no idea why nobody is talking about it or recommending it. It's beautiful!

[beenovel]

For the stay at home asks, 5. 5 tv shows that cheer you up, 11. a tip or hack you’ve learned that makes cleaning or tidying easier, 21. a youtube video you find useful, entertaining or relaxing, 27. your favourite flavour and brand of tea, 30. a song that makes you want to have a boogie round your bedroom. Hope that's not too many, and have a lovely day! :D

Not too many at all!

5. 5 tv shows that cheer you up

Tv Shows:

Nikita

Psych (always my go-to)

ATLA

The IT Crowd

Nadiya's Time To Eat (I don't love the recipes, but it's so chill)

Movies:

A Little Chaos

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (I cried the first two times I watched this movie)

Summerland (I still cry at the end of this movie, and the first time I watched it it made me so happy I randomly burst into tears for the next two days)

Stardust

Jodhaa Akbar

-

11. a tip or hack you’ve learned that makes cleaning or tidying easier

I don't remember where I learned this but:

At the beginning of the year turn all your hangers backward so the back of the hook is facing the closet wall, then when you put the clothes back after wearing them put the hangers in with the back facing you. This way at the end of the year you know what you wear and what you don't and can get rid of the extra.

-

21. a youtube video you find useful, entertaining or relaxing

I love the "getting dressed in" series by CrowsEye Productions on youtube. My favorites are Getting Dressed In WW1 - VAD Nurse, Getting Dressed In WW2 - Women's Land Army, and Getting Dressed In The 18th Century - Working Woman

They are always so quiet and soothing and aesthetically pleasing

-

27. your favourite flavour and brand of tea

Pretty much any black tea. I don't like herbal teas. So Earl Grey, Irish and English Breakfast teas. Stuff like that. I brew it really dark then add some honey and a bunch of milk.

For brands..... whatever I can get my hands on lol

-

30. a song that makes you want to have a boogie round your bedroom

Somebody New - Hozier

Get Better - Frank Turner

and pretty much anything by AC/DC or Panic! At The Disco

-

Thanks for the ask!! Hope you have a great day/night <3 <3

A soft, stay at home ask game

[p1325]

Here's the list of the Movies/TV Shows I used : 

-Birds Of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Clouds, Escape from Pretoria, Extraction, Holidate, 365 Days, Mulan, Soul, Family Romance, Safety, Power Book II Ghost, Hamilton, Host -Greenland, Sex Education, Supernatural, Black box, The Wretched, The Lodge, To All The Boys I Loved: PS I Still Love You, P-Valley, Saved by The Bell, The Baby Sitter Club -The Other Lamb, The Queen's Gamble, The Crown, The Gentlemen, 12 Hour Shift, The Rental, Summerland, Military Wives, Bad Boys For Life, Betty, The Boys, Black Is King, Schitt's creek -The True Adventures of Wolfboy, Eternal Beauty, Eurovision: The Story Of Fire Saga, Tommaso, The Broken Hearts Gallery, Uncle Frank, The Kid Detective, Emma, Upside Down Magic -Dashing in December, Over The Moon, Greyhound, I'm Your Woman, VFW, Charm City Knights, Flight Attendant, To The Stars, The Old Guard, Scare Me, The Boys In The Band, Work It, Spongebob, Dorohedoro, Keep your hands off Eizouken -Bill & Ted Face The Music, Happiest Season, The Whistlers, Freaky, Lingua Franca, Mr. Jones, Feels Good Man, Yellow Rose, The Way Back, Misbehaviour, Blood & Water, The Prom, Lucifer -Selah and the Spades, Onward, Banana Split, La Llorona, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, Uncorked, Love and Monsters, His House, Woke, Never Have I Ever, The Mandalorian, Miss Juneteenth -Emily In Paris, Alice in Borderland, I May Destroy You, Bridgerton, Little Voice, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Julia and The Phantoms, Euphoria, Westworld, Enola Holmes, Spontaneous, Trolls World Tour -Animaniacs, The Stranger, The Great, Stargirl, Dating Amber, Palm Springs, The Umbrella Academy, The Midnight Gospel,  Love, Victor, Teenage Bounty Hunters, Dead To Me, Harley Quinn, Kimetsu no Yaiba -Feel Good, Pet, Darwin's Game, Sylvie's Love, Dreambuilders, Somali and the Forest Spirit, Rogue, Another Round, BNA: Brand New Animal, Bad Education, Tower of God, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Japan Sinks:2020, The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here’s the list of the song he used :

Harry Styles - Watermelon Sugar Lil Mosey - Blueberry Faygo DaBaby, Roddy Ricch - ROCKSTAR Selena Gomez - Boyfriend Surf Mesa, Emilee - ily (i love you baby) Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber - Stuck With U Ritt Momney - Put Your Records On 24kGoldn, iann dior - Mood The Weeknd, Doja Cat - In Your Eyes (Remix) Melanie Martinez - The Bakery Lady Gaga - Stupid Love DJ Khaled, Drake - POPSTAR Megan Thee Stallion - Body Beyoncé - Black Parade Pop Smoke - What You Know Bout Love Selena Gomez - Rare Hamilton Cast - My Shot Rina Sawayama - XS Roddy Ricch - The Box Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am Beyoncé, Major Lazer, Shatta Wale - ALREADY Lady Gaga - 911/Chromatica II Dua Lipa - Hallucinate Doja Cat - Boss Bitch Ashnikko - Daisy Megan Thee Stallion, Beyoncé - Savage (Remix) Ariana Grande - 34+35 Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj - Say So (Remix) Camila Cabello, DaBaby - My Oh My Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande - Rain On Me The Pussycat Dolls - React TWICE - MORE & MORE K/DA, Madison Beer, Lexie Liu, Jaira Burns - MORE Conan Gray - Maniac Dua Lipa, DaBaby - Levitating Dua Lipa - Don't Start Now BLACKPINK - How You Like That Doja Cat, Gucci Mane - Like That Ariana Grande, Doja Cat - motive Pop Smoke, Lil Baby, DaBaby - For The Night Dua Lipa, Madonna, Missy Elliot - Levitating (The Blessed Madonna Remix) SAINt JHN, Imanbek - Roses (Remix) Joel Corry, MNEK - Head & Heart The Weeknd - Too Late Lady Gaga, BLACKPINK - Sour Candy BENEE, Gus Dapperton - Supalonely Clean Bandit, Mabel, 24kGoldn - Tick Tock Jack Harlow, Tory Lanez, Da Baby , Lil Wayne - WHATS POPPING 5 Seconds Of Summer - Old Me Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa - Prisoner Katy Perry - Daisies Bad Bunny, Jhay Cortez - Dakiti Cardi B, Anitta, Myke Towers - Me Gusta Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion - WAP Vicetone, Tony Igy - Astronomia WONHO - Open Mind Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky Little Mix - Sweet Melody Dua Lipa - Break My Heart BLACKPINK - Lovesick Girl Jonas Brothers, KAROL G - X Dua Lipa, Angèle - Fever Ashe, Niall Horan - Moral Of The Story Ellie Goulding - Overture Powfu, beabadoobee - death bed (coffee for your head) Billie Eilish - Everything I Wanted Eminem, Juice WRLD - Godzilla Juice WRLD, The Weeknd - Smile Billie Eilish - No Time To Die Zara Larsson, Sabrina Carpenter - WOW (Remix) Ellie Goulding, blackbear - Worry About Me Christina Aguilera - Reflection Dua Lipa - Phsyical BTS, Sia - ON Kygo, One Republic - Lose Somebody Why Don't We - Fallin' (Adrenaline) TWICE - I CAN'T STOP ME Ava Max - Kings & Queens Internet Money, Gunna, Don Toliver, NAV - Lemonade Chloe x Halle - Do It Taylor Swift - cardigan BTS - Dynamite AJR - Bang! Justin Bieber - Yummy The Weeknd - Blinding Lights Red Velvet - Psycho BLACKPINK, Selena Gomez - Ice Cream Jawsh 685, Jason Derulo, BTS - Savage Love Lil Nas X - Holiday Future, Drake - Life Is Good J Balvin, Tainy, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny - UN DIA (ONE DAY) Da Baby, Roddy Rich - Rockstar (BLM Remix) Travis Scott, Young Thug & M.I.A - FRANCHISE BTS - Black Swan Lil Baby - The Bigger Picture Joji - Gimme Love Sam Smith - Diamonds Bebe Rexha , Doja Cat - Baby I'm Jealous Halsey - you should be sad Tate McRae - you broke me first Lewis Capaldi - Before You Go Harry Styles - Adore You Marshmello, Halsey - Be Kind Marshmello, Demi Lovato - OK Not To Be OK Conan Gray - Heather Harry Styles - Falling Shawn Mendes - Wonder Justin Bieber, benny blanco - Lonely Billie Eilish - my future Juice WRLD, Marshmello - Come & Go Day - It's Your Fault Drake, Lil Durk - Laugh Now Cry Later Gabby Barrett - I Hope Trevor Daniel, Selena Gomez - Past Life Lauv, Conan Gray - Fake Taylor Swift, Bon Iver - exile LiSA - Gurenge David Guetta, Sia - Let's Love Justin Bieber, Quavo - Intentions Ariana Grande - positions Lauv, LANY - Mean It Sam Smith, Demi Lovato - I'm Ready Lady Gaga - Chromatica III Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper - Holy Demi Lovato - I Love Me Alan Walker, Ava Max - Alone, Pt II Sia - Together Harry Styles - Golden BTS - Life Goes On Juice WRLD, Halsey - Life's A Mess Taylor Swift - willow

[costiascoven]

4, 10, 13, 23, 33, 39, 48, 87

4: how do you take your coffee/tea?

☕ iced or very sweet one like creamy coffee chocolate shake or something

🍵 not that fond of tea, but if I had to choose this is my favourite brand of ice tea. Peach (Fersken) flavour🍑

10: do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach?

Side

13: what’s something that made you smile today?

Texting my love and sapphic tiktoks

23: what’s your favorite thing to do on lazy days where you have 0 obligations?

Binge movies and tv shows, sing and dance, go on adventures when I have the money and/or company to. Also, snacks haha

33: what’s your fave pastry?

Brownies, cupcakes or skillingsbolle⤵️

38: tell us about your pet peeves!

I don't really have any, sure I find stuff annoying but I prefer to ignore it or incapsulate myself in my own world to "escape" the annoyance.

48: what was your biggest fear as a kid? is it the same today?

The dark, heights, Voldemort and getting locked in somewhere.

Still very afraid of heights, and getting locked into places is very panic inducing. Also, now I have replaced my fear of the dark with the fear of dying because of the unknown mysteries of a possible afterlife.

87: what are some movies you think everyone should watch at least once in their lives?

Yikes, ummm there are so many good ones. Maybe Summerland, that is a very good movie. A thousand words, Titanic, Imagine Me & You, Carol, Divergent, Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Love Simon, Thelma, The half of it, The Intern, Fear Street, The truth about Jane, Bridge to Terabithia, Tomorrowland, Race to which mountain, Avatar, The boy in the striped pyjamas, Home alone, A christmas carol, Anastasia, Maleficent, The conjuring universe movies, Insidious, Mamma Mia 2, Pride, Stonewall, Wonder woman... I could go on and on😅

[yvivianl]

Week 10

I have done some research and reference findings for my jam revamp and compiled them into a visual design brief. In my collage, I have included some inspirations and directions I want to go for. I want to modernize the jam package without taking away the integrity of the brand. It will be a challenge to find a balance to show both jam and liqueur since it's a liqueur jam.

For my sketches, I played around with a few ideas. My vessel is a mason jar cup that I found at the dollar store. I thought it would be an interesting idea since it would be reusable in a different way than the normal jam jars, and since the jam flavors are liqueur-based, I thought a cup would be more fun and fitting. The first few are easy-to-remove labels that the users can remove. I played around with how it would lay out on the front and how it would wrap to the back. Another Idea I came up with is to use a piece of eco-friendly paper that is tied around with string onto the lid of the jar. That way there would be no sticker residue, and also it would be new and fun. With the piece of paper, there will be more liberation to have information on the front and back of the paper.

Here is my rationale for the project.

Challenges: My task is to revamp three Summerland Sweets Liqueur Jams. My challenge is to not take away the brands’ integrity. My biggest fear is replicating the Tropicana rebrand fail and destroy the company’s name. Also, for my vessel, I found these mason jar cups at the dollar store and thought I could potentially think of a way to make it into a jam jar. I really like the idea of making packaging reusable, so I wanted to create some kind of package/label where after the users are done with the jar, they can remove the label and just use it as a cup. I thought it was quite fitting since this jam jar was liqueur flavored so I just thought it would be fun and make it so you can hold liqueur or liquids in there. One other challenge I find is just making the label since I’m having a hard time thinking about how I can incorporate the liqueur portion and the jam portion into a package. I have been sketching a lot but still need to think of some other ideas.

Approach: I have two approaches to the mason jar cup jam. The first approach is to make the label easy to remove after use and just make it simple and elegant. I would go with a more elegant typography with some line drawings of the fruits or liqueur to support the flavor. The label on the back would explain how the users can remove the label and use it as a cup. The cup also will come with a plug and straw. The plug will plug the straw hole while the jam is still in the jar and once the users finish the jam, they can switch it into a straw. My next idea is to do a paper-based package where there is just an eco-friendly paper that has all the info on it that is tied with a piece of rope that goes on the lid. That way not only is it easy to remove the label, but it does look but more unique.

Outcome: I anticipate the product to turn out more modern than the original packaging. The original is quite old-fashioned, and you can really tell it from the early 2000’s. I want to modernize it without taking away its integrity and its brand. I would mostly like to play around with the typography and the illustrations of the packaging.

[tricksterreformed-a]

ONE ( ALIAS / NAME ): Bern. 

TWO ( BIRTHDAY ): in July

THREE ( ZODIAC ): Cancer (it’s what i am and it’s what i am haha)

FOUR ( HEIGHT ): 5′5 

FIVE ( HOBBIES ): writing, reading, bar trivia (pre-quar), D&D, and video games

SIX ( FAVORITE BOOKS ): IT by Stephen King, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, and Summerland by Michael Chabon

SEVEN ( LAST SONG LISTENED TO ): Liza Forever Minnelli by The Mountain Goats

EIGHT ( LAST SHOW WATCHED ): The last show I paid attention to is WandaVision, but HGTV is usually on as background noise in my house

NINE ( INSPIRATION FOR MUSE ): When I was mid SPN rewatch the most terrible thing happened, i was driving back from my lunch break and I came up with a really funny RP blog title for Gabriel

TEN ( MEANING BEHIND URL ): reformedtrickster was already taken (with a dash), and i didn’t want to step on anybodys toes brand/tagging wise so i... i just flipped it. 

tagged by: @hungover-and-broke-student (i actually choked on my coffee reading your url explanation) tagging: @earpess, @multusxcastalides, @itisweselton, @pavedwithcruelintentions & anyone else who wants to do it

[aion-rsa]

Best Upcoming Non-Western and POC Fantasy Books in 2020

https://ift.tt/3jP41EA

The world of fantasy is expanding (as you can see from the awesome, expansive titles we covered in 2019). While I still love a good tale of a farm boy from a feudal nation saving the kingdom (or the world), I’m thrilled that so many great titles from beyond the traditional fantasy white European setting (so, you know, a majority of the world) are hitting American bookshelves. 

This list of most-anticipated non-western fantasies has some ongoing series titles, as well as conclusions to fantasy sagas, and brand new series starters. So whether you’ve been following titles inspired by world locations beyond western Europe, or whether you are brand new to this window into where the fantasy genre can go and has gone, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the titles I’m most looking forward to this year.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in January

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez

The Illustrians have been usurped, and Ximena, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal, is ready to seek revenge. When the usurper, Atoc, demands the hand of the Condesa in marriage, Ximena goes instead, seeking a chance to destroy the relic that brought Atoc to power. Ibañez drew inspiration on stories of revolution in Bolivia, where both of her parents are from, in creating this South American influenced fantasy world.

Read Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez on Amazon.

Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim

This YA fantasy spin on The Count of Monte Cristo begins when Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning. Sure, she’ll face greater punishment aboard the debtor’s ship that has been her home for years, she instead finds herself rewarded. The only reward she wants? Revenge on those who have wronged her. But of course, revenge comes with its own costs, and as she becomes embroiled with the son of the man she wants to destroy, she uncovers truths that convince her to trust no one. The first in this duology comes from the author of the Timekeeper trilogy, and would pair well (for adult readers) with 2019’s excellent Queen of the Conquered, which has its own echoes of The Count of Monte Cristo.

Read Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim on Amazon.

Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi

In this contemporary dystopian fantasy, Ella can see the future of others. Her powers alienate her from her family, including her younger brother Kevin, who was born on the day that the police officers who beat Rodney King were exonerated in court. Alternating between Ella and Kev’s perspectives, the story follows the siblings from Kev’s promising childhood into his incarceration—for being a young black man in America. When Ella, who vanished years before, begins to visit Kev through astral projection, she leads him through the memories of others that she has experienced, guiding him to possibilities for a different future. Onyebuchi’s #OwnVoices story shines light on the realities of the structural racism and brutality faced by contemporary black Americans.

Read Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi on Amazon.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in February

Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland

Jane McKeen started putting down the restless dead in Dread Nation, and she’s back in the divided America of the 1880s. Summerland has fallen, but that doesn’t make Jane’s life any easier. Enemies are still around her, and she finds herself questioning if she really understands the world. It’s a good thing she’s got Katherine Deveraux watching her back. Kate never expected to be Jane’s ally, but she knows just exactly how important it is to have friends in a world as dangerous as this one. This sequel to Ireland’s celebrated first novel comes after Ireland penned a few Star Wars novels, and it’s great to see her back in the Weird West from a galaxy far far away.

Read Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland on Amazon.

The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes

This Maya-and-Aztec-inspired series starter reveals that the sun is fading, despite all of Prince Ahkin’s efforts to the contrary. When he must select a bride from among six candidates—and sacrifice the other five—in order to ascend to the throne, he feels connected to Mayana. But the gods may be against them, and the world may be on the brink of a darker apocalypse.

Read The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes on Amazon.

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K. S. Villoso

A war tore Queen Talyien’s nation apart. A marriage was supposed to save it. But when her groom disappears, there’s no way to unite the rival clans of her nation, fracturing the kingdom. When, years later, he sends her a message requesting that they meet, she holds out hope that there will be peace—until someone tries to kill her. In order to save her people, and herself, she must become the Bitch Queen, the she-wolf, that her enemies have called her. Villoso grew up in the Phillipines and draws inspiration from that setting. This novel was originally self-published in 2018, but the traditionally printed books launched this year for an expected trilogy.

Read The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso on Amazon.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in March

Thorn by Intisar Khanani

I loved the self-published version of Thorn when it was first released in 2012, and I’m excited to see a fully revised, expanded version coming out this year from HarperTeen. Drawing inspiration from the story of the Goose Girl, the story revolves around Princess Alyrra, whose identity is stolen from her by a sorcerer, robbing her of her royalty—but also granting her a chance to start fresh, free from the expectations of her family. However, when she uncovers a plot that threatens the prince she was to marry, she must decide whether to remain silent, or return to the royal world she longed to escape. This new edition of the #OwnVoices novel also includes Khanani’s fantastic short story, “The Bone Knife.”

Read Thorn by Intisar Khanani on Amazon.

Night of the Dragon by Julie Kagawa

The eagerly awaited conclusion of Kagawa’s trilogy is almost here! This third book in the “Shadow of the Fox” series follows the cliffhanger ending of Soul of the Sword. Hopefully this installment will reveal what has happened to Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko and her love-interest-slash-enemy, Kage Tatsumi, who was possessed by a demon.

Night of the Dragon by Julie Kagawa on Amazon.

Wicked as You Wish by Rin Chupeco

Tala doesn’t really care about magic—and she sometimes negates it accidentally. Her family is part Filipino—she descends from Maria Makiling, a Filipina heroine—and part tied to the old, disappeared country of Avalon. When the Snow Queen returns from the dead, and an Avaolian firebird shows up on Tala’s doorstep, she’s thrust into a dangerous world of spelltech in the Royal States of America…

Wicked as You Wish by Rin Chupeco on Amazon.

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

Although this Thai-inspired fantasy novel is geared toward middle graders, there’s no shortage of depth to the story. When prison-born Pong escapes, he discovers that the world he’d longed to see is just as unfair and impoverished as the one he left behind. The rich thrive in the supernatural lights of Chattana, but the poor remain struggling in the shadows. Nok, the prison warden’s daughter, is determined to bring Pong back inside before her family is at the center of a scandal. But her own experiences outside the prison make her question the truths she has long trusted. With inspiration drawn from Les Miserables, this middle grade fantasy also has plenty of adult appeal.

Buy A Wish in the Dark on Amazon.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in April

Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova

Renata is a memory thief, once in service of the king of Andalucia—though not of her own volition. She was kidnapped as a child and forced to carry out the King’s Wrath, leading to the deaths of thousands of her own people. Now, she has joined the rebellion, but even among the people who rescued her from the king, she is mistrusted. When she’s tasked with rescuing her commander—and love interest—from the palace, her rage and desire for revenge are tested. What will it cost her to keep her cover? Córdova is best known for the “Brookyn Brujas” series, and this Spain-set historical fantasy series starter is likely to feature some of the same appealing magic that made the contemporary fantasy series so popular.

Read Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova on Amazon.

The Ranger of Marzanna by Jon Skovron

This Russian-inspired epic fantasy features two siblings destined to oppose each other over the fate of the invading Empire. Sonya is training to be a ranger. Sebastian, her brother, is the world’s most powerful sorcerer. When their father is murdered by imperial soldiers, Sonya decides to take a stand against them, gathering together allies to push the invaders back. But Sebastian sides instead with the Empire, leading them to a final confrontation that will determine the fate of the world—and their family.

Buy The Ranger of Marzanna on Amazon.

The Red-Stained Wings by Elizabeth Bear

Set in the same world as Hugo-winner Bear’s epic “Eternal Sky” trilogy, The Red-Stained Wings continues the story of “The Lotus Kingdoms” she began in her 2017 novel The Stone in the Skull. Both books follow The Gage, a wizard-created brass automaton, and The Dead Man, a former bodyguard of the deposed Uthman Caliphate, who work as mercenaries. In the first book they delivered a message, and now all the Lotus Kingdoms are at war because of it. (While The Red-Stained Wings originally released in hardcover last year, we missed it in our 2019 roundup, and Bear’s work is too good not to mention.)

Buy The Red-Stained Wings on Amazon.

Read more

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By Kayti Burt

Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst

YA and middle grader readers will be familiar with Durst’s unique twist on fantasy stories, but her newest title gives adult audiences a chance to see her shine. Set in Becar, a land where your actions in life determine your next incarnation, the only way out of the cycle is to win the Races. Tamara and Raia, a trainer and a rider, work together to try to train a kehok—a monstrous mount—for Raia to ride in order for Raia to earn her freedom.

Read Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst on Amazon.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in May

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

This gorgeous cover grabbed me immediately, and this ancient West African-inspired fantasy with a strong female lead looks like it could join Tomi Adeyemi’s series as a YA hit. Deka is different from everyone else, with intuition that marks her as separate. All she wants is to be a normal member of her village—but when her blood is revealed to be gold, the color of impurity, she must choose death, or a fate as a warrior for the emperor. Skewing older than Rick Riordan’s demigod fantasies, but with shades of the Dora Milaje from the Black Panther, this is definitely an #OwnVoices series starter to watch for.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna on Amazon.

Empress of Flames by Mimi Yu

Lu and Min, the warring sisters of The Girl King, continue their battle over the Empire of the First Flame in this epic sequel. Lu, the firstborn, was destined to rule, and Min, blessed with magic, grew tired of being in her sister’s shadow. Now, while the sisters plot for the throne, a greater threat arises outside their empire—but even if they work together, they might lose everything.

Read Empress of Flames by Mimi Yu on Amazon.

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

This pirate swashbuckling adventure full of Asian folklore stars Flora, an orphan girl who takes on the identity of Florian to gain respect from a pirate crew, and Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, whose dreaded arranged marriage is interrupted by pirates. The two are thrust together, forming an unlikely bond that leads them to team up to rescue a mermaid and escape their fates—if they can survive the sea, a witch, and the Pirate Supreme himself.

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall on Amazon.

Lobizona by Romina Garber

Argentine folklore comes to life in Miami in this #OwnVoices contemporary novel that tackles real-world issues of the treatment of undocumented immigrants—and the fantastic problems of descending from a bruja and a lobizón, a werewolf. Manuela Azul is hiding from her father’s Argentine crime family in Miami. When her mother is arrested by ICE, Manu makes more discoveries about her family than she’s ready for—including the fact that, according to the rules of her family’s magical world, she’s not supposed to exist…

Read Lobizona by Romina Garger on Amazon.

The Archer at Dawn by Swati Teerdhala

This sequel to last year’s The Tiger at Midnight continues the story of the legendary rebel, Viper, in a saga based on Hindu mythology. Esha, known as Viper, and her partner Kunal infiltrate the court of King Vardaan. But while getting into the palace is easy, completing the tasks they set out to do may make them question their loyalties—to their countries, and to each other. This is the second book of a trilogy, so readers may need to expect a cliffhanger…

Read The Archer at Dawn by Swati Teerdhala on Amazon.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in June

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

Sirens have to hide their powers—and Tavia is determined to keep her identity a secret rather than be forced to follow the restrictions against her people. At least she has her best friend, Effie, to help her navigate high school. But soon, Effie has to face the literal demons of her past, and Tavia’s powers are revealed in the worst moment possible. Black mermaids are taking the spotlight between Disney’s live action The Little Mermaid and Rivers Solomon’s excellent The Deep, and this #OwnVoices YA novel looks like another excellent addition to that growing subgenre. (Disclosure: this novel is not #OwnVoices for mermaids; as far as I know, Morrow is not a siren in hiding.)

Read A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow on Amazon.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

A Crown Princess who seeks to resurrect her dead mother by sacrificing the heart of a king. A war-stricken young man, whose only way to save his sister is to kill the Crown Princess. Fate has different plans for both of them…. Princess Karina plans to offer her hand in marriage to the winner of the Solstasia festival in order to kill her new husband and bring her mother back from the dead. Malik enters the competition, hoping to get close enough to kill Karina, so that he can save his sister from a vengeful spirit. But when their two paths collide, the two find that everything is more complicated than they expected. Brown’s debut, the first of a duology with a sequel due out next year, is inspired by West African folklore, and features plenty of tension between the two POV leads. (Malik’s sweetness and anxiety make him an unusual protagonist for many reasons, and there are reasons he’s come away as the fan favorite character.)

Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee

Lee might not be returning to the world of his middle-grade Korean-mythology space fantasy or his hard SF space opera, but the launch of a new fantasy series, full of magical automata, is just as exciting. When a symbol painter’s Phoenix Extravagant—the material they need to create pigments to program the automata—they set out to find the source. But the secrets of the Empire may be darker than the painter ever imagined. This #OwnVoices novel features a nonbinary main character in an Asian-inspired fantasy setting, and it’s at the top of my must-read list for 2020.

Read Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee on Amazon.

The Unconquered City by K. A. Doore

Doore’s “Chronicles of Ghadid” come to a conclusion in this third, action packed volume of assassins and warriors. Illi remembers the rise of the restless dead, and she works to protect her city from the guuls that travel the dunes. And Illi knows a secret that could allow her to end the threat of the dead—but only if she’s willing to risk sacrificing everything. 

Read The Unconquered City by K.A. Doore on Amazon.

The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty

In the concluding volume of Chakraborty’s #OwnVoices “Daevabad Trilogy,” con-artist Nahri and exiled prince Ali are back in 18th Century Cairo after fleeing fallen Daevabad. But neither of them feel right having left their loved ones behind under the rule of a tyrant. Together with the djinn Dara, they have to find a way to remake the world. Den of Geek has been following this trilogy since book one, and it’s exciting to watch this series come to a conclusion.

The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty on Amazon.

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Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

One of my favorite discoveries last year was Gods of Jade and Shadow, and while Moreno-Garcia takes this story in an entirely different direction with an all new cast, this re-envisioning of the gothic suspense genre in a Mexican setting looks to be just as fantastic. Noemí is a brave socialite called to rescue her cousin from a mysterious doom. When she arrives, she’s not sure whether the threat comes from her cousin’s intimidating English husband—or from the house itself, which plagues her dreams with visions of blood. Set in the 1950s, this #OwnVoices historical looks likely to feature the same kind of strong, unstoppable heroine as her 2019 title, twisting the tropes of another genre with a dose of horror.

Read Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia on Amazon.

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho

“A bandit walks into a coffeehouse, and it all goes downhill from there,” according to the marketing hook for this one—and I have to admit, that has me hooked! This novella from Sorcerer to the Crown writer Cho is a wuxia fantasy with a female lead in far over her head. Guet has to team up with a group of thieves in order to protect a sacred object.

Read The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water on Amazon.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in July

Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim

This sequel to Lim’s Spin the Dawn continues the story of Maia Tamarin, once tailor to the king, and now cursed with demon blood. When she completed three impossible dresses and freed the trapped magician who served the emperor, she set into motion events that now have far-reaching consequences. Maia must assume the place of the emperor’s bride to keep the peace—but as she begins to lose herself to the demon curse, she also plans for a future for her family, and the magician that she loves, even if she herself doesn’t survive.

Read Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim on Amazon.

We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal

Zafir and Nasir are supposed to be enemies, but when they were brought together in We Hunt the Flame, they found that nothing is as simple as they thought. Now, both on a hunt for the same lost artifact, they find a far deeper evil than either has before experienced, and realize that their prize may be more dangerous than they can imagine. This is the second in Faizal’s #OwnVoices “Sands of Arawiya” series, and should relieve readers who have been waiting since the first novel’s cliffhanger ending.

Read We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal on Amazon.

The Crow Rider by Kalyn Josephson

In this sequel to Josephson’s The Storm Crow, Princess Anthia (Thia) continues her plans to defeat the invading Illucian empire and restore Rhodaire. But her giant crow, Res, injures her when he’s unable to control his own magic, adding complications to their plans. Worse, Thia is being pursued by the Illucian Crown Prince, to whom she is irresistibly drawn. Can Thia become the crow rider she was meant to be, and reclaim her stolen kingdom? The Crow Rider concludes Josephson’s duology, set in a melting pot fantasy world.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in August

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

Neil Gaiman’s Stardust meets Hindu mythology? Yes, please! Sheetal is the daughter of a mortal and a star. In order to save her father, she must travel to the celestial courts and serve as a champion in her mother’s family in a tournament. If she doesn’t succeed, she may never be able to return to Earth—or save her father’s life. This is a standalone #ownvoices fantasy novel that looks like it would definitely appeal to readers who loved Roshani Chokshi’s The Star Touched Queen. 

Read Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar on Amazon.

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

When most YA novels deal with immigration issues, the word “alien” doesn’t involve UFOs. Gilliand throws that expectation right out the window, creating a powerful first-person narration from the voice of a Latina who still communicates with her dead grandmother (and kitchen spirits). The narrative tackles not only undocumented immigration, human trafficking, and issues of sexual harassment and assault, but also UFOs, alien and government conspiracies, and human experimentation. The mashup of genres is unbelievably smoothly done, considering the disparate tones usually used for each, and the result is an amazing, un-put-downable novel with short chapters that inspire readers to keep going for just one more…

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Debut author Ifueko introduces readers to a new world, where the Raybearer is guided by his Council of Eleven, each of whom has a Hallow, or magical power, to help him rule. Lonely Tarisai has been raised by The Lady to get close enough to the Crown Prince to kill him. But when Tarisai becomes a member of the Council, she finds the belonging she has always sought. Can she forge her own path, and fight the order she’s been compelled to obey? The first in a new series, Raybearer is inspired by West African mythology, and features a strong cast and a protagonist whose voice makes you want to root for her—whatever she decides.

Nujran and the Corpse in the Quadrangle by Krishna Sudhir

In this sequel to the 2017 Nujran and the Monks of Meirar, Sudhir mixes the mystery genre with Indian mythology. There’s a murder on campus that needs to be solved, but Nujran has even more to deal with: kidnapping, a prison escape, a reunion with a certain group of monks, and a new romance. It’s a lot for a college student to handle—and with a mysterious illness plaguing the teachers, there’s a lot depending on Nujran to solve the mystery! Though this is the second book in a series, it stands alone, and readers can pick up the story as they go.

Dominion: An Anthology of Black Speculative Fiction, edited by Zelda Knight and Ekpeki Oghenechovwe Donald

We don’t normally include anthologies on this list, but Dominion is too good to miss. The thirteen stories, written by writers from Africa and the African diaspora, range from fantasies with gods and ghosts to post-apocalyptic science fiction. Some of the tales border on horror, while others feature magicians and middle-managers. Many of the stories force their protagonists to face their dead—whatever that may mean for the story. It’s a unique collection and it’s well worth picking up and discovering a new favorite short story.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in September

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Julian Diaz wants to know why he’s dead, so it’s a good thing Yadriel summoned him—accidentally—instead of the ghost he meant to bring back. Now Yadriel can’t get rid of Julian without helping the ghost tie up some loose ends. As the two spend more time together, Yadriel realizes he doesn’t really want Julian to leave after all. This novel features a Latinx trans boy determined to prove his gender to his family in a really intriguing #OwnVoices YA fantasy debut.

Read Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas on Amazon.

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

When Lin’s father, the Emperor, passes her over as his heir, she decides to take matters into her own hands, practicing the forbidden art of bone shard magic. But Lin isn’t the only one determined to take the throne, and the revolution at the palace gates may cost her everything. This first book in the “Drowning Empire” series is Stewart’s debut, and while the world is not specifically non-western inspired, Stewart is the Chinese American daughter of immigrants, and her new setting with its migratory islands is sure to grab the interest of readers who love fresh takes on fantasy.

Buy The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart on Amazon.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

This contemporary magical King Arthur-adjacent story, featuring a strong female lead who’s torn between taking down the Legendborn—descendents of King Arthur’s knights—for the secrets they hide from the world, or joining them in a fight against darker magical forces. Bree believes that her mother has died in an accident, until a “Merlin” attempts to wipe her memories of a magical event. Instead, Bree’s own magic is unlocked, and when she discovers another Merlin was hospitalized the night her mother died, she’s determined to uncover the secrets of the magical world. But the more she learns, the more she realizes there’s more at stake: war is coming, and Bree has to choose whose side she’s on.

Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova

You may have detected some excitement about Córdova’s anthology, Vampires Never Get Old, here at Den of Geek. But in addition to that Halloween perfect title, the conclusion to Córdova’s epic “Brooklyn Brujas” series also came out this fall. The award-winning series, the story of three sisters who develop their magical powers, launched with Labyrinth Lost in 2016. In this final volume, Rose is pulled through a magical portal to Adas, a magical land she has to save. Can saving another world help Rose figure out how to heal her own broken family? As Rose comes into her powers, she discovers she just may have what it takes to save herself. Fans of the series will not want to miss this finale!

The Ikessar Falcon by K. S. Villoso

The second book of the “Bitch Queen” trilogy is here! The series launched with a traditional publisher earlier this year, and in the sequel, Queen Talyien, now abandoned by her people, faces her failure to save her nation. In order to protect her king and her son, she must dismantle the myth that others have built around her—the myth she could never become. With mad dragons on one side and power-hungry men on the other Talyien’s road home is dangerous, but if she doesn’t triumph, her nation may pay the price.

Zorro’s Shadow: How a Mexican Legend Became America’s First Superhero by Stephen J. C. Andes

If superheroes are modern fantasy, the combination of legend and superhero deserves a place on this list, even if the exploration is nonfiction. Did you know that Zorro first appeared in 1919? The swashbuckling hero who fought for the poor and impoverished, while hiding his identity behind the foppish Don Diego, definitely set the stage for future cape-wearing heroes with secret-identities. But Zorro is more than just a precursor of that genre; Andes argues that he represents a Latinx, multiethnic, multicultural America. If you’ve loved Zorro in pop culture, taking a peek into the history behind the character is a must.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in October

Storm the Earth by Rebecca Kim Wells

Maren and Kaia may be reunited in this explosive conclusion to the Shatter the Sky duology, but their journey has changed them. Maren remains determined to set the dragons free, and to rescue their friend, Sev, now trapped by the emperor. Though Maren knows that she will fight, she’s not sure who will survive once the battle is over…

Read Storm the Earth by Rebecca Kim Wells on Amazon.

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Roanhorse’s Anasazi-inspired fantasy novel isn’t out until October, but the book is hitting many anticipated-fantasy lists of 2020. It’s no surprise, as Roanhorse is one of the most celebrated voices in fantasy right now, with a Nebula, Hugo, and Campbell all under her belt. While you’re waiting for more on this title, you can pick up the first two books in her Sixth World series, her Star Wars novel, or her 2020 middle-grade fantasy Race to the Sun.

Read Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse on Amazon.

Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee

Lee might not be returning to the world of his middle-grade Korean-mythology space fantasy or his hard SF space opera, but the launch of a new fantasy series, full of magical automata, is just as exciting. When a symbol painter’s Phoenix Extravagant—the material they need to create pigments to program the automata—runs out, they set out to find the source. But the secrets of the Empire may be darker than the painter ever imagined. This #OwnVoices novel features a nonbinary main character in an Asian-inspired fantasy setting, and it’s at the top of my must-read list for 2020.

Of Fury and Fangs by Kyoko M.

In this fourth novel in the “Of Cinder and Bone” series, someone is trying to kill Dr. Rhett “Jack” Jackson. As one of the two scientists—alongside Dr. Kamala Anjali—who brought dragons back to life after their previous extinction, Jack has a lot of enemies. Jack and Kamala plan to solve the mystery of who wants Jack dead, but finding the truth may cost more than they expected. The “Of Cinder and Bone” series mixes science fiction and fantasy, flooding a contemporary SF setting with dragons, and adding a hefty dose of thriller in for good measure.

God Storm by Coco Ma

In this sequel to Ma’s 2019 novel, Shadow Frost, Asterin has evaded her mother’s attempt at murdering her and has risen to become queen. But the cost was high, and Asterin lost both her lifelong friend and her true love. Now, she realizes that her friends are being held by the God of Shadow. What Asterin chooses won’t just change the fate of her friends, it might change the fate of the whole mortal world.

The Shadow of Hades by Paul C. Williams

Four stories intertwine in this paranormal fantasy novel that deals with themes of grief. In one tale, a boy with no memory wakes in a graveyard; eventually he discovers the souls of the dead residing within him. In another, the fabric of the universe is coming undone in a magical wood, and the local residents have to come together to heal the breech. Eventually, the four stories merge into a single whole, an exploration of what the characters are willing to sacrifice to confront their own demons. Williams is a Black-Hispanic, LGBTQ teen author who published his first book at age seventeen; his exploration of grief and death is dark, but also offers readers a spark of hope.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in November

The Conductors by Nicole Glover

A historical mystery crossed with a fantasy novel, this debut focuses on former Underground Railroad conductor Hetty Rhodes and her husband as they make their post-Civil War life in Philadelphia, solving mysteries the white authorities ignore. Hetty’s used to using her wits and her magic, and her new life is no different—especially when it comes to uncovering truths about the Black Elite of Philadelphia.

Read The Conductors by Nicole Glover on Amazon.

The Burning God by R. F. Kuang

The third, eagerly anticipated book in “The Poppy War” series sticks-the-landing (according to Kuang, quoting her editor in a Twitter post). The story finishes Rin’s saga in a world reminiscent of 20th Century, but filled with gods and monsters.

Read The Burning God by R.F. Kuang on Amazon.

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The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter

Winter’s sequel to last year’s The Rage of Dragons follows Tau as he continues fighting a war his people have been waging for generations. In a world where some women can summon dragons and some men can magically transform into larger, stronger versions of themselves, Tau has already realized that there are greater costs to the endless war than the Omehi have admitted to their people. Alongside Tsiora, the ousted queen of the Omehi, Tau strives to delay an attack by the indigenous people of Xidda, all while the queen makes a dangerous plan to retake the throne from her sister. The reviews of The Rage of Dragons make that novel sound un-put-downable, so expect another page turner when this one hits the shelves.

Buy The Fires of Vengeance on Amazon.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

What happens if you take Romeo and Juliet, reset it in 1920s Shanghai, then add a magical creature that drives people mad? Chloe Gong explores the answer in her YA historical fantasy. Juliette Cai has returned to Shanghai, proud to take on the role of heir to the Scarlet Gang. Roma Montagov is heir to the Scarlet Gang’s rivals, the Russian White Flowers. But while both gangs—and heirs—are prepared to war with each other, a deeper danger is rising from the depths of the Huangpu River, and the only cure to the creature’s madness comes from the Westerners in the city, who have their own motives. Unless Juliette and Roma can put aside their differences, Shanghai might fall. This is the first in a duology, to keep watching for Gong’s sequel to find out the fates of these two star-crossed lovers.

Most Anticipated Non-Western Fantasy Books in December

King of the Rising by Kacen Callender

Last year’s stunning Queen of the Conquered blew me away with its moral ambiguity and it’s gorgeous and terrible fantasy Caribbean setting. I had no idea Callender was planning a sequel, but I am incredibly excited to see where she takes the world, especially with the first novel’s secondary character Loren as the point of view character in this sequel. In the first novel, when Sigourney played the catalyst for a slave revolt—that led to her own unmaking, as well—Loren was one of the revolutionaries pulling her strings, and was the man who spoke up to request mercy for her. Now, with this former slave, the child of a colonist, at the forefront of the story, readers will get a very different view of the islands, and I cannot wait to see where this narrative takes us.

Buy King of the Rising by Kacen Callender on Amazon.

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