"Words are the wings on which intellect and imagination fly." – Ursula K. Le Guin
This, my friends, is a book that will pull back a curtain and show you something incomparably lovely, and then while you are gazing at it in awe, punch you in the stomach. NYRB Classics, 2013 translated by Barbara Bray Editions Du Seuil, 1980 Is that a recommendation? You bet it is. Originally published in … Continue reading Waves, Emanations: The Bridge of Beyond by Simone Schwarz-Bart
I have a soft spot for Arthurian legend. When I was sixteen I fell deeply in love with The Mists of Avalon, and my primary life goal at that time was to be a priestess of Avalon. Years later, I learned about Marion Zimmer Bradley's horrific abuse, and realized that in retrospect, there are certainly … Continue reading Scratching that Arthurian Itch: The Winter Knight by Jes Battis
Content warning: racism, death, illness, hospitalization Grievers is a quiet story with deep and unsettling roots. It is at once an astute portrayal of grief and loss, an invitation to engage with ideas of death and renewal, and a love song to the Black communities of Detroit. When we meet our protagonist Dune, she is … Continue reading Legacies of Sorrow (and the Fragile Hope of Beginning Anew): Grievers by adrienne maree brown
This post was originally going to be a review full of praise for Not for Use in Navigation: Thirteen Stories by Iona Datt Sharma, because I well and truly lost my heart to that book. But when I finished that collection, I found that I couldn't stop. I have spent the last week immersed in … Continue reading Welcome to the Worlds of Iona Datt Sharma
There is a world under the lake, and once upon a time everyone knew about it. These days, only Bastián is able to find it—until they meet Lore, who is able to join them in the lake-world. Here, colours are brighter and fantastical creatures are possible, and the sea grass and water thyme sway around … Continue reading When the Unspoken Becomes Unspeakable: Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore
I love a novella. So often they are a perfect blend of depth, meaning, and concise, beautiful language. Neon Yang's The Black Tides of Heaven was a joy to read for these reasons and more. Tordotcom, 2017 The Black Tides of Heaven is book one in the Tensorate series, a quartet of linked novellas that … Continue reading Rebellion & Change In Lovely Lovely Prose: The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang
Friends! Exciting news! For the next 6 months (April-September 2023), I will be giving away one free short story edit per month. I am so excited for this venture, which I am certain will bring lots of fantastic stories into my orbit. Without further ado, here are the details: Giveaways are open to all writers … Continue reading Fiction Editing Giveaway!
For those, like me, who might be put off by words such as "praying" and "sacred," first things first: this is not a religious book. Truly. What this book is, is a shockingly intimate series of essays (or as the author calls them, sermons) that dig deep into the novel Jane Eyre to extract meaning … Continue reading The Sacred and the Profane: Praying with Jane Eyre by Vanessa Zoltan
This post marks the first time that I have written about a book I worked on as an editor. But since the story of my involvement with this project is all tied up in what I want to say about it, it seems fitting. I don't remember how I first discovered Night Beats, but I … Continue reading On Community and Instant Noodles: The Sad Bastard Cookbook by Zilla Novikov and Rachel A. Rosen
Take a mystery featuring an eagle eye detective; an astute sidekick along for the ride; an atmospheric setting that conjures the obscuring, damp chill of pea-souper fog; railway journeys and train platforms; scholarly rivalries; tea and scones; and a soupçon of pining. You might be imagining Victorian London. You might even have had a certain … Continue reading Move Over Sherlock Holmes: The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
Topaz Literary 