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Steel of the Celestial Shadows, Vol. 1 by Daruma Matsuura

Danny Boy: The Legend of the Beloved Irish Ballad by Malachy McCourt

Erin wrote: "Andy wrote: Did you find Snake-Eater very horror-y? I don't know if I can enjoy horror, but I can like darker fantasy books... :P

No, I did not find it very horror-y..."

Thank you for letting me know! :) Sounds like I should try it! :)

Just finished The Teller of Small Fortunes, sweet, but not a very deep read.

Andy wrote: "Just finished The Teller of Small Fortunes, sweet, but not a very deep read...."

My thoughts on that one as well.

I'm reading Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire. It might be weird, but I tend to like the ones in this series that introduce a new kid and world vs the ones where all the kids are together on a quest. So it's not my favorite so far, but I'm not finished.

I'm also reading The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon, a middle grade about a magical library that lets the main character see into her family's past. Enjoying it so far.

I've also finished Snow by Meera Trehan, a middle grade snow princess fantasy. I liked it, but didn't love it. And Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell, which I loved.

Margaret wrote: "
I'm reading Through Gates of Garnet and Gold .."

Ah, I did not like the one with Nadia, but I liked Nancy, so maybe I'll like this one when I get to it eventually. Hope you enjoy it!

I read Hamnet a few years ago. It was ok, but a bit boring for me...

Just started The Spellshop and it seems promising! :)

Andy wrote: "Margaret wrote: "
I'm reading Through Gates of Garnet and Gold .."

Ah, I did not like the one with Nadia, but I liked Nancy, so maybe I'll like this one when I get to it eventuall..."

I loved the Nadia one! This one was okay. Ha! We just like different things in the series. :) I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!

The Silver Bullet, and Other American Witch Stories by Hubert J. Davis

I’ve been in a phase of darker, myth-heavy reads lately the kind that mix folklore, faith, and a slightly apocalyptic atmosphere rather than straight fantasy.

Those stories tend to linger with me long after I finish them. I think I’m always chasing the feeling I had when I first read The Stand and American Gods.

Done With Mirrors: A Collection of Short Stories by Sarah A. Hoyt

Steel of the Celestial Shadows, Vol. 2 by Daruma Matsuura

Bones rules; or, Skeleton of English grammar by John B. Tabb

Because it’s been a while since I read it, I am rereading Bunny just so that I can better enjoy the sequel We Love You, Bunny! It’s got mixed reviews, so I’m curious!

I finished The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar and it was so beautiful! Thanks to everyone here who recommended that one. I think it's one of the most beautiful audiobooks I've ever listened to, and I loved the story. I'm using it as one of my Artists picks for our reading challenge.

I'm a little bit more than halfway through The Conductors. The magic is interesting, and I hope to get more information on how it works before the end. I already know I'll be picking up the next book...

I don’t listen to many audiobooks, but when people say one is especially beautiful in audio, that definitely makes me curious. What made it stand out for you?

I just finished Nine Goblins, a delightful book by T. Kingfisher. I have been devouring her books these past few years.

Ruth wrote: "I just finished Nine Goblins, a delightful book by T. Kingfisher. I have been devouring her books these past few years."

How did you find it compared to her other works? I read quite a few of her books, and I have not yet found one I loved as much as A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking - I liked them, but I always hope for a little more...

That’s interesting, I think when prose already feels lyrical on the page, having the right voice can amplify that even more. Sometimes it almost turns into a different medium.

P.E.N. wrote: "I don’t listen to many audiobooks, but when people say one is especially beautiful in audio, that definitely makes me curious. What made it stand out for you?"

This audiobook has singing and music in it! So a unique listening experience. The reader also has a lilting voice that I loved.

Ozsaur wrote: "I'm a little bit more than halfway through The Conductors. The magic is interesting, and I hope to get more information on how it works before the end. I already know I'll be pickin..."

I need to try this one again. I picked an e-arc up before it released and had trouble getting into it, but if I remember correctly, the formatting was weird.

Ruth wrote: "I just finished Nine Goblins, a delightful book by T. Kingfisher. I have been devouring her books these past few years."

That's on my TBR!

Margaret, it's a debut novel, so it does have some quirks. I think the author had so many ideas, and tried to jam all of them into one book. I'm getting through the middle and I hope it picks back up.

Steel of the Celestial Shadows, Vol. 3 by Daruma Matsuura

Margaret...
Oh, singing and music built into the narration changes everything. That almost makes it feel closer to oral storytelling traditions than just a standard audiobook.

I can see how that would deepen the atmosphere, especially for a lyrical story. Now I’m genuinely curious.

P.E.N. wrote: "Margaret...
Oh, singing and music built into the narration changes everything. That almost makes it feel closer to oral storytelling traditions than just a standard audiobook.

I can see how that w..."

It's very much like oral storytelling!

Ozsaur wrote: "Margaret, it's a debut novel, so it does have some quirks. I think the author had so many ideas, and tried to jam all of them into one book. I'm getting through the middle and I hope it picks back up."

Let me know what you think when you finish!

That makes me even more interested. There’s something powerful about stories that feel performed rather than simply read.

When narration leans into cadence, song, and rhythm, it almost changes the way we receive the story, less analytical, more immersive.

Now I’m wondering if that format smooths out some of the “quirks” Ozsaur mentioned… sometimes atmosphere carries what structure doesn’t.

If I end up listening to it, I’ll report back.

P.E.N. wrote: "That makes me even more interested. There’s something powerful about stories that feel performed rather than simply read.

When narration leans into cadence, song, and rhythm, it almost changes the..."

Ozsaur and I are talking about two different books! The audiobook I listened to and loved, with music, is The River Has Roots.

Ozsaur is reading The Conductors.

Ahhh got it, thank you for clarifying!

I mixed them up in my head. The River Has Roots sounds like the one leaning into that oral-storytelling energy, which honestly makes me even more curious about it.

Now I’m intrigued by both for completely different reasons.

I love how different formats can shift the experience of a story so dramatically.

Ozsaur wrote: "I'm a little bit more than halfway through The Conductors. The magic is interesting, and I hope to get more information on how it works before the end. I already know I'll be pickin..."

I haven’t read it yet, but I’m curious — what kind of magic does the book explore, and how is it used?

Krasi, from what Ozsaur mentioned earlier, it seems the magic in The Conductors has something to do with constellations and celestial patterns, which I find fascinating conceptually.

I haven’t read it yet, but I’m curious whether it functions more like a structured system with clear rules, or something looser and more symbolic.

Star-based magic can feel either very precise or very mythic, and I’m wondering which direction this one leans.

Thanks P.E.N. you did a great job articulating it. The star magic is more natural, and comes from the entire universe. So far, there hasn't been a clear system, but the practical uses has been interesting.

There's also a different method that appears to be more structured. The two styles are used by different groups.

Margaret wrote: "I finished The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar and it was so beautiful! Thanks to everyone here who recommended that one. I think it's one of the most beautiful ..."

Maybe I should consider this. I was hesitant because I believe it’s in a made up world and as you know I prefer speculative fiction when it’s taking place in our world. I’ve also never tried audiobooks. My son uses them a lot

Thanks, P.E.N. and Ozsaur! That actually sounds even better than I expected. The contrast between the two styles of magic is really interesting — I really appreciate the explanation!

Jalilah wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I finished The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar and it was so beautiful! Thanks to everyone here who recommended that one. I think it's one of th..."

I think you would really like it. The world feels very based on our own, like a medieval Celtic country.

I usually lean toward speculative fiction grounded in our world too. What draws me in with secondary worlds is when they feel culturally anchored rather than purely invented. From what Margaret described, this one sounds closer to mythic Europe than high fantasy.

And audiobooks surprised me when the narration adds something you wouldn’t get from the page alone. It almost becomes performance instead of reading.

P.E.N. wrote: "I usually lean toward speculative fiction grounded in our world too. What draws me in with secondary worlds is when they feel culturally anchored rather than purely invented. From what Margaret des..."

Yes, I agree. I have enjoyed some of Patricia A. McKillip’s fantasy books but in general I love historical fiction with fantasy thrown in like the works of Silvia Moreno-Garcia or surrealistic magical realist books like from Mona Awad. Sometimes it depends on what I’ve been reading before. Lately I’ve been reading a lot of the later 2 authors so I’m in the mood for more of their type of books

Jalilah wrote: "P.E.N. wrote: "I usually lean toward speculative fiction grounded in our world too. What draws me in with secondary worlds is when they feel culturally anchored rather than purely invented. From wh..."

I tried to find some Patricia A. McKillip, as I was intrigued by the suggestions of some in this group, but my library does not have any unfortunately... :(

Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "P.E.N. wrote: "I usually lean toward speculative fiction grounded in our world too. What draws me in with secondary worlds is when they feel culturally anchored rather than purely i..."

That’s too bad! Does your library do interlibrary loans? I get a lot of my books that way

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 14 by Kanehito Yamada

Andy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "P.E.N. wrote: "I usually lean toward speculative fiction grounded in our world too. What draws me in with secondary worlds is when they feel culturally anchored rather than purely i..."

How strange! I moved this summer and just checked my new library for Patricia A. McKillip and they only have 2 audio books! I’ll have to request an interlibrary loan as well!

I am currently ready We Love You, Bunny, the sequel to Bunny and enjoying it so much. Mona Awad is becoming one of my favourite newer writers

Jalilah wrote: "That’s too bad! Does your library do interlibrary loans? I get a lot of my books that way"

Very good point, I should really find out how it works, I can be lazy that way! I just paid a (very small) fine for returning a book late, just to be told I could have just called the library to renew... Facepalm...

I'm reading The Enchanted Greenhouse which I will use for the prompt of Land Stewards.

An Unlikely Coven - I'm enjoying the humor.

I finished What Feasts at Night, didn't love it as much as the first. I'm almost finished with To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose and I love it just as much or more than the first book in that series. Great for the academic section of our challenge. It's an Indigenous fantasy series about a dragon school, closely linked to our world.

I just started The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri.

Jalilah, I love that mix too. When fantasy is braided into history or surreal reality, it hits differently, it feels closer to something remembered than something invented. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a great example of that.

Also, Mona Awad has such a specific vibe, unsettling but weirdly addictive. Which of her books would you recommend as the best entry point?

P.E.N. wrote: "Jalilah, I love that mix too. Also, Mona Awad has such a specific vibe, unsettling but weirdly addictive. Which of her books would you recommend as the best entry point? .."

I read Bunny first and I enjoyed it enough that I definitely wanted to read more of Awad’s books. I think I liked Rouge the best because of all the dark fairy tale elements. All's Well is excellent too. It has more Faustian and Shakespeare elements, but her books are very trippy and surreal.

Forewords and Afterwords by W.H. Auden