The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is a mesmerizing retelling of a Korean folk tale infused with fantasy and romance. Mina, a brave young girl, sacrifices herself to the Sea God to save her brother’s beloved from being offered as the annual bride. Trapped in the Spirit Realm, Mina discovers a world of gods, mythical creatures, and spirits, where the Sea God lies in a cursed slumber.…
Caraval by Stephanie Garber is a spellbinding fantasy novel that follows Scarlett Dragna, a young woman who has spent her life yearning to escape her oppressive home. When Scarlett and her sister, Tella, receive an invitation to Caraval—a magical, once-a-year performance where the audience participates—Scarlett is drawn into a world of wonder and danger. However, when Tella is kidnapped as …
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a thrilling mystery filled with twists, secrets, and high-stakes intrigue. The story follows Avery Grambs, a teenager struggling to get by, who unexpectedly inherits the vast fortune of billionaire Tobias Hawthorne—a man she has never met. To claim the inheritance, Avery must move into the sprawling Hawthorne House, where every room is filled w…
Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang is a sharp and provocative literary thriller that explores the themes of cultural appropriation, identity, and the publishing industry’s biases. The story follows June Hayward, a struggling white author who witnesses the sudden death of her friend Athena Liu, an Asian American literary darling. In a desperate bid for success, June steals Athena's unpublished man…
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek is a haunting and evocative fantasy novel set in a world where the balance between light and darkness is constantly shifting. The story follows a young outcast named Seris, who is drawn into an ancient conflict when the protective barrier separating her village from the encroaching darkness begins to fail. With a group of unlikely allies, Seris must u…
Onibi: Diary of a Yokai Ghost Hunter by Atelier Sento is a visually captivating graphic novel that blends Japanese folklore with modern storytelling. The story follows a young, curious artist who embarks on a journey through the Japanese countryside in search of yokai, mythical creatures from Japanese legends. As the artist documents these encounters, they uncover stories of both the supernatur…
Powerless by Lauren Roberts is a gripping dystopian novel set in a world where superhuman abilities are not only common but expected. The story follows the protagonist, a young girl named Eden, who lives in a society where possessing a superpower is crucial for success and survival. However, Eden is born without any powers, rendering her "powerless" in a society that values strength above all e…
Reckless by Lauren Roberts is a thrilling young adult novel that delves into the life of a bold and daring protagonist, Lily, who constantly pushes boundaries. Lily has always been known for her rebellious nature, living life without concern for the rules, until she stumbles upon a dark secret that threatens her and those she loves. As she unravels the truth, she is forced to confront her reckl…
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason is a timeless personal finance classic that imparts wealth-building principles through parables set in ancient Babylon. The book tells the story of Arkad, the wealthiest man in Babylon, who shares his wisdom with friends and fellow citizens about the key to financial success. Through simple, easy-to-understand lessons, such as saving a portion of y…
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari is an ambitious and thought-provoking exploration of the history of the human species, from the emergence of Homo sapiens in the Stone Age to the present day. Harari examines key moments in human history, such as the Cognitive Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the Unification of Humankind, and the Scientific Revolution, arguing t…