In general, I’m looking for character driven speculative, sci-fi, or fantasy books in any subgenre. I do enjoy plot driven or high stakes books as well, but no matter what, character work needs to be the star of the show. I’m looking for a very clear and definitive voice. Love a good romance, but you don’t need one! Also I LOVE genre blends. LOVE THEM.

I especially love books with a little bite to them, touching on societal themes either directly or through metaphor. Fantasy is a great vehicle for this, and if you have it, I want it, especially if it‘s through a marginalized perspective.

Favorite Fantasy Genres

• Anything lighthearted or funny or charming. Tickle my sense of humor. let’s be silly together.

• Historical - especially if the time period helps root the themes of the book.

• Gothic! ! !!! !

• Political - I love when people just sit around in a room and talk.

• Dark academia - it’s the best parts of gothic meets the best parts of political fantasy all wrapped up into one when done right.

• Weird. Just anything unconventional. (Think Vita Nostra.)

Even if your subgenre is not listed here, there’s a good chance that I could still like it! I read broadly in the genre. Sometimes the best books are ones that don’t quite fit in any single category. There’s a reason speculative is on my list and that’s because I’m also open to things that are only tangentially related to fantasy— like paranormal, superhero, dystopian etc.

For sci-fi

I value many of the same attributes as I do in fantasy. Right now, I’d prefer softer, more grounded sci-fi. This can still be very technical, just as long as it’s emotionally driven and rooted in character experiences. Hopefully, my examples of types of books I’m looking for can clarify what I mean.

ADULT VIBES

• Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

• The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

• The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller

• The Magician’s Daughter by H.G. Parry

• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

• Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

• A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

• The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

• One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

• Lord of the Empty Isles by Jules Arbeaux

• Earthflown by Frances Wren

• The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

• Murderbot Series by Martha Wells

These are books that I’ve read recently that I really like, but I’m very much a mood reader. There is not much dark fantasy on this list but trust that I am looking for it. Like I said, I read broadly!

YOUNG ADULT VIBES

• Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

• Skyhunter by Marie Lu

• The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

• Mirror Visitor Series by Christelle Dabos

• In Deeper Waters by FT Lukens

• To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose

• Crier’s War by Nina Varela

Anti-MSWL

• Nothing pro-military. I may be open to military novels as long as the narrative is very critical of the institution.

• Nothing too gory. I can handle a some atmospheric horror, especially blended into other genres, but I do have a limit with physical gore.