The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin
Rachel Griffin’s new YA romantic fantasy, The Sun and the Starmaker, follows Aurora Finch, a village girl chosen to sustain her northern community with the Starmaker’s light. The novel blends mythic world‑building with a slow‑burn romance that finally blossoms amid icy intrigue. Reviewers praise the atmospheric setting and appealing cover but criticize Aurora’s flat personality and an unexpected explicit scene for a teen‑focused title. Overall, the book offers a pleasant, if not groundbreaking, escape for readers seeking light‑hearted fantasy romance.
The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman: The Arabic Epic of Dhat Al-Himma Translated by Melanie Magidow
The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman, translated by Melanie Magidow, brings the only known Arabic epic named for a woman to English readers for the first time in 2021. The narrative follows Dhat al‑Himma, a sword‑wielding heroine who commands armies, battles...
Everyone’s Dying in Middle Grade Fiction Again
Middle‑grade fiction is experiencing a noticeable surge in titles that center on death and grief, moving beyond the classic dead‑parent trope. Recent award‑winning and educator‑highlighted books such as *The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay* and *The Empty Place* place loss at...