THE READING ROOM
Notes from
other worlds.
Book recommendations, mythology, science fiction, favorite tropes, and occasional dispatches from behind the stories.
FEATURED READING
Selkie Mythology: Why the Seal-Wife Legends Aren’t Romance
Fantasy Deep Dives · Mermaids & Ocean Fantasy
Selkie mythology from Orkney, Shetland, Ireland and the Faroes: stolen seal skins, a curse that isn’t finished, and why these legends aren’t love stories.
LATEST FROM MSK
Keep exploring.
Choose a doorway: deep water, distant planets, beloved tropes, or the stories behind the stories.
Tropes & Worldbuilding
Young Adult Novel TV Adaptations: A Tale of Unfortunate Events
Hollywood’s siren call has lured many a young adult novel into the tantalizing realm of television. Yet, as any siren […]
Tropes & Worldbuilding
YA Westerns: A Gallop Through the Wild, Wacky West
Picture this: tumbleweeds rolling across a deserted street, the distant echo of a lone cowboy's boots on the wooden saloon […]
Book Recommendations · Fantasy Deep Dives
Fantasy Romance: The Amorous Dance of Dragons and Damsels
Whether it's an unlikely couple bridging the chasm between warring kingdoms or the smoldering glances exchanged amidst a dragon-scorched battlefield, […]
Mermaids & Ocean Fantasy
Deep Dive into the Murky Depths: The Evolution of Mermaids in Young Adult Fiction
Mermaids have been making waves in the world of young adult fiction, and not in the 'Disney's Ariel singing on […]
Fantasy Deep Dives · Tropes & Worldbuilding
Portal Fantasies: Wardrobe Travels and the Timeless Chronicles of Narnia
Yesterday, I noticed a kid, probably about 11 or 12 reading The Silver Chair on the subway. I was tempted […]
Tropes & Worldbuilding
A Heavenly Guide to Angels in Fantasy Fiction
Our journey begins in the 18th century with the rise of Gothic literature. Although not exactly fantasy in the modern […]
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO GET YOU STARTED
Your next escape.
My treat.
Join the reader list for a free Moonshifter Academy prequel, book news, and notes from behind the scenes.