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
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Choose a doorway: deep water, distant planets, beloved tropes, or the stories behind the stories.
Fantasy Deep Dives
Unlock the Hidden Power of Journaling: Remarkable Lessons from Fictional Diaries
There is something irresistible about stumbling across a diary inside a novel. It feels like peeking behind the curtain of […]
Fantasy Deep Dives
The Amazing Secret Power of Dreams in YA Fiction
Dreams are slippery things. They pull us into strange places, show us truths wrapped in riddles, and let our deepest […]
Tropes & Worldbuilding
Beyond Kings and Queens: Exciting Opportunities in Worldbuilding
I get it, we all love a good monarchy. There is something so primally satisfying about a story centered on […]
Tropes & Worldbuilding
Folklore’s Shadow: How Modern Fantasy Reshapes Our Fear
Folklore has always given us monsters that reflect what scares us most. Spirits, demons, shapeshifters, and creatures lurking at the […]
Fantasy Deep Dives
Sounds Like Magic: Scoring Fantasy Worlds in Fiction
Okay, here’s a weird but persistent question that’s been living in my brain lately:What do fantasy worlds sound like? Not […]
Fantasy Deep Dives
Oceanic Infrastructure and Floating Fantasies: Could I Actually Write High Fantasy?
So here’s what’s been circling in my head lately: coastal cities in fantasy. Not just pirate hideouts or storm-battered ports, […]
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