THE READING ROOM
Notes from
other worlds.
Book recommendations, mythology, science fiction, favorite tropes, and occasional dispatches from behind the stories.
FEATURED READING
Merman Books: Where Are All the Male Mermaids?
Mermaids & Ocean Fantasy · Mermen
Found any male mermaids lately? Try this. Search “mermaid books” and you will drown in results. Lists, subgenres, entire BookTok shelves, gorgeous covers with iridescent tails and hair […]
LATEST FROM MSK
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Choose a doorway: deep water, distant planets, beloved tropes, or the stories behind the stories.
Analysis · Harry Potter
Beyond Hogwarts: How Fierce Magical Academies Are Transforming YA Fantasy
When most of us think of magical academies, it's almost impossible not to picture Hogwarts. J.K. Rowling’s iconic school for […]
Fantasy Deep Dives · Tropes & Worldbuilding
The Evolution of Elves
Let’s talk elves. Not the North Pole kind (that could be a whole other article, but best saved for Christmas). […]
Harry Potter
Patronuses & Personality: A Magical Animal Says Plenty About You
You’ve probably dreamt of casting a Patronus charm at least once...I know I have. There’s something wonderful about the idea […]
Shifter Fantasy
My NaNoWriMo Journey with “Shadow Wolf” Moonshifter Academy Book 3!
NaNoWriMo—aka National Novel Writing Month—is a crazy, exhilarating, caffeine-fueled sprint where writers worldwide attempt to churn out 50,000 words of […]
Fantasy Deep Dives
Behind the Magic: Real-World Inspirations for YA Fantasy
Ever wondered where all the incredible worlds in YA fantasy come from? Yup, some authors might spend years dreaming up […]
Uncategorized
Interactive Stories: Reader Choices in YA Fiction
Have you ever gotten so lost in a book that you wished you could dive in and make decisions alongside […]
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