Raven's Book Picks

"Hex Life"

by Christopher Goldes

This was such a fun anthology, with a diverse cast (authors), you get some really amazing witchy tales that spread across time, genre, and North America. Of course, anthologies are a phenomenal way to meet new authors and great when you need to reset from a heavy series. We have this available at our library as well as Hoopla Digital! Enjoy!

"Shadow of the Fox", "Soul of the Sword", and "Night of the Dragon"

by Julie Kagawa

HOLY MOLY!!!!! This series is INTENSE. If you crave action and complex characters, with a sprinkle of excellent world building then you NEED this series. Kitsune, Demons, Oni, Kama, OH MY! Welcome to the world of Japanese folklore, Kagawa gives us everything! Excellent YA novel, minor LBGTQ love interests that really turn stereotypes on their head! I loved this series immensely!

"Bunny"

by Mona Awad

Mean girls meets craft, in grad school. Extremely intriguing, mystery and fantasy mix, placed in a real-world setting. Witches, Demons, Cliques, and grad school, YES PLEASE!!!! Mona Awad serves us all of the goodness with this one, definitely a great stand alone and very quick read!

"Whisper Network"

by Chandler Baker

Excellent book for the #metoo movement, incredibly empowering. I, personally, loved seeing professional women managing careers, their love life, and family life. I appreciate the balance it requires to make it past the glass ceiling. It truly shows that when women stick together, things GET DONE! Simply amazing, PICK IT UP, good luck putting it down!

"Gone Girl"

by Gillian Flynn

I generally don’t like to touch books that are a commercial success. Often times, it’s a lot more of the same blaggity blah madness that we have already read and seen 10 billion times over. Unfortunately, Gone Girl, has now changed my stubborn mind on that (ahhhhhh scary change lol). I never would’ve guessed this ending, I could hardly put it down, and I went through way too many emotions while reading this, be still my poor heart! Thrilling is putting it mildly, get the blood pressure meds ready, this one will have your heart pumping double time and testing the boundaries of your kidney function!

All Souls Series

by Deborah Harkness

Well now, if Outlander and Twilight had a baby, this would be it. The entire series was a deeply satisfying page turner, and with witches, demons, vampires, and werewolves how could it not be? Harkness really dives deep and explores interspecies conflicts, epic journeys to preserve balance and breaking toxic traditions. It really made me look at our own present-day social issues and its interesting how the two main characters led the crusade for change through love and action. PICK IT UP!!!!! DO IT NOW, and be sure to get the prequel!!!!

Raven T.