magical realism Archives

Unwritten Rules of Magic, The

Be Careful What You Wish For Author: Harper Ross All Emerson has ever wanted is stability in her life. A father who supports her writing. A mother who turns to family and not drink. A romance that works out. A daughter who shares her hopes and fears. But of course, stability is just a covering for control. Emerson is desperately afraid of the pain and uncertainty of life. She wants everything to work out – and don’t we all. So, what would you do, then, if you had the ability to wish away all the bad things, to wrestle control back [...]

Frances Carden2026-08-29T14:14:05-07:00August 29th, 2026|Tags: book review, drama, fiction, Harper Ross, magical realism, read, reading, romance, second chances, The Unwritten Rules of Magic|

Cartographers, The

“Maps are love letters written to times and places their makers had explored.” Author: Peng Shepherd To us, maps may just be a means to an end, a way to navigate from point A to point B. But what are maps, actually? They are visual storytellers, magical doors that go beyond mere navigation to reveal the heart and beauty of a place, even its secrets. This is how Nell Young felt her whole life, learning from her esteemed father, Dr. Daniel Young, who is a legend in the field of cartography and high-up in the map-lovers academic paradise, the New York [...]

Frances Carden2026-05-06T11:23:03-07:00May 6th, 2026|Tags: book of the month, book review, botm, cartographers, fantasy, magical realism, Peng Shepherd, read, reading|

What the River Knows

“In Egypt? We’re all looking for something.” Author: Isabel Ibañez A plucky young heroine, willing to risk life and reputation for answers. An embittered man with a shady past and the capability to fight crocodiles in the Nile. A mysterious, underground artifact stealing ring. Pyramids and magic and Cleopatra. Secrets and betrayal. Forbidden love and broken families. Death, disaster, and hope. It’s all here. I first encountered Isabel Ibanez in Woven in Moonlight, another YA novel where she blends magical realism with fairy-tale like worlds, plucky heroines, danger, and betrayal. I fell in love, so when my beloved Book of the [...]

Frances Carden2025-11-06T12:58:40-07:00November 6th, 2025|Tags: action, adventure, book of the month, book review, botm, magic, magical realism, read, reading, romance|