I loved Saara El-Arifi's debut novel, The Final Strife, and have been eager to read more from her. Her newest release is Cleopatra, a retelling of the famous last Pharaoh of Egypt. From her difficult political leadership and motherhood to her medical work and her undying love for her country, this work of historical fiction... Continue Reading →
Neferura: The Pharaoh’s Daughter
One year ago, Malayna Evans released her adult debut novel, Neferura: The Pharaoh's Daughter. Set during the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt (1550-1292 BCE), it draws a political power struggle between pharaohs, with plenty of dark secrets and subterfuge to keep our title character guessing... and then plotting her own schemes, too. Why I Chose This... Continue Reading →
A Master of Djinn
One of my most anticipated books of May was A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark. Although this is the first full-length novel in the Dead Djinn Universe series, it was preceded by three novellas. (I haven't read them yet, but they're on my list now.) In the end, I picked up the audiobook... Continue Reading →
Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold
One of my most anticipated books of 2020 was Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalola. Although it did come out in the U.K. last year, here in the U.S. we had to wait a bit longer, but my excitement never waned. So I was thrilled when Book of... Continue Reading →

