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Kelsey Ford: New Year, New You: 9 Books for a Better You, 9 Books for a Worse You (0 comment)

I’m not a huge believer in new year’s resolutions — they always feel like set ups for failure and disappointment instead of the well-meaning self-bettering they’re intended to be. However, I do believe in the fresh promise of a new year and taking the opportunity to deliberately (and gently) think about your routines and what you might be missing...

Keith Mosman: Powell's Picks Spotlight: Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham's 'Lunar New Year Love Story' (0 comment)
Kate Brody: What If the Real Monsters Were Inside Us All Along: Kate Brody’s Movie Playlist for ‘Rabbit Hole’ (0 comment)

Taste of Gold & Iron

Alexandra Rowland

I read A Taste of Gold and Iron in 2022 and loved it more each time. It’s a beautiful, character-driven fantasy romance. The fantasy world is interesting, the sprinkle of magic is just enough, and the secondary characters are wonderfully fleshed out. But the draw for me, and what brought me back again, was the two main characters: Kadou and Evemer. They both shine so brightly in this narrative; as they stumble through their (wrong) first... (read more)
Recommended by Anna B.

Hands of the Emperor Lays of the Hearth Fire Book 1

Victoria Goddard

if you're looking for doom and gloom, war, and morally gray characters, this is not the book for you. If, however, you want to read about good men trying to make the world a better place through government reform and the most profound friendship that exists, please read this book!
Recommended by Anna B.

At the Feet of the Sun

Victoria Goddard

This book should not be as good as it is. It wanders. It's lengthy. The vast majority of it is inside Kip's head, going over and over what he's feeling and what he's thinking at any given moment. But it's so good. This is the most emotionally well-paced and cathartic book I've ever read. There were chapters where I had to reread sentences, paragraphs, pages over and over because I could not process the emotional weight fast enough. I wanted to... (read more)
Recommended by Anna B.

Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers 03)

Becky Chambers

Each of the four books in Chambers's Wayfarers series is remarkable, but Record of a Spaceborn Few is by far my favorite. This book is a deep reminder for me of what it means to be human, how small acts of deliberate kindness can make all the difference, and that everyone's story deserves to be told. I cried on the bus while reading this book about five different times, and there's no higher recommendation I can give.
Recommended by Anna B.

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1)

Becky Chambers

If you like a healthy dose of hope with your science fiction, there’s no better place to start than with Becky Chambers. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet gives us the gift of a found-family ragtag crew of adventurers, genuinely fascinating alien races, and super cool technology (their spaceship runs on algae!). This book, and the rest of the Wayfarers series, builds its foundation on character-driven kindness: that a better,... (read more)
Recommended by Anna B.

Psalm for the Wild Built (Monk & Robot Book 1)

Becky Chambers

For days after I finished reading this, my heart was brimming with the gentle kindness Becky Chambers infuses into her stories. This little book about two very different souls has so much heart and humanity, and I recommend it to anyone who has ever felt a little lost.
Recommended by Anna B.

Last Sun Tarot Sequence 01

K D Edwards

Hey, this is my favorite book. You should read it if you like queer urban fantasy, snark, characters who care very deeply about each other, cool magic systems, just dudes being bros, and good fight scenes.
Recommended by Anna B.

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