One Of A Kind Fantasy

Posted on August 29, 2025August 20, 2025 by Sydney Anderson

Part of the reason we love genre fiction is familiarity, but even the biggest fantasy die-hards will admit that sometimes familiarity starts to get same-y. Never fear: I’ve compiled a list of fantasy novels that do something truly unique with the genre’s toolbox. These recommendations, all available at Mead, may get you out of a reading slump if you need it, and remind you why you fell in love with fantasy. And if you happen to be new to the genre, any of these books would be a great place to start.

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

Fetter lost his shadow in childhood, as part of his mother’s ambition for him to fulfill a prophecy that he would one day assassinate his father. As a young man in the city of Luriat, Fetter tries to process his past by attending a therapy group for former Chosen Ones. He discovers his affinity for the mysterious Bright Doors that mark the cityscape, as well as the role he might have to play in a rebellion against his father. The Saint of Bright Doors is a much needed re-imagining of some of fantasy’s most enduring tropes, and Fetter’s emotional journey over the course of the book is something truly unforgettable. As you read it, you’ll find yourself asking questions not only about the stories we tell one another, but also about the aspects of our real world that they reflect.

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Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Genre, Historical, Horror, Science Fiction, Uncategorized

A Mostly Magical Miscellany

Posted on July 26, 2025July 15, 2025 by Sydney Anderson

Ordinarily, when I’m putting together a post for this blog, I tailor my recommendations to follow a certain theme. This can be a good way to get creative energies flowing, but unfortunately, it also means that if I haven’t been able to talk about some of my absolute favorites, just because I haven’t been able to fit them into a theme. Today, I aim to fix that. July just so happens to be my birthday month, so as a birthday gift to myself and all of you wonderful readers, I’ve compiled a selection of books for no reason other than because I love them. Just because of my personal tastes, most of these will fall into the fantasy genre, but there are a couple wildcards! Let’s get started!

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin

Genly Ai is a human emissary to the planet Winter, home of the Gethenians, an alien species who have no concept of gender and change their sex in order to reproduce. Mounting political strife throws Genly into the path of the Gethenian Estraven. Soon, the two realize they will have to overcome their differences and depend on one another in order to survive, and possibly bring Winter into a new era in the process. All of this is told with the compassionate characterization and beautiful prose that made Ursula K. LeGuin a master of the science fiction genre. As much as I adore this book, it is worth noting that it was originally published in 1969, and therefore readers should be mindful of encountering some language and content that is considered outdated today. LeGuin herself later expressed regret that the book’s narration uses “he” to refer to the Gethenian characters rather than singular “they”. The novel’s themes, however, are timeless. I think everyone has one or two novels they encountered in college that expanded their ideas of what fiction could do, and this is one of mine. The story and characters of The Left Hand of Darkness will remain with you long after the final page is turned. If you haven’t read it yet, I can’t recommend it highly enough, and if you have, it’s a book worth revisiting again and again.

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Adult, Audience, Fantasy, Fiction, Genre, Horror, LGBTQI+, Science Fiction

But What If?

Posted on April 25, 2025June 3, 2025 by Sydney Anderson

I’m going to be talking about a somewhat niche subgenre today, so bear with me – I think these books are really interesting! Retellings are a huge deal in genre fiction right now, unfailingly popular with fans. Retellings of myths and fairy tales tend to get the most hype, but there’s another kind of retelling that tends to go overlooked: retellings of literary works in the public domain. I think these are particularly interesting when they add genre fiction elements, such as science fiction, fantasy, or horror. Sometimes, they even elaborate on a genre fiction element that was present in the original work. Who doesn’t love an old story made new again? I’m here today to talk about four new-ish books that offer fresh takes on older works of fiction. I hope you’ll love them just as much as I do. Let’s get started!

The Stars Undying by Emery Robin

What if Julius Caesar and Antony & Cleopatra were set in space?

In a faraway galaxy, the fate of the Ceiao Empire and its neighbor Szayet rests on the shoulders of three extraordinary people. Ceian military superstar Matheus Ceirran and his loose-cannon right-hand woman Anita become entangled with Altagracia, the charming and ambitious princess of Szayet. What begins as a political alliance blossoms into genuine affection, but the machinations of Ceirran’s enemies will soon interrupt their plans. You probably already recognize this story, and this first volume of a planned trilogy takes its characters all the way to the fallout of the Ides of March. Reading this book was the pure pleasure of a good story well told. I really enjoyed some of the twists Robin put on their historical and literary inspirations. The second book in the duology, The Sea Eternal, released just this past month, and while I haven’t had the opportunity to read it yet, I personally can’t wait to spend more time with these characters.

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Kids 0-5, Kids 5-12, Science Fiction

Kids Read Science Fiction!

Posted on February 21, 2025March 19, 2025 by abbiebourelle

Lately I have been in a nostalgia mood and have been rereading through a series from my childhood: Animorphs. Revisiting science fiction books from my own childhood has engaged my curiosity to explore what kids are reading these days. Dear reader, though I speak of “kids books” I must point out that anyone at any age or stage in their life is welcome to enjoy and find pleasure in these pages. Not only do kids’ science fiction books contain heart pounding action (when done right) they also contain a humor that even as adults we can still enjoy. For this post I have chosen a couple books that I find nostalgic and will introduce you some of the new science fiction available on the shelves in the kids’ section. Enjoy!

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Adult, Nonfiction

Exploring Folklore & Folktales

Posted on June 7, 2024June 6, 2024 by Aleah

I ran into a book recently, The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yōkai of Japanese Myth. I became more and more intrigued as I flipped through the pages, and I knew I needed to explore folklore and folktales and learn some more. What better place than a library!

What is folklore?
Folklore covers a wide span of traditional beliefs and stories of a community, such as myths, legends, practices, superstitions, etc. Folklore is commonly passed from generation to the next by word of mouth.

What is a folktale?
Folktales focus on the stories that have been passed down from the ancestors of a particular group of people on to their younger generations. Folktales vary widely in genre, ranging from fairy tales, historical, adventure, to ghost tales. Like folklore, folktales pass along generations through word of mouth.

Culture plays an important part in both folklore and folktales, but this does not make them interchangeable. Folklore captures a large range, from beliefs to superstitions, and is told in more of an informative, and even instructive way to the listener. Whereas folktales are only the stories passed down to younger generations. Here are a few books on different folklore and folktales that are on our shelf at Mead Public Library.

The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yōkai of Japanese Myth by Thersa Matsuura, Illustrated by Michelle Wang

I have always been intrigued by Asian Folklore, but not to the point where I’ve pushed to learn more. Seeing this book gave me the push I needed. I’ve heard of yōkai (the Japanese word for supernatural beings, like ghosts, demons, etc.), but was far from understanding. This book is a wonderful teacher! The writing is very light and entertaining, and the illustrations are vibrant and colorful, fitting each yōkai perfectly.
Each section starts with an overview of the yōkai, then it gives a nice background and popular stories the yōkai is found in, and then finishes with modern stories.

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Adult, Audience, Fiction, Staff Picks, Thrillers

5 Scary Thrillers for this Spooky Season

Posted on October 13, 2023October 10, 2023 by Ryan

You may have noticed it, but lately there’s been a chill in the air. The days are getting shorter. The nights longer. And every morning it seems like there’s more and more pumpkins and skeletons cropping up in people’s yards.

That can mean only one thing:
It’s spooky season.

And with spooky season comes one of my favorite pastimes: cozying up inside with a hot cup of decaf Earl Grey tea, ready to read a new thriller. Inevitably, this almost always keeps me up at night, my head on my pillow with wide eyes, worrying about all the imaginary monsters that lurk in the dark.

It’s a bad habit, especially for someone who is a scaredy cat. But I can’t help it, especially when the book keeps me at the edge of my seat (and bed, apparently.) And if you have the same issue as me — or are just plain fearless — and are looking for your next thriller, here are a couple you can try:

The Coworker (2023) by Freida McFadden

Dawn Schiff is strange. At least, everyone at work thinks so. She never says the right thing. She has no friends. And she is always at her desk at precisely 8:45 a.m.

So when Dawn doesn’t show up to the office one morning, her coworker Natalie Farrell-beautiful, popular, top sales rep five years running-is surprised. Then she receives an unsettling, anonymous phone call that changes everything…

Now, Natalie is irrevocably tied to Dawn as she finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse that leaves her wondering: who’s the real victim? But one thing is incredibly clear: somebody hated Dawn Schiff. Enough to kill.

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