The Book Report by Rebecca Traver - Our Online Bookshop Curator
Welcome to the Book Report! I’m so pleased to be meeting you here to share our latest featured list – Tales of Magic, Myth & Enchantment: Stories to Curl Up With. It’s now, toward the end of summer, that I start to feel the seasonal change showing itself in small but important ways and I am gladdened by it. I know that many of you feel otherwise, wishing the long days of summer to stretch out for just a few days, weeks longer. For those of you who, like me, remain steadfast fans of fall, I thought we could greet the shift by cozying up with some magical, mythical reads.
Also included in this report is a selection of New + Newly Discovered titles; a special group of Books for Young and Young at Heart Readers; and a couple of Just Because + Just for Fun offerings.
I hope you enjoy what you find here and know that, as always,
I am honored by the privilege of taking up space in your inbox.
“Soft and easy September days have arrived. Evening came early, but the air remained warm and calm.”
~Arthur Schnitzler
FEATURED LIST – Tales of Magic, Myth & Enchantment: Stories to Curl Up With
Spitting Gold from Carmella Lowkis is set in 1866 Paris and tells the tale of two sisters who team up to avenge the death of their great aunt, brutally murdered during the French Revolution…by any means necessary.
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher is a richly crafted story of a young woman named Cordelia whose mother just happens to be an evil sorcerer.
Voyage of the Damned by Frances White is a magical, mystical adventure filled with humor, mystery, and romance.
The North Wind by Alexandria Warwick is an enemies-to-lovers slow-burn fantasy romance, the first in a series sprinkled with Greek mythology.
When Among Crows from Veronica Roth tells a swiftly paced story drawing from the deep well of Slavic folklore, asking if redemption and atonement can be found in embracing what we most fear.
The Land of Lost Things from John Connolly brings us eight year-old Phoebe who lies comatose following a tragic car accident – a body without a spirit. Her mother Ceres sits by her bedside and reads aloud the fairy stories Phoebe loves in the hope that they might summon her back to this world.
She Who Knows by Nnedi Okorafor is infused with West African culture and spirituality, offering an intimate glimpse into the life of a teenager whose coming of age will herald a new age for her world.
The Full Moon Coffee Shop from Mai Mochizuki with illustrations by Jesse Kirkwood reminds us that, in Japan, cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they’ll one day return the favor. And if you are kind to the right cat, you might just find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a glittering Kyoto moon.
To view our entire list, click here:
Tales of Magic, Myth & Enchantment: Stories to Curl Up With
“The heat of autumn is different than the heat of summer. One ripens apples, the other turns them to cider.”
~Jane Hirshfield
New + Newly Discovered
Wild Wisdom Tattoos from Maia Toll is comprised of 60 richly colored temporary tattoos featuring mystical images from Kate O’Hara of plants, animals, and crystals, along with 10 guided-ritual cards for tapping into the symbolic power and magic of key images.
The Citadel: A Fantasy Oracle by Fez Inkwright is steeped in the magic of fantasy literature, Tolkien’s Middle Earth, and tabletop gaming – a truly unique combination of storytelling and cartomancy!
All for Love Card Deck: 52 Ways to Deepen Connection with Yourself and Others by Matt Kahn reveals how to cultivate ten key attributes in order to find connection with others in an increasingly tumultuous world.
In Setting Boundaries: 100 Ways to Protect Yourself, Strength Your Relationships, and Build the Life You Want...Starting Now! by Krystal Mazzola Wood you will find 100 activities that will help you become better at setting boundaries. Dive into activities that will get you thinking about and practicing those boundaries that are important to you.
I'm Mindful, Now What? Moving Beyond Mindfulness to Meet the Modern World from Andrew Holecek highlights the potential for mindfulness to bring us something deeper and more impactful than temporary stress reduction and calm in the stillness of the present moment. Here, we are invited to discover what is possible in the vast transformative world of meditation beyond mindfulness.
Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women: Real Stories from Inspirational, Artistic, and Empowered Women by Angela Lomenzo with photographs by James Lomenzo and a foreword by Kathy Rose brings together stories from women from all walks of life – artists, musicians, authors, fashion designers, entrepreneurs, and other creatives to share their experiences with depression, bullying, infertility, cancer, assault, loss of loved ones, drug addictions, and many other issues women often do not have a safe space to talk about.
The Silver Branch and the Otherworld: Forest Magic with Plant and Fungi Allies from Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue shares insights from herbalism, ecology, neurobiology, psychology, Irish history, and magical tradition to show us how to tap into the flow of communication from the wild world.
Fairy Lore: Your Plain and Simple Guide to the Mystery of Nature Spirits and Their Magical Realm intersperses author Ralph Harvey’s own intriguing fairy encounters (among them, a mysterious musical interlude in an Irish valley) with succinct yet exceptionally informative introductions to the folktales of the fae.
78 Acts of Liberation: Tarot to Transform Our World from Lane Smith is an invitation to read each card with an eye toward the collective. Smith examines the structure, history, and components of Tarot through the lens of power, helping us better understand power dynamics in our life and in society.
Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic by Tabitha Stanmore shows us that premodern people lived in a bewildering world, buffeted by forces beyond their control. Their faith in magic has much to teach about how to accommodate the irrational in our allegedly enlightened lives today.
Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods by Kris Spisak invites us to consider that when darkness, fear, and instability inundate our daily lives, folktale figures like Baba Yaga speak to the dichotomy of our existence – the hope and the horror, the magical as well as the mundane.
Living Conjure: The Practice of Southern Folk Magic from Starr Casas is a beginner-friendly guide to Conjure written by an authentic Conjure woman with over four decades of working experience, offering tips and tricks for all, including the seasoned practitioner.
The Astrology Advantage: Use Your Horoscope for Personal and Professional Success from Ophira and Tali Edut presents the personal source code for every human, serving as a spiritual science, a personality test on steroids, and a helpful inner guidance system.
Sex and Your Stars: A Sexologist's Guide to the Erotic Energy of the Zodiac by Stefanie Iris Weiss is a shame-smashing, sex-positive, no-holds-barred guide to understanding our desires and relationships – both our gifts and challenges – through astrology.
The Privilege of Aging: Savoring the Fullness of Life by Kamla K. Kapur is a clarion call to the elders among us to awaken before death, exploring how we can become warriors on the spiritual path in order to embrace and prepare for the truth of our mortality and the ultimate triumph of conscious living and dying.
Belonging Here: A Guide for the Spiritually Sensitive Person by Judith Blackstone is a lifesaving book that shows how our spiritual gifts can become entryways into both the depths of human connection and our innermost selves.
'Til Stress Do Us Part: How to Heal the #1 Issue in Our Relationships by Elizabeth Earnshaw is a relatable and empowering guide offering indispensable tools to stress-proof your relationship. With warmth and humor, the author shares research-backed practices to help you detect signs of overwhelm and take proactive measures to protect, refresh, and heal.
Do the Work: A Guide to Understanding Power and Creating Change by Roxane Gay and Megan Pillow with illustrations by Aurelia Durand is a practical guide to navigating the complexities of power. Included are thought-provoking questions, evocative illustrations, pages for your reflections, and steps we can all take to reframe our relationship to power and reinvigorate our desire to empower those around us.
Don't Wait Till You're Dead: Spirits' Advice from the Afterlife by Matt Fraser is an immersive guide to intentional living and discovering what life is really all about before reaching the pearly gates. Tapping into his experiences as a professional medium, the author presents ways for us to learn the secrets to happiness, fulfillment, and gratitude from loved ones who are no longer with us.
How We Break: Navigating the Wear and Tear of Living by Vincent Deary draws on cutting-edge science and intimate personal stories in this essential and paradigm-shifting book for readers struggling with fatigue, burnout, stress, and trauma – and for all of us who sometimes feel like we have been pushed beyond our breaking point.
How to Walk into a Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away from Emily P. Freeman explores learning how to recognize when it’s time to move on from situations that no longer fit, allowing us to find new spaces where we can flourish and grow. With thought-provoking questions, spiritual practices, and personal stories we learn how to know and name the cautionary flags in our current spaces and how to discern the difference between true peace and discomfort avoidance, navigate endings even when there is no closure, find peace for when you are ready for change but it isn’t time, and courage for when it’s time but you don’t feel ready.
“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.”
~Paulo Coelho
Books for Young Readers + the People Who Love Them
Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi is a wonderful YA coming-of-age story that explores race, feminism, and complex family dynamics.
Insha'Allah, No, Maybe So from Rhonda and Nadia Roumani with illustrations by Olivia Aserr is a sweet and playful picture book about a common Arabic word for life’s uncertainties that will ring true for all families.
Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan is an illuminating novel perfect for kids in the 10-12 age range about the importance of reclaiming the past, based on the author’s family history.
All I Need to Be by spiritual activist and racial justice educator Rachel Ricketts with illustrations by Tiffany Rose is filled with an inspiring, positive self-esteem message that helps young ones, especially Black and Brown children, feel big feelings and joyfully embrace their whole being.
Addy's Chair to Everywhere from Debi Novotny, illustrated by Jomike Tejido is a celebration of children’s imagination and inclusive play.
We Are Big Time is a YA graphic novel by Hena Khan with illustrations by Safiya Zerrougui which tells the story of Aliya whose family has just moved to Wisconsin from Florida, exploring big themes of culture and perceptions, fitting in and standing out, and finding yourself.
For more books for young readers click here!
Para libros para lectores jóvenes en Español haga clic aqui!
Just Because + Just for Fun
Living the Vanlife: On the Road Toward Sustainability, Community, and Joy from Naomi Grefemberg is a deep dive into what it’s really like living fulltime on the road…from literally venturing out of your comfort zone to creating a sustainable, thriving life of adventure and a captivating path of choosing whatever it is you truly want for yourself.
And then there’s Van Life – a game for 2-5 players which lays out a road trip adventure with all the scenic routes you can enjoy without ever leaving your couch!
“Look for chances to take the less-traveled roads. There are no wrong turns.”
~Susan Magsamen
Please visit our online Bookshop to see our full selection of lists and titles.
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