hello, story seekers

I wish it were easier to slip into the story-wood these days. I wish the path were not so treacherous, lined with the hungry teeth of metal traps, guarded by dead-eyed sentinels. But there is little point in denying the reality of our present, and even less point in wringing our hands about it.

If you haven’t yet, won’t you join us at Reclaim Philadelphia? Or perhaps the Working Families Party is more your style? Or maybe you can clean the Germantown Community Fridges once a month? Kendrick’s glorious revolution was televised, but most of it won’t be. After all, the first rule of fascism has always been “shut the fuck up,” if you’ll pardon my language. Get off the internet and anchor yourself deeper into your community. Find the places where the revolution need not be a slinking, sneaky shadow to survive. Find the places where it is loud and sharp-toothed.

tales for the revolution

I had an interesting conversation with someone on Threads—of all places—about the idea of escapism and its relationship to fantasy. Of course, we often lean on the famous LeGuin quote about how fantasy is inherently escapist, and that is precisely the genre’s power. Isn’t it the duty of an imprisoned soldier to escape? What else are fantasy worlds, then, in a time like this?

And while I don’t outright disagree with that, I also think it’s more complicated. Look, I’ll go ahead and say it—there are a lot of hollow escapes that feel more like the “negative peace” MLK described in Letter From A Birmingham City Jail than they do the kind of thing LeGuin was discussing. While that’s always been present in fantasy, I do chafe against some of the current trends in particular. Again and again, I find myself interacting with what I can only call “hollow values” — books where the author’s viewpoints and intended message are so flimsy that anyone could insert their worldview between the pages.

If oppression is only ever used as set dressing, and if it falls down like a cardboard cut-out at the first “girl-boss” moment … is that actually a real escape where we’re able to imagine a better world? Where we can see how revolutions play out? (Because yes, absolutely, we can and should do that in fictional lands where there might also be kissing and dragons.)

If someone who supports gutting the Department of Education and deporting all undocumented immigrants can read a fantasy book and go, “hell yeah!” while that same book is also beheld as a rebel-girl darling by liberals … is that a reading comprehension issue? Or do we have to lay some responsibility at the feet of the author?

Am I just cynical in thinking there’s a payoff to writing a book with these “hollow values” to appease as many readers as possible, and allow yourself to shapeshift as needed when the tides change?

I don’t know. I’m still thinking it through after the recent fallout in the romantasy world—when authors and influencers alike were Utterly Shocked to find that supporters of the radical right’s agenda felt completely comfortable in their online spaces. (Only featuring straight, thin, white, able-bodied and cishet books and/or characters tends to have that impact, folks.)

But I’ll be honest—I’m still wandering this section of the story-wood. Still gathering up my thoughts like apples from the orchard. My basket’s getting heavy, though. Hope you don’t mind carrying a few in your pockets for now.

As an antidote to the rambling paragraphs I’ve just subjected you to, please have a peek at a short list of speculative fiction books that I think provide the full-blooded, sharp-toothed escape that would make LeGuin proud. By no means is this an exhaustive attempt to round up all books of this flavor (nor would I, considering the current administration, dare to create one and make it so easy for them) BUT it is a little jumpstart if you’ve read historical and scholarly texts, but want to see what fiction has to offer from a revolutionary framework, too.

SAINTS OF STORM AND SORROW by Gabriella Buba — for resisting colonization, building infrastructure, galvanizing community, and knowing when it’s time to let all hell rip loose.

• purchase a paperback at Spiral | Bookshop.org

• purchase an audiobook at Libro.FM

• borrow a copy at Free Library of Philadelphia

LEGENDBORN by Tracy Deonn — for changing existing systems from the inside, reckoning with the sins of the past, and finding your power.

• purchase a paperback at Bookshop.org

• purchase an audiobook at Libro.FM

• borrow a copy at Free Library of Philadelphia

THE WOMEN COULD FLY by Megan Giddings — for transcending the confines of a dystopia, out-maneuvering the enemy, and understanding the power of carving out our own communities.

• purchase a paperback at Bookshop.org

• purchase an audiobook at Libro.FM

• borrow a copy at Free Library of Philadelphia

THE BRUISING OF QILWA by Naseem Jamnia — for strategic navigation of a world’s socio-politic, understanding the full cost of prejudice, plus the power + safety of found family and supportive communities.

• purchase a paperback at Bookshop.org

• purchase an audiobook at Libro.FM

• borrow a copy at Free Library of Philadelphia

BABEL by R.F. Kuang — for an exploration of how imperialism taints everything, an example of when violence is the only answer, and a reminder that when someone shows you who they are, you should believe them.

• purchase a paperback at Bookshop.org

• purchase an audiobook at Libro.FM

• borrow a copy at Free Library of Philadelphia

TIME'S AGENT by Brenda Peynado — for a look at the inherent dangers of capitalism, the necessity of safeguarding our talent from being commodified, and what it’s like to reckon with the harm we’ve done ourselves.

• purchase a paperback at Spiral | Bookshop.org

• borrow a copy at Free Library of Philadelphia

what i’ve been reading

A peek into what I’ve been reading! As always, because we’re in this private little space, I’ll be more forthcoming and honest with you about how I felt. The intention is always to help guide you, my lovely readers, not to tear anyone down. (And on the rare occasion my intention is, in fact, to tear someone down, tbh they probably deserve it!!!)

THE MORNINGSIDE by Tea Obreht — a lovely little speculative fiction novel exploring climate change, the lineage of culture, generational trauma and the strange sort of communities that form in places the rest of the world has sort of forgotten. I always enjoy Obreht’s nimble mind and her use of speculative genre tools, but I can’t say this one blew me away.

You should still read it, though, I think; there’s a lot of loveliness to be had and some really great gut punches. And it did make me think about my own inherited scraps of Polish culture, and whether I have a right to them, and what it means that I’m only here and not there because of war and strife and violence. After all, what right do we have to the world we abandoned—even if it abandoned us first?

• grab a copy: Bookshop.org | Libro.FM | Free Library | ThriftBooks

IMMORTAL DARK by Tigest Girma — this is the first YA book I’ve read in a long time, and not for any particular reason, but that’s probably important to note. I really enjoyed this one. Girma is an immensely talented writer and Immortal Dark is an impressive debut. There’s more than a few absolutely stunning turns of phrases here, and I really enjoyed how goddamn toxic everyone in this book is. (No, seriously, it was delicious.) It’s a fun spin on the whole late-teens-girl and immortal vampire, plus the world-building felt fresh and interesting. I’ll definitely read the rest of the series as it publishes. Kidan is the kind of character I love—absolutely fucking unhinged, hellbent on something even if it doesn’t make much sense, and so rigid in her viewpoints that she might break if the carpet’s pulled out from beneath her. But she can’t break—because there’s too much at stake.

This book did admittedly lean fairly melodramatic for me, and I am generally someone who will eat up melodrama with a spoon. I think maybe it was just the nature of it being written for a younger audience—thought quite frankly, I would’ve loved to have just seen this as an adult novel. It’s a dark book, and I would’ve enjoyed seeing it be even darker, tbh. I would’ve also loved to see more of this world. It’s strongly influenced by dark academia, which means I want to SEE the goddamn libraries!! And the outfits!! I want to SEE the dark, cruel things about this world hidden just beneath the gothic surface. I find this style of writing is becoming more and more common in any YA set in the modern world, and I beg of thee—please tell me more about the weird house. The library nook. The corner tower. The flagstones. Please. Especially in something with its teeth firmly sunk into that classic vampire x dark academia space.

• grab a copy: Bookshop.org | Libro.FM | Free Library | ThriftBooks

THE DARK ANGEL TRILOGY by Meredith Ann Pierce — if my rant above didn’t give it away, yes, I’m a bit fatigued by the adult fantasy market. So I went back and scooped up some goodies from the 80s and 90s. Foremost, in my opinion, is Meredith Ann Pierce’s The Dark Angel trilogy, consisting of The Dark Angel, The Gathering of Gargoyles and The Pearl of the Soul of the World. It’s incredibly classic and also completely bonkers at the same time. The writing style is so unlike the pace-y, quick-quick-quick style we see in today’s market, and I absolutely devoured it.

I think this trilogy shows how willing a reader is to believe the author and just go with it if you give them something worth following. Like, I’m fairly sure that if I lined up all the mechanisms and worked out the magic system in this book that it wouldn’t make a ton of sense. And guess what, dear reader? I literally don’t care. It’s a gorgeous, emotional and utterly beautiful ride. There’s some things that I think, if published today, Pierce would’ve taken greater care with—but the power of the story is undeniable.

Also, that ending is sapphic as fuuuuuuck.

• grab your copy: Bookshop.org | Free Library | ThriftBooks (where you’ll get the better covers!)

THE BOOK OF ATRIX WOLFE by Patricia A. McKillip — this was fine. I probably enjoyed the spellbinding cover more than I liked the book. Okay, that’s a bit harsh. There’s some spectacular parts, and it took me by surprise how much I enjoyed seeing the fae occupy their more classical role in works of fantasy. The world is rich and convincing; the prose, particularly when describing the Queen and her realm, is divine. The story is okay; it might just be so classic at this point that it’s worn out, worn thin. I think most modern readers will recognize where it’s going almost immediately—but the way it’s written makes me think McKillip always intended that from the very beginning, even for the utterly different kind of reader that existed when this title was published.

If you’re a big fantasy person and/or just feeling the same fatigue as me, The Book of Atrix Wolfe is a delightful palette cleanser!

• grab your copy: Bookshop.org | ThriftBooks (for the old-school cover!)

upcoming events

the SELKIE BOOK CLUB meets on Wednesday, March 12 at 7:30 PM EST to discuss The House of Rust by Khadija Abdalla Bajaber. This quest-based fantasy explores diasporic culture and the hunger for adventure so many of us feel at a certain age. It’s enchanting and deeply rich with discussion points at the same time. I hope you’ll join us! You can grab a ticket here (and they start at just $1!)

the WARRIOR OF THE DROWNED EMPIRE BOOK LAUNCH is happening on Friday, February 21 at 7 PM and I get the honor of moderating! Many of you were introduced to Frankie Diane Mallis’s epic romantasy series at Spiral—we hosted her first-ever signing!—and it’s been an utter delight to see her career flourish. We’ll be celebrating the hotly anticipated Warrior of the Drowned Empire at Capricorn Books with a panel, snacks, drinks and plenty of bookish fun! You can find more details here.

things i loved recently

• My dearest friend Allison Carr Waechter’s recent Substack. | “I draw the Tower so many times, my fingers know where it sits in every deck. This must break, and so too must we, I fear.” | read it here

• Div’s Book Crumbs is an amazing way to discover more books—both indie and traditionally published—by marginalized authors. I highly recommend doing the paid subscription and joining Divinity’s book club! Learn more here.

• Towards Tomorrow, a most enchanting watercolor unicorn by Sucharita Suri. Have a peek here!

that’s all for now

As always, please take good care of yourselves. We wander through dark days. Seek the light, when you can. Gown yourself in the darkness when you cannot.

all my love,
Victoria