Category Archives: Magical Realism

26 Asian-Inspired Fantasy Books to Read While You Wait for Disney’s Mulan

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26 Asian-Inspired Fantasy Books to Read if You Love Mulan

Disney’s Mulan… and the New Release Date

By now you’ve probably already heard the news that the release date for Disney’s Mulan is getting pushed back indefinitely. I’m so bummed about this! I don’t go to the movies all that often, but this one has been at the top of my must-see list.

So here’s a thing that I’m pretty embarrassed about: I grew up as a Disney girl, and Mulan is one of my favorite movies they’ve made, but it wasn’t until I started to hear buzz about a new live-action remake that I learned that Disney’s inspiration for the story of Mulan actually comes from a Chinese folk song from the North Wei Dynasty.

I shouldn’t have been surprised– Disney didn’t make up The Little Mermaid or Cinderella, either, you know? I guess I just never really thought about the origin of the story until I heard about the live-action remake and the controversy surrounding who was writing Mulan retellings– and whether white writers should be the ones telling this Asian-inspired fantasy story or whether it should be told by Chinese writers instead.

UPDATE: I wrote this post before the movie came out and before I learned of some of the controversy over its filming. It has been bothering me for a long time that I haven’t acknowledged that here. Here’s some information about why people have decided to boycott the movie because of the filming location and China’s treatment of Chinese Uighur Muslims.

So…. Perhaps instead of watching the movie, check out and buy these books inspired by Asian myth, folklore, and legend that were written by Asian authors.

Reading Asian-Inspired Fantasy by Asian Authors

All of that started me thinking about books by Asian authors and as I started reading, I began to fall in love with books inspired by Asian history, folklore, and mythology that are written by Asian authors.

The good news is this: there are some amazing books that, like Mulan, are inspired by Asian history and folklore and are just waiting for us to snatch them off the shelves and read them.

I’ve broken the list into two sections: series and stand-alone books. Check them out, let me know what you’ve read, and please tell me if I’ve missed any titles that should be included! I searched quite a bit before making my list, but I’m sure there are a few I’ve missed and I would love to add them.

Asian-Inspired Fantasy Series

Some of the series listed here (such as Shadow of the Fox) require you to read the books in order, but others (like The Star-Touched Queen) are much more loosely connected and allow you to read whatever appeals to you in whatever order. Check them out and see what meets your preferences. Also– for the books I’ve reviewed, you’ll find detailed content at the bottom of my review post, so be sure to click over to the review and look for that if it interests you.

Note: Many of the links below are affiliate links, which don’t cost you anything to use, but when used, help support this blog.

The Blood of Stars Series by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Hailed as Mulan meets Project Runway. The series is also set in the Silk Road era and full of Chinese culture. It’s got magic, forbidden love, and unforgettable characters. One of my favorite books of 2019. Read my full review.

Unravel the Dusk

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Forbidden romance, political intrigue, magic gone awry. A girl touched by a demon and forced into an engagement with the emperor to keep the peace for her people. This is at the top of my To-Be-Read list.

The Girl King Series by Mimi Yu

The Girl King

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Two sisters with very different preferred weapons: one uses a sword, the other, words. Loads of political intrigue, battles, strong heroines. It’s beautiful. Read my full review.

The Empress of Flames

What you need to know: I’m pretty sure the release date for this book was originally early this year, but it’s since been pushed back to March of next year, which is super sad! I wanted to at least mention it in this list, since I’m really excited to read it. You can add it to your reading list and learn more on Goodreads.

The Tiger at Midnight Series by Swati Teerdhala

The Tiger at Midnight

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Inspired by Indian folklore. Friends to Enemies to Lovers. A female rebel assassin. Forbidden magic. Adorable romance. Read my full review.

The Archer at Dawn

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Rebels in disguise, political intrigue, and adorable romance. Just a warning, this one will make you really want to read book three! Read my full review.

Girls of Paper and Fire Series by Natasha Ngan

Note: I haven’t read this series yet, but I have heard the content needs some trigger warnings for sexual abuse, violence, and animal cruelty.

Girls of Paper and Fire

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: F/F romance. Hope and recovery from trauma. Fierce girls refusing to accept a society that treats them as less-than. Beautifully rendered Asian mythology.

Girls of Storm and Shadow

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Explores themes about morality during war. Continues the journey of healing for women who’ve experienced trauma. Features strong, warrior women. F/F romance. Asian mythology.

Sands of Arawiya Series by Hafsa Faizal

We Hunt the Flame

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Described as a “richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia” on Goodreads. Enemies to lovers. Witty banter. Read my full review.

We Free the Stars

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Final book in the duology. Packed with magic, danger, and romance, and set in a lush landscape inspired by ancient Arabia.

The Star-Touched Queen Series by Roshani Chokshi

The Star-Touched Queen

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: A cursed princess who turns out to be the only one who can save everyone. Steeped in Indian folklore and mythology. Total must-read. Read my full review.

A Crown of Wishes

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Less a sequel and more a companion novel. Filled with the same gorgeous writing and world-building as the Star-Touched Queen. Enemies to lovers. Witty banter. Filled with eerie mythological creatures. Read my full review.

Shadow of the Fox Series by Julie Kagawa

Shadow of the Fox

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Based on Japanese folklore. Enemies to lovers. Unlikely allies embarking on an impossible quest. Absolutely charming characters. Read my full review.

Soul of the Sword

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Japanese folklore. Fierce heroine. Terrifying villains. Witty banter. Forbidden love. Read my full review.

Night of the Dragon

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Read the other books in the series before this one– lots of it focuses on the final battle, so it won’t be as easy to follow or understand if you haven’t read earlier books. Based on Japanese mythology. Fierce heroine who never gives up and refuses to sacrifice her friends. Fantastic conclusion to an incredible series. Read my full review.

Gumiho Series by Kat Cho

Wicked Fox

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Based on Korean folklore but told in modern-day Seoul. An opposites-attract love story about a fierce girl and a cheery, charming boy. Fantastic grandma/grandson relationship.

Vicious Spirits

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Expected publication in August 2020. Promises new dangers and romance. Based on Korean folklore but told in a contemporary setting.

Rise of the Empress Series by Julie C. Dao

The Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: A dark, Asian-inspired fantasy origin story of the Wicked Queen in the Snow White fairytale. Desperate, creepy magic. Compelling anti-heroine. Read my full review.

Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Asian-inspired retelling of Snow White. Lush world-building. A heroine with a good heart, committed to saving her friends.

Song of the Crimson Flower

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: I’m not sure if this book is part of the series exactly– Goodreads lists it as book 2.5, so it takes place between the other two books and maybe more of a companion novel? Same beautiful Asian-inspired fantasy story-world.

The Dragon Warrior Series by Katie Zhao

The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Think Percy Jackson, but with Chinese mythology. High energy, super fun. For readers 10 to 12. Read my full review.

The Fallen Hero

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: The adventure continues in this fast-paced, wild ride featuring gods and goddesses from Chinese mythology. Read my full review.

Shamanborn Series by Lori M. Lee

Forest of Souls

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Features the creepiest trees you’ve ever read. Seriously spooky! Celebrates the bonds of sisterhood/friendship. Packed with fantastic banter and sarcasm. High energy plot that will keep you turning pages. Read my full review.

Books two and three are currently untitled, but expected to follow. I can’t wait!

Standalone Asian-Inspired Fantasy

Sometimes a series feels like a big commitment, especially when the books are so closely tied together that you can’t read one without reading the others first. These are two standalone novels inspired by Chinese history, culture and mythology that are a perfect choice for readers who aren’t up for the commitment of a whole series.

The Crystal Ribbon by Celeste Lim

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Coming-of-age story about a child bride in medieval China. Based on history, culture, and mythology. Haunting and unusual. Reminded me a little bit of the story of Mulan in that it features a a strong heroine in a time period and culture where she feels entirely out of place for her strength. Read my review.

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

What you need to know: Chinese-inspired fantasy. Features a strong heroine willing to risk everything in the pursuit of justice. Thrilling courtroom drama. Ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but it’s uncertain whether there will be a follow-up novel.

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Set on the Silk Road and featuring Middle-Eastern mythology. Brilliant characters– especially the female characters. Might be better classified as new adult than young adult.

What are your favorite Asian-inspired fantasy books?

Have you read any of the books on the list? If you’ve thought of other Asian-inspired fantasy that I should add, please leave me a comment with the title and author. I would love to add to my list!

Review: Paris on Repeat by Amy Bearce

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Paris on Repeat
Amy Bearce
Jolly Fish Press
Published July 14, 2020

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Paris on Repeat

GROUNDHOG DAY gets a hilarious French twist in this delightful upper middle grade novel about first crushes and friendship when an eighth-grade class trip to Paris goes horribly wrong and the worst day of one girl’s life keeps happening over and over.

Fourteen-year-old Eve Hollis is ready to push through her fears and finally let her crush know how she feels. And what better place to tell him than on top of the Eiffel Tower in the City of Love? But things don’t go as planned, and Eve is sure she’s had the worst day of her life— until she wakes up the next morning to realize the whole disaster of a day is happening again. She’s trapped in a time loop.

Desperate to make it stop, Eve will have to take some big risks and learn from her mistakes or she’s destined to live the most awkwardly painful day of her life over and over again, forever.

My Review

A summer trip to Paris with friends, a mysterious curse, first love– this makes such a fun summer read. It’s a quick read, too– I think I finished the whole book in about two hours.

One of the things I like best about PARIS ON REPEAT is that it isn’t a simple love story. The critical lesson for Eve to learn isn’t as simple as she first thinks. Through repeating the same day over and over, Eve gains some new perspective on herself and her fears. When she becomes stuck on the same day, she grows bolder, trying new things, looking for ways to help the people she meets along the way. She also notices others in the group in ways she hadn’t before, recognizing hurts and insecurities and things in common with someone she thought was a sort of competitor.

On the whole, I had a lot of fun reading PARIS ON REPEAT. It’s a perfect book for readers who are looking for a summer adventure that celebrates friendship and being brave. I think readers who enjoyed CHIRP by Kate Messner will want to give this one a read.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 12.

Representation
I don’t really remember any race details.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Eve sees a boy and girl kissing.

Spiritual Content
After making a wish, Eve becomes cursed to repeat the same day over and over until she learns some things. A woman who sells love locks gives her hints about how the magic of the curse works and how to break it.

Violent Content
Pickpockets steal items from Eve and a man visiting the Eiffel Tower.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of PARIS ON REPEAT in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog.

Review: Nevertell by Katharine Orton

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Historical, Magical Realism, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , ,

Nevertell
Katharine Orton
Walker Books US
Published April 14, 2020

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Nevertell

After escaping a Soviet prison camp, Lina is pursued by a powerful witch and her shadow wolves in a riveting debut that imbues frozen wilderness with fairy-tale magic.

All that twelve-year-old Lina knows of the world is the Stalinist labor camp where she was born, a place of hunger, cruelty, and deprivation. After a daring escape into the frigid Siberian wilds with her best friend, Bogdan, Lina vows to reach Moscow and find her long-lost grandmother, whom she hopes will help her return to the camp to rescue her mother.

But out in the dark forests and haunted tundras, Lina and Bogdan catch the eye of a vengeful witch, a refugee of oppressive new laws about magic, who commands an army of shadow wolves. She seems drawn to some mysterious power within Lina herself.

Pursued by the witch and in fear of recapture, Lina will need every ounce of courage she has — and a whisper of her own magic — if she and Bogdan are to survive the journey and bring hope to a dark place. An enthralling debut that weaves Russian fairy tales through fast-paced adventure.

My Review

I found NEVERTELL to be a really imaginative story and really liked the way it sat between fantasy and history. The history is rather broad– the story takes place during a time when Stalin ruled Russia and imprisoned anyone who spoke against him or talked of magic and fairy tales. The story centers more on magical elements and the difference between using magic to help versus harm.

Lina’s character is determined and kind. She never gives up, and she resolves to save everyone she cares about, even if it looks impossible. I loved that Bogdan makes the journey with her. I thought their friendship made the story much warmer and sweeter.

Natalya’s story broke my heart. I get why that happened, but it just really ached to think of what happened to her and the life she left behind. I loved the alliance between her and Lina, though.

All in all, I thought NEVERTELL was a really good story, though a dark one with some very gray characters. I think perhaps readers who enjoyed NIGHTINGALE’S NEST by Nikki Lofton will enjoy this story.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 12.

Representation
All characters are Russian.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
See the SPOILER section at the end of the post.

Spiritual Content
Characters possess magic and the ability to curse/transform others.

Violent Content
References to cruel treatment of prisoners in the camp. Situations of peril. Lina and Bogdan face men who wish to murder them as well as threats from invisible wolf-like creatures and a powerful witch.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of NEVERTELL in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog.

SPOILER

Late in the story, Lina confronts her mother about her father, the commandant at the prison camp. She asks her mother if she loved him, and her mother answers that she did.

It’s hard to know if she’s giving a child’s answer because it’s Lina who’s asking, but the relationship (a prisoner/prison guard romance) is problematic because of consent issues.

Review: The Elephant’s Girl by Celesta Rimington

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Magical Realism, Middle Grade 8-12, , , ,

The Elephant’s Girl
Celesta Rimington
Crown Books for Young Readers
Published May 19, 2020

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About The Elephant’s Girl

An elephant never forgets…but Lexington Willow can’t remember her past. When she was a toddler, a tornado swept her away from everyone and everything she knew and landed her near an enclosure in a Nebraska zoo, where an elephant named Nyah protected her from the storm. With no trace of her family, Lex grew up at the zoo with her foster father, Roger; her best friend, Fisher; and the wind whispering in her ear.

Now that she’s twelve, Lex is finally old enough to help with the elephants. But during their first training session, Nyah sends her a telepathic image of the woods outside the zoo. Despite the wind’s protests, Lex decides to investigate Nyah’s message and gets wrapped up in an adventure involving ghosts, lost treasure, and a puzzle that might be the key to finding her family. Can Lex summon the courage to hunt for who she really is–and why the tornado brought her here all those years ago?

My Review

I think magical realism is one of the toughest genres to write well, because there’s always the risk that instead of seeing magic, a reader will see something else– hallucinations? Inconsistent plot or world?

Lex has a special relationship with the elephant Nyah, who protected her after the tornado left her at the zoo. Nyah sends her messages– pictures in her mind– and Lex tries to send pictures back.

Ever since the tornado, Lex has been able to hear the wind speaking to her, too. This was the most difficult element in the story for me to get into. I liked that it gave voice to Lex’s fears, making them a sort of personified antagonist. I wondered if it diluted the power of Nyah being able to speak to her, though.

I loved Lex’s relationship with Roger and her best friend, Fisher– all of her zoo family, really, but especially those two. As Lex tries to help Nyah find her family, it makes her examine her feelings about living with Roger at the zoo, too. He’s patient and clearly loves her, though he never pushes her to accept him as family. She also learns a lot through her friendship with Fisher, who is really different than she is. He’s outgoing and loves baseball. She learns how to be a good friend to him even when it means stepping out of her comfort zone or doing things for him.

On the whole, I thought this book was a really sweet story about found families. I liked the characters and the relationships between them. If you liked FLORA & ULYSSES by Kate DiCamillo, you’ll want to check out THE ELEPHANT’S GIRL.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Fisher’s grandmother is from Thailand.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Lex meets a ghost and promises to help her solve a mystery so she can move on.

Violent Content
Situation of peril and some descriptions of a tornado.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of THE ELEPHANT’S GIRL in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog.

Review: The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Magical Realism, New Adult 18up, , , , , , ,

The Vine Witch
Luanne G. Smith
47North
Published October 1, 2019

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

About The Vine Witch

A young witch emerges from a curse to find her world upended in this gripping fantasy of betrayal, vengeance, and self-discovery set in turn-of-the-century France.

For centuries, the vineyards at Château Renard have depended on the talent of their vine witches, whose spells help create the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley. Then the skill of divining harvests fell into ruin when sorcière Elena Boureanu was blindsided by a curse. Now, after breaking the spell that confined her to the shallows of a marshland and weakened her magic, Elena is struggling to return to her former life. And the vineyard she was destined to inherit is now in the possession of a handsome stranger.

Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel naively favors science over superstition, and he certainly doesn’t endorse the locals’ belief in witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and the vineyard is covered in them. To stay on and help the vines recover, she’ll have to hide her true identity, along with her plans for revenge against whoever stole seven winters of her life. And she won’t rest until she can defy the evil powers that are still a threat to herself, Jean-Paul, and the ancient vine-witch legacy in the rolling hills of the Chanceaux Valley.

My Review

It’s not often that I read a book set in turn-of-the-century France, and I feel like I’m okay with that, but if I’d read more, I think I would have enjoyed the setting of this book more. I liked it, I just felt like it was written more for readers who are already familiar with that type of setting and was kind of spare on details that unfamiliar readers might want to have.

I liked Elena immediately, and Jean-Paul, too. The story alternates back and forth in their points of view. It was fun watching them feel each other out. I thought the other characters– Elena’s grandmother, her former fiancé, and the Elena’s unlikely ally later in the book– were all great characters that added a lot to the story.

In terms of the plot, the story moves pretty quickly. The beginning was a little dense and confusing only because it introduces a lot of characters, goals, and action. Once I’d read four or five chapters, I got pretty hooked on the story and didn’t want to stop reading. I finished the rest of the book that day.

On the whole, I enjoyed THE VINE WITCH. I loved the parts about the vineyard and the tug-of-war between Elena and Jean-Paul over magic versus science. I feel like I wanted the story to be like 50 pages longer so that I could read more about some of the subplots like that.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 18 up.

Representation
All characters are European.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used very infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to sex. Kissing between man and woman.

Spiritual Content
Descriptions of rituals and spells, including using pentagrams and summoning a demon. One character encounters a jinni.

Violent Content
References to mutilated animals found near the town. Descriptions of torture and situations of peril.

Drug Content
Elena experiments with poisons. Characters (all adults) drink wine.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog. I received a free copy of THE VINE WITCH in exchange for my honest review.

Review and Blog Tour: Naked Mole Rat Saves the World by Karen Rivers

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Naked Mole Rat Saves the World
Karen Rivers
Algonquin Young Readers
Available October 15, 2019

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

About Naked Mole Rat Saves the World

Can Kit’s super-weird superpower save her world?

Kit-with-a-small-k is navigating middle school with a really big, really strange secret: When she’s stressed, she turns into a naked mole rat.

It first happened after kit watched her best friend, Clem, fall and get hurt during an acrobatic performance on TV. Since then, the transformations keep happening—whether kit wants them to or not. Kit can’t tell Clem about it, because after the fall, Clem just hasn’t been herself. She’s sad and mad and gloomy, and keeping a secret of her own: the real reason she fell.

A year after the accident, kit and Clem still haven’t figured out how to deal with all the ways they have transformed—both inside and out. When their secrets come between them, the best friends get into a big fight. Somehow, kit has to save the day, but she doesn’t believe she can be that kind of hero. Turning into a naked mole rat isn’t really a superpower. Or is it? 

My Review

Okay, so you’re probably thinking this book sounds weird. And it is a bit weird. But oh. My. Gosh. It’s layered. And complex. The characters face incredibly challenging things and have these really complicated, very believable (okay except for the changing into a naked mole rat part!) responses to those situations. I love both kit and Clem. Their friendship felt so real. So did kit’s troubling relationship with her mom.

One thing that was tough for me is that though the book has some characters dealing with mental health issues, there isn’t really anyone calling that out and offering help. Kit feels an incredible burden, but she doesn’t know where to turn and the only other adult regularly in her life encourages some enabling behavior rather than seeking help.

I know sometimes that’s really what happens. Sometimes there isn’t anyone really looking out for a person who’s barely treading water in the midst of anxiety or depression. This book made me want to find all the kids like kit and do something to help them. To provide them with better support.

Overall I totally love this book. The emotional journeys of kit and Clem gripped my heart. I love the way the friendships felt so organic and real. I love the way Clem’s grandma told awkward family stories and laughed at strange moments.

I think readers who enjoyed FLORA & ULYSSES will love NAKED MOLE RAT SAVES THE WORLD. It’s got a lot of the same kind of deep emotional wrestling and quirky departures from reality.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Representation
Clem is Latina and is depressed. Kit and her mom both have anxiety issues, and kit was born prematurely, so that she is still small for her age and has alopecia universalis, which causes her to have no hair.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Clem’s twin brother has a crush on a girl which she teases him about.

Spiritual Content
One character learns about a relative who joined a cult and died by suicide with the whole group.

Violent Content
Some description of Clem’s accident which results in serious injuries. Brief descriptions of robbery. See above.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog. I received a free copy of NAKED MOLE RAT SAVES THE WORLD in exchange for my honest review.

About Karen Rivers

I was born, grew up, and currently live in British Columbia, where I take a lot of photos, walk a lot of paths, and write books for children, teens and adults.  

The stories I tell are emotionally honest, but they aren’t about real people.   Fiction has a way of telling the truth though, don’t you think? 

I believe that readers are always asking the question, “Am I OK?”  I write characters who suspect that they are not OK, but who eventually find inside themselves the strength to change that belief. 

Growing up is harder than ever.  The world is often egregiously unfair.  Things can seem impossible.

How do we go on?

I believe in the power of stories.  I think that stories will save us.  They can show us the way.

Novels are magical.  Books can be mirrors or windows.  We sometimes need to see ourselves.  We always need to understand others. 

Stories are all secret passages to alternate worlds where we can be safe to explore the unsafe, the unsettling or the unfair hands some people have been dealt.  

In the pages of a book, we can be braver than we are, we can go further than we’d normally dare, we can understand more than we know.  

Books make us better, period.

I believe in magic.  Do you?  

Be brave.   Be kind.   And believe this:  You are OK.  

I believe in you.