Category Archives: Genres

The Salty Taste of Murder by Christine Zane Thomas

Thirty-year-old Allie Treadwell is a singleton. She’s a foodie, and a runner. A restaurant reviewer by day, and a Netflix aficionado by night. Even if it doesn’t make her the most popular dinner guest in the charming southern town of Lanai, Georgia, Allie’s reviews are always honest. And her latest is no different from any other. But Allie’s review isn’t the only thing to hit the newsstand. The restaurant’s owner and Allie’s one-time high school nemesis, Jessica Hayes, is found murdered. When Jessica’s husband, Miller, is labelled the prime suspect, Allie’s convinced the police are mistaken. As if dodging the bad press while she works… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Fatmisia & body shaming
  • Anxiety & panic attacks
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Murder
  • Gun violence

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older

Sierra Santiago was looking forward to a fun summer of making art, hanging out with her friends, and skating around Brooklyn. But then a weird zombie guy crashes the first party of the season. Sierra’s near-comatose abuelo begins to say “Lo siento” over and over. And when the graffiti murals in Bed-Stuy start to weep…. Well, something stranger than the usual New York mayhem is going on.

Sierra soon discovers a supernatural order called the Shadowshapers, who connect with spirits via paintings, music, and stories. Her grandfather once shared the order’s secrets with an anthropologist, Dr. Jonathan Wick, who turned the Caribbean magic to his own foul ends. Now Wick wants to become the ultimate Shadowshaper… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Racism
  • Colourism
  • Sexism
  • Ableism
  • Sexual harassment
  • Stroke recounted
  • Dead bodies

The Fire This Time edited by Jesmyn Ward

The Fire This Time edited by Jesmyn Ward

with contributions from Kima Jones, Garnette Cadogan, Claudia Rankine, Emily Raboteau, Mitchell S. Jackson, Natasha Trethewey, Daniel José Older, Edwidge Danticat, Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah, Wendy S. Walters, Isabel Wilkerson, Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, Carol Anderson, Kevin Young, Kiese Laymon, and Clint Smith.

National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward takes James Baldwin’s 1963 examination of race in America, The Fire Next Time, as a jumping-off point for this groundbreaking collection of essays and poems about race from the most important voices of her generation and our time.

In light of recent tragedies and widespread protests across the nation, The Progressive magazine republished one of its most famous pieces: James Baldwin’s 1962 “Letter to My Nephew,” which was later published in his landmark book, The Fire Next Time. Addressing his fifteen-year-old namesake on the one-hundredth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Racism
  • Enslavement
  • Police brutality
  • Lynching
  • Terrorism
  • Refugee camps
  • Hurricane Katrina

Playboy Pilot by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland

Playboy Pilot by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

Money or love? Which would you choose? You probably just answered the question in your head thinking it’s an easy decision. For me, it’s not. Did I mention it’s a lot of money? A hell of a lot. I needed to go far away to think it through. As I embarked on an impulsive trip, I hit a detour when I met sexy Carter in the airport lounge. We struck up a heated conversation.

Then, he left. I thought I’d never see him again. But fate had other plans. Surprise! He was the pilot of my flight. The bigger surprise was the adventure that followed after the plane landed. Carter was dangerous and always on the move but I was addicted. Nothing else mattered anymore. And I was going to get hurt. Because a part of me wanted to be the one to finally ground the playboy pilot. All good things must come to an end, right? Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Depression
  • Suicide
  • Parent with alcoholism
  • Pregnancy mentioned

RoomHate by Penelope Ward

RoomHate by Penelope Ward

When my grandmother died and left me half of the house on Aquidneck Island, there was a catch: the other half would go to the boy she helped raise. The same boy who turned into the teenager whose heart I broke years ago. The same teenager who’s now a man with a hard body and a hardass personality to match. I hadn’t seen him in years, and now we’re living together because neither one of us is willing to give up the house. The worst part? He didn’t come alone.

I’d soon realize there’s a thin line between love and hate. I could see through that smug smile. Beneath it all…the boy is still there. So is our connection. The problem is…now that I can’t have Justin, I’ve never wanted him more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Slut-shaming
  • Child neglect recounted
  • Cheating
  • Unplanned pregnancy

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga

Cora hasn’t spoken to her best friend, Quinn, in a year. Despite living next door to each other, they exist in separate worlds of grief. Cora is still grappling with the death of her beloved sister in a school shooting, and Quinn is carrying the guilt of what her brother did.

On the day of Cora’s twelfth birthday, Quinn leaves a box on her doorstep with a note. She has decided that the only way to fix things is to go back in time to the moment before her brother changed all their lives forever—and stop him.

In spite of herself, Cora wants to believe. And so the two former friends begin working together to open a wormhole in the fabric of the universe… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Racism
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a sister in a school shooting recounted

The Helheim Princess by Tiana Warner

The Helheim Princess by Tiana Warner

For as long as Sigrid could remember, she’s wanted to become a mighty, fearless valkyrie. But without a winged mare, she’s a mere stable hand, left wondering who her parents were and why she’s so different. So when the Eye shows her a vision where she’s leading a valkyrie charge on the legendary eight-legged horse Sleipnir, she grabs the possibility of this greater destiny with both hands, refusing to let go.

Too bad that the only one who can help her get there is Mariam, an enemy valkyrie who begrudgingly agrees to lead her to Helheim but who certainly can’t be trusted―even if she does make Sigrid more than a little flustered. As they cross the nine worlds, battling night elves, riding sea serpents, and hurtling into fire… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Parental abandonment
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Blood depiction
  • Fire
  • Bullying
  • Animal death

Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner

Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner

The Massacre is supposed to bring peace to Eriana Kwai. Every year, the island sends its warriors to battle these hostile sea demons. Every year, the warriors fail to return. Desperate for survival, the island must decide on a new strategy. Now, the fate of Eriana Kwai lies in the hands of twenty battle-trained girls and their resistance to a mermaid’s allure.

Eighteen-year-old Meela has already lost her brother to the Massacre, and she has lived with a secret that’s haunted her since childhood. For any hope of survival, she must overcome the demons of her past and become a ruthless mermaid killer.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Blood & gore depiction

A Pale Light in the Black by KB Wagers

A Pale Light in the Black by K.B. Wagers

For the past year, their close loss in the annual Boarding Games has haunted Interceptor Team: Zuma’s Ghost. With this year’s competition looming, they’re looking forward to some payback—until an unexpected personnel change leaves them reeling. Their best swordsman has been transferred, and a new lieutenant has been assigned in his place.

Maxine Carmichael is trying to carve a place in the world on her own—away from the pressure and influence of her powerful family. The last thing she wants is to cause trouble at her command on Jupiter Station. With her new team in turmoil, Max must overcome her self-doubt and win their trust if she’s going to succeed. Failing is not an option—and would only prove her parents right… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Child abuse & neglect
  • Emotional abuse
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Blood depiction
  • Murder
  • Kidnapping
  • Stalking

An Oath of Dogs by Wendy Wagner

An Oath of Dogs by Wendy N. Wagner

Kate Standish has been on Huginn less than a week and she s already pretty sure her new company murdered her boss. But extractions corporations dominate the communities of the forest world, and few are willing to threaten their meal tickets to look too closely at corporate misbehaviour. The little town of mill workers and farmers is more worried about the threat of eco-terrorism and a series of attacks by the bizarre, sentient dogs of this planet, than a death most people would like to believe is an accident. When Standish connects a secret chemical test site to a nearly forgotten disaster in Huginn’s history, she reveals a conspiracy that threatens Standish and everyone she s come to care about.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Agoraphobia