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Amazon Must Read Books. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
An In-Depth Guide to Controversial Books Addressing LGBTQ+, Race, Mental Health, and Self-Discovery Literature for young adults often tackles intense and thought-provoking themes, allowing readers to confront, question, and understand the world around them. Some books, however, touch on topics that spark controversy due to their candid portrayal of identity, mental health, race, and sexuality. In this post, we’ll explore ten influential books, examining their intended age groups, central themes, and the reasons behind their divisive receptions.
By Mr. Hedareabout a year ago in BookClub
Cover Reveal: So Sing the Barrows by Steve Hugh Westenra
In a deep dark wood, a deep dark secret festers, and an exiled Nordic witch must uncover the face of a murderer who wears the mask of a death god. Vengeance, survival, and the lives of her friends demand it. Wytha Naemisdottir is a witch, banished to the frigid mainland for failing to save her king's newborn child. If she can find a gift worthy of the king's forgiveness, Wytha can return home alongside her warrior lover and misfit companions. But the mainland is contested territory, and its dense woods are haunted. A black-robed stranger watches her from the coastline, the fishermen who greet her have taken to worshipping a foreign god with ties to Wytha's southern heritage, and rumours abound of an invader whose vanguard is picking off villages one by one. Worse still, someone is summoning spectral barrow-wights that attack Wytha's people. Creatures straight out of myth, pitch-black and faceless, the wights can separate skin from bone with a touch. But uncovering the face of the summoner raises a disturbing question: is a stranger responsible, or is the summoner one of her cherished companions? As the search for answers entangles Wytha in the sinister politics of mainland, it reveals an uncomfortable connection between the revival of an ancient blood rite known as the wild hunt, the sly tactics of the eastern invader, and Wytha's own ancestral past. The deeper Wytha and her friends are driven into the forest, the further into disputed territory they find themselves, and the thinner Wytha's grasp on her sanity.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Nurturing Connection: A Deep Dive into John Gottman’s "The Relationship Cure"
John Gottman, a prominent psychologist and relationship expert, has dedicated his career to understanding the intricacies of human relationships. In "The Relationship Cure," he distills his extensive research into actionable insights that can transform how we connect with our loved ones. This review will explore six key points from the book, providing a comprehensive overview of its themes and practical applications.
By Future of Resilience about a year ago in BookClub
Amazon Must Read Books. AI-Generated.
A Curated Guide to Embracing Wicca’s Magic, Philosophy, and Natural Wisdom In recent years, modern Wicca and witchcraft have seen a resurgence, drawing the curious, the spiritual, and those yearning for a deeper connection to nature and the mystical. This ancient yet evolving path is rich with tradition, self-discovery, and empowerment. For anyone venturing into this world of spellcraft, ritual, and philosophical reflection, the right guidebooks can make all the difference. Below, we explore ten essential books that offer a range of perspectives on Wicca and modern witchcraft. Whether you're a solitary practitioner, a green witch, or simply curious, each of these works provides valuable insights, wisdom, and practical guidance.
By Mr. Hedareabout a year ago in BookClub
Amazon Must Reads. AI-Generated.
A Journey through Themes of Power, Fear, and Forbidden Knowledge In literature, stories that dive into the supernatural and occult have long held a special fascination. They blend mystery with elements of horror, fantasy, and even psychological exploration, making them compelling for those intrigued by forces beyond the ordinary. This blog post delves into some of the most spellbinding novels in the occult genre. These ten books combine dark magic, complex characters, and rich mythologies, each exploring themes that reach into the heart of humanity’s deepest fears and desires. Here’s a close look at each of these exceptional works, what they bring to the genre, and the themes they explore.
By Mr. Hedareabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Ordinary World by Jack T Canis
Life often boils down to simple questions with complex answers. Olivia Buchanan's question was simple, if twofold: 'Was sixteen year old Olivia Buchanan truly the culmination of a secret 30 year genome project, by a clandestine research organisation, to create the ultimate human in order to save humanity from itself? Or: Has she merely inherited her mother's delusional schizophrenia, spiralling her into a nightmarish hell created by a diseased and fractured mind?' Simple.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: On Silver Winds by Ava Smiddy
A reluctant Heir. A vengeful King. An alliance that could ruin them both. Adeline never wanted the crown, yet she remains bound by it. A daughter of the Snow Queen, she must uphold the sparkling reputation of her kingdom until she earns the right to campaign for the throne - or the right to concede it. But when royal tensions split the frozen lake at the heart of the kingdom, a dark King claws his way free of its icy depths. And history is rewritten. Kai has spent an eternity beneath the ice, with nothing but his rage to keep him warm. Now his only path to freedom lies in a false alliance with the descendants of his enemy. Deceiving them might be simple, even satisfying - if it weren’t for the lovely, roguish Princess Adeline and the warmth in her eyes when looks at him. As though she wants him. As though she trusts him. As though he could want and trust her too. With loyalties divided and secrets buried in ancient ice, Adeline and Kai must decide how far they’ll go to protect the futures of their people. Is a kingdom worth the price of a frozen heart?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Nascent Witch by Melissa Bobe
Drowning in student debt and juggling countless part-time jobs, Sela Glaser is shocked to discover she’s about to become a witch. Sela quickly learns that magick comes with its own complications, especially when her past starts messing with her present powers. Can this temp turn things around before being a witch turns out to be just another disastrous hustle? NASCENT WITCH is a novel full of magic, mystery, and embittered millennials who are adulting as hard as they can, okay?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne
13-year-old Grace loves her new charity shop coat. In fact, it’s perfect. Except for one tiny thing. When she wears it, she sees visions of the previous owner’s life ... and their murder! Grace and her best friend, Suzy, decide to investigate but digging up the past reveals secrets some people want to keep hidden. Can Grace stay one step ahead and solve a fifty-year-old murder or will she become the killer’s next victim? A gripping story of secrets and murder for fans of fast-paced middle grade thrillers.
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
Book Spotlight: Murders Along the Coast by Brian Gee
Simon Crofts is a Crime Scene Manager working at major incidents and overseeing the Scenes of Crime Officers under his command. Their job is to deal with all types of crime from burglary to murder, in the seaside towns on the south coast. A quiet festive period is interrupted by a call to the suspicious death of a baby. The traumatic scene and the subsequent post-mortem are all in a day’s work for the SOCO’s. As their examination ends, they are then called to another scene, this time just as tragic. A successful businessman and his wife have been shot dead in their own home. There are no clues to who has carried out the shooting, or why. The story follows the crime scene officers as they painstakingly carry out the thorough examinations of the house looking for that one tiny piece of evidence that will lead them to the suspect. In this case it has been made more complicated, as it appears that the offender has been careful, and doesn’t appear to have left any clues behind. Crofts and his team have been faced with this type of challenge before and are confident that they will solve this case. Will they succeed, or will the clever assassin get away with murder?
By Marie Sinadjanabout a year ago in BookClub
