Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
A chilling and compact contemporary retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tale, T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead balances eerie body horror with fast-paced Gothic suspense. Following retired soldier Alex Easton into a nightmare of bizarre fungal overgrowths and family secrets, this masterful novella delivers rich atmosphere without graphic violence. An excellent addition for high school collections exploring literary retellings and environmental dread.
Reimagining the legendary Baba Yaga as an immortal half-goddess healer, Olesya Salnikova Gilmore’s The Witch and the Tsar plunges readers into a spellbinding historical fantasy set in 16th-century Russia. Striking an unlikely alliance to save her land from the dark forces manipulating Ivan the Terrible, Yaga battles political intrigue and age-old tyrants. A richly atmospheric, captivating read that provides a refreshing exploration of early Russian history for high school collections.
A darker, breathtaking twist on a classic tale! What if Rapunzel’s mother drank from the destructive Moondrop flower instead of the healing Sundrop? Stranded in her tower with silver-gray hair that possesses the terrifying power to hurt rather than heal, this Rapunzel must overcome Mother Gothel’s severe psychological gaslighting to reclaim her autonomy and true strength.
A vibrant celebration of sacred female authority! Dividing 50 global figures into goddesses, heroines, and monsters, this beautifully illustrated YA handbook breaks down names, symbols, and lore. While entries are brief, it serves as a stunning, accessible starting point for high schoolers looking to uncover the diverse, cross-cultural history of female power.
Gods walk the streets of Manhattan—but as prey. Lore reimagines Greek mythology as a high-stakes, once-every-seven-years hunt called the Agon. When a wounded Athena seeks out Lore Perseous, the last of her line, an unlikely alliance is born. It’s a breathless story of revenge, fate, and the courage it takes to break a cycle of violence that has lasted for centuries.