Shoujo is a broad genre of manga that has existed for almost as long as there have been manga readers. The name shoujo literally means “young woman”, and the shoujo manga label is stamped on any manga suitable for (or that appeals to) readers who are young girls. This means that a lot of stereotyping …
Willow Heath
Representation of minority experiences in genre fiction is important for ensuring that art offers a more universal experience. But there’s more to it than that. Diversity of voices within genres like horror also allows that genre to be shaken up by new ideas and approaches to the medium. Queer horror books bring a unique voice …
Over the course of the last decade or so, nonfiction has undergone a slow and gradual revolution, taking cues from the page-turning tone and immediacy of fiction to make itself more narrative, engaging, and exhilarating. We are now gifted with a wave of compelling, inspirational nonfiction. Every year, countless nonfiction books come out that prove …
Bucharest as we know it today was officially founded in 1459. In the years that followed, Romania has been subject to Ottoman, Hungarian, Russian, and French influence, all of which is worn by Bucharest’s architecture. Home to Vlad the Impaler (the man behind the legend of Dracula) and a city so recently subject to decades …
Note: This list of LGBTQ bedtime stories was assembled with the help of my girlfriend Issy, an experienced primary (elementary) school teacher and fellow member of the LGBTQ community. If you were read to as a little one, it’s pretty likely that your fondest reading memories are of bedtime. The best bedtime stories to read …
When imagining winter books, there are probably two images that come to mind: books set during winter, and books to keep you feeling warm and comfortable. There’s also a third image: something dark, isolating, possibly frightening. You’ll find all three kinds of books on this list. Some of these winter books are simply books set …
The world of fantasy fiction has been turned on its head in recent years by authors who are pushing boundaries and blurring lines. The distance between fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and fairy tales has been reduced, and it’s all for the better. Modern fantasy books are wholly unique and exciting stories for this reason. Exciting Modern …
Defining a read as an “autumn book” isn’t a simple thing. Autumn books are simply books that feel right to be read as the wind chills and the leaves change. They might be spooky or gothic novels that are perfect for Halloween and when the nights start drawing in. Or they might be heartwarming, cosy …
The vampire has had an enormous legacy in literature, one that began with Carmilla and Dracula, and has gone through dozens of changes since. The popularity of vampire books peaks every few years, with the vampire itself being redefined and reimagined. We’re going to look here at generations of vampire books, which includes both vampire …
When we think of Norwegian literature, a specific idea comes to mind: Norwegian novels are often about isolation; they are gritty, noir affairs. This is in part thanks to the overwhelming popularity of the Norwegian crime drama (both in prose and on TV), but also because even the more literary Norwegian novels are often bleak …