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Tag: diverse representation

  • Brave The Treacherous Roads Of Lucia Damisa’s A Winter Of White Ash

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    We’re so back! If you’ve been following THP’s book team for the past year, then you’ll recognize this incredible West African-inspired historical fantasy series by Lucia Damisa. We just finished reading book two of the series, A Winter of White Ash, and can’t wait for you to see what’s in store!

    If you thought we had an adventure in the first book, A Desert of Bleeding Sand, then be prepared for so much more action and angst in the sequel! Zair and Dathan travel across the seas to faraway kingdoms in the hopes of forming alliances in the war against Albion and the wraiths.

    A Winter of White Ash is a bit of a longer read, but we think it was absolutely worth it! Here are three things we love about the sequel to Lucia Damisa’s A Desert of Bleeding Sand series!

    A Winter of White Ash by Lucia Damisa
    Image Source: Darkan Press

    Book Overview: A Winter Of White Ash

    Content warnings: murder, death, graphic violence, serious injury, gore, torture, slavery, racism, PTSD, forced captivity, attempted rape and sexual assault, bodies, decapitation, human bones, skulls, poisoning, warfare, terrorism, vomit, and weapons (Please read at your discretion!)

    Summary: My kingdom, Thalesai, stands at the edge of a great war as the king of the darkness steers his forces against us. Within our own borders, a rebellion simmers as tribes threaten to split and rulers start to take sides, leaving the wounds the kingdom suffered at the coronation still open and bleeding.

    Dathan and I are no longer aligned.

    He’s been sent across the sea on a mission shrouded in secrecy, tasked with stealing fragments of an ancient weapon lost to myth.

    And me? The Commandant has given me orders that place me directly in his path. Once again, we’re rivals—our missions at odds. And yet…how do I stop a man who once fought by my side? Whose touch still lingers like fire on my skin? How do I stay cold when our hearts burn for more?

    The World-Building Expands

    With a total of five books in the series, we knew that A Winter of White Ash would share the bulk of expanding the world that was set up in book one. Zair and Dathan travel outside of their homes in Thalesai to Dahomey and Sariq. On the surface, they attempt to form military alliances in the impending war against Albion. But Zair and Dathan must also carry out covert operations under the Queen and King’s orders, respectively. There are new players in this war now. As such, we even get an added perspective, someone whose role and even timeline has not been fully revealed.

    Zair & Dathan’s Push-Pull Romance

    Oh, Zair and Dathan, our beloved main characters! They pushed and pulled on our heartstrings so much in A Winter of White Ash. Their whirlwind engagement paired with their increasingly strong yet conflicting feelings for each other had us in a chokehold. Zair’s Esan traits are ostracized by other tribes and make her unwilling to ruin Dathan’s life if they married. Dathan wants nothing more than a life with Zair, but his loyalty to the king keeps him from letting her in. But as they both grow in this book, they find their way toward each other and a future together.

    An Ending That Changes Everything

    Whatever the future holds for Zair and Dathan, however, has been suspended until further notice after that cliffhanger ending. The last several chapters were fast-paced and volatile, blowing up everyone’s plans, including our own predictions. It’s the kind of chaos that we live for in fantasy novels, the kind that continues to raise our excitement for the books to come. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait too long for book three, which is due to release this March! We’re hoping it’s a bit kinder to our feelings and beloved characters, but we won’t be surprised if it’s not…

    Brimming with action, espionage, and a whole lot of angst, Lucia Damisa’s A Winter of White Ash absolutely blew us away. We’d risk the heartache just to read it all over again!

    A Winter of White Ash is on sale now, and you can order a copy of it here!

    What do you think of Lucia Damisa’s new sequel? Have you already read A Winter of White Ash? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LUCIA DAMISA:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

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    Julie Dam

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  • Black History Is Your History By Taylor Cassidy Is A Must-Read!

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    Yes, we’re aware that February is still several months away. But we also love to celebrate Black history whenever we can, especially when we can see it happen in real time. You may have heard of Taylor Cassidy or seen one of the many videos from her Fast Black History TikTok series. Today, she’s just released her debut nonfiction book, Black History is Your History!

    This book highlights twelve Black historical figures who have all left a major impact on American history, figures who deserve more than a few bullet points on a slideshow presentation. We at THP are so in love with the concept and messaging behind this book. Here are just three things we love about Taylor Cassidy’s debut and why it’s a must-read for everyone!

    Image Source: Simon & Schuster

    Book Overview: Black History Is Your History

    Summary: Meet Taylor Cassidy, Black history enthusiast and creator of the viral TikTok series Fast Black History. In her debut book, Taylor takes readers on a journey through the Black history she wishes she was taught in school. With sparkling wit and humor—and lots of fun pop culture references—she paints a vibrant picture of twelve figures from Black history whose groundbreaking contributions shaped America as we know it today. Introducing icons from activists to literary giants, movie stars to Olympic gold medalists, fashion designers to astronauts, and more, this one-of-a-kind collection makes Black history relatable, relevant, and utterly irresistible.

    Using Black history as inspiration, Taylor weaves together research and personal anecdotes that illuminate each trailblazer’s impact on her own life—as well as sharing plenty of triumphant, funny, and embarrassing moments from her past. From navigating friend breakups and unrequited crushes to setting boundaries and fighting self-doubt, Taylor’s been there…and she’s learned some valuable life lessons along the way.

    This book is a joyful celebration of Black history makers, and you’re invited to the party. Come on in and let these twelve true stories inspire you to make history of your own!

    The Author’s Voice

    One of our absolute favorite things about Black History is Your History is the author Taylor’s voice. She personalizes this book by sharing snippets from her own life and her history (or should we say, “her-story”). Taylor explains the impact of each historical figure with a personal anecdote or a life lesson that she carries with her. Her narration is so relatable and charming. And it makes us feel like we’re sitting with her and having a chat over coffee and lunch. We finished this book in a blink of an eye, and we’d do it all over again if she wanted to add more installments down the line.

    Much-Needed Diversity

    We can’t talk about Black History is Your History without shouting out the diverse representation, not just in the historical figures but also in the wide range of stories. From almanac author Benjamin Banneker in the 18th century to actress Cicely Tyson in the 20th century, there is something inspirational for everyone. Not to mention the intersectionality of identities in prominent figures like gay liberation activist Marsha P. Johnson as well as astronaut and engineer Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel to space.

    Educational And Enjoyable

    Though we recognized many names in this book, we loved reading the extra background that we would’ve missed in regular history lessons. We also get commentary from the author in sections she dubbed as “Taystory.” One of the stories that most stood out to us was about Tommie Smith, former track-and-field athlete. After winning gold in the 1968 Olympics, he and his teammate John Carlos (who’d won the bronze medal) raised their black-gloved fists on the victory podium in protest of racism and discrimination. While we’d heard of this event briefly before, reading about it again gave us chills.

    From the creator of Fast Black History videos comes an educational debut book we finished in the blink of an eye. Taylor Cassidy’s Black History is Your History is utterly witty and inspirational.

    Black History is Your History by Taylor Cassidy comes out October 14th, and you can order a copy of it here!

    What do you think of Taylor Cassidy’s debut book? Have you been following her Fast Black History series on TikTok? Let us know on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TAYLOR CASSIDY:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

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    Julie Dam

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  • Graphic Novel Review: Angelica And The Bear Prince By Trung Le Nguyen

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    One of our favorite things we’ve done this year was getting back into graphic novels! As longtime lovers of manga, webtoons, and digital comics, we a THP are so glad to be able to get our hands on the occasional graphic novel in print!

    Trung Le Nguyen has just released his sophomore graphic novel, Angelica and the Bear Prince. And to say we loved it would be an understatement. It has the perfect balance of cozy vibes with very real and relatable issues.

    If you needed any more convincing, we’ll give you all the deets. Here are three of our favorite things about Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen!

    Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Book Overview: Angelica And The Bear Prince

    Content warnings: mentions of a loved one’s death, grief

    Summary: Angelica was the girl who could do it all—until suddenly, she couldn’t. Burnout hit hard. Now, after some very low moments, she’s ready to get her life back together, thanks to her friends, and one very surprising source of comfort. 

    A bear.

    Per is the mascot of the local theater. He’s been sending Angelica supportive messages from his social. They’ve become friends, and Angelica might even have . . . a crush?

    Determined to find the human behind the bear costume, Angelica gets an internship at the theater. She might never go back to being the girl who can do everything, but perhaps she is becoming the girl who can magically have it all.

    Cozy Art Style

    For starters, Angelica and the Bear Prince has the cutest, coziest art style. Set in a town where every day is a winter wonderland, we’re convinced it belongs in a snow globe, Our main character Angelica tries to keep busy with an internship at her local theater. Each of the panels are equal parts cute and detailed, especially when it comes to hairstyles. And the Bear Prince is one of our favorite characters!

    Coping With Grief

    Without the author’s letter at the beginning, we wouldn’t have thought Angelica and the Bear Prince would make us feel so many emotions. This graphic novel features two families who grieve the death of a loved one. Angelica lost her maternal grandma ten years ago. She misses her dearly but also sometimes feels guilty that she doesn’t think about her as much as before. Gable moves back in with their grandma, who continues to mourn her late husband. Both families focus on the people who are still here with them, working through their grief together, and relying on each other.

    Representations Of Love

    Another one of our favorite things about Angelica and the Bear Prince is the diverse representations of love. From the main couple, Angelica and Gable, to Angelica’s neighbors, Phil and Richard, several love stories are portrayed in this graphic novel. Angelica’s parents have raised our standards for dating, in the way Mr. Hoang isn’t afraid to be mushy in front of others. Romantic love aside, we also get glimpses of platonic love between Angelica and her bestie Christine. And we can’t forget about the familial love within the Hoang family, especially between mother and daughter.

    Trung Le Nguyen’s new graphic novel, Angelica and the Bear Prince, sailed past our expectations and delivered a work of art depicting love and grief we’ll cherish from here on!

    Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen comes out October 7th, and you can order a copy of it here!

    Did you enjoy Trung Le Nguyen’s Angelica and the Bear Prince as much as we did? Have you read the author’s first graphic novel, The Magic Fish? Let us know on Twitter. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!

    Looking for some audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRUNG LE NGUYEN:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

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    Julie Dam

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  • Celebrate Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month With These Must-Reads!

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    It’s about that time again! Yes, we mean the much-needed fall and Halloween season, but we also can’t forget about Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts on September 15 and ends on October 15 every year.

    Y’all know we will always jump at the chance to hype up any number of diverse books on our radar. Luckily, we have plenty of Latine and Hispanic authors writing about Latine and Hispanic characters. It has become our mission, now more than ever, to highlight these wide range of stories and scenarios. So here are five must-read books to celebrate Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month!

    Content Warning: The Honey POP encourages mindful reading and checking the author’s website for content warnings.

    Very Dangerous Things By Lauren Muñoz

    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Our first book recommendation for Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month is Lauren Muñoz’s newest YA novel, Very Dangerous Things! This story follows Mexican American teen Dulce Castillo, who’s determined to win her high school’s annual murder mystery game that tests all the criminology students. But when the pretend victim gets poisoned and the game turns into a real murder mystery, only Dulce can be trusted to solve it and clear her ex-best friend Sierra’s name.

    Release date: July 29
    Order Very Dangerous Things here!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LAUREN MUÑOZ:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    Rosa By Any Other Name By Hailey Alcaraz

    Latine Heritage Month book roundup: Rosa By Any Other Name by Hailey Alcaraz
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Hailey Alcaraz reimagines Romeo and Juliet if it were set during the civil rights era and featured Mexican American characters. Rosa By Any Other Name follows Rosa Capistrano after the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Schools still aren’t safe for Mexican Americans, however, so Rosa passes as a white girl named Rosie. But her best friend Ramon gets wrapped up in a star-crossed romance with their classmate Julianne and faces a terrible tragedy. Rosa soon finds herself and her true identity caught in the middle of this tumultuous scandal.

    Release date: August 5
    Order Rosa By Any Other Name here!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HAILEY ALCARAZ:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    An Embroidery Of Souls By Ruby Martinez

    Hispanic Heritage: An Embroidery of Souls by Ruby Martinez
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Our next Hispanic Heritage Month book rec is Ruby Martinez’s debut novel, An Embroidery of Souls. A romantic fantasy and mystery that blends Mexican and German lore, this story is centered around Jade Aguilar, a talented thread speaker with the ability to manipulate souls through embroidery. Jade has a mission to find her missing mother after a series of mysterious deaths. She encounters Lukas Keller, who needs her help saving his family from ruin. The two of them work together to get answers and save their realm from a creature on the loose.

    Release date: September 9
    Order An Embroidery of Souls here!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RUBY MARTINEZ:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    The Story Of My Anger By Jasminne Mendez

    The Story of My Anger by Jasminne Mendez
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    We can always appreciate a novel-in-verse with Afro-Latina representation! Jasminne Mendez makes her YA debut with The Story of My Anger. Dominican American teen Yulieta Lopez has been battling racism in her Texas school’s theater program, with a teacher who refuses to cast Black students in lead roles. To make matters worse, the school board threatens her favorite teacher for teaching texts they deem “controversial.” Yulieta and her friends fight back with their own club that becomes the talk of the town.

    Release date: September 16
    Preorder The Story of My Anger here!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JASMINNE MENDEZ:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    Fireblooms By Alexandra Villasante

    Latine Heritage: Fireblooms by Alexandra Villasante
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    The last book on our Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month roundup is Alexandra Villasante’s queer YA romance, Fireblooms! Sebastian moves to New Gault to look after his absent and abusive mother, starting at a new school. Sebastian’s assigned student ambassador Lu shows him everything TECH can offer: a safe, no-bullying space that comes with a catch. While Sebastian isn’t keen on being so closely monitored, he begrudgingly accepts the terms for his mother’s treatments. His and Lu’s friendship turns into something more, and they each grapple with emotional trauma and what it means to be safe in this speculative novel.

    Release date: September 30
    Preorder Fireblooms here!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALEXANDRA VILLASANTE:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    We hope you got a few new recommendations from our roundup of Hispanic and Latine books and authors! Which of these titles are you adding to your reading list for the next month?

    How else are you celebrating Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month? Let us know on Twitter! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

    Need some more book recs? We got them!

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    Julie Dam

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