Here is V. Castro’s Immortal Pleasures, which is the story of La Malinche, a Nahua woman who translated for Cortés back in the day. History hasn’t been kind to La Malinche, mostly due to the fact that Cortés left a lot of bodies in his wake. However, in Castro’s hands, La Malinche is reborn as …
Here is Moses Ose Utomi’s The Lies of the Ajungo, a novella about a boy who leaves home to fetch water. Naturally, there’s more to it than that, and Utomi’s vision of the City of Lies is a world filled with danger and magic. As the boy ventures out of the city and into the …
I […] read this YA fantasy book for a book club I am a part of and I thought it was so good! In this world, every 16 year-old girl goes through a Purity Ritual in which the purity of their blood is revealed. Red blood means you’re human, golden blood means you are not. …
This is one of my favorite fairy tale re-tellings! The daughter of a moneylender, Miryem has to take matters into her own hands when it becomes clear that her father isn’t very good at getting the money people owe him, and her family is paying for it. She is a great moneylender, so great that …
Here is the next hot thing. Aurora Ascher’s Sanctuary of the Shadow is an epic romantasy about hot love interests, relatable main characters, fast female friends, and consensual “spice.” Lots of spice. Look, this character has secrets, and that character doesn’t know the secrets he carries, but it’s clear he’s not from around here. (The wings give it away.) But there’s …
Emerson Wilde has it all together. A true feminist like the women in her family before her, the youngest chamber of commerce president, and owner of her family’s bookstore life couldn’t be better in her beloved town of St. Cyprian. She has the best group of friends turned family, and everything is as it should …
Pirates + Magic + Powerful Women + Phenomenal Character Development + Gorgeous Writing = The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. This equation is the making of my favorite things, and S. A. Chakraborty did it beautifully. Can’t wait for the next one! –Rachel, Browsers, Olympia, WA Find the right formula for your next perfect read at …
On Wednesdays, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Bestseller list is published. Every week, we love to see what has been most popular in independent bookstores around our region. As we peruse the list, we ponder patterns. Then we present this weekly feature: Thursday Themes. The second book of the Empyrean series, Iron Flame, brought dragons and dragon-lovers to …
Honestly this book is phenomenal in every way. Gorgeous writing – ✔️Lush and epic worldbuilding – ✔️ Strong well developed female protagonists – ✔️ Slow-burn sapphic romance – ✔️ Excellent plot and pacing – ✔️ Nuanced exploration of empire as tool for oppression – ✔️ –Rania, Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, WA Find books that …
The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) is a non-profit association of independent bookstores from five Northwest states, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia. The Association produces educational and promotional events and materials for its members and offers literacy, free speech, and author promotional vehicles through its member stores. Since 1965, the PNBA Awards …
