"The feeling that she had never really lived in this world caught her by surprise. It was a fact. She had never lived. Even as a child, as far back as she could remember, she had done nothing but endure. She had believed in her own inherent goodness, her humanity, and lived accordingly, never causing... Continue Reading →
Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba
"Listen, Kazu. Everyone says that humans are equal, but we don’t all get the same chances in life. You know that, don’t you? You’re a big boy in fifth grade. Some people are born healthy, and others are born with illnesses and disabilities. There are beautiful people who get adored by everyone, and people of... Continue Reading →
All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami
"Why does the night have to be so beautiful?As I walk through the night, I remember what Mitsutsuka said to me. 'Because at night, only half the world remains.' I count the lights. All the lights of the night. The red light at the intersection, trembling as if wet, even though it isn't raining. Streetlight... Continue Reading →
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
"Sarkis turned around and began to beat his forehead very gently against the wall. “The great god is punishing me,” he said softly, “for my crimes. I cannot go to his hell, and so he has sent a woman to torment me."Swordheart by T. Kingfisher My love of T. Kingfisher grows with every book. Sometimes... Continue Reading →
A Tempest of Ravens by E.A. Bard
"The inky blue of the forest path called to her, and she let her feet take her into her favorite part of the woods for a moment of solitude, and respite from her own mind. The last of the night’s drizzle trickled through the canopy and dripped down the back of her neck. She shivered... Continue Reading →
A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic by J. Penner
"There seems to be a story that you keep telling yourself, and I understand… it has served you for some time. It was real. It kept you safe. But you’ve outgrown that tale, and now it’s holding you back from becoming who you are really meant to be."A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic If you... Continue Reading →