by Melissa J. Troutman | Aug 14, 2026 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fantasy, Fiction, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
A Study of Shattered Spells by Josiah DeGraaf is not just another magic-school book. Because . . . . . . Chintor Academy is not just another magic school. It has problems. Deep problems. All across the student body and even the faculty. It’s supposed to be the most...
by Melissa J. Troutman | Feb 13, 2026 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fantasy, Fiction, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
I could not be more excited to share this review of Caligo by J. J. Fischer. (If you haven’t read The Nightingale Trilogy, read with caution, because I couldn’t avoid some vague spoilers of the last book.) Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a series like The...
by Melissa J. Troutman | May 31, 2024 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fantasy, Fiction, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
If you’re looking for a fun but deep YA adventure, with some of the most creative writing on my radar to date, look no farther than The Secret of Stardust by Heather L.L. FitzGerald. It’s the next generation of The Tethered World Chronicles—same world, second verse, a...
by Melissa J. Troutman | Mar 29, 2024 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fantasy, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
Some books are good the way pizza is good, offering a nice (or shocking or spicy) experience that pleases the senses. Some books are good the way a narrator is good, displaying a high level of skill that appeals to the intelligent mind. And some books are good the way...
by K.A. Ramstad | Sep 3, 2021 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fantasy, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
Looking for a book about unicorns? I recommend The Midnight Unicorn by Neil Reed, a story about a girl and a unicorn having a fantastical adventure. I agree with School Library Journal’s recommending this for grades Kindergarten through 2nd. Kids will see the...
by K.A. Ramstad | Aug 6, 2021 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fantasy, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
Princess Sophie and the Six Swans by Kim Jacobs is a retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale The Six Swans. This version is told from Princess Sophie’s point of view, giving depth to the heroine’s character by revealing her thoughts and...
