#jaerecs

Recs by: Jae

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

gives autistic representation with the main love interest, who is also the leader of the rebels. The main character shows some neurodivergent traits as well and has been groomed to lead the cult the rebels are fighting against on a “holy” war.

To a Darker Shore by Leanne Schwartz

features autistic main characters, both the female MC and male MC, who sacrifices himself and his chance at the throne to save the female protagonist's life - while also uncovering the dark truth behind their country's religion.

This Moth Saw Brightness by A. A. Vacharat

features a lot of BIPOC and AAPI representation when it comes to mental illness, including the main female love interest who plays a big part in the plot. She is autistic and uses origami as a coping mechanism along with agendas and schedules.

Camp Damascus by @drchucktingle

is written by an autistic author and features a queer autistic female protagonist who grows up in a religious obsessed town with a dark and horrifying secret hidden in the “most effective” gay conversion camp nearby. Explores religion's relationship with mental illness and queerness.

We were tagged by @prettyasapic for this getting to know you meme. The other post was getting very long, so we're putting our answers on their own to save your dash. (Also, we're a whole team of reader's advisors, so we have a variety of answers for each question!)

Here we go! If you particularly like someone's answers, we've included everyone's individual rec tag in the tags - you should be able to just click it and see what they've recc'd in the past. Oh, and if anyone else wants to do this, consider yourself tagged :)

📖 Currently reading:

Anne: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

Jae: Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton

Susan: A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Robin: Ash by Malinda Lo

Julie: Fela: Music is the Weapon by Jibola Fagbamiye and Conor McCreery

Kate: In Perfect Light by Benjamin Alire Sáenz and The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green (We had to ILL In Perfect Light - don't be afraid to use your library's purchase request service!)

Ashley: The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden. On book 3: The Housemaid is Watching

📺 Last series you watched:

Anne: Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Jae: Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Anyhow, do you know of any interesting science fantasy? It would appear i've read all the fiction of my local library, and would like to expand my horizons a bit.

We love an expanded horizon! Here's what our staff recommend for science-fantasy:

Abby suggests The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher featuring airships, cats with their own language that only some can understand, and elaborate world-building. (Adult)

Jae suggests:

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (Young adult. giant robots powered up by murder)

Zodiac by Romina Russell (Young adult. A young leader must unite the houses of her galaxy against an ancient threat.)

and tumblr's favorite lesbians in space, Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (Adult. Swords, necromancy, extremely dubious science)

Sarah suggests Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series. The series has about two dozen books, starting with Dragonsdawn, and puts the reader in what feels like a semi-feudal society where dragons and their riders face a dwindling role in society. The reemergence of a terrifying threat and the rise of a young noblewoman change the planet's fate. As the series continues, you begin to realize that the entire society is rooted in scientific plans - to tell too much would ruin the story. But starting with Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and The White Dragon should set the reader up for a good experience. (Young Adult. Note: the original version of this post marked these as YA, but though some books in the Pern series are YA these particular ones are shelved in Adult. We also originally had the reading order as Dragonsdawn, Dragonflight, and then The White Dragon but that's been corrected - this is what happens when every work has the word dragon in the title!)

A few of our team have suggestions for you!

Anne recommends:

These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang - Knives Out but with sorcerers

I Am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins - A novel in verse in which women in the Strand family are born/cursed with powers

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - Starts in an urban setting but transitions into the faery realm

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - Part of the Shadowhunters universe and set in the 1800s. You don't have to read the main series or any previous books set in the universe to understand this one. (Jae seconded the Shadowhunters books!)

Rachel recommends:

Lovely War by Julie Berry: I have suggested this book before. I LOVE it. The story is historical fiction with fantasy elements as some of the Greek gods narrate the story.

Halflings by Heather Burch

In a World Just Right by Jen Brooks

Dragons in Our Midst series by Bryan Davis

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Jae recommends:

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

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Review by: Jae

For those who enjoy cozy romantasy books with a little action and some mystery.

This trilogy follows three main couples with lovable background characters with their own development as well throughout the books.

Explore the whimsical world of Tanria that's filled filled with dragons and other mythological creatures, and learn with the characters about the deep and wonderful lore of the world.

I was introduced to this series through an online friend and after reading the first book was left craving and waiting anxiously for the next ones  as they released. The world building is amazing and with a diverse cast of characters, you will easily find one you love and can relate to.

Check them out in print or in ebook and audiobook on Libby

Read what library staff are reading! Here's what's been on Jae's shelf lately:

Just Finished : The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill

This was a very bittersweet read. It is about a trans man named Darby who is let go due to the company he works for in New York City going under.

Darby finds out his mom back in his small home town is getting ready to downsize and move into the newly built condos and heads home to help her pack and figure things out. There he learns his former best friend pre-transition, Micheal, who he had a falling out with, still lives in town and reconnects with him.

When Darby learns that the bookstore he used to work at is still in business he goes to visit and discovers that within the bookstore he has been taken back to 2009 the week before his birthday, the week before his falling out with Michael.

Darby attempts to give his younger self advice and help his past self realize they are trans sooner. He tries to find out what caused the rift between him and Michael while also in the present day forming relationships again with former classmates and new people.

Now Reading: Sky's End by Marc J. Gregson

This is a new book in a familiar genre of teenage dystopians. I have always been a fan of the dystopian genre from when I read The Giver in school, and still continue to be a fan to this day.

This is the first book in a trilogy about a meritocratic society. A boy cast out by his scheming uncle from the high society undergoes the Selection of Twelve Trades, which allows those in lower society to try to be recruited into a trade to boost their status. He is chosen by the deadliest guild and now must survive while seeking vengeance and protecting his sister from his uncle's machinations.

Next Up: Dating and Dismemberment by A.L. Brody

As soon as I saw this one online through social media and my readalike browsing I knew I had to try it. A quirky humor-filled enemies-to-lovers romance set around a teen summer camp. It's about a monster who terrorizes the campers and a new monster trying to take over her turf while she's on a sabbatical trying to figure things out. As a new fan to rom-coms and a lover of the enemies-to-lovers trope and fantasy books, I can not wait to give this one a try.

Here's reader's advisor Jae's current TBR pile:

From top to bottom:

Bloodguard by Cecy Robson

My Kind of Trouble by L.A. Schwartz

Defy by Sara De Waard

Heaven Official's Blessing book 1 by Tian Guan Ci Fu

Metal from Heaven by H.A. Clarke

Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli

Darkly by Marisha Pessl

Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas

Trigger warnings for various mental health issues, eugenics, homophobia and some violence.

Sebastian is offered a place at the revolutionary new center: Happy Head, a center dedicated to help fight the epidemic that is teenage unhappiness. Along with ninety-nine other teens, Sebastian goes through various challenges and assessments designed to scope their feelings and help them grow.

One of the other ninety-nine teens stands out: Finn, a boy who seems to not want to get with the program at all costs. When the challenges turn deadly, the true nature of the center is revealed.

As Sebastian is forced to pretend to be someone he is not to survive, he realizes Finn has the right way of thinking and they start trying to find a way out to reveal the nefarious nature of the center. All the while they fall in love and discover they are better and, maybe even happy, together.

This book was an emotional ride, as it covers a topic close to me, being someone with mental health issues and being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. I found myself stunned and slightly horrified while also being unable to stop devouring the amazing interactions and plot surrounding this center and the teenagers inside of it. The bond between Finn and Sebastian moves at a perfect pace. The overall plot and the accurate depictions of how mental illness does make itself known for some people made this book and its sequel even more enjoyable.

Check out Happy Head