FANTASY— A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE READERS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE STAFF PICKS New Castle County Libraries Readers’ Advisory Newsletter Fall 2020

Where can I find these books? The Deep by Solomon Rivers Your New Castle County Library has the books suggested in this issue in e-book or e-audio Yetu holds the memories for her format available through Overdrive or Hoopla. people -- water-dwelling Or utilize curbside pick-up at your branch for the descendants of pregnant African book or audio. slave women thrown overboard Visit the library website to access your preferred by slave owners -- who live idyllic formats: https://lib.de.us/ lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly, is forgotten by The Dark Tower Series everyone, save one -- the historian. This demanding role by Stephen King has been bestowed on Yetu. Yetu Set in a world of remembers for everyone, and the ominous landscape memories, painful and wonderful, and macabre traumatic and terrible and miracu- menace, The Dark lous, are destroying her. And so, Tower series features one of she flees to the surface, escaping Stephen King’s the memories, the expectations, most powerful and the responsibilities -- and creations—The discovers a world her people left behind long ago. Yetu will learn Gunslinger—a haunting figure who more than she ever expected to about her own past -- and about the embodies the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they'll need to reclaim qualities of the lone the memories, reclaim their identity -- and own who they really are. hero through the ages, from ancient Overdrive/Curbside myth to frontier Western legend. As Roland crosses a Upright Women Wanted desert of damnation by Sarah Gailey in a treacherous world that is a twisted image of our own, he moves ever closer to the Dark Tower of his Esther is a stowaway. She's hidden dreams—and nightmares. herself away in the Librarian's book This stunning, series includes: The Dark wagon in an attempt to escape the Tower I: The Gunslinger; The Dark Tower II: marriage her father has arranged for her- The Drawing of the Three; The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands; The Dark Tower IV: Wizard a marriage to the man who was and Glass; The Dark Tower: The Wind previously engaged to her best friend. Through the Keyhole; The Dark Tower V: Her best friend who she was in love with. Wolves of the Calla; The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah; and The Dark Tower VII: The Her best friend who was just executed for Dark Tower. The Dark Tower series is the possession of resistance propaganda. most extraordinary and imaginative cycle of The future American Southwest is full of tales in the English language. bandits, fascists, and queer librarian Overdrive/Curbside spies on horseback trying to do the right thing. Hoopla/Curbside The Priory of the Orange Tree We Hunt The Flame by Samantha Shannon by Hafsah Faizal Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, Hafsah Faizal's We A world divided. Hunt the Flame—first in the Sands of A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens. Arawiya duology—is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for taking identity into your own hands. a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a People lived because she killed. People daughter to protect her realm from died because he lived. destruction--but assassins are getting Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as closer to her door. a man when she braves the cursed forest Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden Prince of Death, assassinating those society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful foolish enough to defy his autocratic eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed forbidden magic. as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, compassion, his father would punish him but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of chaos are rising from their sleep. Arawiya—but neither wants to be. Overdrive/Curbside War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing Graceling by Kristin Cashore the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost Kristin Cashore’s bestselling, award- artifact that can restore magic to her winning fantasy Graceling tells the suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is story of the vulnerable-yet-strong sent by the sultan on a similar mission: Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey who lives in a world where selected unfolds—and the prize they seek may people are given a Grace, a special pose a threat greater than either can talent that can be anything from imagine. Curbside dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace… and how to put it to good use. A thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure (and steamy romance!) that will resonate deeply with adolescents (or adults) trying to find their way in the world.

Continue the series with Book 2— Fire and Book 3—Bitterblue.

Overdrive/Hoopla/Curbside The Poppy War by The Year of Witching by Alexis Henderson R.F. Kuang A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.

In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet's word is law, Immanuelle Moore's very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast her once-proud family into disgrace, so Immanuelle does her best to worship the Father, follow Holy Protocol, and lead a life of submission, devotion, and absolute conformity, like all the other women in the settlement.

But a mishap lures her into the forbidden Darkwood surrounding Bethel, where the first prophet once chased and killed four powerful witches. Their spirits are still lurking there, and they bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother, who Immanuelle is shocked to learn once sought sanctuary in the wood.

Fascinated by the secrets in the diary, Immanuelle finds herself struggling to understand how her mother could have consorted with the witches. But when she begins to learn grim truths about the Hoopla / Overdrive/Curbside Church and its history, she realizes the true threat to Bethel is its own When Rin aced the Keju—the darkness. And she starts to understand that if Bethel is to change, it must Empire-wide test to find the most begin with her. Curbside talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone. That she got into The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more Lambda Literary Award-winning surprising. But surprises aren’t author TJ Klune’s bestselling, always good. Targeted from the breakout contemporary fantasy. outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin Linus Baker is a by-the-book case discovers she possesses a lethal, worker in the Department in Charge of unearthly power—an aptitude for Magical Youth. He's tasked with the nearly-mythical art of shaman- determining whether six dangerous ism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly magical children are likely to bring insane teacher and psychoactive about the end of the world. substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much Arthur Parnassus is the master of the alive—and that mastering control orphanage. He would do anything to over those powers could mean keep the children safe, even if it means more than just surviving school. the world will burn. And his secrets will Rin’s shamanic powers may be the come to light. only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the The House in the Cerulean Sea is an god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that enchanting love story, masterfully told, winning the war may cost her about the profound experience of humanity...and that it may already discovering an unlikely family in an be too late. unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours. Overdrive/Curbside The Wizard’s Craftbook by Andrea Wcislek Bring the magic wherever you go with these Contact Us wizard-themed crafts! Reveal your inner Give us a call for more wizard with these fantastical crafts inspired information about these by your favorite witches and wizards from books and other library Shakespeare, Disney, Harry Potter, and services and programs. more! Dazzle your friends and family with Appoquinimink Library creative decorations for your home or 302-378-5588 apartment or charm a significant other with the perfect gift. Nerds and geeks of all Bear Library shapes and sizes will be under the spell of 302-838-3300 these witchy crafts. With fifty different projects and ideas, you will be dusting off Brandywine Hundred your potions and alchemy sets and Library 302-477-3150 constructing amazing creations! Claymont Library Hoopla/Curbside 302-798-4164

Corbit-Calloway Library The Fantasy Fiction Formula by Deborah Chester 302-378-8838 There is more to writing a successful fantasy story than building a unique world or inventing new Delaware City Library magic. How exactly is a plot put together? How do you know if your idea will support an entire novel? 302-834-4148 How do you grab reader attention and keep it? How do you create dynamic, multi-dimensional characters? What is Elsmere Library viewpoint and do you handle it differently in urban fantasy 302-892-2210 than in traditional epics? How do you make your plot end Hockessin Library up where you intend it to go? From the writing of strong, 302-239-5160 action-packed scenes to the handling of emotions, let award-winning fantasy author Deborah Chester guide you Kirkwood Library 302-995-7663 through the process of putting a book together. Along with explaining story construction step-by-step, Chester New Castle Library illustrates each technique with examples drawn from both 302-328-1995 traditional and urban fantasy. The technique chapters include exercises to assist novices in mastering the craft of Newark Free Library 302-731-7550 writing fantasy as well as suggestions for avoiding or solving plot problems. More experienced writers will find Route 9 Library tips for taking their work to the next level. Here you will 302-657-8020 find information you need in order to gain skill and Wilmington Library proficiency in writing fantasy like a pro. Hoopla/Curbside 302-571-7400

The Fantasy Makers: Tolkien, Lewis, and MacDonald (DVD) Woodlawn Library 302-571-7425 J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and George MacDonald were the pioneers of the fantasy genre, and their impact is unmistakable. Their works, exploring Visit us on the web at Middle-earth, Narnia, and other tales of redemption, sacrifice, and the battle https://nccde.org/Libraries of good and evil, have become best-selling books and blockbuster movies. Contemporary fantasy writers such as J.K. Rowling and George R.R. Martin grew up inspired by their works. All three were deeply committed Christians, and their spiritual convictions permeate their writing. They engaged and challenged from the pulpit of imagination, speaking truth through fantasy. Here we examine the spiritual influences of these fantasy pioneers and the

lasting impact their works have on our present-day culture County Executive Matthew Meyer Hoopla / Curbside