unwrapping my favorites | third + fourth quarter 2023 wrap up

Hello again, dear friends! How's everyone doing? I hope you're well and, if not, I hope brighter days head your way soon 🌞 Well, friends, the end of 2023 draws near, and you know what that means: it's time to reflect! In this case, it's time for me to reflect on the last two quarters of 2023 and my favorites from that period! These last two quarters have been quite hectic for me, as they occurred during a college semester that was absolutely jam. freaking. packed with exams, papers, and assignments. Naturally, my media consumtion dropped in some areas and spiked in others. Nevertheless, I managed to find a few new favorites, so let's check out what they were!

So, between the third and fourth quarter of 2023, I read four books and of those my favorite was...DRUMROLL PLEASE!...A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid! Y'all, I swear, this book is one of the most perfect dark academia I've read! I wasn't a big fan of Reid's debut (The Wolf and the Woodsman), so the fact that I enjoyed A Study in Drowning so freaking much is nothing short of miraculous to me!! But, amazingly, Reid's writing is really well suited for dark academia fantasy like this.

A Study in Drowning is about Effy, a young woman in who is the first woman to attend her architechture college, but who longs to joing the literature college, despite the fact that women are not accepted. When Effy wins a contest to redesign the manor of a recently deceased author who is her all-time favorite author, she is surprised to find Preston, an arrogant literature student, at the manor as well. However, things take a turn when she discovers the reasons behind Preston's stay and when they both discover that the author in question may have had some dark secrets that continue to haunt the manor and its inhabitants. A gloriously dark and dreary fantasy full of dark academia elements and themes surrounding sexism and misogyny, Ava Reid's YA debut is one to read!

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexism and misogyny, death of a loved one, disfigurement, and violence.

Unfortunately, my most disappointing read of the third and fourth quarter of 2023 was Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Al Fageeh, which I had really been looking forward to! I just felt like the plot was very loose and then completely dropped and the characters weren't as vivid as they couldn've been. I will say the themes were very well done, but that was about it. It was so disappointing because I wanted this Arab-inspired fantasy graphic novel to be stellar!!

Squire is a YA fantasy graphic novel that takes place in an Arab-inspired world. It's about a girl who joins the army to become a squire and must confront the fact that the army's cause may not be as noble as she once believed.

First up the book releasing in the first quarter of 2024 that is probably my top, highest, biggest, most anticipated of the quarter (lol) is definitely Faebound by Saara El-Arifi! I recently started reading El-Ariffi's debut Afro Arab Adult fantasy, The Final Strife, and I'm really enjoying it, in part because her writing style is very fast paced and entertaining. So, naturally, I want to check out her new series, which begins with Faebound and which has to do with my favorite magical creatures: fae!

Next, we have A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal. Now, I wasn't really a fan of her debut work, We Hunt The Flame, but I'm willing to give Hafsah Faizal another chance because this book just sounds so intriguing! And when I heard her new book involves tearooms, vampires, and heists? You can bet I was immediately down, no questions asked!

Then there's Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana, which is another book involving fae that sounds interesting! This time it's a fae romantasy, though, and one that also involves an enchanted library. So you just know this book has my name written aaaaaall over it!

I'm not gonna lie: Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan is one that drew me in with its GORGEOUS cover—BUT!! I'm sticking around cause the synopsis is equally as interesting. Touting a partially submerged city and compped with Jade City and Bone Shard Daughter, Fathomfolk has me officially intrigued!

I enjoyed Danielle L. Jensen's books Stolen Songbird and Dark Shores, but also absolutely LOATHED her book The Bridge Kingdom, so it's with some caution that I'm anticipating A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen. That said, A Fate Inked in Blood does sound pretty interesting, with mentions of shield maidens, gods and ambitious kings. Plus, it's also supposedly got elements of Norse myth...So what could go wrong?

Last, but certainly not least is yet another fantasy involving fae: A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene! For some reason when I heard this title it made me think of Celtic myth, and whadya know! It actually is inspired by Celtic myth!! So, uh...points to my intuition for that wild guess? Lol, anyhoo, this book involves another one of my favorite fantasy elements: changelings. So, that's really all I need to know. I'm sold.

What we have here...is a repeat offender. Spceifically, The Wheel of Time Season 2. Admittedly, last time this series was on one of my quarterly favorites lists it was the first season, but still! But this show is just so freaking good!! I can't help it!!! Now, I have never read the book series this show is adapted from, but, as I've said before, as a show on its own The Wheel of Time really does stand up! It's got intrigue, it's got adventure, it's got action, it's even got a hint of romance, and I really don't know what more you could ask for, I mean COME ON!!

The Wheel of Time is about five young men and women whose paths converge when they are told that one of them is the chosen one by a member of a magical order. They must travel and train to discover which one of them it is and then deafeat an ancient evil which is prophecied to return. That pitch sounds simple, but from there the series really takes off and it's such a fantastical world of awesomeness! Definitely check out The Wheel of Time if you're looking for a wild ride!!

Coming in January is a show that's I've been waiting a while for: Disney+'s Echo! Echo is an Indigenous American Marvel superhero and that's about all I know about her. But, to be honest, that's all I really need to know, lol! As someone who's part Indigenous American myself, I'm super excited for this series, especially as it also features Indigenous American actors in leading roles!

Next is Netflix's live action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Now, I've never watched the original animated series and I know the original creators parted ways with this adaptation's production team citing "creative differences," but I'm willing to see how this series goes as its own thing (probably because I have no attachment to the original). I feel like Netflix does fantasy decently, so I'm hoping this series goes well!

Finally is another Netflic adaptation (this time of a book series), 3 Body Problem. I've heard the book this series is adapted from is really interesting but also kinda mind-bending, so I'm prepared so the show to be similar! I, for one, love that type of sci fi TV series, so I'm definitely looking forward to 3 Body Problem!

I finished season one of Birds of Empire this past November, right in time for season two to start (talk about perfect timeing!) and it totally blew me away! I've never been truly obsessed with any audiodrama podcast before, so this is a new phenomenon for me, but Birds of Empire has EARNED my obsession! The production and writing of this fantasy/sci fi audiodrama is absolutely AMAZING! Talk about "TV for your ears"!!!

Birds of Empire is a sci fi fantasy audiodrama podcast set in the distant future, where Earth has regressed and now lives in four tribes: the Birds, the Wolves, the Bears, and the Rams. The podcast follows four characters (one member of each tribe) who are involved in the politics of the tribes. The first season introduces us to the world and the characters of the story, and season two will supposedly chart the dramatic polititcal plots that bring these characters and their storylines together.

First up is"From Gaza, with Love" by Saint Levant! I actually heard of PAlestian/Algerian/French artist Saint Levant last year but I didn't listen to much of his music until I "rediscovered" him in light of recent events with this song. Beyond the obviously relevant nature of the song talking about his home in Gaza, I think this song is a total bop! It perfectly blends Arab pop and Western pop seamlessly (and lemme tell ya that is not necessarily the easiest thing) and his smooth vocals on top blend in perfectly. Definitely add this song to your playlist because between the message and the music, it's truly got it all!

I discovered "GODDESS" by PVRIS through a recent YouTube video from Honor Luca all about super specific song recommendations, and I am so freaking happy I did! I'm a big fan of pop music that helps unleash and display female rage (see: my love of Olivia Rodrigo's music), so it may not come as a surprise that this song is a new favorite. I mean, the part where the lead singer screams, "THIS SHIT IS SO EXHAUSTING!"? Iconic and so true. This song is one that I'm sure I'll be singing for a loooong time.

Last, but certainly not least, is "Can't Catch Me Now" by Olivia Rodrigo. As I mentioned previously, I am a Certified Stan™ of Miss Rodrigo, so this choice probably comes as no surprise. Nevertheless, this song has a deeper meaning for me as we watch the genocide in Gaza and the lyrics seem particularly pertinent to that situation, sadly. Definitely a moving song that's worth a listen (or a million).

Lately I've been loving Chelsea Callahan and Alexis Eldredge, both of whom fall into more of the "lifestyle" vlogging category. I don't know what it is, I just find their content so cozy and comforting? In particular, it's comforting to see women of all ages going through changes but continuing to live a happy life. As I near thirty, it's just really comforting to see that kind of thing.

As for booktubers, lately I've been loving Lexi of the channel lexi aka newlynova. Her content is fun and humorous, but also her bookish opinions and reviews are really thorough without ever being dry and/or dull!