Women 2020: Badasses (8/3/20)

Today’s Women 2020 Spotlight features a plethora of badass, strong women including the last Ninth House necromancer here to save the day, a struggling twenty-something artist, a woman on an epic adventure to find herself, a wife on a quest to Africa to save her husband, and a history-making Latina politician.

HARROW THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir

3 starred reviews, an Indie Next Pick, and a LibraryReads Pick!

“An incredible journey into the chaos of the mind, Muir’s latest (after GIDEON THE NINTH) doubles down on all the wonderfully queer and pulpy moments, body horror, and macabre humor of her debut—and exceeds it.”–Library Journal, starred review

“Ending on a heart-stopping cliffhanger sure to have readers clamoring for the next installment, this dark, bloody puzzle box of a sequel is a knockout.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Muir presents a series of enigmas and revels in gory detail before bringing everything to a riveting, no-holds-barred conclusion that will leave readers both satisfied and gnashing their teeth for the finale.”–Booklist, starred review

LUSTER by Raven Leilani

2 starred reviews and an Indie Next Pick!

“After losing her day job, a troubled young artist finds herself living with her much-older lover, his inscrutable wife, and their adopted daughter in Leilani’s electric debut…Sharp, strange, propellant—and a whole lot of fun.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Leilani’s radiant debut belongs to its brilliant, fully formed narrator. Old soul Edie has an otherworldly way of seeing the world and reflecting it back to readers, peppering experiences of past and current despair with acceptance and humor but never sacrificing depth, of which her story has miles. A must for seekers of strongly narrated, original fiction.”–Booklist, starred review

MIGRATIONS by Charlotte McConaghy

2 starred reviews and an Indie Next Pick!

“McConaghy’s evocation of a world bereft of wildlife is piercing; Franny’s otherworldliness is captivating, and her extreme misadventures and anguished secrets are gripping.”–Booklist, starred review

“A consummate blend of issue and portrait, warning and affirmation, this heartbreaking, lushly written work is highly recommended.”–Library Journal, starred review

OLIVE THE LIONHEART: Lost Love, Imperial Spies, and One Woman’s Journey into the Heart of Africa by Brad Ricca

“MacLeod’s diary…is a remarkable resource, and Ricca makes the most of it, while also enriching the narrative with helpful insights into the era’s political, cultural, and social tensions. Fans of women’s history and adventure stories will cheer this engrossing account.”–Publishers Weekly

AOC: The Fearless Rise and Powerful Resonance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by Lynda Lopez

“While there are several articles about Ocasio-Cortez, this book dives deep into her background, image, and ideas, and comes up with important insights. For readers interested in aspiring to politics.”–Library Journal

HARROW THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir; 9781250313225; available 8/4/20.
LUSTER by Raven Leilani; 9780374194321; available 8/4/20.
MIGRATIONS by Charlotte McConaghy; 9781250204028; available 8/4/20.
OLIVE THE LIONHEART: Lost Love, Imperial Spies, and One Woman’s Journey into the Heart of Africa by Brad Ricca; 9781250207012; available 8/11/20.
AOC: The Fearless Rise and Powerful Resonance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by Lynda Lopez; 9781250257413; available 8/11/20.