Hello! I’m here to talk about my September reads for the Buzzword Readathon! **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**
This is the ninth post in my “Buzzword-a-thon” series. In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon is a read-a-thon originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This year, all prompts were selected in advance and it’s been loosely hosted once a month. I’m making a yearly challenge for myself to at least read one book with the buzzword each month, and also include one recommendation and one anticipated read in my monthly post. The word for September was “dark” and while I only had a few options to choose from, they were all books I’d been excited to finally read. So, let’s get into what I picked for this month.
Read in September – We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
-I was first introduced to Tehlor Kay Mejia’s writing when she co-authored Miss Meteor with A.M. McLemore, which is a YA contemporary [with soft magical elements] that I loved (and reviewed here). I needed to add another book to my cart when purchasing online a few months ago, and scrolling through the fantasy section I came across her debut We Set the Dark on Fire so I picked up a copy and thought it would be perfect to read for this prompt. It is set in a polarized society where, when girls graduate from the Medio School for Girls, two are promised to every man – one (a Primera) will run the household, the other (a Segunda) will raise the family, and both will be comfortable and protected from the uprisings of the lower class. Dani Vega is the top of her graduating class and set to marry an important politico’s son, but she’s keeping a secret – her parents risked everything when she was four to forge paperwork and ensure a better life for their daughter. But when a rebel group contacts Dani, telling her they know the truth and asking for information that will help spark a revolution, Dani must decide between the life her parents laid out for her, or ensuring no one ever has to take those risks again. I was expecting more of this to take place at the school, but the first few chapters are the days leading up to graduation. I really liked the discussion of class, and how people discuss those who are “lower” than them when they believe to be in the presence of those similiar to them. There is so much political intrigue, and it showed how far police forces and those in power will go to convince the public that peaceful protesters are actually the agressors. I loved how strong of a character Dani is, and how she did her best to prove those who doubted her that she was capable of holding her own. And the ending! That ending made me glad I decided to also pick up the sequel, We Unleash the Merciless Storm, because I need to know what happens! I definitely recommend picking up We Set the Dark on Fire if the synopsis interests you!
Recommendation – The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
-I’ve only read a handful of books with the word “dark” in the title, but I think by far the one I would recommend the most is The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould. I actually wrote an early review back in June (which you can check out here) so I’ll keep my thoughts brief, but I found it to be a thrilling and suspenseful YA mystery that I was not expecting to love but I did. If you are a fan of those ghost hunter shows and movies, and even if you don’t believe in it but still watch them for their charm, then I would consider picking this book up. I also can’t wait to see what else Courtney Gould has to offer for the future, and hope it’s just as chaotic (and sapphic) as The Dead and the Dark. I actually might pick it up for a reread this month, as it’s perfect for the fall / spooky season.
Want to Read – In the Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland
-Back in July I asked my friend, Emily, to randomly pick a book for me to read based on the titles, and she picked Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland, which is a YA fantasy following a soul-walker, Kamai, who always sees a black door no matter whose soul she enters and has been told by her mother never to open it, but when tragedy strikes and she longs for something familiar, Kamai turns the knob. It was such an intriguing dark fantasy which left me questioning what would happen after every chapter, and it also explored gender in sexuality i. Then I found out A.M. Strickland had released in May of this year, titled In the Ravenous Dark, so I was immediately interested in picking it up. A tagline on Goodreads reads “a pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead,” and honestly I didn’t really need to know much else before placing an order. I can’t wait to delve into another rich fantasy world when I finally pick this book up.
In conclusion, I can’t believe nine months have already gone by. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.
Where to find all these books:
We Set the Dark on Fire: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
The Dead and the Dark: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
In the Ravenous Dark: Bookshop Amazon Goodreads
Author sites: Tehlor Kay Mejia Courtney Gould A.M. Strickland
Thoughts About Things 