Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. Alex Stern is back and the Ivy League is going straight to hell in this sequel to Ninth House, the smash bestseller by Leigh Bardugo. Thick with history and packed with Bardugo’s signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters.

As a literary movement, dark academia has been gaining traction the past ten years or so. It all comes from a romanticization of higher learning — the outfits, the school grounds, and yes, of course, the literature. As a grad school student with a flair for the dramatic myself, I have fallen head over oxfords in love with just about everything to do with dark academia. Except for one thing — elitism.

Much of the dark academia aesthetic in both everyday and in literature deals a lot in elitism. It makes sense in a way; it’s a way of celebrating being at the top of your class at the best schools, but it also comes with a lot of terrible baggage. Because where there is elitism? Classism, racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism are sure to follow.

It’s true that many newer dark academia books are pointing out and critiquing elitism in academia, but what if you want a rejection of it entirely that not only calls it out, but seeks to undermine it at every turn?

I present to you: chaotic academia.

What Even is Chaotic Academia?

If you have never heard the term “chaotic academia” before, it’s best to think of it as a personification. This could be someone you know or just a character trope, but I want you to imagine an English professor, probably your favorite professor. This is one of the most brilliant people you’ve ever met: they are kind and encouraging and have fascinating stories. They are also the most disorganized messy person who has probably ever walked the face of the earth. That’s chaotic academia.

Instead of worrying about “looking” the part, or studying the “right” things, chaotic academia is all about having a passion for learning. It doesn’t matter how smart you actually are, what you study, or what you want to do when you graduate. It’s all about just striving for knowledge, and sharing that with those around you.

Where dark academia is clean lines, Latin, and “high-brow” literature, chaotic academia is messy notes, niche topics, and banned books. It’s an aesthetic that seeks to undermine and mock the pretentious nature of dark academia. It’s all about passion, and desire to learn, no matter the subject.

Where Does It Show Up?

Now, this is a relatively new term, especially because it’s a direct response to dark academia, which is still itself a brand new sub-genre. In fact, the term was only just used for the first time in a Tumblr post in 2019. But just because the term itself is new doesn’t mean we haven’t been seeing it pop up in books for years! We just finally have a name for it.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn is a great example of a book that could easily fall into a chaotic academia canon. This is a book all about rejecting the status quo of academia and following what you are passionate about, rather than what’s expected.

I could also make an argument that Babel by R.F. Kuang straddles the line between dark academia and chaotic academia, as it heavily points out the institutions of white supremacy and colonialism that infect and support higher learning still to this day.

Again, because this is a new aesthetic that hasn’t quite made its way into the literary world yet, its hard to say what books could count as it. And, I’m really not here to take a book from one sub-genre, and say it actually belongs in another. But these are books where we can see elements of chaotic academia peeking through.

Looking Forward

Because the naming of this aesthetic is still in its nascent stages, I do think it will be a while before we start to see books that fall squarely in the chaotic academia zone, if we ever do at all. Regrettably, I can’t predict the future, but I do have a hope for it.

As dark academia continues to grow and develop, I hope that chaotic academia rises to meet it and sometimes clash with it. There is so much important and nuanced discussion to be had about higher education, and the roll it plays in our society and our lives, and I see chaotic academia as a great way to host these conversations.

Dark academia will literally always have a place in my heart. But there is something so refreshing about a possible new sub-genre that doesn’t give a flying flip about elitism, and instead focuses on the love of learning, and the importance of education, no matter what it is you’re studying. There’s a lot to be learned, and a lot to be gained by questioning our preconceived notions about what counts as “academia,” and I can’t wait to continue reading about and having this conversation for years to come — while reading some truly great books, of course.

Figuring out who you are can be really hard, especially as a young queer person. Trying to navigate the world, often without a queer elder to help you out, can be scary and overwhelming. Luckily, we have some amazing books that can guide the way, and help us see the joy that queer adulthood can be.

I love books with queer protagonists! It feels so affirming to see the hero of the story be one of my own people. Often, especially in YA, they are experiencing the same struggles that I went through, or am still going through. That’s when it becomes really nice to have an adult who has “been there, done that” and is ready to help.

Queer parents just understand the queer experience that much more, so getting to see them pop in books and be thriving is a wonderful experience. It can remind young readers that there is hope, and good things to come. It can also be a great thing for queer parents to share with their children.

This list has a bunch of wonderful YA books with queer parents and grandparents. Each one is unique and lovely, and I can’t wait for you read them and share them with those you love.

America, Vol. 1: The Life and Times of America Chavez by Gabby Riveria and Joe Quiñones America Chavez finally gets a break from the Young Avengers and is trying to forge her own path and be her own person. But of course, things start to get a little wild, After all, it can be hard to be a queer, super-powered individual just trying to survive school. Luckily, America has her moms to support her, an incredible mentor, and some really good friends to back her up. This is a fast-paced thrill ride perfect for any comic fan.

Meet Me in Mumbai by Sabina Khan Adopted by her two moms, Mira has always felt out of place in her mostly white community. All she knows about her mother is that she had Mira in high school and then returned to India. But then Mira finds some letters addressed to her from her birth mom and decides the time has come to learn more about where she came from. But, is she really prepared to finally meet her bio mom? This is a heartwarming story of family, belonging, and self discovery that will stay with long after reading.

Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker Nova works for her grandmas’ bookshop, and knows a lot about magic and being a witch. One night her childhood crush, who is a werewolf, gets into some trouble, and it’s up to Nova to find out what happened and help her friend. Backed up by magic, her two grandmothers, and some absolutely delicious desserts, Nova and Tam work together, and maybe find something more than friendship along the way.

The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch The Secret Series is a delightful tale that I can’t tell you a single thing about! It’s all a secret, even the main characters names, so we just call them Cass and Max-Earnest. One day Cass finds a mysterious item delivered to her grandfathers’ antique shop, it’s said to come from the home of a magician. Cass starts to investigate and soon finds out about a secret, two secret societies, and a whole bunch of magic.

Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney and Robyn Smith It’s really hard to be a teenage superhero. Especially one that no one knows about. Struggling to keep her powers a secret, Nubia does her best to blend in, hang out with her friends, and be normal. But how can she be normal when she secretly has super strength and other amazing powers? When a student threatens her friends and their school, Nubia steps in to save the day, and prove to her moms that she is ready to be an actual hero. The art and story in this book is simply breathtaking.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer Nova has had enough with the “so-called heroes” that have taken over the world. Sure they claim they want the world to be a better place, but they killed her uncle. After an attack goes wrong, Nova must go undercover with these people to bring an end to their rule. But are they as corrupt as she thought? Or are they really trying to do good in the world? This is a fantastic book with a very nuanced discussion about good and evil, right and wrong, and the responsibility of the powerful.

Saving Montgomery Sole by Mariko Tamaki Monty finds a “mystical amulet” for only six bucks and decides to buy it. However, soon strange things start happening. This amulet called “the Eye of Know” seems to cause strange things to happen to people who Monty hates. Can Monty use this newfound power for good? Like taking down the preacher who hates her moms? Or are some powers too great for one person to have? This is a delightful and magical book with truly unforgettable characters.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron Bri has always been able to make plants grow from the smallest seeds, to the biggest bloom. When her moms decide it’s time to get out of Brooklyn after the death of her aunt, Bri finally has the chance to understand and control her powers. Surrounded by flowers, and idyllic vistas, not all is perfect in this new summer home. Strangers keep appearing to ask for strange elixirs, and this house seems to hold a mystery that could be the key to answering all of Bri’s questions.

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli From the author of Love, Simon comes this adorable tale of Molly, who has been in love a total of 26 times. And not once has that love been returned. But, when her sister starts dating the new girl and spending less time with Molly, she cooks up a plan. She’s gonna date the brother of sister’s girlfriend, get her sister back, and, most importantly, get her first kiss. That’s the plan until for the first time Molly realizes she might actually have an impossible crush on her best friend Reid. But that can’t be? Can it?

When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey Alexis has it all! A group of best friends, and magic. But all good things must come to an end, and after a freak magical accident that results in the death of a boy, Alexis starts to feel helpless. Now this group of friends must come together to make things right, no matter how may times they fail. Which turns up being a lot. But this group has got each other’s backs and Alexis just might be remembering what brought them all together as friends in the first place. This is a dark, but heartwarming look at friendship, love, and the painful process of growing up. These are just a few of the amazing YA books out there that feature queer parents. Some have been around a while, and some came out pretty recently, but no matter what you’re looking for, there’s bound to be the perfect book on this list for you.

If you are a lover of tabletop games, chances are you’ve gone to, or hosted, a game night. They can be so much fun! Everyone gathered around a table with snacks, drinks, dice, games, and friendship. But with lots of people gathered around those D&D tables comes a very challenging problem: space. And to a lesser extent, organization.

This is especially relevant with Dungeons and Dragon, where everyone has all their dice, character sheets, notebooks and other D&D accessories. Not to mention the best game nights have got to have some sort of delicious snack. With all those people and all those things, it can be hard to get everyone to fit comfortably without getting too much in each others way.

Enter the gaming table. Gaming tables are designed to give everyone the space they need, while still allowing room for battle maps, minis, and whatever else the DM might need. There are a lot of truly beautiful tables out there that range in price and complexity. Some of these are even designed so that it can be used as a regular desk or dinning table throughout the week when you aren’t playing D&D.

Some of these tables are delivered straight to your door, while others are much more hands on. No matter your budget or your skill level at assembling furniture, there is a table on this list for you.

Custom D&D Tables

You really can’t talk about D&D tables without mentioning Wyrmwood. It’s the most luxurious of gaming tables, including a crank to raise and lower the center of the table to the perfect height. You can customize just about everything, and it’s all high quality craftsmanship — the catch is that it starts at $8,500 and quickly goes up from there. For more affordable options, keep reading!

D&D Tables on Etsy

These plans for a DIY table are spectacular for those who want to make their own. This downloadable PDF is only $18, and guides you through the entire process. It even comes with bragging rights: when friends compliment it, you get to say you built it! It has a recessed vault for gaming and a cover for use as a regular dining table.

The plans for this amazing DIY table come in at $99, but it creates the ultimate gaming experience. The inside can be removed to place maps, cards, and whatever else you might need. It comfortably sits eight, with a special place for the DM.

This $1,600 multipurpose table can be used as your average kitchen table, and the ultimate table top gaming set up. You don’t even have to move things in between uses: everything can be stored in the table, just waiting for the next game.

This ultimate gaming table is a bit pricy at $7,000, but you will be the envy of all your gaming friends. It seats six players, and has a special spot for the DM. If you have the space for it, this table will bring your game to the next level.

This is not so much a table as it is an enhancement. This digital map case is a custom frame that’s priced at $450. All you do is set it on your table with a screen inside. Now you can make your battle maps dynamic and add all sorts of movement and animation.

This fantastic map case comes in at $675, and elevates your gameplay as well as your table. Not only does it allow for amazing maps, it also creates space on your table for everything else you need, without the worry of covering up the precious battle map.

D&D Tables on Amazon

This beautiful wooden table comes in at just under $1,100. It seats up to eight people and makes your game play all that much fantastical. It’s a beautiful furniture item that you can show off in your home year round.

For a more inexpensive option, this foldable table is $200, and it’s perfect for small spaces. It folds away easily when it’s not in use, and provides enough space for drinks, a battle map, dice, and up to eight people.

There are tons of amazing D&D tables out there, you just have to keep your eyes open. Looking for more ways to spruce up your game? Be sure to check out which D&D guidebooks you should have in your collection.

With the new Dungeons & Dragons movie coming out, and the popularity of D&D actual plays on the rise, more and more people are looking into Dungeons & Dragons. As someone who has been playing for about nine years and DMing for three, I understand how daunting the hobby can be to get into. But fear not! If you are a first time Dungeon Master, or even an experienced one who could use a boost, you’ve come to the right place to find dungeon master tools to help.

One of the best things about D&D is how accessible it is online. There are a bunch of online resources, communities, and tools to help you out! Most of these dungeon master tools are cheap or free. All you have to know is what you need help with and the internet can take it from there.

But with so much available, how do you know what’s actually the best? Well that’s what we are going to be taking a look at today. We’ll go over everything from maps, to stat blocks, to online resources, and so much more.

Before we dive in though, all you really need to be the best DM is to listen to your players, and try to make sure that everyone at your table is having a fun and safe time. If you’ve done that, you’re already stellar! Now let’s dive in and see what dungeon master tools can help you take your game to the next level.

Maps, Maps, and More Maps!

Battle maps are a great way to make your game feel more lively, and help your players visualize what’s happening. Here are a few options.

1. Inkarnate. This website has both a paid and free version, so you can shop around and see what works best for you. The website allows the user to make maps of cities, worlds, dungeons, and so much more. There’s tons of wonderful features to explore, and it opens up a world of opportunity
2. 2-Minute Tabletop. This is a pay-what-you-want website with tons of tokens and pre-made maps that are predesigned to fit into Roll20 (which we’ll talk about in a bit). Or they can be printed out and used for your home game. New maps are being made and added all the time, and even just looking at the existing maps helps me think up cool combat scenarios.
3. DUNGEONFOG. This is a great site that has a free version, but thrives under the paid version. This site guides you step by step through the process of making your very own custom dungeon map. It also has tons of different styles and themes for sci-fi building as well as the typical D&D fantasy style.

For even more options, check out 10 of the Best Fantasy Map Generators.

1. Tetra-Cube. This website helps you build your very own custom stat blocks for all sorts of creatures, be they friendly or otherwise. Plus, it complies all the information into an official looking stat block that is easy to read — and just looks so cool.
2. The Monsterizer. This site generates and customizes monsters that fit all 5E rules when it comes to combat. It also helps you calculate the challenge rating (CR), so that you aren’t making a fight too easy or too hard.
3. NPC Generator. Here you can create completely fleshed out NPCs, or non-player-characters, for your world with the click of a few buttons. You can customize a few things, or leave it all up to chance. But no matter what, at the end you will have an NPC to introduce in a matter of seconds.

Other Best Resources

There are so many websites dedicated to making D&D more enjoyable and easier to manage. Most of these are pretty popular, but that’s for a reason! They are incredible resources.

1. D&D Beyond. This site has just about everything. You can make character sheets, look at monster stats, create your own homebrew and so much more. It is a plethora of information.
2. Roll20. This is one of the best sites out there for hosting an online game. It stores character sheets, allows you to make maps, and lets you and your players all sit on a call together and play. Perfect for long distance games.
3. Discord. Discord is a wonderful place to find communities of players. If you watch any actual plays, I can almost guarantee they have a community Discord you can join and start hanging out and making friends. There are about a thousand Discord servers out there dedicated to D&D and other roleplaying games, so just go looking. It’s a fantastic free resource.

I hope these tips, tricks, and tools will help you on your next D&D DMing adventure. If you’re interested in even more things D&D related, be sure to check out info on how to play D&D, the best D&D guidebooks, some amazing D&D accessories, and learn more about how to help teens get into DMing.

Sometimes it’s hard to establish new traditions around the holidays. But it can also be necessary. If you’ve recently moved, or your family has shifted, traditions need to be shifted to fit the holiday season. Bookish traditions are a great way to adapt your existing traditions no matter where in the world your loved ones are.

In Iceland there’s a wonderful tradition called Jolabokaflod. This roughly translates to “Christmas book flood” and refers to the practice of exchanging books for Christmas, to be read on Christmas Eve — preferably with a mug of hot chocolate. This tradition has made books the most popular gift given for Christmas in the country. And I might just be a tad jealous of this practice!

If you don’t celebrate Christmas, but love this idea, you can easily set up your own book exchange devoid of the holiday. All of these ideas can be adapted to fit any wintertime celebrations. Or if you do celebrate Christmas and want more ideas for how to incorporate literary traditions into your existing celebrations, you are in the right place!

Whatever you’re celebrating this holiday season, I hope it’s filled with friends, family, and some really good books.

Book-Themed Gift Exchanges

An easy book tradition to start is to exchange them as gifts! There’s a few ways to do this, so pick your favorite and get the plan in place. All of these traditions can be done as a one on one, or in a large group (like a book club, perhaps?).

1. Simple Wishlist: Everyone puts some books on their wishlist, and everyone gets each other those books. This is great especially if you have family far and wide, because you can send books to each other and open the packages all together.
2. White Elephant Book Exchange: Everyone picks a book they already own and swaps them around. You can turn it into a game, or keep it simple, but it’s a great way to recycle the books already in your home.
3. Surprise Books Exchange: Instead of everyone making a wishlist of books they want, they make a wishlist of things they are looking for in books. Everyone works to find a book that meets the criteria and then surprises each other with their book picks.
4. Book Gift Basket: Instead of (or in addition to) exchanging actual books, everyone puts together a goody bag full of things to enhance the reading experience. It could be anything from your favorite tea to some bookmarks to a fuzzy blanket: things that make the recipient as cozy as possible while reading their favorite books.

Book-Themed Holiday Activities

If you aren’t interested in actually exchanging books, or you want to do something in addition to the book exchange, there’s a lot of fun book-themed games and activities you can host to liven up any holiday party.

1. Readings of Winter/Holiday Poems: Each person picks a poem or short story they love that has a winter theme and does a live reading. Perfect for small cozy group gatherings.
2. Book Character Costumes: Each person comes to the party dressed as one of their favorite literary characters! It’s a simple but entertaining way to get everyone in bookish mood while still carrying on with the typical festivities.
3. Delicious Literary Eats: If you want some new foods to add to your holiday traditions, why not cook some from your favorite books? You can go on theme and cook a holiday dish, or go totally out there and just make whatever you want from your favorite book. The same goes for holiday drinks.
4. Quiet Reading Time: Perfect for groups of introverts, everyone brings a book to the holiday party. Then, when the time is right, everyone finds a cozy spot to sit and read for a while. It’s a great thing for after a big meal, when guests are full and a little sleepy.

There are about a hundred more bookish traditions you can participate in or start this holiday season, but hopefully these can get you started. Heck, these don’t even have to be for the holidays, you can host a bookish themed party anytime of the year.

For even more options, check out these posts!

• Make a Book Advent Calendar!
• Bookish Holiday Crafts and Activities for Kids
• 30 Easy To Advanced DIY Crafts With Old Books You Can Do
• Tell Us What Kind of Reader You Are And Get a Bookish Board Game Recommendation

It’s a great day and age to be a booklover. Social media has made it a lot easier to find bookish communities. We see it all the time with BookTok, Bookstagram, and BookTwit. All of these popular sites host accounts that share recommendations and reviews, and spreads the love of books.

One such similar place that has begun to gain the attention of bookish people is Discord. Originally a sight designed for people to connect over video games, Discord has quickly grown to be a popular chat room for all types of experiences and hobbies. You can join massive servers with strangers or just make a small one for you and your friends. Discord does it all.

It wasn’t long after Discord got big that people began using it for book clubs. Because you can have different channels in the chat and have the ability to voice and video call it seems the perfect place to host a book club.

Some groups even took it a step further and created an entire bookish community online. Now, there is no shortage to public book themed Discord servers. Some local libraries even run their own, so it’s worth checking your libraries website. This list is just the beginning, and more are started all the time!

booksandtea is all about encouraging others to read and getting that same encouragement yourself. This server hosts reading marathons and sprints so you can fit reading into your schedule no matter what it looks like. They also host tons of recommendations and reviews to help you find books you’re looking to read. This is a medium sized server with 2,500+ people in it.

Book Lovers Club With nearly 26,000 members, this is a giant server with absolutely everything a booklover could want. This server hosts monthly book clubs, and sometimes invites authors to join and talk about their work. There are dozens of dedicated channels for discussing the works of specific authors, and the moderators are always adding more.

BookTalk Book Club If you are just getting started in the bookish Discord community and want to start with a smaller book club this is the one for you. Run by a nonprofit who hosts bookish events throughout the year, this server of nearly 200 has monthly book clubs, and links to author panels and interviews. It’s a great little community.

The Library This server prides itself on having links to downloadable ebooks at the ready so you can not only discuss books, but get books from this server. On the smaller side with just over 1,000 people this is a lovely quiet server for anyone who is looking for books in the public domain to read.

The Crockery A space for all things high fantasy, but especially The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss. This server hosts read alongs, and has places for fan theories and predictions. A great place for readers of high fantasy and beyond to hang out and chat.

Dune A place for fans of Frank Herbert’s Dune, this server is a science fiction lover haven. No matter if you know every word in the books, or just have a passing interest, this Discord server is happy to have you. There’s also always tons of discussion of other classic sci-fi, so don’t be afraid to jump right in.

Beyond this list there are probably a good 200 bookish Discord servers out there. If you’re looking for one for a specific series or book you can search for it using Discord.Me and find one that fits your needs.

Book Discord servers are gaining popularity, and there are some great ones out there. I hope this list gets you started and points you to some wonderful online spaces.

Science Fiction is a fantastic genre that is chock full of adventure, amazing technology, and well, science. It’s also been known to be a predicator for what our future will look like. An example of this can be seen in old episodes of Star Trek where the officers walk around typing into some sort of screen thing that now resembles our modern day smart tablets.

Science fiction has always been divided on how good our future is predicted to be. In some books we live in a wonderful future exploring the galaxy. In others, humanity is all but wiped out by robots or aliens. In grimdark, stories things are especially bad with no hope. Science Fiction is considered to be a largely depressing genre, especially due to the rise of the dystopian and apocalyptic sub-genres in the past 10 years.

But this is not entirely true. And a few sad sub-genres does not a doom and gloom genre make. There are tons of fun and happy genres like space westerns, space operas, and sci-fi comedy that lighten the atmosphere. These tend to be more about adventure, justice, and the silliness of space.

One of these happier sub-genres is also, of course, hopepunk. When I’m looking for good science fiction now I usually start by looking for books that fit into the hopepunk category. I can’t stop recommending hopepunk books to my friends.

Hopepunk may have been created to be the opposite of grimdark, but that doesn’t mean it’s always happy. At its core, hopepunk is just about leaving the reader with hope for the future. Bad things can happen along the way, but they aren’t bad forever. Everything will turn out alright in the end!

All Systems Red by Martha Wells The first book in the Murderbot Diaries, this novella is told from the perspective of a murderbot. Murderbot has hacked into their own coding so they are fully sentient and can make their own choices — as long they pretend they are just your average, boring robot. However, when something goes wrong on one of their missions, they have to risk coming clean about who they are. What follows is a stunning story of humanity, resilience, and self-discovery. Plus, if you love this one, there’s a full series to read.

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor Binti is the first of her people to go to school off planet. As she struggles to find her place in the world, her school’s ship is attacked by an alien race called the Meduse. Now caught in a war she has no part in, on a ship she has no allies on, Binti must rely on the teachings of her people to survive. But maybe in her struggle for survival she can find a way to put a stop to the war, and chart a way forward. This book is truly incredible.

A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra Rowland It would be ridiculous to not include a book by the author who invented the sub-genre, and this sci-fi fantasy story is the perfect example. Set in a freezing north, a traveling storyteller is arrested for witchcraft. Now he must tell the most important story yet. One that will prove his innocence. As Chant works to tell his tale, he realizes that a story might just be all it takes to bring the corrupt kingdoms of the land to their knees. All he needs are the right words.

A Psalm For the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Long ago the robots woke up and decided they were done working for humans. They got up, and left to the woods. Since then humanity has turned to a much more relaxed lifestyle, learning to make do without the technology their ancestors relied on. Then a young Tea Monk on a journey of self-discovery meets a robot. A robot who asks a question. A simple and impossible question. “How are you doing?” The sequel A Prayer for The Crown-Shy, was just released, so now is the perfect time to pick it up.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin While there is some debate about whether or not this book and series actually qualifies as hopepunk, I believe it checks off the boxes and so should be considered. This is a story of an earth that is broken and desperately trying to survive as unimaginable forces try to rip it apart. Told through multiple POVs this is a remarkable story of resilience, growth, and the determination to live another day. Highly regarded as one of the best fantasy trilogies of all time, this is a series you do not want to miss.

The Sacrifice of Darkness by Roxane Gay and Tracy Lynne Oliver This graphic novel follows two generations of families leading up to and following a tragic event that plunges the world into darkness. As we see the build up and the aftermath, we come to understand these characters motives, and hopes for a better future. With a story that is incredibly moving, and art work that transports you, this is a book that will stay with you for a long time.

This is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone The time war has been raging for centuries. Two factions fighting history itself. Two rival agents leave notes taunting the other hidden in the forgotten corners of time. Soon these taunting messages turn to something more. Perhaps there is a way forward through the time war that won’t result in further bloodshed, and maybe there’s even a path towards love.

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey In a future much like the Wild West, information is heavily censored. Librarians are recruited to spread the government issued reading material across the plains. But some of these women aren’t exactly following the laws. When Esther stows away in a librarians cart to escape a town who killed her lover, she finds that everything she had been told was a lie. And now she has a chance to join the rebellion and fight for a world that doesn’t care for her.

There’s a lot more great hopepunk out there! If you’re looking for more be sure to check out this list of environmental hopepunk books. Happy reading.

Creating a D&D character can be wonderful. Getting to play a character in a campaign and watching them grow is such a unique experience! It makes sense that you’d want to capture them somehow. Some people might retire their character-specific dice, other might frame the character sheet, or preserve their campaign notes. Or, you could always get D&D character art commissioned.

Character art is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: it’s art of your very own fictional character! There’s no one way for character art to look. It can be just a sketch drawing, a full color head shot, or a full body posed picture. It all depends on your budget, what you’re looking for, and what the artist is able to do for you.

Finding the right artist for your style, budget, and timeline can be a challenge, but knowing what you’re looking for can make it much simpler. If you are new to the process, consider this your guide to finding the perfect artist for you! I asked three character artists questions about what clients should keep in mind when commissioning art. Then, we will also discuss the best places to find artists, and everything you need to know to begin the process of getting art made.

Budget is a huge deal when it comes to finding an artist, so make sure that you at least have an idea of what your budget is going in. Jess also brings up a great point that art commissions are a luxury product and will be priced accordingly. That being said, there are artists out there willing to work with you on price, just ensure you’re realistic about what it might cost you.

When commissioning a character portrait, be sure you have a solid idea of what you want it to look like and give as much detail as you can to the artist. It’s good practice to have an open discussion about what you want from them, and what they are able to give you. This is a good point to remind you to shop around to find an artist who draws in the style you’re actually looking for.

When looking for an artist, make sure you find someone who is willing to work with you to bring your character and their style together. Don’t go with the first person you find: make sure you take the time to find the right fit for you.

Twitter is a wonderful place to find artists. Often you can find them sharing their previous work and see what style they have. The best way to find an artist on Twitter is to search “commissions open” and “D&D character art“. This may bring up people who take all sorts of commissions, but will at least get you pointed towards some cool artists.

Similarly to Twitter, Instagram is a great site for finding artists. You can scroll through the artists feed to see their style, and get a feel for their vibe. All it takes is using the search function to find amazing artists.

Etsy

Etsy is speculator way to find all kinds of things, and that includes D&D art. It’s especially great because you can compare a bunch of artists’ work and prices all at once. It will help you find the right match.

DeviantArt is perfect to help give you a sense of styles you like. It can be a little harder to find artists taking commissions but it’s certainly not impossible. I personally use it for inspiration a lot of the time!

D&D is great; D&D art is even better! I hope you now have a good understanding of what to keep in mind when getting character art done. And, if you’re a D&D fan who is also looking for a good book, you can find one based on your favorite D&D class. You might also be interested in The Best Dungeons and Dragons Accessories. Have fun storming the castle!

BookTok is a wonderful place to find all kinds of TikTok book recommendations, especially in the young adult and romance genres. There are always so many books to choose from and you can find just about any book you’re looking for.

With everything from brand new releases to books that have been in circulation for a while there’s something for everyone. Most of the books on this list weren’t released in 2022, but have gained attention throughout this year. So even if you’re looking at a book on this list and it was published a few years ago, you can be sure its still the talk of the town on booktok. Prepare to fill your stockings and TBR lists with the best TikTok book recommendations 2022 has to offer!

Top TikTok Book Recommendations: 2022

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert The third book in the Brown Sisters series, Act Your Age, Eve Brown is an adorable romance novel from sensational writer Talia Hibbert. Eve Brown is a mess, and she always is. Jacob Wayne always has it together. When these two find themselves with their lives intertwined their spiteful relationship might just turn into something a little more romantic. That is if they don’t kill each other first.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir Sal and Noor used to be best friends. Then the fight happened and everything changed. Sal is trying to run the family business while his moms health keeps declining and his dad turns to alcoholism. Meanwhile Noor is hiding a deep secret, she’s applying to schools and hoping to leave her family and her life behind. Soon the two must decide if they can reconcile with each other, or risk letting the monsters from their past get the better of them.

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake There are six contestants for an elite spot with the Alexandrian Society, but there are only five spots available. As our six main characters work to improve their magical ability and compete against each other, it’s soon revealed that each of them is carrying a secret. If they aren’t careful it could be their downfall. As the time for the final trials draws nearer the relationship with each other deepens, but looming in the background is the knowledge that one of them will not survive until the end.

Babel by R. F. Kuang Robin Swift, orphaned as a child due to a cholera outbreak, is found by a professor and is brought up in world of languages, all so he can attend the legendary translation institute at Oxford called Babel. When he gets there at first it’s everything he hoped for, but soon he realizes that translation isn’t just a tool for education, but also as a tool for colonization. Now Robin finds himself faced with two options, fight for the world he was raised for, or fight for the world he wants to see.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry Nora is one of the best literary agents in the world. When her little sister proposes a girls trip, Nora agrees to try and take some time for herself. The sisters weekend is growing great until Nora realizes that Charlie, an annoying uptight editor, also happens to be vacationing in the same spot. As they keep bumping into each other via more and more absurd scenarios they realize that they might not be the hero of their own story, but they could be the hero of each other’s.

Cain’s Jawbone by Edward Powys Mathers This book is a mystery and a puzzle. Literally! It’s printed out of order, part of the mystery of the book is trying to put it in the right order. As of right now, only three people have ever completed this daunting task. It’s the puzzle more than the book itself that has attracted attention among booktok accounts, but there’s no denying that a mystery this good can’t be passed up.

Crave by Tracy Wolff The first book in a supernatural trilogy, Crave tells the story of a young woman named Grace who finds herself falling for a vampire. As she tries to navigate going to school with monsters who just as soon kill her as look at her, she starts to realize that maybe there is more to this school than meets the eye. Grace must now try to survive all the while wondering if maybe her coming to this school wasn’t just an accident, maybe it was arranged, and Grace doesn’t know which sounds scarier.

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake Delilah is forced to go back to Bright Falls to photograph her sisters wedding. Even though she always said she would never come back, the guilt trip and the money mean that it’s time to go home. However when she gets there she encounters an old friend of her sister named Claire. The two find themselves stuck together while working on wedding preparation. And maybe, just maybe these two have much more chemistry than they’d like to believe.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary Rent is expensive. So two people become roommates without ever meeting each other. Leon works nights so he only needs the flat during the day. Tiffy has the opposite schedule so she occupies the flat the rest of the time. They begin to communicate with each other via notes, and soon they find themselves becoming something maybe a little bit more than just roommate. Of course there’s still the problem of them never having met before.

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar Hani is bisexual, but when she tells her friends, they start to question her. In a panic she lies and tells them she does have a girlfriend. Ishu just wants her to show up her perfect sister, and becoming head girl is the perfect way to do that. Fake dating Hani might be the perfect way to become more popular and secure the votes she needs. So their plan is hatched! What could possibly go wrong?

How High we go in the dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu The year is 2030 and an ancient corpse is discovered in the melting permafrost. However, this young woman was killed by a deadly and contagious virus that is now free to rampage across the world. This epic follows the virus and its devastating effects for years to come. Each person is affected wholly differently and what follows is an interwoven tale of endurance and perseverance.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy A memoir from Jennette McCurdy that tells the tale of her abusive mother and Jennette’s experience as a former child star. It’s a heartbreaking story about the dangers that many young actors face when no one has their back. McCurdy writes with wit and class even while detailing some of the most painful experiences of her life. It’s a book you won’t want to put down, and will be thinking about for years to come.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes The first book in a trilogy, Avery Grambs finds herself in the running for a vast inheritance from an unknown man. As long as she lives in this house with the old man’s family, attends the school he wants her to go to, and abides by a few other rules, her whole life will change. But why was she chosen? Is he a relative? A friend of the family? Or is it something even more sinister than that. Avery has a year to figure it out and survive the trials put before her.

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel This retelling is entirely transportive. Kaikeyi is brought up on wonderful stories of the gods and the great deeds they accomplish. But when she sees her father banish her mother and try to marry her off she realizes perhaps the gods aren’t as benevolent as the stories make them out to be. Kaikeyi turns to the books her mother read to her and transforms herself into the powerful woman she was always destined to become. But there are always those who wish to see a powerful woman fail.

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell This is a delightful graphic novel about the perils and pitfalls of high school dating. Freddy wants Laura Dean to stop breaking up with her. This weird on and off relationship is as confusing as it is complicated. So Freddy turns to anyone who will help her figure out what’s going on. From mystics to advice columns Freddy is determined to get to the bottom of her topsy-turvy relationship.

Malibu Rising Taylor Jenkins Reid It’s 1983, and one of the greatest fires to rage across California is about to start. A fire started accidentally at a house party for the rich, famous, and beautiful people of Malibu. But the story of the fire, and those who cause it start years earlier when the hosts are children just trying to understand why their dad would leave their mom like that. This is a wonderful story about family, fame, and what can happen when sparks catch.

Normal People by Sally Rooney Connell and Marianne pretend they don’t each other at school. They run in completely different circles, so it’s just easier to pretend. But, secretly they have a connection that amazes and scares them. A year later as they study at the same school in Dublin things start to shift. Over the next four years they find themselves circling each other being drawn close only to be flung apart. As their own lives get more and more complicated, they have to decide what they are to each other once and for all. And it’s not going to go smoothly.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt Credited as one the pieces to bring “dark academia” into the literary lexicon, this is a classic that still draws attention from new readers to this day. When a group of friends studying classics kill their schoolmate, their lives start to spiral out of control. What follows is a story of passion, deception, and academia that haunts its readers. The group tries to keep it together, but they find themselves slipping from the high minded ideal image they had of themselves to something a lot more sinister.

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan Her brother was told that his fate will be greatness not seen by anyone alive today. Her fate is nothingness. But when her brother passes away, Zhu decides she’s going to steal her brother’s fate. Disguised in boy’s clothes, Zhu heads to study at the monastery her brother was promised to, and from then on, she hides her identity from everyone, including the gods themselves. As she rises to lead armies she is struck by one question: how long before it is realized that she is not who she says she is.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller A retelling of the myth of Achilles that is as heart warming as it is devastating. Two young men find themselves training together. Soon a bond is formed and they fall more in love with each other than they know what to do with. But when the war with Troy begins, these two lovers find that sometimes love can’t survive a battlefield. And perhaps even worse, sometimes it can.

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas Catalina was under a lot of pressure and might have let it slip that she’s bringing her American boyfriend to her sister’s wedding. There’s only one problem — she doesn’t have one. Luckily her colleague, Aaron, offers to step in and pose as her fake boyfriend. Even though she can’t stand him, Catalina agrees to the plan and the game is afoot. But as they spend more and more time together she starts to realize something. Maybe she likes him way more than she thought.

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi Alizeh has a secret. To the world she’s just an ordinary servant. But in reality she’s descended from royalty. The crown prince is struggling to keep it all together. His father’s passing has been predicted to happen any time now. But he keeps finding himself by a servant who seems to know a lot more than she’s letting on. Their kingdom — and indeed their world — hangs in the balance. Each of them will have to tread carefully to avoid sending their people into chaos.

To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara It’s 1893 in New York City, but it’s not the New York we know. Now it’s 1993 and the AIDS epidemic is causing the deaths of so many innocent young men. Now it’s 2093 and the world is run by corrupt officials and is plagued by sickness. What follows is an intricate weaving of three people’s lives spread out over three hundred years. As their lives intersect in strange ways, it seems that despite the vast time difference, things haven’t actually changed all that much.

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon Ari is a meteorologist on TV and loves her job. But her boss is too distracted with personal matters to give Ari’s career the attention it deserves. Enter Russel. Russel offers to step in and team up with Ari to fix their bosses’ personal lives so that Ari’s life can get back on track. But amidst all their hijinks, a storm starts brewing. And Ari realizes that she’s starting to have feelings for Russel. But can she let him in enough to see the real her? Or will he be stuck with the weather girl persona she puts on for TV?

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart This book originally came out in 2014, but has made a comeback thanks to BookTok. When a group of friends goes to visit a remote island for some away time, things don’t go exactly as planned. What follows is a series of events so shocking that it will shape the friends forever. If they can make it out alive, and with their secrets in tact that is. But can they even remember what the truth is? Or have they managed to lie even to themselves.

BookTok has so many more wonderful recommendations out there. Check out our earlier lists to find the highest rated YA books on TikTok, the most popular romance books on BookTok, and fantasy too!

As new books come out, and old favorites are rediscovered, there’s no shortage of wonderful TikTok book recommendations. This only barely scrapes the surface of BookTok’s most popular recommendations. I’m sure there will be many more great ones to come.

I am a chronic re-reader, but I wasn’t always. In fact it wasn’t until college that I started to get sick of reading that my love for rereads began.

I, like a lot of students, had started to hate reading because the only reading I had set time aside for was reading for school. Some of what I was reading was great, but a lot of it was things I would never pick for myself, and have no interest in ever reading again. The thing was, I didn’t want to lose my love of reading. I just needed to find a way to get myself to fall back in love with reading.

Enter the reread.

I decided that every year I would reread one series that I had loved as a middle/high schooler. It was a manageable goal since I was only trying to fit five YA books into my reading schedule. Even after the first year I knew I had made a great decision.

While I had outgrown some of them, most of the books reminded me why I loved reading. They also helped me remember why I wanted to be a writer. It was everything I was missing from my life, and the habit has stuck.

I’m still choosing a YA series to reread every year, but I’ve expanded beyond that and have started reading all sorts of things again. Sometimes as soon as I finish a book, I start it over right away.

Below is a list of books that I have reread over the last few years, and I think you should too! I will say this list has a lot of high fantasy/sci-fi and classics, as these are the types of books I tend to think have the most to say during a second reading.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker Like many American students, I was assigned this book in high school. I remember liking it fine, but it was a book I read through fast so I could get it out of the way. Recently, I reread this book and was absolutely floored by how much I adored it. I think this book is done a disservice by being assigned to high schoolers. Its language is so rich, and the story so compelling that it can’t be rushed. I’m so glad I got the chance to fall in love this text properly this time.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini This book was one of the first I read when I decided to try rereading. I reread the whole series and loved it so much more. There was a lot of subtlety I missed when I read it as a teen. Reading it as an adult meant I picked up on so many more tiny things I had forgotten or ignored. My reread also helped me see the characters in a new light as I am now older than Eragon was. That kid went through so much! I never really thought about it until my reread.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin I think I might just have to reread this series at least every other year for the rest of my life, and that is hardly an exaggeration. N.K. Jemisin is a master class of a writer who makes even the most innocuous details ripple with importance. Every reread brings forth new understanding and details I never noticed before. Truly one of the greatest additions to the science fiction cannon.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams An absolute classic. I keep finding new jokes I missed when I was younger, and I have a growing appreciation for everything this work did for satire and science fiction. It’s witty and holds up a mirror to how we still operate in our world today, despite its age. This is a book I will be forever in love with and even though I read it literally a month ago, I’m already looking forward to my next reread.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn I read this book once and immediately started it over. And with the sequel set to release soon, I think I might have to reread it a third time. It’s important to remember that when it comes to rereading a book, it doesn’t have to be years and years in between reads! You can reread right away. This is the most recent book on this list; I think that rereading shouldn’t only pertain to the classics.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan I still remember reading this book for the first time. And even though I have the first page memorized, I know I’m not alone in getting that feeling of excitement opening this book for a reread. Plus, with a brand new TV show on the horizon, it’s the prefect time to dive in and give this series a reread.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern This book is one of the most visually stunning books ever. Reading it for the first time is a transcendent experience, but rereading it is unlike anything else. Because this book has so much description, rereading helps you conceptualize what’s happening more. There’s just so much detail that you likely won’t be able to take it all in during your first read through.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler This is a masterclass in speculative dystopian writing. It’s so enthralling and heart wrenching. Parable of the Sower is often taught in schools so it’s easy to speed over without taking the time to really absorb it. If you were assigned this book in school and felt neutral towards it, I’d highly recommend giving it another try. Plus, the sequel is also delightful, so after a reread you have the privilege of experiencing the sequel for the first time.

Severance by Ling Ma This is a delightful book that packs a serious punch, especially as we are still living through a pandemic. One amazing thing about rereading this book is you get to uncover all the little hints Ling Ma left us about where the story was going to go. I especially recommend this book for a reread if you read it for the first time before, or towards the beginning of the pandemic. It’s truly illuminating.

Slaughter House-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Slaughter House-Five is one of the greatest books of all time, and one constantly assigned to students. I’d go so far as to say that if you were assigned this book in school and haven’t reread it since, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Reading this as an adult packs so much more of a punch than when you read it as a student. I highly recommend this book. No matter how often you’ve already read it!

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston Another victim of the “I had to read it for school” collection, Their Eyes Were Watching God is a fantastic work of feminist literature. Rereading this book was one of my favorite rereads ever, even though it’s also one of the saddest books of all time. If you’re looking for a book that is going to capture your imagination, and make you cry, look no further than Their Eyes Were Watching God.

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson Listen, I understand that this is a giant work of fantasy. Yes, it’s a huge time commitment, but it’s also so full of detail that it almost demands a reread. Part of the downfall of a long book is that there are more plots to remember and details to keep track of, which also means some are likely going to slip through the cracks. I also recommend rereading this book in a different format the second time around. If you read the physical copy, try the audiobooks, and vice versa!

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë This book has been taught to so many students because of its status as a classic. However, it’s a book with no real redeeming characters so it can be a slog to get through, especially if it’s one of six books you have to read that semester. Rereading it, and taking your time with it opens this book up so much. Wuthering Heights is considered a classic for a reason, you just have to give it the time it deserves. It’s a really great book. Promise!

Now, if you haven’t read any of these books before, it’s not too late. There always has to be a first read before there can be a second!