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Reading Adventures, Pt. 12: Ghosts and spies in the City That Never Sleeps
After a cozy weekend spent in small-town America, it was time for a full 180. You can’t get much more “big city” than the Big Apple! Bright, loud, and full of life, there’s someplace to go and someone to see in every visit I make. But between the dinners and the cozy hangouts, I made…
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Reading Adventures, Pt. 11: Small Towns, Big Flavors – A Journey with Marilyn Hagerty’s Grand Forks
Long-time TCO fans may have picked up that I’m a city gal at heart. I love my life in San Francisco, with its walkable streets and abundance of creative restaurants. But I grew up taking many road trips, where I developed a deep love for small towns and their quirks. It’s that love that made…
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TCO Reviews: Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher
As summer turns early fall, it’s time to start putting aside the beachy reads in favor of cozier aesthetics. It’s early for true dark academia vibes – I don’t need roaring fireplaces just yet; but I also want something a little more thoughtful and grounded. I’m hoping that T. Kingfisher’s recent desert retelling of Snow…
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The Secret Lives of British Cities (According to Urban Fantasy)
I’ve been on a bit of a fantasy streak lately—though not the swords-and-sagas kind. These days, I’m drawn more to urban fantasy, that magical subgenre where the extraordinary exists just beneath the surface of the ordinary. It’s one of my favourites, in part because it makes the impossible feel just a bit more possible. Magic,…
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Letters from the Reading Perch: Reading as Recovery
Reading has always been more than a hobby to me — it’s comfort, clarity, and, at times, the very thing that keeps me upright. So consider this the first letter from my reading perch: part journal, part meditation, part invitation. Dear Inklings, I’m never sure how universal my reading experience is, but I’ve always found…
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Reading adventures, Pt. 10: Dusty legends and ocean breezes in Abu Dhabi
Just when I thought I’d got the hang of this reading-while-traveling thing, my latest trip threw me for a loop. Earlier this month, I was told I needed to travel to Abu Dhabi for work. Never one to waste a good trip, I dove into my usual pre-travel ritual: building a reading list rooted in…
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A long overdue reading roundup: April-July 2025
I’ve been remiss when it comes to keeping up with my 52 Book Club Challenge roundups. It’s been a busy year, etc. etc. But it’s time for me to catch y’all up on how it’s been going since March. To my surprise / chagrin, I actually have fewer updates to share than I expected. This…
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Colonialism and culture wars in Tasha Suri’s The Books of Ambha
For those who follow my Goodreads, you may have noticed an uptake in my fantasy reading this year. I’ve been really enjoying the epic stories and the intricate human plots – their own kind of mystery. But at times, I can get tired of how so many of the kingdoms are rooted in Western culture…
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Giving sorrow words: exploring grief and loss in murder mysteries
So. I’ve been a big flake the last few months. In that period, I have: What I have not done, however, is write a non-travel blog post… but not for lack of reading. (In fact, I may have pulled an all-nighter last night devouring a new-to-me fantasy series about djinn.) I’ve read everything from bibliomysteries…
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Reading adventures, Pt. 10: Lemons + learning on the Amalfi Coast
After bidding goodbye to the City of Flowers, we met some friends for a lovely week on the Amalfi Coast – known for lemons, linens, and beautiful ceramic tiles. The sheer cliffs and clear blue waters were a welcome respite from the inland heat. And I was looking forward to a week of lazing around…