Posts by The Booked Unicorn

Hi! Welcome to my blog where i talk about mostly books. I write reviews, i recommend books and things to read and try out. .

April 5, 2024 by The Booked Unicorn

10 Danmei Novel Series To Read

Hi,

I had Heaven Officials Blessing on my Netflix watchlist for a while. I discovered that it’s actually leaving Netflix on the 7th of April, so i decided to watch it.

Brethren, i was amazed. Is this what you guys have been enjoying?

Danmei is a Chinese version of BL, the name translates to indulging beauty , its target audience is women and the leg booty community ( *wink, wink*) ( Source, Le Wikipedia).

Its so much softer than Yaoi or MM Novels, there’s no smut but the declarations of love would have you melting on the floor! Its in the soft touches between the characters, the way one MC protects the other. And then you have the look…The LOOK, you know the one that’s tender and adoring and scotching all at once.

I have watched Heaven Officials Blessing season 1 and 2. I loved it, i want to read the books this year if i can. I have read the scum Villains self saving system Vol 1-3, it was super interesting. It had me laughing from page one. Salad days by Jin ShiuBian is the sweetest danmei, its about the love between a boxer and a delicate ballerino. There are different characters with their own stories too.

Now this list is not complete without me recommending Mo Dao Zu shi: Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. I read the manhua and it is delightfully entertaining. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji will make you laugh, cry and swoon. And the plot will keep you glued to this book.

The next on my list to read is Guardian by Priest, it looks like i’ll have some fun reading that so yaay! Recently i purchased The Scum Villain Self Saving system Vol 4, i am planning on rereading volume 1 to 3 so that i can read Volume 4. I am having so much fun with this genre. I do not have the physical books yet , i got them from kindle. It is my dream to have all the physical copies. When this happens i will star continuously at my shelf

I have complied a list of Danmei books i think you’ll like. Now if you have any recommendations please let me know, i would love to read more of this genre. You can read the summary and click the titles to take you to the site to purchase them. If you have read any let me know too.

Enjoy!

10 Danmei series to Enjoy

Heaven Officials Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu: Born the crown prince of a prosperous kingdom, Xie Lian was renowned for his beauty, strength, and purity. His years of dedicated study and noble deeds allowed him to ascend to godhood. But those who rise may also fall, and fall he does–cast from the heavens and banished to the world below. Eight hundred years after his mortal life, Xie Lian has ascended to godhood for the third time, angering most of the gods in the process. To repay his debts, he is sent to the Mortal Realm to hunt down violent ghosts and troublemaking spirits who prey on the living. Along his travels, he meets the fascinating and brilliant San Lang, a young man with whom he feels an instant connection. Yet San Lang is clearly more than he appears… What mysteries lie behind that carefree smile?

Guardian Zhen Hun by Priest ( Vol 1& 2): Investigations in the Dark– Zhao Yunlan heads up a covert division of the Ministry of Public Security that deals with the strange and unusual, blurring the line between the mortal realm and the Netherworld. His cocky, casual attitude conceals both a sharp mind and an arsenal of mystical tools and arcane knowledge. While investigating a gruesome death at a local university, Zhao Yunlan crosses paths with the reserved Professor Shen Wei. Zhao Yunlan is immediately intrigued by Shen Wei’s good looks and intense gaze, and the attraction between them is immediate and powerful, even as Shen Wei tries to keep his distance. Shen Wei and his secrets are a puzzle Zhao Yunlan feels compelled to solve as mysterious circumstances throw them together, and their connection becomes impossible to deny.

The Scum villains self saving system volume 1-4 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu : Half-demon Luo Binghe rose from humble beginnings and a tortured past to become unrivaled in strength and beauty. With his dominion over both the Human and Demon Realms and his hundreds-strong harem, he is truly the most powerful protagonist…in a trashy webnovel series!At least, that’s what Shen Yuan believes as he finishes reading the final chapter in Proud Immortal Demon Way. But when a bout of rage leads to his sudden death, Shen Yuan is reborn into the world of the novel in the body of Shen Qingqiu–the beautiful but cruel teacher of a young Luo Binghe. While Shen Qingqiu may have the incredible power of a cultivator, he is destined to be horrifically punished for crimes against the protagonist. The new Shen Qingqiu now has only one course of action: get into Luo Binghe’s good graces before the young man’s rise to power or suffer the awful fate of a true scum villain!

Stars of Chaos: Sha po lang Vol 1- 2 by Priest : The discovery of violet gold, a vital fuel for steam-powered machines, propelled the empire of Great Liang into an age of prosperity. But for Chang Geng, a young man raised on the impoverished northern border, the concerns of the empire are as distant as the stars above. When raiders from the north attack Chang Geng’s small village, he discovers that the life he knows is a lie. His mother, his teacher, and even his godfather whom he trusted more than any other, Shen Shiliu, are not what they seem. As enemy nations close in, Chang Geng follows his godfather to the heart of the imperial capital, where a greater fate lies in store for him.

The missing piece by Kun Yi Wei Lou: Ever since an incident three years ago, art school graduate Shen Mo hasn’t been able to paint with his right hand. He’s currently working a desk job in a company owned by the Ji family, one of the wealthiest families in the city. Unbeknownst to his coworkers, however, he has a far more important role: the fake lover of the Ji family’s young CEO, Ji Mingxuan. Ever the perfectionist, Ji Mingxuan makes Shen Mo put on the full act, both in public and in the bedroom. Their fake relationship continues this way, until Ji Mingxuan’s sister returns from abroad with her boyfriend—Shen Mo’s ex.
Once the four are reunited, the nightmares that Shen Mo has tried so desperately to escape catch up to him at last. As the lovers’ acting becomes more and more real, Shen Mo begins to learn about the things that Ji Mingxuan is keeping from him, as well as the truth of what really happened three years ago. Only one question left: What will become of a love founded on pretense?

Thousand Autums Qian Qiu by Meng Xi Shi : Can a Pure Heart Be Corrupted? Yan Wushi, leader of the demonic Huanyue sect, is a master cultivator, a brilliant strategist, and an incurable cynic. In his philosophy, every human heart is ruled by cruelty and selfishness. Anyone who believes otherwise is either a liar or a fool. Enter the humble Shen Qiao, leader of the Daoist sect at Xuandu Mountain. He is both gracious and charitable, and exactly the type of do-gooder that Yan Wushi despises. When Shen Qiao suffers a shocking loss in a duel and is left for dead, Yan Wushi happens upon him and concocts a plan to teach him about the wretchedness of humanity. He’ll take Shen Qiao under his wing, test the limits of his faith, and lure him into demonic cultivation. After all, it is easy to remain righteous atop a mountain peak that touches the heavens. But a thousand autumns toiling on the blood-soaked earth will break any man.

Salad days by Jing Shuiban vol 1-2: Warm and gentle, dreams and growth, life and love. A love story between a village boy and a city boy, chasing their dreams of becoming a dancer and a boxer. This is a story about a poor but gentle, honest ballet boy and a passionate, determined boxing boy. The two met at the Children’s Center, and since then, they’ve grown up supporting each other—even in the face of hardships and challenges—as they resolutely pursue their dreams. The beauty of salad days lies in the sweat from struggles and the nurturing of friendships. Even though the two have completely different lives, what remains the same is their warm feelings for each other…

Grandmaster of demonic cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi Vol 1- 5 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu: Wei Wuxian was once one of the most outstanding men of his generation, a talented and clever young cultivator who harnessed martial arts, knowledge, and spirituality into powerful abilities. But when the horrors of war led him to seek a new power through demonic cultivation, the world’s respect for his skills turned to fear, and his eventual death was celebrated throughout the land. Years later, he awakens in the body of an aggrieved young man who sacrifices his soul so that Wei Wuxian can exact revenge on his behalf. Though granted a second life, Wei Wuxian is not free from his first, nor the mysteries that appear before him now. Yet this time, he’ll face it all with the righteous and esteemed Lan Wangji at his side, another powerful cultivator whose unwavering dedication and shared memories of their past will help shine a light on the dark truths that surround them.

Golden Terrace by Cang Wu Bin Bai : It is year twenty-five of the Yuantai Era of the Great Zhou Empire. The renowned Marquis of Jingning, commander of the Beiyan Cavalry, Fu Shen is injured on the battlefield at the northern border. Returning with a broken leg to the capital, Fu Shen learns that the emperor has conferred a marriage for him—with another man. To make matters worse, Fu Shen’s spouse is his political nemesis: the famed Imperial Investigator of the Feilong Guard, Yan Xiaohan. In spite of the political differences that stand between them in court, Fu Shen and Yan Xiaohan gradually start to accept each other’s presence in their shared home. Yet as they learn to navigate their new life together, it is the calm before the storm. The mystery behind the attack at the northern border begins to unfold, unveiling dangers that threaten the peace of Great Zhou.

Remnant of filth Vol 1-5 By Rou Bao Bu Chi: Noble-born Mo Xi is the foremost general of Chonghua, known for his ruthless temper and ascetic air. Once he was one of two promising young commanders, twin stars of the empire. His comrade, the lowborn Gu Mang, was Mo Xi’s brother-in-arms, best friend, and―secretly―his lover, until the day Gu Mang turned traitor and joined the ranks of their nation’s greatest enemy. Now Gu Mang has been returned to the empire a ruined man, a shadow of the military genius he once was. The public clamors for his death, and no one yearns for vengeance more than Mo Xi. Or so he thought―for faced once more with his bitterest enemy, Mo Xi is left with more questions than answers. Why did the man he loved betray him? And what secrets hide behind Gu Mang’s tortured eyes?

Bonus Danmei Out on 9th of April

The disabled tyrants pet fish : Canji Baojun De Zhangxun Yu Chong Vol 1 by Xue Shan We Fei Hu:

He’s the Perfect Catch!

When Li Yu falls asleep reading a webnovel about a ruthless, mute tyrant falling in love with a dainty male concubine, he doesn’t expect to wake up inside the world of the novel–especially not as a fish!

Li Yu soon finds himself adopted as Prince Jing’s pet carp, tasked by a less-than-helpful Magic System with preventing the prince from becoming a cruel tyrant. If he can accomplish this mission, Li Yu will regain his human form. Yet how can he succeed from inside a fish bowl?!

April 1, 2024 by The Booked Unicorn

10 Nigerian Fantasy/Scifi books you should be reading

Hi,

The Nigerian fantasy scene is one that has been growing steadily. Aside from the Big Four languages ( Igbo. Yoruba, Hausa and Benin) there are many other tribes(about 371 ethnic tribes) and languages. Each tribe would have their own mythology and folktales, imagine the vast amount of stories yet to be told! Nigerian fantasy writers also tap in to other worlds and bring them to life in a spectacular way ( Yes i said it better than your faves)! I’m a Nigerian, Of course i am going to hype my people up.

Some popular Nigerian fantasy authors you may be familiar with are Nnedi Okorafor , her book Who fears Death is a World Fantasy award winner (2011) and one of her most popular works. Suyi Davies Okungbowa’s Son of the storm was a hit debut. And you may be familiar with The lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi, a novella that came out last year and was an absolute delight to read ( click the title to read a review).

Nigerian fantasy books are interesting, from the world building to the powerful storytelling. These books will transport you into different worlds that you’ll be sure to remember. The last two books i added would be released this year ( April 9th and August 20th , 2024 respectively). I have read their previous works and loved them, so i am looking forward to reading their new books.

So here are the recommendations i think you’ll enjoy them. Read the summary and see what interests you. By Clicking on the titles you’ll be able to get an amazon link to purchase the book. Are there any books here on your radar? let me know in the comments!

Sanya by Oyin Olugbile:She could either be the saviour of her people,or the destroyer of their world. Sanya always felt different. And everyone that knew her—the people in the village she grew up in, her beloved brother, Dada, her Aunt Abike, and even her parents before she was born—knew that there was something special about her, too. After an unspeakable tragedy causes her to leave home and grow up too soon, she is devastated to find that her incredible powers are linked to a future which she must fight, even at the cost of her very soul. She begins life anew, hoping that the dark prophesy would somehow rewrite itself. Soon, however, her carefully crafted life and identity becomes the catalyst for a deadly war that will tear her family apart, and doom everything she holds dear.

Shigidi and Brass head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi : Shigidi is a disgruntled and demotivated nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering prayers of his few remaining believers to maintain his existence long enough to find his next drink. When he meets Nneoma, a sort-of succubus with a long and secretive past, everything changes for him. Together, they attempt to break free of his obligations and the restrictions that have bound him to his godhood and navigate the parameters of their new relationship in the shadow of her past. But the elder gods that run the Orisha spirit company have other plans for Shigidi, and they are not all aligned–or good. From the boisterous streets of Lagos to the swanky rooftop bars of Singapore and the secret spaces of London, Shigidi and Nneoma will encounter old acquaintances, rival gods, strange creatures, and manipulative magicians as they are drawn into a web of revenge, spirit business, and a spectacular heist across two worlds that will change Shigidi’s understanding of himself forever and determine the fate of the Orisha spirit company

Amaechi by Chima Nwoke : The Past, the Present and Tomorrow is an anthology of short stories with themes of police/military brutality, espionage, re-imagined folktales and African traditional religious beliefs such as the mythology of the Igbo gods, and reincarnation. The genres explored in the anthology range from African folklore and mythologies, whodunit as well as heist thrillers, to Africanfuturism.It is a book heavy with tales of the supernatural. Yet, its charm mostly lies in its ordinariness – the way the material effortlessly collapses into the immaterial – like life itself. Quite intriguingly, a cultural awakening is sweeping through Africa. Most African people are turning to indigenous imaginaries, or at least daring to question dominant, European-style ideologies and life-ways. Amaechi. has emerged as both an arsenal and pacifier to fold the modern into the traditional; the real into the magical; the past and the future. The Past, the Present, and Tomorrow: this subtitle accurately captures the message of Amaechi. In Igbo Ontology, the past lives through the present. People carry in them the spirits of their ancestors. The present is a canvas, already dotted with trails of the past, but available for the making of a future. The universe is enveloped in energy, guided by forces sometimes familiar, other times alien and untamable. This is the foundational idea that undergird the broad themes explored in the stories that make up the book.

Forever desert series (The truth of the Aleke) by Moses Ose Utomi: The Aleke is cruel. The Aleke is clever. The Aleke is coming.500 years after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo , the City of Truth stands as is the last remaining free city of the Forever Desert. A bastion of freedom and peace, the city has successfully weathered the near-constant attacks from the Cult of Tutu, who have besieged it for three centuries, attempting to destroy its warriors and subjugate its people.17-year-old Osi is a Junior Peacekeeper in the City. When the mysterious leader of the Cult, known only as the Aleke, commits a massacre in the capitol and steals the sacred God’s Eyes, Osi steps forward to valiantly defend his home. For his bravery he is tasked with a tremendous responsibility―destroy the Cult of Tutu, bring back the God’s Eyes, and discover the truth of the Aleke.

Memory of stone series by ` Chio Zoe: Finally thriving as a criminal in an infamous rundown city nicknamed The Bottoms, 18-year-old Nyx is forced to leave to rescue her only friend. When she is imprisoned for her damning discoveries she must do everything to regain her freedom, even if that means losing everything she’s ever known. Loran’s Blade is a mask-wearing commander and a living legend at only eighteen. Coerced into life at court, he finds that not everything is as simple as death on a battlefield, especially when he discovers secrets hidden down dark corridors in court. When the attention of the king lands him on a dishonorable mission, he must decide where his loyalties lie.When their paths cross, they must discover why they are drawn to each other, or remain enemies.In a world of magic and buried secrets, there is a thin line between normality and danger.

`Son of the Storm (Nameless republic series) by Suyi Davies Okungbowa: In the ancient city of Bassa, Danso is a clever scholar on the cusp of achieving greatness—only he doesn’t want it. Instead, he prefers to chase forbidden stories about what lies outside the city walls. The Bassai elite claim there is nothing of interest. The city’s immigrants are sworn to secrecy. But when Danso stumbles across a warrior wielding magic that shouldn’t exist, he’s put on a collision course with Bassa’s darkest secrets. Drawn into the city’s hidden history, he sets out on a journey beyond its borders. And the chaos left in the wake of his discovery threatens to destroy the empire.

Who fears death by Nnedi Okorafor : In a far future, post-nuclear-holocaust Africa, genocide plagues one region. The aggressors, the Nuru, have decided to follow the Great Book and exterminate the Okeke. But when the only surviving member of a slain Okeke village is brutally raped, she manages to escape, wandering farther into the desert. She gives birth to a baby girl with hair and skin the color of sand and instinctively knows that her daughter is different. She names her daughter Onyesonwu, which means “Who Fears Death?” in an ancient African tongue.Reared under the tutelage of a mysterious and traditional shaman, Onyesonwu discovers her magical destiny – to end the genocide of her people. The journey to fulfill her destiny will force her to grapple with nature, tradition, history, true love, the spiritual mysteries of her culture – and eventually death itself.

Amobi and the Door beyond time ( stormbringer series)by Michael Nwanolue: Amobi is a dibia, a super awesome West African priest of Amadioha, the god of thunder and lightning. He just doesn’t know it yet. But when he makes a church explode and accidentally vaporizes a security guard, he starts to realise there might be some truth to his grandfather’s stories after all. Now, with his two best friends, who are also dibias, and a snarky guide who may or may not hate him, Amobi has to free the gods from their prison, all before the world is annihilated and plunged into eternal darkness.

The Smoke that Thunders by Erhu Kome ( Out on April 9th,2024): In this mesmerizing fantasy rooted in Urhobo and West African folklore, sixteen-year-old Naborhi longs for a life away from her small, traditional clan in Kokori. But as her rite of passage approaches and she is betrothed to an arrogant young man, Naborhi feels her dreams slipping away from her.Then Naborhi becomes bonded to a mysterious animal and begins having harrowing visions of a kidnapped boy. She soon meets Atai, the son of an Oracle from a rival queendom, and learns that she is being guided by the gods. She and Atai, along with Naborhi’s eager-for-adventure cousin, Tamunor, set off across the continent to rescue the mysterious boy. But when they find him―and find out his true identity―Naborhi realizes there is more than just her freedom at stake: she must stop a war that has already been set in motion.With lush, unique worldbuilding and a dynamic cast of characters, The Smoke That Thunders is a gripping story of political intrigue, fierce love, and what it means to be free

She who knows By Nnedi Okorafor ( Out August, 2024): When there is a call, there is often a response. Najeeba knows. She has had The Call. But how can a 13-year-old girl have the Call? Only men and boys experience the annual call to the Salt Roads. What’s just happened to Najeeba has never happened in the history of her village. But it’s not a terrible thing, just strange. So when she leaves with her father and brothers to mine salt at the Dead Lake, there’s neither fanfare nor protest. For Najeeba, it’s a dream come travel by camel, open skies, and a chance to see a spectacular place she’s only heard about. However, there must have been something to the rule, because Najeeba’s presence on the road changes everything and her family will never be the same. Small, intimate, up close, and deceptively quiet, this is the beginning of the Kponyungo Sorceress.

March 2, 2024March 2, 2024 by The Booked Unicorn

Hello? And a February Wrap-up

Book Recommendations, LGBT
Book review, books, fantasy, Gamelit, LGBT, Litrpg, mm books, reading, romance
Leave a comment

Hi,

*Testing the mic, 1,2*… Ahem

I’m alive.

Do people still read blogs? I kinda hope they still do because i am back and i have a lot to talk about.

First of all, i bought a plan and got a domain last month So i am officially Bookedunicorn.com. I plan on having a lot of fun here, so buckle up.

The reason i left for a long time is because of a little thing called ‘‘perfectionism”. It clouded my brain and i couldn’t create anything at all. I was worrying about the things like viewership and so many other things that i forgot the reason i started a blog…to connect to readers AND to have fun. Yes i still want to connect to people and i still want people to read my posts. But i would try my best to not concentrate and put out good posts.

By the way totally random, Leap years are my favorite years. I always think its the year we return to the original day of our birth and that happens for milestones.

February Wrap up

Here’s what i read In February:

Kindle is currently doing this reading challenge that’s running from first of January to 31st of March. I am trying to be consistent with it. So far this year i have been picking up really good books that keep me hooked. I read a total of 12 books. I only mentioned 9 because these are the ones i remembered to take a screnshot of the cover (oops!)

The remaining three are:

Luckyshot by Crea Reitan
How I Took the King on a Bone-a-Fide Quest of Piracy, Piemu, and Profit: Bone 1 by A.J Sherwood
How Tan Acquired an Apprentice by A.J Sherwood

Lets talk about my favorites:

Villainous things Series ( Not all Himbos wear Capes,Gentlemen prefer villains and Putting out for a Hero) by C. Rochelle : This is a hilarious superheroes Smutty MM Novel , where the lines between villains and heroes are blurred. Its quite dark , so please read the triggers if you want to pick this up. I am currently on the fourth and final installation of this series. They are medium chunkers 400+ pages.
Hateful Love by T. Asleigh and Addison Beck: A friend on Instagram recommended this book to me and honestly it deserves a full page review on my blog and i will get to that asap. But just know this, when i talk about enemies to loves with serious hate fucking turned to love? This book is what i am talking about. An MM Romance with an enemies to lovers trope, touch him you die trope, Mc’s protective of each other, good friends and family… this book has all my favorite things inside. Once a day it think about Blaine and Silas #Slaine. Okay thats enough on this, either you wait for the review or go by my word i’ll never stir you wrong.
Only for the week by Natasha Bishop: Gold, thats what this book is to me. Once again Rome is out here teaching me to raise my standards when it comes to men. I loved Janelle and Romes love, so pure and one of selflessness. Now there were loads of shady moments in this book but it made for a good story.
Arachnomancer series (wrong Divinity and Stray Shadow) by Dustin Tigner: I just discovered the gamelit and LitRpg fantasy books and yes this is the stuff of adventures i have been looking for. The Arachnomancer series falls under the ”isekai trope” ( reincarnation in another world). Dhane gets an express reincarnation card when he is squashed by Truck-kun. He arrives in game heaven where he is meant to choose a divinity and gain powers. Someone trips him when he about to pick the juiciest lion divinity, instead the spider divinity chooses him. Oh, he hates spiders. Now he has to uncover a nasty conspiracy that’s rapidly unfolding before his eyes and he has to be a leader to…goblins. This book is a fun adventure i listened to the audiobook on Everand. Its narrated by Qarie Marshall and its an absolute pleasure to listen to.

Those where my top 4 favorites for February and i highly recommend them. If you have read any of them how did it go? And if you want to know more about them click the titles and it would lead you to the GR pages.

Have fun reading!

Until next time,

Chinelo- The Booked Unicorn

March 7, 2023March 7, 2023 by The Booked Unicorn

The Lies of The Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi

Summary ( From Good reads):

They say there is no water in the City of Lies. They say there are no heroes in the City of Lies. They say there are no friends beyond the City of Lies. But would you believe what they say in the City of Lies?

In the City of Lies, they cut out your tongue when you turn thirteen, to appease the terrifying Ajungo Empire and make sure it continues sending water. Tutu will be thirteen in three days, but his parched mother won’t last that long. So Tutu goes to his oba and makes a deal: she provides water for his mother, and in exchange he will travel out into the desert and bring back water for the city. Thus begins Tutu’s quest for the salvation of his mother, his city, and himself.

The Lies of the Ajungo opens the curtains on a tremendous world, and begins the epic fable of the Forever Desert. With every word, Moses Ose Utomi weaves magic.

The Review

This is a review copy granted to me by Tor/Forge via Netgalley all opinions are mine.

It follows Tutu who initially set out into the dessert to find water and save his people in order to become a hero. His people are suffering from a severe water drought and to top it all when one comes to a certain age their tongues are cut off and they become dumb.

Following Tutu on his journey are other characters from the city of lies that have their eyes and ears taken from them in exchange for something. Initially he is weary of them because he has been told ”there are no friends in the city of lies” but he discovers that there is more to this saying. And so the journey morphs from bringing water back to his people to who are the Ajungo? The truth is shocking.

Everything about this book is just A+. The world that Moses built shows the corruption of power and how it is used to deliberately harm the poor in other to keep them in the dark. I loved the friendship he found in the Sahara desert, the girls were protective of him. And even though it was bittersweet, I loved how precious and necessary they were to his growth. In the harshness of the desert, they were his softness (that could still kick your butt and look pretty doing it).

I went into this book expecting great storytelling and i was not disappointed. From the first line’‘There is no water in the city of lies”. I knew i was in for a treat and boy was this an adventure. This 96-page book packed a punch, it was filled with the naiviety of a young boy who grew into the wizened man who had learnt the truth.

I also loved seeing shokologobango a name I had not heard since I was a kid, this made me laugh.

I noticed that in this book you could have all your senses complete and still not understand what’s going on around you. Until you search for the knowledge you will not find it. And that was what Tutu had to do to find the truth. And on the other side of the truth was rage, a justified rage in my opinion.

In conclusion, this book was on my anticipated reads for 2023 and I was not disappointed at all. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work. My rating of this book is a solid 4.75⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️.

I highly recommend this!

As Always,

Nelo- The Booked Unicorn!

February 16, 2023February 17, 2023 by The Booked Unicorn

Mia Tsai’s Anticipated Books of 2023

It’s the time of year where, it seems, everyone is releasing their lists of most anticipated books. As a debut author, seeing all the lists can get one agitated, as getting on a list, especially from a publication with enormous reach, leads directly to book sales.
This is not that kind of list. In fact, I’m deliberately titling it “Anticipated Books of 2023” because there isn’t a single book or even a dozen books that I could attach “most” to. I love books; I work in books; I write books. Books are great. Books come into my house and then do not leave and I stare at them and think fondly about reading them someday.
I like to think of myself as a varied reader. I have broad tastes, but generally, I like science fiction and fantasy, romance, and medical and nature nonfiction. This year, however, there are two memoirs that have piqued my interest, plus a good crop of nonfiction. Without further ado, and certainly without any special favor, here is a list of ten books I’m looking forward to reading this year. Hopefully.

HIJAB BUTCH BLUES
Lamya H
First of all, this title: how could you not be drawn in by it? For memoir especially, the title needs to catch the eye, and HIJAB BUTCH BLUES does just that. Lamya H’s life experiences are far removed from mine. Our childhoods don’t much in common except for feelings of not belonging, of wondering who we are, and how we fit into our societies. I’m ready to dive into these essays and peer at the world through her eyes.

EVERYTHING I LEARNED, I LEARNED IN A CHINESE RESTAURANT
Curtis Chin
Curtis Chin grew up in Detroit’s Chinatown, where the murder of Vincent Chin galvanized the Asian American population there—and the Asian American population across the United States. Knowing that Curtis’s family was close to Vincent Chin’s makes this memoir a searing standout, as well as an important historical record. Add in the life experiences at said Chinese restaurant and essays delving into life in Detroit, where I hope to read about Asian activism and the essential Black activism that has been the foundation of civil rights work in the US, has put this book at the top of my pile.

THE DEEP SKY
Yume Kitasei
I’m a fan of literary speculative fiction. I enjoy works that are fantastical but retain lyricism, that have deep interiority but still move at a good clip. That would be Yume Kitasei’s THE DEEP SKY. It’s a blend of science fiction and thriller, but it’s published by Flatiron—which means I can expect some damn good writing. I’m so looking forward to tuning everything and everyone out and binge reading this.

BOARD TO DEATH
CJ Connor
A queer murder mystery involving board games, a mysterious game collector, and a grounded setting where the main character works retail? Sign me up. My family loves board games and I’ve orbited the board game scene long enough to know that there are extremely dedicated fans out there and a wide range of personalities and archetypes who frequent shops. The cast is guaranteed to be colorful, and I’m expecting both shenanigans and hijinks.

THE REMARKABLE RETIREMENT OF EDNA FISHER
E.M. Anderson
Some books you pick up through word of mouth, and some books you pick up because the pitch is extraordinarily good. E.M. Anderson’s Edna Fisher, an octogenarian Chosen One, heeds the call to action despite having no fight training—although seasoned knitters will tell you that those needles are dangerous and you never want to piss off a plane full of knitters. EDNA FISHER also is published by an indie pub, which to me is a bonus because I get to support Hansen House.

THE LIES OF THE AJUNGO
Moses Ose Utomi
Full disclosure: I’ve already read this novella. And it was so good that I immediately needed to have a physical copy sitting on my shelf. Moses Ose Utomi spins a fable, a tall tale stretched across the desert sands that span the distance between the City of Lies and its neighbors. Tutu, an adolescent boy, sets out from the City of Lies on a quest to save his mother from dying of thirst. Do you want epic battles? Do you want tremendous worldbuilding? Do you want to get so emotional that you about throw the book? Read THE LIES OF THE AJUNGO.

GHOST MUSIC
An Yu
I know absolutely nothing about this book except that it has mushrooms on lines that evoke a musical staff on the cover. I love mushrooms. I’m sold. I actually want to know nothing about this book beforehand so I can be pleasantly surprised when I do pick it up. I have been spoiled mildly by promotional copy, however, so I do know it involves piano. This is not a detriment, as I’m a musician whose main instrument is the piano. Well done to this cover artist. An Yu can take my money.

THE QUICKENING: CREATION AND COMMUNITY AT THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
Elizabeth Rush
I’ve done my best to fill out this list with new and upcoming authors. Elizabeth Rush is well established, and with good reason: she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize with RISING: DISPATCHES FROM THE NEW AMERICAN SHORE, where she took on both climate change and the greater American society’s unwillingness to help those most affected by disappearing, eroding coastlines. I’ll give you a hint: it’s not the wealthy elites. RISING was one of those books that made me want to stuff a fist into my mouth and chew because the prose was that good. I don’t know what magic lives in Elizabeth Rush’s veins, but anything she writes, I’ll read because of the combination of incisive insight and line-level prose that will have you wailing with despair at how beautiful it is.

A DARKER WILDERNESS: BLACK NATURE WRITING FROM SOIL TO STARS
Edited by Erin Sharkey
I am now, after reading J. Drew Lanham’s THE HOME PLACE and Elizabeth Rush’s RISING, a Milkweed Editions fan. I don’t think there is a single book on their list I wouldn’t read. The editors over there strike gold every single time. And so, when I saw the description of this book, I had to put it on the list. There is a distinct difference in how different cultures treat nature. So many white Americans want accessible wilderness, curated plots, an understandable order to chaos. This is not the relationship everyone can have with nature, nor should it be. No matter what we do, we all return to the earth; we all go back to the soil and the water and the air. I’m interested in how people navigate that inevitability. This book highlights Black perspectives on nature and how it—as well as slavery, displacement, and colonialism—has impacted their lives.

Author

Mia Tsai is a Taiwanese American author of speculative fiction. She lives in Atlanta
with her family and, when not writing, is a hype woman for her orchids and a devoted
cat gopher. Her favorite things include music of all kinds (really, truly) and taking
long trips with nothing but the open road and a saucy rhythm section. She has been
quoted in Glamour once. In her other lives, she is a professional editor, photographer,
and musician. Mia is on Twitter at @itsamia and on Instagram at @mia.tsai.books

February 1, 2023February 1, 2023 by The Booked Unicorn

January 2023 Reading Wrap Up.

Hi,

Okay this was this quickest January ever or am I tripping?

This month I read 9 books. I was trying to squeeze in one more but I decided to savor that one a little more since its short.

I had a good reading month! I’m tracking my reading on story graph and on Goodreads. I’m doing this because I want to make a comprehensive comparison by the end of the year, so, stay tuned.

I read new authors Mo Xiand Tong Xiu, Shon and Casual Farmer. I would be going back to read more of their books. I’m especially looking forward to reading Beware of the chicken vol 2.

Here are the books i read, feel free to take inspiration from this to add to your tbr :

What did you read this last month? What do you recommend from what you have read?

Thanks for reading this post.

As always,

Nelo- The Booked Unicorn

January 24, 2023 by The Booked Unicorn

20 SFF Books To Look Forward to in 2023

Hi,

When i was researching for books fantasy books published this year i was excited, my bank account on the other hand is silently cursing me out!

Are there any books that you are looking forward to reading? Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to share this post and add books to your tbr pile!

Here are a list of Fantasy books to look forward to in 2023! I will be reviewing the ones i read.

Thank you for checking out this post please pin it!

As always,

Nelo- The Booked Unicorn

January 19, 2023January 20, 2023 by The Booked Unicorn

The Scarlet Circus Volume 4 by Jane Yolen

From ecstasy to tragedy, with love blossoming shyly, love at first sight, and even love borne of practical necessity—The Scarlet Circus, the fourth volume in Yolen’s award-winning short fiction series brings you passionate treasures and unexpected transformations. This bewitching assemblage, with an original introduction from Brandon Sanderson, is an ideal read for anyone who appreciates witty, compelling, and classic romantic fantasy.

Available on February 14th 2023

Dear Readers:

Writing romance fiction takes a certain skill base, as does writing fantasy fiction. I am well practiced in the latter, a latecomer to the former.

I didn’t mean to write a bunch of fantasy/romance short stories. It just sort of happened. I thought that I was writing fantasy . . . but my long period of widowhood (seventeen years of bad dates) supplied the romance that was lacking in my life in a fantastic sort of way.

Now, I am almost eighty-four, and five years ago I re-met a college boyfriend, Peter Tacy, a widower of seven years. He is also a poet, educator, birdwatcher, violist, playful, and six feet tall. We had spent our two months of dating in college discussing Emily Dickinson instead of exploring bodies. We both had wonderful marriages, strong families.

Our first date as widowed compatriots a few weeks before the world shut down. Our first old-age date took place was at the Emily Dickinson House/Museum.

Then, Covid happened.

We were stuck in his house for three months. Let me emphasize how much that close quarters played in the romance. I think that we might have missed out by being too scared of Covid (this was pre-vaccine). But we played at being married, and it worked.

Reader, I married him.

Romantic? Yes. Magical? Absolutely. And suddenly, I remembered the stories I had written and published on that dual subject during widowhood’s worst. (Which, if I am lucky, you now have or will soon have in your hands—The Scarlet Circus.) I reread them, and boy, had I been overcompensating!!! Love objects included birds, ghosts, jinns . . . and walkers through time, as Peter and I surely have been.

Now, we are settled down (sort of, as we drive back and forth between our houses on an almost weekly schedule). He has two music groups he plays with, and I have a writer’s critique group I began forty-five years ago. And then there’s the Scottish house in St Andrews.

Yes, we are a busy duo for two octogenarians!

As for the romance? Luckily, we have two large houses, and soft voices. I draw the blinds!

Poem written especially for you

How to Transport Love

This love thing can lay heavy
on your heart,
it can skip a beat,
make mush of reserve.
If octos act like teens,
They need to come up for air
once in a while.
Go to bed early.
Turn on the bed’s heaters.
Make happy fools of themselves.

January 19, 2023 by The Booked Unicorn

2022 Wrap-Up

Hi!

I am back and i have a list of books i enjoyed in 2022. I had a good reading year, i spent more time reading some authors and i enjoyed reading across all formats ( e-book, physical and audio book).

How was your 2022 reading? Let me know in the comments what you read and if you had a good reading year. Also have you checked out any of these books before?

Click on the grey links to view goodreads ( add to your tbr) and also find some added review [The house of shells, the children of the quicksands and The future God of love].

Most read authors in 2022

Clio Evans

I found Clio on instagram and i fell in love with their creature cafe series i binged them. The series gets progressively better with the climax at book 10. I recommend this series if you love monster erotica genre.

Christina C Jones

Christina C Jones Novellas were the gifts that kept on giving last year for me. I found myself drawn to her books last year, i kept going back for more. I especially recommend The night shift series ( See Prior affair), It has a touch of the supernatural in it. i listened to the audio book while reading along with the audio book and i have to say the narration was top notch! it was done by Wesleigh Siobhan and Emmanuel Ingram, they are a super team.

Lily Mayne

The monstrous series was my bread and butter, gay monster dystopia! loved every single story. I also read Death’s bloom, a retelling of Blue beard down right freaky but so good. The mystery kept me turning the page.

My best books in 2022

I think i might love you

Pen pal

Wash day Dairies

The Dolls House

That time i got drunk and saved a demon

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is ttigdasad.jpg

The house witch Book 1&2

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is the-house-witch-2-1.jpg

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is the-house-witch-1.jpg

The future God of love

A little shock of hate

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is book-4.jpg

Prior Affair

Winters orbit

deaths bloom

high and hopeless

Punderworld

The air that i breathe

Children of the quicksands

House of shells

Thank you for checking out this post! Do come back because i’ll have loads of recommendations and reviews for you to check out this year.

As Always

Nelo- the booked unicorn

June 29, 2022June 29, 2022 by The Booked Unicorn

The Future God of Love By Dilman Dila ( Luna Novella #4)

Summary from GoodReads

The Future God of Love is a romance fantasy, set in an African world where stories are essential for the survival of humanity.

Jamaaro, a struggling storyteller, is the future god of love and must create a story every full moon for the prosperity of his town.

When he falls in love with a strange woman, having known loneliness all his life, he ignores the clues that she might not be what she seems.

Trigger warning: Mention of Suicide and intention to commit suicide

This is my first time reading a book from this author and it is also my first time reading a book set in Uganda. And i loved it!

The story follows Jaamaro a future god of love who has writers block and cannot produce a story for his village. Jaamaro also has love problems…he cannot get and keep a girl to save his life. Because of loneliness, he nearly falls into a deadly trap that could have him and his gift dead! Now he has to go on his own personal journey to discover the nature of his gift and the truth surrounding a mysterious beauty that has him head over heels.

Ah Jaamaro my poor baby, i felt his sadness off the page. When you read it it may seem like he’s whining a lot but if you take your time and i implore you to if you pick up this book, you’ll discover that he is lonely and emotionally underdeveloped. Yet he bares the burden of being the Future God of love, a being who would one day be worshiped by Lovers from all over.

This 85 page story is short but packs a punch. I was intrigued by the new words i had to learn, while reading it you will get a feel of the words used, like Kwaro means God I think, going into the bush-Now you have to google that one yourself but the meaning is interesting. I do think a glossary was maybe necessary but at the same time i am okay with no glossary, i think you’ll appreciate looking up some words yourself and get to learn some.

In this book, the unique magic system is the story. The stories give life to a place and without them, the towns would be dried up and lifeless. So you can imagine the burden Jaamaro had to bear, producing a new story every month. Imagine if they told authors to produce books every month, i’m pretty sure they would be loads of cursing and burn out.

I liked that the stories that had to be created were not just written, they had to be acted out and had to be pictures and music to accompany it. One can image a big bun fire night where this story is told and i am sure it would be fun. You can also image how much this would be a big burden for someone to do EVERY. SINGLE. MONTH…bruh!

When it comes to the world building i think the unique spatial arrangement each community and town had was interesting. Each town was different and the arrangement and architecture reflected this.

This book is easily in my top 10 for this years favorites, and i lovedevery moment of it. I recommend every one to read it. i shall be reading the authors other work A fledgling Abiba which is also available on scribd. This book has a well deserved nomination and i hope you to pick it up and enjoy a different kind of fantasy.

I discovered this book through the African speculative fiction society, it is available on scribd to read for free , on the link to read a copy of it. (this link would give you a free 60 day trial)

Thank you for reading this post i hope liked it , please share and comment!

As always

Nelo- the booked unicorn

The Booked Unicorn

Lets Read!

Featured