One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, by Omar El Akkad: A moving reflection on the strangeness of living concurrently with atrocities in the age of global, 24/7 news, as well as the displacement and grief felt when those atrocities are happening to your community but not to you. It's centered on Israel's war on Palestine, but it also spoke to my feelings as a transgender American these days. While El Akkad's politics are clear, it's not a book about politics per se--thinks of it more as a memoir than a manifesto.
A Marvellous Light and Swordcrossed, by Freya Marske: Marske catapulted to the top of my favorite authors list this year, beginning with A Marvellous Light, which was our January read for Queer Book Club. It's the first book in her Last Binding trilogy, set in an alternate-universe Edwardian England where a secret magic community flourishes (in case you need a new secret English magic society to read about, apropos of nothing). Swordcrossed is a standalone in a historically-inspired fantasy world. Both feature incredible world-building and deeply realized characters. The romances are compelling, but Marske also excels at highlighting the community around her leads.
Bonus for fiber nerds: one of the leads in Swordcrossed manages a wool manufacturing business.Â
The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption (Ana and Din Mysteries), by Robert Jackson Bennett: This series is a Holmes & Watson-style detective duo set in an incredibly detailed and original eco-fantasy world. There's nothing I love more than genre cross-over, and I especially love to see plots common in other settings get the fantasy treatment. Ana (Holmes) and Din (Watson) are a compelling pair; their dynamic is unusual and perfect, and I find it delightful. Mystery and thriller readers will love the tense investigation, and fantasy readers will eat up the world-building.Â
Ex Libris Fibers Ursula Yak Sock Yarn: Ex Libris's Ursula sock base has been a favorite since I started working here two years ago. It's smooth to work with, so warm, and the gray undertone of the yak adds moody depth to the colors. And as an author, I can't get enough of yarn colorways inspired by books! Try Ursula for a pair of socks (or a garland of mini socks!) or a cropped tank top.Â
Doodle Knitting Card Deck: I picked this up recently to add fun details to my ongoing Book + Yarn Club sock project and it's super fun! The designs range from simple to complex, so it's a great way to ease into doing colorwork, and the array of images is broad.
Clover Needle Felting Tools: A lot of fiber crafts take a long time, but with needle felting, things start to take shape pretty fast! I recently got into needle felting onto clothing in lieu of embroidery, which is fun because you're really painting with the fibers. Plus there's stabbing.Â
Junebug & Darlin' Cross Stitch Kits: My husband was never really into fiber crafts, but after I got him to do a Junebug & Darlin' kit, he was so hooked that he decided to cross stitch a whole Christmas stocking. These kits have everything you need, including the hoop, and they're a great entry into needle and fiber craft!Â
