Realms Review: 'Book of a Thousand Days'

What's more terrifying than death? Being locked away in a tower for seven years. Dashti, a maid to Lady Saren, is locked away with her mistress in a tower after Lady Saren refuses to marry a man she despises. Dashti is the protagonist in Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, which is written in the form of a journal entry. Food begins to run low and they both suffer from extreme heat and cold. Lady Saren's two suitors come to them from time to time: one who is welcome and brings hope, and one who is downright terrifying.
          In the days to come, they will need to figure out why the guards of Lady Saren's kingdom have stopped coming, how they can escape, and if the hopeful suitor will help them. Hale's beautiful writing weaves this re-told fairy tale on the Asian Steppes with intrigue, suspense, love, and surprise. There is murder, distrust, disguise, and hope, but who can Dashti and Lady Saren trust?
          At Realms, we give this story five out of five stars for its ability to take an old story and transform it into something original, its strong protagonist (and characters, overall), lovely world-building, and the thrills of the built-up suspense. You will not be able to put it down. Your opinions of characters will change in between the beginning and the end. You will want Dashti to have her happy ending, but will she obtain it? Read the highly recommended Book of a Thousand Days by master storyteller Shannon Hale to find out.

Diversity in Young Adult Fantasy

#WeNeedDiverseBooks Campaign

We love Young Adult Fantasy. That’s a given, but that’s not to say that the genre is sometimes lacking. YA Fantasy is still predominantly white, and though our industry is slowly trying include more books with diverse characters (different races, sexuality, etc.), it’s going, well, slow. With that in mind, we wanted to create this list of YA Fantasy books that feature more than your typical straight, white protagonist.

Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block: A young, bisexual girl named Pen must survive post-apocalyptic California and find her family with the help of three friends.

Huntress by Malinda Lo

Huntress by Malinda Lo: Two teenage girls, a sage and a fighter, travel to the city, home of the Fairy Queen, to save their land. Along the way, they fight obstacles and develop feelings for each other.

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin: This books is pitched as The Bourne Identity meets Divergent. The main character, who is half Latina, wakes up in a prisonlike hospital that’s tried to rip her memories away, but they’re returning to her.

The Fire Wish by Amber Lough: A jinni and a human trade lives in this epic fantasy set in the Middle East. They each have to play the part of the other to avoid being killed by their enemies.

The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco: This book centers on Okiku, a centuries-old ghost bent on killing murderers as a way to avenge her own death. Based on a Japanese ghost story, this tale grows complicated as the main character encounters a demon that’s latched onto a boy.

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale: In this masterful fantasy set in the Asian steppes, Dashti, a maid, is locked away in a tower with her mistress, Lady Saren, when her mistress refuses to marry. As supplies run low, and an outside force threatens them, the two must make drastic decisions.

Witch Eyes
by Scott Tracey

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey: Braden has a witch eye that lets him unveil secrets and unravel spells, but his gift soon becomes a curse when he realizes he may have to kill the boy he loves.

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, and Maureen Johnson: Follow the daunting and witty adventures of Magnus Bane, a bisexual warlock from Indonesia with class, style, and a sharp mind.

The Culling by Steven dos Santos: Lucian Spark must compete in a violent military training competition, imposed on him by a totalitarian government. If he fails, they will kill his only living family member, his four-year-old brother, but as Lucian falls in love with Digory, one of the contestants, he realizes love is the weapon used against him.

If you know any good diverse YA Fantasy reads, comment below! This is just a list we’ve made from a quick online search and from books we’ve read. If the #WeNeedDiverseBooks Campaign interests you, visit their website. 

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