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FanFiction Contest 2025!

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Can you believe this is the FOURTH ANNUAL contest?!?! In that time we have gotten some amazing submissions, and this year was no exception. We loved reading all the contest entries. Judging them, however, was very difficult! After intense deliberations, we arrived at our winners and three honorable mentions. Check them out below.

First, Second, & Third Place

“Gattaca Poster Redraw” by XToukoX on DeviantArt

First Place: “That’s Life” by Sundont Shine

Fandom: Gattaca (1997)

Judges comments, “Creative, passionate, and stylistically resounding”

Author’s description of the original work: “Gattaca is a sci-fi film about a future society driven by eugenics where children are conceived through genetic selection to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents. The film centers on Vincent Freeman, a man who was conceived outside the eugenics program and struggles to overcome genetic discrimination to realize his dream of going into space. Vincent assumes the identity of Jerome Eugene Morrow, an artificially-conceived man with near-perfect genetics, in order to make his way up the ranks.”

Authors description of their fanfiction: “What if perfection was determined by musical ability instead of genetics? A look into an alternate modern universe where young Jerome Morrow is a prodigious violinist, this fanfiction details how he grapples with the weight of familial expectations, relentless self-discipline, and his burning desire to be recognized for his own artistry beyond labels of perfection or legacy.”

”Harry James Potter” (cropped) by Reilly Brown on Wikimedia Commons

Second Place:  “Untitled Harry Potter” by Anonymous

Fandom: Harry Potter

Judges comments, “Brought back childhood memories of the first time one of us read Harry Potter”

Author’s description of the original work: “Boy learns that he is part of a magical world and that he needs to defeat big bad evil overlord. Boy proceeds to do just that, and everybody loves him basically.”

Authors description of the their fanfiction:  “UHHH so said boy grew older and got mad at the world so he did what any reasonable person would do and goes to a painting of his dead, very senile mentor and asks for advice. Neat little time travel deus ex machina occurs, so he gets sent back to a few decades prior and meets with younger, slightly less evil big bad overlord. I only wrote the first four chapters out of 22 but I have the plot for the entire story written out. I did not include it because my outline notes are slightly rambling.”

Peppa Pig by Kidpaddleetcie on DeviantArt

Third Place:  “Piggy: The Novel (Chapter One)“ by Anonymous

Fandom: Roblox Piggy

Judges comments, “The beginning of what will surely be a most intriguing story!“

Author’s description of the original work: “Roblox Piggy is the story of an alternate world of Peppa pig where a zombie virus is affecting everyone— specifically, this story-based game exploded and became the #1 played game on Roblox (12 billion+ visits), but no one has ever written anything about it: surrounding the mysteries, and lore.”

Author’s description of their fanfiction: “My fanfiction transforms Chapter 1, “The House,” from the game into a detailed, immersive written narrative. Its the POV of a police officer investigating the Piggy residence, where he encounters Penny (aka Peppa), who has turned into a zombie. I reimagine a player’s experience, capturing the tension, puzzles, and escape mechanics of the game. I try to word-ize the atmosphere and bring it to life, which can help us players connect more deeply to the game (and reminisce about all the fun we had trying to figure our the lore!). Definitely going to continue till Chapter 12 and the next 12 Chapters in Book 2 and convert all of those into actual chapters and books!”

Honorable Mentions

Honorable Mention for Outstanding Achievement in Absurdity

“Private Conscriptovich” by Anonymous

Fandom: “How Corruption Destroys Armies – Theft, Graft, and Russian failure in Ukraine” – Video by Youtuber and former defense analyst Perun on Youtube

Honorable Mention for Humor and Creativity

“The Ingenious Applicant Don Quixote of r/A2C” by Jason, Pranav, Varun, Rohan

Fandom: Don Quixote, r/ApplyingToCollege

Honorable Mention for Stylistic Achievement

“The Bus” by felon aquaman

Fandom: Welcome to Night Vale, The Magic School Bus

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The Meursault Investigation By Kamel Daoud (Review By Jason S. ’25)

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The Meursault InvestigationThe Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“The Meursault Investigation takes place in the same world as Albert Camus’s The Stranger, and tells those events from the perspective of the younger brother of the unnamed Arab murdered by Meursault, who published The Stranger upon his release from prison. In its frame story, the reader takes the role of a voiceless college student who interviews Harun, the brother of Meursault’s “unnamed Arab.” The novel gives the “unnamed Arab” his name — Musa — and provides a unique anticolonial Algerian viewpoint on the philosophical side of Camus’s work through the jaded, unreliable narrator’s picaresque experiences as a fence-sitter during the Algerian Revolution.

The Meursault Investigation is a novel I enjoyed much more in concept than execution. My main issue with it was that its attempts to juxtapose Meursault and Harun were too heavy-handed, with Harun’s narrative having blatant parallels to nearly every major scene in Camus’s novel (with varying levels of success). This became especially noticeable pacing-wise in the second half of the book, into which most of Harun’s plot is crammed; I nearly rolled my eyes when I realized that Meriem, Harun’s love interest, was meant to be a foil to Marie Cardona. It was almost too obvious.

Despite this gripe, the book held my attention throughout its relatively short 191 page duration. Two interesting insights into The Stranger struck me in particular: first, regarding the absurdity of ‘just’ violence and the ethics of liberatory war in Harun’s interrogation; and second, a passage in which Harun praises The Stranger despite his hatred of Meursault because its economy of language allowed it to convey the last words of a person close to death. I also greatly enjoyed the attention devoted to Harun and Musa’s mother, who was a deeply complex character and a highlight in a way her counterpart in The Stranger was not.

If you haven’t read it already, I recommend considering this book after you’ve read The Stranger (perhaps in your first semester of AP Literature), just because it’s refreshing to read such a different take on it. Though it has problems, it’s a thought-provoking supplement that relevantly excoriates the blind spots of Camus’s contribution to the Western canon.”

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Misery By Stephen King (Review By Lana T. ’27)

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MiseryMisery by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stephen King undoubtedly has one of the best resumes of any author, with works like The Shining, Carrie, and The Shawshank Redemption standing out as his best works. However, recently I came across one of his vastly underrated books, Misery. It tells the story of an author, Paul Sheldon, and one of his extremely devoted fans, Annie Wilkes, who saves him from a car crash. Slowly, Annie’s intentions seem less like those of a concerned fan who nursed him back to health out of the goodness of her heart, and more like an obsessive, temperamental monster who would rather break her toys than share them. Annie’s behavior masterfully escalates, and the reader is left in horror of what she will do next, or if Paul can make it out of her house alive. The book is a masterclass in suspense, with the scenes that shine being the moments where Paul sneaks around the house, doing his best not to make any noise. The entire time, the reader is on the edge of their seat, just waiting for Annie to jump out from behind a corner and for Paul’s luck to run out.
Misery masterfully keeps the reader in suspense for most of the story, and Annie’s cruel behavior results in one of the most vindicating endings of any novel I’ve read. My only true problem with the book is it sometimes becomes a story within a story, with Paul’s novel that he’s being forced to write taking up chapters. I found this story much less compelling than the one that took place in the prison of Annie’s house. These chapters, while a nice break from the tension in the house, sometimes broke my engagement with the book, especially when they went on for an exceedingly long time. However, Stephen King makes these chapters occasionally worth it with the small textual details that remind us of the reality this book is being written in. As Paul’s typewriter slowly loses letters, the chapters of the book are left with more and more spaces, reminding us of how much time has passed.
Annie Wilkes is one of the most terrifying villains in literature, with her mood swings and violent nature keeping me glued to my seat. As the reader, we spend all our time with Paul, and feel his helplessness in moments where Annie gets mad, as he is unable to do anything about it. Oftentimes gory and uncouth, the book does a brilliant job of showing us how indomitable Annie is, and the miracle it would take for Paul to make it out. The characters are what make this book shine, and it’s no wonder Kathy Bates won an Oscar for her portrayal of Annie in the movie. Misery might be my favorite Stephen King novel, as no work of his has left me so nervous for the fate of the protagonist, or so joyous at the fall of the villain.

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The Wings By Yi Sang (Review By Jason S. ’25)

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The WingsThe Wings by Yi Sang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Want to see a Korean take on bite-sized psychologically gripping novellas like The Stranger and The Metamorphosis? Look no further than The Wings, by the early 20th century modernist Yi Sang.

These comparisons are of course not made to suggest that Yi is derivative in any way. Rather, it is a testament to the sheer amount of pain and alienation Yi can convey in as little as 40 pages. The story follows an unnamed 26 year-old narrator who is completely ignorant of human society. Manipulated by his wife Yeonsim, he languishes in the darkness of his room and accepts the vast inequality between his and Yeonsim’s lifestyle. Nevertheless, he wonders what her occupation is, and his attempt to learn more about her and humanity has tragic consequences.

While reading through the novella, I was struck by the childlike naïveté with which our narrator approaches the world. For instance, he concludes from his observations that the reason people exchange coins is that there is some pleasure inherent to bartering, and becomes immensely happy just from giving Yeonsim some coins. This simplicity makes his eventual loss of innocence even more crushing as we attempt to piece together Yeonsim’s circumstances.

I also found it incredibly interesting to read The Wings in the context of Yi’s life. Without giving too much away, The Wings is a semi-autobiographical piece of literature and mirrors Yi’s own relationship with his wife, who had an occupation he was deeply ashamed of. In addition, Yeonsim’s treatment of the narrator parallels the colonial Japanese oppression of the Korean identity, and Yeonsim’s occupation ends up being incredibly relevant to Japanese abuses of power during Yi’s lifetime.

The Wings manages to pack raw emotion and several layers of analysis into 40 pages. It’s no wonder many Korean high school curricula teach it to this day. I highly recommend it.

If you enjoyed The Wings, I’d highly suggest checking out Osamu Dazai’s novel No Longer Human, which I’ve reviewed on the Book Blog! It is similarly a bite-sized semi-autobiography, written by an Asian author in the proximate context of Japanese imperialism, and touches on themes of an alienated individual attempting to understand society.

As previously alluded to, The Stranger by Albert Camus and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka are also nice bite-sized novellas about people alienated for either their psychology or physical form. Bonus points to The Stranger to also having a colonial context.

And lastly, if you enjoy experiencing narratives through microtransaction-light video games, I suggest looking into Limbus Company. It’s a Korean-developed gacha RPG available for free on Steam and mobile with characters from literature such as Meursault (The Stranger), Gregor Samsa (The Metamorphosis), Yi Sang himself, and more. Surprisingly deep story, and it’s always fun to watch Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights beat up Don Quixote.

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My Fault By Mercedes Ron (Review By Kristiyan K. ’27)

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My Fault (Culpable, #1)My Fault by Mercedes Ron
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

For the record, I hate this book. I only read it because I heard the Netflix movie was good. My Fault by Mercedes Ron is a typical Wattpad story (I haven’t read any, but I’ve heard a lot about them). It’s about an innocent girl with a dark past who meets a guy who also has a dark past, and they fall in love. In this case, the girl, Noah, is forced to move in with her rich stepfather in California and his handsome son, Nick. You know, the classic ‘stepsibling romance’ trope that’s not creepy at all.
First of all, the writing was so bland and lifeless, it was like listening to the Google translate lady read a dictionary. The sentences were dry and repetitive, and the plot was filled with unnecessary fluff. It was as if the author was paid by the word, and they were determined to reach their quota no matter what. The dialogue was so cringeworthy, my face muscles twisted into a million unnatural positions. It reminded me a lot of Anna Todd’s After series, which is a whole other can of worms. In other words, the writing was so bad, it was almost comical. I found myself laughing at the absurdity of it all. Perhaps the poor quality of writing was caused by the fact that the book was originally written in Spanish, and we can blame the translators, but I highly doubt it because the writing itself was definitely not the only tragedy in My Fault.
If the writing didn’t make you want to burn the book, the characters and plot line will definitely do the trick. Noah is basically another Bella Swan, but with a bit more attitude. She’s so superficial and boring, I wanted to DNF the book a million times. Noah’s inner monologue is shallow and self-absorbed, and it’s almost painful to read. She’s constantly obsessing over her appearance, and she has no real depth of character. She exists solely to be the love interest. The only interesting thing about her is her tragic past, which was the only part of the book that made me feel anything other than complete and utter cringe. Her father was abusive, and she’s still dealing with the trauma of that experience. However, even her past is presented in a superficial way. We don’t really get to see how her past has affected her as a person. She’s just a victim who needs to be saved by the handsome hero.
Nick, on the other hand, is your typical bad boy. He’s a gang leader, he parties a lot, and he has a double life. He also has issues with his mom, but we don’t even get to see her! The thing that really grossed me out about him was his internal dialogue. He treats women like objects, and it’s not just in a casual manner. It’s a deep-seated belief that he holds about women. He sees them as possessions, as things to be used and discarded. It’s not just his actions that are problematic, but also his thoughts and attitudes. What threw me off the most was that his actions with Noah are the opposite of that – he is caring and a real gentleman.
The main focus of the book is the romance between Nick and Noah, which is about as healthy as a potato chip. He’s a walking disaster, and she’s the innocent new girl who somehow falls for him. They’re both attracted to each other, but their relationship is a toxic mess. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion, except the cars are made of glass and filled with explosives. Nick and Noah are constantly hurting each other, and it is so frustrating to watch. It’s like they’re playing a game of “I want you, but I can’t have you” and they’re both losing. It’s not romantic, it’s just headache-inducing. The relationship is a rollercoaster of emotions, and it’s exhausting to follow. One moment, they’re happy and in love. The next moment, they’re arguing and fighting. It’s a never-ending cycle of ups and downs, and it takes a toll on both of them. Noah is constantly trying to fix Nick, but she can’t. He’s too far gone. And Nick is constantly trying to control Noah, but she’s not going to let him. They’re both fighting for their own independence, but they’re also fighting for each other. It’s a complex and messy relationship, and it’s not easy to understand. But one thing is clear: it’s not healthy. The relationship is toxic and destructive, and it’s going to end badly. If you’re looking for a healthy and uplifting romance, this is not the book for you.
Oh, and also let’s not forget the five-year age gap (22 and 17) and the fact that they’re stepsiblings. It’s like something out of a soap opera. I mean, who thought this was a good idea? It’s just creepy. The romance isn’t very spicy, but it’s passionate. The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed poorly, but the tension between them is enough to make you say ‘Dang.’ The book had one plot twist, which was not interesting at all. When it finally got to that point, it was like figuring out that water is wet.
There was one mildly interesting side character, Jenna, but she wasn’t that special. The book made me chuckle a total of three times, and two of those times were because of Jenna. Ultimately, do not read this book. It’s a waste of time. If you want to read about a toxic and questionable relationship, just read the After series. My Fault felt like reading fanfiction written by a 13-year-old. I heard that the second book gets better, but I’m not putting myself through torture just to see where Nick and Noah end up – in the trash can where I would have put my copy of the book if it was not a digital one. If you want to read an actually interesting romance, I would recommend reading Lightlark by Alex Aster or Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
P.S. Allegedly, Noah gets pregnant in the second book (had to throw that out there)… also the second (and third) movies are coming out soon…

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Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Review By Nikita J. ’28)

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Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros masterfully blends intense action with rich, immersive imagery that draws readers into a world brimming with magic and danger. The story follows Violet Sorrengail, a determined protagonist who must navigate the treacherous landscape of a military academy where survival is anything but guaranteed. Yarros’s writing style shines through her vivid descriptions, painting scenes that feel both alive and palpable.
Moreover, the intricate relationships and rivalries among the characters add depth to the narrative, making Violet’s journey both compelling and relatable. Yarros deftly balances moments of tension with emotional introspection, as in one of my favorite quotes: “Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the determination to fight despite it.” This blend of action, character development, and lush imagery ensures that Fourth Wing is not just a tale of dragons and magic, but a powerful exploration of resilience and strength. It’s a captivating read that will resonate with anyone who appreciates strong, character-driven fantasy.
I give this book a four out of five and recommend it to fantasy lovers!

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A Court Of Thorns And Roses (Review By Kristiyan K. ’27)

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A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Prepare to be enchanted. Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses is more than just a book. It’s a lifestyle, a religion. A whirlwind of passion, danger, and unforgettable characters, this novel will leave your hands shaking, your heart pounding, and your mind reeling. You may think this is yet another corny romantasy book. Trust me, it’s not. It’s THE romantasy book.

From the moment Feyre, a fierce and independent young woman, is dragged into the magical faerie realm of Prythian, you’ll be hooked. As she navigates the dangerous politics and treacherous alliances of Prythian, Feyre must confront her own fears and desires while fighting for her freedom. Her journey is a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with heart-wrenching trials, exhilarating adventures, and a forbidden love story or two that will fill up your soul.

The writing is nothing short of exquisite. Maas paints a world so lyrical and evocative, you’ll feel like you’re right there, amidst the towering trees or the glittering halls of the Spring and Night Courts. The characters are complex, flawed, and utterly captivating. Feyre is a heroine you’ll root for, her strength and resilience shining through even in the darkest of times. The fantasy elements and world-building are equally impressive. Maas creates a rich and detailed world that is filled with fascinating creatures, ancient lore, and dangerous secrets. The action elements and fighting sequences are well-developed and add depth to the story, providing an interesting and fast-paced narrative. To truly immerse yourself within this magical world, I recommend reading the book with a fantasy book playlist. The music will enhance the experience and help you visualize the scenes even more vividly (Velaris has several songs inspired by it…).

But let’s talk about the real magic of this book: the romance. Oh, my goodness, the romance! It’s spicy, it’s passionate, and it’s everything. The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed to perfection, and the tension between Feyre and Tamlin will have you fanning yourself and muttering, “Oh la la.” And don’t even get me started on the plot twists (especially in the second book). These plot twists are canon events, and as such I cannot interfere… even though there is so much I want to write about….

Beyond the romance, the fantasy elements and side character arcs are equally amazing. The faerie politics are fascinating, and the magical creatures are both enchanting and terrifying. And let’s not forget about the lovable and hilarious side characters, like Rhysand, who’s a total dreamboat, and Cassian, who’s just… Cassian. You’ll know what I mean. Anyways, what I was getting at is that once you finish reading ACOTAR you’ll feel like a part of a big and happy family.

In conclusion, A Court of Thorns and Roses is an absolute must-read for any fan of fantasy, romance, or both, or neither. It’s a spicy, plot-twisting adventure that will leave you breathless. So grab your favorite beverage (be careful near the book), get comfy, and prepare to be enchanted. Just a warning: once you finish this book, you might find yourself experiencing a severe case of post-ACOTAR-depression; the next ten books you read will be dry as bricks. Trust me though, it’s totally worth it. This book/series is five stars for a reason!

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Can’t Miss Graphic novels – Memoir Edition (By Ms. Pelman)

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These are all memoirs told in comic format that I highly recommend. The beauty of reading anything in comic format is that it packs a punch in a short amount of time. You can read them quickly, but with no less impact than a prose book. Below are books that are sure to entertain: by turns they will move you, make you laugh, teach you something, induce fury, make you think and on and on… I marvel at the ability to create works like these. I love scanning the illustrations to soak in every detail. The best cartoonists never disappoint on this front. 

–Ms. Pelman

A Fire Story by Brian Fies

Early in the morning on Monday, October 9, 2017, wildfires burned through Northern California, resulting in 44 fatalities. In addition, 6,200 homes and 8,900 structures were destroyed. Author Brian Fies’s firsthand account of this tragic event is an honest, unflinching depiction of his personal experiences, including losing his house and every possession he and his wife had that didn’t fit into the back of their car. 

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

A graphic novel memoir about a Korean-born, non-English-speaking girl who is abruptly transplanted from Seoul to Huntsville, Alabama, and struggles with extreme culture shock and isolation, until she discovers her passion for comic arts.

Blankets by Craig Thompson

Under an engulfing blanket of snow, Craig and Raina fall in love at winter church camp, revealing to one another their struggles with faith and their dreams of escape. Over time though, their personal demons resurface and their relationship falls apart. It’s a universal story, and Thompson’s vibrant brushstrokes and unique page designs make the familiar heartbreaking all over again.

Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder 

Tyler Feder had just white-knuckled her way through her first year of college when her super-cool mom was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Now, with a decade of grief and nervous laughter under her belt, Feder shares the story of that gut-wrenching, heart-pounding, extremely awkward time in her life—from her mom’s first oncology appointment to her funeral through the beginning of facing reality as a motherless daughter. She shares the sting of loss that never goes away, the uncomfortable post-death firsts, and the deep-down, hard-to-talk-about feelings of the grieving process.

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton 

After university, Beaton heads out west to take advantage of Alberta’s oil rush, part of the long tradition of East Coasters who seek gainful employment elsewhere when they can’t find it in the homeland they love so much. With the singular goal of paying off her student loans, what the journey will actually cost Beaton will be far more than she anticipates. 

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang 

Gene understands stories—comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills. And the hero always wins.

But Gene doesn’t get sports. As a kid, his friends called him “Stick” and every basketball game he played ended in pain. He lost interest in basketball long ago, but at the high school where he now teaches, it’s all anyone can talk about. The men’s varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that’s been decades in the making. Each victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: the California State Championships.

Once Gene gets to know these young all-stars, he realizes that their story is just as thrilling as anything he’s seen on a comic book page. He knows he has to follow this epic to its end. What he doesn’t know yet is that this season is not only going to change the Dragons’s lives, but his own life as well.

Flamer by Mike Curato

Award-winning author and artist Mike Curato draws on his own experiences in Flamer, his debut graphic novel, telling a difficult story with humor, compassion, and love.

I know I’m not gay. Gay boys like other boys. I hate boys. They’re mean, and scary, and they’re always destroying something or saying something dumb or both.

I hate that word. Gay. It makes me feel . . . unsafe.

It’s the summer between middle school and high school, and Aiden Navarro is away at camp. Everyone’s going through changes—but for Aiden, the stakes feel higher. As he navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and spends time with Elias (a boy he can’t stop thinking about), he finds himself on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.

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The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (Review by Urvi S. ’27)

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The MetamorphosisThe Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What would you do if you woke up in the shell of a beetle? Maybe you would panic, immediately call for help, and doom yourself to a short-lived life when you are crushed as soon as your transformation is revealed. Maybe you would remain calm, try to survive, scuttle out into the world, and live the rest of your life as a bug, surviving by the skin of your teeth. In Kafka’s novella The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa is placed in this uncomfortable dilemma. In part due to the engaging foreword by David Cronenberg (a prominent movie director whose focus is, fittingly, body horror) and the exceptional new translation by Susan Bernofsky, Kafka’s gruesome story comes to life.

While often considered just another ‘boring’ classic, this novella is engagingly tragic. One morning, Gregor Samsa wakes up in a beetle body. What does he do? Nothing. However, in his frankly unbothered reaction, there is a deep-rooted commentary on the harsh monotony of life, the need to maintain a constant routine throughout tragic events, and the obligation to maintain a constant image and projection of normalcy in fear of alienation and disregard. Even with this underlying theme, Kafka and Bernofsky retain the ironic humor that is a trademark of Kafka’s works. Interwoven within the sorrowful tragedy is an ironic sense of acceptance.

In Gregor’s search for acceptance, and in his futile attempts to communicate and reveal his true nature, he further separates himself from “normal” people. Once severed from a human appearance, he cannot renew the relationships that he lost. Now that he is different from the others, attempts to reach out are seen as attempts to harm, providing more material for other people to convince themselves that they are the ones in the right and that Samsa has been replaced with a monster.

Translations, as a whole, are quite hit-or-miss. When translating a work from another language, one often obscures the style and clarity of the original work. In this translation, however, the eccentric style of Kafka still shines through. Bernofsky does an outstanding job of conveying the obscure, and sometimes vague, descriptions and metaphors. Although some concepts are hard to preserve, her afterword, entitled “The Death of a Salesman”, explains the historical context and some of the more difficult ideas exceptionally well.

Overall, I really enjoyed the concept and writing style of this novella. For such an odd concept, Kafka manages to write a humorous and engaging piece of literature. The wording and prose are especially striking. In the confluence of Kafka and Bernofsky, a beautiful piece of writing emerges. I would highly recommend this piece to anybody looking for a work that is humorous yet saddening at the same time. —Review by Urvi S. ‘27

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Lightlark By Alex Aster (Review By Kristiyan K. ’27)

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Lightlark (Lightlark, #1)Lightlark by Alex Aster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ugh, Lightlark. My go-to birthday present to all my book besties. Let’s talk about it. The book’s premise immediately drew me in with its concept of an island that reappears once every hundred years, setting the stage for a dangerous game of deceit and conflict among century-old rulers striving to break their kingdoms’ curses. Picture the intensity of the Hunger Games intertwined with fantasy, a cute and steamy romance, magical powers, hidden agendas, alliances, and betrayals. The world-building and lore were very strong, painting a vivid backdrop for the story.

However, I must admit that the writing style left something to be desired. While some parts were super scream-into-a-pillow good, the overall flow felt somewhat stiff and forced at certain points. Thankfully, the quality of the prose noticeably improves later, in the sequel.

But don’t let the writing throw you off! The plot twists? Oh my gosh, I was NOT expecting those. They hit out of nowhere, and they hit HARD. I had to pause and reread parts because I was so shook. This book wins the gold for best plot twists against every other book I’ve read. Sorry, Agatha Christie!

And the characters? They were a whole rollercoaster of emotions. I was rooting for one guy, then the other, then both, then neither? This was a love triangle done right! This book puts a huge focus on the “romance” in romantasy, if you’re into that kind of thing, and let me tell you, the enemies-to-lovers and friends-to-lovers tropes were done right.

I usually never read books in one sitting, but for this one I did. I stayed up way too late reading this book. I’m talking past 1 a.m. late. I was so invested in these characters and what was going to happen next. The ending? Don’t even get me started. I’m still mad about it, and I doubt I’ll ever get over it.

In conclusion, Lightlark is an exhilarating rollercoaster of a read. It’s packed with action, drama, and romance, culminating in a cliffhanger that will leave you begging for the next book. However, I must warn you that the writing style in the first book may come across as cringey at times. Despite that, I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a read – just make sure to have Nightbane (the sequel) ready to satisfy your craving for more. Be prepared to have your heart thoroughly tugged and twisted! —Review by Kristiyan K. ’27

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