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10 years ago eight-year-old royal page Hanalei and Queen Oliana of Tamarind ingested poison and fell into a stasis. It was said that a dragonfruit (the egg of a sea dragon) has the power to undue a person's greatest sorrow - not without a price of course. After the poisoning three eggs were secured, but two were broken. The third egg was stolen by Hanalei's father, who used it to wake his daughter then escape into the night, leaving the queen. 

When I first ran across Dungeons and Drama , I was super excited to sit down and read it. A romance about D&D, a game store, musical theater, AND the cover is colorful enough to grab your eye? [Plus it's part of a series] Heck yeah, right?

Evan is an Insta-influencer with a good eye for romance—particularly, with setting up couples. When shy Natalia transfers to his high school and joins the Gay Straight Alliance that he runs, Evan can tell that she needs a bit of help in the love department. With Natalia under his wing, Evan attempts to set her up with multiple people, despite his best friend, Davi, warning against it. And while Evan focuses on Natalia’s love life, he might be missing out on a romance of his own and pushing his own feelings to the side... 

Tiwa and Said have despised each other for years - since Said went off to his fancy boarding school and became too good for their town and her, and least that's how Tiwa tells it. But before that, they were best friends and with their families both being part of the tight knit Muslim community in their town they had spent countless events and holidays together. This year Said is back early from boarding school because his (and Tiwa's) favorite librarian, Ms. Barnes, has passed away. This gets him in town early enough to celebrate Eid, which Tiwa's family is hosting this year.

Imagine this, if you will, you and thirteen other contestants have been chosen to take part in a week-long game of 'Hide and Seek' in an abandoned amusement park ala Mr. Beast-style. Each day there are two participants that are taken out, the game is active from Dawn until Dusk, and every night you sleep alongside your fellow contestants forging alliances and creating rivalries. The sole winner earns $50,000, AND the game might even become televised so you have the potential to be an internet celeb just by playing. 

For anyone looking for a mix of 'We need to defeat the evil overlord to free our world' and 'I was bored so I decided to join up with the hero and save the world', look no further!

I really enjoyed The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook by ConcernedApe!

Oh look, another fantasy, but with some romance! Girl, Serpent, Thorn (2020) by Melissa Bashardoust is a dramatic, original fairytale of a princess cursed with a poisonous touch, and locked away in a royal palace. There's a lot to this once you get passed the initial exposition, and it's well worth it.

Written by Justin W, Tech Center

Magdalena Herrera has a secret. 

I really enjoyed reading this Brothers Grimm inspired story and read it in two sittings. The Thirteenth Child (2024) by Erin A. Craig is a dark take on a fairy tale about Hazel, a girl born a thirteenth child.  She is chosen to be adopted by the Dreaded End -the god of Death, and he gifts her the ability to cure sickness.

In 1500s Joseon (modern day Korea), Iseul and her sister are living under a brutal tyrant, King Yeonsan. The king has murdered all those he considers political enemies, which included their parents. The King commandeers land from his people and kidnaps young girls across the country. When Iseul's sister becomes one of the kidnapped girls, Iseul embarks on a dangerous journey, determined to bring her home. She believes the key to getting her sister back is to solve a series of murders the King has offered a great reward for.

The Scarlet Letter is a difficult read for many audiences with its vague symbolism that takes a deep dive to understand.