Dragonfire Books

Hi Fam! Just a quick rundown of this week's happenings. This includes Rowell & Riordan news, a TBR rundown, & bookshelf reorganization. Current new reads: Jennifer Lynn Barnes's Inheritance Games and Holly Black's The Cruel Prince. Current reread which is worth a million rereads: Madeline Miller's Song of Achilles.

Soooo. . .most of this latte is tepid/weird/fine. The super tasty whipped cream on top, though, includes Mark Oshiro's You Only Live Once, David Bravo; Mark Oshiro's Anger is a Gift; Will Taylor's The Language of Seabirds; Adib Khorram's Darius the Great duology; and of course, the long-awaited Adam Silvera prequel, The First to Die at the End.

Join Allegra & Aurora for a review of Percy Jackson: The Musical, which they recently saw performed by a youth theater company down the road! Also, Allegra gives a tepid review of Spin with Me by Amy Polonsky; continues to immerse herself in the Osemanverse; and is revisiting Laura Amy Schlitz's luminous Amber and Clay. Aurora is getting ready to read C.S. Lewis's Narnia books and Madeleine L'Engle's sequel to a Wrinkle in Time, which she recently loved, and gives high marks to Marjorie Liu and Teny Issakhanian's debut Wingbearer.

HAPPY (belated) PRIDE MONTH! Allegra celebrates by sharing her thoughts on all of Alice Oseman's novels, graphic novels, and of course the Netflix series Heartstopper. Other books mentioned include The Rest of Us Just Live Here and More Than This by Patrick Ness; Far From the Tree by Robin Benway; A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson; and One Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus. And because it all comes back to Uncle Rick, Allegra also talks about Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and Daniel Older's recent Ballad & Dagger. Oh, and she and her mom are incapable of EVER having a conversation that doesn't reference Benjamin Alire Saenz's Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe or Rainbow Rowell's Simon Snow trilogy.

Pack a snack for a rundown of what Allegra's been reading this month, along with thoughts about the upcoming Percy Jackson TV series! Books include Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages by Howard Bloom; Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes; Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk; Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk; Life of Pi by Yann Martel; The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick; The Crossover by Kwame Alexander; The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz; What if it's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera; Here's to Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera; Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green; Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality by Roshani Chokshi; Star-Touched Stories by Roshani Chokshi; and There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar.

Pack a snack for a rundown of what's on Allegra's bookshelf for Spring 2022, along with thoughts about the upcoming Percy Jackson TV series! Books include Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages by Howard Bloom; Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes; Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk; Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk; Life of Pi by Yann Martel; The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick; The Crossover by Kwame Alexander; The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz; What if it's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera; Here's to Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera; Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green; Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality by Roshani Chokshi; Star-Touched Stories by Roshani Chokshi; There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar.

Welcome back, bookworms! Allegra makes up for lost time by sharing quick thoughts on a bunch of different books she's been into lately. They include The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner; The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow by Emma Steinkellner; New Kid by Jerry Craft; Class Act by Jerry Craft; Stargazing by Jen Wang; The Odyssey adapted by Gareth Hinds; Romeo & Juliet adapted by Gareth Hinds; Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version by Philip Pullman; The Insiders by Mark Oshiro; Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro; The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon; Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon; The League of Seven by Alan Gratz; Allies by Alan Gratz; The Simon Snow Trilogy (Carry On, Wayward Son, and Any Way the Wind Blows) by Rainbow Rowell; Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell; The Fault in Our Stars by John Green; They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera; Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz; and Aristotle & Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz.

Kittypets, warriors and two-legs are all invited to this chat with Aurora (Allegra's younger sis) about Erin Hunter's "Warriors" books. Check them out on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books?keywords=warriors+erin+hunter

OK, it's time to talk about the Mysterious Benedict Society, on the page and on the small screen. No narcoleptic episodes allowed during this. . .um. .episode! Find the books on Bookshop at https://bookshop.org/books/the-mysterious-benedict-society/9780316003957 And here's the show on Disney+: https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-mysterious-benedict-society/5HfolGRtUHpv

PODCAST TAKEOVER! Gus takes over the podcast to talk about a Wings of Fire graphic novel. Find Tui T. Sutherland's original and graphic novels at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books?keywords=wings+of+fire

Happy New Year! Allegra rings in 2022 with a reading of her favorite short story from the new Riordanverse collection. Find it on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/the-cursed-carnival-and-other-calamities-new-stories-about-mythic-heroes-9781432891602/9781368070836

Back to the Riordanverse! This time, it's a chat about the long-awaited "Daughter of the Deep." Find it at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/daughter-of-the-deep-9781368077927/9781368077927

Join Allegra for a chat about R.J. Palacio's new book, "Pony." Find the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/pony-9780553508123/9780553508116

Consider this your invitation to join AAA - the Allegra/Artemis Alliance! Find all of the Artemis Fowl books at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books?keywords=artemis+fowl

Today's episode is Eragon, book one of the Inheritance Cycle. It is a medieval fantasy following Dragon Rider Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, as they train and quest to defeat Galbatorix, the tyrant king of their country. Find the series on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/eragon-book-i-9780375826696/9780375826696

Today's chat is about Sayatani Dasgupta's fantastic Kiranmala series, which just finished (started?) with a fourth volume - a prequel. Find all four books on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books?keywords=Sayantani+Dasgupta

Okay Fam - get ready for the most COLOSSAL episode yet! With special guest Papa, Allegra takes on Peter Lerangis's "The Colossus Rises," the first in the Seven Wonders series. And for the record, Allegra's Papou has a great sense of humor. ;) Find the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/the-colossus-rises-9780062070418/9780062070418 For a good explanation of BCE vs BC, check out the first Magnus Chase book!!

Today's book is the often heartbreaking but always beautiful Amber & Clay, by Laura Amy Schlitz. Set in Ancient Greece, the the story follows two kids tied together by the gods. However, when they meet one of them is a ghost, struck down by Zeus's lightning and cursed to stay in the world of the living. BTW, the logo is new but the podcast has not changed! Find Amber & Clay on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/amber-and-clay/9781536201222

In this 20th episode special, Allegra interviews her sister Aurora about the Percy Jackson books. For all things Riordan: https://www.readriordan.com/

Today we review Race to the Sun, a Rick Riordan Presents book about Navajo mythology! Find the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/race-to-the-sun/9781368024662

Allegra reviews The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim - the newest Rick Riordan Presents book, featuring Korean mythology! Read more about the book on the Riordan website: https://www.readriordan.com/book/the-last-fallen-star/ Find the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/the-last-fallen-star-a-gifted-clans-novel/9781368059633

10 year old Allegra reviews Aru Shah and the City of Gold, the long-awaited fourth book in the Pandava quartet. In this epic series so far, Aru and her friends have slowed down the Sleeper, found the soul of the demoness Surpanakha, and wished on a magical tree, Kalpavriksha. The Sleeper's army is planning to invade on Lanka by the end of the week, and the Pandavas have to be ready. Find the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/aru-shah-and-the-city-of-gold/9781368013864 Find the Rick Riordan "Making of a Myth" videos on YouTube: Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agW4E4uDNhA Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO7seUZaNjQ

Allegra chats about Sarwat Chadda's "City of the Plague God."

"For immigrants, children of immigrants, and diaspora readers everywhere: never forget that you are the dragon warriors and heroes of your own stories." Allegra chats about Katie Zhao's "The Dragon Warrior" and its sequel, "The Fallen Hero." #StopAsianHate #AtlantaShooting #BlackLivesMatter #HateIsAVirus Find the books on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/the-dragon-warrior/9781547604791 https://bookshop.org/books/the-fallen-hero/9781547601974

Allegra and Gus chat about a longtime favorite picture book, "The Day the Crayons Quit," and its sequel. Find the books on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/the-day-the-crayons-quit/9780399255373 https://bookshop.org/books/the-day-the-crayons-came-home/9780399172755

Allegra talks about "Flora and Ulysses," a Kate DiCamillo fave that is shortly being released as a movie! Find the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/flora-and-ulysses-the-illuminated-adventures-4b8c1d6a-73bd-4c9e-b459-f8b713069db1/9780763687649 Find Rainer Maria Rilke's "Go to the Limits of Your Longing": https://onbeing.org/poetry/go-to-the-limits-of-your-longing/ Find the movie preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05F8MmsiLQs

Allegra tries something new - a realtime reading and review of "Ikenga" by Nnedi Okorafor. Find the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/ikenga/9780593113523

Allegra reviews Kelly Barnhill's 2016 book, "The Girl Who Drank the Moon." Find it on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/the-girl-who-drank-the-moon/9781616207465

Welcome to the 10th episode of Dragonfire Books! Join Allegra for a chat about "The Tower of Nero." Find it on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/the-tower-of-nero-9781432884758/9781484746455

Allegra rings in 2021 with a review of the "Sal & Gabi" books by Carlos Hernandez. Find the books on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/sal-and-gabi-break-the-universe/9781368022828 https://bookshop.org/books/sal-and-gabi-fix-the-universe-9781368022835/9781368022835?aid=3290&listref=middle-grade-chapter-books-too-good-to-miss

Allegra breaks trend to recommend a Marguerite Henry book, "King of the Wind." Find it on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/king-of-the-wind/9781416927860

It's Gum Baby Time! Allegra talks about her current obsession: Kwame Mbalia's Tristan Strong Series. Find the books on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/tristan-strong-punches-a-hole-in-the-sky/9781368039932 https://bookshop.org/books/tristan-strong-destroys-the-world-9781368042383/9781368042383

Allegra talks about Kelly Jones's "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" and "Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken?" books. Bonnie and Jackie lend their voices. And, a shout-out to "To Night Owl from Dogfish." Find the books on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/unusual-chickens-for-the-exceptional-poultry-farmer/9780385755559 https://bookshop.org/books/are-you-ready-to-hatch-an-unusual-chicken/9781524765941 https://bookshop.org/books/to-night-owl-from-dogfish/9780525553236

Allegra takes a break from hearing her parents talk about the 2020 election to share her thoughts on the Storm Runner series, by Jennifer C. Cervantes. Listen carefully all the way to the end and you may hear a creepy growl from Ixtab! Find the books on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/the-storm-runner/9781368023603?aid=8948

Allegra is joined by two special guests to discuss "Mercy Watson to the Rescue" and "The Invincible Ironman." Find the books on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/mercy-watson-to-the-rescue/9780763645045 https://bookshop.org/books/the-invincible-iron-man-marvel-iron-man/9780307930644?aid=1553&listref=picture-books-9b7bafcb-27de-4c3c-a0ba-21347d0a1ee8

Allegra shares some thoughts on the Harry Potter series, along with highlights from Order of the Phoenix. Find the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix-9780439358071/9780439358071

Allegra reviews The Red Pyramid, Book One of Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles. Find the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/kane-chronicles-the-book-one-the-red-pyramid-the-kane-chronicles-book-one/9781368013581

Allegra welcomes listeners to the first episode of her podcast and talks about "Aru Shah and the End of Time," by Roshani Chokshi. Find the book on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/aru-shah-and-the-end-of-time/9781368023566