Angry feminist. Bruja. Reader. Knitter. Spinner. Boxer. Bird and plant whisperer.
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Head Witch in Charge of @witchdecade.
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Articles by Tika Viteri
9 Steamy Enemies to Lovers Books To Raise Your Body Temp
The romance genre, especially steamy enemies-to-lovers books, is a vast and steamy place, full of communication shenanigans, tissue-paper bodices, flowing locks of all colors that belong to all genders, and a disproportionate number of English dukes, people with piercing eyes and the ability to raise one sardonic eyebrow. One of the major reasons readers flock to romance is the steam factor.
Reading Pathway: Daphne Du Maurier Books
Daphne Du Maurier’s career was long and storied; her life was equally so. Her books were huge bestsellers when they were published, and many live on in edition after edition. Du Maurier was a novelist, a poet, a playwright, an essayist, a literary critic, a nonfiction writer, and a biographer. In short, she was a Writer with a capital “W.” To begin, a short biographical sketch: Daphne Du Maurier was born in 1907 in London, England, into a literary and dramatic family.
Design Your Own Dark Academia Reading Room
Book Riot is teaming up with Booksio to donate $250 to your favorite library! To enter, simply fill out the form and subscribe to The Word newsletter. Here’s more about our sponsor: Want to do good while you read? Sign up for The Word, Booksio’s weekly newsletter. We will keep you updated on our charitable causes, as well as curated book recommendations, author spotlights, and more. Subscribe today! 2 DAYS AGO
A Banned Book Club Reading Guide for NEW KID by Jerry Craft
Banning books has been around since approximately one minute after books themselves. Even if you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years — and let’s face it, who hasn’t in a lot of ways — you’ve probably heard something about the many brouhahas surrounding the availability of literature in local and school libraries.
Design Your Own Dark Academia Reading Room
Dark academia is having a moment, and book nerds everywhere are enjoying the hell out of it. After all, the genre combines two groups that already have significant overlap: the bookish and the gothic; while also encompassing the deep desire of all humans — yes, I said all — to own, fill, and decorate a giant library, probably 2+ stories, definitely with sliding ladders.
9 Young Adult Fantasy Series With Excellent Audiobooks
Audiobooks are GREAT. Print and ebooks are also great, but they give a different experience than listening to a great story. Young Adult fantasy in particular lends itself to audiobooks because the storylines are (usually) straightforward, the characters are engaging, and the setting takes us to a world where magic exists in some form or another.
The Best Kindle Unlimited Mystery Series to Read Right Now
Temperatures are getting lower, and that means I’m ready to settle into my living room, light a fire, sip some gin-and-ginger tea, and catch up on my 2022 Goodreads Challenge (only seven books behind schedule…this is fine…). One of my favorite things about Kindle Unlimited is how much it has developed over the years. I’ve encountered so many authors I’d never have found at the library or in bookstores, and enjoyed a vast and diverse selection of books. Mystery books have become my jam recently.
eReader Accessories For The Avid Readers In Your Life
Now that it’s December, the end-of-year holidays are officially here. Winter gatherings often have two components: food and gift-giving. I love ebooks, and I treasure my ereader. While I know better than to put it in my “desert island” go-bag, it goes almost everywhere else with me, so I am always on the lookout for things that may make my ereading life flow more smoothly.
5 Kid-Friendly Crafts Based on Children's Books
As the days get shorter in the northern hemisphere, we all start settling into our homes and looking at the list of crafty projects we want to do during winter that we held over from last winter. I know it’s not just me who pokes her head outside in spring and simultaneously thinks “oh thank goodness” and “crap I didn’t finish that list…” every. single. year.
The Shadow Knows: 8 Books About Shadow Work
First, a disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional. While shadow work books can be helpful to learn about mental health in general, please seek professional guidance if you are experiencing any kind of mental health crisis. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration runs a 24/7 hotline anyone in the U.S. can access by dialing 988. What exactly is shadow work? The term has come into regular use lately as a way to label the “dark” side of the personality.
The Best Book and Toy Pairings for the Kids in Your Life
The holidays are coming! I’ve been a Professional Auntie for nearly 13 years now. My niephlets range in age from 9 months to 15 years, and one of the things that has solidified my role is a promise to all of their parents to never, ever give their children anything that 1) needs batteries or 2) makes noise. Toys that beep, light up, squawk, or move are the purview of grandparents, who ostensibly have a house where they can keep said items and thus spare the parents the literal headache.
8 Of The Best Ceramic Books To Pique Your Interest In The Art
Let’s play a little word association. When I say ceramics, what’s the first image that comes to mind? Is it a pot or vessel of some kind? It is for me. Ceramics covers much, much more than pottery, which is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the manufacture of clayware,” where “clayware” is distinct from porcelain, stoneware, brick, and tile. Ceramics is the whole shebang, as we’ll discover in the best ceramic books.
Books Like Taylor Swift's Midnights
By now, you are most likely aware that her highness, Taylor Alison Swift, has bestowed a new album upon the people of Earth. Midnights is her tenth full-length album since the self-titled Taylor Swift was released in 2006, and while I’ve enjoyed her work since she shifted over from the country scene, I wasn’t really a fan until 2017’s Reputation.
20 Must-Read Halloween Nonfiction Books
Amazon Publishing Jenny Lawson believes Halloween is the holiday that beats all others. From cheap costumes to creepy dolls to questionable candy, New York Times bestselling author Jenny Lawson gives us a hauntingly hilarious short story about her ongoing—and sometimes outrageous—Halloween life. Travel with Lawson back to where it all started, as a trick-or-treater in 1980s Texas. Discover how she rose to claim her rightful place as the queen of Halloween.
The Messiness of My Policeman, E. M. Forster, and Harry Styles
There has been quite the conversation lately about one Mr. Harry Edward Styles, of Reditch, UK, involving his debut as an actor and whether or not he performed nonconsensual spitting on Chris Pine during the premier of the now-infamous performance art piece that is the cast promotion of Don’t Worry Darling (2022). But, my friends, we are not here to discuss these modern day shenanigans, however entertaining they may be.
12 Exciting Books About Women Over 50
Flatiron Books, publisher of How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water Cara Romero thought she would work at the factory of little lamps for the rest of her life. But when, in her mid-50s, she loses her job in the Great Recession, she is forced back into the job market for the first time in decades. Set up with a job counselor, Cara instead begins to narrate the story of her life.
10 of the Best Sleuths in Cozy Mysteries
It is only in the last couple of years that I have fallen in love with cozy mysteries, which is in itself a mystery to me because there’s very little I love more than an episodic story. When I first encountered this subgenre, I texted a fellow bookish friend with an enthusiastic “OMG THESE ARE SO FUN HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF COZY MYSTERIES??” To which she replied, “Oh, honey. Where have you BEEN? Welcome!”, and then promptly provided me a list of where to start. I have great friends.
The Best Kindle Unlimited Mysteries To Read
If you’re someone who, like me, is an Elder born in the 1900s, you probably remember the early days of self-publishing. For those of you who don’t, it was a dark time. People were throwing their LiveJournals into .epub format and calling it a memoir, there was little-to-no editing, and anyone who wanted to write a book could do so without any oversight or input from another person. I am the first to agree that publishing gatekeeping is awful.
Sci-Fi Series Audiobooks by Women
I love science fiction. The sheer possibility of it; the idea that there are grand vistas yet unexplored, living their lives with no notion that we even exist? It’s amazing to me.
Not This Again: The Worst Tropes In Mysteries And Thrillers
Content Warning: This article discusses real and fictional violence against many minority groups. Please take care of yourself. I’ve mentioned this before, but I have developed a hopefully abiding obsession with mystery, suspense, and thriller novels during the pandemic.
Literary Fiction? ... Needs More Dragons
I am not shy about how much I love dragons in books. I have a vivid memory of the first time I bought myself a pile of books with my own money; it was the first three books of Melanie Rawn’s Dragon Prince series and yes, there is a dragon on the cover. Even before that fateful day, I had a soft spot for our often-winged mythological friends, and putting one on the cover of a book is a sure way to catch my attention. I can’t help it. I’ve always felt like St. George was a bit of a twat.
8 Fantasy Duologies For When You're Feeling Like A Little More Or Less
Fantasy stories often come in a series, and that can be a bit overwhelming for some readers, especially with series that have been going forever and sprawl all over the place. On the other side of the spectrum, standalone fantasy can feel too short. Even seasoned authors struggle with fitting both a rollicking plot and worldbuilding into one book.
Romantic Comedy: Please Go To Therapy
I deeply dislike romcoms. Don’t get me wrong: I thoroughly enjoy a romance, and if it’s got an element of humor to it, all the better. Romance and love do not have to be all Serious Business; in fact, for a relationship to work, it should most definitely not be completely serious. Humans, after all, are not serious creatures. And yet.
Murderbot Merch To Show Off Your Murderbot Diaries Love
First of all, if you haven’t read The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, run — do not walk — and start with All Systems Red. I cannot fully explain the joy I experienced while reading these books; it’s a very “IYKYK” type of series. I first encountered Murderbot because someone asked me if I’d read it, I said no, and their face lit up like I’d given them a precious gift. “FINE,” I replied.
What Is The Difference Between Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller Novels?
Shattered by James Patterson Nothing could tear Detective Michael Bennett away from his new bride—except the murder of his best friend. NYPD master homicide investigator Michael Bennett and FBI abduction specialist Emily Parker have a history. When she fails to show at FBI headquarters in Washington, DC, Bennett ventures outside his jurisdiction. The investigation he undertakes is the most brilliant detective work of his career…and the most intensely personal.
Welcome to Thrillers and Mysteries Week!
We’re exploring the wide-ranging world of thrillers and mysteries this week, and you’re invited to join the adventure! From “gentle thrill” cozies to the best procedural series, mystery books about dogs to those involving treasure hunts, BookTube channels to TikTok creators to follow, and much more. New to thrillers and mysteries? We got you. Learn the difference between the two, why they make such great audiobooks, and why Clue is the perfect gateway to the genre.
10 Comics, Graphic Novels, and Books like The Sandman Series
Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman series has been a bridge between comics and novels since it was published. It is widely considered to be one of the best graphic novels ever written, with many additional comics and books like The Sandman resulting from Gaiman’s inspiration. Running for 75 issues between January 1989 to March 1996, the series follows Dream, or Morpheus, as he is released from imprisonment and begins to rediscover what the world looks like.
Edgar Allan Poe Retellings
Nightfire, publisher of What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania. What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. For a man who died at 40, Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) certainly Lived A Life.
The Short Story That Saved My Life
TW: disordered eating, depression I have always been a reader who prefers epics that are published in volumes and look a lot like bricks. It is one of the only aspects of my life in which I prefer the journey over the destination, and if a series has either a dragon or an “adventurer” on the cover and “volume 1” on the spine, it is guaranteed that I will at least give it a go.
15 Best Real Estate Books To Learn More
It seems like everywhere you turn these days, you’re hearing about “passive income streams” and how we all need to get into real estate. This is not a new phenomenon; people have been fighting over who gets to live where since humans and Neanderthals coexisted. But investing in real estate can still be daunting.
How I Lost and Found Jane Austen
I was a Janeite from the first time I read Pride & Prejudice when I was ten. Her independent-minded female characters have maintained their allure for readers for over 200 years now, so I know I’m in great company. Over the years, my allegiance has shifted from one young lady to another, and another. I developed crushes on Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightley, and during a particularly dismal teenage phase, Henry Crawford.
An Extremely Scientific and Not At All Biased Ranking of the Misters Darcy
My delightful, clever, and obviously hilarious colleague, Annika Barranti Klein, recently wrote an article for this very publication titled What Makes A Good Mr. Darcy?, in which she asserted correctly that Mr. Darcy is not a snob or a jerk, as he is frequently accused of being, but the simultaneous victim and perpetrator of miscommunication and misunderstanding.
The Dog Dies in This One: An Essay About the Death of Animals in Fiction
Note: it is possible this article will stir up Feelings in you, dear reader. It definitely stirred up Feelings in me. If you, like me, were traumatized by books where beloved pets and animals die, you have my empathy. As an additional note, I did not find any books written by authors of color or women that include the death of an animal as a major plot point. There is probably something to that, but it’s a future conversation.
9 Of The Best Books To Learn About Investing
There are several things a person can do with their money. Firstly, they can spend it. Many of us do this all the time, probably more than we should (just me?). Secondly, you can save it in a mattress, a banana stand, or a savings account. We all know it is smart to save our money, but where to save it is often a conundrum. And this is where the third general category of “what to do with money” comes into play: investing.
10 Books About Kenya By Kenyans
The Republic of Kenya is the 29th most populous country in the world, home to more than 47,600,000 people, and the third largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has an incredibly rich history, tracing primate habitation for more than 20 million years. Its borders encompass major cities of Nairobi, the current capital, founded by colonialists in 1899; Mombasa, the original capital, founded by Kenyans in 900 CE; and Kisumu, one of the oldest settlements in Kenya and located on Lake Victoria.
Who Was bell hooks?
bell hooks was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1952. Her parents chose the name Gloria Jean Watkins for her, after her grandmother’s nickname of “Glory.” But when she began writing, she assumed the name bell hooks after the given name of her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother; hooks removed the capitalization from her pseudonym to emphasize her message instead of her individuality, while also assuming a name that spans at least four generations.
All that Glitters: Books About Fame, Stardom, and Hollywood
Tordotcom Publishing From award-winning author Nghi Vo comes a dazzling new novel where immortality is just a casting call away. Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill—but she doesn't care. She’d rather play a monster than a maid.
Gastronomy and the Stars: Cookbooks for the Astrologically Inclined
Welcome to Taurus season, friends. It’s April, and in the northern hemisphere that means it’s time for spring — hooray! And of course, those of you in the southern hemisphere are full speed ahead into fall, with all of the coziness and harvest bounty that entails. Whether you are watching the first sprouts of your efforts or about to reap the just rewards of the growing season, you’re probably thinking about food.
The Future Is Not Edible: the Future of Food According to Sci-Fi
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Science fiction is rooted in the exploration of what humans could accomplish without the pesky rules of physics or morality.
Footnotes vs. Endnotes
It’s March, and if you live in the United States, you know that means only one thing: it’s time for March Madness. Originally, “March Madness” was a term for ::checks notes:: the U.S. college basketball playoffs. But Americans love a bracket showdown, so over the years, March has become the month for all kinds of debates about which thing is best out of two related categories.
8 Books for Kids Featuring Entrepreneurs
Pixel+Ink In this new, vibrant Richard Scarry-esque picture book series, a brother and sister cook up a sweet new business venture. Since they were calves, Star and Stripe have dreamed of running their own restaurant so they can share their mama's grassburgers with the citizens of Critter City. There are so many decisions to make with their new business and the siblings constantly butt heads on the right solutions.
An Absolutely Serious Analysis of MADELINE
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Madeline has been a staple of children’s literature since it was first published in 1939. Despite that, and despite knowing exactly what the cover looks like, I had never read this work, and was intrigued to discover that Ludwig Bemelmans’s signature work is, in fact, a short story in verse. As such, Bemelmans leaves us with more questions than answers.
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. In June of 2016, Book Riot contributor Teresa Preston wrote an excellent article asking “Where are all the single women in fiction?” Interestingly, the answer seemed to be…nowhere in this century.
How I'm Decolonizing My Sci-Fi Reading
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. As bookish people, we are all mostly aware on some level that the diversity of the publishing industry doesn’t reflect the diversity of the country, much less the English-speaking world. Back at the beginning of 2018, I stopped reading books by cis-het white men because they are over-represented in publishing.
Quiz: What Book Should I Read Next?
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. The holidays are over, and let’s face it: we’d all like nothing more than to curl up with a good book or 12 and read until it’s spring, or maybe summer. We’ve also left the season of “the best books of 2021” and entered “the most anticipated books of 2022!” and my TBR is already groaning in protest. The only question is: what book should I read next?
A Bookish Guide to Yule
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Of the eight major witchy celebrations throughout the year, Yule is arguably the best known. In the northern hemisphere it marks the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year – and thus the turning of the seasons from winter, bringing the promise of spring. Persephone will return from the Land of the Dead, bringing with her new growth, followed by the bounty of summer and fall.
What is a(n) Herbarium?
Since getting deeply invested in learning botanical illustration during the pandemic, I have learned an amazing amount about the world of botany, plant taxonomy, and the Kingdoms Plantae and Fungi in general. In retrospect, this connection is obvious, but somehow it didn’t occur to me at the time that in learning how to draw plants, I would also learn about them.
Great Aunts of Literature
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. I have never wanted children of my own. Even when my friends and I played house as children, I was always the aunt, never the mother. Aunts (and uncles, but especially aunts) have leeway with children that parents don’t have, without the driving need to spoil them like grandparents. Aunts uphold the rules — mostly — while also having no need for a bedtime during sleepovers.
Literary Scandals: Who Was the Real-Life Dracula?
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. My friends, let us begin drawing up some lines of conspiracy and scandal. From the outset, I am absolving myself of journalistic integrity and the usual need to provide evidence of my claims, or — more importantly in many cases — evidence that outweighs my claims. Everyone involved in this scandal is long-dead, and real, actual scholars have written about and studied this subject.
2021 World Fantasy Awards Announced
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. The World Fantasy Convention took place this weekend in Montreal, Canada, with the theme of “Fantasy, Imagination, and the Dreams of Youth.” Winners were announced at the end of the convention on Sunday in the following categories: Novel Trouble the Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson A deeply American saga that plays out against the backdrop of Harlem at the dawn of World War II.
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