Recs if you like Scorpica (The Five Queendoms, #1)...

Eclectic choices of stories to forget life sucks.

Your next adventure begins here

This list features book covers illustrated by LA-based Illustrator Victo Ngai. Her work is heavily detailed and often features fantastical/mythological elements. From her website, "I grew up in Hong Kong until 18, my parents still live there and I will always see it as home. I was exposed to Chinese art and craft from a young age, such as Nian Hua, Gong Bi Hua, and Lian Hua Hua. Unknowingly I have developed a keen taste for intricate lines and vibrant flat colors which led to my discovery of Japanese ukiyo-e, Art-Neurvo art, Chinese and Russian Propaganda posters and Golden Age illustrations. The energy, colors and dense urban textures from Hong Kong have also worked their ways into my work."

(please note that in some cases, her work is one of multiple versions of cover art for the same book, so it may appear as a different version here than the one she illustrated. In some cases I have avoided adding specific versions to curb confusion)

The books mentioned or alluded to in The Astral Library by Kate Quinn. If it’s a series, book 1 is listed unless a specific book was mentioned. Where just the author was mentioned, I’ve made my best guess.

Listed books/authors are NOT endorsements. Some authors/series are problematic, but I have chosen not to censor this list with one exception that, if mentioned in the book, shall not be named in this list.