It’s Aries SZN (March 20 – April 19), meaning it’s the start of the new astrological year (and the Spring equinox). We’re ready to start fresh, get to that to-do list, and make some resolutions. Aries’ fiery energy gifts us the drive and passion needed to take action and face obstacles bravely and courageously. That sounds exactly like what we need to finish those books you started months ago. There’s no better time than Aries season to get the job done.
about Aries
Aries is a cardinal sign, always leading and demonstrating the courage to act on their dreams. This requires them to be passionate, headstrong, brave, and direct. They love to be number one, they love to win, and they love to get shit done. And all that drive and energy needs to go somewhere constructive, like planning group vacations, home improvement projects, and physical activity. But aside from being known as adventurous, charismatic, and warm, like the other fire signs, they can be impulsive and a little intense.
Book Recommendations for Aries
We’ve chosen a few fiction books with adventure themes, fiercely independent main characters, and inspiring stories. We’ve also selected a few non-fiction books with passionate writing and funny anecdotes.
MYSTERY. THRILLER. WOMEN’S SLEUTHS.
Scorched Grace
by Margot Douaihy
Punk rocker turned nun, Sister Holiday is on the hunt to unveil a mysterious arsonist who’s been attacking New Orleans. Piecing together this high-stakes mystery, Sister Holiday is forced to reckon with the sins of her own past. An exciting start to a bold series that breathes new life into the hard-boiled genre, Scorched Grace is a fast-paced and punchy whodunnit that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Aries will love Sister Holiday.
QUEER, OBVI. ESSAYS. SURVIVING MACHISMO.
High-Risk Homosexual
by Edgar Gomez
A debut memoir about coming of age as a gay, Latinx man, High-Risk Homosexual opens in the ultimate anti-gay space: Edgar Gomez’s uncle’s cockfighting ring in Nicaragua, where he was sent at thirteen years old to become a man. Readers follow Gomez through the queer spaces where he learned to love being gay and Latinx, including Pulse nightclub in Orlando, a drag queen convention in Los Angeles, and the doctor’s office where he was diagnosed a “high-risk homosexual.”
Aries will love the humor, vulnerability, and quick-witted insights.
HILARIOUS AF. ONE-SITTING READ.
Your Driver Is Waiting
by Priya Guns
Damani is tired. She lives paycheck to paycheck, drives for an app, and takes care of her family. Then she meets Jolene, a white girl with money. But just as their romance intensifies and Damani finally lets her guard down, Jolene does something unforgivable, setting off an explosive chain of events.
Aries will love the dark comedy and social satire.
FANTASY. HISTORICAL. 177 YR OLD WITCH.
Moon Witch, Spider King
by Marlon James
Both a brilliant narrative device–seeing the story told in Black Leopard, Red Wolf from the perspective of an adversary and a woman–as well as a fascinating battle between different versions of empire, Moon Witch, Spider King delves into Sogolon’s world as she fights to tell her own story. Part adventure tale, part chronicle of an indomitable woman who bows to no man, it is a fascinating novel that explores power, personality, and the places where they overlap.
Aries will love the way that the Moon Witch challenges the Spider King.
ANYTHING FOR SELENAS. NOVEL IN VERSE.
Dreaming of You
by Melissa Lozada-Oliva
A young poet grappling with loneliness decides one day to bring pop star Selena Quintanilla back to life. In visceral poems embodying millennial angst, paragraph-long conversations overheard at her local coffee shop, and unhinged Twitter rants, Lozada-Oliva reveals an eerie, sometimes gruesome, yet moving love story.
Aries will love the resurrection of Aries Queen, Selena Quintanilla.
ACTION & ADVENTURE. FANTASY. FRIENDSHIP.
Nocturna
by Maya Motayne
The first in a sweeping and epic debut fantasy trilogy–set in a stunning Latinx-inspired world–about a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince who must team up to defeat a powerful evil they accidentally unleashed. Perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Leigh Bardugo, and V. E. Schwab.
Aries will love the MC, Finn Voy, a fierce fighter and a clever thief.
LITERARY. FEMINIST. WOMEN’S POWER.
Blood Red
by Gabriela Ponce
The exhilarating English-language debut from celebrated Ecuadorian author Gabriela Ponce, Blood Red centers the female body in a radical exploration of desire, choice, and consequences.
Aries will love the provocative and raw portrayal of women.
PRE-COLUMBIAN AMERICAS. CELESTIAL PROPHECIES.
Black Sun
by Rebecca Roanhorse
In this epic adventure, Roanhorse explores the decadence of power amidst the weight of history and the struggle of individuals swimming against the confines of society. Crafted with unforgettable characters, Black Sun is a brilliant story of human grace and depravity.
Aries will love the immersive writing and formidable characters.
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES.
The Fire This Time
by Jesmyn Ward
The Fire This Time shines a light on the darkest corners of our history, wrestles with our current predicament, and imagines a better future. Envisioned as a response to The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin’s groundbreaking 1963 essay collection, these contemporary writers reflect on the past, present, and future of race in America.
Aries will love the powerful essays included in this anthology.
HORROR. SUPERNATURAL. INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA.
White Horse
by Erika T. Wurth
Erika T. Wurth’s White Horse is a gritty, vibrant debut novel about an Indigenous woman who must face her past when she discovers a bracelet haunted by her mother’s spirit.
Aries will love Kari James and her heavy metal attitude.
the bookish b* 