This Week: March 22nd

News and Updates

We are wrapping up our month of folklore and fairy tales by traveling from Ireland to Asia and reading amazing stories of mystical beings and the balance between nature and man. It feels appropriate to shift towards stories about harmony and nature as we head into our first full week of Spring! What stories are you reading this week?

This Week

When considering stories for the Asian folklore prompt, don’t get stuck only focusing on China or Japan. While they have a multitude of legends, other regions are rich in legacies as well – India, Mongolia, or Russia.

Monthly Reading Challenge: Fairytales and Folklore

Weekly Reading Challenge: Asian Legends

Xingyin has grown up knowing her mother was the moon goddess – the one who lights the lanterns to make the moon shine for the world. She’s also known she isn’t allowed to show her own celestial power because it would draw the attention of the Celestial Emperor…Xingyin isn’t supposed to exist. When her power gets away from her one day, she has no choice but to run to keep her mother safe.

If you grew up with Disney’s Mulan, you will recognize a theme of a daughter looking to protect her family’s honor and training to fight amongst the best even when the nobles feel she should have no place there. While these two stories are based on different legends, many Asian legends carry similar themes of family honor and social values.

If you’re looking for other great books for this prompt, try one of these reads recommended by our StoryGraph community:

Gate to Kagoshima, Poppy Kuroki
The Palace of Illusions, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The Poet Empress, Shen Tao
The Witch and the Tsar, Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

New This week

One of our most anticipated books of 2026 is releasing this week! Marie Benedict’s Daughter of Egypt follows the real story of Lady Evelyn Herbert and the hunt for Hatsheput’s tomb. From her life as Lord Carnarvon’s daughter to her pioneering work as one of the early female Egyptologists, Lady Evelyn broke barriers and set the course for women who would comes to the archaeology and history fields in the decades after.

You can read our full review of this fantastic book here and grab your copy of the book in our Bookshop.org page!

In Case You Missed It

Last Week’s Prompt

William Butler Yeats may be famous for his poetry and plays, but he also had a real soft spot for Irish folklore—and it shows. His collection Irish Fairy and Folk Tales is packed with the kinds of stories that feel like they’ve been whispered around fires for centuries. If you’re even a little curious about Irish myths or just love a good bit of magic, this is a great place to start.

I listened to the audiobook, and honestly, it felt like settling in while my grandfather told stories he had been carrying around forever. The chapters are short and easy to dip in and out of, though some of the older Irish phrasing can take a second to get used to.

I give Irish Fairy and Folk Tales 4 out of 5 stars. It’s warm, charming, and full of that cozy folklore vibe that feels both nostalgic and timeless. If you’re looking for an accessible way into Ireland’s mythic world, this collection makes it really inviting.

Last Week’s Articles

Last week’s article wanders through selkie shores, banshee warnings, leprechaun tricks, and the wild paths of the fair folk. I shared a cozy, beginner-friendly guide to these Irish legends plus 3–4 book recommendations for each one—perfect if you’ve only ever heard about “pots of gold” and want something a little moodier and mistier. Keep your eyes peeled as you read through these legends – you’ll recognize so many of these themes in modern movies and literature.

You can grab the full list here. Some of these are long time favorites, but many of these are on my TBR list. Have you read any of these?

Last Week’s Extra Read

Every ancient‑history scholar dreams of slipping behind the velvet ropes, into the spaces the public never sees. That’s exactly what Aida’s new position allows her to do. MODA installs her in an Italian palazzo straight out of a fantasy and grants her exclusive access to private collections and heavily protected sites—along with a very strict NDA. While Aida enjoys chatting with visitors about what draws them to these landmarks, she can’t shake the feeling that something about her role—and the corporation behind it—isn’t quite right. As the mystery deepens, she must decide whether uncovering the truth is worth risking the job she’s only just begun.

I give The Happiness Collector by Crystal King a full 5 out of 5 stars. It’s a captivating blend of history, mystery, mythology, and romance. I loved how King wove in diverse locations across Italy and incorporated multiple cultural influences to show how beautifully these stories intertwine.

Last Week’s Preview

Growing up in a circus is chaotic enough… but for Charlie, the real upheaval starts the day her twin sister dies. Now she’s just trying to keep her head down at high school—until classmates start disappearing, runes show up carved into the trees, and a mysterious new student arrives in town.

If you think you know Norse mythology, think again. Emma Noyes pulls from the legends of Odin, the Valkyries, and Ragnarök to build a world that feels both familiar and eerily new, with big Wednesday-adjacent vibes: friend-group drama, slow-burn crushes, and a creeping sense that something is very, very wrong.

You can read the full review here.

Reading Challenge Prompts

I’m especially excited about this month’s prompts. Folklore has long been a personal fascination of mine—I even wrote a term paper on Appalachian folklore and superstitions years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner and all the rich folklore tied to it, this feels like the perfect moment to dive in. Whether you’re drawn to old legends, modern retellings, or a bit of magic in between, these recommendations are a great place to start—and yes, I’ll absolutely be wearing green.

This Week: March 22nd

News and Updates

This Week