Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a grown-up who struggles to stay in the here and now, vastly preferring to live in the stories in my head or in the book in front of me. I grew up in New England, Spain, and now have settled in Colorado after traveling around most of the lower 48 states. I’ve been a fan of well written fantasy since I learned to read, and at 35 I started writing my own fantasy stories. Now when I need a perfect getaway escape, I read my own books!


I wrote...

Storyteller

By J.L. Kodanko ,

Book cover of Storyteller

What is my book about?

My book follows an acrobatic troupe including teenage Reka, a clumsy, bottom-of-the-food-chain orphan within a culture divided into castes for…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Girl of Fire and Thorns

J.L. Kodanko Why I love this book

I grew up in Spain, so I loved this book because of the world-building that centers on Spanish language and culture.

It felt like a warm hug, fresh and exciting at the same time. Elisa is a likeable character and I really resonated with the way she was growing into who she was always meant to be, since I’ve been on that same journey these last few years.

I also was rooting for Elisa to find true love from the first pages, even though the author tried her best to break my heart! 

By Rae Carson ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Girl of Fire and Thorns as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

Princess Elisa is a disappointment to her people. Although she bears the Godstone in her navel, a sign that she has been chosen for an act of heroism, they see her as lazy and useless and fat. On her sixteenth birthday, she is bartered off in royal marriage and shipped away to a kingdom in turmoil, where her much-older-and extremely beautiful-husband refuses to acknowledge her as his wife. Devastated, Elisa decides to take charge of her fate and learn what it means to bear the Godstone. As an invading army threatens to destroy her new home, and everyone at court…


Book cover of The Wicked King

J.L. Kodanko Why I love this book

When a character is craftier and sneakier than me, it is so, so fun and I could barely keep up!

This is one of my favorite fantasy books ever! Also, the banter between Jude and Cardan gave me life. It is so perfectly written, and I lived for every time the two of them faced off in a battle of words.

Watching them go from intellectual enemies to lovers is the best of the best.

By Holly Black ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Wicked King as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

The enchanting and bloodthirsty sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel The Cruel Prince.
You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.
The first lesson is to make yourself strong.
After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to…


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Book cover of The Time-Jinx Twins

The Time-Jinx Twins by Carol Fisher Saller,

Twelve-year-old identical twins Ellie and Kat accidentally trigger their physicist mom’s unfinished time machine, launching themselves into a high-stakes adventure in 1970 Chicago. If they learn how to join forces and keep time travel out of the wrong hands, they might be able find a way home. Ellie’s gymnastics and…

Book cover of The Lightning Thief

J.L. Kodanko Why I love this book

As someone who’s moved around a LOT and lived far from family most of my life, I’m a sucker for found family of any kind.

This story is one of the best. I loved reading about all these demi-god children working together and finding their connection through loyalty and depth of friendship.

As someone very familiar with Greek mythology, I really enjoyed the fresh and enjoyably new story with familiar players. 

By Rick Riordan ,

Why should I read it?

24 authors picked The Lightning Thief as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, 12, and 13.

What is this book about?

The Lightning Thief: the First book in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series.

The first bestselling book in Rick Riordan's phenomenally successful Percy Jackson series.

Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a Greek God. I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. That's when things started really going wrong. Now I spend my time fighting with swords, battling monsters with my friends, and generally trying to stay alive.

This is the one where Zeus, God of the Sky,…


Book cover of The City of Ember

J.L. Kodanko Why I love this book

What’s not to love about a world so imaginatively cool and amazingly immersive?

I’ve legit spent hours of my life thinking about living in an underground cave system, and so this book was everything I wanted. I also loved being along for the adventure and feeling like I was discovering things right along with the characters.

It’s giving National Treasure vibes, which is one of my all-time favorite movies. 

By Jeanne DuPrau ,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked The City of Ember as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Ember is the only light in a dark world. But when its lamps begin to flicker, two friends must race to escape the dark. This highly acclaimed adventure series is a modern-day classic-with over 4 MILLION copies sold!

The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to dim. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she's sure it holds a secret that will save the city. Now, she and her friend Doon must race to figure out the clues to…


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Book cover of The Time-Jinx Twins

The Time-Jinx Twins by Carol Fisher Saller,

Twelve-year-old identical twins Ellie and Kat accidentally trigger their physicist mom’s unfinished time machine, launching themselves into a high-stakes adventure in 1970 Chicago. If they learn how to join forces and keep time travel out of the wrong hands, they might be able find a way home. Ellie’s gymnastics and…

Book cover of Heir of Fire

J.L. Kodanko Why I love this book

SO many scenes in this book gave me literal chills and my imagination was fueled up for days, nay, years! Incredible.

I lost a lot of sleep reading this series! Heir of Fire is when I started to really LOVE the Throne of Glass series, and it totally sucked me in. Even though I read this book almost ten years ago, I still think of these scenes from time to time–and I’m still impressed by them.

Definitely on my re-read list.

By Sarah J. Maas ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Heir of Fire as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed? The bestselling series that has captured readers all over the world reaches new heights in this sequel to the New York…


Explore my book 😀

Storyteller

By J.L. Kodanko ,

Book cover of Storyteller

What is my book about?

My book follows an acrobatic troupe including teenage Reka, a clumsy, bottom-of-the-food-chain orphan within a culture divided into castes for the greater good. Reka navigates ever-increasing dangers in a world struggling with a physical and magical drought. Together with her loyal group of friends and one recent additiona sarcastic, surly warrior with a drinking problemthey encounter one adventure after another.

The cranky warrior, Khan, has too many secrets to count. He’s also clearly withholding the truth lurking behind the nightly stories Reka tells to her friends around the fire ring. Every revelation from Khan leaves Reka with more questionsabout herself, the bitter warrior, and the true story of Orosea. Enemies lurk around every corner, and it will take power untold to defeat them all. 

Book cover of The Girl of Fire and Thorns
Book cover of The Wicked King
Book cover of The Lightning Thief

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