2019: Sirens considered heroes in all their forms, and explicitly rejected the hypermasculine notions of heroism—and discussed a pantheon of more revolutionary heroes. Here are 10 magnificent heroes works (with more books/info here: https://www.sirensconference.org/news/2020/10/sirens-at-home-heroes-books/): 1/

#SirensAtHome

1. A PALE LIGHT IN THE BLACK by K.B. Wagers: “Commander Rosa Martín Rivas pasted another smile onto her face as she wove through the crowds and headed for her ship at the far end of the hangar. She and the rest of the members of Zuma’s Ghost...” #SirensAtHome

2. A SONG BELOW WATER by Bethany C. Morrow: “It feels redundant to be at the pool on a rainy Saturday, even though it’s spring, and even though it’s Portland, but maybe I’m just more of a California snob than I want to be.” #SirensAtHome

3. ARU SHAH AND THE END OF TIME by Roshani Chokshi: “The problem with growing up around highly dangerous things is that after a while you just get used to them. For as long as she could remember, Aru had lived in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture.” #SirensAtHome

4. BORDERLINE by Mishell Baker: “It was midmorning on a Monday when magic walked into my life wearing a beige Ann Taylor suit and sensible flats. At the time I had more money than sense, and so I had been languishing at the Leishman Psychiatric Center...” #SirensAtHome

5. EVERY RIVER RUNS TO SALT by Rachael K. Jones: “I keep an ocean in a jar on my nightstand and a handful of coffee beans in my pocket. My roommate Imani once held the Pacific Ocean hostage in our living room, but that was before she died...” #SirensAtHome

6. STAR DAUGHTER by Shveta Thakrar: “Sometimes keeping secrets was the hardest thing in the world. Sheetal Mistry decided to make a break for it. Right past the mirrored walls that reflected one another until the swanky banquet hall expanded into infinity...” #SirensAtHome

7. THE BLOODPRINT by Ausma Zehanat Khan: “Seven. Eight. Six. Arian traced the numbers in the sand. She was crouched behind a dusty ridge, surveying the land ahead. The wide, flat plains extended in every direction, broken in places by sparse shrubs...” #SirensAtHome

8. THE CANDLE AND THE FLAME by Nafiza Azad: “The muezzin’s call pierces the thinning night air, extracting Fatima from dreams of fire and blood. Her eyes open to the darkness, and for a moment, she is caught in the dark space between sleep and wakefulness.” #SirensAtHome

9. THE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD by London Shah: “Hope had abandoned them to the wrath of all the waters.” #SirensAtHome

10. TRAIL OF LIGHTNING by Rebecca Roanhorse: “The monster has been here. I can smell him.” #SirensAtHome