C.S. Hand's Blog: Fantasy Author C. S. Hand

Project Hail Mary by science fiction author Andy Weir is a science-driven space survival novel that blends hard physics with an emotionally compelling first-contact story. It’s highly recommended for readers who enjoy problem-solving narratives, accessible science, and character-driven stakes.

Best for: Fans of The Martian, first-contact stories, and realistic sci-fi
Rating: 4.7/5

Project Hail Mary follows a lone ...

There’s a moment every fantasy audiobook listener knows: you’re mid-commute or folding laundry, and suddenly you’re standing on a battlefield in another world. Hours vanish. Your heart races. That’s the power of a great narrator paired with an extraordinary story.

But here’s the truth: a bad narrator can sink even the best fantasy novel. The difference between a forgettable listen and an unforgettable one almost always comes down to performance.

This guide rounds up the best fantasy audiob...

Whether you are looking for some audiobooks to listen to while you do chores, your daily commute, or that epic road trip you’ve always wanted to take, and lets be honest, to help you fall asleep, the fantasy genre is always an excellent way to fill the hours (and these audiobook are long).

Many of these audiobooks have won major awards like the Hugo or the Locust prize as well as awards for their splendid and lively narrations. These best fantasy audiobooks come with a wide array of character dr...

A living room is often the central space for relaxing, reading, and connecting with others. Many people search for cozy living room ideas to make this area feel inviting and comfortable. Choosing the right colors and textures plays a major role in creating a sense of warmth.

This guide explores key elements that can help soften a living room’s atmosphere. It covers color palettes, tactile layers, and practical combinations that contribute to a cozy space.

Settling in for a night on the couch with your favorite shows and movies (or hey, a book is great too!) is the perfect fall and winter activity. Key to making every moment of this experience as cozy and enjoyable as possible is having a plush blanket to snuggle up in.

Whether you need a blanket to help warm up your bed, relieve stress, or take camping in the wilderness, we’ve selected the best blankets with an eye towards utility, style, and of course plush-y-ness.

Dystopian novels help us to critically evaluate our world all while creating a rich fable—doing these two things at once is no easy task and over time has created some of the most exhilarating and challenging fiction to date.

From individuals who are the (un)lucky sole survivors of an apocalypse to a small group of humans banding together to do the right thing these books have become part of our national psyche and excellent meditations on both the future and the present state of humanity.

After...

Many reading studies have investigated how much money readers spend a year on books, where they buy them, the format of the selected tomes, and how much time we are—or are not—dedicating to the important activity of reading.

All of these have been interesting in their own right, but what I’m quite interested in is the place in time as well as the time in which we read, which, in reviewing the data, time and time again was surprising—even for these times.

The Cozy Scholar surveyed 1,873 people a...

Many reading studies have investigated how much money readers spend a year on books, where they buy them, the format of the selected tomes, and how much time we are—or are not—dedicating to the important activity of reading.

All of these have been interesting in their own right, but what I’m quite interested in is the place in time as well as the time in which we read, which, in reviewing the data, time and time again was surprising—even for these times.

The Cozy Scholar surveyed 1,873 people a...

One of the best things about this time of year is fall candles, which of course must include pumpkin candles. Especially great about these candles are all the perfect wax hues: most come in a spectrum of rich apple reds or burnt saffron that really celebrates all that is wonderful and earthy about the Fall season in general but also makes you feel like you are casually walking through a pumpkin patch.

When it comes to these pumpkin scented candles people seem to have a maddening lust for them – ...

If you are looking for Fall candles this time of year, you are not alone. The crisp air, sweaters, and abundance of flannel basically demands it. And wouldn’t it be great if you could find all of those things in a candle? Well dear reader, that is exactly the adventure we set out on.

It was an epic journey full of crisp early morning walks, pumpkin pecan waffle breakfasts, leafy mountain sojourns, and evenings spent by a warm crackling fire, all with a pumpkin spice latte in hand of course. Here...