Varian’s Book Recommendations

Recommendations

Varian is the resident Toadshifter at the Pond, and loves recommending books!

In case you’re new to the Pond’s book recommendation posts, the recommendation posts are brought to you by Varian, the Pond’s very own Toadshifter who is knowledgeable in all kinds of magic! One of Varian’s ambitions is to get better at sewing, hence why whenever Varian has come up with their latest costume, they will always recommend a few books that inspired them!

Varian the Toadshifter, with a hand over his heart, with a staff, shield, sword, and bow around him. A sewing needle and thread is above his head, lit up for emphasis.Don’t be fooled by Varian the Toadshifter. For they may appear to be a plain toad, they are actually an incredibly powerful and knowledgeable magic caster – they just love improving their sewing skills to create lovely costumes!

Varian recognises that magic is most powerful when you share it with others. That’s why whenever you see Varian, they will recommend some books to you! You can read a little more about Varian’s life and story here.

The Pond’s Book Recommendations:

varian - short reads
Short Reads To Help You Meet Your Goodreads Goal

Book Recommendations - 20 Books Inspired by Mythology & Folktales (Other than Greek Mythology)
20 Books Inspired by Mythology & Folktales (Other than Greek Mythology)

Book Recommendations - 20 Diverse and Modern Retellings of Old Classics
20 Diverse and Modern Retellings of Old Classics

Book Recommendations - Funny Books That Will Make You Laugh Out LoudFunny Books That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud

Book Recommendations - MG and YA Books with Young Activists, Part I. An image of Varian the toad, holding up a sign that says 'change now'.Young Adult and Middle Grade Books with Young Activists

lhm book recsLatinx Heritage Month: 20 Latinx books to read all year round (2020)

Book Recommendations: Pride Month Edition! A Love Letter to 18 Books with Questioning, Asexual and Aromantic Rep; You are Valid. Illustration of Xiaolong the axolotl and Varian the toad holding the inclusive intersectional pride flags.Pride Month: 18 books with questioning, asexual, and aromantic rep (2020)

Book Recommendations: Pride Month Edition! The Beauty Beyond the Binary; 20 Books with Trans, Non-Binary, and Genderqueer Rep. Illustration of Xiaolong the axolotl and Varian the toad holding the inclusive intersectional pride flags.Pride Month: 20 books with trans, non-binary, and genderqueer rep (2020)

Book Recommendations: Pride Month Edition – 22 Books with Bisexual & Pansexual Rep That I Loved - and You'll Love Too! Illustration of Xiaolong the axolotl and Varian the toad holding the inclusive intersectional pride flags.
Pride Month: 22 books with bisexual and pansexual rep (2020)

Book Recommendations: Pride Month Edition – 23 Books with Sapphic & F/F Rep To Brighten Your Reading During Pride Month! Illustration of Xiaolong the axolotl and Varian the toad holding the inclusive intersectional pride flags.
Pride Month: 23 books with with sapphic & f/f rep (2020)

book recommendations pride month edition: gay books and m/m romances, 21 books with gay rep and m/m romances to read and love during pride month. illustration of xiaolong the axolotl and varian the frog holding the inclusive pride flag.
Pride Month: 21 books with gay rep and m/m romances (2020)

Book Recommendations with Varian: Books by Muslim Authors for Ramadan. An illustration of Varian the toad, sewing, with a moon and stars behind them.Books by Muslim Authors for Ramadan & 2020 Muslim Book Reads (2020)

Book Recommendations with Varian: Young adult and adult queer historical fiction. Image is of Varian the toad, sewing a shirt while wearing a monocle.
YA & Adult Queer Historial Fiction (2020)

Book Recommendations with Varian: Diverse Books with Food. Varian the toad is sitting down, sewing a purple jumper, with a smile on their face with a chefs hat floating atop their head.Diverse books about food (2020)

Book Recommendations with Cuddle: Two Holiday-Themed Book REcommendations! Image: Cuddle the brown otter wearing a pajama hat, holding up a book.
Two holiday-themed book recommendations (2019)

Book Recommendations with Varian: Diverse Heist Stories. Illustration; Varian the toad wearing a cloak that makes them invisible!Diverse heist stories (2019)

Book Recommendations with Varian: Historical Fiction and invisible histories. Illustration of Varian the toad, dressed up as a 13th Doctor from Doctor Who.Historical fiction and ‘invisible histories’ (2019)

Book recommendations with varian: spooky halloween reads. illustration of varian wearing a unicorn costume.Spooky Halloween Reads (2019)

Book Recommendations with Varian: Inspired by Asian Folktales and Myths. Illustration of Varian the toad, wearing a moon costume with clouds and stars around them.Books inspired by Asian folktales (2019)

book recommendations: asian books about mental illness
Asian Books about Mental Illness (2019)

Text: Book Recommendations: Loved this Ghibli film? Read this book! Image: Varian the Toadshifter wearing San from Princess Mononoke's red mask, wearing a fluffy white cape, and holding San from Princess Mononoke's knife.Loved this Ghibli Film? Read This Book! (2019)

Book Recommendations: Young Adult SFF with F/F Romances. Images: Varian the toad wearing a shirt that reads 'Master Mischief was right about the cheese'
Young Adult Science-Fiction/Fantasy with F/F Romances (2019)

Text: Book recommendations, queer Asian characters. Image: Varian the toad, wearing a rainbow skirt and holding a rainbow flag over their head, smiling.
Queer Asian Books (2019)

Text: Book recommendations; books by Pasifika authors. Image: Varian the toad, wearing a dress with leaves and red flowers. Varian is holding a flag with the letters #APAHM.
Books by Māori and Pasifika Authors (2019)

Varian the green toad holding a beige fabric with a stitched rainbow horizontal figure eight (for autistic pride month) and a rainbow heart. Text underneath: BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Books with own voices autistic characters
Books with #OwnVoices Autistic Characters (2019)

Varian the green toad wearing armour, holding a sword in front of them. Text underneath: BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Year of the Asian reading challenge; April Prompt: Power!Year of the Asian Reading Challenge Book Recs: Power (2019)

Varian the green toad wearing a panda onesie, holding a red cup of tea. Text underneaht: BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Year of the Asian reading challenge; February Prompt: Tropes!
Year of the Asian Reading Challenge Book Recs: Tropes (2019)

Gen the green toad, wearing a big rainbow costume, cloud sleeves, and a rainbow skirt. Text says: BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS, Diverse AnthologiesDiverse Anthologies (2018)