Welcome, friend! My name is Crystal. I write under the pen name Kester Long.
I am a graduate student by daylight and a reader-writer by moonlight. I founded this blog because books are such an integral part of my life that I want to share the love. Here, you’ll find bookish discussions, features, and reviews; writerly reflections; and the occasional life update. If you’d like to suggest a book for review, please read my Review Policies, then email me. You can also email me to collaborate on a feature post or series.
My blog’s name “Lost in Storyland” comes from a play on “Alice in Wonderland.” Much as Alice falls down the rabbit hole, as a child, I would immerse myself so fully into a book that I won’t hear people calling my name. Family and friends still know me as an easily distracted person who never quite disengages her mind from fictional worlds.
I’m passionate about the potential of books to explore the human possibility, and that’s what I seek to share in my writing and on my blog. I want to read books that ask “what if…?” Books that showcase different aspects of the human experience. Most importantly, books that offer us hope. Because I believe in that better tomorrow.
I primarily read fantasy and science fiction. I’m also passionate about promoting #OwnVoices literature by people of color. As the child of Chinese immigrants, I know what it’s like to grow up wishing for more books about people who look like me, written by people who look like me. I don’t read as many books for young readers as before, but I still enjoy the occasional Young Adult, Middle Grade, or Children’s Book.
Especially if it has a dose of magic.
Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope to see you around!
Check Out My Top Posts
If you are new to my site, you might want to start with my most popular posts. Here are my top five collaborations, discussions, features, and reviews:
Collaborations
- 10 Tips for Surviving Sophomore Year of High School
- Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell: Learning to See with Kindness, feat. Personal Stories from the Author, Illustrator, and Me!
- Interview with Debut Author Jennifer Blecher
- Nevernight by Jay Kristoff: Double Review with Lauren @ShootingStarMag
- Season of the Witch by Sarah Rees Brennan: A Dark and Chilling Coming-of-Age Tale & Interview
Discussions
- Do Your Childhood Reads Reflect Your Current Interests?
- Does Book Format Influence Your Rating?
- How I Organize My E-Reader
- This or That: Bookish Tropes
- Why Character Friendships Make the Book
Top Ten (or More) Features
- 10 Books that Lived Up to the Hype
- 10 Book [Types] to Overcome That Reading Slump
- 10 of My Favorite Fantasy Books
- 10+ Ways to Read More as a Student or Working Individual
- 33 Books to Read After The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Reviews
- A Hero Born by Jin Yong: A Classic Wuxia of Its Time
- From the Fantasy Greats: The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams // Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind // The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince by Robin Hobb
- Girl Power in Action ~ Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo & Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
- Heartless by Marissa Meyer: Blood, Beauty, and Tragedy. Let the Heads Roll!
- The Wicked King by Holly Black: All I Wanted and More
Keep Updated on My Writing Adventures
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Writer Bio
Kester Long writes to explore the human condition and its possibilities. Some of her favorite activities include playing with her rescue dog, drinking a cup of hot tea, and reading a story with a touch of magic. For more from Kester, you can read her blog—or follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @kestlong.