Leah Rachel von Essen
Leah Rachel von Essen is a writer and editor who gets most of her reading done while walking. She works full-time as a magazine assistant editor, while also reviewing for Booklist, writing for Book Riot and other publications, writing her blog, and working on writing and querying her novels. She uses her spare time to watch women's soccer, travel, and sometimes even sleep. Originally from New Jersey, she came to the South Side of Chicago to study magical realism, surrealism, fairy tales, religious studies, and the forms of the novel at the University of Chicago. She, her cat Ms. Nellie Bly, and her two large bookshelves live reading-and-walking distance from Lake Michigan. Leah writes about the books she's reading at While Reading and Walking. Twitter: @reading_while
6 Fantasy Releases to Dig Into this Fall
Leah Rachel von Essen
October 17, 2019
Six superb fantasy book recommendations and recent releases to pair with your warm cup of tea as we dive further into fall 2019.
It’s Okay to Burn Out on the Things You Love—Reading Included
Leah Rachel von Essen
October 15, 2019
Creative burnout can make writers and readers alike feel guilty for needing a break for recovery. One Rioter urges readers to let themselves rest.
On Reading, Walking, and Seasonal Depression
Leah Rachel von Essen
October 10, 2019
Why one Rioter who reads and walks is dreading the advent of late autumn and the dark evenings that come with the shorter days.
5 Fall Book Recommendations For Those First Chilly Days
Leah Rachel von Essen
September 24, 2019
Find recommendations of books that are perfect for those first cozy, chilly days of changing leaves, warm tea, and comfortable sweaters.
Rapper and Poet Noname Launches a Book Club
Leah Rachel von Essen
August 7, 2019
The book club has the goal of highlighting progressive work from writers of color and writers within the LGBTQ community.
3 Books I’ve Given as Wedding Gifts
Leah Rachel von Essen
August 3, 2019
Celebrate The Muggles: Seeking Fantasy That Celebrates the Nonmagical
Leah Rachel von Essen
July 29, 2019
Frustrated with books that attribute our world's wonders to outside sources of magic, I've found myself seeking books that celebrate the nonmagical.
5 Books About Women’s Soccer for the Women’s World Cup
Leah Rachel von Essen
July 3, 2019
Women's World Cup fans, we've got some books you should check out. Get in the spirit and be inspired by these nonfiction books about women's soccer.
Why Arya and Sansa Stark’s Sisterhood Means Everything
Leah Rachel von Essen
May 28, 2019
One Rioter reflects on how the evolving relationship of the Stark sisters in Game of Thrones mirror her own relationship with her sister.
5 Comics that Left Me Speechless
Leah Rachel von Essen
May 22, 2019
Let’s Be Reasonable About Spoilers, OK?
Leah Rachel von Essen
May 21, 2019
Between Game of Thrones and EndGame, spoilers have been a hot topic of discussion recently. Here's how you can be respectful...and reasonable.
A Q&A with V.E. Schwab: On Creativity and Transparency
Leah Rachel von Essen
May 13, 2019
Book Riot sat down wtih V.E. Schwab to talk about creativity, transparency in publishing, and the re-release of her debut THE NEAR WITCH.
