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Ella Russell
Contributor

Ella is a writer/editor for Narrative Muse based in Toronto. Raised near Salem MA, known for its 19th century witch trials (it’s always Halloween there), she grew up with a love for history and all things fantastical – from classic fairytales to comic superhero/villain action (please, please never mention Suicide Squad). Her favorite films are by Studio Ghibli and her ultimate dream is to write a story deemed animation-worthy by Miyazaki himself.

Reviews by Ella Russell:

The Wicked + The Divine book cover
The Wicked + The Divine, Book 1
Book
While it’s so delightfully far-fetched – godly and malevolent and pop-y – this comic isn’t afraid to get self conscious about reality.
Latest News from the Cosmos movie poster
Dernières Nouvelles du Cosmos / Latest News from the Cosmos
Movie
Hélène may be different, her mind often off in the cosmos, but she is also a treasure trove of charisma and insight and wonder.
Gullstruck Island book cover detail
Gullstruck Island
Book
Home to ill-tempered volcanoes, fish that impart prophetic visions, and beetles that hum death, Gullstruck is the perfect fantastical setting to get lost in.
Image: Angela Carter’s Book of Fairy Tales
Angela Carter’s Book of Fairy Tales
Book
This is a collection of over a hundred cunning, funny, and downright savage fairy tales. Some made me laugh, or quirk an eyebrow, or broke my heart.
Image: Pan's Library
Pan’s Labyrinth
Movie
Watching each frame is like being sucked into a Goya painting. None of it is perfect or neat. It’s bewildering, intense, and rich.
Image: Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle
Movie
The stunning animation, fascinating magic, and bizarre and loveable characters make this movie wonderfully out of this world.
Image: Who Fears Death
Who Fears Death
Book
Okorafor paints a vivid picture of the cost of turning a blind eye to injustice in the world and accepting the poisoned status quo.
Image: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Book
Without warning, Alice’s bewildering journey through Wonderland made sense of an on-going struggle of my own – “adulting.”