Book Reviews
Explore thoughtfully curated book reviews that help you discover your next favorite read.
Magic, Maps, and Mischief: A Cozy Neurodivergent Adventure, by David Green | Book Review
As someone neurodivergent who gravitates toward cozy things like a moth to a flame, I could tell after seeing the cover and reading the first few pages that I would enjoy Magic, Maps, and Mischief. I know this sounds bad being a…
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Assimilation, by Lonnie Busch | Book Review
Assimilation is a literary science fiction horror novel that takes readers deep into the dark waters of Georgian Bay. Published by UBiQ Press and set to release on October 30, 2025, this 338-page first-person story follows Kercy Powell as she returns to…
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A Poisoned Gift, by Marta Z. Czarska | Book Review
What if you woke up one day in the body of a nine-year-old girl, with all your adult memories intact? This is the dizzying premise of Marta Z. Czarska’s debut novel, A Poisoned Gift. The setup immediately resonated with me because it…
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A General’s Gift, by Giovanna Siniscalchi | Book Review
The General’s Gift by Giovanna Siniscalchi is the kind of historical romance that abounds in the best kind of tropes. While it’s apparently the second book in The Swans of Paris series, I haven’t read any of them and it reads perfectly…
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Brianna’s Bloody Hammer, by Max Ingram | Book Review
I wasn’t sure what to expect when starting a book called Brianna’s Blood Hammer, with a picture of a scantily dressed red-haired woman being attacked by monsters on the cover. They say never judge a book by its cover, but I actually think…
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A Dying Titan, by Mike Connor | Book Review
If I had to pick the most random book I’ve read this year, I can quite confidently say this one would take the cake. Mike Connor’s A Dying Titan is nothing if not ambitious. This sci-fi comedy throws thirteen-year-old Jack Landon into…
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The Shadow of the Albatross, by Martin Fraser | Book Review
In the crowded landscape of modern spy thrillers, The Shadow of the Albatross by Martin Fraser announces itself as an unapologetic love letter to the genre’s golden age. This debut novel plunges readers into a world of corporate corruption, deadly conspiracies, and…
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Flintessa Flammabelle and the Glowroot Grove, by C. P Smith and J. C Mitchell | Book Review
Before joining Bookshelfie, I admit I never really read children’s books. But over the past year I’ve grown to love them and the escape they provide, and I’ve come to appreciate that it takes real skill to write a children’s book. It’s…
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Whisper Machine, by W.G. Mans | Book Review
We’ve had some terrifically creative sci-fi and dystopian submissions lately here at Bookshelfie, and today I’m reviewing another, this time with a horror twist. Let me start by saying what Whisper Machine: Volume 1 by W.G. Mans does exceptionally well: it understands…
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Not Finished Yet, by Tracie Adams | Book Review
Not Finished Yet: Essays on the Rhythmic Beauty of a Life in Flux (Good Heritage Press, 2025) is one of those rare memoirs that manages to be simultaneously intimate, engaging and creatively written. It reads less like a straightforward autobiography and more…
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