Book Reviews
Explore thoughtfully curated book reviews that help you discover your next favorite read.
The Cloud Above Her Head, by Justine Miller—Book Review
In her new poetry collection, “The Cloud Above Her Head”, Justine Miller maps the fault lines between identity and expectation through 105 poems that reflect on what it means to be seen – or to remain hidden. The work moves beyond mere…
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Shadow of the Queen, by Scott Finley—Book Review
The ocean liner murder mystery is a well-worn genre, but Scott Finley manages to breathe fresh life into it with his new thriller, “Shadow of the Queen.” Set aboard the luxury liner Queen Victoria in the immediate aftermath of the 1929 stock…
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Divine in Essence, by Yarrow Paisley—Book Review
In Yarrow Paisley’s unsettling collection “Divine in Essence,” reality bends and fractures across ten interconnected tales that blur the boundaries between horror, fabulism, and weird fiction. These stories plumb the depths of human consciousness while exploring the fluid nature of identity. The…
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Ice Cream, Ice Water, and the Boogeyman, by Pamela Bondar—Book Review
In her touching debut poetry collection, Pamela Bondar takes readers on a raw and courageous journey through trauma, healing, and reclamation of one’s own life. The collection serves as a deeply personal and yet simultaneously universal exploration of how we carry, process,…
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Burning Shadows, by Haven Thorne—Book Review
“Burning Shadows” is a competently crafted supernatural romance that blazes new ground in the genre, seamlessly blending elements of gothic romance with the classic ghost story. Haven Thorne’s steamy novel delivers a scorching tale of love, redemption, and the ghosts that haunt…
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Shock Pepper, by Blox Widdle Manor—Book Review
Blox Widdle Manor’s “Shock Pepper” begins with the discovery of a corpse by a young boy. From this unsettling opening, the novel splits into three parallel stories: a small-town policeman investigating ritual murders while caring for his mentally ill wife; a Bangalore…
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The Mermaid’s Wrath, by Andie Holman—Book Review
“The Mermaid’s Wrath” offers a compelling fusion of environmental activism and fantasy that breathes fresh life into mermaid mythology. Author Andie Holman crafts a richly textured underwater world where merfolk struggle against both human-caused pollution and their own society’s oppressive traditions. Holman…
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A Death at Dawn, by Gabrielle Grey—Book Review
“A Death at Dawn” introduces a complex epic fantasy world through the interconnected stories of three women: Gloriana Wayward, a noblewoman navigating an abusive marriage; her sickly daughter Alice, traded as a political hostage; and young Jaslyn, unexpectedly declared queen by rebelling…
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Sam Hain, by Hamid Amirani—Book Review
“Sam Hain” by Hamid Amirani turns genre expectations inside out with gleeful abandon. This humorous supernatural noir spits in the face of tired demon tropes, giving us Mike – a being from beyond who’s less interested in corrupting souls than in punishing…
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Resilient: She Will Not Be Defeated, by Kahlani Steele—Book Review
Kahlani B. Steele’s debut novel “Resilient” takes the motorcycle club romance in an unexpected direction, focusing on emotional healing and polyamorous relationships rather than the usual testosterone-fueled drama. The story centers on Charly, a waitress haunted by childhood trauma, who finds herself…
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