Montjoy by Curt Finch Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII ISBN: 9798990853171 Print Length: 112 pages Publisher: Alternative Book Press Amazon Bookshop Reviewed by Nikolas Mavreas A gripping historical novel packed with psychological intrigue Curt Finch’s Montjoy: A Novel in Five Verges, contains a story within a story. The outside narrative is that of a father […]
Charles B Fancher’s debut novel “Red Clay” is an ambitious and deeply layered historical fiction that chronicles the intertwined destinies of two families – one Black, one white – connected by the brutal institution of slavery and its lasting aftermath. Set primarily in Alabama during and after the Civil War, with detours to Paris and […]
Canisia Lubrin’s debut fiction collection, Code Noir: Metamorphoses, is an ambitious and experimental work that both mirrors and subverts the infamous 1685 Code Noir – King Louis XIV’s set of decrees governing slavery in the French colonial empire. Through 59 interconnected stories matching the original code’s 59 articles, Lubrin weaves a tapestry of Black life […]
In her debut novel Capitana, Cassandra James crafts an ambitious maritime fantasy that attempts to merge the swashbuckling adventure of traditional pirate tales with contemporary themes of systemic injustice and personal identity. While the novel shows promise with its intriguing premise and complex world-building, it occasionally struggles to stay afloat under the weight of its […]
At the Bottom of the Garden marks Camilla Bruce’s latest venture into gothic horror, following her successful novels including You Let Me In, In the Garden of Spite, and The Witch in the Well. This darkly enchanting tale weaves together elements of traditional gothic fiction with a fresh contemporary perspective on family dynamics, moral ambiguity, […]
In her remarkable debut novel, ‘Til Death, Busayo Matuluko delivers a compelling mystery thriller set against the vibrant backdrop of Lagos, Nigeria. ‘Til Death introduces us to Lara Oyinlola, an aspiring detective whose true-crime obsession finally finds practical application when her cousin’s wedding becomes the target of increasingly sinister threats. The story masterfully balances the […]
Brittany Newell’s sophomore novel “Soft Core” is a kaleidoscopic journey through the neon-lit streets of San Francisco, where reality and fantasy intermingle like fog rolling over the city’s famous hills. Following her debut novel “Oola,” Newell returns with a more mature, nuanced exploration of identity, desire, and the complex web of relationships that define our […]
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros was released a few weeks ago to a lot of excitement, and I’ve been making my way through it. It’s the third book in her Empyrean fantasy-slash-romance (which I guess is being referred to as Romantasy nowadays) series set in a world full of dragons and magical abilities. The third […]
Prologue (The prologue picks up immediately after the events of the second book, Iron Flame, following the death of Violet’s mother General Sorrengail, the restoration of the wardstone protecting all of Navarre and the realization that Xaden has turned venin — meaning he channeled dark energy, which he did in order to access extra power […]
Betty Shamieh’s debut novel “Too Soon” is an ambitious, multilayered narrative that weaves together the stories of three Palestinian American women across different eras and continents. The novel masterfully balances humor with heartbreak, tradition with modernity, and personal desires with familial obligations. While the book occasionally struggles with pacing in its middle sections, Shamieh’s sharp […]