There are novels that dazzle you with their prose. Others pierce with emotional resonance. And then there are books like Katabasis by R F Kuang—books that challenge your intellectual vanity, whisper secrets you wish you’d never understood, and turn the architecture of academia into the topography of the damned. In this audacious literary and fantasy […]
The Magic Shop by H. G. Wells was published in 1903 in The Strand Magazine. The story tells of a father and son’s visit to a shop selling disturbingly realistic magical illusions. This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. The Magic Shop by H. G. […]
Harry the High Versus Larry the Low by Alan Champlin Genre: Children’s Picture Book ISBN: 9798891325753 Print Length: 36 pages Publisher: Atmosphere Press Amazon Bookshop Reviewed by Toni Woodruff A meaningful story about the equilibrium of our planet Harry the High’s got the good stuff. He brings the sunshine and warm weather. He’s responsible for […]
Lisa Harding’s The Wildelings is a slow-burn literary thriller wrapped in the ornate shadows of Dark Academia. With its vivid character studies, morally ambivalent relationships, and deep psychological layering, the novel navigates the intersection of friendship, philosophy, and formative trauma. A novel as beautiful as it is unsettling, The Wildelings reveals how easily love, loyalty, […]
Morgan Jerkins’s Zeal is not just a novel—it’s an excavation of heritage, an ode to Black resilience, and a literary reckoning with the aftermath of slavery. Spanning over a century and a half, this sweeping narrative unfolds through multiple voices and time periods, interlacing romance with historical truths in a way that is both emotionally […]
An Ocean Life by T.R. Cotwell Genre: Science Fiction / Marine ISBN: 9798990583719 Print Length: 346 pages Amazon Bookshop Reviewed by Peter Hassebroek Balanced storytelling and evocative descriptions elevate a seemingly implausible premise to a convincing, palpably absorbing adventure. The stresses of entrepreneurialism are encroaching on Mark Forster’s home life. To assuage his wife and […]
Sometimes a book comes along that feels like it was written specifically for romance readers who understand the joy, comfort, and occasional absurdity of loving a genre that often gets dismissed as “just smut.” Susan Lee’s “The Romance Rivalry” is that book – a charming meta-romance that both celebrates and gently pokes fun at the […]
Laura Morelli’s latest novel, The Keeper of Lost Art, weaves an exquisite tapestry of historical fact and imaginative fiction, creating a narrative as captivating and layered as the Renaissance masterpieces at its heart. Set against the backdrop of World War II Italy, the novel tells the story of Stella Costa, a young girl sent to […]
In a world increasingly dominated by digital experiences and fleeting connections, Bee Wilson’s The Heart-Shaped Tin serves as a poignant reminder of how the physical objects in our kitchens—often overlooked and underappreciated—become vessels for our most profound emotions and memories. This collection of essays delves into the power of kitchen items to embody our relationships, […]
Alice Hoffman’s novella “The Bookstore Family” continues her beloved Once Upon a Time Bookshop series with a bittersweet exploration of what it means to find yourself by returning home. In this fourth installment, Hoffman takes readers from the familiar shores of Brinkley’s Island, Maine to the romantic streets of Paris, crafting a story that feels […]