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 […]
Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson on December 3, 2024 Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Paranormal / General, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy Pages: 416 Format: Paperback Buy on Amazon Goodreads “You are not who you are because of where you come from; you are who you are […]
In The Virginia Room by Arlo Bates appears in the short story collection The Intoxicated Ghost and Other Stories, published in 1908. This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. In The Virginia Room by Arlo Bates In The Virginia Room by Arlo Bates “Childless,” was […]
When Ethiopian novelist Baalu Girma disappeared in February 1984, just months after publishing Oromay, the literary world lost one of its most distinctive voices. Now, forty years later, this groundbreaking work has finally been translated into English, allowing a new generation of readers to experience Girma’s masterful blend of political intrigue, doomed romance, and unflinching […]