Arca by G.R. Macallister (The Five Queendoms #2) — Book Review
Arca is the second book in G.R. Macallister’s Five Queendoms series. It follows the main characters of her first book in the series, Scorpica, which was one of my 2022 favorites. These women are grappling with the changes happening in the queendoms. As rulers and...Alias Grace — Margaret Atwood (Book Review)
Alias Grace is a character study written by Margaret Atwood. It also focuses on the burgeoning world of alienists, who pioneered the study of the mind, mental health, and psychology as we know it today. Just for good measure, Atwood throws in mysterious killings. This...Dawn — Octavia Butler (Lilith’s Brood #1)
Dawn, the first in Lilith’s Brood or Xenogenesis trilogy, is excellent Afrofuturism. It’s also Octavia Butler at her best. Although published in 1979, Butler envisions a future for the Earth that’s not just possible but probable. And amid the futuristic story, she...Emma Straub — This Time Tomorrow
Emma Straub crafts a time-travel story for everyone who’s ever lost a loved one in her new book, This Time Tomorrow. As the story opens, we meet Alice. She’s a born-and-bred New Yorker with a famous author for a father. She works at the tony private school she...Dark Celebrations by Calvin Demmer
I read Dark Celebrations during the Halloween spooky season, but Calvin Demmer’s flash fiction collection is appropriate for horror fans to celebrate all year long. He takes typical holidays and events and turns them into extraordinary—and gory—celebrations. Honestly,...Ruth Emmie Lang — The Wilderwomen
Ruth Emmie Lang explores family relationships with a solid dose of magical realism in her new book, The Wilderwomen. It’s a sweet and engaging exploration of sisterhood and the complications inherent in mother-daughter connections. Lang’s primary voices are two...Two Months of Witches
Books about witches are the perfect fit for fall. I dusted off my copies of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series and embarked on a two-month project. Then I read a brand-new book from Megan Giddings with a unique and thought-provoking witchy premise. Combining all...Bianca Marais — The Witches of Moonshyne Manor (Book Review)
Bianca Marais creates a feminist witch story for the 21st century in The Witches of Moonshyne Manor. It’s about a group of 80-something witches trying to reverse events from thirty years ago. And they’re also trying to save their property from being bought by a bunch...Qian Julie Wang — Beautiful Country (Book Review)
Qian Julie Wang (王乾) crafts a poignant immigrant memoir in her 2021 book Beautiful Country. She and her parents emigrated to the New York City metro area from China. Wang discusses her early school experiences, one with a more diverse student population than others....Donna Jackson Nakazawa — Girls on the Brink (Book Review)
Donna Jackson Nakazawa does it again with her upcoming book, Girls on the Brink: Helping Our Daughters Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression, and Social Media. She blends real-life situations with scientific knowledge and analysis. And concluding the book...Upgrade by Blake Crouch (Book Review)
Upgrade is Blake Crouch’s latest thriller and it focuses on using genetics for good or evil. Main character Logan Ramsay experiences both in the course of the story. As the son of a famous geneticist, he was a tangential part of an apocalyptic genetic failure. As a...Elizabeth Alexander — The Light of the World (Book Review)
Elizabeth Alexander crafts an elegiac memoir and tribute to her late husband, Ficre Ghebreyesus, in The Light of the World. In many ways their marriage was typical. First, they had a meet-cute, then some dating and relocating, then wedding and kids. Still, the...The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Book Review)
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is many books wrapped up into one package. It’s a character study, coming-of-age, buddy story with a heist thrown in for good measure. And the reason I picked it is the aesthetic of dark academia, which is a hot trend in bookish circles...Stolen Focus by Johann Hari (Book Review)
I read Johann Hari’s new book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—And How to Think Deeply Again, to improve my focus. I thought Hari would primarily provide specific, actionable strategies. While Stolen Focus does some of that, Hari predominately offers deeper...The Fervor by Alma Katsu (Book Review)
In The Fervor Alma Katsu blends lesser-known World War II history with Japanese folklore and the horror of racism. This relatively short book introduces Meiko and her young daughter Aiko. Meiko came to Seattle as part of an arranged marriage to another Japanese...Bookshop.Org Affiliate
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