Fiction Reviews
-
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the review copy of “The Lost Spectacular” by Zoe Duhaime. I really wanted to love this book. With a premise that seemed related to “The Starless Sea,” I thought the magic of characters jumping between works of literature and art would be enchanting. The idea is, but the…
-
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the review copy of “Beyond the Graves Waits Mist and Sea” by Kathleen Kaufman. I have read quite a few books with the theme of an outsider coming to an isolated community and finding the urge to come in and be accepted, some better than others. This one…
-
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the review copy of “Little Kin” by Katya de Becerra. While the premise of this book wasn’t highly original: outsider arrives in remote/closed off society/town and feels a connection/familiarity and deeply wishes to fit in and belong, every writer puts their own spin on the idea, and the…
-
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the review copy of the incomparable Nikita Gill’s book “Styx.” It is greatly appreciated! Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the review copy of the incomparable Nikita Gill’s book “Styx.” It is greatly appreciated! Nikita Gill never disappoints. She…
-
Thank you NetGalley and Sibylline Press for the review copy of Claire McDougall’s “Song of the Selkie.” The premise of this book sounded very interesting: a family drama in which each of the siblings comes into their own in relation to their shared past (think “the Shell Seekers” or “The Story Sisters.”) Instead, it is…
-
Thank you NetGalley and D and K Publishing for the review copy of “The Stormtender’s Call” by Willa Hurley. The premise for this book sounded really interesting, and it started out strong: good mystery meets everyday fantasy. Then the talking cat appeared. The whole story because too cutesy for me. There are merpeople, house brownies,…
-
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC of Lauren Lee Smith’s fantastic book The Night Pool! THIS BOOK. The synopsis sounded interesting, so I requested it. Interesting doesn’t begin to define it. Suspenseful, creepy, disturbing, heartwarming, sad; this book encompasses all of these emotions. Every time I had to put it aside to…
-
My list has gotten a little out of order, and I’ve had a couple surprise additions. Well, maybe not such a surprise, as I requested these extra titles from NetGalley, but they weren’t put on the SRL because I didn’t know if I was going to be blessed by the Book Gods. (Spoiler: I was.)…
-
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of Julie Gerstenblatt’s new book The Stargazer of Nantucket. Any book associated with nineteenth century seafaring is going to catch my eye, fiction or nonfiction. Julie Gerstenblatt’s newest book had all of the elements that I feel make a good sea story: the adventure and…
-
Book one of my Summer Reading List is Sarah Nicole Lemon’s A Dark and Wild Wood, kindly gifted by NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager. A Dark and Wild Wood is due for publication on May 26, 2026. Bluebeard meets the Brothers Grimm in this dark fantasy. I love the protagonist Salome’s personality: she’s strong-minded,…
