A Wall is Also a Road by Annalee Newitz

October 1, 2026

A Wall is Also a Road by Annalee Newitz

Gardenpath is a single cell person (an amoeba) just like all the other life forms in their planetary system. They are a graduate student in biology, and for their research project, they are hoping to discover something new on a quiet backwater planet that was long ago declared to be empty and barren. But when they arrive at the planet, they are shocked to find a thriving ecosystem and a large number of life forms, including one rather strange life form that appears to have language, culture, society, and connection.

Have you ever wondered what an alien would think of our world when they first landed here? Especially an alien who has a vastly different physical form. The main character Gardenpath is quite endearing, as is their human friend Murtis. The descriptions of Pompeii, its culture and society are fascinating and well-researched, especially what appear to Gardenpath to be some of the weirder customs and rituals. The ending is bittersweet, even though Gardenpath finds love, friendship, and meaningful work on their home planet: they know almost from the start that they will outlive the humans that they have come to love, and they experience the pain of watching their friends age each time they visit the alien planet that has become a second home. There is a lot of world-building about Gardenpath's home planet in Part 1, although if you have ever been in a competitive environment, many of the characters and situations will be familiar. Beautiful cover art. Readers who enjoy Martha Wells and Becky Chambers will enjoy Gardenpath's adventures among the Unnamed on Planet Earth.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Ruins of Pompeii

The Memory of Borrowed Books by Meg Anderson

September 19, 2026

The Memory of Borrowed Books

Claire Ashford is the head librarian at a small town library. The building is old and the town council wants to tear it down and put up luxury condos. Claire desperately wants to save the library but doesn't know how. Then late one evening, she discovers a hidden room that she has never noticed before, filled with mysterious books.

I've had a string of disappointing books lately, maybe because a lot of them are by debut authors. This was just okay, didn't love it. It had a strong YA feel. The grown-ups in the story are constantly calling and fussing over Claire, telling her to eat and go to bed and what to do, even though she is the head librarian at the town library, a position of responsibility. And she's almost 30 years old, for god's sake. It's obvious that there is some trauma in Claire's past but she isn't going to get past it if no one will let her deal with it (and it isn't that big a trauma when we get the big reveal, since we already suspect what it is). She also adopts a dog on a whim (you should really think about it before you take on responsibility for another living creature), but it does ground her. I know some readers loved her, but I found Grace to be really annoying. Also, librarians do a lot more than just shelve books and check out books for patrons.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Partita by Barbara Kingsolver

September 13, 2026

Partita by Barbara Kingsolver

Livia Cable was on track to become a concert pianist until an accident side-tracked her plans. Now a piano teacher married to a farmer, after not hearing from him for 30 years, the man who broke her heart while she was in college contacts her, wanting to see her.

I am never sure how I am going to feel about Barbara Kingsolver's books. Some I have really loved (The Poisonwood Bible), others not so much. This one is somewhere in the middle, and I don't feel it's one of her better books. The main character is a bundle of cliches, starting with coming from a small town, having a mother who tries to keep her in her place, going to a big university where she doesn't fit in socially or academically, falling for a really hot older guy and having really hot sex for a couple of months, getting dumped by said hot guy when he leaves town, finding out she's pregnant, and then letting her whole life fall apart after Mr. Hot Guy splits. Lots of musical terms and descriptions of musical compositions, which are metaphors for the story. Livia and her brother Cy are victims of their mother's disappointments. Their father doesn't fare much better but he doesn't protect them from her abuse, either. The ending was disappointing - it felt rushed and the story felt unfinished, like the author didn't know how to end the story (I am one of those people who likes all the various story threads drawn together, so that I know what happened to the characters). The dogs (Dolly, Ondine and Gaz) were by far my favorite characters. Possible triggers include child abuse, suicide, mental illness, hoarding, child loss, grief.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Three Graces of Pearl Street by Elizabeth Wellington Rollins

September 11, 2026

The Three Graces of Pearl Street by Elizabeth Wellington Rollins

96 year old Graziella Valentini runs her neighborhood, her church and her family with an iron hand, like a mafia don. Her daughter Grace is in the middle of a divorce that she is trying to hide from her country club friends, while her MIT educated granddaughter is floundering to find the next steps in her life. Grandmother Graziella spends her life distributing charity to those in need, but still finds time to steer her daughter and granddaughter's lives, while also fighting with the Catholic Church.

I know a lot of readers loved this but I just didn't connect with any of the characters. The plot was predictable and was really slow from the middle to the end of the book. I could see where it was going early on. The grandmother was the most developed character in the story, while the other two women characters were kind of flat. One of the things I disliked was that the granddaughter Ella had to be "rescued" by a man. Also, I'm not Catholic, but I felt that the emphasis on the church's flaws was heavy handed at times. I did like Graziella's care for homeless cats (even though I am more of a dog person), although I didn't like some of her other traits.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

One of the Family by Mark Edwards

August 22, 2026

One of the Family by Mark Edwards

When a man is invited to spend New Year's Eve (Hogmanay if you're Scottish) with his wealthy girlfriend's family at their resort home in a remote part of the Scottish Highlands, he gets a lot more than a winter vacation among the rich and fabulous.'

I finished this late one evening when there was nothing worth watching on television (like most nights) and the next morning, I had to sit down and think through the ending. At first, I wasn't sure whether I liked it or not. The plot is clever and convoluted, with several deaths and a number of twists that connect actions from almost two decades earlier to what is going on in the present. Horrible family, not even morally ambiguous, just reprehensible - the only likable family member is the dog Watson, and he isn't in it enough. I have been told that the plot is similar to the HBO show Succession which I haven't seen, so can't confirm or deny - maybe I will subscribe to HBO over the winter and watch it.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review. 

When Mikan Road Was Ours by D. K. Furitani

August 19, 2026

When Mikan Road Was Ours by D. K. Furitani

When his great-uncle dies, a reclusive Japanese-American teacher finds he has inherited a baseball glove and a piece of the family's farm in Japan, but more importantly, his great-uncle's memoirs. He begins to read, learning more about his father's estranged family than his late father ever said about them.

I know you're not supposed to criticize books by non-white authors, especially if they are writing about heritage or how bad their race was treated by white people. But this book seemed disjointed and heavy handed. I understand that the author was trying to educate us, but there is too much over-explaining in some sections. The memoir sections were the most interesting part, but then they just stop, like the author didn't know where to go with them. Rather than the letters and computer notes and poetry, I would have found it more engaging if Ben's memoirs had continued and filled in more of the family history. I was about ready to hit the unnamed narrator with a stick when his dog kept getting out of the yard and he wasn't doing anything to keep his dog safe. Being apathetic or lethargic is one thing, but not when you are responsible for another creature's life.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

World War II Japanese internment camp in California

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley

August 13, 2026

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley

As part of the peace treaty between their countries, Princess Rowenna of Tashir is sent to Vanzador as a bride for their crown prince. But a year later, Rowenna is dead, her body sent home in a sealed coffin. Her younger sister Indira is sent as a replacement for Rowenna. Indira is positive that Rowenna was murdered and is determined to find out who killed her and why.

This is a YA romantasy and mystery rolled into one. It had a strong start with good world building and character explanations. But I got bored with the FMC Indira pretty quickly. Instead of using some subtlety, she runs around accusing everyone of her sister's murder. Great way to tip off everyone about what you're up to! I found myself skimming about halfway through. I even caught on to the twist early in the story. Not terrible but slow and longer than it needed to be. It's a debut novel and reads like one. Lots of YA type drama.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review

Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske

July 22, 2026

Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske

Five medical students are about to take their final exam to graduate from medical school. It's a practical exam and has five parts, and they must work as a team to pass. But when they arrive for the first part, they find the body of one of their most brilliant classmates dead on the floor. The five students must band together to solve the mystery while still passing the exam.

I really liked the concept of this book and wanted to love it. But there was a lot of information thrown at the reader, especially in the first half, and the pacing dragged at first. It picked up in the second half and raced to its conclusion. Because there were five main characters, we didn't really get to explore their individual powers, which was also disappointing.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Devoted by Catherine Cho

July 12, 2026

The Devoted by Catherine Cho

Eunha is a Korean woman living in Hong Kong. Her father is a Dragon Head, the leader of one of the notorious Triad families that make up organized crime in the city. Although her grandmother tries to shield her from the Triads' influence, it's always there in the background. When her son is kidnapped, Eunha finds herself pulled into the Triads' sphere as she mistrusts everyone around her. Even marrying the love of her life comes at a cost.

An intense story that triggers a wide range of emotions from heartbreak to dread to anger to triumph. Told from Eunha's POV in two separate timelines, the story focuses on her growth and coming to terms with not being able to escape her past, that she has to seize control of her fate with both hands in order to secure the future that she wants for herself and her sons. Up until that point, she is more of a passive observer of life around her, reacting to the actions of the men in her life and doing as she is told. I would like to say that this is unique to her story but women all over the world living in patriarchal or male-dominated societies experience this. At times, I was as devastated as Eunha by the revelations about those she trusted and her realization that she couldn't trust anyone. Characters were well-developed and multi-layered. Themes include family, loyalty, forbidden love, betrayal, honor and revenge. If you're expecting Mafia violence a la The Godfather, this isn't that book.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle

July 5, 2026

Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle

Social media influencer and single mother Poppy Stringer has over 200,000 followers and posts constantly to her social media sites. To support her lavish lifestyle, Poppy has a secret side hustle as a modern day grave robber, stealing bodies by contract, mostly from funeral homes. But on the day her music idol is killed in a freak accident, Poppy receives a commission to steal his body from the city morgue. It seems straightforward enough, not to mention wildly lucrative, but things quickly take a bad turn.

Imagine that you finally get the chance to meet the guy who has been your musical idol all your life, but it turns out that he is nothing like you expect? For one thing, he's dead, and for another, he's on a killing spree. I worry about Chuck Tingle, I really do. What is going on in his head? What kind of childhood trauma did he experience to come up with the kind of stuff he writes about? This is a road trip of a very different kind, full of gore and horror set against the glittering backdrop of Palm Springs. At the same time, there is a a dark humor as Eddie shares unexpected bits of wisdom, like telling Poppy it's always a bad idea to meet your idols. Poppy realizes that she and Eddie are both influencers and have a deeper connection than she could ever expect. Real horror fans will get into this fast-paced novel.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Palm Springs, CA

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire

June 6, 2026

Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire

Nancy disappeared through one of the Doors to the Halls of the Dead long ago to become a living statue, but suddenly she has returned to the School for Wayward Children.  A darkness has come to the Halls and the living statues are dying. To save them and learn why they are dying, Nancy is forced to return to the school and seek help from her friends there.

Part of the Wayward Children series. I haven't read all of the books in the series but I have read enough of them to know the characters. While there was a strong start, the story sort of faded, and I got the feeling that this short book was more of a bridge between books. Like other books in the series, a major theme is finding a place where you belong. I liked Sumi calling out the Lord of the Dead for not taking better care of his people. Possible triggers are child death, murder, fratricide, grief, depression. 

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

May 18, 2026

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

Ship's detective Dorothy Gentleman is back for a new case, this time to solve a supposedly impossible mystery: the appearance of a baby on the interstellar luxury cruise ship the Fairweather. On Old Earth, babies were a common enough occurrence, but all the passengers on the ship have been modified to prevent such an event until they read their final port. So how did this happen, and more importantly, who made it happen? With the ship's limited space and resources, Dorothy needs to solve the mystery and make sure it doesn't happen again.

The second adventure for Dorothy Gentleman, ship's detective on the luxury star liner Fairweather. I love the world that the author is creating and want to know more about life aboard the ship, the passengers, and how they all came together. Also about Ferry, the ship's AI who (sort of) controls everything aboard the ship. Dorothy's nephew Ruthie and his husband John are delightful characters (John is a master mixologist who mixes cocktails that evoke a certain time or place, such as a sunset on a summer evening, which would be nice, since most cocktails evoke poor decisions and regret). A quirky read but in a good way. Looking forward to more Dorothy adventures.

Also, can someone please tell me what port this ship leaves from? I want to book a stateroom right away.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Throne in the Dark by A. K. Caggiano

May 1, 2026

Throne in the Dark by A. K. Caggiano

Damien Maleficus Bloodthorne is a blood mage, performing magic using his own blood. He is determined to lift the curse that has trapped his father Zagadoth the Tempestuous in a crystal for 23 years. But just when he completes the necessary ritual, he unintentionally imbeds the talisman in the body of a human woman named Amma, and finds himself forced to drag the painfully cheerful girl with him on his quest.

A grumpy/sunshine romantasy that reminded me of Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, with the cranky dark lord and perpetually cheerful thorn in his side that he has somehow gotten himself attached to. Like most fantasy novels, it took a while to sort out the fantasy world - it's complicated. A helping of mental sorbet after reading some darker shit.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Platform Decay by Martha Wells

March 11, 2026

Platform Decay by Martha Wells

The SecUnit known to itself as Murderbot finds itself on a rescue mission, this time to locate and bring home Dr. Mensah's marital partner, daughter, and mother-in-law. En route to visiting Mensah's older daughter at university, they were illegally detained and imprisoned by the Barish-Estranza corporation, for unknown reasons but possibly in retaliation for previous actions by the Preservation consortium. They find themselves trying to escape from an artificial outer platform ring that surrounds a planet that has been stripped to nothing for its resources. SecUnit finds itself assisting an old enemy by rescuing her people while getting Mensah's family to safety. 

The eighth book featuring Murderbot, the sarcastic rogue SecUnit. Murderbot continues to grow as a character, experiencing new (and not always welcome) emotions. One of the hardest and sweetest feelings for Murderbot to process is that the humans they are responsible for really do care about him, as do his AI friends Three and ART. Bypassing security systems and planning escapes are just part of Murderbot's daily chores - their biggest challenge is fitting into human society and passing for humanoid. There is Murderbot's trademark sarcastic humor, particularly when it comes to the humanoids they need to protect. I wish ART and Three would have played larger roles, but Naja is a new favorite character - think of Ruth Gordon in a futuristic setting. Love this series, hate that I'll have to wait a year for another installment. Highly recommend the whole series to anyone who reads SF, but start at the beginning with All Systems Red.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

An example of strip mining that strips all of the minerals and resources from the ground and leaves the land desolate and destroyed

Wickedly Ever After by R. Lee Fryar

January 30, 2026

Wickedly Ever After by R. Lee Fryar

Two elderly but still powerful witches are responsible for maintaining a balance of goodness and wickedness in their kingdom. But they face a new challenge when members of the younger generation refuse to act out the fairy tale that has kept their kingdom safe for nearly a thousand years. Even worse, they are starting to have feelings for each other.

This has been described as a screwball fantasy, and that's a good description. There are clever references to classic fairy tales as well as The Lord of the Rings. If you are looking for high fantasy, this isn't it - try Martha Wells' The Witch King or Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing. The dead of winter is a good time for a humorous romantasy. Beautiful cover. Recommended for light fantasy readers who enjoy a dose of silliness with their stories.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

One of Hector's black roses

Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

November 12, 2025

Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

Vera Norrie has just been hired as the youngest professor of statistics and probability at the University of Chicago. To celebrate, she and her girlfriend have invited their closest friends along with Vera's mother to brunch at their favorite cafe. But Vera and her mother quarrel, and her mother runs of the restaurant with Vera chasing her. Outside, they find a scene of unexplainable chaos.

I worry about what goes on in Chuck Tingle's mind, I really do. His brand of horror is so original and out there, I can't think of anyone to compare him to. There are overtones of The X-Files as well as Lost. I don't know if this is a fugue state or a fever dream. Possible triggers include violence, death, suicide, animal death, depression, and annihilation. I love the cover art.

Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing an eARC for review.

Red City by Marie Liu

October 14, 2025

Red City by Marie Liu

Two young magicians in training, Sam and Ali, are recruited by two rival magic syndicates who control Angel City. The Lumines and Grand Central have maintained a polite balance of powers in Angel City for decades, but their relationship is becoming strained, mostly because of a highly coveted alchemical substance called sand. Sand enhances everything: beauty, intelligence, charisma, desirability, sexual prowess. But now Sam and Ali realize that their organizations are going to pit them against each other.

This was recommended to me by Edelweiss because I have read most of V. E. Schwab's books, and I do love me some V. E. Schwab. It's supposed to be the author's first adult novel, but it reads pretty YA to me. I enjoyed the multiple points of view. The story moves slowly in the first two sections and I really didn't connect at all with the characters. This is the first book of a new series and the ending makes that pretty obvious - not exactly a cliffhanger or sitting on the edge of my chair waiting for the next volume. Possible triggers include graphic sex, murder, explicit violence, organized crime mentality/politics.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree

August 29, 2025

Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree

After living most of her life in the seaside town of Murk, Fern the bookseller decides she needs a change. Her orc friend Viv has retired to the city of Thune and opened a successful coffee house (and gotten married), and there is a vacant shop right next door, perfect for a bookstore. So Fern sells her shop and packs up her possessions and her pet gryphet Potroast and sets out for Thune. But even after opening the shop, Fern still feels that something is missing.

Third book in the Legends and Lattes series, which brings together the characters in the first two books and focuses on Fern the bookseller. Viv is not in this book very much, which was disappointing since she's a great character, but there are so many great characters in the series, including a goblin and a breadknife who aspires to be a famous weapon. Looking forward to more books in this cozy fantasy series. Read the previous two books first to get a sense of the characters and their backstories. All of the books have great covers. If you like this series, try The Spellshop series by Sarah Beth Durst.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review. 

One of Us by Dan Chaon

August 15, 2025

One of Us by Dan Chaon

After the death of their mother, twins Eleanor and Bolt flee to an orphanage to escape from the clutches of their murderous fake uncle Charlie. They find themselves on an orphan train headed west, and somewhere in Iowa, they are "adopted" by a carnival owner who specializes in circus sideshow acts. They find a new family among the carnival folk, even though they feel they are not special like the others. But Charlie isn't letting go that easily.

Dan Chaon takes us on a creepy journey through a carnival sideshow and the performers who work there. Like carnivals and circuses aren't creepy enough, he had to toss in a serial killer. Will appeal to readers who enjoyed Geek Love or Nightmare Alley, but with a horror slant.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

A carnival sideshow

Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong

July 26, 2025

Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong

Time traveling detective Mallory Armstrong has been stuck in 19th century Scotland for almost a year, working as the assistant to mortician Dr. Duncan Gray, the mixed race illegitimate son of an upper middle class family. She and Duncan are invited to the wedding of his best friend's sister at her fiance's highland hunting lodge. There is tension among the wedding guests and also with the locals, which only escalates when one of the guests is found murdered on the estate grounds. Instead of being a country holiday with friends, Mallory and Duncan find themselves tying to save the groom from the gallows.

The fourth book in the Rip Through Time series. The author gives enough background that this can be read as a standalone mystery if you haven't read the previous mysteries in the series, or if you're like me and it's been a while since you read the last book. Successfully evokes the customs, attitudes, and class distinctions, as well as police methods of the time. I loved how Mallory almost melted into a puddle when one of the characters finally shows up in a kilt. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended for readers of historical mysteries like the Sebastian St. Cyr or the Lady Julia Grey mysteries, or the Outlander historical series.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Hunting lodge in the Scottish highlands