A catastrophic spiral of human folly and unflinching perseverance, Of Starlight and Plague by Beth Hersant is a stunning cautionary tale, and an engrossing dystopian thriller. Whether you're a lover of zombie fiction or a sucker for stories about genetic engineering, [...]
A self-haunted antihero encounters and seemingly inherits a universal archetype – but for good or for evil? – in Dreck, an immersive and inventive fantasy horror by Alex Grass. Frankie Attanasio is a mortician in the demolished but slowly recovering city [...]
When a book is so hailed on social media, one must dig in and read. At the very worst, a book so trumpeted by critics must have seams to unpick. A book coming from a former critic for The New York [...]
A punchline-packed thriller that gives readers the ending before unpacking the past, Deadly Serious by A.J. Thibault is a cleverly crafted novel that unravels with slippery ease. A witty and unlikely comedian-turned-sleuth is tossed into the midst of a murderous hunt [...]
Vengeance for a heartless, bloody killing provides the focus of El Camino Drive, a well-staged drama deftly drawn by novelist Edward Izzi. Johnny Valentino is a police detective struggling with major issues that could cost him his job. For one thing, [...]
Vivid recollections skyrocket and explode, illuminating time-worn events that have puzzled us for much of the last 60 years, in A Mirror Above the Abyss, an eerie but plausible speculation on troubling historical facts by journalist Oleg Lurye. In this larger-than-life [...]
A surprisingly deep musing on trust, power, truth, and friendship, Kelly is Unbreakable by Jackson Keller is a unique and suspenseful YA thrill. Exploring personal boundaries, and perhaps even finding the edge, this super-powered debut novel takes adolescent exploration to an [...]
A masterful retelling of a lesser-known myth, Orpheus Rising by Lance Lee places a striking modern lens on the timeless struggles of self-control, sacrifice, grief, and acceptance. John is a stymied writer who shares a small house with his son, Sam, [...]
A series of snapshot vignettes that weave into an immersive "novelloir," Dinosaurs & Snow Angels by Mary Taylor is a non-traditional story of the watershed moments that mark every family and life. Capturing nuanced identities in a single turn of phrase [...]
A lethal warrior without banner or cause rises to heights of heroism he never sought in The Hunter’s Rede by F.T. McKinstry, a dark and thoroughly fun new fantasy saga. Tapping into the best elements of high-genre writing, with cryptic wizards, [...]