Temple of Ice by Christian Curo REVIEW

Thank you to Christian Curo for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This book has a wonderful world and magic system that is enchanting and interesting. This was a cool trip to the Arctic with powerful Winter Mages.  Tama and her friends are about to graduate and join the

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner REVIEW

Half historical fiction and half contemporary fiction, this novel brings together women across centuries. I loved this book because it knows what it is trying to be and hits the mark perfectly.  I really connected with the characters and appreciated the three unique women who make up this story. Nella has been running her poisonous

The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R Sloan REVIEW

This dive into the harsh effects of being an early 2000’s pop star is a harrowing look at the toll that fame takes on the psyche and relationships of young girls.  While there is a lot in this book, it did leave me looking for a bit more.  But I truly fell in love with

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron REVIEW

The title of this book is gripping.  The premise is genius.  I read the first hundred fifty pages of this book in one sitting, which is something I rarely do.  Cinderella may be dead, but her story certainly is not.  I ate this reimagined fairytale up, and I can’t help continuing to recommend it. Cinderella

Outlawed by Anna North REVIEW

When I heard Western, I was skeptical.  But then I heard feminist, and I needed it.  I am glad I got it.  This book may be set in the 1890s, but the problems facing these women could be any place or time.  What do you do as a woman when you cannot do the one

The Genome Odyssey by Dr. Euan Angus Ashley REVIEW

Thank you to Celadon Books for this ARC! Dr Ashley has dedicated his life to studying the power of genetics.  This book is oozing with his passion not only for science, but for his patients.  He shares stories of his patients with rare genetics of all different kinds.  Each patient is full of life, and

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam REVIEW

I found out after the fact that this book was supposed to be a satire.  I really expected there to be some payoff and there wasn’t.  However, the prose in this book was intriguing, and the descriptions of all the crazy things that happen are really great. And in hindsight, I think I get the

The Princess Knight by G.A. Aiken REVIEW

Thank you Bookish First and Kensington Books for this ARC! This sister drama wrapped up in a paranormal romance novel is a violent delight.  The political conflict is rich and complicated. However, this book has a ton of characters that bog it down when it could use some breath.  Gemma does not want to be

Severance by Ling Ma REVIEW

I have been saying for about a month that we are living in the prologue of a dystopian novel. Severance is that novel. It is not for the faith of heart. It points a funhouse mirror on our world and asks: how did you handle it? The year is 2011. Candace Chen is a New

The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler REVIEW

“When global climate change and economic crisis lead to social chaos in the early 2020s…” is the first clause on the back of my copy of The Parable of the Sower. When I started to look for more diverse authors in the spring of 2020, I was led down a path of black science fiction