book review

The cover of A Far Better Thing has ornate, illustrated decorations. At the top center is an eye symbol, surrounded by swirling floral patterns with pink and orange trumpet-shaped flowers. Intricate, symmetrical scrollwork and stars frame the text, with vertical lines extending outward.

Book Review: A FAR BETTER THING

Alex Faccibene

Whether you’re a fan of A Tale of Two Cities or modern classics like Jonathan Strange & Mr. NorrelI, you’ll love A Far Better Thing. It’s a rich, emotional story about identity, sacrifice and a chance at redemption. Read on for our full review.

The cover of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil has a dark background with faint, blue-toned floral and thorny vine patterns. The title and author are printed in bold yellow text across most of the cover.

Book Review: BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL

Alex Faccibene

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a dark, addictive fever dream. V.E. Schwab’s newest book is meant to be savored, even if you want to devour it.

The cover of Behooved is divided diagonally into two contrasting scenes at the top and bottom. The top half is dominated by a pastel green and white palette, depicting a white horse with a flowing mane standing beside a girl in a flowing dress looking towards a distant cityscape, suggesting a magical realm. The bottom half transitions into shades of purple and indigo, where the same girl stands poised against a backdrop of a similar cityscape, now shown amidst towering, glowing structures, with sparkling star-like lights scattered around.

Book Review: BEHOOVED

Alex Faccibene

If you’re looking for a fun, easy and slightly cheesy read for the summer, check out Behooved. Read on for our full review.

The cover of The Incandescent has a dark background featuring an intricate gold line illustration of a phoenix-like in mid-flight. The bird's detailed plumage and flowing tail feathers form swirling patterns. Around the bird are small star icons and fine lines.

Book Review: THE INCANDESCENT

Alex Faccibene

The Incandescent is a dark academia novel that examines an unseen side of the story: what the teachers are up to. Read on for our review.

The cover of Luminous has a gradient of purple and green hues. In the center, a geometric, abstract illustration of a tiger is standing on a green triangular platform. The tiger is composed of colorful triangles, including shades of yellow, pink, blue, and black.

Book Review: LUMINOUS

Alex Faccibene

Luminous is an early contender for one of our favorite reads of 2025. Read on for our full review of this great debut.

The cover for Kristy Boyce's Dating and Dragons featuring an upclose shot of Quinn holding dice and of Logan with his chin in his hand.

Tavern Talk Thursday: DATING AND DRAGONS Book Review

Julia Roth

Tavern Talk Thursday is here with a look and our feelings on Kristy Boyce's upcoming novel Dating and Dragons. Is it a must-read or a pass?

Book Review: MY MOTHER CURSED MY NAME

Alex Faccibene

My Mother Cursed My Name is a clever and unusual story of generational trauma with elements of magical realism. Read on for our full review.

The cover of The Daughters' War has a woman with a shield crouching on a battlefield full of bodies. She's leaning over a fallen soldier. Around her are fires and smoke and the background is dark red.

Book Review: THE DAUGHTERS’ WAR

Alex Faccibene

The Daughters' War is an epic, gruesome story of heroism against all odds. Click through to check out our full review.

The cover of The Silverblood Promise has a figure in a cloak standing on a rooftop with a smaller person holding a crossbow. They're seen from behind, looking out on a medieval city and a street crowded with people.

Book Review: THE SILVERBLOOD PROMISE

Alex Faccibene

If you’re looking for a lighter version of The Lies of Locke Lamora, check out The Silverblood Promise. Read on for our full review.

The cover of The Z Word has a white letter Z cutting through comic-book style frames. The frames have from top to bottom, left to right: a seltzer can, dripping brains, two women kissing, a crowd of hands reaching up, a slice of pizza, and a bloody axe.

Book Review: THE Z WORD

Alex Faccibene

The Z Word is a queer, messy and fun take on the zombie canon. Click through to check out our full review.

The cover of A Short Walk Through a Wide World is blue-green with white font. Around the edges are black vines, trees, and the Eiffel Tower.

Book Review: A SHORT WALK THROUGH A WIDE WORLD

Alex Faccibene

A Short Walk Through a Wide World is compared to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Midnight Library, but does it live up to the hype?

The cover of Sun of Blood and Ruin has white text on a red background. The title weaves together with green leaves, red flowers, and a panther and serpent locked in battle.

Book Review: SUN OF BLOOD AND RUIN

Alex Faccibene

Sun of Blood and Ruin is an ambitious debut that tries to accomplish a lot, but does it rise to the challenge? Read on for our full review.

Cover art for In a Not So Perfect World featuring pink and blue palm trees and two people sitting on a beach.

Book Review: IN A NOT SO PERFECT WORLD

Julia Roth

Love and tension are in the air in Neely Tubati Alexander's upcoming novel In a Not So Perfect World. Check out our thoughts on the book.

The cover of The Fox Maidens features an Asian girl with long black hair tied behind her head. Behind her, a white fox stands on a tree branch.

Book Review: THE FOX MAIDENS

Alex Faccibene

The Fox Maidens is an atmospheric new graphic novel full of depth and heart. Click through for our full review!

The cover of The Parliament has a silhouette of an owl on a branch against a pink background

Book Review: THE PARLIAMENT

Alex Faccibene

Thank you to Tordotcom for sending me a copy of The Parliament in exchange for an honest review. When tens ...