When I was young I was fascinated by the cultures of the Mayans and Aztecs so discovering a fantasy trilogy set in the pre-Columbian Americas when the fantasy genre is working well for me felt fortuitous. Black Sun begins with a mother mutilating her young son because she believes him to be a god. The past with its violence against tribes like his is about to come full circle ... Read More...
The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella
As evidenced by Wednesday’s review I’m always up for dark dark fiction if there’s humor somewhere in the horror. At the same time, I appreciate a gentler approach—slice-of-life novels if you will. Ethan Joella’s The Same Bright Stars fits in this quieter space perfectly. Jack Schmidt has been in the restaurant business since he was a little boy. Now in his early 50s he’s begun ... Read More...
June Reading Wrap-Up
That’s it for June, another month in the books (sorry couldn’t resist). We’ve been fortunate here in Seattle with weather that’s been chillier than usual, but with plenty of sunshine. For someone who doesn’t like too much heat it’s been perfect. Apologies to all of you sweltering in various parts of the country. It’s also been a great month of reading if not writing. I’m still ... Read More...
Sociopath: A Memoir
It wasn’t until the 70s and 80s that men like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy entered the national public consciousness. Their horrific crimes birthed new terms that have now become almost commonplace and are used seriously (and sometimes in jest amongst friends): psychopath and sociopath. But what are the actual definitions of those terms and more importantly, what would life be ... Read More...
The Return of Ellie Black
A father and son hiking in the forest in Southwestern WA encounter a young woman, emaciated and bruised. Her name is Elizabeth Black and she’s been missing for two years. This is the attention-grabbing opening of Emiko Jean’s new novel The Return of Ellie Black, a tactic she uses superbly right up until the end of this slow burn suspense novel. Ellie’s return brings joy to ... Read More...
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
Siblings Gloria and Robert live on their own in a small Florida town after their father was run out of town for trying to get the local mill workers to unionize. Their position is precarious because it’s the 1950s and Jim Crow, the KKK, and racism are still strong in Florida. So, when 12-year-old Robert kicks a white teenage football player in the leg for making advances on ... Read More...
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 25
- Next Page »






