4/5 stars Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks , by Patrick Radden Keefe (2022) I read Keefe's Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder & Memory in Northern Ireland   in 2020 for my book club, and really enjoyed his long-form journalism. Coming from someone who, at the time anyway, had read very little non-fiction, Keefe combines insightful and well-researched story-telling with a writing style that is compelling and narrative. In Rogues , Keefe has curate

4/5 stars Guilty by Definition , by Susie Dent (2019) Martha is the newly appointed senior editor of the Clarendon English Dictionary in Oxford, England, working with fellow lexicographers Alex, Safi, and Simon. When they start receiving cryptic letters in the mail, at first they don't think much of it. But as they look closer and start to decipher some of the clues, it becomes apparent that the writer, who calls him or herself "Chorus," is dropping hints about the mysteriou

4/5 stars 1984 , by George Orwell (1949) I know I'm late to the game on this one. Most folks have already read this, I bet! In this post-apocalyptic future set in what may be 1984 (no one is really sure of the date anymore): Big Brother is always watching. War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. ... That last one, in particular, really got me, given the times we're living in now, and the way we, as a country, reward stupidity. The world is divided into three

4/5 stars A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping , by Sangu Mandanna (2025) Having read and thoroughly enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches last year, I was excited to read Mandanna's most recent witchy novel. The characters are all new, though the premise is similar - loner witch hiding from society finds community with other witches and misfits. But here, she owns a B&B! A special one that can only be found by people who are in need of a safe space. Sera Sw

4/5 stars An Academy for Liars , by Alexis Henderson (2024) A hidden school of magic in the heart of Savannah, GA, complete with lots of beautiful, atmospheric hanging moss and lots and lots of secrets. Protagonist Lennon has just run away from an ill-advised engagement, after having found her fiancé with another woman at their engagement party. She takes his car and hits the road, without any more direction than "away from here." When she pulls off the road, she gets a ver

4/5 stars The Memory of Animals , by Claire Fuller (2023) I'm always surprised when a post-apocalyptic novel surprises me. There are so many ways to do and say and show the same things that others have already done and said and shown. The Memory of Animals doesn't escape all of this sort of repetition, but it is a unique take on the story. The main character is Neffy (Nefeli), a former marine biologist specializing in octopuses, who was let go and is now disgraced and stra

4/5 stars The Writing Retreat , by Julia Bartz (2023) This is one of those books where it’s best to go into it knowing only the very basics - like, what’s on the back cover - so I won’t say too much. But I really enjoyed this literary murder mystery / thriller / haunted house story! Rosa Vallo is a famous author known for her feminist horror novels. She lives a reclusive life in a large estate in the Catskills, but once a year she invites a small group of female writers to h

4/5 stars The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches , by Sangu Mandanna (2022) Delightful! "A warm & witchy hug of a book" is right! Reminded me a lot of The House in the Cerulean Sea , but with female witches (kids and adults) instead of the motley crew of various "magical youths." Mika Moon is witch, but has been taught all her life that she must not only hide her magic, but stay away from all other witches, save for once a year when a group of about 10 get together for

4/5 stars Make It Scream, Make It Burn , by Leslie Jamison (2019) One of my favorite nonfiction books is Leslie Jamison's The Empathy...

4/5 stars The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales & Dangerous Magic , by Leigh Bardugo (2017) Illustrated by Sara Kipin I guess I'm...

4/5 stars Green Frog: Stories , by Gina Chung (2024) Short story collections can be tough for me. Often I feel like some are great while...

4/5 stars Chain-Gang All Stars , by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (2023) Trigger Warnings: Graphic violence, Imprisonment and enslavement,...

4/5 stars Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) , by Jesse Sutanto (2025) Another cozy murder mystery with your favorite old...

4/5 stars The Crane Husband , by Kelly Barnhill (2023) Barnhill does magical realism very well. I've read two other novels by her - The...

4/5 stars Witchmark and Stormsong , by C.L. Polk (2018 and 2020) A great one-sentence summary from a post on Goodreads:...

4/5 stars Black Star , by Kwame Alexander (2024) TW: Racism, KKK activity, reference to a lynching This is a sequel to The Door of No...

4 & 3 out of 5 stars What Moves the Dead and What Feasts at Night , by T. Kingfisher (2022 & 2024) 4/5 stars What Moves the Dead A...

4/5 stars Sleeping Giants , by Rene Denfeld (2024) TW: Child abuse and death, sexual assault, institutionalization, foster care I saw...

4/5 stars Woodworm , by Layla Martínez (2021) Translated by Sophie Hughes & Annie McDermott I got this in a book swap at my book club's...

4/5 stars A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking , by T. Kingfisher (2020) “Death by sourdough starter. Not a good way to go.” This book...