A Mid-Month Reading Update

Some of the Book I hope to read before end 2026

The missus is having a nap so I'll start this tonight. If I complete the post, good enough. Otherwise, I'll get back to it tomorrow sometime. 

Books Completed (4 books completed since my last update, for a total of 6 in October so far)

1.  Frostbite; A Graphic Novel by Ian Boothby, illustrated by Pia Guerra (YA / Hor / 2026)

"Frostbite: A Graphic Novel by Ian Boothby and illustrated by Pia Guerra was a nice quick little horror story for YA in a graphic novel format. The teaser sort of says it all, ‘Beware the Dead of Winter’. It starts off with a busload of young players trying to get home in the night. The driver and coach are lost. The bus skids off the road. The coach and driver head off to see if they can find help. They see a cottage in the wood. The driver sinks into the snow. The kids run to the cottage but…… all of them disappear.

Move ahead a few years and we meet Jen and Dante. The are teenage influencers, traveling on a chopper to find a location to snowboard. The chopper flies ahead to meet them. Bev is dropped off to film them coming down the hill. Dante has his ankle slashed somehow. They proceed to the chopper but…. No crew!

The trio make their way into a small town and their gear is stolen by a guy on a snowmobile. The trio with the help of two young people from town head off in chase. They arrive at the river, but they’re not supposed to go over it. The land beyond is a forbidden zone. But, hey, guess what, they go anyway and that’s where they meet… well, now you have to continue, don’t you.

It’s an entertaining, fast paced story and well drawn by Boothby’s wife Pia Guerra. Not a lot of time developing the characters, it’s the setting and the story that is most important. It was enjoyable, not too terrifying or graphic, just enough to hold your interest. (3.5 stars)"

2. Heart on my Sleeve; Stories of a Life Well Worn by Jeanne Beker (Non Fic / 2024).

"Heart on My Sleeve: Stories from a Life Well Worn by Jeanne Beker is a memoir by a Canadian fashion icon. Jeanne Beker was one of the first VJs on Canada's Much Music and reported on music. She also was a fashion reporter on various publications and TV shows.

Jeanne tells the story in a unique fashion. Each chapter features a piece of clothing from her life and how it relates to her life at that time and how it relates to her life in general. The chapter called Itsy-Bitsy Bikini is about her interview with Andy Summers of The Police, which he wanted conducted in a bubbly bath surrounded by candles. Jeanne was game and wore the 'itsy bitsy bikini'. She also saved Andy when his hair caught fire from the candles. (The video of that interview is still on You Tube if you're interested in seeing it.)

Jeanne has had an interesting complete life. She's interviewed and made friends with many Canadian stars; Toller Cranston, Gordon Lightfoot, Linda Evangelista and also international celebrities. She's fought breast cancer (Lost and Found), married a few times, raised to lovely daughters, was awarded to the Order of Canada. 

Her life seems so fascinating and she tells the story in an easy, informal, light style. Considering that I grew up during this period, it made it even more interesting for me. As the title of the book says, Jeanne lived a life well worn. (3.5 stars)"

3. Tuck Everlasting; the Graphic Novel by Natalie Babbitt, illustrated by K. Woodman-Maynard (Fiction / 2026)

"I have never read the original Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt but I had heard of it. A couple of years ago, I discovered Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel, adapted and illustrated by K. Woodman-Maynard, the cover was so appealing that I thought I should check it out. Over the past few years I've begun to really explore the world of graphic novels, including those adapting classic novels.

Right from the get-go, this story dragged me in. In its most basic, it's an exploration of life and death. Young Winnie Foster lives a protected life with her parents and gran. She spends most of her time in conversation with a toad. She decides to run away from home but is hesitant to do so. One night a man in a yellow suit visits. This is after a strange music is heard from the forest that is owned by the Tucker family.

The next morning, Winnie decides to explore the glade, even though it's forbidden to her. She sees a young  man, Jesse Tuck, drinking from a spring. When he sees her, he hides it, even though Winnie is thirsty and wants a drink. Jesse's mother, Mae Tuck and his brother Miles Tuck spirit Winnie away as they are worried about what she's discovered. The man in yellow sees this and follows.

The Tuck family promise to send Winnie home but they need to explain about the spring and the dangers of its life-changing powers. She ends up spending the night with them and each member of the Tuck family tells how dangerous the spring is and how its impacted their lives. Meanwhile, the man in the yellow suit has gone to the Foster family and says he'll get Winnie back, but the family has to sell him the grove first.

I think I'll stop there because you really should read the rest for yourself. The story moves along quickly but for its speed, it provides so much thoughtful conversation. The characters are all well-crafted and relatable. There is a strong tension to the story as the yellow-suited man and police approach the Tuck's farm. There is also a sadness that's unexpected at the end. It's a unique story and at the end there is an interview between Natalie Babbitt's daughter and K. Woodman-Maynard that provides more insight into the story and Maynard's interpretation. Beautifully drawn and colored, it's an excellent adaptation. (4.0 stars)"

4. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Fan / Empyrean #1 / 2023)

"I started reading Fourth Wing the 1st book in the Empyrean fantasy series by Rebeca Yarros about 4 months ago. I readily admit that its size was kind of intimidating. But every time I put it down, no matter how many other books I was working through, when I would pick it up next, I found it so easy to get back into the flow of the story, to remember the excellently constructed characters. And when I finally settled down to complete it, it took no time at all. Just an excellent, entertaining story.

Violet (sometimes nicknamed Violence) Sorrengail had planned to become a Scribe like her dead father, to spend her life in the vaults of books in the kingdom of Navarre. But her mother, the commanding general, had other plans. She assigns Violet to the Rider Quadrant where she will follow in the footsteps of her brother Brennan and her sister Mira. What you have to know is that Riders in fact ride dragons. Yup. And as they progress through their first year at the Rider Academy, a dragon will eventually bond with one of the students.... or maybe just kill him / her. 

This is not your standard first year at college. You either pass or fail and, by fail, I mean, die. And you can kill your fellow 1st years. The less there are to compete for a dragon bonding, the better the odds of survival. Violet makes an especially tempting target. She's the commanding - general's daughter. She's not very big and prone to injury. And there are a number of 'marked' students, the children of a traitorous uprising whose parents were executed by Mom. They tend to bear a grudge against Violet.

Mira is completely against Violet being assigned to the Rider Quadrant but when she can't persuade dear Mom to change her mind, she equips Violet as well as she can, with a special dragon skin armor and other things. Violet's best friend, Dain, a 2nd year and also a flight commander constantly encourages Violet to sneak to the Scribe Quadrant, but Violet refuses.

There are people who especially hate Violet; I mentioned those kids of the executed parents.. Well, Xaden Riorson's father led the rebellion and he's now Violet's boss, Fourth Wing Commander. There is also Jack Barlowe who really wants to make a name for himself by killing Violet.

So the stage is set and Violet needs to survive to be bonded with a dragon. She does have some friends, especially Rhiannon who helps her with her battle training and things like that.

The story moves along at a steady pace and Violet proves she's no push over and isn't beyond a bit of trickery to help her defeat her opponents (a touch of poison anyone?) She eventually bonds with a dragon... no wait, not just one. But I won't go any further with that part, just know that she continues to progress. She starts to realize that who might be her enemy, might not be and who she thought of as friends, well, they might not be so friendly. 

The longer she lasts, the stronger she gets and finally, as all dragon riders do, she finds out her powers (you either get the power or you die because it basically eats you up)

There are intrigues within the Rider's Quadrant and it seems that the students aren't being told everything that is going on in the outside world. 

It's such a rich, fantastic story. The world Yarros has created is cleverly opened up to our view. The characters are all so well-developed that you grow to like or hate them as you learn more about them. The developing relationship between Violet and Xaden is surprising and neatly handled. Personally, I could have done without the description of the physical relationship, but I can see its importance to what happens later in the story. All in all, a great start to a series and I may have to get #2. (4.5 stars)"

The other books I've set aside to read by end 2026)

Currently Reading (started since my last update)

1. Case Pending by Dell Shannon (Lt. Mendoza #1 / 1960). I have read one other book in this crime series. It was most enjoyable.

"A murdered girl, a missing doll, an illegally adopted child - a trilogy of mystery for Lieutenant Luis Mendoza."

2. The Motive (also Death of a Nymph) by Evelyn Piper (Mys / 1950). I have read Bunny Lake is Missing and The Nanny, also by Piper.

"Shirley Kolp was not an easy person to understand. Someone really had to know her to want to murder her.

Evidently, someone did.
But who?... And why?"

3. Driven by Mason Coile (Hor / 2026). I've read books by Coile under his real name, Andrew Pyper. 

"Jamie Newcross wants to disappear. His wife and baby girl have abandoned him, and his only wish is to retreat from society. Because, as it turns out, Jamie Newcross is also being haunted. Every house, condo, or apartment he moves into is plagued with ghosts—at the end of the bed or when pulling back the shower curtain. He hasn’t been able to sleep in weeks. 

But Jamie has a plan. He posts queries online and finds someone wanting to get rid of their Lion—the world’s most advanced self-driving car—a sleek, private, contained vessel that is one-hundred percent safe. Or so he thought.  

Because now, Jamie has woken up to the Lion speeding down a dark road, the hood is dented—wait, is that blood?—and the car will not respond, or stop, or let him out.  

As the miles rack up and Jamie becomes increasingly complicit in his car’s choices, he's forced to face the tragic past he has kept buried. Driven is a taut, near-future fever-dream. Mason Coile delivers another one-sitting read that blends science fiction and psychological horror to explore loneliness, grief, and the things that make us human."

Newest Arrivals

1. Treat Them as Buffalo by Blair Palmer Yoxall (Indigenous / Hist Fic / 2026).

"A gripping historical novel about the mysterious kidnapping of Métis boys, the women who search for them, and a town set on edge, told against the backdrop of the North-West Resistance of 1885

During a game of buffalo hunters, young Nikosis Eriksen’s cousin goes missing in broad daylight, leaving nothing but scuff marks in the muddy spring snow. It’s the first in a series of kidnappings of local Métis boys that sets the town of Lac-aux-Trois-Pistoles, Saskatchewan, on high alert. As the new detachment of North-West Mounted Police drag their feet, the women of the Eriksen-Desjarlais family—Niko’s Nimama, Auntie, and Chapan—take on the desperate search for Cousin.

Gunslinger Kate McCannon and her band of women and children have been living in a camp outside town while the family men have joined Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont in the resistance. News of the victory at Duck Lake arrives in the camp as McCannon and the women join the search for the missing boys.

When a boy is recovered alive yet badly wounded, the need to find Cousin becomes all the more pressing. It isn’t until Niko discovers the truth about the man responsible for the kidnappings that he is forced to grapple with his own identity and resolves to bring Cousin back, no matter what.

Told in the unforgettable young voice of Niko, Treat Them as Buffalo is a remarkable debut novel about the violent events of 1885 and the survival of a people when threat comes from every direction.

2. Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus (Fic / 2026). I enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry so very much. I'm looking forward to trying this.

"Batter Gray is worried about his future. Even when he was eleven, his classmates seemed to have settled on a goal: doctor, lawyer, broker, engineer. Good jobs that automatically command respect, security, 401Ks. Now Batter is in his early twenties, living in New York City, and he wants something different; something that alienates some readers and bores most. Poetry. And yet—to him and exactly thirty-nine editors at a company called Peck & Peck—poetry not only represents the power of humanity but holds the key to its survival.

Batter is named after his mother’s heroic dog. An identical twin who lost his brother at birth, he finds himself confronted by the everyday dualities that make up life: right vs. wrong, truth vs. lies, rejection vs. acceptance. It’s almost as if his dead brother is a reminder: there are always two sides to every story.

No, wait. Make that three."

3. How to Eat an Elephant; One Voter at a Time by Sarah Longwell (Non Fic / 2026). Jo and I enjoy watching the Bulwark online and Longwell is the founder.

"The playbook for consigning MAGA-style politics to the ash heap of history (where it belongs). Featuring a foreword by Jonathan V. Last (AKA JVL).

After Donald Trump won the 2024 election, Sarah Longwell did what she's done nearly every week for the past eight years: She sat down with voters. She conducted hundreds of focus groups, listening to thousands of ordinary Americans—Republicans, Democrats, and the politically homeless—with the goal of understanding politics through the eyes of the people who will decide our country’s future.

American voters, and what they want for their country, are at the heart of How to Eat an Elephant. Longwell, the founder of The Bulwark and one of the sharpest political communicators of her generation, lays out the playbook for building a coalition big enough, bold enough, and tough enough to defeat authoritarian populism for good. Not with a single election. Not by doing another poll or debating the benefits of being more progressive or more moderate, but by building something new: A modern pro-democracy movement that can create its own communications infrastructure—just like the right has done for decades—achieve narrative dominance, elevate more compelling leaders, and talk to voters like adults.

Drawing on her own unlikely political journey from a lesbian Republican operative to the vanguard of the anti-MAGA movement, Longwell delivers a book that is equal parts war manual and pep talk—with her personal and professional story woven throughout. With her trademark bluntness and humor, she explains exactly how we got here and, more importantly, what we must build next—all while directly quoting the most important but overlooked people in the country: the voters themselves.

She answers the question: How do you eat an elephant? One voter at a time."

4. The American Way of Killing; The Invention of an Epidemic by Malcolm Gladwell (Non Fic / 2026) I've read a couple of other books by Gladwell and he is always interesting and informative.

"Malcolm Gladwell’s most urgent book yet: a provocative investigation of America’s epidemic of gun violence.

The United States has far more homicides than any of its peers around the world. Why?

In this groundbreaking book, Malcolm Gladwell explores the American “peculiarity”—how the world’s wealthiest country came to suffer from a problem typically only seen in the world’s poorest countries.

Drawing on original interviews, archival and social science research, and his trademark insight, Gladwell approaches the American paradox through a series of stories. What can we learn from the miracle of a young gunshot victim in Washington, D.C.? How have the legal troubles of a seventeenth-century English knight influenced American attempts at gun control? Why would a European police chief be baffled by the graduation ceremony at any American police academy?

In a sweeping narrative, Gladwell travels from a shooting range in North Carolina, to the South Side of Chicago, to an old plantation house in Alabama, painting a picture of a country that does not understand its most pressing social problem, and as result, does not understand how to fix it."

There you go. See any books that tweak your fancy?

Weekend Reading Update... well, it's almost the weekend.

Anthony making himself comfie in the backyard.

Jenn's been here for a week now with her dog Anthony and all is well. At the moment, Jenn is putting some flowers in a vase (which she received from a friend she met yesterday), Anthony is watching and Jo is relaxing with a game on her laptop. In my last entry I talked about horror books so it's time for a normal update. 

Just Finished

(4 books completed since I last did a reading update. It's been a bit of a slow month)

1. Talk Treaty to Me, Understanding the Basics of Treaties and Land in Canada by Crystal Gail Fraser & Sara Komarnisky (Non Fic / Can Lit / 2026).

"Over the past few years, I've been trying to educate myself on Canada's indigenous culture, history, issues. I started with some graphic novels; Katherena Vermette's A Girl Called Echo series, which talks about the history of the Metis in Manitoba, If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie, which is a heart breaking letter to the Winnipeg Chief of Police about missing indigenous girls and the lack of support from the police services; Five Little Indians by Michelle Good, a novel about the effects of Canada's residential schools on indigenous children; This Place: 150 Years Retold by Kateri Akiwenzie - Damm, telling the history of Canada (& a look at the future) from indigenous story - tellers; Sugar Falls, a Residential School story by by David A. Robertson, a graphic novel about residential schools; Borders by Thomas King; a graphic about an indigenous mother living in Canada with her son and her efforts to cross the Can / US border to visit her daughter living in the US. There have also been a number of Sci Fi / Dystopic stories written by indigenous authors, all interesting perspectives of the future.

The purpose for listing those books and graphics and novels wasn't to pat myself on the back but to get on to my look at two of my most recent books. The Bad Indians Book Club by Patty Krawec was a fascinating discussion of books in all genres that Patty and her Book Club podcast recommended as they also talked about issues indigenous peoples are facing. 

And finally, the subject of this review; Talk Treaty to Me: Understanding the Basics of Treaties and Land in Canada by Crystal Gail Fraser & Sara Komarnisky. This is a non fiction book released in 2026, which goes through Canada's history up until the current day and examines the issues faced by indigenous peoples because of the treaties negotiated with them, first by early settlers, the English, French, Dutch, etc. and then, when Canada became a nation, the treaties negotiated with the Canadian, provincial and territorial governments. I'll say it's a fascinating book, providing me with much information that I didn't know. But at the same time, it's a depressing book as I realize the scope of the treatment that our indigenous peoples, our neighbours, our friends were put through as they tried to learn to deal with and live in harmony with this 'settler class' that was forcing its values and ways down their throats.

The books also covers the pre-colonization / settler era, showing how North America's indigenous peoples made treaties between each other, what a treaty meant to them; a sharing of the land, living harmoniously between each other. That was not always (ever?) the case with settlers arrived. Treaties were negotiated. The understanding of what a treaty meant between the various negotiators varied. To the indigenous peoples, the concept of treaty 'focused on diplomacy and concepts of peace, friendship and non-interference'. The original Dutch settlers considered the relationship to be a paternalistic one, the Dutch as fathers, the indigenous as children. The Haudenosaunee nation rejected this. To them a treaty meant they were Brothers, 'two paths or two vessels traveling down a river together.'

The reason I mentioned all of the other books at first is because this book is kind of the center of a circle and as you branch out, you find the topics discussed in those other books, highlighted here. Residential schools, the Pass Card system meant to keep indigenous people on their reservations, in their country, non recognition of Metis and Inuit as being indigenous and therefore not requiring treaties.

As I say, it's a depressing book, but the more people try to understand the purpose of the book, the history of Canada's treatment of its indigenous population, maybe this relationship can become a more harmonious one. Optimistically, as one of the settler class, I hope small steps have been made and that we can take two steps forward to the one we probably still take back. Canada is a better country if we live harmoniously with everyone else who live here. It makes it a better place. 

OK, I'll leave it there. Read the book. (4.0 stars)"

2. Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark (Hor / His Fic / 2020)

"Wow! Do I need to say anything else about Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark? Oh... I do? OK. Well, Ring Shout is historical fiction along with alternate history and  horror, all packed up in less than 200 pages. It's about Maryse Boudreaux and her two friends and fellow freedom fighters, Sadie, of the sharp shooting skill and Chef, also known by Cordelia, ex WWI veteran and an expert with bombs. It's 1915 in Macon, Ga. Maryse has a magical sword that channels the anger, guilt, rage of dead slaves, slave traders, etc. These three,  along with Nana Jean, a Gullah woman, a kind of witch are fighting for their lives against the Klan. 

This more than your average Klan. There are human Klan members but many have been converted to Ku Kluxers, demons who have taken over the bodies of the humans. D W Griffiths The Birth of a Nation. This film is demonized and has brought about a 2nd Klan revival and the demons are hungry. The trio  are fighting to get rid of them, to send them back to hell.

But..... But.... the three face an even stronger enemy, led by someone called Butcher Clyde. He wants, needs Maryse to help with his own invasion. Ans he's evil!!! Oh, right, Maryse also has three more mentors, three ladies who live in another time slip (let's call it that), three aunties who chose Maryse after her family was destroyed by Klan monsters. They gave her the sword.

I'll leave the plot there. It's a fascinating story. For a relatively short story, the characters are well fleshed out. The plot moves along quickly. You quickly develop strong feelings for the three women. They are all individuals and fascinating characters. There are secrets. There is lots of action. There is a lot of emotion. You may cry. Clark has grabbed you quickly, got you involved immediately and led you on a breathless race to the end. One of the best books I've read this year. (5.0 stars)"

3. Pump Six and Other Stories by Paolo Bacigalupi (Short Stories / 2008)

"Pump Six and Other Stories is the 2nd work by Paolo Bacigalupi that I've enjoyed. The first was The Windup Girl which was a unique dystopian look at the future. At least two of the stories in this collection of 10 are precursors to Windup Girl; The Calorie Man and Yellow Card Man, which features Tranh, who I think becomes Hok Sen in Wind up Girl. 

At any rate, overall I enjoyed the stories very much. I think my favorites were Pocketful of Dharma, about a young Asian boy who is paid to deliver a package, discovers its something important... Liked it very much. The Fluted Girl is about two genetically manipulated young girls who are turned into musical instruments and play each other... Weird but fascinating. Calorie Man had many themes that are explored in Windup Girl and while it was a bit, let's say technical in jargon, it was very interesting.  Yellow Card Man tells the story of Tranh, a once rich exporter, a Chinese man living in Malay, who is destroyed and is now trying to survive in the Kingdom of Thailand. Great character study.

While some weren't as good as others, and that might have been the themes, all of the stories were different and interesting. Baciogalupi creates interesting situations and characters. I enjoyed exploring this collection as it gave a perspective of the range of his story telling. I have two more of his books on my shelf. Looking forward to checking them out. (3.5 stars)"

4. How to Survive the End of the World, a Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction by Katy Doughty (Graphic / Non Fic / 2026)

"I saw How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction by Katy Doughty when I was wandering through my local book store and it looked interesting enough to check out. And I hadn't purchased a new book in a little while so what the hey.

Kate Doughty is a cartoonist and public health researcher and this book seems right up her alley. It examines possible world extinction events using history, science, analysis by experts and also great art work. The book is divided into various possible activities / events that might end civilization; plagues (viruses), nuclear explosions / volcanoes, climate activity, AI, asteroids / meteors and cosmic collapse (the Big Bang in reverse, aka Gnab Gib).

So, as a subject matter, it's kind of depressing subject but Doughty manages to also inject positivity in the story. But that doesn't mean that the subject shouldn't be taken seriously, especially the chapters on Climate Meltdown and Pandemics. Something has to be reversed in our way of treating the planet.

Because it's in a graphic novel format, the subjects are somewhat glossed over, but there is still lots of interesting facts and information. And Doughty does not play down the information, it's very thoughtful and quite scientific at times. Interesting book for dangerous times. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Cobra Trap by Peter O'Donnell (Short Stories / Thriller / 1996)

"Created in a 1950s comic strip that is still in syndication in more than 40 countries today, the stories of Modesty Blaise have spawned a cult following around the world. These are the first new Modesty stories in 11 years, and they span her career, from the early days of running the Network, to her shadowy work for British Intelligence. From Tangier, to the Pyrenees, to a South American jungle—Modesty and her trusted lieutenant Willie Garvin dispatch an old nemesis, upset a particularly wicked gang of kidnappers, and risk their lives to rescue old friends from certain death. The skill and nerve that Modesty and her accomplices display in combat and under pressure will delight Modesty fans, both new and old."

2. Inspector West Alone by John Creasey (Insp West #9 / 1950).

"The Inspector has been framed for murder! He is found by the police in an empty house with the body of a dead girl near him, battered with an axe bearing West's fingerprints, and the identification in his wallet is not his own! He risks his career, life and the safety of everyone close to him as he untangles this set-up."

3. A Cat Story by Ursula Murray Husted (Graphic / YA / 2020). I enjoyed Botticelli's Apprentice very much.

"A graphic novel about two irresistible cat friends on a journey to find their forever home—a journey inspired by the magic of art and storytelling.

Cilla and Betto are two friends who need a place to call home. The docks in Valletta are too wet, and the scraps of food too scarce. The city’s streets are too busy, and the humans too unreliable.

But what about the quiet garden from old kitten tales—a place where all cats are welcome, and the humans are always kind? Could the stories really be true?

As Cilla and Betto embark on a grand adventure to find out, they begin to spin a tale of their own—one that will take them through the art and stories of many journeyers who came before, and that will bring them to a surprising destination."

Newest Arrivals

It never fails that no books arrive for awhile and then I buy one and all of a sudden they all arrive.. LOL!

1. Red by Jack Ketchum (Horror / 1996). I've read one book by Ketchum and it was very scary.

"Jack Ketchum’s previous novel, The Lost , caught readers’ attention like a well-timed gunshot. Fans and critics alike hailed it for its power, its thrills, and its gripping style, and recognized Ketchum as a master of suspense. Now, Jack Ketchum is back to frighten us again with… Red ! It all started with a simple act of brutality. Three boys shot and killed an old man’s dog. No reason, just plain meanness. But the dog was the best thing in the old man’s world, and he wasn’t about to let it pass. He wanted justice, and he’d make sure the kids paid for what they did, even if it cost him his life. They picked the wrong old man to mess with. And as the fury and violence escalate, they’re about to learn that…the hard way."

2. One Message Remains by Premee Mohamed (Short Stories / Fan / 2025). I keep buying books by Mohamed. This was nominated for the Ursula K. Le Guin Award for 2026.

"Pageantry, pomp, pretense, and peril—"The General's Turn,” originally published in The Deadlands, drew readers into the dark world of a ceremony where Death herself might choose to join the audience... or step onto the stage.

Award-winning author Premee Mohamed presents three brand new stories set in this morally ambiguous world of war and magic. In “One Message Remains,” Major Lyell Tzajos leads his team on a charity mission through the post-armistice world of East Seudast, exhuming the bones and souls of dead foes for repatriation. But the buried fighters may have one more fight left in them—and they have chosen their weapons well.

In “The Weight of What is Hollow,” Taya is the latest apprentice of a long-honored tradition: building the bone-gallows for prisoners of war. But her very first commission will pit her skills against both her family and her oppressor.

Finally, in “Forsaking All Others,” ex-soldier Rostyn must travel the little-known ways by night to avoid his pursuers, for desertion is punishable by death. As he flees to the hoped-for sanctuary of his grandmother's village, he is joined by a fellow deserter—and, it seems, the truth of a myth older than the land itself.

“Premee Mohamed is one of Canada's most exciting thinkers and writers of speculative fiction. Her stories bravely go where few dare to, each employing a deftness of language and surety of form that offers a fresh experience each time. One Message Remains and the stories within are no exception, each tale different from the other, yet all very much quintessential Premee stories. Readers of her works, long and short both, will find much to love here.” — Suyi Davies Okungbowa, author of Son of the Storm and Lost Ark Dreaming"

3. Sunward by William Alexander (Sci Fi / 2025). This was another nominee. I ordered a few of them.

"A cozy debut science fiction novel by National Book Award–winning writer William Alexander, this story of found family follows a planetary courier training adolescent androids in a solar system grappling with interplanetary conflict after a devastating explosion on Earth’s moon.

Captain Tova Lir chose a life as a courier rather than get involved in her family’s illustrious business in politics. Set in humanity’s far future, hiring a planetary courier is essential for delivering private messages across the stars.

Encouraged by friends, Tova begins mentoring baby bots, juvenile AI who are developmentally in their teens, and trains them how to interact within society essentially becoming their foster mom. Her latest charge, Agatha Panza von Sparkles, named herself on their first run from Luna to Phoebe station. But on their return, they encounter a derelict spaceship and a lurking assassin, igniting a thrilling chase across the solar system.

Tova and Agatha’s daring actions leave Agatha’s mind vulnerable, relying on Tova’s former AI pupils for help. As Tova starts gathering her scattered family around her, she is chased through the solar system by forces who want her captured and her family erased. This debut science fiction novel by National Book Award–winning author William Alexander is a must-read for fans of Becky Chambers and Ursula K. Le Guin. Lovers of poignant science fiction, where the bonds of found family, the evolution of AI, and the building distrust of centuries of bias, come together in this visionary look at humanity’s future."

4. Jade City by Fonda Lee (The Green Bone Saga #1 / 2017) Fonda Lee is a Canadian author of Fantasy & Sci Fi and I checked her out when I discovered she was one of the judges for the 2026 Awards.. I believe one of her books was also listed on the CBC Arts site.

"JADE CITY is a gripping Godfather-esque saga of intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and Kungfu.

The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion--but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection.

When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself."

5. Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies by Lindsay Wong (Hor / 2026). I've been checking out the CBC webpage as they regularly recommend Canadian authors and books to check out. This was one and it sounded interesting.

"A young woman signs her life away in the ancient Chinese tradition of corpse marriage in this wickedly hilarious novel about class, ambition, and the burden of being an impoverished model minority.

Poor, vicious Locinda Lo is a nobody with a powerful witch for a grandmother and an undead corpse-kid-sister as her only friend. A broke MFA dropout living in Vancouver with six roommates and zero job prospects, she’s buried so deep in debt she might as well be six feet under—and her family is in danger of being buried along with her.

Desperate to escape her financial woes and save her grandmother and sister, Locinda signs a contract with a nefarious company, Joyful Coffin & Co. Matchmaking Services, to be auctioned off as a corpse bride to the highest bidder. Next thing she knows, she’s being smuggled underground into the damp caves where her training coffin awaits.

As Locinda prepares for a rich, dying dearly beloved to claim her as his bride-to-be in the Afterlife, her past becomes twisted with that of her grandmother, Baozhai. A feared and revered Villain Hitter, or witchy curse-monger, Baozhai’s legacy stretches from 1920s China to the Battle of Hong Kong in the 40s to New York City thereafter. Across the generational divide, one thing becomes achingly clear to them you can’t outrun your ghosts.

Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies is a daring, genre-bending meditation on life, death, and the murderous cost of living in between. It lays bare the societal and cultural expectations placed on Chinese women and the devastating price of enduring them. This chilling masterclass in fiction cements Lindsay Wong as one of the most provocative Canadian horror writers of our time."

6. Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese (Indigenous / CanLit / 2014). I've been trying to expand my library of Indigenous fiction and non fiction. A person I follow on Hey Cafe has been listing books and this one caught my attention.

""One of the finest novels of the year." ( Vancouver Sun ) By the celebrated author of Canada Reads finalist Indian Horse , this is an unforgettable journey of a father and son, set in dramatic landscape of the BC Interior. For male and female readers equally, for readers of Joseph Boyden, Cormac McCarthy, Thomas King, Russell Banks and general literary fiction.

Franklin Starlight is called to visit his father, Eldon. He's sixteen years old and has had the most fleeting of relationships with the man. The rare moments they've shared haunt and trouble Frank, but he answers the call, a son's duty to a father. What ensues is a journey through the rugged and beautiful backcountry, and a journey into the past, as the two men push forward to Eldon's end. From a poverty-stricken childhood, to the Korean War, and later the derelict houses of mill towns, Eldon relates both the desolate moments of his life and a time of redemption and love, and in doing so offers Frank a history he has never known, the father he has never had, and a connection to himself he never expected.

     A novel about love, friendship, courage, and the idea that the land has within it powers of healing, Medicine Walk reveals the ultimate goodness of its characters and offers a deeply moving and redemptive conclusion. Wagamese's writing soars and his insight and compassion are matched by his gift of communicating these to the reader."

7. Slow Gods by Claire North (Sci Fi / 2025). Another of the books nominated for the Le Guin award.

"My name is Mawukana na-Vdnaze, and I am a very poor copy of myself.

Slow Gods is the galaxy-spanning tale ​of one man's impossible life charted against the fate of humanity amongst the stars—a powerfully imaginative space opera from multi-award-winning author Claire North. 

In telling my story, there are certain things I should perhaps lie about. I should make myself a hero. Pretend I was not used by strangers and gods, did not leave people behind.
 
Here is one out there in deep space, in the pilot's chair, I died. And then, I was reborn. I became something not quite human, something that could speak to the infinite dark. And I vowed to become the scourge of the world that wronged me. 

This is the story of the supernova event that burned planets and felled civilizations. This is also the story of the many lives I've lived since I died for the first time.  
 
Are you listening?"

I have two other award nominees on order, plus a few others. They'll be added in a future BLog. Enjoy your weekend. Read a good book.

As June 2025 Winds Down...

The temperature has cooled down the past couple of days and we even had some rain, not lots but we needed it. It's been somewhat confusing regarding Jo's chemo. This past weeks was cancelled but when her doctor came back from vacation, he said it shouldn't have been so we were off to the clinic yesterday. It knocked her out a bit but she slept most of the evening and overnight, but she's much better today. 😊 

So the month is winding down... ALREADY! Time for a quick update on what I've been reading, etc. You know the skit if you read this Blog at all. All 12 of you.. 

Just Finished (2 books completed since my last update)

1. A Fragment of Fear by John Bingham (Mys / 1965). I've enjoyed a few of Bingham's books, this one didn't do it for me.

"A Fragment of Fear is the 4th mystery / thriller that I've read by English author, John  Bingham and it was the one I enjoyed the least, unfortunately. I like his writing style very much but I can't say I liked the main character very much and the ending was a bit wishy washy for me... Oh well. I will continue to read his stories but this one didn't work.

So, mystery writer James Compton is vacationing in Naples. He had been in a car accident which injured his legs so he has taken the opportunity to go there to just vacation and also to strengthen his legs. He's due to marry Juliet and she is in the US for work, so this is his opportunity to relax a bit. While there, he makes acquaintance of an elderly British woman, Mrs. Dawson. As the story begins, she's just been murdered in the ruins of Pompeii. Compton gets interested in the case and thinks it might make a nice mystery story.

Compton finds many odd things happening in Naples, the hotel manager is acting strangely, the police haven't solved the case. Compton finds her room door open so goes in and does a bit of a search. He also goes to the graveyard and finds only one decrepit wreath, from some group called the Stepping Stones. 

From the little bit of information he finds in her room, he discovers that she normally lives near Brighton in a hotel with other elderly people. Questioning them about Mrs. Dawson, she finds them somewhat disingenuous and cranky. On his way back to London on the train, he shares a room with a dumpy woman who he finally has a conversation with. As they leave, she gives him an envelope, which basically warns him off from further investigation. Now the story gets quite odd.

The letter has been typed on Compton's typewriter in his apartment. He decides to bring the letter to the police, only to find a police officer already on his door step. Oddly, the woman on the train has filed a complaint with the police. The cop says they don't really believe her, but Compton is quite obstreperous and finally forces the letter on the cop.

He discovers the next day, while reading the paper, that the woman has been murdered. Feeling he has to report his contact with her to the police, he goes to the police department but is basically not believed. Other odd things continue to happen and I won't get into all of them because it does make the story interesting. 

Compton is kind of like John Hannay in the 39 Steps, a man against an unseen threat and kind of isolated from any kind of help. Except Compton isn't all that nice. He's provided many opportunities by this 'threat' to stop investigating the murder of Mrs. Dawson, even to threatening Compton's fiancé, but due to his intransigence, he lets matters unfold, whether or not Juliet is hurt.

The story does finally unravel but it's not quite as satisfying as I would have liked. I liked the idea of the story, the mysterious threats, the isolation that Compton feels, but it wasn't quite good enough for me, I'm afraid. (2.5 stars)"

2. The Minority Report and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick (Sci Fi / 1987) I really enjoyed this. Dick is one of the unique writers of our time.

"I've been reading and enjoying the Sci Fi of Philip K. Dick since my university days. My favorite has always been The Man in the High Castle, probably my first attempt at a Dick work, if I remember correctly. I think it was one of the books we read for my Sci Fi novel course in my university days. I've read it 3 or 4 times and have also enjoyed the TV series, although I've never seen the end. But over the years, I've read another 11 books and also an interview with him. Some I enjoyed more than others; Dr. Bloodmoney was excellent, as were Do Androids Dream, A Maze of Death, etc. I could obviously go on. 😎😁

My latest attempt was for a short story challenge I'm doing this year, The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick 4: The Minority Report by Philip K. Dick|which was published 1987, although my particular copy is entitled, The Minority Report and Other Classic Stories by.... 

OK, now that we have that all settled, I enjoyed the collection very much. It consists of 18 stories and at the end are notes on each story. There is also an introduction by James Tiptree. The title story, The Minority Report, was made into a movie starring Tom Cruise and the movie was better. But I think that's because you can flesh out a movie much more. The story was still interesting. 

Let's see... some favorites. Waterspider was maybe my favorite as it was actually quite funny. It's a time travel story where people from the future believe Sci Fi writers are precogs and they especially want Poul Anderson to come to the future to help explain the problem they are having with space travel. He's picked up at a Sci Fi convention so we meet various other Sci Fi authors, including Philip K. Dick. The plan backfires and that old adage 'don't change the past' or it will impact the future... Well, it does in a funny kind of way.

Another time travel story, Orpheus With Clay Feet involves a man, Jesse Slade, who's bored with his life in the future (ok, his present) so he goes to a 'travel' agency where they send you into the past to motivate his favorite Sci Fi author, James Dowland, to switch from writing TV westerns to creating his magnum Sci Fi opus. Of course this also back fires and the travel agency has other plans for Jesse (neat idea). As a nice twist, Orpheus With Clay Feet was written by Dick under the pseudonym of, you guessed it, James Dowland. hee hee.

The last story Oh, to be a Blobel is supposed to be anti war story, how war makes you more like the people you are fighting. An interesting quote from Dick in his notes on this subject, "Hitler had once said that the true victory of the Nazis would be to force its enemies, the US in particular, to become like the Third Reich - i.e. a totalitarian society - in order to win. Hitler, then, expected to win in losing. As I watched the American military - industrial complex grow after WWII I kept remembering Hitler's analysis, and I kept thinking how right the son of a bitch was." (prophetic much??) Another aspect of this story reminded me of The Gift of the Magi by O Henry, in a sort of convoluted way.

I could go on but I'll stop there. Suffice it to say, the collection of short stories did not disappoint. Every story was entertaining. Dick shows the ability to shift from novels to short stories very easily. What else can I say but he's one neat dude. I still have seven more books of his sitting on my book shelves to enjoy. Yay! (4.0 stars)"

Borrowed from Simon & Shuster

Editor's Note - A call from my local book store just came in saying some books I ordered have arrived. Happy Saturday!! I'll update when I get back.... Editor's Note X 2 - I'm back. 4 books in.. and, no, Jo didn't swear at me, no matter what I told Kelly at the book store, that store being Books 4 Brains.

Currently Reading (started since last update)

1. The Dead Side of the Mike by Simon Brett (Charles Paris #6 / 1981). I've been enjoying the Charles Paris books, actor / writer and part time detective.

"Murder at the BBC? It's almost unimaginable.

When Andrea Gower, the beautiful studio manager is murdered, the producer's only concern is the dead air emanating from the transmitter.

But Charles Paris, the now famous actor/detective has come to Broadcasting House to give a talk, and ends up as a mystery voice on a showbiz quiz show.

Paris has to wallow through layers of BBC scandal, and uncovers a complicated fraud - with clues concealed in seemingly innocent announcements.

These clues lead to a trap that is nearly the end of Mr. Paris in 'The Dead Side of the Mike'."

3. Pump Six and Other Stories by Paolo Bacigalupi (Short Stories / 2008). I've previously read and enjoyed The Wind-up Girl by Bacigalupi. I'm hoping these are as enjoyable.

"Paolo Bacigalupi's debut collection demonstrates the power and reach of the science fiction short story. Social criticism, political parable, and environmental advocacy lie at the center of Paolo's work. Each of the stories herein is at once a warning, and a celebration of the tragic comedy of the human experience.

The eleven stories in Pump Six represent the best Paolo's work, including the Hugo nominee "Yellow Card Man," the nebula and Hugo nominated story "The People of Sand and Slag," and the Sturgeon Award-winning story "The Calorie Man.""

Newest Arrivals

(A few books to add here)

1. The Genocides by Thomas M. Disch (Dystopia / 1965)

"In this harrowing novel, the world's cities have been reduced to cinder and ash and alien plants have overtaken the earth.  The plants, able to grow the size of maples in only a month and eventually reach six hundred feet, have commandeered the world's soil and are sucking even the Great Lakes dry. In northern Minnesota, Anderson, an aging farmer armed with a Bible in one hand and a gun in the other, desperately leads the reduced citizenry of a small town in a daily struggle for meager existence. Throw into this fray Jeremiah Orville, a marauding outsider bent on a bizarre and private revenge, and the fight to live becomes a daunting task."

2. The Road Through the Wall by Shirley Jackson (Hor / 1948) Jackson's first novel.

"The compelling novel that began Shirley Jackson's legendary career

Pepper Street is a really nice, safe California neighborhood. The houses are tidy and the lawns are neatly mowed. Of course, the country club is close by, and lots of pleasant folks live there. The only problem is they knocked down the wall at the end of the street to make way for a road to a new housing development. Now, that’s not good—it’s just not good at all. Satirically exploring what happens when a smug suburban neighborhood is breached by awful, unavoidable truths, The Road Through the Wall is the tale that launched Shirley Jackson’s heralded career."

3. The Listener by Robert McCammon (Hor / 2018). One of two books I got by McCammon, one from a Little Free Library that I walked past on my morning walk. I've previously enjoyed Boy's Life.

"1934. Businesses went under by the hundreds, debt and foreclosures boomed, and breadlines grew in many American cities.

In the midst of this misery, some folks explored unscrupulous ways to make money. Angel-faced John Partlow and carnival huckster Ginger LaFrance are among the worst of this lot. Joining together they leave their small time confidence scams behind to attempt an elaborate kidnapping-for-ransom scheme in New Orleans.

In a different part of town, Curtis Mayhew, a young black man who works as a redcap for the Union Railroad Station, has a reputation for mending quarrels and misunderstandings among his friends. What those friends don't know is that Curtis has a special talent for listening... and he can sometimes hear things that aren't spoken aloud.

One day, Curtis Mayhew's special talent allows him to overhear a child's cry for help (THIS MAN IN THE CAR HE'S GOT A GUN), which draws him into the dangerous world of Partlow and LaFrance."

4. Ties that Bind; The Story of an Afro-Cherokee Family in Slavery in Freedom by Tiya Miles (Indigenous / 2005). One of the books discussed in a previous read, The Bad Indians Book Club.

"This beautifully written book tells the haunting saga of a quintessentially American family. It is the story of Shoe Boots, a famed Cherokee warrior and successful farmer, and Doll, an African slave he acquired in the late 1790s. Over the next thirty years, Shoe Boots and Doll lived together as master and slave and also as lifelong partners who, with their children and grandchildren, experienced key events in American history—including slavery, the Creek War, the founding of the Cherokee Nation and subsequent removal of Native Americans along the Trail of Tears, and the Civil War. This is the gripping story of their lives, in slavery and in freedom.

Meticulously crafted from historical and literary sources, Ties That Bind vividly portrays the members of the Shoe Boots family. Doll emerges as an especially poignant character, whose life is mostly known through the records of things done to her—her purchase, her marriage, the loss of her children—but also through her moving petition to the federal government for the pension owed to her as Shoe Boots's widow. A sensitive rendition of the hard realities of black slavery within Native American nations, the book provides the fullest picture we have of the myriad complexities, ironies, and tensions among African Americans, Native Americans, and whites in the first half of the nineteenth century."

5. Kill Creek by Scott Thomas (Hor / 2017). A new author for me, suggested in 101 Horror Books You Should Read before You're Murdered.

"At the end of a dark prairie road, nearly forgotten in the Kansas countryside, is the Finch House. For years it has remained empty, overgrown, abandoned. Soon the door will be opened for the first time in decades. But something is waiting, lurking in the shadows, anxious to meet its new guests…

When best-selling horror author Sam McGarver is invited to spend Halloween night in one of the country’s most infamous haunted houses, he reluctantly agrees. At least he won’t be alone; joining him are three other masters of the macabre, writers who have helped shape modern horror. But what begins as a simple publicity stunt will become a fight for survival. The entity they have awakened will follow them, torment them, threatening to make them a part of the bloody legacy of Kill Creek."

6. The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig (Hor / 2021). Wanderers by Wendig was one of my favorites of last year.

"Long ago, Nathan lived in a house in the country with his abusive father—and has never told his family what happened there.

Long ago, Maddie was a little girl making dolls in her bedroom when she saw something she shouldn’t have—and is trying to remember that lost trauma by making haunting sculptures.

Long ago, something sinister, something hungry, walked in the tunnels and the mountains and the coal mines of their hometown in rural Pennsylvania.

Now, Nate and Maddie Graves are married, and they have moved back to their hometown with their son, Oliver.

And now what happened long ago is happening again . . . and it is happening to Oliver. He meets a strange boy who becomes his best friend, a boy with secrets of his own and a taste for dark magic.

This dark magic puts them at the heart of a battle of good versus evil and a fight for the soul of the family—and perhaps for all of the world. But the Graves family has a secret weapon in this battle: their love for one another."

The 1st two books in the Misewa Saga series, an indigenous young adult series.

7a. The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson (#1 / 2020). I've enjoyed Robertson's Reckoner graphic novel series and Sugar Falls.

"Narnia meets traditional Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations in an epic middle-grade fantasy series from award-winning author David Robertson.

Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home -- until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom. A portal opens to another reality, Ask, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything -- including them."

7b. The Great Bear by David A. Robertson (#2 / 2021).

"Eli and Morgan journey once more to Misewa, travelling back in time.

Back at home after their first adventure in the Barren Grounds, Eli and Morgan each struggle with personal issues: Eli is being bullied at school, and tries to hide it from Morgan, while Morgan has to make an important decision about her birth mother. They turn to the place where they know they can learn the most, and make the journey to Misewa to visit their animal friends. This time they travel back in time and meet a young fisher that might just be their lost friend. But they discover that the village is once again in peril, and they must dig deep within themselves to find the strength to protect their beloved friends. Can they carry this strength back home to face their own challenges?"

8. Baal by Robert McCammon (Hor / 1978). This is the book I found in the Little Free Library.

"A woman is ravished...

and to her a child is born...
unleashing an unimaginable evil upon the world!

And they call him BAAL in the orphanage, where he leads the children on a rampage of violence...in California, where he appears as the head of a deadly Manson-like cult...in Kuwait, where crazed millions heed his call to murder and orgy.

They call him BAAL in the Arctic's hellish wasteland, where he is tracked by the only three men with a will to stop him: Zark, the shaman; Virga, the aging professor of theology; and Michael, the powerful, mysterious stranger."

9. The Luck of the Vails by E.F. Benson (Mys / 1901). I recently finished his first mystery, The Blotting Book.

"When the Luck of the Vails is lost,

Fear not fire nor rain nor frost;
When the Luck is found again,
Fear both fire and frost and rain.

The Luck of the Vails is an exquisite gold cup, encrusted with precious jewels. On the eve of his twenty-first birthday, Harry Vail, twelfth baronet, discovers the chalice hidden in soft leather folds up in the attic. Little can he imagine, as he unwraps this unexpected gift, the birthday curse he is about to bring down upon his head.

Set amid the rolling Wiltshire dales and the clattering, gaslit streets of London, The Luck of the Vails gradually reveals a long, bitter history of corruption and violence amongst the old aristocracy. It is a vintage crime story."

And now the 4 books that arrived today... phew...

10. Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq (Indigenous / 2018). A new author for me.

"From the internationally acclaimed Inuit throat singer who has dazzled and enthralled the world with music it had never heard before, a fierce, tender, heartbreaking story unlike anything you've ever read.

Fact can be as strange as fiction. It can also be as dark, as violent, as rapturous. In the end, there may be no difference between them.

A girl grows up in Nunavut in the 1970s. She knows joy, and friendship, and parents' love. She knows boredom, and listlessness, and bullying. She knows the tedium of the everyday world, and the raw, amoral power of the ice and sky, the seductive energy of the animal world. She knows the ravages of alcohol, and violence at the hands of those she should be able to trust. She sees the spirits that surround her, and the immense power that dwarfs all of us.

When she becomes pregnant, she must navigate all this.

Veering back and forth between the grittiest features of a small arctic town, the electrifying proximity of the world of animals, and ravishing world of myth, Tanya Tagaq explores a world where the distinctions between good and evil, animal and human, victim and transgressor, real and imagined lose their meaning, but the guiding power of love remains.

Haunting, brooding, exhilarating, and tender all at once, Tagaq moves effortlessly between fiction and memoir, myth and reality, poetry and prose, and conjures a world and a heroine readers will never forget."

11. Blood over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang (Fantasy / 2023). Yup, a new author.

"Magic has made the city of Tiran an industrial utopia, but magic has a cost—and the collectors have come calling.

An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a high mage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a high mage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power.

Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?"

12. The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee (Sci Fi / 2026). I believe it was recommended on the CBC book page. I did not know the Lee was Canadian.

"A battle-worn corporate samurai undertakes one last mission on a merciless planet where death is always a mere breath away, in this standalone dystopian epic from the author of the modern fantasy classic Jade City.

LIVE BY THE CODE. DIE BY THE KNIFE.

Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend must come to an end. When her long-time client unexpectedly retires, she plans to follow—to walk out into the frozen wasteland of their planet with her head held high and her family enriched by her death. But when she’s offered a final mission, she can’t refuse, especially when she realizes who lies at the center of it all: Martim, her last—and worst—apprentice, who’s somehow made his way to the top. As she’s thrust into a world of corporate espionage and shadowy secrets, what she uncovers could forever change humanity’s existence among the stars."

and finally...

13. Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark (Hor / Hist Fiction / 2020). I've seen around but never bought. It was recommended in 101 Horror Novels.... 

"In America, demons wear white hoods.

In 1915, The Birth of a Nation casts a spell across America, swelling the Klan's ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring hell to Earth. But even Ku Kluxes can die.

Standing in their way are Maryse Boudreaux and her fellow resistance fighters, a foulmouthed sharpshooter, and a Harlem Hellfighter. Armed with blade, bullet, and bomb, they hunt their hunters and send the Klan's demons straight to hell. But something awful's brewing in Macon, and the war on hell is about to heat up.

Can Maryse stop the Klan before it ends the world?"

There you go folks. Some reading ideas to fill your summer reading list. Enjoy July.