About Book Marks
Kristi Chadwick
Recent Reviews
Martha Wells
Positive Library Journal Wells’s flair for balancing Murderbot’s at-length internal monologues with its external voice and decisive actions creates a main character who is addictive ... Back in novella form for a sixth outing, Murderbot continues to bring intelligence and acerbic commentary on humanity to the forefront.
Seanan McGuire
Positive Library Journal McGuire’s inclusive characters are always presented fully formed and without cliché, and her critical takes on femininity in society are balanced with the beauty of the love of biological and found family ... a gorgeous standalone. The prose is emotional and moving and will speak to the hearts and minds of readers.
C.L. Clark
Rave Library Journal A queernorm world dealing with racism, magic, and head-versus-heart decisions creates rich settings and characters ... This strong debut is filled with exciting action and worldbulding, intriguing characters dealing with themes of colonization, military conscription and indoctrination, and an explosion of feelings. Readers will be clamoring for more of Touraine and Luca before they finish.
Arkady Martine
Positive Library Journal Multiple points of view give a full view of the issues including fear of what is different, and the ease of cultural violence and assimilation when one believes they are better. Three Seagrass and Mahit continue to delight in their interactions with each other ... contains beautiful prose and complex worldbuilding that will immerse readers in a dazzling story of alien contact and colonization.
Kali Wallace
Positive Library Journal The story moves at a fast clip, and readers will enjoy the twists that are presented, along with the character developments and interactions. This immersive story is led by a flawed—physically and emotionally—protagonist who is nonetheless determined to discover the truth no matter where it leads ... Wallace showcases themes of xenophobia, corporate profit, and AI evolution in this absorbing space thriller.
Sylvain Neuvel
Rave Library Journal Neuvel showcases meticulous research through his worldbuilding, highlighted by his own notes and references at the end. A highly crafted and unique look at the space race, through the eyes of those who exist only to ensure its success ... Neuvel’s intriguing first-contact story is set through centuries of manipulation and pursuit. It’s a promising start to what looks to be a dark and exciting trilogy.
Aliette de Bodard
Positive Library Journal A fascinating story filled with strong female characters and lush prose, the relationships woven around Thanh evolve into themes of reclaiming the self and recognizing that love can hide the truth about people ... Nebula and Locus Award winner de Bodard crafts a story of love, power, and what burns within. Highly recommended.
Everina Maxwell
Positive Library Journal While the story contains themes of emotional and physical abuse in relationships, it brings a galaxy of gender and sexual choice, balancing the dark with light ... Maxwell\'s delightful debut will please science fiction and romance readers alike, telling a slow burn of a relationship fraught with high stakes and action.
Mike Chen
Rave Library Journal Interesting characters and solid pacing enliven this superhero story with twists ... Chen’s (A Beginning at the End) writing wraps hard topics with heartfelt and humorous prose, creating a delightful novel of the steps and missteps of power, friendship, and trust.
Nnedi Okorafor
Rave Library Journal Okorafor builds a stunning landscape of futuristic technology and African culture, with prose that will grab readers from the first sentence. Sankofa is at once innocent and experienced, facing a world forever changed for and by her ... This compelling novella is Africanfuturism sf at its best.
Kacen Callender
Rave Library Journal Led by characters that have their own agendas, this story goes in directions that may surprise readers, but the emotional impact will linger. Graphic action and violence; flawed protagonists; and a stark, storm-filled setting all combine into a riveting read ... The second half of this duology (after The Queen of the Conquered) is a powerful look at colonialism, oppression, and rebellion, and all that it can cost the individuals involved.
R. F. Kuang
Rave Library Journal Kuang doesn’t hold back on the physical and emotional toll of war, along with the cycle of abuse and trauma that can cause good people to make painful choices ... An incredible end to this epic trilogy. Mixing historical parallels of Chinese history, the themes of war, politics, and colonialism are balanced with terrific, flawed characters and amazing worldbuilding.
C. S. Malerich
Rave Library Journal Class struggles and industry exploitation are woven into a touching tale layered with magical and romantic elements ... Malerich has created a delightful historical fantasy shining a spotlight on New England history, making this a terrific companion to Alix Harrow’s The Once and Future Witches.
Alix E. Harrow
Rave Library Journal The worldbuilding is richly detailed, inclusive, and enchanting, while still honoring the harsher history of civil rights and resistance ... Drawn from folklore and history, Harrow’s lyrical prose immerses readers in a story of power and secrets that is not easily forgotten.
C. L. Polk
Rave Library Journal Polk’s foray into a society of magic and politics places the woman in the secondary role, but neither Beatrice nor Ysbeta will stay in place. Fans of romantic fantasy set in a multicultural world will find this a fascinating read.
V. E. Schwab
Rave Library Journal Featuring both Addie’s and Henry’s points of view, this story takes readers through centuries of history, as viewed through the eyes and soul of an incredible and indelible heroine ... Schwab returns with another epic story of love and remembrance that probes deep into history while also penetrating profound matters of the heart.
K. S. Villoso
Rave Library Journal The power plays are woven tightly into the action, as Villoso broadens her worldbuilding and adds some surprising twists ... Political intrigue and personal angst abound in this exciting sequel to The Wolf of Oren-Yaro, making this a must for epic fantasy readers.
Jenn Lyons
Rave Library Journal Lyons braids multiple points of view, tenses, and time lines into a richly detailed and elaborate story with increasing tension and stakes ... an exciting entry in the series, culminating in an intriguing endpoint that will have readers excited for the next book.
Kathleen Jennings
Rave Library Journal Jennings’s debut novella is pure, poetic Australian gothic, filled with haunting emotions, fairy-tale action, and sharp prose.
Katherine Addison
Rave Library Journal A twisting, surprising Sherlock bend in a world of angels, hell-hounds, and other supernatural beings. Readers may know the names and the stories, but here is an original tale ... Addison enthralls readers with her character-driven action, intriguing expressions of identity and sexuality, and a world set in an alternate 1880s London that captures the imagination.
Gene Wolfe
Positive Library Journal Wolfe died in 2019 at age 87; this posthumous sequel to A Borrowed Man blends a hard-boiled mystery style with a sf future and is mostly successful. While this can be read as a stand-alone, familiarity with the main character’s background story may bring more clarity for readers.
Carrie Vaughn
Positive Library Journal Vaughn’s look at what comes after Robin Hood is a delightful novella, filled with lively action and characters who continue to stretch the original story even further.
K.S. Villoso
Rave Library Journal Readers will be swept in by this strong protagonist and stunning worldbuilding, with a plot full of questions and surprises. Villoso\'s cunning, exciting debut is a new fantasy epic that readers will clamor for.
Seanan McGuire
Rave Library Journal Themes of dysphoria and gender are smartly inserted through McGuire’s rich prose, with heartfelt scenes keeping each character from getting lost in the action ... The fifth volume of the Wayward Children series gives readers the epic ending (is it really the end?) of Jack and Jill’s story line. Once again, McGuire gives readers a starkly poignant tale of longing, love, and belonging.
Tessa Gratton
Rave Library Journal While this novel is not a direct sequel to Gratton’s Queens of Innis Lear, the character stories and references from the previous novel will delight the author’s longtime readers. The wondrous worldbuilding, strong female leads, and plot filled with regicide, regrets, prophecies, and magic create an intricate and layered story of honor, family, and love.
Chana Porter
Positive Library Journal This surreal debut takes on themes of utopia, identity, love, and loss, while readers are pulled into a full experience through Porter\'s fluid prose. This unusual story will linger long past the last page.
N. K. Jemisin
Rave Library Journal Jemisin writes a harsh love story to one of America’s most famous places. As raw and vibrant as the city itself, the prose pushes the boundaries of fantasy and brings home what residents already know—their city is alive.
K. M. Szpara
Positive Library Journal Explicit sex, mental and physical dominance, and control are strong beats within a story of two young men discovering the truth about their own lives and those of others around them ... This powerful debut is filled with achingly tender and brutally raw prose. Szpara strikes out at capitalism as well as the pharmaceutical trade and its effects, while dancing on the emotional knife’s edge between love and obedience.
Mike Chen
Rave Library Journal Sometimes it is not the violent battles of post-apocalyptic stories that pull readers in; it is the emotional connection of humanity finding their way. Chen’s prose lights a brilliant, fragile path through the darkness.
Nora Roberts
Positive Library Journal Characters will come full circle, leaving no loose ends in this fast-moving, robust story ... The final volume of The Chronicles of the One is a full fantasy, postapocalyptic version of Roberts’s tried and true storytelling mastery.
Rivers Solomon with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes
Rave Library Journal ... vivid, devastating ... This slim story packs a huge punch. Beautiful and stark in its pain, this emotional journey is one that all readers should take, in order to remember the atrocities of slavery.
A. J. Hackwith
Rave Library Journal Elaborate worldbuilding, poignant and smart characters, and a layered plot make this first in a fantasy series from Hackwith (also writing as sf romance author Ada Harper) is an ode to books, writing, and found families.
Sarah Pinsker
Positive Library Journal Pinsker\'s first novel...depicts a moving alternate future in which technology provides everything a person could want, except human contact. Themes of virtual reality, humanity, and music are threaded throughout this melodic story.
Tasha Suri
Rave Library Journal Suri’s companion to Empire of Sand continues to expand on the stark beauty and power of this magical realm. With striking characters and court intrigue, this story is dark, melodious, and memorable.
Jessie Mihalik
Rave Library Journal ... another exciting, action-driven read. Strong female characters, a slow-burn romance, and interplanetary adventures will draw in both sf and romance readers, especially fans of Ilona Andrews, Becky Chambers, and Mary Robinette Kowal’s Lady Astronaut series.
Lina Rather
Mixed Library Journal Rather’s lean prose works, but the characters, along with readers, arrive at the end with some of the same unanswered questions. Overall, an intriguing debut that touches on philosophical ideas of war, faith, and individuality.
Valerie Valdes
Rave Library Journal Valdes’s elegant writing is on point, with all the emotional buy-in that comes with a story about families ... Featuring memorable Cuban-descended characters, this engaging space opera debut delivers a story that dances between hilarity and seriousness, with all the joy and frustration psychic cats can bring to the mix.
Jonathan French
Positive Library Journal The male gaze and attitude is rife but has purpose, one that Fetching and many other female characters upend every chance they get ... French’s sequel to The Grey Bastards continues the half-orcs’ penchant for rough rides, foul language, and heady action sequences.
Alexandra Rowland
Rave Library Journal A story of discovery and growth, interspersed with other short fables and creative footnote commentary that unfolds into a superbly crafted world of intriguing characters and lush setting ... reveals the author’s stunning prose, beautiful worldbuilding, and emotional detail. Highly recommended.
Kristyn Merbeth
Positive Library Journal Family issues bring humor to the heavier themes of xenophobic planets and war crimes, and alternating chapters between Scorpia’s and Corvus’s points of view provide a broader perspective on this fascinating galaxy ... High energy, high stakes, and lots of high notes will give readers who enjoy Catherynne M. Valente’s Space Opera a new volume on which to crash-land.
R. F. Kuang
Rave Library Journal This stunning sequel to The Poppy War is an epic journey of vengeance, friendship, and power wrapped in the folds of gods and monsters. Kuang has created a young woman torn by her connections to friends and family, searching for love and belonging, and given power beyond her imagining. Her story is unforgettable.
Vivian Shaw
Positive Library Journal Intelligent prose and an intriguing cast of characters enhance the range of story lines, culminating in a breathtaking climax. Shaw’s third \'Dr. Greta Helsing\' novel...blends medical mystery and fantasy adventure to wrap up a delightfully modern undead trilogy.
Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Rave Library Journal This stunning, semi-epistolary tale by coauthors El-Mohtar...and Gladstone...is a seamless story of time travel, sparring opponents, and the revelations of serving a cause. To unlock the complexities of language and plot here, readers will want to return to this book, with each read revealing a little more of its near-limitless substance.
Fonda Lee
Rave Library Journal This smart and action-filled fantasy, filled with vibrant characters, weaves intricate plot threads throughout, positioning many female characters front and center ... The follow-up to Lee’s Jade City delves further into her Asia-inspired world, embracing topics of family, relocation, and relations between rival factions. The setup for the final book will leave readers breathless with anticipation.
Cadwell Turnbull
Rave Library Journal Emotional prose and distinctive characters highlight an incredible story that will touch readers’ hearts and minds ... A compelling tale of invasive occupation and emotional uprising, Turnbull’s debut is complex and enthralling. It’s a must for all libraries, and the writer, who crafts speculative stories with black characters on par with Octavia Butler, is definitely one to watch.
Sarah Gailey
Rave Library Journal Gailey\'s debut is an energetic modern fantasy that plays rough with relationships and personal beliefs, from youth to adulthood. Ivy\'s emotional investigation will strike a chord in anyone who has ever felt like they don\'t belong. Highly recommended for all collections.
Ashok K Banker
Rave Library Journal Despite the heft of this nearly 700-page volume, readers will hardly be able to pull themselves away from the layered story lines and well-developed characters ... Banker launches a new epic fantasy series set in a vivid world inspired by India and the Middle East, mythology and monarchy, filled with enticing narration and action.
Zen Cho
Positive Booklist \"Cho continues to confront class and gender roles in an alternate Regency England while showcasing entertaining prose and characters. A delightful historical-fantasy novel that will capture readers in its layered story line.\
Kameron Hurley
Positive Library Journal Hurley\'s take on war and interplanetary adventure is mixed with a vigorous helping of time travel, which will have readers trying to catch up with the truth as much as the lead character. An absorbing and gritty story from this accomplished author.
Namwali Serpell
Rave Library Journal Three multicultural families\' pasts and presents, told by a swarming chorus of voices, culminate in a tale as mysterious as it is timeless ... This stunning cross-genre debut draws on Zambian history and is twisted with inverted stereotypes and explicit racist language that only reinforces the far-flung exploration of humanity.
Angus Macallan
Positive Library Journal Epic worldbuilding with extensive Asian influences, especially Indonesian, meets bold characters and detailed battles across land and sea. Note that scenes of rape and gore may be traumatic for some readers.
Sylvain Neuvel
Positive Library Journal This compact novella combines issues of immigration as well as a hostage story into a tale of incredible choices.
Jenn Lyons
Rave Library Journal Lyons\'s story is a well-crafted, elaborate tale of a thief-turned-prince. Those who enjoy the works of Brandon Sanderson and George R.R. Martin, with a grand cast of characters and a doublecross in every chapter, will find this on par with their beloved authors ... This stunning debut takes epic fantasy to a high level, portraying a world filled with magic, demons, gods, and dragons, in which politics and power plays are the laws of the land.
Charlie Jane Anders
Rave Library Journal Anders weaves an intricate tale of colonialism and evolution on both physical and social levels. The harsh world and well-developed characters combine with stunning storytelling that will capture readers\' minds and hearts.
S. A. Chakraborty
Rave Library Journal With a richly immersive setting and featuring complex familial, religious, and racial ties and divides, Chakraborty\'s second book in the trilogy wraps readers in a lush and magical story that takes over all the senses.
Lavie Tidhar
Rave Library Journal Shifting perspectives will keep readers trying to catch up with this fast-paced plot involving incredible twists on multiple realities and homecoming. This latest from Campbell and World Fantasy Award winner Tidha...is fascinating and powerful.
Jennifer Estep
Positive Library Journal This epic fantasy launch brings all of the action, magic, and smart cast of characters whom fans have come to expect from Estep ... Readers of Chloe Neill, Kim Harrison, and Ilona Andrews will welcome this bright new heroine.
Grady Hendrix
Positive Library Journal Drawing on the dark side of American society, laden with conspiracy theories, Satanists, pop culture, and the crushed dreams of middle age, this book takes the power of music and turns it into delightful horror ... Hendrix\'s...emarkable, immersive prose will have readers recognizing pieces of themselves in the characters\' flawed thoughts and actions, which is by turns disturbing and captivating.
Drew Williams
Positive Library Journal Even with long expositional internal narratives from Jane, the story is fast paced and filled with action sequences both on- and off-planet ... This expansive debut for space opera enthusiasts is full of high-flying battles that readers of Becky Chambers and fans of the show Firefly will relish.
Alan Dean Foster
Positive Library Journal In a race against time and disbelief, Ruslan takes a journey unlike any he has ever faced, testing his courage and the strength of that small glimmer of hope ... The stunning plot of Foster\'s...stand-alone novel will intrigue readers for not only the \'last man in the universe\' trope but also the well-developed alien species. A true first contact novel on many different levels.
Sarah Beth Durst
Rave Library Journal Loyalty to land, lovers, and family will be up for grabs in this action-packed and emotional epic ... This engrossing conclusion to the Queens of Renthia trilogy has been worth the wait, providing a challenging but satisfying ending.
Sam Hawke
Positive Library Journal When the city is besieged by a rebellious army, residents must figure out how to survive. Can Tain, Jovan, and his sister Kalina find a way to root out internal and external betrayals and save the Heir and Silasta? ... This epic fantasy debut weaves political, class, and belief systems into a deftly drawn world, laying fertile ground for exciting political commentary.
Mary Robinette Kowal
Positive Library Journal A fast-forward thrill ride, Hugo Award winner Kowal\'s exciting alternate history, the first in a duology, highlights the space race and the sexism of the time. Sf and space history buffs will enjoy this entertaining tale.