More than a tale, this series of discoveries and colloquies is a warm provocation, a meditation that addresses timeless questions about life, divinity, and how humanity “cannot improve without a sublime ideal.” In contemplative dialogue and crisp yet poetic prose that moves quickly despite the headiness of the concepts, Maggi links Atlantis to the mysteries of the Sphinx and the Milky Way, offering a searching, spiritual adventure—a quest for answers to ease modern complexities of existence. Thrumming beneath the journey is the question “Why are we here?”
Maggi and Gaius suggest that humans tend to continuously fall into temptation, blocking us to see the true path of knowledge and damning us of the true purpose of life—the enlightenment of the soul. Maggi conjures an ambiance of hushed revelation, plus some precise architectural descriptions, into a thought-compelling exploration of what it really means to be human beyond the corruptions of greed and depravity. Seekers who relish searching, cosmic, life-affirming fiction rooted in ancient cultures will appreciate this reminder of the power of connecting to the divine.
Takeaway: Cosmic novel following seekers through ancient civilizations to find the divine.
Comparable Titles: J. Douglas Kenyon’s Ghosts of Atlantis; Stephen Shaw.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
At its core, A Memory of Fire is an exploration of the ripple effects of trauma, a tribute to facing the past as the only way forward. When Carla finds herself trapped in the cartel’s clutches again, tasked with recovering millions her husband stole from Diego and Ramon, her life, and her daughter’s, hang in the balance. In attempting to locate the stolen money, she journeys back to her past, forced to reckon with not only her DEA days and the truth of her marriage, but also a troubled childhood marked by her abusive father. That journey is painful, but it allows Carla to reclaim her agency while revealing how reconnection can serve as a powerful source of healing. Woven throughout is a mystery of many moving parts, turning what begins as a search for money into an exposé with layers of deception, shifting alliances, and double agents galore.
Balfour (author of The Harem Conspiracy series) builds the plot with keen detail and insider knowledge, drawing from his own experience working closely with federal agencies to imbue the story with unique authenticity. This is an unforgettable opening to a promising series that thriller fans will savor.
Takeaway: High-stakes mystery combined with a quest to face the past head on.
Comparable Titles: Lisa Gardner; Nic Pizzolatto’s Galveston.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Other entries involve spies, experimental rockets, and flight as a means of communication over distances. In Africa, Isoke, protagonist of “The Price of Flight,” takes rousing and surprising inspiration from her bond with a wounded falcon, while “Kites, Or Red Blue Blue” centers on a bridge collapse in 19th Century China: the mysterious Le Lang presses the spoiled young monarchs, Zang Tu and his sister Sizhen, to improve their bridges despite their initial stubborn refusal, nudging the siblings toward a new maturity, all as glorious silk kites send messages.
Vivid descriptions are highlights throughout the nine stories, though character and pacing are often sacrificed for thorough descriptions of aircraft construction, history, and function, plus the harvesting of natural rubber and the engineering genius it takes to make planes faster, lighter, and more acrobatic. Still, the heroines’ bravery and perseverance shines through as they seek to improve lives, save the day, and conquer the skies. Readers will be intrigued by the photos and illustrations of aircraft and the women who flew them.
Takeaway: Rousing, imaginative stories of young women heroes making aviation history.
Comparable Titles: Keith O'Brien’s Fly Girls, Ann McCallum Staats’s High Flyers.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Senyard’s dialogue is vivid and funny, his wisecracking “Storyteller’s Note”s smash the fourth wall with on-point quips, while his descriptions of the fantastical (trolls, dwarves, a gorgon whose “bulbous eyes glint with malice from a skull adorned with constantly writhing snakes”) burst with exciting energy. Some info dumps are distracting—one storyteller’s note acknowledges this, carping “Whew, that’s a mouthful!”—and at times the asides prove cutesy, undercutting the narrative stakes.
Still, there’s much cleverness and pointed parody of our online lives as Jeremy, Hui, Anelé, and a reformed pirate captain put their formidable abilities and cleverness to heroic use and act in concert, a good trick since they are often apart. Senyard makes the heroes’ growing understanding of the dangers of constant online connection and performance a key story element—the novel makes a compelling case through its tale. It’s an intriguing journey, with laughs, food for thought, and a spirit of adventure.
Takeaway: Fast, funny fantasy of trolls, dwarves, a missing king, and social media.
Comparable Titles: Laurie Woodward’s Forest Secrets, Barbara Ferrier’s Forbidden Magic.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Guided by religion and traditions, and respecting his father while longing for his mother’s love, Sohrab is a tribute to cultural legacy, an everyday hero who breathes virtue and sincerity, even as his world is consumed by the international powers vying for control of Iran’s natural resources. That dichotomy echoes in Haddad’s portrait of an Iran straining against its past as it reaches for the future, coming to terms with its worldly transformation while balancing ancient beliefs and customs. Sohrab’s journey encompasses not just Iran’s occupation but also the persecution of Jews, the devastation of a military invasion on his doorstep, and the beauty of found family—his brother, Arash, along with his German wife, Krista—that bathes the story in cross-cultural harmony and innocence during a time when the streets whispered suspicion at every turn.
The book’s title—pulled from an editorial cartoon depicting two beasts toying with a weaker one—serves as a chilling metaphor for the manipulation and control plaguing Sohrab’s country. As that reality unfolds, and Sohrab grasps the loss of his innocence, Haddad captures his confusion with precision, reshaping Sohrab’s simple journey into a harrowing adventure of loss, love, and bravery.
Takeaway: Thoughtful portrayal of Iran during its World War II occupation.
Comparable Titles: Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, Parinoush Saniee’s The Book of Fate.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Wilson smartly uses that catastrophe as the spark that fueled Kate’s path to "improve the lives of women through education,” drawing from unpublished letters, historical photographs, and painstaking personal research to sketch a layered story of love, grief, and healing. The result is a tender account of an individual often eclipsed by her younger sister’s fame, a fierce champion for women born out of the mistreatment she suffered by the men in her life: "Kate’s heart was broken. She was tormented by men who tried to analyze her rather than empathize with her. She was hounded by devils, and her faith failed her. She was forlorn, with nowhere to turn," Wilson writes.
The balm for her grief takes shape in Kate’s formation of schools for women, including the Hartford Female Seminary and Western Female Institute, as well as her foray into home economics, with a best-selling book, Treatise on Domestic Economy, penned in 1841. At a time when women were largely credited for their domestic roles only, Kate features here as a “powerful stick of dynamite” for women’s progress, an ardent believer that women could “change America for the better.” History fans will be captivated.
Takeaway: Riveting sketch of Catharine Beecher’s championship of women’s education.
Comparable Titles: Kathryn Kish Sklar's Catharine Beecher, Dorothy Wickenden’s The Agitators.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
After the passing of her husband of 55 years, Othmer pushed herself into a journey of self-discovery, self-awareness, and discovering ways to incorporate joy into each day. "His end was not the end,” she writes, noting that he had let her know it was instead “a new beginning for him and me.” In that spirit, Othmer shares fun ideas to enrich life and curate a reason to smile every day and promotes living without fear and daring to acknowledge one’s age and embrace “what we have experienced, what we know, and what we have become.” Filled with poems, lists, and engaging exercises and prompts, Joyous Longevity finds Othmer ruminating on simple pleasures, from being curious and learning new things to traveling and socializing with new and old friends.
Her guidance is as inviting as it is hard-won. "Best of all, be curious about yourself,” Othmer urges. “Ask what else you might try in this lifetime.” Through connecting with the Earth or finding quiet moments of solitude, Othmer's personal anecdotes and advice is refreshing, positive, and motivating. A welcome resource for readers feeling stagnant or lost, Joyous Longevity is packed with actionable tips that can easily be incorporated into any lifestyle.
Takeaway: An uplifting guide to finding joy and living life to the fullest at any age.
Comparable Titles: Allen Hunt and Matthew Kelly's The Fourth Quarter of Your Life, Gladys McGarey's The Well-Lived Life.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Miles's inquisitive nature and outgoing personality offer Bright opportunity to incorporate fun facts about life in the Caribbean. Her narration poses interactive questions in each compact chapter (“Have you ever played a new game with new friends?”) while Naafi Nur Rohma’s inviting, sun-kissed illustrations offer vistas worth poring over, alive palm trees, sea turtles, and expressive faces. The long green monkeys, lanky and limber, are a highlight. In each chapter, Miles discovers something new such as the fact that in much of the world soccer is called "football", or the thrill of swimming with turtles, "ocean helpers" who "eat jelly fish and sea grass to keep the ocean clean.”
The text design is somewhat odd, with some oversized and bolded words on each page that might encourage out-loud readers to place emphasis where it doesn’t naturally fall, and a lack of narrative stakes—Miles is eager for adventure from the start—may limit emotional investment. Still, Miles's low-key, cool-breeze day at the beach introduces young readers not just to charming aspects of Caribbean life but to the pleasures of travel, especially to cultivating a sense of discovery and pride in the feeling of “becoming a small but real part of the community,” even if only for a day. A map of Barbados is a welcome addition.
Takeaway: Laid-back adventure of discovering Barbados on a beach vacation.
Comparable Titles: Junot Díaz’ss Islandborn, Rohit Loomba's Kayan Goes to Aruba.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Jennings’s primary focus revolves around Harry, though the novel extends beyond that microcosm to immerse readers in the intricate history of the United States in the early 1900s. The Second World War plays an important part in driving the plot in the initial chapters, touching on themes of patriotism, duty, and the sorrows of war, before transforming into a stark representation of the racial and social hierarchies of the time. Jennings uses the story’s central rape accusation to highlight the entrenched divisions between different ethnic groups, while simultaneously tackling the devastating trauma of sex crimes and the arduous fight for justice.
The novel benefits from its convincing cast, each character gifted with a strong voice that accurately reflects the story’s setting and time period. Harry’s worries about his secrets coming to light, despite his understanding that the town’s abuse of Woody is both deadly and wrong, is understandable but upsetting, given what’s at stake. His change of heart comes too late for some characters in the novel, and readers should be prepared for scenes of racial violence, rape, and cruelty that are painful to read but anchor the text to its historical context. Still, Jennings (author of Mirador) delivers an evocative portrait of a small town’s unrest and instability during a critical point in history.
Takeaway: Secrets and racial violence threaten to destroy a 1950s Oklahoma town.
Comparable Titles: Lynda Rutledge’s Mockingbird Summer, Trisha R. Thomas’s The Secret Keeper of Main Street.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Destroyer offers much to please lovers of fantasy epic in the classic vein, blending personal and cosmic stakes, a spirit of on-the-run adventure, and a commitment to imagining the world’s wonders and everyday textures. From the mystical city of Rocksmear to the eerie depths of Miser Forest, Segarra creates lived-in societies shaped by centuries of conflict, grounding the fantastical with a sense of history. Magic is woven into the fabric of everyday life, with elemental forces driving both the action and the moral choices the characters face as James and company encounters dark dangers, from the soul-devouring Shadowlen to skeletal warriors, all while being hunted by the sorcerer Raymul, who seeks to claim the kingdom.
Though the storytelling is occasionally overburdened with descriptive detail, Segarra smartly contrasts grand battles with intimate, character-driven moments. The exploration of balance—between light and dark forces, between personal desire and fate—digs deeper into these concepts than many fantasies. Destroyer is a story about confronting one’s past, forging new paths, and the eternal struggle between good and evil, offering both an adventurous escape and a reflection on the weight of destiny.
Takeaway: Inviting epic fantasy in a classic vein, with a reluctant hero facing darkness.
Comparable Titles: Duncan M. Hamilton, Jeffrey L. Kohanek.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+
Experimenting across different genres, Delorme blends elements of the supernatural with the dystopian, crafting a narrative that stays true to the fantastical science fiction readers crave, while also delivering the constant twists of a thrilling mystery. As Amelie slowly grasps that all is not what it seems with her beloved Academy—often with the help of her intuitive inner eye—she also comes to grips with what that means for her, a woman whose entire existence is formed off the whims of a dangerous organization harboring evil in its midst. Occasionally, the plot feels oversaturated, and the story prioritizes shock value over realism, but it’s undeniably rife with suspense and tension that will keep readers on the edge of their seats as the mystery unfolds.
As Amelie and her pod navigate the sinister nature of Verite and all its unknowns together, Delorme underscores the high stakes with a thoughtful exploration of comradery and betrayal, probing how the two often intersect. With complex characters that push the boundaries of morality, and intricate yet digestible world-building, Ghosting Academy is a promising escape into the unknown, and readers will be absorbed by Amelie’s journey.
Takeaway: Immersive blend of urban fantasy and sci-fi that teems with suspense.
Comparable Titles: Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Founders Trilogy, A.C. Arquin’s The Keri Chronicles.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: A-
Acknowledging that Primal therapy has not been fully accepted by the psychological community, Miller nonetheless credits it for resolving years of suffering, disease, and self-sabotaging behavior. Her portrait emerges from the shadows of abuse as a free-spirited girl suppressed by the adults in her life, her innocent mind struggling to comprehend her abandonment and long lasting emotional scars, though she never loses hope; Miller learns, from the troubled waters of her youth, how the turbulent sea of her adulthood is linked to past trauma, a realization that allows, finally, some healing and peace.
Primal therapy’s focus on the trauma of birth itself drives Miller’s writing, as she recounts recovered womb memories—such as her mother falling down the stairs, triggering her premature birth, and being left in a foster home as a baby only months old—that, she maintains, helped heal her need to constantly run away from reality and soothed her persistent desire for multiple romance partners amid deep fears of abandonment. The narrative shifts seamlessly between Miller’s childhood and adulthood, recounting both moments of beauty and intense flashes of horrific abuse. Readers will be emotionally taxed, but the journey is as radiant as it is wounding.
Takeaway: Primal therapy transforms a broken childhood into a triumphant adulthood.
Comparable Titles: Mark Wolynn’s It Didn't Start with You, Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Myers writes a powerful story of connection, self-discovery, and humanity that is intriguing and unique, with deep philosophical musings on belonging, the limitless boundaries of love, and “principles of personal freedom.” Throughout his human existence, Scott feels out of touch with the world around him, plagued by an inkling that he is meant for something far greater, and when he challenges the powers that be in his new reality, he’s forced to go on the run—where his belief in humanity’s interconnectivity and universal kindness is strengthened by his meaningful interactions with helpful people during his journey. Of course, Myers reconnects Scott with his prior soulmate, Xin, now in the human form of Audrey, and the two embark on a spiritual odyssey together.
Despite moments of stiff writing and distracting tense changes, Sandcastles and Rainbows ponders weighty topics, as Scott and Audrey attempt to right the wrongs of corrupt power in the cities they visit while seeking to retrieve their memories and return home. The romance is compelling, developed through intuitive interplay and detailed sex scenes, and the multilayered, genre-bending narrative interweaves themes of the spiritual and physical world that will draw in fans of imaginative world-building and supernatural subplots.
Takeaway: Fanciful story of unwavering love and self-discovery in a distant world.
Comparable Titles: Lauren James's The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, Nnedi Okorafor's Remote Control.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: C+
Marketing copy: B+
It may be hard to imagine, today, that loving so humane a band could have been a source of controversy. But Holesworth touchingly recalls hiding tapes from his mother and warnings that he might be beat up for loving “gay” music. (He was chased for plenty of other reasons already.) Brightening the gloom of Holesworth’s life of rage, depression, and cutting was Stipe’s deep empathy and commitment to communicating sentiments that matter: “He told the listener that everybody, including himself, hurts, and they’re not alone,” Holesworth notes.
Holesworth’s storytelling is fast and concrete, though it lacks the polished scenecraft of the best memoirs, and he lets the material sprawl, often without a strong narrative thrust. Still, survivors of the era will appreciate accounts of Lollapalooza, making sense of Monster, feeling deeply shaken by XTC’s “Dear God,” and discovering and losing Kurt Cobain. Those public moments are as deeply personal as accounts of teen jobs, running away, relishing mix tapes, and daring to make a bold (yet likely hard to parse) statement on the last day of school. To his credit, Holesworth never talks around a problem or skips the part about love.
Takeaway: Intimate account of a young life saved by R.E.M. and the alt-rock revolution.
Comparable Titles: Jeff Gordinier’s X Saves the World, Peter Ames Carlin’s The Name of This Band is R.E.M.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B
When Elsa Sang The Blues: Stories
That elusive wisp of happiness breathes throughout the collection, evoked by the “smoky darkness” of blues singer Elsa, who makes a repeat appearance and sings the background to Jamie’s heartache in the titular story, as he mourns the breakup of his relationship with attorney Abigail and reflects on his “sad procession of women.” Choices that torment the protagonists are a running theme, as with "In Saint-Remy And Auvers," where a pregnant woman teeters on the edge of indecision about whether she should keep her baby and raise it with her partner, musing, after a visit to a Van Gogh museum, that "All I see are Vincent's paths, incongruously converging, each one a wrong choice."
Bogaty touches deeply on how irrational desire can be, as his characters follow their longings despite recognizing it's a bad idea. Not all of those longings are sexual or romantic, however; "Talya, And Dolly's Comb" finds a young Mongolian girl craving acceptance and belonging in Turkey, while Victoria, in "To Grandmother's House We Go," aches for just a few more stolen moments with the one member of her family who “took genuine pleasure from her existence on the earth.” Bogaty forgoes magical healings and happy endings in favor of poignant memories, crafting stories where it hurts to feel this deeply, but it's also what makes his characters human.
Takeaway: Deeply humane collection about loss, yearning, and fleeting connections.
Comparable Titles: Emma Duffy-Comparone’s Love Like That, Ottessa Moshfegh’s Homesick for Another World.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
Zienty uses voice and sound as recurring motifs throughout the narrative, where speaking out in a society that enforces submission becomes an act of rebellion. Path’s persuasive, theatrical tone contrasts with Word’s silence, while Teeg’s steady voice bridges old and new rebels, symbolizing a generational fight for freedom. Zienty’s prose oscillates between the lyrical and the raw, mirroring Angel’s dual life as mother and revolutionary. As Angel’s growing influence draws the eye of the ruthless CQO Zinni, who sees her broadcasts as a dangerous spark that must be extinguished, Zinni’s daughter, Promise—a conflicted ally tied to the Protectorate—becomes an unlikely maternal figure to Lark.
The Night Prophet’s language is visceral, especially in the descriptions of Genesis I, where women, called “ovas," are held in a brutal breeding program, drawing attention to both their exploitation and resilience. Zienty expertly threads themes of courage, sacrifice, and hope as Angel evolves from a survivor into a symbol of defiance, and, with her messages spreading and the seeds of rebellion taking root, The Night Prophet sets the stage for a gripping future clash with the Protectorate, promising a fierce battle for freedom and humanity.
Takeaway: Immersive dystopian thrills tempered by a touching fight for freedom.
Comparable Titles: Alexis Schaitkin’s Elsewhere, Christina Dalcher’s Vox.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
