Book Review: There Are Wolves Here Too by Niall Howell

By Melissa Khan

It’s 1997 and best friends Robin, Dylan, and Steph are ready to spend their first summer as teenagers the way they always have: carefree and innocent. But when their classmate’s younger sister Catherine goes missing, suddenly there’s danger everywhere. Robin tries to keep their spirits high amongst feelings of guilt and paranoia, but with the parents in the community acting strangely, and his relationship with Steph and Dylan changing in different ways, he’s more confused than ever.

The opening monologue gives the reader the opportunity for instant connection and, for that, it clicked with me immediately. Howell describes the overarching theme of the novel so succinctly and delicately hints at what’s to come. There’s this feeling of growing up in a small town that is woven throughout the passage and extends into the novel itself, which makes the reader aware of this simmering uneasiness underneath the words on the page.

I really appreciated the inclusion of the younger characters being aware of the larger events in the novel, and at the same time trying to remain innocent of it all. Robin makes keen observations about the actions and motivations of his friends and their parents and allows the reader to make the connection between what is said and what is happening on their own. It really shows the audience how much Robin is noticing, but not necessarily understanding.

The part of this novel that gives it its strength is the mystery. The characters always seem a step away from unveiling something huge, which keeps the reader on their toes. I loved how action-packed each scene was and that everything served a purpose. There was never a moment that was unnecessary or didn’t provide some additional context or clue. Robin’s constant conflict with the two main bullies in the novel, for example, was an effective distraction technique from the other, less obvious, villains. The audience is always on the lookout, knowing that Robin and his friends could be ambushed at any moment, and therefore we don’t always notice when a subtle detail is revealed.

For the majority of the novel, we watch as Robin navigates his changing adolescence amidst the tragedy of Catherine’s disappearance, and for this, the novel could have really succeeded in remaining unresolved and allowing some of the mystery to continue. Although the conclusion was certainly not as satisfying as the mystery itself, I think it was important that Catherine wasn’t used solely as a tool to propel Robin’s growth. There was a larger context to the story that Robin was simply a bystander.

I very much enjoyed everything this novel had to offer. It gives the reader a sense of participation that makes it all the more thrilling, and there’s this easy familiarity that makes it feel personal. It’s not often a reader gets to experience nostalgia for something that never happened to them.

Thank you, NeWest Press, for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: racism, violence, forced institutionalization, rape (off page), slavery, sexism, death of a parent, animal cruelty 

Bloodmarked is the second book in the Legendborn Cycle, and it follows Bree Matthews as she struggles to deal with the consequences of battle. The Table is awakened, but separated, the Regents are coming, and Bree has to wrestle with the heavy weight of everything she’s learned while preparing for the battle to come. This book starts a few weeks after the first book ends, and it takes Bree to new locations and reveals a much wider world of magic users and monsters.

It’s difficult to talk about a sequel without discussing the events of book one, especially for a book as incredibly written as Legendborn, which weaves together several magic systems and mysteries beautifully, and which tells an incredibly complex and powerful story. I’ll avoid discussing book one in this review, but please know that Legendborn is an absolute masterpiece, and if you haven’t read it yet, you definitely should.

Bloodmarked has very big shoes to fill, and overall, I feel like it is a worthy successor. While I do feel like the pacing is a bit off and there is a lot of exposition and information given in this book, I really appreciate the ways in which the world is expanded. Bree and the other characters are forced to explore not only new locations but new types of magic, and they realize that the laws the Order lives under are not universal. I enjoyed all the new information we got. It feels like the world was expanded, and I’m intrigued by how this opens up future books to a lot more characters and different types of magic.

The characterization in this book is excellent, and Bree is one of the best YA protagonists I’ve ever read. She is strong and powerful while also being vulnerable and emotional, and she feels real and grounded in a way that’s difficult to achieve. This book takes some of the characters from book one and really focuses on them, so we don’t get to spend time with all our favourites from the first book, but I enjoyed each of the characters that were featured, and the book introduced some new characters that I found really interesting to follow as well.

The plot of this book is definitely different from the first one. Where the first story had a lot of mystery components, this book felt much more political, and while I did enjoy the political elements, that tonal change made the book a little hard to get into and connect with at first. I think the biggest criticism I have with this book is that it is so different from the first and that it feels a bit jarring at times, but I think that knowing there is that difference going into the story will improve your reading experience. I really enjoy where the story seems to be going and I was definitely emotionally invested in the political scheming and manipulations that went on.

While I do feel like this book is very exposition-heavy and the pacing was a bit off, every piece of information we got felt necessary and I appreciate the time that was taken to develop this world. Lots of character work and foreshadowing sets the stage for something that I’m confident will be explosive in book three. Overall, the Legendborn Cycle is, in my opinion, one of the best series coming out in YA at the moment, and the second book cannot be missed.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is not the finished copy of the book, and the final copy may be slightly changed.

Book Review: Ontario Wildlife Photography by Noah Cole

By Meredith Grace Thompson

Noah Coles’ photography is concerned with conservation as much as it is with aesthetics. His latest photography book, Ontario Wildlife Photography, focuses on the wildlife of Ontario and is structured very purposefully to tell a specific story: wilderness being encroached upon by human life and human waste. Breaking his book down into distinct sections, Coles explores everything from birds and mammals to fish and spiders. Each photograph is stamped with the animal’s classification and the date and location of the photograph. They are further accompanied by a micro-essay explaining something about the photo, either how it came to be or something about the animal it contains. Coles’ photographs are beautiful and engaging, with the viewer finding themselves beside and with the animal in question in an intimate yet discreet way. The colours are natural and almost muted without the use of extraneous filters to create light where there is none and colour where there was little.

A photography book in our current hugely over-saturated and image-based society is a difficult feat. In the same way that the camera forever changed the landscape of painters by taking away their steady source of income in portrait painting, the ubiquitous nature of the high-quality phone cameras we carry around constantly and the common nature of over-sharing images from our lives as well as the easily available editing software that exists to make even the most amateurish photograph appear more professional creates a strange pressure for professional photographers.

Portrait photography and high fashion photography where the image is highly manipulated is one thing, but the kind of nature photography that Coles is capturing here is becoming almost commonplace, begging the question of what makes it stand out. His photos are undeniably skillful and his presence near the wildlife in question without causing them distress is perhaps where the main aspect of his skill lies. His lack of photo manipulation is to be commended and stands in stark contrast to the photos which populate so much of social media, making them a unique commodity in book form. The photographs in this book are strong, and the micro-essays describing each are interesting and engaging, carrying a unique “I voice” behind the camera, yet the format of the book is severely lacking. With large block photographs set on the top half of each starkly white page, each the same size and shape, and a block of black text set in ragged right underneath each image, the format does nothing to highlight the talent of this photographer.

Noah Coles is clearly an interesting voice in the contemporary landscape of nature conservation and wildlife photography. His photos luxuriate in the everydayness of his subjects, without intruding on their habitat or space. He manages to get photographs where the subject is often looking directly at him—a raccoon gazing pensively into the camera; a fox pausing to almost say hello—without ever anthropomorphizing them. By including photographs of humans assisting in conservation and clean-up efforts in the “Mammals” section of the book, Coles does not shy away from the fundamental and inherent connection between humans and nature. We are part of nature, after all, inextricably linked to every aspect of it. Noah Coles’ book shows ways that we can more harmoniously live together.

Thank you Dundurn Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig

By Kaylie Seed

Content warning: child abuse, spousal abuse, domestic violence

Nate and Maddie have moved back to rural Pennsylvania with their 15-year-old son Olly, even though both Nate and Maddie did not have the best of childhoods there. Maddie has always been an artist, and when she was a child, she witnessed something she shouldn’t have seen and began creating haunting sculptures inspired by the experience. Nate grew up in an abusive home and wanted nothing more than to get away from the life he knew, so he became a police officer and left town as soon as he was able to. Their neurodivergent son Olly feels very deeply, to the point where he can feel the pain of others. Long ago, when Nate and Maddie were young, something sinister roamed the tunnels, mountains, and coal mines, and all these years later, the same underlying dark things are happening again—but this time, Olly is the victim.

The main themes in The Book of Accidents are family dynamics and family dysfunction. Wendig also includes loyalty, and the strength of love and belief. The Book of Accidents is listed as a horror novel; however, Wendig blends numerous other genres including supernatural fiction, science fiction, and coming-of-age, leading readers to be fully immersed in a wide array of tropes. Readers may find that it can be difficult to follow all the subplots, but if they pay close attention to detail, they should be fine. However, don’t expect all your questions to be answered in the end.

Wendig has done an excellent job at creating a sense of danger, foreboding, and dread as readers make their way through this spooky read, crafting a brilliant horror novel that is dark and creepy yet vivid and very readable. Some may feel that the 500+-page book is daunting, but it is bound to be one you won’t want to put down, even if you are a little scared. I recommend The Book of Accidents to any reader who enjoys classic horror story tropes or Stephen King’s early work.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

By Robyn Rossit

Content warnings: Emotional abuse, violence, rape

When it comes to thrillers, Lisa Jewell is certainly an author I know will not let me down. You just can’t go wrong and The Night She Disappeared is no exception. Nineteen-year-old Tallulah and her boyfriend Zach leave their baby with her mother and go out on a much-needed date. Kim grows concerned as late evening turns to night and night becomes morning without a word from them. Tallulah was last seen leaving the pub with her boyfriend to a party at a friend’s house. While her friends think the couple has left the party to head home, they are not heard from again. A couple of years later, Sophie, an author of mystery books, moves to the area with her husband. While exploring the woods surrounding her new home, she sees a note fixed to a tree that says ‘DIG HERE’ that reopens a missing person's case that had long grown cold.

The Night She Disappeared follows three distinct and equally intriguing points of view and alternating timelines. Tallulah’s leads up to the night she disappeared and her struggles between balancing going to school and being a young mother. Because of the couple’s age, they are often written off by the police as a young couple running away from responsibility. Kim’s point of view is full of grief and knowing deep down that her daughter is a loving mother who would never abandon her son. Sophie’s is equally intriguing as she is drawn into the mystery of what happened to the young couple.

Grief and the love a parent feels for their child are certainly strong themes woven throughout the story. You could really feel the sense of loss Kim was feeling, with some hope woven in between. Her love for Tallulah only grew stronger, and her determination to find out what happened that night never fades. She also steps in and raises her grandchild despite going through such a hard time herself.

Jewell is certainly an expert at pacing her stories. I felt like there was a clue or reveal at every turn. As Tallulah’s story got closer and closer to revealing what happened to her, I was truly on the edge of my seat. The chapters even start to get shorter to really ramp up the anticipation for the reader as they are thrust between the past and the present. Although I did have a very strong idea of what happened, I wasn’t entirely right and was entertained right up until the very end. While a woman going missing is not a unique plot line for a thriller in itself, the delivery felt different. The characters were unique and very well-developed, standing out in a sea of thrillers.

The Night She Disappeared was a slow burn full of tension and intrigue. It was certainly a hard one to put down, which led to a serious book-reading binge. I felt like I was alongside Kim and Sophie as they tried to figure out what happened the fateful night that Tallulah and Zach disappeared. I would certainly recommend it to any fans of the thriller genre but would recommend clearing your calendar first!

Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

By Carmen Lebar

Content warning: death of a parent

Book Lovers by Emily Henry is a heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance centering around Nora Stephens, a literary agent, who goes to Sunshine Falls for a month-long trip with her sister Libby. But enemies may be too harsh of a word to describe Nora and her love interest, Charlie. I think the best way to describe the inception of their relationship is as being more competitive and rivalrous. Both work in the publishing industry and seem to bump into each other in the most unexpected ways, which eventually blooms into a full-on romance. However, this novel is more than just a romance; it’s about sisterhood and making your dreams come true. What I liked most about this novel was how it balanced familial struggles and humour.

One of the most powerful elements of Book Lovers is the relationship between Nora and Libby. These two sisters, as they go off to Sunshine Falls, have a great girls’ trip, but also unpack a lot of trauma from when they were growing up. Their mother died, and Nora stepped up to be a mother figure to Libby at a young age. The novel shows this tension of wanting to be a fun older sister but having the opinions of someone who had to be a parental figure. For example, the reason Libby wanted to visit Sunshine Falls is misunderstood by Nora because of her mother-like nature. It is later revealed that Nora was wrong in her assumptions about Libby. This further shows the complicated nature of Nora’s roles as both a sister and a motherly figure. I felt the sisters’ relationship was very relatable and believable, and when things weren’t tense, it was very enjoyable to read. Libby is an infectious character, and whenever she was in a scene, it made the story a lot brighter. 

Even with the more serious topics in this novel, there is a lot of fun and humour in it. The novel has a Hallmark movie quality to it. There is situational comedy, but also funny awkwardness when Charlie and Nora’s relationship starts to bloom. Texts between the two are very funny and playful, just like you would expect in a relationship that started on a bit of a rivalry. Having Libby integrated in this love story also creates a lot of great humour when she knows Nora has a thing for Charlie. Book Lovers has these expected tropes and silly moments, but it’s this type of humour that makes it a perfect balance with the more hard-hitting topics that pop up such as childlessness, career advancement, and the death of a parent, to name a few. This novel is very charming, and predictable—but in the best way possible. There’s no need to watch your favourite romantic comedy when you can read it in a book.

Book Lovers is a great romance novel for anyone who doesn’t gravitate towards the genre. If you have read any of Emily Henry’s other novels, this will be another great one to add to your collection. It has an equal balance of serious topics and heart that any type of reader will enjoy. It will make you laugh, cry, and think about the importance of family. I hope you, too, will get swept away by Nora’s journey in Sunshine Falls.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Cyclettes by Tree Abraham

By Fayth Simmons

Ottawa-born author Tree Abraham’s novel Cyclettes is a genre-bending compilation of brilliant poetical musings and visual explorations considering the mundanities and intricacies of life from the vantage point of a writer who is both incredibly self-aware but also consciously questioning such awareness. Utilizing the motif of a bicycle to consider the cyclical and forward-moving patterns of modern life, Tree Abraham eloquently yet playfully provides a narrative window into the experiences that quantify aging into an abstract notion of adulthood.

Cyclettes is a sensitive and thought-provoking book that could arguably be characterized by its innate ability to match language to feeling via powerful emotive translation. The challenges of growth are given voice, and through such prescribed narration, they are made relatable. As an author, Abraham has a distinct tone that is both clear and objectively effective, but also simultaneously sympathetic and inventive. She is honest in her portrayal of a dynamic lived experience and generous in her translation of that experience.

The original and largely experimental format of Cyclettes allows for diverse contemplation of the content within. Text is accompanied by various pieces of artwork and diagrams that help to illustrate and elaborate upon the main themes of Abraham’s work and pull the reader along with the motion of the created narrative. Due to this organization of content, the book is accessible—philosophical reflections are mirrored within tangible elements, allowing for larger-than-life concepts to be unified within a cohesive whole. At just over 200 pages, Cyclettes is a lyrically dense, approachable read, and highly relatable. Combining dialogue with internal rumination, and maps with photographs, Abraham successfully redefines what characterizes a novel.

The resultant product is resolute in its portrayal of journeying towards the vagueness that so inherently approximates identity and the personal understanding of retaining meaning within the modern world.

Thank you to Book*hug Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

By Kaylie Seed

The Witch and the Tsar is a reimagining of the infamous Baba Yaga. For those unfamiliar with Baba Yaga, she is a supernatural being found in Slavic folklore. Baba Yaga flies around in a mortar, carries a pestle, and lives deep in the forest in a hut that stands on chicken legs. Our main character in The Witch and the Tsar is Yaga, who is loosely based on Baba Yaga. Yaga is a half-goddess healer who keeps to herself in the forest. But when her long-time friend Anastasia—the wife of the tsar—arrives at Yaga’s door suffering from a mysterious illness, Yaga quickly figures out that the fate of all of Russia is tied to Anastasia’s fate, and Yaga has to protect them both. Yaga witnesses sixteenth century Russia on its way to chaos and Tsar Ivan (based on Ivan the Terrible) is at the centre of all of it.

I really wanted to love this novel, and I enjoyed the historical content, but it ended up falling flat for me. I was looking forward to a strong female lead yet found Yaga to be lacking, missing the power, knowledge, and decision-making that a reader might expect from someone who has lived for centuries; it was disappointing to not see a powerful healer that I was expecting. Ivan the Terrible was very well done and will likely leave readers feeling chilled and spooked. Readers will also notice that there is a lot of telling the reader what is going on rather than showing them, and this can make for an uneventful read.

The pacing for The Witch and the Tsar is extremely slow and the plot is very one-note with few twists and turns along the way. Gilmore still included a number of different themes, including women’s roles and expectations, violence, family both in blood and by choice, manipulation, history, and mental health. Something that I found helpful was the glossary that is found at the end of the novel that covers historical, fairy tale, and mythological key figures as well as places found throughout the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical content and felt that it was well researched; it was nice to delve into Slavic history. Anyone who enjoys reimagined folk tales or wants to find out more about Slavic history should take a look at this one.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

By Larissa Page

Simone St. James has made a name for herself in the supernatural thriller genre. After reading The Sun Down Motel a few years ago and feeling the literal heebie-jeebies, I’ve been quick to pick up her other books. I was so excited to get my hands on The Book of Cold Cases earlier this year.

The Book of Cold Cases follows Shea, a medical receptionist by day with an event from her past that she just can’t leave behind, propelling her need to become a true crime blogger by night. When she meets Beth, the infamously acquitted suspect of the 1977 Lady Killer murders that rocked the small town of Claire Lake, Shea asks for an interview and is pulled into Beth’s life. Beth has been living an isolated life in her parents’ house since her acquittal in 1977. This leads Shea to question whether  Beth ready to move on? What is with her in the house? And can Shea get to the bottom of the crimes committed back in 1977?

This book had all the hallmarks of St. James’ supernatural thrillers. It has hair-raising scenes, possible ghosts, and brutal crimes. It also has mystery with twists and turns. It is written in dual timelines, which can at times get a little confusing. It even has a little potential side romance for the present-day characters. I don’t want to say St. James has gotten cookie-cutter with her thrillers but all of the expected elements are there.

I didn’t find The Book of Cold Cases quite as creepy or eerie as I found The Sun Down Motel, which I was a little disappointed by. I still really liked the supernatural aspects, the story, and the mystery, but it  didn’t make me feel the need to curl under a blanket and hide like some of the scenes in Sun Down did. It was still an easy, engaging, and entertaining read—I just wished I’d been more creeped out and perhaps not gotten confused the few times I did.

While The Book of Cold Cases didn’t dethrone The Sun Down Motel for the top spot on my Simone St. James podium, I am still glad I read it. I did enjoy it and will absolutely, without question, continue to read future books by St. James. They make for the perfect lighter thriller to read when I’m in a reading slump or need a break from the heavier reads.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Cloisters by Katy Hays

By Larissa Page

Ann Stilwell desperately wants to get away from her painful small town life in Walla Walla after the death of her father in a hit and run and all of the constant reminders of him. When given the opportunity to intern for a summer at The Met, she hopes to never return. Ann ends up at The Cloisters, working hand in hand with Rachel and Patrick, in a medieval library surrounded by lush though potentially dangerous gardens. Together, they seek to discover the origins and original use of the Tarot and its occult beginnings. As the summer progresses, Ann finds herself being pulled into a different world, discovering different things about herself, and finds herself in sinister situations.

I began my “spooky season” reading with The Cloisters, and while there are things I wish had been done a bit better, or perhaps fuller, the atmosphere was perfect for a pre-halloween read. The settings of the buildings and gardens, tapestries, library, stacks, Rachel’s large and empty “camp”, and more,  all lended themselves to an atmospherically eerie read. I was quick to do an image search of The Cloisters themselves, and I really enjoyed imagining all of the scenes and their settings as they played out.

While I enjoyed the characters to an extent, I found myself wishing I had a bit more understanding of a few of them, Ann included. I found Rachel not to be terribly realistic (and that may be personal opinion), and I wish there had been more development of her and also of Patrick. Additionally, I had a hard time connecting with some of the choices Ann was making and linking them back to her character.

I did, however, enjoy the direction of the plot. I also found myself surprised by some of the twists and turns and reveals. Some of them I suspected (which I think may have been intentional) but a few did genuinely surprise me.

I am not a big reader of dark academia as a genre, which I would classify this as, and therefore I felt a little lost in the development of the tarot history discussed throughout the book. I don’t necessarily think this was a bad thing or took away from the book. I think fans of the genre may really like that, but I found myself skimming those particular pieces. What I did love though was “Ann Stilwell’s guide to tarot” at the back of the book;, it was a very cool addition.

Overall, this book was dark and atmospheric. It had a touch of thriller and a touch of dark academia. I felt it was perfect for this time of year where the days are getting shorter and colder, so I could curl up with it and re-enter The Cloisters every time I opened it.

Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Burden of Memories by Janet Calcaterra

By Lauren Bell

Content warning: addiction, alcohol abuse, suicide

The Burden of Memories by Janet Calcaterra is a novel about family, and how mental illness can affect all of its members. The year is 1995, and the novel opens with eldest daughter, Adrienne Muir, in the middle of a bender after losing her dream job. Her slightly intrusive and WASP-y mother, Gloria, becomes worried quickly, and urges her to spend a week with her younger sister, Cass, in North Bay, Ontario. At the same time, Adrienne receives a box of letters from her aunt, written by her deceased father during his time overseas in World War II. Her curiosity overrides her emotions—especially with her mother being so tight-lipped about their past—and she brings the box with her to Cass’s. Their father, Dr. Alex Muir, was a psychiatrist, and as they read his letters, they struggle to decode the cryptic messaging in his letters. Is he speaking of his own mental turmoil or his patients’?

The Burden of Memories is told through the multiple perspectives of the Muir family, the letters written by Dr. Alex Muir, and his diary entries; thus, it bounces from 1940 to 1995 with each passage. I generally don’t have any issues with this format; however, I found that some of the letters, when alluded to in the text, were repeated unnecessarily. I believe that there were missed opportunities for imagery in the text, and felt that Calcaterra was telling the story, rather than showing it. I also found that there were a lot of missed opportunities for introspection among the characters, especially since the novel was about examining memories and the choices that arose from them.

What I did notice about the novel and appreciate was the non-nuclear family structures, meaning there weren’t any “traditional” households in the text; all were multigenerational and most included half/step-siblings/parents. It was nice to see that diversity. I also appreciate the awareness that Calcaterra promotes by describing and openly discussing the signs of alcohol abuse through her characters, and I hope that readers can learn and benefit from those observations. While The Burden of Memories was not my favourite read, it was a quick one (less than two hundred pages) and would be suited readers who enjoy World War II fiction and Canadian history, as well as books set locally in Ontario.

Thank you to Latitude 46 for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Scars & Stars by Jesse Thistle

By Larissa Page

Scars & Stars is the follow up to Jesse Thistle’s best- selling memoir From The Ashes. A few years ago From The Ashes took Canada by storm, gaining hordes of readers who loved, resonated, praised, cried over, and shared in Thistle’s story of addiction, homelessness, jail time, recovery, resilience, and ultimately, love. Throughout that memoir, he provided snippets of his poetry, which readers praised and loved and requested for more. And so was born Scars & Stars.

Scars & Stars is a really unique collection of poetry. Throughout the book, Thistle gives us introductions of each section, real talk, and his real voice to explain what each sub-collection/section means, where it came from, and what it’s about. He tells us stories, some of which we already know (if we’ve read From the Ashes) but goes deeper, and some of which are new. Some of the sections and stories include things that have happened since the end of From the Ashes, like the birth of his beautiful daughter, Rose, and the worries and struggles that come with fatherhood.

As already recognized in his previous work, Thistle’s writing is beautiful. It is whole and full of emotion, of struggle, of suffering, and of love. His poems are original, unlike other works of contemporary poetry one might find on bookstore shelves. The poems grow, as he grew, and the poems change, as he changed. They were deep and impactful while still being accessible to those who may have had shared the same experienced he did.

What I think I liked the most was how Thistle framed this collection of poetry as a passing on of the knowledge he had held so close and ultimately served to keep him going in his bleakest moments. He describes what his “shield” was and how up until now he hasn’t shared this information for fear of losing its protectiveness but now feels it is time to share it so others can use it too, to get themselves out, to also rise from the ashes.

Poetry is often hit or miss for me. I do not always connect with the poet as I read a collection. However, this one was an absolute hit, out of the ballpark. An incredible follow up and companion to From the Ashes.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare

Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: child abuse, emotional abuse, sexism, stalking, death of a parent

In Jessica Clare’s Go Hex Yourself, Reggie Johnson’s controlling nature makes it a little hard to keep a job. But when she answers an ad in the newspaper that she thinks is for a position at her favourite card game, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to impress her new boss. Unfortunately for Reggie, she ends up getting hired as a real witch’s familiar, and impressing her new boss means learning spells, acting as a conduit for her kooky witch’s magic, and believing that magic is real. Plus, she’s stuck dealing with her boss’s nephew. Angry, brooding Ben Magnus goes out of his way to show Reggie she doesn’t belong there, but when dark spells start targeting the house, Ben and Reggie need to work together to keep each other safe and find the culprit.

Go Hex Yourself is perfect for fall; it’s a fun, witchy rom-com with an enemies-to-lovers romance, witty banter, a fun plot, and a touch of magic. I had a lot of fun reading it and once I got started, I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed our main characters and the way their romance progressed, I had fun with the plot, and it had me invested and excited to see what was coming.

This book is, at its heart, a romance. Enemies-to-lovers is a difficult thing to pull off in a way that leads to a healthy relationship, but I feel like this book did a really good job. Reggie is an interesting and complex character, and Ben complemented and challenged her so well. Both sides of the romance were developed and explored, and each of our main characters' psyches and histories were explored in a way that highlighted how they would work well together. The book balances the immediate attraction between the two characters with a slower development of feelings really well. Even during the “enemies” phase of their romance, each person’s behaviour is explained and makes sense. And they communicate! That sounds like a silly thing to praise, but I love a couple who talk through their differences in a healthy and constructive way.

I also really enjoyed the side characters, particularly Dru, Reggie’s boss and Ben’s aunt. She is really funny and fun to read about, and her character helped me get invested in the overall stakes and plot of the book. The book does a good job of developing the side characters and their relationships with the main couple in a way that makes each of our main characters feel more real and grounded, and which in turn helps deepen the romance by making the characters feel three dimensional.

I do feel like the pacing of the book is a bit off, and a decent chunk of the beginning is spent developing the relationship between Dru and Ben and Dru and Reggie rather than between the main couple. While I appreciate them taking that time, I do feel like the second half of the book suffers a bit because of how slowly things move in the beginning. Likewise, I found that the mystery regarding who is attacking the family was definitely rushed, and the conclusion of that mystery was slightly disappointing to me. It made sense and was well explained, I was just hoping for a bit more. However, the relationship and bond between the characters is developed so well that I was satisfied with how they reacted to the mystery’s resolution, even if I didn’t love the resolution itself.

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book. Yes, I have some critiques, but it did everything I needed it to do. It was fun, magical, spicy, and had a memorable cast of characters that I really liked spending time with. I think it really succeeded as an enemies-to-lovers romance and has excellent fall vibes. If you’re looking for witchy rom-coms to read this fall, I would definitely check this one out.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Long Weekend by Gilly MacMillan

By Lauren Bell

I have been a long-time fan of Gilly MacMillan and have read all her titles, so needless to say, The Long Weekend was a highly anticipated book for me (reading it felt like coming home). MacMillan’s latest novel fits true to her style—a psychological thriller set against the background of England and told in alternating perspectives.

Three couples are staying at the isolated Dark Fell Barn for a weekend getaway. Each couple is at a different stage in their relationship (one newly married, another new parents, and the other hovering around divorce), and no one is eager for the weekend, but they have begrudgingly come out of an unspoken obligation to keep the group together in honour of their recently deceased friend Rob, the so-called “glue” of the group. While the men of the group are lifelong friends, their wives are merely there by association, and the realization of how little they actually know each other further sours the atmosphere. Within this context the hook of the novel is set: upon their arrival they receive a note warning them that one of their husbands will be killed before they return home. From then on, it’s a guessing game of who left the note and which husband will be targeted.

As I mentioned previously, the plot is told in alternating perspectives, mostly in third person, but there is also a second narrator—the perpetrator of the crime. When you’re reading, you are never fully certain of the narrator’s identity—process of elimination from the subtle hints MacMillan drops cancels out the obvious choices. This is where I believe that MacMillan’s skill as a thriller writer stands out, as she keeps the audience guessing throughout the novel.

What I also like about MacMillan’s work is that she creates “real” people in her characters, and snapshots of everyday lives in her novels. I appreciate their originality and relatability, and the fact that she stays away from classic mystery tropes (e.g., no femme fatales or conflicted detectives). I found her ending to be fitting as well, as it ties up all loose ends. However, my main critique for The Long Weekend is that the plot’s timeline is the span of a weekend, yet the book itself is roughly 300 pages, meaning MacMillan does a lot to build suspense in the novel, but at times this can drag.

I quite enjoyed reading The Long Weekend and would recommend it to fans of the genre, especially those who have previously read MacMillan’s work.

Book Review: The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa

By Carmen Lebar

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa is a wholesome tale about Rintaro and his grandfather’s bookshop. When Rintaro’s grandfather dies, he is left with his grandfather's bookshop, which he will eventually have to leave to go live with his aunt. Unexpectedly, Rintaro is visited by an orange tabby cat who needs his help to free books from various perils. The two, plus classmate Sayo, go on a bookish adventure that teaches them the importance of books in one’s life. I enjoyed Rintaro’s story and think it’s a simple yet effective novel that explores the theme of grief.

What I enjoyed most about this novel was how the journey Rintaro takes ultimately leads him to deal with his grandfather’s passing. At the beginning of the novel, we see Rintaro isolate himself from those he cares about, and from his classmates. An unnamed tabby cat convinces Rintaro to go on a journey to save books through a portal at the back of the bookshop. Once he begins his journey entering the various labyrinths and meeting unexpected people, he starts to build his confidence. It was heartwarming to see Rintaro regain his footing in life and find ways to honour the life of his grandfather. Although the novel centres around a lot of bookish tropes, the underlying story of grief and closure was very touching, and a joy to read. 

There is only one critique I have with this novel, and it is with how the book was marketed. It’s marketed for an adult audience, but I feel like it is best suited for a younger audience. That is not to say that adults can’t enjoy this novel—I did. Rintaro is in high school, dealing with his grandfather's passing, questions about his future, and also figuring out his own identity. These are dilemmas that affect many people Rintaro’s age, which I think would make it a great book for a younger audience. It’s a perfect novel to present to someone younger if they’re dealing with the loss of a loved one or going through a difficult time while in school. Although there is a lot of youthfulness to this book, the overall themes in this story made me realize how important books are—regardless of age. It is a journey not just through books, but through identity and the processing of grief.

The Cat Who Saved Books is a wonderful book for a cozy time, snuggled up in bed, and sipping some hot tea. If you like books about books, this should be your next read. It’s also a great short book for a buddy read or book club. It’s short but will surely have people talking. It’s also a great read for anyone who has lost a loved one and needs a cozy read that may help them to see the positive in life again. Funny, heartwarming, and perfectly bookish, The Cat Who Saved Books is a fun adventure novel that you can get lost in.

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Up the Coast by Kathryn Willcock

By Fayth Simmons

In Up The Coast, author Kathryn Willcock takes a deep dive into the complex and illustrious chapters of her childhood, spent in logging camps off of the rural BC coast. With emotive prose and clear narration, Willcock describes a rugged and wild existence, and highlights the trials and tribulations of everyday life in Orford Bay and beyond. Set within a land of unparalleled natural beauty, the logging camps provided a home base for Willcock’s family and all of the loggers. Such beauty, however, came at the cost of isolation and sometimes danger—with grizzlies as close neighbours, almost consistent financial strain, and challenging weather patterns, there was no shortage of challenges to the logging lifestyle, and many obstacles stood in the way of company success. Through Willcock’s gaze, however, and her remembrance of childhood, the reader is able to see through the challenges of such a life to the equal doses of joy and freedom that it provided.

The novel presents as being almost autobiographical in nature, with Willcock providing historically accurate depictions of life in Orford Bay, and her family’s journey to arrive there. The narration allows the reader to be carried smoothly through the novel, and at just over 200 pages, it is a fairly fast read and accessible to a wide variety of readers. Witty observations are accompanied by doses of harsh realism, though the overriding tone is one of warmth and authenticity. Willcock successfully condenses vivid landscapes into her writing, and each character holds equivalent depths of layered emotion. At its core, this is a novel about family, and the resilience required to etch out an alternative life amidst the sometimes unforgiving elements of the BC wilderness. Willcock’s capacity for storytelling shines through, and her thoughtful approach has resulted in a novel that is both eye-opening and enjoyable.

Thank you to NeWest Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Avenue of Champions by Conor Kerr

By Larissa Page

Daniel is a Métis child, then man, living in Edmonton, on the Avenue of Champions—first in the group home, and later raised by his Granny. We follow him through points of his life as he works his way through the push and pull of what it means to be “from the Avenue” as well as Métis, with significant intergenerational trauma to work through. Working against, and through, people’s expectations of him, this novel explores his life and the lives of those surrounding him.

This book is marketed as a novel, but it reads like a collection of interconnected, chronological short stories. Daniel, Granny, his brother Charlie, and his childhood group home friend Jason, all have voices to varying degrees throughout the telling of Daniel’s life. It starts with a prologue from decades before his birth and continues until he’s well into adulthood. I really liked the span of time in which we get to see Daniel grow, but I especially liked that each chapter was its own story, meaning we got snippets of Daniel’s life (and others’ lives) without needing all the in-between that happens throughout someone’s 40 years of living.

While I did really like the interconnected story feel of this novel, I wish it has been marketed to me that way. Some of the chapters switched narrators or perspective and it took a bit to realize who was speaking or where they were. I found this confusing when it happened until I caught on to who was talking. If I had been told they were stories, I would have known to expect that the person may change from chapter to chapter.

The writing in this novel is very real. It felt like it was likely an authentic view on the type of life someone from the avenue might live. I especially appreciated that Daniel was in a morally grey area, participating in petty crime but still working on improving his life. He wasn’t entirely either stereotype (leading a life of crime or committing completely to “getting out”). As people we are not all good or all bad and I felt that element of humanity was represented in Daniel.

I wouldn’t have sought this one out had it not been longlisted for the Giller Prize this past month, but I am so glad I did. I really enjoyed reading it; I was engaged and wanted to continue reading when I put it down. It was a quick but very meaningful read.

Book Review: Boobies by Nancy Vo

By Carly Smith

Boobies is a nonfiction children’s book full of facts about breasts. Playful and silly, Boobies honours these beautiful body parts by highlighting their function and explaining some lesser known, yet interesting, scientific and historical tidbits. The beginning of the book helps readers understand who does, and does not, have breasts; Vo explains what mammals are and gives examples and non-examples of mammals to clarify. Next, Vo dives into the world of breastfeeding. She touches on how mammary glands make it possible to breastfeed, and how breastfeeding can change the size and shape of breasts. As the book continues, Vo goes on to provide some trivia about where else breasts can be found in the world, connecting them to mountains and ancient art.

The content of this book is well organized in that it feels like a “facts sandwich.” Vo begins and ends the book in a humorous, lighthearted way, and in the middle she buckles down and presents the true content—the information meant to teach. Easing in and out of this topic, which unfortunately still may be considered taboo by some, is effective in that it’s not so “in your face.” Furthermore, Vo works to keep the subject of breasts engaging and cheerful by sprinkling puns, one-liners, and fun facts throughout.

The visual appeal of Boobies is excellent. The text almost always stands out in a black-on-white fashion and when it does not, it is still easy to find and read, so as not to detract from the intent to inform. The font is child friendly, with letters appearing in the style and shape in which they are typically taught, and the size is not too small or too overbearing. The illustrations, also done by Vo, pair well with the text; they are easy to look at, pique curiosity, and offer opportunities for additional conversation, but do not take away from the written content.   

This delightful read is appropriate for primary students, young ones with a good sense of humour, and families on a breastfeeding or chestfeeding journey. I can see this book being borrowed frequently from a school library by both students and teachers, in a regular rotation on a bookshelf at home, or brought out occasionally for reference. Boobies can be used as the bulk of a lesson, for the purpose of entertainment, or as an introduction to a larger topic in a science class. However you choose to enjoy it, Boobies will stick with you.

Thank you to Groundwood Books for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: One Madder Woman by Dede Crane

By Caprice Hogg

The thrill of this book is that it transports the reader to the middle of 19th century Paris to spend time with Impressionist painters like Monet, Degas, Manet, Cezanne, and more, specifically Berthe Morisot, the first known female Impressionist painter at the time. This historical novel depicts their lives before these painters become “Impressionists”  and gives us an in-depth look at a thriving Paris and its society during this time. The novel centers on the life of Berthe and the challenges she faced for being a female painter in a society that frowned greatly on women who focused on their career rather than marriage and having children. 

The writing portrayed the love story between Berthe and famous painter Edouard Manet. Manet was married to another woman and his career was a flamboyant one. Manet loved and adored Berthe but also respected her artistic talent in her own right and persuaded the art community to accept her work as equal to the men’s paintings. 

It was the description of their affair that also gives the reader a glimpse of Montmartre during its height of popularity. The author’s vivid descriptions transport the reader into a time we will never know.

Berthe and her sister Edma had a deep and complicated relationship. Edma was also a painter who put her paintbrush aside to start a family as was expected of all young women of that era. Neither sister could understand the choices of the other. 

While I found this book fascinating and it kept my interest, at one point, the story lost my attention when it went into a detailed account of the war in France during this time.  The war had a large impact on the whole country and certainly affected the painters, as well as all other French citizens, but I was much more interested in learning about the art rather than the politics. While this was an important part of history, I was happy when the story returned to more art-related topics.

It was fascinating to read about being a woman painter in Paris alongside famous male painters. I have seen many Impressionist paintings and yet I do not recall ever seeing a Morisot painting. Even today, women painters are not as well-known as the men. 

For me, one quote that sums up the life of Berthe Morisot is when she was visiting with her friend Marcello. Marcello said to Berthe “The one salve I’ve found for the pain of living is the making of art. But then you, my friend, already know that.” She leaned in, conspiratorial. “We artists. We are the lucky ones.” This says to me that no matter what, when you are an artist, you cannot help but create, despite what rules and regulations society dictates.

For art history lovers, this book is well worth the read!

Thank you, Freehand Books, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: When Spider Met Shrew by Deborah Kerbel and Geneviève Côté

By Carly Smith

When Spider Met Shrew tells the story of an unexpected group of animals who help each other when, for one reason or another, they are down on their luck. What do a spider, a shrew, a bat, a possum, a dog, and a pony have in common? They all have hardships, and they are all keen to help one another overcome their troubles through acts of kindness. This uplifting story takes readers on an adventure where each turn of a page introduces a new animal and a new situation to navigate through teamwork. Hunger, homelessness, bad weather, fear, and loneliness won’t stop these creatures from having fun and making friends.

Heartwarming and amusing, When Spider Met Shrew offers a lot for young readers; it has a great moral, can help children build inferring skills, and is full of dialogue. It is an excellent choice for a read-aloud at the beginning of the school year, or if grownups are looking to help their young ones make inferences. Kerbel helps readers feel empathy without being too heavy-hearted. Similarly, Côté illustrates in such a way that readers are able to understand the emotions of the animals while still keeping the tone fairly jovial.

The text in the book changes; sometimes, dialogue is between traditional quotation marks, and at other times it is in a bold font, different than of the rest of the page’s text, and near the speaker’s mouth, somewhat comparable to a speech bubble. This was a bit confusing, and I was unable to find a rhyme or reason for this. Although I would have preferred that the dialogue stuck to one style, I appreciated that the sentences were short and there was not too much text per page. These are important features for the target audience’s age and experience level.

The illustrations are sweet and remind me of picture books that were popular when I was a child. They are scratchy and do not have perfect colouring inside the lines. It adds to the charm of the book. The scenery is not too detailed, helping readers focus on the animals and their conversations, which consequently emphasizes the moral of the story.

Overall, the storyline and the illustrations come together neatly to create a wonderful message for all readers. While grownups will read When Spider Met Shrew with a nostalgic, cozy feeling, younger readers will find a beautiful lesson that they can bring with them and use in their own little communities.

Thank you, Groundwood Books, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.