There’s a string of seemingly unrelated murders occurring in New Zealand, and it takes Vanda Symon’s sassy, smart detective Sam Shephard to tie them together. "The Ringmaster" is a multilayered, absorbing mystery that is full of... Read More

Camilla Townsend’s excellent historical text covers the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs with important additional context. Anecdotes from translated works and introductions to crucial Indigenous characters result in a gripping,... Read More

Sofia Panina’s life was full of interesting intersections. A countess born into wealth, she became a popular political figure, only to run afoul of the Bolshevik government. Adele Lindenmeyr’s biography of Sofia Panina, "Citizen... Read More

Emily Lycopolus and DL Acken’s "Cedar and Salt" showcases Vancouver Island’s impressive local food scene. The large island, located off the coast of British Columbia, has a mild climate that enables year-round foraging and farming,... Read More

Deborah Jarchow and Gwen W. Steege’s "The Weaving Explorer" updates the craft from its 1970s boom days. Gone are garish chemical colors and polyester fibers; cooler palettes and the subtle hues of natural dyes reign. While there are... Read More

Brutal realism marks the turns of this coming-of-age novel, set during the 1990s drug boom. The city of Fury is both a haven and a hell for the teens who call it home. In Corey Croft’s gritty novel "The Furies", a crew of friends are... Read More

In Noah Milligan’s startling novel "Into Captivity They Will Go", Caleb, a teenage boy of perceived miraculous birth, is raised by an evangelical, end-times-obsessed mother who’s convinced that he is the second coming of Christ.... Read More

In Dan Haring and MarcyKate Connolly’s fantasy novel with elements of a mystery and a touch of magic, "The Star Shepherd", a boy races to save the stars before their light is forever extinguished. Ever since Kyro’s mother died, his... Read More