I read Evelyn Clarke’s “The Ending Writes Itself”, and—with every compliment intended—what the hell was that?! Six authors travel to a remote island off the coast of Scotland to attend a famed reclusive author’s retreat. Action ensues. Amazing and recommended!

Literary science fiction is not my favourite subgenre, but Richard Powers’ “Bewilderment” blew me away. It deals with ecological collapse, childhood neurodivergence, grief, and science vs. politics. (The treatment of American politics felt so current that I double-checked the copyright date twice)

I read Suzanne Palmer’s “Ode to the Half-Broken” in advance via NetGalley. It was released today. Robot-focused apocalyptic hopepunk may be my favourite sub-subgenre of science fiction and *I LOVED THIS*. This has adventure, intrigue, found-family, and an exploration of The Collapse via flashback

Lake Minnewanka David Pugh 1979

I read Matt Dinneman’s “Dungeon Crawler Carl”, specifically the audiobook narrated by Jeff Hays. This is a good example of the value in meeting a book where it is: the premise of running through an alien-run, post-apocalyptic, high-stakes RPG dungeon (with a cat) sounds ridiculous and is *AMAZING*!

Reena McCarty’s “The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains” was released this week and I read it in advance via NetGalley. It is a richly drawn and intense fantasy, full of political intrigue. I admired the world-building and history that grounded the story and the complex interpersonal dynamics

Edge of Woods in Spring, New Brunswick Goodridge Roberts 1960

There is still time to register your Canadian-authored books for the Public Lending Right program 🇨🇦

Man I didn't know you were just allowed to say "Can I be on your podcast" but! I have two books coming out this year! I can be on your podcast to talk about them! :D Qualifications: - I write books - I have a charming Canadian accent* *charm not guaranteed

I'm on the CBC! 🥰 Thanks to @timfordwrites.bsky.social for this lovely interview!

Uzma Jalaluddin’s “Moonlight Murder”, the sequel to her “Detective Aunty”, is coming out at the end of the month and I read it in advance via NetGalley. I enjoyed returning to the setting in Toronto’s Golden Crescent neighbourhood and revisiting Kausar’s family, friends, and community ❤️

I read Annalee Newitz’s “Autonomous” and I’m so glad I did! A reading challenge had a prompt to go on social media and read the first book you encountered. How did that give me a 5-star reading experience?! Deals with pharmaceutical patents (and piracy), corporate corruption, and robot rights

I read Benjamin Stevenson’s “Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret”, a holiday novella in his Ernest Cunningham series. I thought this was great! While I did not take the suggestion to read it over 24 days, the advent structure suited the storytelling style very well.

I read T. Kingfisher’s “Wolf Worm” (24 March 2026) in advance via NetGalley. A scientific illustrator comes to a 1899 North Carolina manor house to illustrate the reclusive owner’s work on parasitic insects. I loved the characters, but I learned so much that I never wanted to know about insects!

I read “As the Earth Dreams: Black Canadian Speculative Stories”, an anthology edited by Terese Mason Pierre. I enjoyed this, and was particularly impressed by “Peak Day” by Suyi Davies Okungbowa and “The Hole in the Middle of the World” by Chinelo Onwualu.

Canadian authors, remember to register your books for the PLR program by May 1! For the first time, you are no longer required to mail things in—you can do it online.

I read “Brownstone” by Samuel Teer & Mar Julia. In this YA coming of age graphic novel, a young teenager spends the summer with the Guatemalan father she never knew, renovating a Brooklyn brownstone and connecting with her heritage. I loved it!

I read “The Space Cat” by Nnedi Okorafor and Tana Ford. This middle grade graphic novel features the adventures of Periwinkle the cat in space and in Nigeria. Fun with gorgeous art work!

I read Benjamin Stevenson’s “Everyone on This Train is a Suspect”, the second in the Ernest Cunningham series. “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” did not work for me, but this one hit much better! I went with the flow, rather than trying to beat the narrator to the end, which may have helped

Heather Fawcett’s “Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter” was released today and I was lucky enough to read it in advance via NetGalley. I fell in love with the cover immediately and knew I’d enjoy the cats and Fawcett’s characters. But I was surprised how well the setting in 1920s Montreal worked! ❤️

I read Rachel Gillig’s “One Dark Window” and I enjoyed it. It is richly atmospheric with a unique card-based magic system. Each Tarot-like card has paired gifts and curses and the story revolves around a quest to reunite the cards into one deck. This is the first volume of the Shepherd King duology.

I read the audiobook of Mariana Enrìquez’s “Somebody is Walking on Your Grave: My Cemetery Journeys”. It is a collection of travel essays focused on visits to cemeteries around the world. I enjoyed it and recommend it 😊

I read Libby Page’s “This Book Made Me Think of You” in advance via NetGalley. A young widow is gifted a year’s worth of books from her late husband and rediscovers her love of reading. I love a book about the power of books and I found this story warm and comforting 🥰

Molly O’Neill’s “Nightshade and Oak” came out earlier this week and I read it in advance via NetGalley. Mallt, a goddess of death, is accidentally turned human by a wayward spell and teams up with Boudicca’s warrior daughter to attempt to restore her power. I loved the setting and use of mythology.

I was blown away by Charlotte Bond’s fantasy novella “The Fireborne Blade”. I chose it from a list of recent titles featuring lady knights and was very impressed by the rich world building and incredible plot. I enjoyed the way current events and flashbacks are interspersed with historical accounts.

I read Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s “Before the Coffee Gets Cold”. In four connected stories, people get the chance to time travel for the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. The first story in particular did not land for me. The others were better, but this will not be a favourite.

My first book of 2026 is Antonia Hodgson’s “The Raven Scholar”. The socially isolated High Scholar must unexpectedly take part in a competition to select the next emperor, while she investigates the murder of the original Raven champion. I was blown away by the world-building and character work!

Peaceful Yukon Ted Harrison 1993

I lost my cat to cancer earlier this month and have the intermittent sads (from things like clearing out her toys and scratching posts). One of my older neighbours with the sweetest little dog has been letting me pet and make a fuss of their dog whenever we cross paths. Sometimes, that’s community ❤️

New story day! "Phantom View" is about a son caretaking for his father, and discovering a blurry person in all their family photos that he has no memory of. The same figure is in all his dad's paintings--and the figure may be in the house with them right now.

I read Jim C. Hines’ “Slayers of Old” in advance via NetGalley. It will be published tomorrow in time for spooky season! If you are of the Buffy generation, this tale of three retired paranormal hunters will appeal to you! 😀

Vital information: the book is coming out soon, on October 7th: westminster.bookmarkreads.ca/item/-Az7-_I...

I was *so* ready for spooky season! I read KJ Charles’ “All of Us Murderers” in advance via NetGalley and sold it over lunch to Collections Management: “I started it after work last night and I’m 75% done”. A gothic mystery featuring a 2SLGBTQIA+ POV character with ADHD. I finished it over lunch 😊

Tangerine Sunset Nicki Ault 2020

I want to *live* in the cover of Heather Fawcett’s February 2026 release “Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter”.

And if you enjoyed the first, the second — Nobody’s Baby — is up for pre-order! On a spaceship for adults, a wild baby appears and horrifies everyone. Who made it? What do we do with it? Is there murder involved (spoiler: yes). Like Alien, but make it cozy! us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

Holy crap -- Automatic Noodle is an instant USA Today and Indie bestseller! Thank you so much, humans and robots, for reading this li'l book and making it soar. Now go eat something! Or get your noodle swag at automaticnoodle.website

I read Premee Mohamed’s post-apocalyptic novella “The Annual Migration of Clouds” for my in-person book club. A deep and poetic consideration of climate change, set in Alberta.

I read Annalee Newitz’s “Automatic Noodle” in advance via NetGalley. A robot team reboot in post apocalyptic San Fran to discover that their ghost kitchen has been shuttered. Deciding to restart the restaurant with significantly better food, their success is threatened by a robophobic campaign.

I read “Of Monsters and Mainframes” by Barbara Truelove. The AI spaceship Demeter awakes approaching her destination and discovers all her passengers are dead. This ridiculously delightful romp features unknown vampires, werewolves, and other paranormal creatures in a science fiction world.

I read “Shorted” by Alex Irvine, a novelette recently published on Reactor. A social media influencer in a near-future dystopia seeks to solve his own murder. reactormag.com/shorted-alex...

I read T. Kingfisher’s “What Feasts at Night”, second in her Sworn Soldier series. I’m slowly getting to the point of appreciating horror fiction outside the human-on-human variety, and I do enjoy this gothic horror series. I appreciate the non-binary representation and the vivid exploration of PTSD

I read Sarah Gailey’s “Magic for Liars” and had a great time. Noir detective meets magical academy, with a very satisfying murder mystery to explore. A non-magical private investigator is hired to investigate the horrific death of a teacher at the magical academy where her estranged twin teaches.

I read Y M Resnik’s “The Elysium Heist” in advance through NetGalley. (It will be released at the end of July.) An adventurous casino heist novel set on a sentient space station, this features five viewpoint characters, all female and all queer. Recommended if you are okay with the POV switching!

I read “The Young Necromancer’s Guide to Ghosts” by Vanessa Ricci-Thode. This middle-grade fantasy focuses more on adventure than spooky or creepy content and should appeal to its intended young audience. It recently won the Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction.

I read “Kitty Cat Kill Sat” by Argus, a post-apocalyptic SF adventure. Lily the uplifted house cat has been the lone occupant of a heavily-armed satellite for hundreds of years, and has a self-appointed mission to protect the remnants of humanity. Adventurous, emotional and surprisingly touching.

I read “Capturing Crime”, a collection of Carol Taylor’s New Brunswick courtroom drawings over three decades, with text by Greg Marquis. The text is inexpertly edited, but I enjoyed the discussion of the experience of being a courtroom artist and the discussion of several of my childhood bogeymen!

This year, I’m making a point to check out the short fiction published in “Reactor Magazine“ each month. Published in June, check out “The Name Ziya” by Wen-Li Lee, a fantasy novelette treating education and assimilation, cultural identity and appropriation: reactormag.com/the-name-ziy...

I read “The City We Became” by N.K. Jemisin for an upcoming book club, and I’m so glad I did! The powerful language and mythic storytelling caught me from the start, and although it took time to gel with the multiple viewpoint characters, I got there by the end. Recommended!

I read “Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding” (Halloween Bookshop Mystery #2) in advance via NetGalley. (It will be published on July 29th.) Bookstore owner in a year-round Halloween-themed town, Bailey is helping arrange the Halloween wedding of a college friend when all goes wrong. Cozy and charming 🎃