A fast paced art heist thriller. Snarky, bursting with energy, and paying homage to the cut throat world of priceless art, Hanging the Devil is realitA fast paced art heist thriller. Snarky, bursting with energy, and paying homage to the cut throat world of priceless art, Hanging the Devil is reality defying fight that delivers action from beginning to end. Combining humor with its thrills, this novel would translate well to a screen adaptation, channeling cinematic elements into its characters and their endeavors. Lighthearted and colorful, a journey of crime and justice that affirms that there is always more than what the eyes can see.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen and Tim Maleeny for this ARC of Hanging the Devil. Keep your eyes out for this novel on November 14th! ...more
An uncomfortable, intimate look into grief and artistic expression. Filled with dark humour and unflinching honesty, Mostly Dead Things is a glimpse aAn uncomfortable, intimate look into grief and artistic expression. Filled with dark humour and unflinching honesty, Mostly Dead Things is a glimpse at a family destroyed by loss and years of alienation; it is a raw account of a life lived with yearning, secrets, resentment. But it is also a story of the catharsis of art, which can say all of the things we never quite dare to: our deepest desires, our darkest secrets, our most disturbing or authentic inner thoughts are laid bare. This novel is in many ways a parallel to so many people who have gone so long with toxic cycles or stagnation that the fear of starting over is almost greater than the fear of going on forever in misery. A quirky but evocative read that is worth working through the discomfort for. ...more
A gorgeously crafted debut on the connection between love, memory, grief, and art. This magical coming of age examines the ways in which loss and love shape us; it is a bridge between worlds, fusing time and memory to create a heartbreakingly powerful journey towards closure. The Astonishing Color of After opens universal reflections on loss: the people in our lives who we love most are sometimes the ones we understand the least; so often our minds are crushed with the musings of “what if” or “I should have;” our experiences are tightly woven within those to whom have sacrificed so much for our ability to create, to fail, to try again. This debut is expertly done; it is so believable, relatable, and bursting with heart, possibility....more
A heartbreaking novel on the human condition and the ways in which our loves and losses shape us. Told in the midst of the AIDS epidemic in 1980’s ChiA heartbreaking novel on the human condition and the ways in which our loves and losses shape us. Told in the midst of the AIDS epidemic in 1980’s Chicago and continuing on to 2015 Paris, The Great Believers is an intimate and tender saga of friendship, appreciation of the arts, betrayals, and struggling to hold on the joy as the world becomes more and more bleak. This novel is also a poignant and relatable recording of the generational effects that loss and grief have; time is a double edged sword for those who have experienced the worse of heartbreak, and the effects are passed down for years to come. We are shaped not just by our own decisions and emotions, but by the ways in which our friends, families, and lovers touch our lives, how they influence us, and the memories they leave behind. A wonderfully moving piece that captures so much of the human experience, the ups and downs of living in this world, and the power of art and expression. ...more
A slow burn mystery romance that discusses the ripples of loss over time, and how grief and uncertainly can shape generations. Against the backdrops oA slow burn mystery romance that discusses the ripples of loss over time, and how grief and uncertainly can shape generations. Against the backdrops of the vivid Florida wetlands, The Marsh Queen is an atmospheric tale that blends suspense with the passion one has for art and finding new beginnings amidst the rubble of regret and deceit. This debut is a scenic trip around nature that inspires reflections on familial relationships....more
A heartfelt novel on self acceptance, breaking generational cycles, and processing grief. Evil Eye is a meditative work which navigates the nuances beA heartfelt novel on self acceptance, breaking generational cycles, and processing grief. Evil Eye is a meditative work which navigates the nuances between culture, motherhood, marriage, and expectations, both from strangers and the ones closest to us. It is a work that ripples with the effects of displacement, trauma, and anger, which simmer over time and influence the ideas of what makes a good partnership, what makes a home, what words are worth being spoken, being shared. An effective look into the isolation and frustration that depression and lack of fulfillment brings into the heart, this novel also looks at the mirror between emotion and expression, both artistically and with others; our memories make waves in our art, our narratives, our decisions, and how we confront our losses and hurts pave a way for where we go, what we show to the world. Timely and relatable, this is a novel that heals as well as exposes all of the times we have been made to feel small and encouraged to keep quiet, and offers a nuanced glimpse into contemporary Palestinian literature. ...more
A moving ode to familial bonds and ancestral lands against the backdrop of Hawaii. Told with honesty and grace, Aloha Vietnam is a powerful account ofA moving ode to familial bonds and ancestral lands against the backdrop of Hawaii. Told with honesty and grace, Aloha Vietnam is a powerful account of the first generation immigrant experience, as well as the struggles of facing the stigma that comes with tending to one’s mental health. This novel does a compelling job of weaving together memory and desire, tension and speculation like the watercolors Anh so carefully crafts. This is a story that shows all of the love and loss that is felt for the past, for families who never quite meet in the middle, for artists and writers making sense of the world around them. A passionate novel filled with emotion, and a intimately candid journey. ...more
A look into the women who shaped one of Vienna’s most provocative artists. Blending fact and fiction, The Flames examines Adele and Edith Harms, GertrA look into the women who shaped one of Vienna’s most provocative artists. Blending fact and fiction, The Flames examines Adele and Edith Harms, Gertrude Schiele, and Walburga Neuzil, not just as their likeness on canvas, but as women with desires and tragedies, who all loved and resented Egon Schiele not just as an artist, but as a man. It asks: what does it mean to be a muse? When does art cross a line, or are lines a restriction to artistic expression? Is eternal fame worth personal devastation? A timely and introspective debut that is a tribute to the women who are so often overshadowed and forgotten, though their faces live within galleries. ...more
A hard-hitting novel on hope, second chances, and seeing the world through new eyes. Told in the snarky and confined voice of a reanimated lost soul, A hard-hitting novel on hope, second chances, and seeing the world through new eyes. Told in the snarky and confined voice of a reanimated lost soul, we see how, on the surface, an average life is routine, predictable, boring even, but when looking closely, it is filled with everyday joys, sorrows, discovery, and opportunity; it is truly the little things in life; the presence of friends, new hobbies, and communication, that make life colorful. So often we only see our side of things, but how much wider the world becomes when we open ourselves up to the experiences of others. Delivers an incredibly impactful message with heartfelt brush strokes. ...more
Powerful, poetic, and tender, this novel is a portrait of loss, of love, of finding the true spirit and courage that resides within the heart. The proPowerful, poetic, and tender, this novel is a portrait of loss, of love, of finding the true spirit and courage that resides within the heart. The prose, fluid and lyrical, examines the fault lines within communities, professions, families, and the people who join hands to mend them. A beautiful letter to remind us to love ourselves, our pasts, our endeavors, and to stand together with the loves we find for ourselves towards the future. An incredibly rewarding read. ...more
A pensive and sensuous novel on limitations and desire, of the freedom and the prison we find within our bodies. With fluid yet hazy prose, we see theA pensive and sensuous novel on limitations and desire, of the freedom and the prison we find within our bodies. With fluid yet hazy prose, we see the progression of self awareness, of imagination, of ambition, and the intimacy of discovering how it feels to truly come alive. We see the devotion one has towards art, perfection, self expression, and how desire propels us to new heights and journeys. We see the wavelengths of consciousness as life changes, restrictions are enforced and defied, and truths are revealed. An innovation novel of artistic power and dedication. ...more
A disturbing but entirely relevant novel that is based on a real case of police corruption and exploitation. Nightcrawling examines the bleak truths oA disturbing but entirely relevant novel that is based on a real case of police corruption and exploitation. Nightcrawling examines the bleak truths of poverty, the disproportionate incarceration of black men in America, and the drug epidemic. Though harsh and candid, it is also a story of experiencing joy and love in times of hardship, and of finding the courage to stand up against abuse and intimidation, no matter the result. A powerful debut that packs a punch of truth and emotion. ...more
A layered gothic novel on art, emotion, and how the two weave together to form creative expression. Quiet and subtle, but with an undercurrent of uneaA layered gothic novel on art, emotion, and how the two weave together to form creative expression. Quiet and subtle, but with an undercurrent of unease, White on White is not only a fascinating look into gothic art and the perception of bodies, but also a look into a life laid bare, and slowly uncoiling to reveal an unsettling artistic pattern. This novel, though short, is filled with the emotion that creeps into quiet spaces, the ways in which our own lives are canvases to decorate, to etch our stories into. ...more
An intimate portrait of identity and love against the backdrop of the Cuban Revolution. I Was Never the First Lady offers a glimpse into the lives of An intimate portrait of identity and love against the backdrop of the Cuban Revolution. I Was Never the First Lady offers a glimpse into the lives of three women as they find their places as artists, lovers, political symbols against the image they conjure of themselves. It is sensual and lively, though radiates with a looming sadness, the ache of loss and lives gone off course. The use of radio, of speaking to everyone and no one, is such a powerful device in this novel; it lays bare a human soul that is filled with both love and resentment, potential and fear. This novel provides insight into a fascinatingly overlooked part of history, and offers such a personal, moving view. ...more
A whimsical tale of identity and accepting one’s personal connections, however complicated. Lyrical and dreamy prose, with a great grasp on all the coA whimsical tale of identity and accepting one’s personal connections, however complicated. Lyrical and dreamy prose, with a great grasp on all the conflicting feelings one has about failed relationships, family dynamics, and new beginnings....more
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