House of Illusion
A young librarian visits her eccentric aunt's mysterious estate, hoping for adventure. An intriguing opening, a charming mechanic, and some genuinely terrible plotting make for a deeply disappointing Gothic mystery.
Wizenbeak
I needed a comforting fantasy after a particularly brutal book. Instead, I found two pages of awkward prose, baffling word choices, and enough editorial grievances to produce an entire line-by-line critique. Also: ratsters.
Killer Pine
A miniature secret agent investigates a dying Canadian forest in a surprisingly beautiful novel that turns insects, ordinary landscapes, and even mutant termites into sources of wonder.