Book Reviews by Mike
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How Soon Is Now?
How Soon Is Now? by Paul Carnahan takes the familiar sci-fi premise of time travel and makes it entirely new and refreshingly human. It’s funny in places, gutting in others, and it earns your emotional reactions instead of stretching for them. In this story, time travel is solely a backward journey, limited to the traveller’s…
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King Sorrow
My final read of 2025 was #KingSorrow by @Joe-hill.bsky.social, and what a way to go out. It’s an enthralling, gripping, emotionally immersive fantasy that I am certain will linger long after the final page turn. What really stands out is the atmosphere Hill crafts from the outset. There’s jeopardy in spades, and a constant undercurrent…
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The Sum of Our Gods
I just completed The Sum of Our Gods by @BenjaminGorman and it surprised me in the best way. (I am also happy to report this is not a kissing book, either!) I was exploring @notapipe publishing as a possible champion for #BENEVOLENCE when this book caught my attention. I, too, love to explore the worlds…
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The Wolf in the Whale
The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky is an emotional journey of epic proportions with some unique takes on identity and romance. Yes, another ‘kissing book’ snuck onto my reading list! The story blends Inuit and Norse mythology in a way that makes you feel you’re learning while being completely immersed in the…
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The Ministry of Time
With a stamp of approval from Barack Obama, I figured I’d give The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley a shot—even if young Fred Savage might have dismissed it as a “kissing book.” Verdict: dangerously delightful. British bureaucracy + time travel = far more fun than you’d think. The romance aspect is present but not…
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End of a Century
I was searching for a dose of warm fuzzies, coupled with a trip down memory lane—basically the emotional equivalent of comfort food. Problem was, I’d already re-read my Nick Hornby stash too many times. I came across Paul Carnahan on Bluesky, saw his pitch for “End of a Century”, and thought, ‘Why not give that…