Reviews in Brief

An explosive collision of star-crossed lovers, Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard I Levine is a heartfelt tale of loss, longing, and the haunting scars that refuse to heal. Returning to the comforting embrace of the San Juan Islands after two decades of blood and battle, Master Gunnery Sergeant Mitch Brody must face the life he abandoned and the relentless love he never saw through. Finally finding peace means ending the war inside himself, seeking forgiveness he may not deserve, and opening the parts of himself nearly lost in the fog of war. A rich and tenderly told novel that tears at the heart, without relying on sentimentality, and putting words to feelings that every reader can understand, Levine flexes a masterful pen in service of redemption.

A comprehensive introduction to a practical programming language that synthesizes pure abstract math and broad coding capacity, Magical Haskell: A Friendly Approach to Modern Functional Programming, Type Theory, and Artificial Intelligence by Anton Antich is a surprisingly accessible and essential read. From the core lessons of Type Theory and the fundamentals of imperative programming to eye-opening explanations of monads and the real-world Agentic AI applications of Haskell, this guide simplifies a frequently intimidating tool for contemporary programmers. Designed for those who are familiar with traditional machine languages, but frustrated by a numerical system’s inherent limitations, Antich provides an on-ramp for proactive programmers who want to expand and sharpen their marketable skill set.

An unflinching portrait of humanity as it rides out the end of the Anthropocene, Mean Higher High Water by D.S.G. Burke balances collective desperation and unquenchable hope in a dystopian future that feels far too plausible for comfort. After the Crypto Wars and the Collapse, accompanied by rising seas and descending firestorms, one woman avoids the allure of despair by fixating on a morbid mystery and seeking any reason to keep her head above water. Sardonically dark and savagely prophetic, this razor-sharp novel is a caustic commentary on our species’ current spiral and the indispensable nature of hope, resulting in a uniquely lyrical and probing work of speculative fiction.

A brain-bending, galactic drama with an eerie soundscape, Vold Book’s Stara Detente: A Novel Set to Music by John T. Trautman is a paradox-laden parable about the incalculable meaning of time, purpose, and humanity’s place in the universe. Trim-Facet Holocorp, the most dangerous totalitarian force in history, has consolidated international power, seized control of all scientific endeavors, and imprisoned anyone who threatens them in the far edge of the asteroid belt. This story within a story – written by one such prisoner – peels back layers of time itself, recounting the tale of the cosmos before the Big Bang, and the impact of two celestial lovers on both the nature and future of reality. The accompanying music is cathedral-like at times, feeling both ominous and intimate, and doesn’t rely on the traditional tropes of sci-fi electronica; however, the author’s narration is somewhat intrusive, and the music might be better served as a parallel guide to the prose, letting the reader’s internal voice take center stage. That said, the core story is exceptionally inventive, and the writing is uniquely immersive in its use of both prose and verse. Primal, philosophical, and steeped in experimental world-building, this musically accompanied novel is a heady, multilayered thrill for anyone who revels in radical sci-fi storytelling.

A smart and snappy mystery with a charming dash of rustic romance, Mount Up for Murder (An Abby Fields Cozy Mystery) by Emma Park is a tightly penned thriller about old fears, new horizons, and the persistent pursuit of justice. When AI replaces Abby Fields at her high-powered PR job, she quickly gets back on a very different horse – a farmyard position at an English country manor. The lush landscape is anything but peaceful, as a fraternal power struggle threatens the future of the stables and the regal estate, but when one of the would-be heirs is murdered, suspicion lands squarely on Abby. Seizing the reins of her own fate, she must crack the case and take a leap of faith to protect her freshly found pastoral paradise. With an eccentric cast, swirling motives, and Abby’s assertive narrative voice, this quick-paced, female-led thriller is a treat for horse lovers and fans of offbeat whodunits that keep you guessing.

A macabre mystery with a moonlighting suspect-turned-sleuth, Arteries and Asymmetric Styles (A Bonnie Ray Cozy Mystery) by Emma Park is a supernatural whodunit with sharp prose and a wholly inventive premise. Still reeling from loss and transatlantic relocation, hair stylist Bonnie Ray sets up shop in the picturesque English town of Darkcliff, where humans and vampires live in delicate harmony. When Bonnie’s big break at a fashion competition ends with controversy, her scissors are found stuck in a prestigious judge’s neck, and accusations soar in her direction. Driven to clear her name, Bonnie must find the savage killer in a town of mild-mannered monsters before her new home becomes a final resting place. Gritty, unpredictable, suspenseful, with wry humor woven throughout, this creative mash-up of cozy mystery and vampire fiction excels at both genres.