Disclaimer: I received this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This book is a set of short stories. Like any story collection, the tales vary some in quality throughout. Overall, though, this was a fast and pleasant read. While some of the stories might have been reordered slightly to make the overall feel of the book smoother, the book in its entirety has a solid feel to it.

Recommended for: those who enjoy short stories; those who enjoy writers who play with perspectives.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the Amazon link to make the Kindle edition free to download (a $2.99 USD value).

Mindshards is a collection of speculative short fiction stories. Like any collection, the tales did vary a little in quality, but overall the book is a good read. Some stories tend to stand out more than others, such as Equinox. This book has a nice range of sci-fi, fantasy, and almost horror-like tales to interest any reader.

Recommended for: those who enjoy short fiction, those who enjoy a variety of sci-fi subgenres, and those who enjoy some dark fantasy.

Disclaimer: I received this work as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This is the story of the anticipated second coming of Christ by the Millerites in 1844. Their leader, William Miller, has always been right in his prophesies before. why would this be any different?
This historical fiction book is an interesting view into doomsday beliefs and how those whose faith can be turned into a weaponized fervor are able to follow leaders who would rather destroy opposition than face being wrong.

Recommended for: those who enjoy historical fiction, those who are interested in doomsday prophesies, and those who enjoy a look into different religious sects.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This book is the true tale of a man who, with Parkinson's, runs six world-class marathons to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2021. The book gives a layman's look at the races, some of the work that goes into the training, and an overall feel of how the races feel to actually compete it. It's an enjoyable change from the sport books that tend to focus on the elite of a sport.

Recommended for: those who enjoy books about athletes; those looking for a read on perseverance through physical trials.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This tale, which tells of two reporters that end up looking into the story of a speaker who seems to have a connection with unknown spirits, is less a steampunk story than a story about extradimensional contact and the way that the speaker tries to lure people to believe in it. If you were expecting something closer to a traditional steampunk story, this isn't the work for you. The story itself tended to be a little uneven, which made reading it feel tedious when it shouldn't have.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy extradimensional stories; those who like short fiction

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This novella, a steampunk/horror tale, tells of a dinner party during a dense fog that goes horribly wrong. The tale has fairly developed characters given the length of the work (less than one hundred pages) and a good, tightly written plot.

Recommended for: Steampunk readers; those who enjoy a gory short tale

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This book, a collection of poetry and prose, is meant to be a reflection of life and thoughts as told by the author to the Fates. While the overall premise seems charming enough, the uneven nature of the works tends to make the book seem half-done, rather than just a dreamy view of recollections and musings. Part of the problem is that the format, an ebook, is not really conducive to this sort of work. The overall writing, however, seems superficial rather than trying to get at the deeper meanings the poetry is meant to evoke.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy a mix of formats in their reading

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this work as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this book.

This is a memoir about a Scotsman who takes over the management of a safari lodge in Tanzania with his wife. I... really wanted to like this book more than I did. I really did. The only chapter I enjoyed wholeheartedly was the one written from Candy's perspective. The tales, while amusing enough, tended to be tinged with a feeling that while he appreciated the locals that he lives among, Graeme still sees himself as some benevolent force, saving people through fortuitous circumstances. I have read too many travel memoirs that handle this point of view in a better manner than this work did. The book itself is fairly well-written, and I can see it appealing to readers. It just didn't appeal to me.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy travel memoirs and those who enjoy reading about activities on the African continent.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to review this book.

This book, an ARC of anatomy coloring books for adults, is geared more towards those who may already be studying in the fields where this knowledge is required. I am not in the medical field, and so cannot comment on the medical accuracy of the terms used. What I did find from these works (offered as a 2-in-1 combining human and neuroanatomy), is that the overall layout of the diagrams, the basic flow of the book, and the detail of the drawings were good. This 2-in-1 set seems to be geared more towards the supplemental study guide market, instead of as a primary source material.

Recommended for: those who enjoy adult coloring books and those who enjoy learning a little about the human body.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this work as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this book.

This novella is a steampunk story about racial troubles stirring up around the time of the Queen's Jubilee. A young policeman is drawn into the intrigue surrounding the events and has to make a choice about whom to trust. This tale works in devices such as an analytic engine (think the early IBM computers that ran off of punch cards) and mobile message mice. A straightforward work, this is a nice way for some to be introduced to the steampunk genre.

Recommended for: those who enjoy novellas, those who enjoy automatons and other steampunk devices, and a feel of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Disclaimer: I received this work as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this book.

This work, a true crime book about Paul John Knowles, covers some of his early life, his crime spree which turned deadly in early1974, and his death in late 1974 at age 28. Knowles was a habitual offender for most of his life but appears not to have turned to murder until after he was released from prison and faced a failed relationship. The book takes a more superficial tone than some other true crime works, but it provides enough detail to make it a solid read.

Recommended for: true crime lovers, those who are interested in spree killers.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This book, a collection of dystopian short stories, is an interesting mix of horror, sci-fi and world re-interpretation. All of these original stories have some element of being offbeat or skewed in its outlook. The level of storytelling was consistent across all of the tales told, which made it pleasant to read.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy the Goosebumps tales, those who enjoy the works of Edward Gorey, and those who enjoy dystopian fiction.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This collection of short stories covers various topics, such as the #MeToo movement, behind-the-scenes operations on film and TV shoots, and emotional fallout. The author, who drew on their experience in films, creates believable characters and solid stories while managing to keep the tone of the book interlinked.

Recommended for: those who enjoy short story collections and those who enjoy stories based in Hollywood.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this work as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This magical tale covers the history of Gemma's family as she comes to grip with the drastic changes in her life: loss of a husband, moving to the family's ancestral home and trying to rebuild her everyday life. The tale discusses a branch of cultural tradition from Pennsylvania Dutch country, Braucherei, and how its elements affect the characters and their actions.
Overall, this was an engaging work. The last chapter left me a little cold, considering the pace and tone of the work leading up to that point, but the story is not one to pass up because of that.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy tales about magic and its more practical elements, and those who are looking for a new fall season read.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This set of short stories has different takes and versions of various fairy tales, myths, Jane Eyre, and in one story's instance it appears to be a nod to the Rivers of London series (although that may not have been intentional). A darker view predominates each of the stories, and while it doesn't appear to be true horror, it does give an overall feel that one would expect from bloody retellings of these stories.

Recommended for: those looking for something different to read in October leading up to Halloween, those who enjoy short stories, and those who enjoy the works of Gregory Maguire.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This book, a story about being able to travel through books or scrolls into a different world and use magic, had moments where it seemed to be moving into newer territory. The pace of the book, while making it a faster read, ended up also making the plot feel as if things were just being thrown at the reader without deep connection. Since this is the first in a planned series, that may explain some of the gaps (as they may be filled in in later works), but it does make it slightly off-putting for a first book. There is a lot of promise in this work, but the execution did not live up to the promise of the early synopsis on LibraryThing.

Recommended for: those who enjoy retellings of fairy tales; those who enjoy the concept of travelling through books, and those who enjoy titles such as The Book Jumper.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was made other than a coupon used to bring the price of the Kindle book down to free (a 3.99 USD value).

This middle-grade book is a story of three sisters who adventure across their kingdom to try and find their stolen brother Riley. While each character seems to fit a type (the builder, the storyteller, the one with animal affinities), it's all handled within the story to allow them to grow past those type's expectations. The book is an easy, flowing read that keeps the reader engaged throughout. Magic and mechanics are blended nicely within the book.

Recommended for: those who enjoy magical stories, those who enjoy adventure novels, and those who enjoy Percy Jackson-type novels.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

Happy State is a dystopian novel where in the pursuit of creating a 'perfect state', any sort of mental illness is eliminated. Permanently, and person by person. This story focuses on a daughter trying to protect her father from being destroyed simply for having dementia. Overall, the story didn't flow as smoothly as I expected it would from the start of the novel, but it was an intriguing premise and you can see where the author was trying to go with it.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy dystopian novels and those who enjoy reading stories about fighting the elimination of others for being different.

Disclaimer: I received this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This book, part of the Fairy Godmother Tales series, is the second novel in the series. You don't have to have read the first book, but it does help with some background and perspective. This book ended up being a faster read than I anticipated, and the story flows nicely. The twists in the retelling of what is essentially Beauty and the Beast with touches of Red Riding Hood, Shakespeare and other fairy tale tropes, but it's all handled in a way that makes it more than just a simple reworking of the original tales.

Recommended for: People who enjoy retellings of classic stories and those who enjoy Gregory Maguire's books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

Quote from the book: "What's dead is dead and all shall die ... and live again."

This novella is set in the Red Kingdom universe, where slaves, dust, epidemics and suffering are common. For those that are unfamiliar with the Red Kingdom series, this novella is a way to ease into the overall story and feel of the series, but could be confusing for some readers as there's not much world-building aside from what's needed for the story. The tone is a fantasy/mystery story when a soldier finds a dead baby in the same box as a man who died from an epidemic sweeping the land. The baby clearly did not die from the epidemic, but rather from physical damage. The soldier makes it his business to find out what happened and how things ended up as they are.

Recommended for those who enjoy dark fantasy, those who enjoy shorter fantasy reads, and those who aren't bothered by some parallels to real-world events in their stories.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than a Smashwords coupon valued at 2.99 USD which brought the price to free.

This short novel is a take on the absurd things that can happen in small towns, where everyone is close enough to know each other's business but also leads to asking why anyone bothers to try and keep secrets? The tone it takes is similar to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (and the author is honest by admitting this). It was a little hard for me to get into in the beginning, but once I figured out the writer's style more I enjoyed this work.

Recommneded for: Those who enjoy short novels, those who enjoy more absurdist works, and those who enjoy Monty Python.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this work as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this book.

This is a biography of Evylena Nunn Miller, an American artist working during the first half of the 20th century. Her artistic focus was primarily landscapes, buildings and cloud formations. The book, well cited throughout, utilizes Miller's journals, letters, and press coverage to bring this female artist to life. This is not an artist who has much written about her, although she does have one painting in the Smithsonian's American Art Museum, titled Where Desert and Mountain Meet. The book, while warm in its appreciation of Miller and her talents, does seem slightly distant in terms of its overall tone, but that may be due to the wide use of news articles which gives it the sense of several voices speaking about Evylena.

I read this as an eBook, and after finishing it I felt that this would have been more impactful for me as a reader with a physical copy, as her paintings would have felt more dramatic offscreen. There is a selection of images of her various paintings from throughout her life's work, some of which unfortunately were lost during the Almeda Fire in 2020.

Recommended for: those who enjoy American artists/artwork, those who are looking to learn about female creators and their influences, and those who enjoy biographies about those who are slightly less well-known.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this work as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received aside from the chance to read this book.

This short book is a compilation of 12 true crime events from the 1950s. Some of the crime waves start in the 1940s but carry on into the 50s, or are resolved in the 50s.

Each crime is given a short summary of what occurred, who the victim(s) was (or were), and the killer, if known. The overall feel of the book is cohesive, some stories are a little more well-written than others. One of the more well-known crimes included is the Charles Raymond Starkweather - Caril Ann Fugate spree killer case, which served as the inspiration for the film Natural Born Killers (1994).

Recommended for those who are looking for a sample of a true crime story before diving into a more comprehensive work and those looking for a quick true crime read.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the Early Reviewers program. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This book contains photographs and interviews conducted by the author when he was living in New York City during the 1970s. An interesting look into the lives of several people he spoke with, Bookbinder captures the feel of the street and the times in the various photographs and the in-depth discussions of everything from a person's personal history to how their worldviews are shaped by both the city and their everyday struggles.
The book overall is unevenly paced, with the pages on Morris the newspaper vendor slowing down the work and feeling like those pages overwhelm the chapters surrounding it. Those chapters, on prostitutes and trans individuals, feel as if they were shortchanged in the narrative when compared to Morris and a man towards the end of the book who is certain he is God come to Earth.
Lucid and interesting, this book is a good read when treated as a snapshot into New York City's ever-changing lifestyles.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy personal narratives, those who are interested in the lives of everyday individuals, and those who enjoy urban art photography.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

Trigger warning: This book does use some slang and terms that could be considered racially offensive, but were in use during the 1920s. There are also references to the KKK.

This book, the second in the Daiyu Wu series, is centered around the murder of a local leader in the Mexican community. This book can be read without having read the first book in the series, since it does explain the references made to the earlier book.
Daiyu Wu is a bold, observant young woman who doesn't let what society sees as reasons to shun her get in her way. Being blind and Chinese in Dallas during Prohibition and the height of the 'Yellow Peril' scare, Daiyu manages to use society's view of her to her advantage, while still recognizing the problems that result from them.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy cozy mysteries, those who are looking for mysteries with female leads, and those who enjoy Agatha Christie.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. No compensation was received other than the chance to review this work.

This study guide, which appears to be directed towards science-minded students, is a fun way to memorize the various cells, processes, and relevant facts.
The various coloring pages allow for the reader (or student) to make the diagrams their own. The quiz at the end of the book is useful as a refresher/chance to identify learning gaps.

I found this book to be fun, and although not a microbiology student myself, I learned a lot while working through this guide.

Recommended for: microbiology students, those who have an interest in science, and those who enjoy different styles of coloring books.

Disclaimer: I received this book as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received aside from the chance to read this work.

This book is about a talent agent whose career took a serious downward spiral after a viral video showed him telling off a director at a movie premiere. His father, who has been dead for ten years, seems to have been resurrected as a messenger who can't stop repeating the same message. Seeing a chance to make some cash, son has plans to make his dad the next viral sensation.

This book leaned into the absurdist side of comedy, with a touch of magical thinking, but kept it grounded enough to tell an interesting story. Obviously, the story does have some religion in it, but it doesn't really get into the dogma aside from what drives the plot forward, and characters always asking "So, which is the one true religion? It's X, isn't it?".

Recommended for: those who enjoy Monty Python, Terry Pratchett's Pyramids, and humor in general.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This was the second book in the A. Stein & Associates Thriller series, but it was written so that if you hadn't read the first one, you could still follow along in this book's plot.

The plot was about a civil trial over whether or not construction materials lead to a man's severe accident. It evolves into a story about politics, immigration, and the Vietnam War. Overall, the book was an engaging read. It was obvious that the author had pulled some character details from current politicians, but it didn't necessarily detract from the story. Some of the legal details tended to slow the plot down slightly, but it was interesting to have included.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy Law & Order and those who enjoy books such as Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent.

Disclaimer: I received this book as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was given other than the chance to read this work.

This is the interwoven story between a clothing store owner in Canada, a Canadian woman who is obsessed with wool, and a Chilean woman who sorts through 'donated' clothing that is dumped by the ton into the Chilean markets.

I really wanted to like this book better than I did, but... The woman who was obsessed with wool at one point is described as entering a store and licking the wool on the displays. The plot sort of meanders for two out of the three main characters, and the secondary characters had some promise, but their storylines sort of tailed off as well.

Some readers may find it hard to connect with the character Irene (Canadian wool obsessive), as her storyline manages to make her more and more unlikeable as the novel progresses.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy something more offbeat, who are not afraid of the unlikability of main characters, or those who want to learn more about what happens to clothes you drop off in those "donate your old wardrobe for our future!" bins.

Disclaimer: I received this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This is a short work (about 57 pages) about the crimes committed by Leonarda Cianciulli, who murdered her vicitims and tried to make them into soap and tea cakes in order to prevent bad luck. Obviously, there's more to it than that, but you have to read it to find out more.

In the preface, the writer admitted that resources covering the life and crimes of Leonarda was hard to come by, so the work itself feels a little sparse. It does make a good introduction into who she is and what she did, so those who are interested can try to learn more on their own.

Recommended for: true crime buffs, those who are looking for crimes that have not been as extensively written about previously, and those who enjoy a quick read.