THE CHAOS OF NIGERIAN POLITICS in the late twentieth century shapes a man’s life, friendships, and family relationships. Vivid and evocative. B PLUS

PRINCE OF MONKEYS
Counterpoint
2019

CRISP SPACE THRILLER pits a battle-worn salvager and her AI drone against an alien race with extraordinary powers. Lots of action, memorable characters. B PLUS

RULES OF REDEMPTION (THE FIREBIRD CHRONICLES BOOK 1)
T.A. White
2019

LOST IN THE 1970s: a humorous, rueful memoir of a Massachusetts girlhood of drug use and petty crime. Sharply evocative of its time. B PLUS

BODY LEAPING BACKWARD
Mariner Books
2019

AN AIMLESS ENGLISHMAN MEETS A MERMAID, and both of their lives change suddenly. Fantasy with equal parts romance and thriller—and with a sweet heart. B PLUS

TAINTED WATER
Dan Farrell
2019

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT’S CIVIL WAR service as a nurse explored in a deeply researched, thoughtful new look at the iconic writer. B PLUS

LOUISA ON THE FRONT LINES
Seal Press
2019

A WEIRDLY BEAUTIFUL FABLE about mothers and daughters, magical recipes, and the mysteriously elusive countries where fairytales happen. B PLUS

GINGERBREAD
Riverhead Books
2019

AN EARTH DEVASTATED BY ALIEN occupation braces against a second, more deadly invasion. Action-packed military SF with thoughtful world-building! B PLUS

INVASION (FORGOTTEN VENGEANCE BOOK 1)
Quirky Algorithms
2019

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, BUT WITH DRAGONS: engaging mix of history and fantasy rings true throughout. B PLUS

THE LAST TSAR'S DRAGONS
Tachyon Publications
2019

IN A FUTURE HIGH-TECH WORLD, a gifted pilot is snatched from her hardscrabble refugee island to be part of the most daring caper in history. Wonderful SF thriller! B PLUS

CYBERWAR PACIFICA
Morgan C. Parker
2016

THE JOY OF TINY THINGS, from model railroads to LSD blotter art. Insightful and witty look at how miniatures shape our perceptions. B PLUS

IN MINIATURE
Atria Books
2019