Tag: Genre Fiction

A Heist on the High Seas: Reviewing ‘Maiden Voyage’ by Bradley Harper

‘Maiden Voyage’ is the exciting new historical novel by Bradley Harper. Photo: Paste Creative Book Tours, used with permission.

Paste Creative Book Tours Participant

Book Review: Maiden Voyage by Bradley Harper

Three female thieves, a priceless painting, and a Pinkerton agent aboard the Titanic.
What could go wrong?

Synopsis

Maiden Voyage by Bradley Harper follows an unlikely trio of thieves, Colette DuVall, Mary Carr, and Samantha “Sam” McMurphy, as they embark on a daring mission to steal a valuable painting by the French master Blondell. Their plan takes them aboard the RMS Titanic on its ill-fated maiden journey.

Colette, a young jewel thief from Canada, finds her resolve wavering when she meets Harry Worth, a young Pinkerton agent hired to safeguard the wealthy passengers. What she doesn’t know is that Harry is the son of infamous criminal Adam Worth. Torn between his sense of duty and his complicated family legacy, Harry begins questioning where he truly belongs, especially after falling for Colette.

As loyalties collide as fiercely as the ship meets the iceberg, all aboard must fight for survival. Amid disaster, they discover that love might be the greatest thief of all.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Review

Maiden Voyage is a brisk, character-driven historical adventure that blends romance, crime, and maritime tragedy into an undeniably compelling read.

A Vivid Criminal Underworld

The novel opens with Mary Carr and the notorious Forty Elephants gang, a real historical group of female thieves. This grounding in true criminal lore adds texture and authenticity, making the early chapters particularly immersive. When Harry discovers what the gang is planning aboard the Titanic, the tension begins to mount, soon followed by the ship’s own looming catastrophe.

A Strong Emotional Core

The narrative delves deeply into Harry’s personal conflict. As the son of a master criminal, he grapples with the weight of his heritage and the moral ambiguity of justice. His connection with Colette is one of the book’s strongest elements: tender without slowing the pace, layered without becoming overly sentimental.

Memorable Characters & Vivid Writing

Harper’s character development shines. One particularly striking description captures the lived-in dignity of a working woman:

“Her red, chapped hands declaring how she made her way in the world, the well-worn but clean clothes presented a defiant dignity the years and work had yet to take from her.”

These small touches make the characters feel real, and when tragedy strikes, you genuinely root for their survival.

History, Heart, and High Stakes

Harper integrates historical detail without overwhelming the story. The author’s notes at the end provide fascinating context on real figures like Mary Carr and the Forty Elephants, enriching the reading experience.

The Titanic disaster is woven into the plot with restraint and emotional weight. Rather than leaning into melodrama, the novel balances suspense with tenderness, exploring themes of identity, family, and survival.

A Fresh Take on Titanic Fiction

Fast-paced, atmospheric, and surprisingly heartfelt, Maiden Voyage offers a fresh twist on stories set aboard the Titanic. Readers who enjoy historical fiction with a blend of crime, adventure, and romance will find much to love.

Harper leaves readers with a haunting reminder of the ship’s legacy:

“Beneath the water, the ship plunged 12,000 feet to the ocean floor, full of the wealth of millionaires and the humble possessions of hopeful emigrants; it carried them all away into the frigid darkness. Into legend.”

Get your copy today!
Amazon
Indigo (Canada)
Bookshop.org

About the Author

Bradley Harper is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and pathologist who has conducted more than 200 autopsies and around 20 forensic investigations.

His debut novel, A Knife in the Fog (2018), was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and winner of the 2019 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion for Best Mystery. His second novel, Queen’s Gambit, won the 2020 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense and Book of the Year.
Maiden Voyage is his fourth book.

Author Bradley Harper. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.

*Thank you to Paste Creative Book Tours and the author for my gifted copy for review as part of the tour. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

The Forgotten Resistance Fighter Behind ‘The Name on the Wall’

‘The Name on the Wall’ is the new novel by Hervé Le Tellier. Photo: Other Press

Book Spotlight: The Name on the Wall by Hervé Le Tellier

New York Times bestselling author Hervé Le Tellier, best known for The Anomaly, returns with a moving and deeply human story in The Name on the Wall: A Novel. Beautifully translated by Adriana Hunter, this poignant work of historical fiction unearths and honors the brief but powerful life of a young French Resistance fighter during World War II. (Other Press, 2025)

Blending autofiction with historical investigation, Le Tellier begins with a simple but haunting discovery: a name scrawled on the façade of his new home. That name belonged to André Chaix, a maquisard killed at just twenty years old in August 1944.

Through deft and careful storytelling, Le Tellier pieces together fragments of history to create a vivid, emotionally grounded narrative. He avoids sentimental clichés while illuminating the courage of an ordinary young man who took up arms, one among many, during one of the world’s darkest eras. Central to this story is André’s powerful love for Simone, whose presence adds depth and tenderness to the tale.

Arriving at a moment when fascist currents are rising again worldwide, The Name on the Wall resonates as both remembrance and warning. It gives voice to the ideals for which Chaix died and poses timeless questions about belonging, sacrifice, and our human desire to be part of something greater than ourselves.

About the Author

Hervé Le Tellier is a writer, journalist, mathematician, food critic, and teacher. He has been a member of the Oulipo group since 1992 and one of the “papous” of the famous France Culture radio show. He has published numerous books of stories, essays, memoir, and novels, including the Goncourt Prize–winning The Anomaly, which has sold more than one million copies worldwide, All Happy Families, Electrico W, and Enough About Love.

About the translator

Adriana Hunter studied French and Drama at the University of London. She has translated more than ninety books, including Marc Petitjean’s The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris and Hervé Le Tellier’s The Anomaly and Eléctrico W, winner of the French-American Foundation’s 2013 Translation Prize in Fiction. She lives in Kent, England.

Love and Loss in Wartime – Mario Fortunato’s ‘The Innocent Days of War’

‘The Innocent Days of War’ is a haunting portrait of WWII lives. Photo: Other Press

Book Spotlight: The Innocent Days of War by Mario Fortunato

Fans of John Boyne and Simon Mawer will find much to admire in Mario Fortunato’s latest novel, The Innocent Days of War (On Sale: October 28, 2025). This gripping coming-of-age story unfolds against the sweeping backdrop of World War II, tracing how love, ambition, and destiny intertwine as Italy and England are forever changed by the war. (Other Press, 2025)

A Story of Youth, War, and Intersecting Lives

Set in central Italy on the eve of World War II, the novel introduces a group of young Italians whose lives are about to be upended by history. Among them is Stefano Portelli, a hopeful young lawyer filled with idealism and in love with Eleonora. His sister-in-law Nina hides a secret relationship with Sergio, a partisan leader fighting for his cause.

Meanwhile, across the Channel, the story follows Alastair Ormiston, an English Royal Air Force pilot who finds solace in the works of Virginia Woolf as he dreams of an ideal companion. His best friend, Edna, seeks her own sense of purpose and joy amid the devastation of Nazi bombings in London.

When these characters’ paths intersect, the result is both tragic and transformative—a convergence of love, loss, and fate that consumes everything in its wake, blending joy and pain into a single, unforgettable tapestry.

About the Author

Mario Fortunato was born in Cirò, Calabria, Italy. A longtime literary critic for L’Espresso, he continues to write for Süddeutsche Zeitung and has contributed to The Guardian and Le Monde. Fortunato is a former director of the Antonio Ratti Foundation and the author of several novels, including South (Other Press, 2023). He has also translated the works of literary greats such as Evelyn Waugh, Virginia Woolf, and Henry James into Italian.

About the Translator

Julia MacGibbon has translated fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including Sunken City by Marta Barone. She lives near Rome.

Praise for Mario Fortunato:

“As I read Fortunato’s writing, I have the impression of being faced with that kind of writer, rare in Italian literature, who, despite starting from a poetic state of mind, nevertheless manages to be a storyteller.”
—Alberto Moravia

“Mario Fortunato is a natural storyteller.”
—Doris Lessing

‘Looking for Tank Man’ is Ha Jin’s Powerful Reckoning with Memory and Protest

‘Looking for Tank Man’ by Ha Jin. Photo: Other Press

Book Spotlight: Looking for Tank Man by Ha Jin

From Ha Jin, the acclaimed author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist Waiting, comes a riveting and timely new novel Looking for Tank Man. In this powerful story of protest and suppression, Ha Jin explores the enduring impact of truth, memory, and moral courage. Available for pre-order, it has a release date of October 21. (Other Press, 2025)

About the Book

When the Chinese premier visits Harvard, international student Pei Lulu encounters a lone protester whose act of defiance will upend her understanding of the People’s Republic—and of herself.

For the first time, Lulu learns of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and the government’s violent response. Her search for answers takes her deep into her family’s past, uncovering surprising stories of resistance, and into the heart of a university course built around firsthand accounts of that fateful time.

At once a compelling coming-of-age story and a tribute to the courage of activists, Looking for Tank Man keeps the tragedy of Tiananmen alive in the public memory and serves as a stark warning about the perils of authoritarian power.

About the Author

Ha Jin grew up in mainland China and served five years in the People’s Liberation Army before pursuing a degree in English at Harbin University. He has become one of the most acclaimed voices in contemporary fiction.

His novel Waiting won the National Book Award for Fiction, the PEN/Faulkner Award, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Ha Jin is currently the William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor in English and Creative Writing at Boston University and a fellow of both the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

His works have been translated into over thirty languages. His most recent novel, The Woman Back from Moscow, was published by Other Press in 2023.

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‘Tequila’: Power, Passion, and Betrayal — Inside Tim Reuben’s Explosive Family Thriller

‘Tequila’ is Tim Reuben’s debut novel. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Spotlight & Review: Tequila: A Story of Success, Love & Violence by Tim Reuben

Release Date: October 14
Available for Pre-Order Now

A Battle for Power, Love, and Survival

From the fiery heart of Mexico to the high-stakes boardrooms of Manhattan, an empire built on tequila becomes the battlefield for a blistering war of power, betrayal, and forbidden love in Tim Reuben’s explosive debut thriller, Tequila: A Story of Success, Love & Violence.

Spanning generations, Tequila follows the rise and near-ruin of the Ramirez family, founders of RAM, a multibillion-dollar luxury spirits powerhouse. When Maria Ramirez steps into the role of CEO, her greatest threats aren’t rival corporations, but her own brothers: Miguel, the corrupt sociopath, and Tomaso, the self-destructive heir spiraling out of control.

An Empire on the Brink

LA attorney Brian Youngman enters the Ramirez world when he’s hired for Tomaso’s divorce case. What he uncovers, cartel ties, financial crimes, and unimaginable violence, pulls him into a web of danger and desire. His growing love for Maria collides with his pursuit of justice, making him a reluctant hero in a battle where survival demands sacrifice.

The story begins in 1950 in the Jaliscan Highlands of Mexico, where Sotero Jimenez, a struggling agave farmer, fights to build his dream amid poverty and corruption. In the present day, chaos erupts when Tomaso’s wife, Nora, is abducted in Houston, a chilling event that sets the stage for the Ramirez family’s unraveling.

As the family grapples with betrayal, cartel violence, and devastating loss, the empire they built on agave and ambition teeters on the edge of collapse.

Review

Tim Reuben’s Tequila is a sweeping family saga that fuses corporate intrigue, legal drama, and raw emotional tension. The characters, especially Maria, are sharply drawn, and readers can feel the weight of her burden as she navigates both external enemies and the toxic loyalty of family.

Told through a non-linear narrative, the story moves between the Ramirez family’s humble origins and their modern-day descent into greed and betrayal. The pacing is relentless and filled with legal battles, family drama, and shocking twists.

At its core, Tequila explores the price of power, the fragility of loyalty, and the fine line between love and destruction. It’s a genre-bending debut that grips from start to finish; a compelling saga of justice, sacrifice, and ambition’s deadly cost.

Verdict: For fans of Succession, Narcos, or The Godfather, Tequila is a must-read.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Content & Trigger Warning

This novel includes scenes of sexual content, sexual violence, and sadism, primarily connected to Miguel, a sadistic character whose cruelty is central to the story’s darker turns. Reader discretion is advised.

About the Author

Tim Reuben is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. A veteran trial lawyer, he founded his own litigation firm in Los Angeles and frequently publishes essays and articles on law and society. Tequila is his debut novel.

*Thank you to Meryl Moss Media Group for my gifted Advanced Reader Copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Mathieu Belezi’s ‘Attacking Earth and Sun’: The Human Cost of Empire

‘Attacking Earth and Sun’ will be released on October 28. Photo: Other Press

Book Spotlight: Attacking Earth and Sun by Mathieu Belezi

History rarely tells the full story of conquest. In Attacking Earth and Sun, award-winning French author Mathieu Belezi strips away the illusions of glory to reveal the human cost of empire. This searing English-language debut, translated by Lara Vergnaud, immerses readers in the brutal early days of 19th-century French colonization in Algeria. With chiseled, haunting prose, Belezi condenses years of research into a human account of ambition, violence, and survival.

Attacking Earth and Sun will be published by Other Press on October 28, 2025. It is available for pre-order.

“It is my duty to ask questions, especially questions people don’t want to ask,” Belezi told The New York Times in 2023.

This lyrical and unflinching novel does exactly that. Far from the “pioneer dream” sold by Western powers, Attacking Earth and Sun exposes the hell that was colonization through an unforgettable work of historical fiction. (Other Press, 2025)

The Story

In search of a better life, Séraphine and her family join 500 settlers on a perilous journey to France’s newly conquered Algerian territory. But the promise of prosperity quickly gives way to harsh reality: inadequate shelter, unrelenting weather, illness, and mounting tension with the indigenous population, whose anger and desperation simmer beneath the surface.

As the settlers slowly carve out a fragile community and a church in this foreign land, the French army ravages the Algerian countryside, leaving behind villages in ruin. Through the eyes of a weary soldier constantly reminded by his captain, “You’re no angels!” we witness the staggering cruelty used to crush resistance and the haunting moral decay it breeds.

With prose reminiscent of William Faulkner, Belezi transforms historical record into art. The result is a novel that is poetic and devastatingly real, a story that forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about power, empire, and humanity.

About the Author

Mathieu Belezi is the author of more than a dozen novels. His career began with Le petit roi, which won the Marguerite-Audoux Prize in 1999. Attacking Earth and Sun earned both the Prix Livre Inter and the Le Monde Literary Prize. Having traveled widely and taught in Louisiana, Belezi now divides his time between France and Italy.

About the Translator

Lara Vergnaud is an acclaimed translator of prose, creative nonfiction, and scholarly works from French. She is the recipient of two PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants and a French Voices Grand Prize, and has been nominated for the National Translation Award. She currently lives in France.

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‘If It Bleeds’: Stephen King’s Novellas of Horror, Humanity, and Hope

‘If It Bleeds’ by Stephen King

Stephen King’s Enduring Legacy and If It Bleeds

Few authors have shaped modern storytelling quite like Stephen King. From haunted hotels to small-town terrors, his stories explore not just what frightens us, but what makes us human. His 2020 collection, If It Bleeds, proves that even in shorter form, King continues to deliver tales that chill, move, and resonate.

The Master of Horror—and Humanity

Stephen King is one of the most prolific and influential writers of our time. Known as the “Master of Horror,” his work spans far beyond scares. With more than 60 novels and countless short stories, King has shaped modern storytelling through his unforgettable characters, richly detailed worlds, and exploration of fear, morality, and human resilience.

His legacy in iconic works like The Shining, It, and Misery lies in his ability to connect with readers on a deep human level. Blending suspense, emotion, and imagination, King’s stories resonate with audiences worldwide, transcending generations.

King and the Novella Form

Novellas are their own dark treat—briefer but just as impactful and enduring as King’s longer fiction. Many of his novellas have been adapted into iconic films, including The Body (Stand by Me) and Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (The Shawshank Redemption).

If It Bleeds: Four Unforgettable Tales

The four tales in If It Bleeds prove as iconic as their predecessors:

  • “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” — an intergenerational friendship that carries into a disturbing afterlife. It was adapted into a Netflix movie starring Jaeden Martell and Donald Sutherland.
  • “The Life of Chuck” — a poignant exploration of identity and existence, intimate yet cosmic. Now a feature film directed by Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep) and starring Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Karen Gillan, it recently won the Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award.
  • “Rat” — a classic King tale about a struggling writer forced to reckon with ambition’s darker cost.
  • “If It Bleeds” — the return of Holly Gibney, who faces her fears and a possible outsider, standing on her own in a battle that recalls The Outsider. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

Themes That Endure

If these novellas show King’s range, they also reveal the themes that continue to define his work. One of King’s central concerns is evil—in all its forms. Yet just as often, he counters evil with its opposite: friendship.

Holly learns that friendship is not only life-affirming but life-saving. Young Craig’s bond with Mr. Harrigan shows the sweetness of unexpected connection. These relationships ground the supernatural in the real and the heartfelt.

Why If It Bleeds Matters

If It Bleeds is more than a collection of novellas—it is a reminder of King’s ability to blend horror with humanity. Each tale stands alone, but together they highlight his talent for weaving suspense with profound examinations of the human condition.

King delivers horror with heart, reminding us that the scariest monsters are often within us. If It Bleeds is essential reading for longtime fans and a perfect entry point for newcomers.

✨ Love Stephen King? Share this post with a fellow Constant Reader and keep the conversation going!

A Legacy of Survival: Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’ and Its Bold New Anthology

New tales of Stephen King’s ‘The Stand.’ Photo: Simon & Schuster

Stephen King’s The Stand and Its Enduring Legacy

The Stand remains one of Stephen King’s most celebrated works, a sweeping epic that blends horror, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic drama. First published in 1978, the novel captivated readers with its unflinching vision of humanity struggling after a devastating plague and the eternal battle between good and evil.

Book lovers are drawn to its rich cast of characters, immersive world-building, and timeless themes of survival, morality, and destiny. With its ability to feel both intimate and vast, it created an enduring legacy and an unforgettable reading experience. For many, The Stand is the quintessential King novel—a masterpiece of storytelling.

Photo: Barnes & Noble

A New Anthology: The End of the World As We Know It

Now, Stephen King has authorized a bold return to this world. The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand is an original short story anthology based on his #1 New York Times bestselling classic.

Although other works explore the unraveling of society, none have been as influential as The Stand. Generations of writers have been shaped by its dark yet hopeful vision of civilization’s collapse and rebirth, and its unforgettable cast of characters.

A Return to King’s Harrowing World

For the first time, King has fully authorized new stories set in the universe of The Stand. Presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene, this anthology brings together today’s most visionary writers to deliver unforgettable tales.

Some stories unfold during the events of the novel, while others look far beyond them. Together, they form a brilliant, terrifying, and deeply human collection—an essential companion for longtime fans and new readers alike.

Special Features

The anthology includes:

  • An introduction by Stephen King
  • A foreword by Christopher Golden
  • An afterword by Brian Keene

Contributing Authors

This powerhouse collection features stories from:

Wayne Brady & Maurice Broaddus, Poppy Z. Brite, Somer Canon, C. Robert Cargill, Nat Cassidy, V. Castro, Richard Chizmar, S. A. Cosby, Tananarive Due & Steven Barnes, Meg Gardiner, Gabino Iglesias, Jonathan Janz, Alma Katsu, Caroline Kepnes, Michael Koryta, Sarah Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Josh Malerman, Ronald Malfi, Usman T. Malik, Premee Mohamed, Cynthia Pelayo, Hailey Piper, David J. Schow, Alex Segura, Bryan Smith, Paul Tremblay, Catherynne M. Valente, Bev Vincent, Catriona Ward, Chuck Wendig, Wrath James White, and Rio Youers.

‘The Long Walk’ Finally Hits the Big Screen This September

The Long Walk is set for a September 12 release. Photo: IMDb.

Stephen King’s The Long Walk Marches to the Big Screen

The long wait is finally over – Stephen King’s dystopian horror classic, The Long Walk, is making its way to theaters. The highly anticipated adaptation is co-produced and directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games, I Am Legend) from a screenplay by JT Mollner. The cast includes Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, and Mark Hamill. The film will be released in theaters on September 12, 2025.

From Page to Screen

Originally published in 1979 under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Long Walk takes readers into an alternate America ruled by a totalitarian regime. Although not the first of King’s novels to be published, it was the first novel he ever wrote—started in 1966–67 during his freshman year at the University of Maine, nearly a decade before Carrie (1974) launched his career. (Wikipedia, 2025)

The Premise

At the heart of the story lies the annual competition known only as The Long Walk. One hundred teenage boys are chosen to compete in a brutal test of endurance:

  • Walk at a minimum pace of four miles per hour.
  • No stopping. No resting. No outside help.
  • Fall below the limit, and you get a warning.
  • Three warnings—and you’re out, permanently.

The “winner” earns The Prize—anything he desires for the rest of his life. But the catch? There’s no finish line. The contest continues until only one walker remains alive. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

Meet Ray Garraty

The story centers on sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty, a reluctant competitor who enters the Long Walk against his mother’s wishes. As the march drags on, Garraty faces not only the physical strain of endless miles but also the psychological toll of watching ninety-nine others fall one by one.

Why This Adaptation Matters

The Long Walk is considered one of King’s most haunting works—a chilling blend of horror, dystopia, and psychological thriller. Its focus on endurance, survival, and the cost of authoritarian control makes it a story that resonates deeply today. Fans have been waiting decades for a faithful adaptation, and with Francis Lawrence at the helm, expectations are high.

Mark your calendars: September 12, 2025. The Long Walk begins.

Photo: Barnes & Noble

Folklore and Legacy in Medieval Cornwall: A Review of ‘Megge of Bury Down’

‘Megge of Bury Down: Book One of the Bury Down Chronicles’ by Rebecca Kightlinger. Photo: Amazon

Megge of Bury Down: The Bury Down Chronicles, Book One

By Rebecca Kightlinger

📖 Synopsis

Bury Down Grove, 1275

A thousand years have passed since Murga, the Seer of Bury Down, was put to the stake.

It had taken the elderly seer a lifetime to harness into two volumes—The Book of Time and The Book of Seasons—the power to sustain the human spirit in perpetuity and summon the spirits of scholars, seers, astronomers, and healers she called the Mentors. These guides were summoned back to the living world to impart knowledge and wisdom to protect the people of her settlement.

That power cost Murga her life.

For centuries, her books have been passed down to her successors—healers and seers of Bury Down—who used Murga’s spells to counsel rulers, foresee disasters, and heal the sick. Each heir vowed to face flames rather than fail to protect her book or pass it to her daughter.

Now, in the grove at midnight, the healer’s young daughter, Megge, is asked to accept her mother’s Book of Seasons. But wary of the rites and haunted by an accusing whisper only she can hear, Megge hesitates. Refusal could cost her mother’s life—and alter the future of Bury Down. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

🌿 Review

Rebecca Kightlinger’s Megge of Bury Down, the first installment in The Bury Down Chronicles, is a spellbinding tale steeped in folklore, family, and the burden of legacy.

Set in medieval Cornwall, the novel follows young Megge, daughter of a respected healer and keeper of the Book of Seasons. When the time comes for her to inherit this sacred role, Megge is torn between fear of mysterious rites and the haunting whispers only she can hear. Her reluctance carries weighty consequences, for refusing her calling may endanger her mother—and the lineage of healers.

Kightlinger masterfully blends historical detail with mysticism, weaving a story that feels both grounded and otherworldly. Megge is a relatable heroine—curious, vulnerable, and caught in the tension of duty versus self. The prose is lyrical and atmospheric, capturing both the beauty and the shadow of Cornwall. “Two masts. Two tall masts have pierced the horizon, their sails crimson with the setting sun.” Readers will find themselves gripped by the suspense of whether Megge will embrace her destiny.

✨ Why You Should Read This Book

More than a tale of magic, Megge of Bury Down is a meditation on courage, identity, and sacrifice. It’s a story about the weight of legacy, the fear of failure, and the courage to choose one’s path—even when it means stepping into fire.

If you love:

  • Historical fantasy with rich, immersive settings
  • Folklore and mysticism woven into everyday life
  • Strong female characters facing impossible choices

…then this book deserves a place on your reading list.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

👩‍💻 About the Author

Rebecca Kightlinger, a former physician turned novelist, infuses her writing with an appreciation for healing, tradition, and women’s resilience across history. Megge of Bury Down is the first book in her acclaimed Bury Down Chronicles series.

*Thank you to Smith Publicity and NetGalley for my copy for review consideration. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

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New release: ‘Megge of Bury Down’ by Rebecca Kightlinger

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