Madden’s clear text invites readers at all levels of knowledge into this commentary on how the crusades shaped our modern world. The crusades began nearly a thousand years ago—such distant history often feels as if it could never... Read More

Descriptions and explanations intertwine, creating a believable setting and a connection to the narrator. Luca Vianello’s future is set in stone: from inheriting the family gondola business to his betrothal to Annalisa, the... Read More

Anguish sears the pages of this novel, and the author’s experience in Nairobi brings terrorism’s aftermath to life. How does a person cope after experiencing immeasurable tragedy—the world shaking from a bomb blast and the loss of... Read More

As the story progresses, the narrator grows stronger, making this both a novel of a woman’s courage and a call to action against domestic abuse. A woman may need strength to be a mother of four, but she also needs a healthy dose of... Read More

Topouzian balances the fast pace of his novel with familial love and hope for a culture facing cataclysmic loss. The hatred, wars, and loss of life faced by Armenians are not commonly discussed, but in his novel, "A Perfect Armenian",... Read More

This thrilling novel has a breathless pace that combines science and nature to create nail-biting tension. Bears are hibernating in summer and Irish elk have returned from extinction. With such strange occurrences happening in... Read More

Ratcliff’s clever use of imagery delights the senses. Faced with worry and fear, Annie’s dreams take over and she relives the history of her ancestors. "Annie’s Legacy" by Elizabeth Ratcliff follows several generations of Annie and... Read More

Kestrel uses a cinematic approach to showcase the setting, engaging all the senses in this historical novel. The 1750s were a turbulent time, especially for someone like Finn, a member of the Roger Rangers who has some growing to do. In... Read More