Book Reviews

By Aimee Pokwatka
1/16/24
320 pages
$27.99
Tordotcom

‘The Parliament’ 

I’m a huge fan of parallel stories — books that flutter back and forth between two worlds, two people’s lives, or the past and the future. Here, in this gorgeous, deliciously dark modern fairy tale, the author gives us two stories in one in the best way — a book within a book.

Madeline “Mad” Purdy returns to her hometown to teach a group of teenagers at the local library. This is certainly not her forte, as she much prefers being alone at home. But when the library is surrounded by thousands of killer owls intent on tearing the trapped group to pieces, a new side of Mad blooms in the midst of the terror. Reading to the kids in her care to keep them calm as they look for a way out, the second story nested in the book “The Silent Queen” provides the perfect accompaniment to claustrophobic horror the characters experience.

This is a survivor’s tale at its heart, a rich, gorgeously written story full of grief and strangeness but, above all, hope. I loved flipping between “real life” and the fairy tale. It stretched the already taut tension while pulling new threads in the narrative. A perfect balance. ♦ — Review by Julie Goodrich

By Maud Woolf
1/9/24
240 pages
$18.99
Angry Robot

‘Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock’

I don’t think I’m the only person who’s ever wished for a clone. It would be so nice to send a body double off to shovel the driveway while I stay warm inside with some coffee and a book. But what happens after the driveway is shoveled? Would that clone go off to read a different book? Does she need her own cup of coffee? Is she now a different person with a set of memories I’ll never have?

These questions and more abound in this speculative thriller. In the riotous town of Bubble City, the richest and most famous have “Portraits,” which are clones to ensure they are seen and involved in the dizzyingly complex social scene. Lulabelle Rock has 12 such beings wandering around, building unique lives and divergent personalities in surprising ways. When she creates a 13th copy with the sole purpose of killing the others, a wild ride ensues, full of questions about personhood and the limits of humanity. 

A brilliant premise with a brisk pace and razor sharp writing that never falters, this book is highly recommended for readers who can never get enough of the question, what if? ♦ — Review by Julie Goodrich