Carr delivers a quirky, small-town charmer set in 1976’s Hanley, Minnesota. Longtime lunch ladies Crystal, Coralene, and Sheila have been newly promoted to “Nutrition Services,” meaning they plan the meals, handle the supply orders, and, thanks to the hapless Gordon Hund, Department Manager for Nutrition Services, they’re now tasked with planning the food for a bicentennial Independence Day celebration. That promises to be the major event of the summer, and all three ladies—along with the uptight Gordon, who harbors an unusual fixation for his dog, Napoleon—are understandably preoccupied with the food they’ll offer along the planned parade route.

Carr serves huge slices of entertainment with that perfect small-town setup, crafting eccentric characters who immediately win over readers. Loner Crystal has a strange compulsion for reading the local obituaries and dabbling in imaginary matchmaking between the deceased and the living, when she’s not worrying about her elderly grandmother Leonora; devoted and grateful family woman Coraline delights in completing crossword puzzles with her husband and watching over her nephew; and Sheila deeply mourns the loss of her beloved Ralph, sticking to a prescribed routine that includes dinner every Friday at Denny’s. Such relatable backdrops make for a likable cast, and Carr smartly revolves the book’s developments around these appealing ladies and their provincial goings-on.

Readers will fall in love with these unconventional heroines, who all march to the beat of their own drummers; even the memo-sending Gordon adds a certain zip to the story. Carr has a talent for spinning imaginative prose and injecting healthy doses of dry wit, though that doesn’t mean the story is lacking in deeper moments. Some of those play out in the central ladies’ coming-to-terms with “tak[ing] charge of [their] own lives,” others in the quiet rage of a painful goodbye. Readers who love nostalgic small-town tales will devour Carr’s debut.

Takeaway: A tale of quirky lunch ladies that will draw readers into the nostalgic past.

Comparable Titles: Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge, Billie Letts’s Where the Heart Is.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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In the distant future of 2068, world-renowned tech genius Morgan Adams, the co-founder and chief scientist of Symbiosys, has been working on a program called Doppelgänger to replicate human life in cyborgs. When he’s called into an urgent early meeting with his co-founder, CEO, and mentor, Daedalus Huxley, Morgan learns shocking news: he has been murdered and brought back to life using Doppelgänger, making him the first reanimated human in existence. In a race against time, Morgan has 72 hours to track down a stolen nanochip to remove a virus now looming in his system—one that will ultimately kill him again... for good.

Walter weaves a layered and complex science-fiction debut, flashing back to Morgan's childhood and upbringing in the foster care system after his mother was fatally shot while trying to save children from a gunman. In a world still recovering from the Solimões Plague—a sickness that wiped out three billion people, nearly half the human population—Morgan spent his youth among over 5,000 orphans in Sec 17, honing his advanced intellect and computer skills as an unofficial assistant to the self-serving Sister Darwin. Walter’s alternating timelines flash between present and past, crafting an intricate puzzle of betrayal that Morgan must contend with as he works to solve the mystery of his death.

Doppelgänger’s world is richly imaginative—a thought-through future where robots perform most of the work, and there are literally no limits to what science and medicine can achieve together. Tensions build as Morgan works to solve his own murder, creating a palpable suspense that explodes when he learns those closest to him had a hand in his death. With plot twists and revelations rooted in its speculative themes, plus a complex protagonist, Walter’s narrative vividly explores the meaning of humanity and the potential fallout of what happens when technology becomes too advanced.

Takeaway: Action-packed SF mystery exploring a high-tech quest for immortality.

Comparable Titles: Lincoln Michel’s The Body Scout, Christian Yeasted's The Final Invention.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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“When the ancient Greeks sculpted the victors of an Olympic event, the goal was to produce not the athlete itself but the perfect, idealized image of the athlete, the body in rhythmos, the discus throw imagined as god-like, eternal.” Such is the vibe of Linebarger’s eccentric, playful, and stubbornly experimental collection of odes to the gods of tennis and to the game itself. A humanities professor whose work includes poetry and chapbooks, Linebarger has produced a most unusual sports book, with over 70 short tributes to all-stars and more obscure champions alike. Each is paired with a painting, drawing, or photo from an array of artists, and all of them together argue for a highfalutin approach to a sport that already appeals particularly, if not exclusively, to aesthetes.

Tennis Players as Works of Art is also a tribute, of sorts, to Linebarger himself, who uses each oft-succinct paean as an excuse to exhibit the breadth of his talent—or at least his ambition. Each entry boasts a fresh approach. Sometimes Linebarger contextualizes a player in history, writing of Serena Williams that she “wields her racquet like Muhammad Ali his mouth and fists, Charlie Parker his lightning sax.” Other times, Linebarger simply admires the way they move or their features, as when he gushes about Leslie Turner’s beautiful “hand sculptures” or Vitas Gerulaitis’ messy mass of “lion locks.”

Perhaps inevitably, Linebarger can overdose on poetic waxing, as when he describes Suzanne Lenglen’s every tennis stroke as a “musician’s glissando or dancer’s glissade guided and placed as if on a handkerchief on her opponent’s side of the court.” But at its best, his compendium invites the reader to think of tennis as all-encompassing, finding creative connections across the arts and beyond. Who else, when writing about a sport that’s produced John McEnroe and Roger Federer, might rope in postmodernist writer Donald Barthelme or abstract painters Wassily Kandinsky and Mark Rothko? This is for the select audience whose hearts are lifted at a chapter title like “Rafael Nadal and the Lascaux Cave Paintings.”

Takeaway: Madly ambitious, stubbornly experimental ode to the gods of tennis.

Comparable Titles: Jay Jennings’s Tennis and the Meaning of Life, Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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Readers have probably never encountered a narrator like the verbose Chicago feline Chico in Smith’s follow-up to C.H.I.C.O. This time around, Chico is distracted by the chaos in her human family—who are currently dealing with divorce and some serious teenage angst—as well as a threatening lawsuit from none other than actor/comedian Fred Armisen, who’s alleging that Chico defamed him by erroneously claiming, in her last book, that he turned into a parrot. Though troubling, these happenings don’t slow Chico down; she’s on a mission to turn around her second book for some quick cash and expose “the evils of the American legal system.”

In Smith’s world, “cats are allowed to live [their] own lives and come and go as [they] please.” Chico has her share of freedom, for a house pet, but she faces plenty of uphill battles this time. Her clever commentary and the well-edited prose unfurl the tale of new kitten addition Lemonbear, who is searching for her runaway brother Mochi. Meanwhile, on the home front, Page—Chico’s human mom—and Chico team up to help Page’s daughters find their footing in their rapidly changing lives. As Chico types out the latest installment of her family’s adventures, readers will be swept into a harrowing ride that forces them to reckon with weighty issues like childhood trauma, depression, and loss.

What really buoys the tale are Lisa Ciccone’s illustrations. The expressive graphics—bright palettes with comical depictions of the story’s stars—bring to life a world of journal-typing, stand-up joke-cracking, gang-joining cats and their people, making this offering a true visual treat. And while readers may struggle with chapters that jump between Lemonbear and Chico’s storylines, they’ll find an anchor in these endearing illustrations. Written for both teens and their families to enjoy together, Chico and her friends’ tales will stick with readers long after the last page.

Takeaway: Comical diary of a pet cat, with weighty themes.

Comparable Titles: Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham’s Real Friends, Gary D. Schmidt et al.’s A Little Bit Super.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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“What if we assume, in the art of living a life, that loss is a frequent, episodic occurrence, expected to happen throughout our years, and that grieving needs to be an art we practice and eventually get good at?” writes mental health therapist Collins (author of Warrior Mother) in this touching offering. Well acquainted with the landscape of grief, she delves into how the loss of her son to AIDS in the 1990s and her daughter to cancer in the early 2000s shaped her clinical practice and personal healing. She shares the insights she learned while working to counteract the difficulties Western culture has in recognizing and handling grief and loss.

Collins combines deeply personal stories of horrific loss with a surprising resilience that nudges readers to learn how to “metabolize” their grief. She draws on her past experience with the performing arts as a way of harnessing emotions “to make the life lessons inherent in grief available to us in our future lives.” Breaking down the many different causes of grief—from chronic illness and death to prolonged absences and the devastation of war—she offers unique healing strategies, such as using dance as a way to mourn or transforming places of trauma with installed art. She writes with wisdom and practicality, pushing back on Western cultural norms like grieving quietly, being “sorry” when waves of grief hit, and keeping a “stiff upper lip.”

In channeling art as a conduit in the healing process, Collins hits on a coping skill that nearly anyone can use, framing the inevitability of grief as a practice—not something to be swept under the rug. That down-to-earth approach—and the guide’s myriad reflection prompts and hands-on resources—makes this a valuable tool for anyone seeking a more holistic relationship with their grief.

Takeaway: Engaging grief resource that embeds the arts into the healing process.

Comparable Titles: Shelby Forsythia’s Your Grief, Your Way, Alessandra Olanow’s Hello Grief.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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“If you want to understand money, it has to be relatable instead of this weird, complicated, abstract thing,” writes Renee in this breezy yet highly practical guide to rewiring how you think about your finances. Managing funds, she argues, “has nothing to do with math.” Instead, it’s about how one relates to money itself. Her solution to monetary headaches? Act as though you and your money are in a romantic relationship. Drawing on her long history as a psychotherapist, Renee structures her book like a dating guide, arguing that the same advice she’s given clients for their romantic woes can be used to improve bank accounts. One telling section title, among much straight-talk about the drive to consume, facing “toxic” money beliefs, and how-and-why to draft pre-nups: “Start a Steamy Love Affair with your Money.”

After suffering a “messy, Jerry Springer-style financial crisis,” Renee came to realize her “relationship with money looked a lot like the messed-up relationships my clients came in with.” That made her think about how she’d “helped them turn it all around by teaching them to be kind and respectful, love up on each other, and make the relationship a priority.” Renee offers fun yet practical ways to treat one’s cash, such as going on “money dates”: taking it on shopping sprees, dreaming about what you want to do with it, or simply pausing to appreciate all it does for you—“because, like it or not, you need money.” She implores against negative thinking, like dwelling on past financial mistakes or even declaring money the “root of all evil.” She also reminds readers that just as there are no “happily ever after”s in romantic relationships, dealing with money also demands work and commitment.

Renee’s advice is endearingly playful, though she can sometimes go a bit overboard, such as a section where she instructs readers to draft a prenuptial agreement for their “money marriage.” Meanwhile, her claim that if you “you really, really, really want something, you’ll find the money for it,” sounds tone-deaf in an era of economic hardship. Still, this is not a book about becoming the next billionaire. It’s about making financial choices that are realistic. Best of all, she reminds readers that giving money to those in need, she preaches, feels even better than making it.

Takeaway: Fun, practical financial guide for improving both bank accounts and mental health.

Comparable Titles: Kara Stevens’s Heal Your Relationship with Money, Yanely Espinal’s Mind Your Money.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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Desrosiers’s second novel (after The Cartwright Men Marry) is a fascinating historical tale of inheritance, mystery, secret assignations, and interconnected lives. Set primarily in 19th-century United States and occasionally in England, the story begins in 1868 with a surprise inheritance, as Emily Breat, her daughter-in-law Lilith, and a man named Graham Lestor gather at the magnificent Neustat House in Philadelphia for the reading of the will of the mysterious Mrs. Delilah Neustat. Mr. Trolley, a reserved and meticulous lawyer, initiates the reading by narrating a lengthy letter left by Mrs. Neustat, recounting a turbulent life story that spans decades of personal tragedy, perseverance, and moral complexity. The three beneficiaries discover their entangled connections to her and the reasons for her bountiful bequest.

Despite the unexpected ways their lives touch, the parallel histories of Delilah Neustat, a posh socialite, and Deborah Seevers, a brothel owner, highlight stark contrasts in worldviews and principles. However, Delilah’s and Deborah’s stories serve as cautionary tales about the choices women face, the enduring impact of trauma, and the costs and challenges of love. Desrosiers weaves threads of resilience and self-discovery into both narratives, exploring Delilah’s tragic past and subsequent rise in social status, as well as Deborah’s resilience in the face of abuse and adversity. The heirs, grappling with their own struggles and aspirations, must decide how to honor Mrs. Neustat’s legacy while forging their own paths.

Amid striking historical detail, sensitive to both extraordinary events and everyday textures, Desrosiers boldly explores issues of abuse—both physical and emotional—plus sex work, female desire and agency, and themes of love, betrayal, loss, and redemption. The prose is brisk and direct, attentive to feelings, though an abundance of characters and subplots sometimes diminishes the narrative pace. The Three Heirs leaves readers contemplating the power of resilience and self-introspection, the importance of compassion, and the enduring bonds of family.

Takeaway: Vivid novel of choices and inheritance for 19th century American women.

Comparable Titles: Shana Abe’s An American Beauty, Sheri Holman’s The Dress Lodger,

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: =A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A-

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Flynn’s romantic mystery begins with Lucy Ross buying back her former home, Griffin Gate, in Diamond Creek, Arkansas—the place where her father, police detective James Ross, was shot dead 20 years ago, in a still-unsolved case. When Lucy sets out to find her father’s murderer and clear her family name, her sleuthing leads her to the town’s annual police ball, where she meets the handsome Scottish detective, Malcolm Knox. Sparks immediately fly, and the physical attraction between the two is palpable, though Lucy initially keeps her true purpose for moving back home a secret from Malcolm.

What Lucy doesn’t know is that Malcolm is quietly working the very same case she’s got her sights set on, and their on-again, off-again romance adds nicely to the story’s tension. In spite of their growing friendship, the pair don’t trust each other, each doubting the other’s motives and reluctant to share information. That makes these central characters entirely relatable, adding depth and nuance both to their relationship and to the chief mystery. Flynn’s cast in general holds interest, with some characters—notably the Holland couple, as a study in contrasts—more memorable than others, all set against the secrets and mysteries of a small town eager to believe a false story simply because the powers-that-be created it.

Flynn (author of the Like No Other series) keeps the clues coming at regular intervals, ensuring the taut pacing sharpens readers’ curiosity, and the final reveal, though not entirely unexpected, is nonetheless gratifying. The importance Lucy gives to clearing her father’s name—and ensuring that he is remembered as an honest police officer who died in the line of duty—is touching, and Flynn capably ties up the story’s loose ends, providing satisfying closure for this neatly woven combination of sunny romance and murder mystery.

Takeaway: A daughter investigates her father’s murder in this romance/mystery combo.

Comparable Titles: Kendra Elliot’s A Merciful Silence, Karin Slaughter’s Fallen

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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“Success in the music business is not a solo act, it’s a collaboration,” writes Barbone in this concise debut—an examination of the army of team members required to not only establish an entertainment star but also to ensure their career longevity. Promising readers an “all-access pass to the inner workings of artist development,” Barbone differentiates between important industry figures, including artist managers, record producers, and entertainment attorneys, while also including shorter sections on lesser-known jobs like image consultants and tour managers. Each role, she argues, is crucial to building a high-achieving, harmonious team.

A longtime music industry player who’s worked at Sony and Universal—and helped discover icons such as Madonna in the early 1980s—Barbone knows that pop stardom is far from a one-person deal. “Talent, while occurring naturally in certain individuals,” she writes, “must be developed, nurtured, packaged, and marketed through the untiring and unwavering efforts of this team of experts.” In outlining specific industry roles, she covers topics like the cost of vocal coaches, contract particulars for booking agencies, the importance of legal counsel, and why sound and light technicians (“sound wizards,” as she calls them) are so crucial to success. The guide also touches on contemporary developments changing the industry, including how the digital age—virtual events, streaming, and more—is transforming the marketplace.

Industry readers may wish for more personal anecdotes from such a longtime entertainment professional, though Barbone’s general tips—studios with open schedules are more likely to invest in new artists, detailed marketing plans can attract investors, and artists must be holistically prepared for the arduous work ahead of them—are both interesting and helpful. At its heart, this brief rendering functions as a survivor’s guide of sorts for artists in an industry filled with people who could “literally and figuratively” rob them blind.

Takeaway: Compact, inviting look at how entertainment stars can navigate a treacherous industry.

Comparable Titles: Ebonie Caldwell’s DIY Fame, Art Linson’s A Pound of Flesh.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: B+

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A hushed but inviting twilight lullaby, Weiss’s atmospheric picture book croons young readers to sleep with a reminder of the soothing routines that usher in bedtime. As “the light slowly fades at the end of the day,” Weiss hints at the evening chores—putting toys away, eating dinner—that signal it’s time to rest and recharge, using simple language that mirrors the restful cadence of preparation for sleep. Infusing the story with tranquil landscapes and natural panoramas, Weiss introduces important rituals for adult readers to review with sleepy-headed kids, including brief promptings to brush teeth, groom hair, and “choose fun pajamas and slippers to wear.”

Weiss’s nighttime world is wonderfully alive, radiant with glimmering shades of dusk and the cool hues of night, where “nocturnal creatures [start] to sing,” from the softly croaking frogs to the cheery notes of songbirds to the delicate flutter of Luna moth wings. With whispering prose, Weiss reflects the gentle harmony of the natural world with the evening animals who come out to play just as kids wind down, suggesting a beautiful symbiosis between human cycles and those of the outdoors, where “the Firefly Lullaby soothes us to sleep.”

Readers will find this debut the perfect bedtime accompaniment, a tender nudge to “read favorite books” and let imaginations run wild while the night entertains with a striking symphony. The whimsical illustrations twinkle with muted lights and soft-edged shapes that echo dreamscapes, and Weiss’s moon is a bioluminescent orb that oversees the evening’s activities. Weiss closes with a glossary that covers book terms like “baritone” and “nocturnal,” as well as entertaining facts on the story’s featured animals (firefly groups are delightfully called “sparkles,” and Luna moths are seasonal nighttime visitors) and a link to the book’s MP3 Soundscape. Bedtime transforms into an ethereal encounter in Weiss’s assured hands.

Takeaway: Whimsical celebration of soothing bedtime routines.

Comparable Titles: Emmy Kastner’s While You’re Asleep, Faye Farhang Hutsell’s Sweet Dreams, Haystack Rock.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A

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Mink’s gripping historical novel follows the journey of Kees, a young Dutchman drawn into the ranks of the German SS in the Second World War, and the impact his choices have on his fractured family. Initially fueled by youthful naivety and a thirst for adventure, Kees enlists “to free little girls… from communism,” but quickly finds himself trapped in the harrowing realities of the Eastern Front. Meanwhile, his stepmother, Petronella, and sister, Punica, grapple with the consequences of his decisions and the toll of war, leaving Petronella wondering “how much damage to her precious family could she endure.”

Mink’s storytelling is immersive, blending vivid descriptions with emotional depth to capture the inner turmoil of her characters. Kees’s psychological struggle as he faces the moral weight of his actions is both raw and unsettling, and, as The Bone Sculptor explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the erosion of innocence, Mink offers a poignant glimpse of how war reshapes human connections and identities. The novel’s nuanced portrayal of Nazi ideology’s horrifying impact on individuals and families adds further complexity; even as Kees readies to fight for the Germans, he reflects on the shock of neighbors informing on neighbors in exchange for money, on “kind and generous people becoming monsters.”

The use of multiple perspectives enriches the story, providing a layered understanding of the characters’ conflicts, and, just as she juxtaposes the horrors of World War II with the resilience of everyday people trying to survive it, Mink (author of A History of Love and Now) also uses vivid descriptions of Kees’s front-line experiences to reveal his urge to stay alive “in a war alien to him” amid desperate thoughts of the people he’s left behind. The Bone Sculptor is a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of war, family, and morality, with meticulous historical research and an emotionally resonant narrative that will captivate historical fiction fans.

Takeaway: Haunting novel of love, morality, and World War II.

Comparable Titles: Michael Reit’s Beyond the Tracks, Hans Fallada’s Alone in Berlin.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Bone Sculptor

This candid, unrestrained offering recounts the story of high school government teacher Todd Allen running for Congress in Texas in 2018. When Allen’s best friend and colleague, Heath Hamrick—who describes the pair as “two average, apathetic, everyday Americans, finally driven off our respective couches by a desire to get involved and make a difference”—persuades his pal to run for Congress, they’re a long shot at best. But that doesn’t stop Allen from going all in, and, in breezy, humorous tones, Hamrick shares the unique perspective of an ultimately unsuccessful campaign—built from a drive to mobilize the Democratic base after the 2016 election of Donald Trump.

Hamrick’s humor may not land with all readers, but it does keep his prose—and a sometimes monotonous, repetitive political campaign—humming. Much of the dramatic tension in the story rises from Allen’s attempts to reach out to highly engaged primary voters after he has historically been uninvolved in the political process, a problem that ultimately costs him votes. “The whole idea of my campaign is that there are a whole lot of us out there who should have done more and didn’t but are now waking up,” Allen shares with a particularly vehement non-supporter. Quips like that give readers a starkly resonant reminder of America’s fraught political landscape.

Hamrick keeps the focus primarily on Allen’s small victories and defeats—a website not up to par for a launch party, a competitor’s crooked logo, the grueling work of the operation’s volunteers—rather than the broader historical moments taking place, a strategy that reflects the limited resources and ruthless decisions of a focused political campaign. Personal photographs give the stories valuable context, and, despite the outcome of their unsuccessful run, Worse Than You Think speaks volumes on the tense nature of America’s governmental processes, as Hamrick bleakly sums up his experiences: “Politics sucked my soul in six months flat.”

Takeaway: Sardonic memoir of a lesser-known’s run for political office.

Comparable Titles: George Franklin’s So You Think You Want to Run for Congress, Michael Ignatieff’s Fire and Ashes.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about Worse Than You Think

Kilgore's spiritually grounded collection of poetry reflects on the ever-present nature of divine love in human existence. His flowing, straightforward poems embody a steadfast belief in a direct connection to God—"He knows of what we're tempted / He knows our thoughts in sleep"—capturing an unwavering spiritual devotion. Kilgore’s reverence for family is a recurring theme, particularly evident in his tributes to all mothers: “In her lifetime, life she gave / To children small and grand.” Similarly, “More Than Mom” portrays the natural selflessness of maternal devotion: “I felt the hope without doubt / Of how deep you always cared.” These poems, almost like letters to the departed, exude warmth and gratitude, capturing the essence of a matriarch's enduring legacy.

While uplifting and inspirational—qualities that could be misconstrued as overly optimistic—these poems are not oblivious to adversities, such as the echoes of war: "I thought I heard a war cry / It cried out loud and long." This raw grief is amplified by his son's death in the name of public service—"I lost my son to darkness / He never shall grow old"—but Kilgore's faith still triumphs, as he reflects on the promise of eternal reunion: “But now his soul’s in heaven / Where clouds will never be.” This ability to anchor faith amid sorrow is the collection’s most remarkable strength.

A strict, rhyming quatrain structure results in some forced phrasing that diminishes emotional resonance, such as, “It seeks to admire / Of all life itself, / It looks to all others / Of where it can help.” Still, this lyrical simplicity and sincerity, married to theological depth, is the hallmark of Kilgore's work. Bolstered by rich biblical allusions that guarantee God's nearness—"Never am I far from you / For in me do you live"—Covenant's Promise offers solace and hope to those seeking faith-filled poetry rooted in lived experience.

Takeaway: Faithful reflections on family, life, hardships, and divine connection.

Comparable Titles: Hannah Hurnard’s Hinds’ Feet on High Places, Douglas Kaine McKelvey’s Every Moment Holy.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Covenant's Promise

This gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption takes place against the backdrop of Wall Street's largest bank securities vault, where dedicated employee Andy Russo, who has spent decades managing the vault, witnesses the industry's evolution alongside his team’s never-ending sacrifices. When the company announces drastic cuts to pensions and retiree medical benefits, Andy, devastated by the deaths of his wife and a colleague, devises a plan to steal $100 million in bearer bonds from the underground vault to secure his team's future. Meanwhile, the approaching Hurricane Sandy threatens to submerge the vault and expose the crime.

Goldstein weaves a captivating narrative in his fiction debut, exploring the complexities of corporate loyalty and the moral dilemmas faced by employees who feel betrayed by their higher-ups. The characters are richly developed, each with their own backstory of struggle and survival, making their collective decision to commit the heist both understandable and riveting. Andy's transformation from a "company man" to a protector of his team is particularly poignant, highlighting the impact of personal loss and the lengths one will go to for those they care about. As the heist unfolds, Goldstein skillfully builds tension, with careful attention to detail—the vault’s day-to-day operations and the intricacies of the financial industry—that adds authenticity to the story, making this a fascinating read for those interested in the inner workings of Wall Street.

One of The Vault’s strengths is its treatment of the immigrant experience and the sacrifices made by first-generation Americans, explored through Goldstein’s depiction of the cultural biases that limit work opportunities for the book’s minority and immigrant characters. That kind of thoughtful exposition illuminates the moral complexities of corporate life and the bonds that tie people together, making this compelling narrative stand out in the genre of financial thrillers.

Takeaway: Exciting, convincing Wall Street heist thriller.

Comparable Titles: Denison Hatch’s Flash Crash, Peter Spiegelman’s Thick as Thieves.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about The Vault

This debut graphic novel from writer Kinney, working with illustrator Nancy Macri, tackles several genres. The primary strand follows the work of Monica Traeger, an idealistic investigative reporter who’s assigned to interview the wealthy and reclusive businessman Van Nostrand. What at first appears to be a puff piece winds up involving matters far more mysterious and sinister, and most of Van Nostrand involves Traeger’s attempts to get the story, which will lead her to a vast and varied scientific research group, blood banks, and, ultimately, the fate of humanity. The story’s fantastical elements incorporate aspects of Dracula lore and Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series—an original, surprising mix—with enough fresh twists to keep things interesting.

Illustrator Macri, who has authored two graphic memoirs and two picture books, works with a charcoal palette and has a clean, expressive style that suits Kinney’s swift-paced story. She seems most comfortable drawing faces, and Kinney’s dialogue-heavy script gives her plenty of opportunity to showcase her strength. Kinney also offers snippets of Van Nostrand’s backstory, which—aside from the somewhat rushed climax—provide the only real physical action in the book and add a little swashbuckling spice to the mix. That said, the exact nature of Van Nostrand’s secret remains slightly vague, even after his eventual full confession to Traeger. A minor subplot involving Traeger’s newspaper rival could perhaps have been jettisoned in favor of building out Van Nostrand’s world, even if it consists mostly of well-worn horror/thriller tropes.

Traeger’s arc is more surprising, as it’s not her overt reportorial doggedness but her buried idealism (with a little help from a well-handled love interest) that saves her in the end. Van Nostrand ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, with more installments promised. Having spanned hundreds of years, a couple of continents, and a few genres, readers will be left curious to see where Kinney goes next.

Takeaway: This gothic thriller graphic novel freshens up its mix of genres.

Comparable Titles: Saladin Ahmed and Sami Kivelä’s Abbott, Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquereque’s American Vampire.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B+
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B

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This sweeping fantasy rooted in a host of mythos follows twin sisters Emilia and Clara Benning, who learn at just 10 years old that they are human hosts to the goddesses Andarta and Eir. As both goddesses are tasked with protection in some fashion, it’s no surprise that Emilia and Clara are drawn to professions that align with their destinies: Emilia becomes a lawyer, following in the footsteps of their father, Judge Cauley Benning, while Clara takes after their mother, Amalia, and chooses nursing. When the twins are reunited with a close childhood friend, Gabriel, they become immersed in the dangerous work of helping human trafficking victims.

Staback and Kennedy draw from Norse and Greek mythology, as well as Viking history, to weave this enchanting story of sisterhood, friendship, and good versus evil—the first in their Ascending Veil series. The narrative unfolds from multiple points of view, exposing the violence and helplessness that victims of human trafficking endure while building the tension of two intertwined lives destined for something far greater than themselves. As both Emilia and Clara reach milestone after milestone in their lives, readers will be eager to discover how they embrace their destinies—and eventually go their separate ways, recognizing that they must let go of their past lives and invoke the power of the goddesses within.

At times foreshadowing and sinister, Andarta is a grandiose coming-of-age story and origin tale that hinges on the strength, resilience, and underlying power of two young women on a journey of self-discovery and legendary greatness. Through imaginative storytelling and emotive circumstances, the authors highlight the evil that mankind senselessly inflicts on others for personal gain, crafting a heart-pounding saga of two sisters tasked with saving humanity and raining down justice for the victimized souls of the world. Fantasy fans who relish well-drawn characters with grave destinies will be eager for the next installment in the series.

Takeaway: Twin sisters—human hosts to two goddesses—fight to save humanity.

Comparable Titles: Tracy Deonn's Legendborn, Hannah Lynn's Daughters of Olympus.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A-

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