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Just reviewed
Off the Reservation by Stephen Graham JonesThe Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham JonesThe Short Reign of Pippin IV by John SteinbeckBurning Bright by John SteinbeckAmerica and Americans by John SteinbeckOnce There Was a War by John SteinbeckA Russian Journal by John SteinbeckThe Long Valley by John SteinbeckThe Wayward Bus by John SteinbeckCup of Gold by John SteinbeckThe Pastures of Heaven by John SteinbeckTo a God Unknown by John SteinbeckVasmora by Keri LakeThe Memory of Borrowed Books by Meg AndersonThis Shattered Tempest by Thea GuanzonThe Worst Is Yet to Come by Trish LundyOnce, Again, Always by Amanda GayleIn Dubious Battle by John SteinbeckShifta by Miles JoynerReap & Sow by Charlotte B. Plumb

The Bookish Elf — honest book reviews, reading lists and author interviews

Editor’s pick★ 4

Off the Reservation

by Stephen Graham Jones

Some bones were never meant to stay buried two thousand miles from home.

Five years after Duck Lake, Nate Yellow Tail rides east in a borrowed parade RV to bring a Blackfeet boy's bones home from Carlisle. Jones's sequel is braver, funnier and stranger than its predecessor, with a sagging middle and su…

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Editor’s pick★ 5

Shifta

by Miles Joyner

Every bet has a target. Every target has a bodyguard.

Shifta by Miles Joyner review: a fast, smart political crime thriller where a bodyguard team faces a hacker-led dead pool. Themes, characters, style, and similar reads.

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Editor’s pick★ 4

Broken Rival

by Tessa Bailey

He watched her for years. He never once said why.

A scientist's daughter stranded fifty years in the past is taken in by a Kansas pastor's family, loved by one son and loathed by the other. Bailey's first move away from comedy is a big, swoony, sometimes bloody time-travel romanc…

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Editor’s pick★ 4

Victorious

by V.E. Schwab

Every dose buys him hours. The end is already counting down.

Victor Vale is powerless, running out of medicine and counting the hours, while a soft-spoken new director remakes EON from the inside. Schwab's Villains finale is a two-clock thriller that pays off three books of rivalry, with a…

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Editor’s pick★ 5

Sir

by Martin James Miriam

The clock keeps reading 9:11. It was never a coincidence.

Sir by Martin James Miriam pits a New York accountant against the Controllers of a simulated world. Read our analysis of its dreams, dread and big ideas.

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01 / 05
Spooky season
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Halloween Books 2026

Our favourite spooky reads of the year, from cosy witches to can’t-sleep horror, plus the best of 2025, 2024 and the classics.

New for 2026Top 5 scariestCosy & witchySpooky romanceYA & kidsClassicsSpooky games
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All 3,562 reviews
★ 4Off the ReservationStephen Graham Jones★ 4The Only Good IndiansStephen Graham Jones★ 4VasmoraKeri Lake★ 4The Memory of Borrowed BooksMeg Anderson★ 4This Shattered TempestThea Guanzon★ 4Reap & SowCharlotte B. Plumb★ 4Hallowed BonesLucy Smoke★ 4VictoriousV.E. Schwab
★ 4Off the ReservationStephen Graham Jones★ 4The Only Good IndiansStephen Graham Jones★ 4The Memory of Borrowed BooksMeg Anderson★ 4The Worst Is Yet to ComeTrish Lundy★ 5ShiftaMiles Joyner★ 4It Ends HereHeidi Perks★ 4Dive Bar at the End of the RoadKelley Armstrong★ 4VictoriousV.E. Schwab
★ 4VasmoraKeri Lake★ 4The Memory of Borrowed BooksMeg Anderson★ 4This Shattered TempestThea Guanzon★ 4The Worst Is Yet to ComeTrish Lundy★ 4Once, Again, AlwaysAmanda Gayle★ 4Reap & SowCharlotte B. Plumb★ 4Hallowed BonesLucy Smoke★ 4Bad WordsRioghnach Robinson
★ 3The Short Reign of Pippin IVJohn Steinbeck★ 2.5Burning BrightJohn Steinbeck★ 4The Long ValleyJohn Steinbeck★ 3.5The Wayward BusJohn Steinbeck★ 2.5Cup of GoldJohn Steinbeck★ 4The Pastures of HeavenJohn Steinbeck★ 3.5To a God UnknownJohn Steinbeck★ 4In Dubious BattleJohn Steinbeck
★ 4The Worst Is Yet to ComeTrish Lundy★ 4Trust FallLynn Painter★ 4The House of GardeniasIsabel Cañas★ 4The Velvet KnifeMaureen Johnson★ 4Escape MeTahereh Mafi★ 4The Sherlock SocietyJames Ponti★ 4A Dangerous BargainErin Cotter★ 4Rainbow BoysAlex Sanchez
★ 3.5A Russian JournalJohn Steinbeck★ 3.5Travels with CharleyJohn Steinbeck★ 4Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter: A Memoir From the Child of a Mail-Order BrideKatya Suvorova★ 4.5Swan Song – Diana, My SisterCharles Spencer★ 5The Way from Street Kid to MillionaireIgor Fostenko★ 4Strangers: A Memoir of MarriageBelle Burden★ 5Journey to Infinity WithinDevsingh Balan★ 4.5Monsters in the Archives – My Year of Fear with Stephen KingCaroline Bicks
Kids & comics

Picture books, early readers
and graphic novels.

Stories for young readers and books told in pictures, reviewed with grown-ups in mind.

Children’s books47 reviews

Picture books, early readers and middle grade

★ 4The Sherlock Society★ 4.5Little Monsters★ 4.5The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe★ 4.5The Snowman Code
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Comics and stories told in panels

★ 5Sofie Finds a Best Friend★ 5The C7 – Tales of Gisod★ 5A Friend for Hope★ 5Grumpy Gnome★ 5Sophia Starr and a Dog to Love
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