Category: Fiction Page 5 of 341

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett: A Tale Strays (of various species) Finding New Homes

DETAILS:
Publisher: Del Rey
Publication Date: February 17, 2026
Format: Del Rey
Length: 368 pg.
Read Date: January 30-31, 2026

What’s Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter About?

A widow in her thirties struggles to keep the charity that she and her husband started afloat in 1920’s Montreal. They find stray cats on the street, get them cleaned up, spayed/neutered, whatever other basic veterinary care they need, and then match them with loving homes.

Oh, and her new landlord turns out to be the most feared and reviled magic user in the world.

I know, I know…that tired plot again.*

That’s all well and good—it’s just a business relationship, right? But at a certain point his business starts interfering with and threatening her charity (and the cats!). So Agnes decides she has to start meddling to keep anything truly harmful from happening. Even if that means spending time with said magician. Who is not at all attractive and charming, thank you very much.

* I truly hope the sarcasm there is obvious. But I’ve been missing a lot of swings like that lately.

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

I thought the plot seemed amusing enough, but I was probably convinced to pick this up by my curiosity about what Fawcett could do outside of Emily Wilde‘s adventures.

I stuck with it because of Agnes. Sure, the story and other characters were fun and kept me reading. But for me, it’s all about Agnes. Her attitude, her fortitude, the way she acts as if she can bend reality to her will (she sure seems capable of turning the wills of most around her to hers)—she’s just a dynamo and you can believe that this non-magical person (anti-magic actually) can hold her own with people throwing spells around.

What does this book tell us about humanity?

There’s a good deal we can learn from Agnes about tenacity, about the power of people coming together in a common cause, about grief.

But the thing that stood out the most to me—and given the title, it’s probably to be expected—is the very human magic of pairing someone—man, woman, or child—with a pet fit for them. There’s the initial joy, and then long-term benefits as well. It’s that king of magic that keeps Agnes going. It’s what gets her sister to help, her volunteers to keep showing up, and it’s the way that people she’s matched with their cat that come to her aid—that fills the book with its heart.

So, what did I think about Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter?

It’s not often that I read a book featuring pets that don’t happen to be dogs, so it may come as some kind of surprise when I talk about one—I don’t know that I’d go so far as to say it surprised me, too—but it did seem a little strange.

This book was a pleasure from start to finish—I really didn’t know what to expect. But Fawcett sold the setting, the characters, and the story—it was all perfectly charming and engaging. The magic system seems really fitting for this world, and better than others. You get someone like Raistlin Majere or Harry Dresden running around, and I just don’t think it’d work as well.

There were some plot turns that I didn’t see coming—and maybe should’ve, but I enjoyed being taken unawares—and the bigger reveals at the end were so satisfying.

If you like Emily Wilde, you’ll like Agnes Aubert—they’re not the same character, but the core of each is pretty similar (as differently as they express that core). The rest of the characters are almost as good—the tertiary characters and the people she runs into in the neighborhood are just as well-drawn as the primary/secondary characters. Same for the cats and their personalities. There’s a treasure trove of personalities to get to know here.

This is a fantasy that’s full of charm and heart—you’ll be glad you picked this up.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Del Rey via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Grandpappy’s Corner: Jibberjack, Fibberjack by Stefanie Gamarra, Marta Pilosio (Illustrator): A ‘Meddling Kid’ in the Making

By HCNewton

On February 5, 2026

In Fiction, Grandpappy's Corner, YA/MG/Children's Books

Jibberjack, Fibberjack

by Stefanie Gamarra, Marta Pilosio (Illustrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Marshmallow Tree Press
Publication Date: April 28, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 32 pg.
Read Date: February 2, 2026

What’s Jibberjack, Fibberjack About?

Leroy “Encyclopedia” Brown. Inspector Gadget’s niece, Penny. Scooby and his Gang. Flavia de Luce. Jupiter Jones, Bob Andrews, and Pete Crenshaw. Veronica Mars. These are just some of the names of children/teens who have spotted crimes and coverups that adults have missed. It’s time to add one more to that illustrious lineup: Frida Fitzgerald.

When people in her town are frightened by reports of a monster doing nasty things (like trampling flower beds), tensions rise. But someting doesn’t seem right about it all to Frida—so she starts asking questions. When people bother answering, theyir responses don’t help. But too often, her age words against her, and she’s dismissed.

Undaunted, she keeps asking questions about things that don’t make sense. And eventually (I can spoil things vaguely here, right? This book’s audience isn’t reading this space), she’s able to prove her point.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

Pilosio’s art is great, as the samples on this site show.

The illustrations are full of great detail—and while I can’t really point to any humor or jokes, there’s a whimsy to the art that makes you think there’s a joke somewhere. Well, okay—there are a few, but even when there are none.

It just pops off the page in a way that will grab—and keep—the attention of young readers, and has enough character to attract their older reading companions.

How is it to Read Aloud?

It’s nice and straightforward—no rhymes or tongue-twisting words to go through. There’s a lot of opportunity for exaggerated speech and emphases in the dialogue (and parenthetical asides) for the hammier adult to get into.

The story itself is engaging enough to make it easier for adults on their 15th read of the same book to find something to latch onto. With enough clues and fun things in the images to talk about as well.

And that’s before the last couple of pages that give some things to talk to a child about, lessons to walk away from, and so on.

Basically, there’s meat for the involved adult reader.

So, what did I think about Jibberjack, Fibberjack?

I found the idea of a whodunit for the 4-8 age range intriguing, even if I wondered how well it could be pulled off. Gamarra nailed it.

I had fun, I can easily see reading this with the grandcritters several times and having enjoyable chats about asking questions, thinking about what they’re told, and wondering why someone might want them scared. In today’s media landscape, it’s never too early to start that.

And you might as well have fun while you’re at it.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the Author via BookSirens in exchange for this post and my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Cover Reveal: Prey of Angels by JCM Berne

By HCNewton

On February 2, 2026

In A-B, Fantasy, Fiction, JCM Berne, Science Fiction

I’m very pleased today to welcome the Cover Reveals for the Eighth Turn in JCM Berne’s The Hybrid Helix series, Prey of Angels! For a lot of us, a new Rohan adventure is an autobuy anyway. But I can’t imagine people look at this cover and not get curious. But before we get to that, let’s learn a just a little bit about the book and author, shall we? It’ll just take a moment, and then we can all take a peak at the cover.

About the Book:

Rohan has been building alliances and solidifying his abilities, all to keep his friends, his family, his homeworld, and the Empire safe from anything that threatens them, from anywhere in the universe, whether from inside the sector or from a distant galaxy.

He thought he was doing a pretty good job.

He thought he had a pretty solid handle on what he needed to worry about.

He was wrong.

Book Link:

Amazon Preorder

About the Author

JCM Berne has reached middle age without outgrowing the notion that superheroes are cool. Code monkey by day, by night he slaves over a hot keyboard to prove that superhero stories can be engaging and funny without being dark or silly.

Author Links:

Website ~ Bluesky ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ YouTube

and now…

The Cover

cover for Prey of Angels by JCM Berne

Kudos to these fine folk for their work on this eye-grabber:
Cover Art by Chris McGrath
Cover design by J Caleb Design

Go and do the right thing–place your orders now. This comes out on February 17, and you’re going to want to get to it ASAP.

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Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson: Gas Station Magicians, Uncommon Creatures, and Wolves Without Enough Skin.

By HCNewton

On January 30, 2026

In Fantasy, Fiction

I’d intended this to go up Tuesday, and just couldn’t get the words to come off my fingers right. I’m still not sure I did, but it’s close.

Strange Animals

by Jarod K. Anderson

DETAILS:
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: February 10, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 320 pgs.
Read Date: January 23, 2026

What’s Strange Animals About?

Following a strange near-death experience, Green feels a compulsion to get back to nature. Well, maybe not “back,” he seems like someone very comfortable in the city. But you get what I mean.

So he sells his home, quits his job, puts everything in storage, and heads out. He’s drawn to Appalachia and sets out to find a long-term campsite to start whatever this next stage of life is.

Along the way, Green meets some delightfully odd characters—and I wish I had the room to talk about them, but you want Anderson to introduce you to them anyway.

His first night in his campsite he sees animals that can’t exist. He’d be tempted to think he had a hallucination or two if it weren’t for some evidence that people who weren’t around can also see.

From there, Green starts to learn about strange creatures all around him—and learns not to call them strange. They’re not strange, they’re not monsters (despite what some appear to be) or anything else derogatory. They’re simply uncommon—so uncommon that very few can see them. But Earth is just as much their home as it is to mice, giraffes, or emus. Of course, not every common animal should be around people, and that applies to some of these uncommon creatures, too.

Can Green and his new friends stop one who seems to be hunting humans?

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

I can’t tell you specifically what it was that appealed to me in the NetGalley advertisement I got for this book, but it intrigued me. Lightly skimming Witty & Sarcastic Book Club’s post about it intensified that (I only read deep enough to pick up her tone, so I didn’t inadvertently steal any of her points).

What kept me reading? There was something about Chapter 0 that got me. It didn’t matter what happened for the rest of the book—I was sold, and the rest of the book was going to have to be really lousy to get the hook that it put in me dislodged. At the end of Chapter 1, my notes read, “I think I might be falling in love with this book.”

And yes, I said Chapter 0—that wasn’t a typo. Anyone who numbers chapters like that has to intrigue a reader, right?

What does this book tell us about humanity?

I walked away with two things on this front.

First, humans need nature. Plants, animals, sunsets/rises—the works. When we shut up and pay attention to it—better if we can get further away from population centers (as nice as they and their technologies and comforts may be) to focus on it—there’s a benefit to our health. At least mental. Probably physical—and spiritual (depending on how you want to define that). This is the central drive for Green—and while it ends up not being what he expected, it’s this that fulfills him. As he connects with both the common and uncommon around him, he’s renewed and bettered.

Second, and it’s hard to say which is more important, is that people need—and will find—community. In this case, Green finds a few groups of people and brings a couple together (or at least is a bridge between them). He’s an outsider to this area, but finds himself befriending these groups almost instantly. These two—and one much larger—converge on the area (more precisely, Green and his teacher) when the chips are down, and people need help. Somewhat to protect people in general, but largely to protect “their people” (for lack of a better term). The communities step up in a way that we all want to see—and frequently do. It’s rather encouraging.

So, what did I think about Strange Animals?

Anderson checks all the boxes here—he can put together a sentence just right, if this wasn’t an ARC, I’d be struggling to keep my quotations to a reasonable limit; he creates fantastic characters and gets the reader to invest in them with very few words (and rewards that investment); the imagination demonstrated in this world and the uncommon animals—and the depiction of the common flora and fauna—makes you want to see more from him; and he can tell a pretty engaging story. Check, check, check, and check. If there are problems with this book, they’re minor.

Okay, there’s something toward the end that I’m rabidly curious about and want to know so much more about what happens. But I’m really glad Anderson just elides past it.

Still, if he wants to give me a call and describe it to me, I’ll give him my number.

This is not your typical Fantasy novel, for sure. It captures an Appalachian area in a similar way (though in different states) that Alex Bledsoe’s Tufa series did, which really makes me want to visit the real world version. Actually, as I say that, I realize that this book left me feeling the same way that the first Tufa novel, The Hum and the Shiver did. There are few books that I can say that about.

There’s something special going on in these pages. I encourage you to look into them yourself and see if you agree.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Ballantine Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.

Grandpappy’s Corner: I Am a Highly Dangerous Warrior! by Raquel D’Apice, Heather Fox (Illustrator): A Great Starter-Fantasy Tale

By HCNewton

On January 22, 2026

In Fantasy, Fiction, Grandpappy's Corner, YA/MG/Children's Books

I Am a Highly Dangerous Warrior!

by Raquel D’Apice, Heather Fox (Illustrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 04, 2025
Format: Hardcover
Length: 40 pgs.
Read Date: January 17, 2026

What’s I Am a Highly Dangerous Warrior! About?

A big, hairy monster is threatening the town. People are frightened, and no hope is in sight.

But there is a six-year-old who is determined to go off and face the monster, proclaiming himself to be “a highly dangerous warrior!” The Wizard he lives with tries to dissuade him, but the child is determined and will not listen to reason.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

It is just adorable. The cover image gives you a great feel for what you’re going to find in the book.

Fox creates a monster that you can believe is threatening, but really doesn’t look it. The humans look like they leapt off the pages of a Johnny Hart comic (but with a contemporary feel) or out of a Craig McCracken cartoon.

How is it to Read Aloud?

There’s a lot of shouting to be done—which is kind of fun. The dialogue is silly, but thankfully, no tongue twisters are involved. Using appropriate voices for the Wizard and the Child seems to be easy, and the text helps with that a lot.

You probably won’t enjoy reading it as much as someone will enjoy listening to you read it, but it’ll be close enough.

So, what did I think about I Am a Highly Dangerous Warrior!?

The backcover alone is worth reading. Seriously. The stuff inside the book is even better.

It’s a goofy, straightforward story with a little bit of sweetness at the end.

I enjoyed this more than I expected to—and with a title and cover like that, my expectations were high.

At the same time, I don’t have a lot to say about it—it’s a fun little Fantasy story for those trying to raise the right kind of nerd. Or for those who aren’t. Oh, also, for adults who are the right kind of nerd. Either way, there’s plenty of goofy fun to be had.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Lianna and the Hombit by Valinora Troy

By HCNewton

On January 21, 2026

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

I’m very pleased today to welcome The Write Reads Blog Tour for the first volume of Valinora Troy’s Lianna and the Hombit! The Tour’s in full swing, and it’s looking pretty good–take a gander at feed for https://twitter.com/WriteReadsTours or The Write Reads on Twitter or The Write Reads on BlueSky, you’ll see bloggers who have interesting things to say about it.

Book Details:

Title: Lianna and the Hombit by Valinora Troy
Genre: Fantasy
Age Category: Middle Grade
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Ebook/Audiobook
Length: 255 Pages
Publication Date: January 29, 2026

About the Book:

A grieving girl in need of a friend. A magical creature with a secret task. Can they end the ancient curse threatening their new home?

When 13-year old Lianna, devastated by the loss of her father, is sent to the distant land of Nivram, she finds her new home and guardian every bit as horrible as she expected. When she meets a magical birdlike creature called a hombit, they strike an alliance: Lianna will help it complete its secret mission if it helps her get home.

But her plan goes awry and she accidentally awakens a creature that threatens both her and her new home. Lianna must uncover family secrets to avoid a terrible fate…

A heart-warming story of the healing power of friendship when all seems lost.

Book Links:

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads

About the Author:

Valinora Troy is a children’s fantasy and horror writer from Ireland. She has a MA in Creative Writing, specialising in writing for children and young adults. She has acted as a panellist for the CYBILS awards in the middle grade speculative fiction category and served as a Reading Ambassador for Louth Libraries. Her short stories for adults have appeared in numerous publications. She is the author of The Lucky Diamond trilogy, a middle grade children’s fantasy adventure series. In 2023 she was short-listed for the Staróg Prize. When not writing, she loves visiting schools and libraries to talk to children about books and writing.

You can find out more about Valinora’s books, as well as resources for schools, and sign up to her newsletter on her website: Valinora Troy – Children’s Fantasy Writer

Website ~ Twitter

My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided (including the book).

The Hunted by Steven Max Russo: Who is the Predator, Who is the Prey?

By HCNewton

On January 20, 2026

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

The Hunted

by Steven Max Russo

DETAILS:
Publication Date: January 1, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 317 pg.
Read Date: January 12-13, 2026

What’s The Hunted About?

Gerhard Mueller is the head of GSG, a private security/military contractor firm, staffed by plenty of former US Intelligence Agents and military. One of those former CIA analysts is Ophelia Harris–after some time working for the USA and then GSG in Afghanistan, she’s on the run.

She’d say it was because she was set up by GSG. Mueller says it’s because she betrayed GSG, leaving colleagues dead and millions of dollars missing.

This results in Ophelia running for her life from the company.

A chance encounter with someone she had a fleeting encounter with in Afghanistan (and that’s being generous) results in someone else getting sucked into this mess, Austin’s fate tied to hers.

With GSG getting closer, Ophelia realizes that the cat and mouse game only ends with the mouse dead, or it convincing the cat to stop. She and her new ally decide to do the latter.

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

I picked this up because Steven Max Russo emailed me and said (essentially), “I have a new book, are you interested?” I replied that the “new book” was really all I needed. Over the 4(??) previous books, I know that’s all he needs to say.

Why did I keep going? Because once you start this train moving—you can’t stop. Not that you’ll want to, you just won’t be able to. It’s just about holding on until the train reaches the end of the line.

What does this book tell us about humanity?

The thing that struck home most for me from this novel was trust. Both how much we want to trust others, and how hard it can be when that trust is broken. Granted, you may not send multiple killers after someone if they break your trust—but the impulse will resonate with you.

Other than Austin, each of the major players in this book have had their trust broken. And the reactions to this tell you a lot about each person. Some react with a degree of rage, some withdraw, some are cold and unforgiving, and others…well, that would be telling you too much.

On the other hand, we also see a great willingness to trust others. Austin has zero reason to trust Ophelia—and realizes it, but quickly joins their fates together. Ophelia is on the run because the last people she trusted proved (in her eyes, anyway) to be untrustworthy, yet she (with misgivings) gives the same trust to Austin. The people at GSG have implicit trust in those they work with—or have worked with—in an industry where betrayal seems to be more common than the color green in a rainforest.

And whether you’re in their extreme sort of circumstances or not, that kind of trust is necessary, right? Otherwise, nothing can work. Nothing moves forward. We end up isolated and trying to do everything by ourselves, and that’s just not feasible in the long-run (barely feasible in the short run). Every reader knows this, these characters know it—and show it.

So, what did I think about The Hunted?

There was one misstep that our security consultant and brilliant analyst made (and couldn’t figure out), that I saw just thanks to watching TV procedurals. That bugged me a lot. But as soon as I set that aside, the momentum of the story kept me going.

And that’s the core of this book’s success—momentum, pacing, and adrenaline. There’s a couple of moments of action at the beginning, then we get a little bit of a lull so we can get the board set up. Then Russo makes the first move, and the game is practically non-stop from there. Russo will let you catch your breath—but you need to do that quickly, he doesn’t give you a lot of time.

Russo doesn’t give anyone the same kind of Thriller twice. Which is a good thing (as much as I’d like things like his previous ones—primarily Thieves and The Debt Collector). The Hunted is about determination, speed, craftiness, and ammunition. A lot of ammunition gets spent—and characters die unexpectedly. Vengeance gets wrought. I can’t/won’t say if justice prevails—but you can know going in that some scales are balanced.

If you’re looking for a solid Thriller novel—you can find one here (or with anything Steven Max Russo’s name is on, but you might as well start here).

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this novel by the author, as always, the opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced by this act by the author (beyond giving me something to have an opinion about).

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Cover Reveal: The Re-Emergence by Alan K. Dell

By HCNewton

On January 19, 2026

In Science Fiction

I’m very pleased today to welcome the Cover Reveals for Alan K. Dell’s Bounty Inc! This year is the fifth anniversary of this SFINCS finalist space opera novella, so Dell made a brand new cover to the celebrate the occasion. Nothing against the original cover, but the new one is worth a little fanfare.

I’ll show you this cover below, but first let’s learn a little bit about the book and author, shall we? It’ll just take a moment, and then we can all take a peak at the cover.

About the Book:

‘IT WAS JUST A MYTH. JUST A DAMN LEGEND PASSED DOWN FROM CORRUPTED DATABANKS…’

A mysterious probe from a long-forgotten satellite network appears in the heart of the Maldaccian Empire, warning about the return of a mythological evil.

After being downloaded by the plucky but inexperienced crew of the imperial flagship, the consciousness of the ancient satellite, Unit-17, embarks on a galactic adventure to bring the empire back from the brink of an interstellar war they are not equipped to fight.

The Qesh’kal’s aging commander, Da’kora Corasar, trusts Unit-17’s intel implicitly, but not everyone aboard agrees. Tensions rise and loyalties are tested as they are thrust into conflict with an enemy of unimaginable power and malice.

A finalist in the first annual Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS)!

Book Links:

Universal Book Link ~ Itch-io ~ Goodreads

About the Author

Alan K. Dell is a British sci-fi author and creative person with far too many hobbies. He writes science fiction described as “by, and for, sci-fi geeks” and loves to explore interesting high-tech concepts in his work.

Outside of writing, he is a book blogger and reviewer, avid videogamer, archer, photographer, musician, husband, and father.

Author Links:

Website ~ Bluesky ~ Threads ~ Instagram ~ Facebook

and now…

The Cover

Covers for The Re-Emergence by Alan K. Dell

The Complete Cover Wrap:

Click to embiggen the wrap.

Go and do the right thing–place your orders for this now, celebrate the anniversary in style.

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She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan: Historic China with a Hint of Fantasy

By HCNewton

On January 15, 2026

In Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

She Who Became the Sun

by Shelley Parker-Chan

DETAILS:
Series: The Radiant Emperor, #1
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: June 28, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 411 pg. 
Read Date: January 8-10, 2026

What’s She Who Became the Sun About?

This is an epic saga about a China-that-Could-Have-Been back in the 1340s. We follow (well, several people, but let’s focus on a couple of primaries) a young girl who assumes her dead brother’s identity and becomes a monk. This brother had been predicted to rise to greatness (as he was practically starving due to drought and famine, this was quite the fortune to receive). Zhu eventually becomes involved with the rebellion against Mongol rule, and begins to find her way to a new life—one of greatness and power.

On the other hand, we follow General Ouyang, one of the main leaders of the forces set to put down the rebellion. Ouyang is the one member of his family who survived the Khan’s wrath—as a eunuch. He is trusted by some in power, while many others consider him defective and untrustworthy, despite his victories and viciousness.

When these two meet on opposing sides of the conflict—both their lives are set in new directions, and the fate of a nation may be, too.

A Question of Genre

At a couple of points along the line—the last time was about the 2/3 point, I put in my notes, “Where’s the Fantasy?” (I wrote that larger than usual that last time). The elements are just not there—at least not as much as you’d expect in something shelved in that part of a store. In talking with a friend about it, I started calling it the La Croix of Fantasy novels.

It’s there, if you can really focus on it and hope. I have been assured that the Fantasy elements are stronger in the second part of the duology—but not much.

If this had been sold as General Fiction, or Alternate History or something—no one would’ve objected. And I wouldn’t have been distracted by wondering when magic or a dragon or something would come up.

As a fictionalized 14th-century China with a couple of tweaks—this is a great world, and the setting (place and time) is great.

What does this book tell us about humanity?

I’m not entirely sure that this book has much to say about people in general. It has something to say about particular characters—and that can be applied to some, but not all.

Zhu starts off wanting to survive—with the thought that she could claim her brother’s fortune. It’s debatable, but I do think she has some sort of genuine Buddhist convictions—if only because that’s what she’s supposed to believe. Before ordination, she’s given some permission to not be that devout. And her convictions turn to herself—there may be some vague faith about things in general, but ultimately she’s convinced of her own abilities (and if she has to pay for that in lifetimes to come, she’s ready to accept it).

At one point, Zhu—in the midst of trying to encourage someone else—gives sort of her personal mission statement.

“But you know what’s worse than suffering? Not suffering, because you’re not even alive to feel it… Learn to want something for yourself, Ma Xiuying. Not what someone says you should want. Not what you think you should want. Don’t go through life thinking only of duty. When all we have are these brief spans between our nonexistences, why not make the most of the life you’re living now? The price is worth it.”

Without getting into the rightness or wrongness of her choices throughout the book (and she has plenty of both). I’ve come to think of Zhu as a Walter White character. She starts off as clever and resourceful, looking to do the “right thing.” But at a certain point, she realizes how clever and resourceful she is—and what kind of success can come from that, and her pride (warranted or not)—pride that can (should?) be seen as arrogance—starts to fuel her.

On the other hand, we have Ouyang. He is trapped by Fate. Or his idea of it—expectations of honor, family obligation, and therefore Destiny. He comes close to rebelling—or at least pushing against it—but is it close enough? He exercises agency and free will throughout—but it almost seems like he doesn’t think he can. Early on, he seems more lawless, more independent (for lack of a better word)—but by the end, he seems more constrained. Sort of the flipside.

In the book club meeting, the question was asked, “Does greatness necessitate cruelty in this world?” I’ve been chewing on that a lot. I don’t think so—I think there are a couple of examples of greatness (those perceived to be great, anyway) without cruelty. But by and large, the answer in this particular world is a resounding, “yes.” Or at least just about everyone thinks it’s the case. No one looking for greatness, or who happens to be in a position of greatness here can make it without cruelty. It is the epitome of a dog-eat-dog world, and as Norm Peterson would say, everyone is wearing Milkbone underwear.

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

I picked this up because it was the month’s pick for the Fantasy Book Club. And for quite a while, that was what kept me going. There were moments that made me think, “Oh, now we’re getting somewhere,” but that didn’t last for long. But curiosity and investment in a couple of secondary characters set in.

Also, I had to answer the question, “Where is the Fantasy?”

So, what did I think about She Who Became the Sun?

I’m really not sure. There was so much that worked here—but I’m not sure how satisfied I was with it in the end.

Parker-Chen can write some glorious lines—they can do more with one sentence of description than many authors can do in paragraphs. And getting to read them do more of that (if I get around to the sequel or wait until a new work) would be a treat.

For a book about war, it’s a relatively bloodless novel. Battles that take out thousands—conquer cities can take less than a page. If you want combat, you’re going to need some one-on-one situations—and there aren’t many. Battle, warfare, is the context of these events—it’s not the focus. Which is a pretty cool thing to see.

As much as I found the characters to be rich and complex (and I spared us all my bloviating about more of them—including the two or three that I like a lot more than those I talked about)—I’m not sure they’re enough to get excited about, alone. But this is a novel about more than the characters and the plot. There’s a lot going on about the nature of fate/destiny, gender, sexuality, morality, ancestry/ethnicity…

Is this a good read? Yes. Could it be better? Oh, yes. But a lot of that has to do with my expectations (magic, creatures, etc.). I just wanted a little more out of the book. If you go into this with the right expectations, you’ll probably get a lot more out of it and appreciate it more than I did. It’s worth the effort.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Ace Atkins: A Tale of Sussudio and Spies

By HCNewton

On January 14, 2026

In A-B, Ace Atkins, Authors, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Everybody Wants to Rule the World

by Ace Atkins

DETAILS:
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: December 02, 2025
Format: Hardcover
Length: 368 pg.
Read Date: January 6-7, 2026

What’s Everybody Wants to Rule the World About?

The year is 1985, and apparently, there are USSR spies everywhere. At least in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, GA. Reagan’s push for his “Star Wars” program is strong, and the KGB wants to know all it can about it before a summit between Gorbachev and Reagan. Tensions are high, cards are set up, and one teenaged boy is about to send them toppling over.

Because his mom is dating a jerk and Peter has an active imagination fueled by pulp novels and sensationalized “news.” He becomes convinced that his mom is dating a Russian agent and tries to enlist the help of a mostly failed novelist (and his drag queen buddy, a retired NFL player) to expose the boyfriend.

Meanwhile, a KGB officer defects so he can reunite with the love of his life; an actual Russian agent (who may, or may not be the boyfriend) has killed someone; the FBI is investigating that death, and another Federal agent wants to run away with an exotic dancer and is trying to leverage that defector to help him do that.

There’s gotta be another storyline or three that I didnt’t squeeze into that paragraph, too.

The point is, there’s a lot going on. Few of the people involved are properly qualified to deal with it. And the direction of the Cold War hinges on what happens over the next few weeks.

It should be noted that this is a comedy.

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

It’s Ace Atkins—the last decade has taught me that I’m likely to enjoy a book he writes. Also—a comedic take on Russian deep cover agents in the 80s is right up my alley. Put the two of those together…

I stuck with it because that’s exactly what was delivered. A great plot with more twists than a corkscrew, a great voice, and an oddball cast of characters.

What Does this Book Say about Humanity?

There is a deep thread of self-deception going on throughout the book—the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, how others regard us, and what we think we’re capable of.

There are a couple of major characters who are honest about themselves—and largely understand others. But the rest are deluded to one degree or another—how heroic they are, how things will go when they reunite with an old flame, how their life will be better when they ditch their wife and kids for someone new (who any rational person will see isn’t that into you), how the world is against them, and so on.

Some of these are understandable—the teenage male tossing aside common sense because a hot stranger seems into him. Some are relatable, maybe even admirable—the writer who hasn’t sold anything in ages continuing to try. But the others are kind of sad once you stop to think about them—but you do have to force yourself to stop and think about them, because Atkins has you too focused on jogging to keep up with the book and chuckling at their foibles.

The 80s of It

There are a couple of ways to approach the time setting of the 80s. One way is to go over-the-top like The Wedding Singer or That 80s Show. The other way is restrained—like The Americans or Mad Men (different era, but same idea).

Atkins mostly stuck to the restrained approach, it is an 80s story with 80s concerns and ideas and the setting is appropriately depicted.

But every now and then, in the spirit of the book’s flavor, I do think he went a little over-the-top with the references in a Sandler-esque way. And I loved each time he did that. Over all, Atkins goes for realism and restraint—but when he indulges himself (and/or the reader), it’s just a treat.

Oh, and this is maybe a Content Warning I should give…you’ll find yourselves thinking a lot about Prince and Phil Collins, possibly driven to listen to them…at the very least, you’ll have a couple of songs acting as earworms for days.

So, what did I think about Everybody Wants to Rule the World?

I wasn’t thrilled with Atkins stepping away from the Spenser or Quinn Colson series, as curious as I was about what he’d do next. I’m still not—but if this is what he’s doing instead? I’m getting over it quickly.

This was ridiculous fun. Fast-paced, not quite frantic (because Atkins doesn’t let it happen) filled with crazy coincidences, turns you cannot see coming, twists you think you see coming and are only right occasionally, real people doing stupid and human things—frequently illegal, too.

It is a comedic work, but that comedy is successful because none of the characters is in a comedy. They’re all deadly serious (though some will express that by being a smart arse), worried, scared, or scheming. The danger is real, the stakes are high, people get hurt, lives are changed—it’s a very straightforward thriller that way. But when you can see the whole board, see what they don’t know—it’ll bring a grin to your face and possibly a cackle from you.

A lot of social media/news media can make us all think that the world is ending (and, I’m not for a second suggesting that it might not be)—but this book reminds us that it’s almost ended before. And we’re now far enough away from the genuine, grounded, and realistic fears that we can laugh at them. Isn’t it nice to think that 40 years from now, someone can write a book about now to relieve some stress?

I expected to enjoy this book, I didn’t expect to have fun with it. I don’t know how readers who grew up post-Cold War will react to it. But readers of a certain age will have a good time with Everybody Wants to Rule the World.