Starred Review Round-Up (8/9/22)

We’re seeing stars! These titles all received multiple starred reviews:

LITTLE EVE by Catriona Ward
9781250812650 | 10/11/22

“Ward works in so many motifs—Bible resonances, colonialism, science versus faith, and the pall of war, to name just a few—that the play of imagery is as engrossing as the plot twists, making this a rewarding outing from any angle. Horror fans won’t want to miss this.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“For the first 70 pages, the reader will squirm as the characters and plot slowly emerge, but as the details come into horrifying focus and the time lines begin to converge, it will be impossible to look away. When that inevitable twist comes it is a disturbing gut punch, not because of the shock, but from the deeply unsettling ramifications that ripple out from its center.”–Booklist, starred review

PUTIN by Philip Short
9781627793667 | on sale now

“Required reading for anyone interested in global affairs.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Short’s elegant prose conveys a trenchant view of post-Communist society…that makes Putin a striking embodiment of Russia’s troubled soul. This is a must-read.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Short leavens an essentially journalistic approach with revealing anecdotes, resulting in a comprehensive and highly engaging account.”–Booklist, starred review

“Short has written a remarkable biography, rich in facts and details, of Putin’s life and career. This book will appeal to readers with an interest in Russia, world history, biographies of world leaders, and current events.”–Library Journal, starred review

A TASTE OF GOLD AND IRON by Alexandra Rowland
9781250800381 | 8/30/22

“In exploring what monarchs owe their people, and what individuals owe each other, this achingly tender fantasy wows.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A beautifully detailed world, the power to touch-taste metal, political schemes, and a slow-burn romance wrap together in a lush fantasy.”–Library Journal, starred review

“An engaging fantasy/romance set in a large, lush, and inclusive world.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

WATER OVER STONES by Bernardo Atxaga
9781644450956 | 8/16/22

“It’s a twisting and rewarding story, and one readers will savor until the lovely finish.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A quietly remarkable offering from the first name in Basque literature.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

MOTHER BRAIN: How Neuroscience Is Rewriting the Story of Parenthood by Chelsea Conaboy
9781250762283 | 9/13/22

“Conaboy’s book isn’t a parenting manual but rather a work of pop science jam-packed with neurobiological research; it’s both fascinating and surprisingly readable.”–Library Journal, starred review

“Surprising and enlightening, this should be required reading for all caregivers.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

SHY: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green
9780374298623 | on sale now

“It’s this playful, self-deprecating humor that makes Rodgers’s stories sing, and fans are sure to delight in every witty detail. This has major star power.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Whether Rodgers is recounting her lifelong love for childhood friend Sondheim or describing her perpetually fraught dance with her parents, this will have readers applauding loudly.”–Booklist, starred review

LEECH by Hiron Ennes
9781250811189 | 9/27/22

“This is a must-read for readers looking for something new from the horror genre.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Readers who appreciate medical gross-outs as well as psychological terror in their fiction will adore LEECH. Fans of gothic horror will devour it.”–Booklist, starred review

ALL THE LIVING AND THE DEAD: From Embalmers to Executioners, an Exploration of the People Who Have Made Death Their Life’s Work by Hayley Campbell
9781250281845 | 8/16/22

“A careful, moving investigation of existential matters told with a keen literary sense and memorable personal insights.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Readers who share Campbell’s healthy obsession will appreciate both her meticulous reporting and her marked compassion.”–Booklist, starred review

TREASURE STATE by C.J. Box
9781250766960 | 9/27/22

“The criminal conspirators are both inventively corrupt and chilling, and the cleverly constructed mystery is leavened with generous doses of Montana history, along with the welcome appearances of characters from earlier Cassie novels. The story culminates with one of Box’s most satisfying payoffs.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“The action is subdued, but the tension runs high… This is her sixth outing, following THE BITTERROOTS (2019), and the best yet.”–Booklist, starred review

THE VIRAL UNDERCLASS: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide by Steven W. Thrasher
9781250796639 | on sale now

“Powerful and revelatory, this is an essential, paradigm-shifting book.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“A compelling and compassionate analysis of health disparities that delivers both wake-up call and gut-punch.”–Booklist, starred review

“Rigorous scholarship and intimate portraits of life and death on the margins make this a must-read.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review