I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

Initially published in 1997, this book was translated into English in 2019, and I stumbled across it earlier this year. Although it's a short book, it packs a lot into its 160+ pages. 

Forty women are held captive in a cage underground. Their living conditions are spartan, and the rules, enforced by guards with whips, are draconian. Years pass, and nothing breaks up the monotony except the delivery of their two meals a day. Then, while being served dinner, a siren sounds and the guards, leaving the serving hatch open, take off. Initially fearful of their freedom, the women, led by a young girl, escape their cage and begin a journey to find civilization and answers as to why they were confined. As they struggle to survive in a desolate world that bears no resemblance to Earth, they learn to rely on each other and form a microsociety.

Despite their depressing conditions and uncertain future, the women form bonds and develop deep relationships to carry them through. They fight to maintain their humanity in a hostile environment that could just as easily break them. I found this to be a haunting book and, at the same time, a tribute to the human spirit and the importance of friendships. 

4/5 stars.

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Cape Fever by Nadia Davids

This is a beautifully written and well-crafted novel about the balance of power between an employer and her servant in a racially and religiously divided colonial colony just after World War I. It is a poignant story with nuanced characters and an intricate plot.

After a bad situation as a household maid, Soraya thinks she has found the right fit with Mrs. Hattingh, a stern but seemingly kind widow. What she finds is not just a house badly in need of repair, but spirits only she can see. While waiting for her son to visit, Mrs. Hattingh takes an interest in Soraya's life, and, thinking Soraya is illiterate, offers to write letters to Soraya's fiancé. The weekly letter writing becomes a ritual, and although Soraya is skeptical that Mrs. Hattingh is accurately writing what she dictates, she trusts her--something she later regrets. As the women's lives become more intertwined and Mrs. Hattingh's hold on Soraya deepens, Soraya desperately seeks to escape her clutches, only to find she has few options.

This is a poignant, psychologically suspenseful story with two strong characters at cross-purposes, each trying to gain the upper hand over the other. The gothic elements and the atmospheric setting enrich the book. The themes of love and grief for both characters unite them and, at the same time, widen the gap. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is December 9, 2025.

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Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher

 

I love the worlds T. Kingfisher creates. I especially liked A Sorceress Comes to Call with its dark take on a fairy tale. With Snake-Eater, Kingfisher again dabbles in dark fantasy with a touch of horror, resulting in an enthralling read. 

Selena seems to be trapped in psychologically abusive relationships, first with her mother, who has just died, and now with her current partner. Her only hope is an aunt she hasn't seen in years. Together with her dog, Copper, and the last of her money, Selena arrives in Quartz Creek only to find her aunt has died. As her aunt's last living relative, Selena claims the aunt's house and, vowing to stay only until she can earn enough money to leave, she and Copper settle in. She soon befriends her neighbor, Grandma Billy, and the local priest, Father Aguirre, both of whom teach Selena in the ways of the desert. What she learns is that there is a flimsy curtain between her and the spirit world inhabited by desert gods, chief among them is Snake-Eater, a malevolent god invited into this world by her late aunt. Fearing her life is in danger from Snake-Eater, Selena turns to her new friends for help expelling him from her house. The result is a battle between gods and humans whose outcome is not assured. 

This is an engaging story with wonderful characters. The writing and pacing are spot-on, and the spirits who inhabit Selena's world are, except Snake-Eater, ones I'd like to have around my house. The desert setting makes what happens believable. Kingfisher is an excellent storyteller, and this well-written book is one of her best yet. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and 47North, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is December 1, 2025.

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The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan

 

This is the first Gilly Macmillan book I have read. I have been assured that The Burning Library is not a good representation of her usual books. That being the case, and as promising as this book was, I will read more of her work.

Two rival organizations, both formed to advance women to powerful positions, are after an ancient artifact known as The Book of Wonder.  One organization, the Larks, seeks to advance women directly. At the same time, the other —the Order of St. Katherine —believes a woman's power lies in being the one in the shadows, manipulating powerful men. Neither organization is above murder to achieve its goals. 

Enter Anya Brown, a newly minted PhD student whose paper on solving the puzzling Folio 9 document gained her international attention. The Larks, thinking that Anya is the key to finding the missing artifact, give her an offer she can't refuse. Not suspecting the danger she is putting herself and her family in, Anya accepts the position and begins solving the puzzles related to the manuscript. It doesn't take long before Anya must decide between family and career. The decision has life-or-death consequences.

I liked the book's premise — advancing women to positions of power — but not so much the methods both groups used to achieve their goals. I also liked the descriptions of the puzzles Anya solved to try to find The Book of Wonder. They reminded me of Dan Brown's book, The Da Vinci Code, only without the one-paragraph chapters. What I didn't like was the ending. As it approached, I checked whether this was the first book in a series because there was so much to wrap up. Instead, Macmillan rushed the ending with broad explanations that weren't particularly satisfying. The Burning Library is a thought-provoking book; it just needed a better ending. 

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is November 18, 2025. 

3/5 stars.

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A Slowly Dying Cause by Elizabeth George

 It's been quite a while since I delved into an Inspector Lynley book, but this one, set in the familiar landscapes of Cornwall, felt like a warm reunion. The setting, so reminiscent of my own experiences there, brought back a flood of fond memories. A Slowly Dying Cause felt like an old friend, welcoming me back with open arms.

When Michael Lobb is found murdered in his workshop by an agent of a mining company intent on acquiring his land, suspicion initially falls on the agent. Pressure is on Inspector Barbara Hannaford to solve the murder, so when a company employee appears to confess, Hannaford thinks the case is solved--but she isn't convinced the case is airtight. When Inspector Thomas Lynley, in Cornwall, attending to estate business, offers to take a look, Hannaford eagerly takes him up on the offer. Sergeant Barbara Havers is also in Cornwall with Lynley, but she is re-investigating the case on behalf of the accused's family. At first, Lynley and Havers appear to be at cross-purposes, but they soon join forces to solve the murder. 

At 650 pages, it seemed like George was ranging far afield with so many subplots. That proved not to be the case, however, by the time she wrapped up the storylines. The book's pacing was steady, keeping me engaged throughout. This book is well-plotted with interesting characters and situations. I was disappointed by the lack of repercussions for a couple of the characters, but overall, this was a satisfying read. 

4.5/5 stars.

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The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen

 I am rereading this series because I started it so long ago and lost track of it around book three. I know I liked the characters and premise, but I wish I'd remembered more about this particular book. Had I remembered the graphic rape depiction and the animal cruelty, I would have skipped it. As it was, I was too invested in the book when those events occurred to stop.

The file of a 20-year-old murder of a brother and sister mysteriously appears on Carl Morck's desk. What's odd is that the case was apparently solved, and the confessed murderer is behind bars. When Morck and his assistant, Assad, try to find out who added the file to their stack of cold cases, their superiors tell them to drop it. That is the wrong thing to tell Morck. As Morck and Assad begin investigating, they find the key to the murders is a homeless woman, Kimmie, hiding from a group of influential individuals. Twenty years ago, Kimmie and the men formed a gang while in school and preyed on helpless individuals. With their past about to be exposed, the three men also begin looking for Kimmie--to silence her permanently. Now the race is on to find the elusive Kimmie. 

Aside from the two issues mentioned above, I liked the book. Admittedly, it is dark, and the deeds done by Kimmie and the men were disturbing, but I found myself caught up in the search for Kimmie and her ability to hide in plain sight. Despite what she did in the past, the current-day Kimmie is a sympathetic character who is damaged. The three men are pure evil, and I rooted for Kimmie to exact her revenge. The book's pacing is well-balanced, keeping the reader engaged throughout. 

3/5 stars.

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Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks

The Culture space opera continues in this, the seventh, in the Culture series. Banks's humor and intricate plot make this book a standout in the series.

Eight hundred years after the Idiran war, the aftermath, the light from two suns, the Idrians exploded, killing millions, is finally reaching the Culture Masaq' Orbital. To honor the loss of life, a symphony by the Chel composer Ziller will be performed. Ziller does not want to return to his home world, so a former soldier, Major Quilan, himself grieving over the death of his wife in the recent Chel civil war, is sent to convince Ziller to come home. Or so that is said to be the purpose of his visit--Ziller is convinced Quilan was sent to kill him. This creates tension on the Orbital as Ziller threatens to walk out on his own symphony performance. 

I am continually impressed by how well Banks does dialogue.  The back-and-forth between characters is both humorous and excellently written. Additionally, the plotting and pacing are spot-on. The characters are sympathetic, especially Major Quilan, and the clash of wills between the temperamental Ziller and those trying to coax him into conducting his symphony is a welcome sideline. 

I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Matter, to see what Banks does next. 

5/5 stars.

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