Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




African-American Fiction for Women


Cover art for JUST WANNA TESTIFY
FICTION
Released: May 10, 2011

"Vampy romp best appreciated by existing fans of the West End series."
Five sexy vampires show up in Atlanta, causing considerable consternation for local godfather Blue Hamilton and his wife Regina.Led by the otherwordly Serena Mayflower, the "Too Fine Five" have a reputation that precedes them. Read full book review >
Cover art for TILL YOU HEAR FROM ME
FICTION
Released: April 20, 2010

"Refusing to challenge her characters, Cleage (Seen It All and Done the Rest, 2008, etc.) undermines an exciting premise."
A charismatic minister's apostasy threatens his daughter's political ambitions. Read full book review >
Cover art for SEEN IT ALL AND DONE THE REST
FICTION
Released: March 18, 2008

"Good intentions, good politics and a spirited heroine can't salvage the paint-by-numbers plot. "
Predictable tale of a woman going back home and helping her struggling community. Read full book review >
Cover art for CASANEGRA
FICTION
Released: July 10, 2007

Introducing Tennyson Hardwick, who is black, beautiful and--if you ask the LAPD--bad as they come. Read full book review >
Cover art for BABY BROTHER’S BLUES
FICTION
Released: April 1, 2006

"An unconvincing mishmash of violence, spiritual uplift and Hallmark romance."
Cleage returns to the idealized African-American world of Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do (2003), this time combining romance with a noirish criminal melodrama. Read full book review >
Cover art for FLEDGLING
FICTION
Released: Oct. 1, 2005

"A finely crafted character study, a parable about race and an exciting family saga. Exquisitely moving fiction."
A little girl suffering from amnesia wakes to find that she's actually a middle-aged vampire, in this suspenseful novel from Butler, her first in seven years. Read full book review >