An exquisitely written and gut-wrenching masterpiece of a fantasy novel.
The descendent of a goddess reclaims herself after a decade of captivity and exploitation in Burgess-Smith’s fantasy novel.
In the House of Est, the female descendants of the goddess Looklema have reigned supreme for centuries. Known as Wasters, they possess the ability to manipulate others’ bodies—to help heal them, mutilate them, or kill them. They also have the power to affirm a ruler’s right to the throne. The Wasting power passes from mother to daughter, and each generation of Waster Women has resided in the Sacred Wood…until now. Ten years ago, the Waster Liama was lured out of the Sacred Wood with her then-infant daughter Maarja by Kurat, the son of the Estian Chieftain Tuskjas, whom she was forced to marry. Kurat, who has the power to erase and rewrite memories, makes it impossible for Liama to remember certain things about her past—a directive from Tuskjas to make her more pliable. As Chieftainess, Liama, like Kurat, is essentially a tool for Tuskjas to enforce his iron-fisted rule over the House of Est. Liama must do his dirty work and never Waste without his express permission. If she doesn’t comply, Maarja, who’s all but completely disconnected from her heritage and power, will pay the price. But little by little, Liama’s memories are starting to return, and Kurat comes to her with a shocking and high-risk proposal: to form an alliance to kill Tuskjas and rule the House of Est side by side. Burgess-Smith’s debut novel is a masterfully crafted exploration of womanhood, motherhood, legacy, sacrifice, and righteous fury. Through first-person narration, readers gain an intimate understanding of the shrewd and resilient Liama and the well-developed supporting characters. The book’s steady pace and lush prose are captivating, even during scenes of misogynistic brutality. Readers will be enthralled by the author’s complex worldbuilding and the inclusion of some universal truths about motherhood, such as “A mother sees her child’s death in a thousand ways and at a thousand times…For every wonderful moment, every breath of gladness, there is the threat of sorrow.”
An exquisitely written and gut-wrenching masterpiece of a fantasy novel.Pub Date: Dec. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9798993957203
Page Count: 403
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Jan. 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An existential crisis that steps on its own final moments.
With only a month left until the world ends due to a swiftly approaching black hole, Don and Rodney, a retired gay couple, road-trip from Maine to Washington to spend their final days with their son.
After reports that a planet-swallowing black hole is making its way toward Earth, Rodney and Don—who have been together for 40 years and survived everything from homophobia to the HIV crisis—decide to pack their belongings into an RV, say goodbye to their neighbors, and travel from Camden, Maine, to Washington to uphold a promise to spend their final days with their son. They can’t wait any longer, since there’s already chaos around the country: “Military vehicles in the streets of most cities and towns. Looting, rioting, the burning of cars and buildings and people, all of it had already happened.” As they make their way west across the country, they encounter fellow travelers ranging from close-knit families to free-spirited hippies, some of whom have come to terms with the impending end of the world and others who haven’t. While the story seems to be asking readers what they would do if they had 30 days left to live, and reflects on what different kinds of acceptance might look like in the face of unavoidable tragedy, it loses some of its poignancy in a series of thinly padded monologues about the meaning of life. Clearly intended to pack an emotional punch, it’s failed by an abrupt ending, and the way the journey’s mystery—which will be obvious to many readers—is revealed by an info dump in the last chapter.
An existential crisis that steps on its own final moments.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781250881236
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
A tender reminder that gratitude is a path we choose, one conversation at a time.
In Green’s inspirational novel, a journalist boarding the wrong train discovers the right moment to speak the words that matter.
Daniel arrives at the Beacon station carrying a leather notebook filled with an unfinished eulogy for his still-living grandfather, only to be swept onto the mysterious 5:07 Gratitude Express, a steam locomotive that appears “for those who want to express gratitude.” His uncanny journey sends him through vividly rendered moments from his own life, where he witnesses the ripple effects of kindnesses he has offered and reunites—sometimes for the first time—with people who were permanently shaped by those actions. Each stop brings a new encounter: A childhood classmate says, “That morning, you altered the course of my life”; an elderly woman confesses, “Your simple act of kindness saved me that day”; a mentor tells him, “You need to figure out what you’re good at and what you like to do. Because when you do that, your potential is limitless.” By the time Daniel reaches Cedarville, intent on seeing his grandfather—the person who most profoundly shaped him—his reflections echo the conductor’s warning that “Time is unpredictable, and unsaid words bring pain and regret.” What follows is a moving affirmation of connection that honors the story’s central message: Appreciation should be expressed to the living. Green structures the narrative as a fable, with emotional clarity and cinematic pacing. The train’s dissolving walls, the recurring whistle rising “high into the dark sky,” and the symbolic briefcase filled with long-kept letters lend the tale a gentle magical-realist texture. While the storyline remains linear and accessible for all ages, the themes—regret, legacy, and intergenerational love—invite adult reflection. The prose is simple, intentionally so, grounding the fantastical elements in an earnest emotional register. This is not a plot-twist-driven story; it’s a quiet parable urging readers to act before time steals their chances. Readers who appreciate heartfelt, uplifting narrative journeys will find resonance in Green’s message.
A tender reminder that gratitude is a path we choose, one conversation at a time.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
ISBN: 9798891385252
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Jan. 13, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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