Can't-Wait Wednesday: Cold Empty Rooms by Andy Marino, This Wild Wanting by Sophie Gonzalez, & Tiger's Mouth by Lucy Tan

       

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

Cold Empty Rooms by Andy Marino

Publication: November 10th, 2026

Run For It

Paperback. 384 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"From the dark imagination of underground horror sensation Andy Marino comes a haunted house story like you've never read before ...  

'Marino's work is unlike any others in the genre―horrifying, complex, fascinating, and utterly unique.' ―Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of the Wilderwood series  

Deep in the woods, on the side of a mountain, there sits an old, sprawling manor. Only those who truly need it will find it. Mara and Soren are the latest residents. The two are broke, deeply in love, and desperate for a home. But something is wrong with the house.  

Soren begins to receive messages from a nameless entity that he has dubbed The Great Other. The first direction is simple: Invite more to this home. The second: Relieve them of their sorrow. Mara, too, hears this otherworldly voice. She has been running from her past for a long time. The Great Other offers her the solace she seeks, if she has the courage to walk the home’s shadowed halls. Soon more wanderers begin to arrive: a collection of outcasts, drawn in by Soren’s magnetic ideology.  

Within the shifting walls of this ancient house, something darkly miraculous is unfolding. Wounds have been suffered in this place. Wounds that are. Wounds that will be.  

'Andy Marino understands horror in a way that very few writers do.' ―Keith Rosson, author of Coffin Moon"

I'm curious to see Andy Marino's take on a haunted house, so I'm eager to check this one out!

This Wild Wanting by Sophie Gonzalez

Publication: November 17th, 2026

Wednesday Books

Hardcover. 352 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"Everybody knows about the faerie market that borders the crumbling edges of the mortal world. It is a place where almost anything can be bought . . . by those willing to pay terrible prices. Skills, memories, years of your life―even the freedom of one’s own mind are the currency of choice.  

Declan Bonfeld, the only son of a noble house, has never encountered a price he cannot afford to pay. Until the day he attempts to bargain with a ruthless potion merchant for the impossible: a way to bring back someone he loves. When Declan dares to steal from the tyrant’s shelves with the help of the merchant’s captive daughter, Calla, the two discover a horrifying truth. Once a stolen potion is consumed, the thief pays the price, no matter who drinks it.  

With Declan’s mind and body unravelling piece by piece, Calla must help him outwit her father, the man she has spent a lifetime fearing, before Declan is stripped of everything he is, and she loses the only person who has ever truly seen her.”

I mean, I'm always at least a little bit up for a faerie market...

Tiger's Mouth by Lucy Tan

Publication: November 17th, 2026

Ballantine Books

Hardcover. 320 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"When two young men meet during a tech internship, it sparks an intense friendship—and even more intense competition—in this sweeping novel of privilege, identity, and ambition from the acclaimed author of What We Were Promised.  

Jack Chen, the oldest son of caterers from Queens, is an expert at studying the rich from afar. When he finagles his way into a prestigious internship at tech giant K.O. Systems, he’s prepared to fake everything: his credentials, his confidence, even his past. What he isn’t prepared for is his officemate, Jack Owens, the depressed son of the company’s billionaire founder, who’s only there for a summer reprieve from his father’s scrutiny at the family vacation house.  

Their connection is immediate, built on mutual admiration. Chen sees in Owens the advantages he’s been denied; Owens sees in Chen someone free of the pain he’s been taught to hide. Owens, Chen, and Chen’s girlfriend quickly become close friends, but by summer's end the three can no longer outrun the lies they’ve told themselves and each other. As pressures build throughout the next few years, the two Jacks circle each other like opponents in their favorite board game, Go, each chasing the life the other was born into, from career to family to lovers. But the path to success and matters of the heart can test even the closest of friendships—and not all of them survive.  

Nostalgic, heart-wrenching, and propulsive, Tiger’s Mouth is a nuanced portrait of complex friendship, family dynamics, and love in its most unexpected forms.”

It's been quite a while since I've read anything from Lucy Tan and I'm really intrigued by the sound of this one! I'm curious to see what she'll do with it. 

Review: Solace House by Will MacLean

   

Solace House by Will MacLean
Publication Date: October 13th, 2026
Grove Press
512 pages. Hardcover.

About Solace House:

"You are about to enter a place of strange genius, possible madness, and timeless love . . .

'The Secret History meets The Haunting of Hill House . . . rich, thoughtful, terrifying.'—Nicholas Binge, author of Dissolution

An addictive and brilliant puzzle box of a novel following a group of university students who discover an astonishing secret while clearing out a neglected Victorian mansion

For Alex Lane’s wealthy university friends, the summer break stretches out before them, full of promise and fabulous plans. But for Alex, broke as usual, going home is not an option. So when the university offers him an unusual summer job clearing out a dilapidated Victorian mansion, Solace House, he jumps at the chance. Alex joins an unlikely crew of students, from stoner Clive to uptight, short-tempered Helen, and the extremely peculiar Adam.

Alex is particularly drawn to mercurial, red-headed Ella, and as the students begin sorting through piles of old newspapers and magazines, dusty antiques, and esoteric junk, Alex and Ella become enthralled by the elaborate and eerie journals of the house’s former owner, Edwin Flayne. In these diaries, Flayne details his obsession with his missing mother and his belief in a mysterious realm lying parallel to ours, along with coded instructions on how it might be reached.

As the students gradually uncover the house’s secrets, the rift between those who want to delve further and those who believe they’ve already gone too far grows ever wider."

Solace House follows Alex as the school year wraps up and he finds he has nowhere to go for the summer--not a new discovery, but one he had been dreading just a bit. He eventually falls into an opportunity that takes him to Solace House, an old secluded mansion, where he and a group of other students will spend the summer clearing out the house from what appears to be a rather intense hoarding situation involving its former owner, Flayne. While clearing out the house, the group stumbles upon not just useless junk and collections, but also some more... peculiar items and ideas that hint at something deeper going on with Flayne than anyone might reasonably expect. 

To be fully honest, my dream in some capacity is to get paid to spend a summer doing something like this, even though I know the reality of some hoarder situations could be quite... horrendous. But in this specific context, I would love to do it, especially with how weird things get. Uncovering some weird man's eccentricities and the possibility of other dimensions? Count me in.

I really enjoyed getting to know our motley crew, which included Alex, Clive, Leo, Malcolm, Adam, Ruth, Helen, and, of course, Jilly Cowie. Alex is a great character to follow because he's a nice blend of someone who actually has a personality and isn't some cardboard figure passively watching everything around him, but also isn't over the top outgoing or making stupid decisions at every turn. He's a bit immature in his thinking at times, which fits perfectly with his age and current place in life, and he has a great sense of humor, which often comes through in the many discussions and the banter between the characters. 

And speaking of, each character was very deftly crafted and I think MacLean did a really great job of creating unique characters that actually have interesting personalities and backgrounds. The only exception to this, for me, was Malcolm, whom I kinda forgot about here and there and at this point I'm not sure I could tell you off the cuff what his deal was. Helen also seemed to get a little caricature-esque at times, but I think the drama she brought also added something to the story that was needed. Nonetheless, I found this group truly engaging and I liked spending the summer with them as they engaged in this rather odd job together.

This was really such an odd setup in some ways for our characters, but I loved having a sort of miniature, semi-academic community in an isolated setting. It's like the dark academia setup without having to incorporate classes and other restrictions, it's almost like free rein to have an isolated group of young students and see what happens when they are left to essentially discover things on their own. 

And what they're discovering is fascinating! Between Flayne's strange collections, the journals they uncover, and the increasingly peculiar ideas surrounding other dimensions, there's so much to investigate and piece together. I loved how even the seemingly mundane discoveries could hint at something much larger, and how the characters were left trying to determine what was genuinely significant versus what might be simply another one of Flayne's eccentricities... which could also be significant in its own way (I promise this will make sense if you read the book). 

I'll also note that it made me mad as hell whenever Jilly or someone wanted to burn Flayne's things. I get that things are creepy, but as someone who also struggles to get rid of things, I found that so much of it seemed like it was worth investigating or appreciating rather than simply throwing it away. It frustrated me that they couldn't at least take pictures of some things since this is set before smartphone cameras were everywhere, but I guess that's the beauty of experiencing the present sometimes. These are all just normal reader feelings that I think you're supposed to feel a little bit, so I'm not complaining, but I just needed to express my feelings anyway.

I love stories like this so much. Any story that has so many intricate details baked into the very bones of the story where it's clear that so much careful thought and plotting have gone into everything, and where seemingly no detail is included by accident, is exactly the type of story that I love getting lost in. There are breadcrumbs and minute details everywhere you look, and I just love something that really takes the time to explore an idea and a setting with such intensity and care. There's a passion in this that I really loved, and I loved exploring everything along with the characters.

When I say this book is a slow burn, I'm not just saying it in the sense that it's a big book with a lot to say. I really, really mean it--if you aren't enjoying the story, it will feel like it's dragging, but if you are loving every second of it like I was, then you'll appreciate every paragraph. But holy hell is this a slow burn; it is not for the fainthearted. Despite it being a slow burn, the writing is fortunately completely captivating and completely drew me in. MacLean's writing is so compelling and just drips with hidden meaning, whether intentional or not (though I'm pretty sure everything is intentional, of course!). I loved the weirdness of it all at times, though I should clarify that it's a very "normal" story with a very accessible style and plot to follow, but there are so many hints and underlying notes of oddness and intrigue that felt like a constant nod to the reader not to get complacent.

I do think things start to drag a little bit at the 60-70% mark. Then the pacing picks up again, and the last portion is very different from the start of the story, but still compelling. I felt like Alex's personality changed a bit after a certain transition period, which threw me off a little, but maybe I just hadn't seen him in those types of situations before.

As much as I truly enjoyed this book overall and wholeheartedly recommend it, there are some things that I didn't love as much. While I think the ending very much works just fine for this story, I have to admit that I found it to be a bit disappointing in some capacity as well. I feel like the entire story leading up to the final quarter or so of the book was so thoughtful, full of tension and buildup, slow but steady in pacing, and continuously promised and hinted at so much.. and then the way it panned out just felt like it didn't quite reach the level of payoff I'd been hoping it would achieve. (And also... not that the truth of Alex's background isn't horribly traumatic, but I did think it might have a slightly larger role than it ended up having.) I think a few specific things involving some characters felt like they petered out slightly as well, but there's a fine balance between that and overexplaining, so I understand the choices the author made.

And none of this is to say that it's not a good ending at all, but for a story that really promises "labyrinths" and secrets and mysteries, I think it delivered on that for about 80% of the story with excellent execution, and then just faltered slightly at the end. That's possibly what prevents this from being a true 5/5 for me, but it's still a book I'd consider a new favorite and one I will absolutely continue to recommend for a long time to come.

I'm not sure what genre exactly to classify this as, as there are definitely hints of horror, mystery, almost some dark academia vibes, some Gothic and even thriller vibes at times--honestly, it's just a great read and I think it will appeal to readers who love puzzles, thoughtful, intricate stories, charismatic and engaging characters, and especially those who love the fantastic. It's the type of book that will absolutely leave readers wanting to theorize and have lengthy discussions about it. 

*I received a copy of Solace House courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating or enjoyment.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Can't-Wait Wednesday: All the Beastly Things by Eilish Quin, There Used to Be People Here by Kennedy Cole, & The Wolves of War by John Gwynne

       

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

All the Beastly Things by Eilish Quin

Publication: November 17th, 2026

Atria Books

Hardcover. 320 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"In a post-apocalyptic matriarchy that has erased men, a young novitiate faces a crisis of faith when her best friend begins receiving mysterious visions of an archangel—and must choose between the faith that shaped her and the forbidden longings that could destroy it.  

The year is 2171, and the Earth is not what it once was. After climate collapse, plague, fascism, artificial intelligence, and nuclear fallout reduced civilization to ash, nature has reclaimed the Earth. Small monastic communities have emerged from the carnage—self-sufficient, female-only religious utopias governed by a strict codex and surrounded by walls to keep the wilds at bay. The new world is harmonious, and blissfully free from structures of oppression such as hierarchy, capitalism, and time.  

Seventeen-year-old Igraine has never known life beyond the cloistered walls of the Field or seen a human male. Brilliant and devout, she spends her days in the gardens and scriptorium beside her closest companion, Ophelia. Their studies will culminate in twin posts at the Lunar Abbey—a gothic cathedral on the Moon reserved for the most venerated Sisters.  

Their futures fracture when Ophelia begins receiving visions of a mysterious, alluring, and damningly masculine archangel. As the girls contend with cryptic fragments of revelation and devastating rumors about the Order’s darker origins, their bond becomes precarious and Igraine must confront her unraveling faith in a system that demands her complete surrender."

I don't know much about this one, but I've been seeing it slowly start to pop up in various book spaces and I'm getting more and more curious about it.

There Used to Be People Here by Kennedy Cole

Publication: November 3rd, 2026

Berkley

Hardcover. 368 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"In 1970s Mississippi, a Black detective and his temporary partner are assigned to a case that shifts from murder to paranormal conspiracy with life-altering repercussions.  

Wenton, Mississippi: A man enters the bathroom of a local gay bar and doesn't come back out. Instead he's found cold, on the floor, and facing the wall. And no one seems to know how this happened.  

Samuel Barkley is Wenton's only Black detective. Assigned to the case, Samuel's one goal is to keep his head down with eyes on moving up in the police ranks. But it's not easy with Harvey, a new, temporary partner who Samuel can't seem to like...or hate. Nor with the cold, questioning eyes and fake smiles from those in town. Persistent. Judging. Wrong. Samuel is reaching his breaking point.  

As his investigation leads him to a curious plane crash cover-up, Samuel's placid existence is turned on its head. Because what crashed in Wenton isn't a plane. There are others here. They like it here. And if Samuel can't stop them, they will find a way to stay.  

With shades of The X-Files and S. A. Cosby, There Used to Be People Here deftly explores race, queerness, and existing as other in a society that demonizes everything different.”

When I first saw "detective" in this blurb I almost just skipped it and moved on because I'm not a big fan of detective/police/crime stories, but fortunately I kept reading and realized this is much more than that, and I'm so curious to check it out now!

The Wolves of War by John Gwynne

Publication: November 3rd, 2026

Orbit

Hardcover. 496 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"King of heroic fantasy and New York Times bestselling author John Gwynne returns with a blockbuster epic fantasy inspired by Slavic mythology and packed with ancient magic, heroic sacrifice, and thrilling adventure.  

'Gwynne is a rare breed of writer whose gift lies not in his panoply of talents, but in his authenticity. The Wolves of War is a beautiful book.'– Pierce Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author  

'A tour de force by one of fantasy's greatest writers.' – Jay Kristoff, New York Times bestseller author  

THE WOLVES OF WAR ARE BARING THEIR FANGS   

The Clans once lived freely, honouring their gods and traditions. Then the northern invaders unleashed a tide of blood and fire. Now the Clans are a conquered people.   

Ivan cares not for wars or kings. His only concern is the safety of his family, especially his daughter Halia, whom he would protect with his life. Halia has been trapped in her own body since birth, yet at night she has dreams of running with wolves and speaking with fae creatures of the forest. Many believe her cursed, but Halia's awakening powers may be the only way she and her family can survive the coming storm.   

For the wolves of war are stalking the horizon. Two princes have become mortal enemies, and an iron-toothed witch haunts the shadows. As mighty nations clash, Halia must master her strange magic to protect those she loves. To do so, she must accept a terrifying truth.   

Sometimes, the only way through the darkness is to embrace it.”

This is probably one of fantasy's most anticipated fall releases, and I can't wait to get started on my ARC of this one! 

Mini-Review: This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno

    

This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno
Publication Date: October 12th, 2021
FSG Adult
272 pages. Paperback.

About This Thing Between Us:

"'A surreal excursion into heartache and horror narrated by a man undone by grief . . . Along with allusions to Rod Serling and The Exorcist, there are shades of H. P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, zombie literature and, at least once, A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy . . . You don't want to read this book right before bed.' ―Sarah Lyall, The New York Times Book Review

'This intense cosmic horror with a touch of Mexican American folklore is incredibly creepy and moving.' ―Margaret Kingsbury, BuzzFeed

It was Vera’s idea to buy the Itza. The “world’s most advanced smart speaker!” didn’t interest Thiago, but Vera thought it would be a bit of fun for them amidst all the strange occurrences happening in the condo. It made things worse. The cold spots and scratching in the walls were weird enough, but peculiar packages started showing up at the house―who ordered industrial lye? Then there was the eerie music at odd hours, Thiago waking up to Itza projecting light shows in an empty room.

It was funny and strange right up until Vera was killed, and Thiago’s world became unbearable. Pundits and politicians all looking to turn his wife’s death into a symbol for their own agendas. A barrage of texts from her well-meaning friends about letting go and moving on. Waking to the sound of Itza talking softly to someone in the living room . . .

The only thing left to do was get far away from Chicago. Away from everything and everyone. A secluded cabin in Colorado seemed like the perfect place to hole up with his crushing grief. But soon Thiago realizes there is no escape―not from his guilt, not from his simmering rage, and not from the evil hunting him, feeding on his grief, determined to make its way into this world.

A bold, original horror novel about grief, loneliness and the oppressive intimacy of technology, This Thing Between Us marks the arrival of a spectacular new talent."

In This Thing Between Us, we follow Thiago after his wife's sudden and traumatic death as he now inhabits a world that feels empty with the one person who mattered most to him no longer in it. He struggles with his grief in many different forms, from anger to guilt to many other emotions that I'm sure anyone who's suffered a loss can probably relate to. He eventually moves from his and his wife's home in Chicago to a secluded area in Colorado, but it is here that he ends up having to face his grief and more horrors of the universe. 

What I liked: I really liked this book's exploration of grief and trauma. This was obviously a very big part of the overall story and theming, and Gus Moreno tackled it excellently. Thiago pain felt horribly raw, and it very much permeated the entire story and made for the type of story that's not "scary monster" scary, but rather an eerie, cosmic horror, grief-tinged scary that really sits with you deep in your bones. Moreno has deftly executed a thoughtful, compelling story that I had a very hard time stepping away from. I felt so drawn to Thiago and seeing where each day would take him, and eventually what the strange things he was noticing happening meant and why they were happening. 

What I didn't like: The ending got a little bit odd--not necessarily in a way that was hard to follow, but moreso just in a sense that it didn't quite fit the overall atmosphere and vibe that I felt the first half to three-quarters of the book had been developing. It just felt very thoughtful and carefully plotted and written, and then suddenly it felt a bit... chaotic? I may have just not loved the direction it took, but it still had some strong parts within the ending that I think worked well and still left the story feeling very meaningful. Also, if the "Itza" part of the blurb is what's making you want to read this book, then just know it's nearly a present role int he story as you might think (it has a large role, but it's not a role that's consistently active throughout the story). The only thing that I didn't like at all and I don't have as much of a silver lining for is that there is a dog death, and it's all pretty quick and sudden and I didn't care for it. Then there's some stuff after the dog event with a "dog" (sorta like what I described in my review for The Nudge) that I also didn't love. So dog lovers, do be aware of this going in. 

Overall, I absolutely recommend this as a more slow-paced horror that spends plenty of time exploring our protagonist's mental state and pondering grief, purpose, and more thoughtful ideas. If you're looking for gory, in-your-face horror, then this might not be quite what you're looking for, but I'd still encourage you to give it a try!

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Review: The Nudge by Joseph Fink

   

The Nudge by Joseph Fink
Publication Date: September 1st, 2026
Podium Publishing
144 pages. Hardcover.

About The Nudge:

"A new horror novella from the creator of Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn’t Dead featuring original illustrations from Night Vale series artist Jessica Hayworth.

On the open road, evil doesn’t chase you. It waits . . .

Late one night, a wounded man checks into a remote roadside hotel. He’s running from something he can’t explain or escape. And over the course of a night, he’ll tell the hotel’s proprietor how his life fell apart.

It started with his wife. Subtle changes. Smiles that didn’t belong to her. Then violence―sudden, intimate, almost casual. Therapy offered hope. Recovery seemed possible. Until it wasn’t. He believes a hidden influence has attached itself to him, one that never forces, never commands. It whispers. It suggests. Nudges people toward their worst impulses.

Now the man wanders the country as a fugitive, hoping to break free from the evil that’s wormed its way into him. But as our narrator’s story unfolds, he begins to question whether he’s fled far enough . . . 

Tense, atmospheric, and chilling, The Nudge is a slow-burn tale of suspense that will linger like a whisper in the dark, long after the story is over."

The Nudge is a short little horror novella that I sat down and read in one sitting--something that I very, very rarely do, which I think is very indicative of how much it captured my attention. I had not read (or listened) to anything by Joseph Fink prior to this and stumbled upon it one day, requested it from my library, and then, as has been noted, immediately devoured it. And although I'm talking about how quick it was to read, it's not exactly a fast-paced story, either, but feels like a bit of a slow burn that moves quickly because you can't put it down, if that makes any sense. Regardless, because it is so short,  I want to do my best to avoid giving away too much about the story, so I'll try to lay out my thoughts in the most spoiler-free way that I can. 

Our story starts when a man shows up to a tucked away motel while on the run from something--and no one, not even this man, really seems to know exactly what it is, though of course he has some idea. As the man checks in and is led to his room by the hotel owner, he begins to slowly share his story about he has ended up at this particular hotel. 

The entire novella is formatted as a conversation between our protagonist and the hotel owner, so there's a nice mix of storytelling from our protagonist with some added in conversation and commentary from both men as they navigate the hotel (a seemingly more arduous and complex task than one might anticipate, but we'll get to that) towards the man's room. I really loved this narrative style and found it entirely engaging, as I already love listening to people talk and tell stories about themselves and their experiences, so I found myself pretty hooked on this conversation between thee two. I found that it created a delightful amount of suspense and tension, as something about hearing the terrifying and unnerving experiences straight from the person themself added some element of rawness and true fear to the experience. It was easy to put yourself in his shoes, and that is what really made this feel so intense at times. There's also a required level of patience as we wait for him to let the entire story unfold while at the same time moving through the hotel, which of course added to the suspense of it all.

It also doesn't hurt that what this man shares was deeply unsettling, and imagining something similar happening in my own life is truly a horrifying thought, as this story's horror really plays with tweaking the norm and turning the things we most love in our lives and that we find most comforting into the things that are now causing us the most terror. Fink does an excellent job of somehow conveying this through the conversation between the two men, while also interspersing some occasional humor and wit that acted as a perfect balance.

And while our protagonist tells his story, we're also somewhat experiencing a secondary story around the hotel itself, as it certainly is far from normal. It's quite a journey that the hotel owner leads our storyteller on to make it to his room, with confusing hallways and many peculiar bits about the hotel that make it far from normal. We also get to learn a bit about the hotel's own history, which adds a greater slanting sense to this story and managers to make everything feel just slightly off and crooked (as if our protagonist's story didn't do that enough on its own). 

I won't say too much more about the story itself because I don't want to give away anything, but I wanted to make sure to share my general thoughts about The Nudge because of how much fun I had with it. If you're looking for a quick little horror that you can easily add to your TBR and that has a really nice bite to it, then this is one you should absolutely pick up. It's not the most terrifying thing I've ever read, but I think it lands firmly as one I would recommend for anyone who enjoys when their horror is just a little bit weird, but still enjoyably scary and definitely captivating.

And last but not least--there are illustrations! I love when books have any illustrations of any kind, and I was delighted by the occasionally images interspersed throughout this story, as I felt they were exceptionally fitting and added so much more depth, dread, and connection to the story in their own unique manner. 

**A quick content warning note: there is technically a dog death in this one that I really hoped wouldn't be the case, but it's also the type of thing where it isn't technically the dog... but still, just keep that in mind. It's brief and only a very small bit of the story to where I still made it through okay, but I find it important to share so people who are sensitive to those things (such as myself) are forewarned. 

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Can't-Wait Wednesday: An Edge Sharp Enough by Jesse Q. Sutanto & A Glacier's Guide to Dying by Michelle Porter

      

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

An Edge Sharp Enough by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Publication: November 17th, 2026

Harper Voyager

Hardcover. 368 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"In a brilliant departure from the novels that made Jesse Q. Sutanto a USA Today bestselling author—including Dial A for Aunties—comes the first book in a debut dark fantasy duology, following an assassin, a scholar, a con man, and a guard in a race to rediscover powerful lost magic and save their world...  

Mara has no memory of life before her assassin training behind the fortress-like walls of Tchu-Morrokhai, which has been her world since she was five. Practicing discipline and strategy, sacrifice and solitude, she has dedicated herself to resisting the Divine Empress’s plans of eradicating the all-but-forgotten magic. She longs for a world once again filled with magic—and freedom and love. And she’ll do whatever it takes to find those things.  

In the faraway city of Velingard, Livya is the privileged daughter of the revered scientist whose invention of an indestructible new metal was the catalyst for a great revolution. Yet Livya’s bored of suitors and balls, more interested in philosophical debates. But when an invite to a secret salon leads to a kidnapping attempt, Livya is suddenly on the run—with the unlikely aid of charming con man Kaian, a once dear childhood friend inexplicably turned frosty stranger.  

Captain Fonde has served Velingard faithfully in the twenty years since the revolution, and all has been peaceful... until now, when he’s informed that their “indestructible” metal is inexplicably starting to crumble. Ships, bridges, buildings, statues—their entire post-revolution world is literally about to come apart. Could it be that the metal—and therefore the revolution—was flawed all along? Or is there something darker—evil, ancient, inhuman—at play?  

With stunning world-building, Jesse Q. Sutanto weaves an epic tale of characters whose lives irrevocably intertwine—and unravel—as paths collide across continents, racing toward an explosive twist that will forever change all of their fates..."

I've never read any of Jesse Q. Sutanto's books, but I'm always up for a dark fantasy, so I'm excited to check this one out!

A Glacier's Guide to Dying by Michelle Porter

Publication: November 3rd, 2026

Algonquin Books

Hardcover. 272 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"A young Métis man searching for his missing father finds himself arguing with a dying glacier in this compelling and hopeful novel about the burdens and blessings of inheritance, from the award-winning author of A Grandmother Begins the Story.  

Robbie has spent most of life wondering about his real father, Mike, who long since left their family due to his struggles with visions and mistrust of the modern world. Robbie can't forget how much he felt connected to him from his few visits, and not just because they share two differently colored eyes. But now, as he rescues his mother from encroaching wildfires, he's determined to also find his father. Robbie takes off to find answers, and when his uncle confesses that he last dropped Mike off at a glacier, he and his uncle head climb up the mountain of ice to see if Mike might still be there, and whether he's still alive.  

On the slopes of a huge glacier, Robbie, starts hearing the ancient voice of the glacier itself giving him guidance. Has he accessed a deep connection to the land, or is he succumbing to the same illness that had wreaked havoc on his father's life?  

Michelle Porter brings her profoundly moving sensibility and disarmingly funny voice to a powerful contemporary story of identity and belonging, loss and healing, within families and with the immortal land itself.”

Something about this one just really catches my eye, so I'm very curious to give it a read.

Review: Quaint Folk by Bitter Karella

  

Quaint Folk by Bitter Karella
Publication Date: October 6th, 2026
Run For It
352 pages. Hardcover.

About Quaint Folk:

"'Quaint Folk is a sharply satirical queer folk horror novel that peels back the idyllic veneer of a seemingly perfect island town to reveal the rot beneath, from Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author Bitter Karella.

"The folk horror I always wanted: queer, funny, bloody, and outrageous in the best way." ―Laura Cranehill, author of Wife Shaped Bodies

From the outside, it looks like Jessica has the perfect life. She's a stay-at-home mom, married to a man with a respectable job, raising a son they adore. Her family is as wholesome as all-American pie. But deep down, Jessica knows there's something wrong with her; she knows she can't escape her past.

When her husband’s job has them move abroad, Jessica thinks this is her chance for a fresh start. On the remote island of Hasenhurst, the modern world can’t get in. The people there grow their own herbs, make their own jam, and mind their own business. They believe in folk tales and the power of dreams. They tell visitors, we’re a quaint, quiet people.The right sort of family would do well here.

Jessica is determined to be the right kind of person for a family―and a life―like this. But as she tries to befriend the townsfolk and learn their ways, she soon realizes that beneath the town’s cozy idyll, something sickly-sweet and rotten lays buried ..."

I really loved Karella's Moonflow when I read it last year, so I was extremely pleased when Quaint Folk was announced and I was fortunate enough to receive a copy. This is just as delightfully weird as I would expect from the author of Moonflow (and I did notice a quick nod towards the King's Breakfast in this one...), and the satire is bitingly evident throughout.

Let's set the scene a bit here first: Jessica, her husband (Greg), and their child (Sandy) are off to the island of Hasenhurst--a remote British island--for the summer, as Greg's job at Ungo.com is sending him there for some manner of task or another (something in the tech field, perhaps? Jessica isn't entirely sure, and frankly neither am I, but it hardly matters). Hasenhurst appears to be a very cute, off the grid island that lacks Wi-Fi and almost appears to be like it's pulled right out of a children's storybook a la Beatrix Potter (or, in this case, Hollyoak). When the family arrives in Hasenhurst, the entire village is preparing for the upcoming Tigglestide festival, which feels mildly reminiscent of Christmas in the sense that there is a large cultural figure, known as Round Robin, who comes around and essentially ensures everyone has been acting right and embodies the town culture of being the "right sort of person." I feel like you can probably get an idea of where things might get a little... weird... in this story.

The premise of this might sound generally familiar: a family ends up in a perfect, quaint little village that seems perfect and delightful and lovely, but they realize that that is not quite the case. Quaint Folk does this a little differently, though, and that's where this book feels like it is set apart from others. 

We largely follow Jessica and Sandy's perspectives, neither of whom are overly endearing, but both are very human in their own ways and have something very understandable about them that draws the reader in to their stories. They definitely are way some of the satire feels strongest in this book (among many other areas), and everything I'm saying about them seems to be considered in relation to that idea. Jessica initially appears relatable, but soon there were some cracks that started to show and made me question more things about her and her relationship with Sandy. Sandy, meanwhile, is trying to explore their identity and cement their place in the world while also struggling with parents--not abnormal for a teenager, of course. Jessica seems understanding on the surface and supportive of Sandy's they/them pronouns, but it quickly becomes clear that there's something lacking in that support. At the same time, we learn more and more about Jessica's past that adds even more depth to this entire story. No one is straightforward here, and I think that's what made their relationship and dynamic so intriguing to explore. I like that Karella's characters really have a lot of layers to them, much as we as real humans have many layers that make it hard to always know exactly what's underneath. 

None of the characters ever felt truly grounded in reality, and I think that really lent itself to an overall dreamlike state that really permeated the atmosphere of this book. All of the characters here seemed to have very strong, distinct personalities, which almost gave everyone a larger than life feel. I think it's largely the characters' actions that make this book feel slightly odd, but the setting of Hasenhurst--which is its own sort of character--is largely what makes this village community feel as though it exists in a world of its own (which, in many ways, it does). It is certainly not somewhere that I think I'd like to visit.

There is a constant sense of things being not quite right in this book, but I wouldn't say that it's an overly pervasive or horrifyingly haunting manner  that you might find in other similar books. It was just... an underlying tension. You could almost miss sit if you weren't paying attention, but it was definitely present. It was readily apparently that just underneath what people were saying wasn't quite as positive or idyllic as it seemed, even if those people sincerely believed it was. And it's not necessarily that everyone is inherently sinister, but it's rather what's normal for them, which I think makes it even more unsettling. I constantly felt like I wasn't sure entirely what I was reading or what to expect, and it was honestly a bit of a mixed bag on how I felt. At times, I wasn't sure if I really was enjoying any of the characters or anything enough to keep reading, but something about the writing and where Karella would leave hints really intrigued me enough to keep exploring. It's a little folktale-y, which very much fits the vibe.

There are quite a few ideas surrounding identity, gender, gender roles, escapism, community, and tradition that are explored throughout the book, and of course a close look at what might make someone the "right sort of person." Hasenhurst appears to offer this idyllic escape from the modern world, complete with a strong sense of community and tradition, but that idyllic image also comes with expectations about how people should behave and what roles they should occupy, and that's often where things start to get dicey. This is especially interesting when considering Sandy's exploration of their identity and Jessica's own complicated history. It felt as though there was a large tension throughout the story about finding what you want and where you belong, and where changing or suppressing yourself comes into play to find that place where you belong.

I also think there's something interesting here about escapism and how we often romanticize places like Hasenshurst--a place that feels simpler and pleasant. Quaint Folk really pulls back that curtain to see what's really in that idea of tradition and "quaintness" and just how restrictive those things often end up being...

I'll be honest that I'm still left wondering a bit about the ending and what exactly to take away from this book. I think I quite liked the ending, although I would have been fine with a few different routes it could have taken as well. In some ways, I think being left slightly puzzled feels rather appropriate for a book that kept me wondering the entire time, anyway. If you're up for an interesting time, then be sure to check out Quaint Folk!

*I received a copy of Quaint Folk courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating or enjoyment.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org