This is a magical blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and horror. Set during the pogroms of 1800s Russia, it weaves together folklore and the haunting reality of persecution. When a grieving father brings his daughter back from the grave, she must unravel a dark secret of his own making. A compelling and chilling tale of grief, family, and trauma.

I came to this after reading Sophie Mackintosh’s Cursed Bread, a favourite of mine, and that may have contributed to my overall disappointment with Permanence. This novel feels like quite a departure from Mackintosh’s usual style, her writing is still beautiful, but for me it lacked the hazy, dreamlike quality I loved in her earlier work.

With unlikeable characters, minimal characterization, and little build-up for the central relationship, I found it hard to stay engaged. While the themes are interesting and the concept original, the story ultimately fell a bit flat for me.

This was a beautiful and deeply moving read; quiet, reflective, and thought-provoking. It makes you pause and consider your own life and how you choose to live it. On the last day of his life, Nils Vik goes to work as he always has, ferrying people across a fjord. But this day is different, he finds himself joined by those who have already passed: his dog, the people he once ferried, and the memories that shaped his life. There’s little in the way of plot beyond Nils’ final journey, yet it’s a meditation on memory, loss, and the quiet beauty of an ordinary life. A tender, reflective story and a truly wonderful read.

If you love gothic lesbians, The Salvage is a must-read! Set in post–Cold War Scotland, this atmospheric ghost story follows Marta, a marine biologist sent to Cairnoch to recover the remains of a Victorian shipwreck. But when items from the wreck start disappearing and a mysterious figure appears in the water, Marta begins to question what’s real. With rich atmosphere, compelling characters, and a slow burn tension - this is a must read if you loved Our Wives Under the Sea.

If I could read this book every single day for the rest of my life, I would.