Ptah (Show Me a Beautiful Woman) fuses history, mythology, and fantasy into a spellbinding time-traveling adventure to start off the First People series. Ancient myths come to life when Auset, an Egyptian goddess, seeks help stopping Apep, the god of chaos and destruction. In modern times, six-year-old Sochima, his twelve-year old sister Aminata, and Aminata’s former best friend, Amaris, are bequeathed the heart of Auset’s husband and brother Ausar, the Egyptian god whose body was cut into 14 pieces and spread throughout time by his brother, Set. Since Ausar is the only force that can stop Apep, the children must work together and bravely travel through time collecting the 14 pieces in hopes of reconstructing Ausar’s body before Apep awakens.

Ptah excels at crafting engaging historical landscapes full of memorable characters and dynamic action. A delicate balance exists between fact, myth, and imagination, and readers of all ages will revel in the meticulous world-building tying the three together. History buffs may recognize familiar figures such as Imhotep, architect of the step pyramid, and Mansa Musa, the ruler of Mali, while also learning new historical facts such as the origins of the city name Timbuktu or how the Olmec civilization made rubber. These fascinating and informative elements seamlessly weave into high-stakes action and quick-paced chapters as the children battle a variety of malicious foes.

Resting at the core of this thrilling adventure is an emotional journey revolving around friendship, family, and self-discovery. Valuable lessons of courage, self-confidence, and confronting grief shine brightly as the children grow bolder with each harrowing undertaking. Readers are left sitting on the edge of their seats, holding their breath, and eager for more. Children of all ages will be captivated by this unique historical fantasy packed with notable characters, nail-biting quests, and high stakes. Bring on book two.

Takeaway: Standout series starter blending time travel, adventure, and vengeful gods.

Comparable Titles: Heidi Heilig’s The Girl from Everywhere, Patience Agbabi’s The Infinite.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

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Cetas (Thrown To The Wind) continues the adventures of Etienne Gayneau in this second installment of her A Country For Castoffs historical fiction series. In 17th-century Dutch New York, Etienne hangs out with young Lanape tribespeople Alsoomse and her brother Kitchi, and they become close enough for them to call him ”Little Brother," even if his feelings for Alsoomse are more complicated than that. The story begins with news of a Native attack on Dutch settlements, inflaming long-held prejudices held by some and panic on the part of Etienne, who is worried about his friends.

Cetas deftly blends real-life figures with imagined characters to bring this early colonial era alive, especially with regard to Native American beliefs, customs, and real-world politics. The Natives who attacked the fort are rivals of the Lanape and Mohawk tribes, both of whom prefer to trade with the colonists. However, many settlers regard all of the Natives as less than human, especially since a number of women and children were taken prisoner by the rival Esopus tribe. Amid this conflict and context, Cetas explores cross-cultural connections: after Etienne tracks down his friends, he tells the Lenape tribe's sachem (chief) about the attacks, and the sachem (who is also Alsoomse and Kitchi's father) hatches a plan to rescue some of the Dutch and establish an alliance against the Esopus.

In the course of an exciting story, Etienne is questioned by the Dutch, captured by the Esopus, and rescues a baby in peril, all as he and his friends appreciably mature in the face of conflict, working together to try to bring a vicious English settler to justice. A long denouement feels like an extended set-up for the next entry, but readers interested in 17th-century encounters between Dutch settlers and Native American tribes will find a narrative that's exciting, harrowing, and respectful to the tribes and their beliefs.

Takeaway: Compelling, respectful novel of 17th century Native Americans and Dutch settlers.

Comparable Titles: Susan Cooper’s Ghost Hawk, Patricia Clark Smith’s Weetamoo.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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Veteran novelist Koelsch (MOOSE. INDIAN.: A Dark Confession) presents a cozy, speculative novella set on the margin of the American Civil War. In 1862, wounded veteran Thomas Wade Duncan regains consciousness on Black Ledge Cove, a New England island populated exclusively by women. Grieving the loss of his leg, Duncan suffers as his begrudging hostess, the widow Ann Holland Dawes, detoxifies him from laudanum. When Milly, an apprentice midwife, reveals that the local library features tools of witchcraft that connect mothers to their beloved, dead children, Duncan begs her to help him discover if his fiancée, Cynthia Ladd, has committed suicide as he fears.

At its heart, this haunting tale focuses on Duncan’s acceptance of his newly changed body. Although it does not describe the Civil War battle Thomas survived, the aftermath remains strong in the novel’s backdrop. Thomas is stranded, both literally and existentially, and readers will sympathize with his struggle to break free of substance abuse while habituating himself to life without a leg. Most redeeming is his mission to find Cynthia and undo the pain he caused her in ending their engagement. Hope for her renewed love pulls him through his darkest moments. Koelsch never wastes a line, and the prose is so evocative and the milieu so vivid that readers may wish that this affair were longer, with further exploration of Cynthia’s physical and emotional journey.

“I know neither my place nor time. Many have been my experiences with thin, smoky mists… When am I? Where am I?” The depiction of a gothic, foggy New England community ratchets up suspense without bringing angst as the hero perseveres in his goal. The use of old-fashioned language matches the era without posing difficulty to readers’ comprehension. First-person point of view plunges the reader into Duncan’s anguished situation, heightening anticipation. Thick with mystery, this cozy suspense offers historical fiction fans a treat to savor.

Takeaway: Vivid, suspenseful speculative novella of the Civil War.

Comparable Titles: Anita Frank’s The Lost Ones, Stacey Halls’s Mrs England.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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Vince Reismuller, a battle-hardened Marine veteran and security factotum for the wealthy Arena family, must rescue his employer's kidnapped son Tommy even as it becomes clear that a murder and more may connect with his employer's shady past. In addition, Vince has to protect the Arena daughter, Morgan, from a young man harassing her and figure out if Tommy is guilty of a crime himself. The various strands start coming together, amidst deadly violence, even as Vince and Morgan struggle with their growing feelings for each other. Vince navigates through stock fraud, greed and hatred to protect the Arenas and come to terms with himself and his violent past.

Morelli places the emphasis heavily on action, and he's a master at choreographing the fight scenes. Vince doesn't pull any punches and neither does Morelli when describing the scenes. "This is only the start of how much I am going to hurt you," Vince explains to an antagonist. In a terrifically staged scene, Vince and his associates attack a house, and readers will find themselves in Alistair MacLean territory, holding their breath until the wind-up. Morelli has clearly done a lot of research, and occasionally he shares more than some readers may want to know about firearms or mountain lions, slowing the pace, but overall the book moves rapidly toward a satisfying conclusion.

However, the action is not the whole story. Morelli has elevated the theme, giving his tale a richer background than is usually found in this genre. Behind all the conflict is stock-market manipulation and other corporate chicanery, and the financial theme provides an effective contrast to the street fighting, while making the characters less black-and-white. Morelli also does a great job fleshing out Vince's character. The police detective on the case, Jerrell Troy, is a former comrade-in-arms, and their rocky yet close friendship comes across as very real. Readers will hope to meet Vince in a sequel.

Takeaway: Two-fisted novel of revenge, told with breathless suspense.

Comparable Titles: Lee Child, Alistair MacLean.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+

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