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Books Received, February 7 to February 13

14 Feb, 2026

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Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong (October 2026)

Final Destination meets The Cabin at the End of the World in this supernatural horror from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, in which a series of car accidents traps a group of strangers at a dive bar. 

A forested road at night, slick from the pounding rain and eerily illuminated by flashes of lightning. Just before midnight, a car swerves to avoid something — or someone — mysteriously standing in the road, only to slam into a fallen tree instead. In the pitch black, four more cars follow in a pileup no one can seem to avoid. 

Stumbling out of the wreckage, soaked from the rain and nursing various injuries, five strangers find themselves in a backwoods dive bar, waiting for daybreak and hoping for cell service. But as tensions rise and the storm rages on outside, the occupants of the dive bar start to notice that not everything is as it seems. Time is moving differently, and they quickly learn that going outside — whether to assist another accident victim or to hike for help — is a very bad idea. 

There’s something in the woods, something that isn’t natural. Could the figure in the road have been a warning? Or something more sinister? None of this is normal, and they’ll need to work together to figure out what’s happening if they have any hope of surviving the night. 

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Books Received, January 31 — February 6

7 Feb, 2026

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A City Dreaming by Maurice Broaddus (June 2026)

Maurice Broaddus returns with A City Dreaming, the third book in his Astra Black trilogy, which explores the struggles of an empire. Epic in scope and intimate in voice, it follows members of the Muungano Empire — a far-reaching coalition of city-states that stretches from Earth to Titan and beyond — as it faces renewed threats to its progress.

We received a signal. Everything has changed.

The Interstellar Alliance are coming.

A new empire approaches and the Muungano, already facing foes much closer to home, will have to contend with what it means for their future. Across the solar system, from Earth to Mars and Titan, beyond the Orun Gate, and across time and space itself a battle will rage.

Their soldiers, scientists, diplomats and leaders will all have a role to play if their empire is to live on.

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January 2026 in Review

31 Jan, 2026

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Another year begins! January is the best month for stats, because January has the promise of new beginnings and because it is the month whose stats are easiest to assemble. All I need do is cut and paste month total onto year to date total! 

The first new project this year is Homeward By Starlight, which will review twelve of Poul Anderson’s most notable short works. 

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Books Received, January 24 — January 30

31 Jan, 2026

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The Wolf Queen’s Curse by Kaylee Archer (September 2026)

In The Wolf Queen’s Curse, the much anticipated sequel to Witch of the Wolves, Cordelia and Bishop must seek alliances with other packs and confront their Alphas in order to restore their beloved Trevelyan, no matter the cost. 

The previously quiet life of Cordelia Levine, half-werewolf, all witch, has been turned upside down. Both of her parents are now dead, and her grandmother’s vicious attack on Trevelyan, her pack’s home, has left the Albion Pack fleeing and severely reduced in number. 

As they recover and strategize a path forward, Cordelia is navigating her role in the pack as well as her feelings for her new husband, the Alpha. But even as their love grows stronger, the fate of the pack lies in their hands, and they must focus on finding a way to survive. 

The pack decides that the only way to defeat the cabal and forge a path back home is to rekindle old alliances. The journey proves complicated, however, as each Alpha they encounter has an agenda of his own. But Cordelia and Bishop will stop at nothing to protect their pack – and reclaim their rightful home. 

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Books Received, January 3 to January 9

10 Jan, 2026

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Of Venom and Vengeance by Mikayla Bridge (July 2026)

A deliciously dark standalone set in the same world as the YA romantic fantasy Of Flame and Fury, where star-crossed enemies gamble with their hearts, empires, and the fate of a lost god. 

On an island marred by pageantry and pain, power comes at an impossible price. 

Inna is the perfect heiress to the Pallo crime family: poised, cunning, untouchable. Behind this glamorous facade, she hunts for the sinister truth of her sister’s death. Despite the cover-up she’s been led to believe, Inna can feel an enemy lurking in the shadows. 

Rylan has sculpted himself into a talented thief for one reason: retribution for his family, who were murdered by Inna’s mother. Armed with illusion magic, Rylan plans to steal an ancient riddle from the Pallo vault, one that leads to a sleeping god. Whoever wakes the Serpent King will be granted any wish they desire. Rylan means to claim this power, and with it, Inna’s ruin. 

But when Inna catches Rylan sneaking past her family’s security, they enter into a perilous alliance that neither intends to keep —even as bitter attraction unravels into something more. 

Though some hearts aren’t meant to be stolen, and love knows nothing of blood-red revenge… 

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January 2026 Patreon Boost! Plus the Annual Listing of My Review Projects!

1 Jan, 2026

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Happy New Year! How is it 2026 already? 

James Nicoll Reviews is the only SF review site that does not turn pink in the tin! And you can be an important part of it, by funding it.

Your options are: 

  • Send money via Paypal for the pure joy of giving me money. 
  • Commission a specific review..
  • Join my Patreon here.
  • Ingots of copper, as long as you’re not Ea-nāṣir. I am not making that mistake again.

And what exciting plans for 2026 will you be funding?

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