Tree Houses within Reach: 30 Lofty Cabins, Playhouses, and Getaways You Can Actually Build

Tree Houses within Reach is a cool and well curated collection of tree houses, playhouses and cabins by Derek Diedricksen. Released 13th May 2025 by Hachette on their Storey imprint, it's 224 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The designs run the gamut from whimsical to traditional. The design elements, materials selection, and execution are clearly thought out, with safety, durability, and aesthetics as high priorities. The builds are arranged more or less in order of cost, with chapters corresponding to $ (simple and affordable),  $$ (moderate skill/budget), and  $$$ (high skill/big budget). 

It's very well photographed, in color, throughout and the action/construction photos are well staged and lighted, without hands or other obstructions. These 30 projects are for inspiration and research, the actual plans and materials lists are not itemized and there are no detailed schematics included. 

Five stars. It would be an excellent choice for public or secondary school library, home/workshop use, or makers' groups. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Witch's Door: Oddities and Tales from the Esoteric to the Extreme

 

The Witch's Door is an anthology of true (but occasionally creepy) curiosities gathered and explained by Ryan Cohn & Regina Rossi about his, and later their, journey as collectors and purveyors of  biological collectibles and artifacts. Released 1st Oct 2024 by Chronicle Books, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

The background stories, historical facts, and trivia surrounding the artifacts are worthwhile and fascinating. These include articulated human skulls, bones, skeletal remains, and ritual objects. They should be the focal point of the book, but most of the content is the authors' memoir and recollections about their journeys as collectors themselves. The split between collections and artifacts, and the autobiography of the authors is probably about 30/70.

Three and a half stars. Although it's scrupulously factual and not at all prurient or shocking, some parts might be a bit much for very sensitive (young) readers. For that reason, acquisitions personnel should vet thoroughly before adding to juvenile accessible collections. It's otherwise weird and quirky and recommended. It would be an excellent choice for public (adult) libraries or home use, or for gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Wild Basketry: Making baskets and natural cordage from foraged plants

Wild Basketry is a crafting guide to foraged and found natural baskets with tutorials by Ruby Taylor. Released 6th May 2025 by Simon & Schuster on their Herbert Press imprint, it's 176 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

There are numerous tutorial projects included, as well as good info to help readers with sourcing, foraging, preparing, and using found materials and cordage from plants. The author also includes a lot of information about sustainability as it relates to crafting materials.

The book is beautifully photographed throughout, and the photos are clear and unobstructed. There are numerous inspirational photos of projects and essays by other artists as well. 

Five stars. Superlative book. It would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home studio, as well as for a shared studio/makers' space.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Grounds for Murder: A Jeannie Wolfert-Lang Mystery #1

Grounds for Murder is the first book in an amateur sleuth cozy mystery series by Betty Ternier Daniels. Released 24th Sept 2024 by ECW Press, it's 280 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The author does a good job with the setting, and seems to be intimately familiar with rural Canada and smallhold farming. The book is full of quirky small town characters, charlatans, criminals, friends, and the occasional homicidal maniac. 

Dialogue and pacing are notoriously difficult to write and the author struggles in places with naturally flowing back and forth dialogue which feels organic. Some of the characters are obnoxious (her tenants, Monica the realtor, her kids, etc) and the dialogue as written is inconceivable. Readers should bring a strong suspicion of disbelief. 

The book is perhaps a trifle graphic in places for a generally light cozy mystery. Nothing egregious, but more sensitive (squeamish) readers should be aware. The language is also a bit heavier than the usual cozy fare (one f-bomb and a handful of lesser curse words). 

Three stars. Worth a look for fans of light smallholding/rural farm cozies, or possibly a buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Everything Glittered

Everything Glittered is a YA historical mystery by Robin Talley set in a female academy in prohibition era Washington. Released 24th Sept 2024 by Hachette on their Little, Brown, and company Young Readers imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a YA sapphic polyamorous romance wrapped around a murder mystery. The author does a good job writing believably about the constraints and prejudices of the day, including homophobia, racism, anti-semitism, "morality" policing, fraud, abuse, organized crime (especially in the prohibition context), and the limited choices open to women, even/especially upper class women, at the time. 

Although recommended for an audience of 14+, there are some graphic depictions of violence and high-stakes thriller elements (murder and targeted homophobic violence) which might be traumatizing for more sensitive readers in the younger end of the target audience. There is very light queer romance (kissing) and a polyamory aspect, but nothing too scandalous, especially given the background (an all-girls boarding school).  

Three stars. It would be a good choice for public library, possibly for secondary school library acquisition (with the understanding that there's a significant amount of the plot and character development concern same sex romance). 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Misery Hates Company - Marigold Manners #1

Misery Hates Company is the first book in a historical mystery series set in the late Victorian era featuring "plucky" orphan heroine, Marigold Manners, written by Elizabeth Hobbs. Released 5th Nov 2024 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a dark and brooding gothic mystery which is loosely based on Cold Comfort Farm (but set in the previous century). Miss Manners is an orphan cast out into a relatively pitiless world at the death of her parents and learning that their profligate lifestyle has left her impoverished. (Mostly because she refuses the genuine good will of her friends and wants to be entirely self-sufficient). 

A mysterious letter from a distant relation sets her on a dangerous path to investigate a long ago family tragedy and hidden scandal. She's got a ruthlessly Polyanna-ish attitude and a knack for "fixing" problems which include her relations, their down-at-the-heels farm, the local society, public relations, and tilting at some local windmills in the form of misogyny, emancipation, racism, and her potentially murderous family. 

The actual murder mysteries are secondary to the main narrative arc, and honestly resolve into such an irritatingly convoluted denouement that readers will likely need a pencil and paper to keep the players interrelationships clear. 

Three and a half stars. Likely worth a look for people who enjoy brooding creepy gothic mysteries. It would be a good choice for public library or home readers, or possibly a buddy read. No updated publishing info available yet for the second, or subsequent, books in the series. Content warnings for murder, suicide, religious persecution, sexual assault (fairly graphic), racism, and lots of misogyny. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Blood Over Bright Haven

 

Blood Over Bright Haven is a standalone dark academia fantasy by M. L. Wang. Released 29th Oct 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Del Rey imprint, it's 448 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook format. Paperback due out in early 3rd quarter 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

There are some problematic mechanics in this narrative. There's a redemption arc which relies very heavily on a "white savior" character's magnanimity fighting the racist/misogynistic structure from within. The entire book is undeniably very well written, but the conflict is off, the romantic subplot between the oppressor and oppressed is off, and the denouement and resolution feel off.  

Comparisons abound to Kuang's Babel, and though both are beautifully written, this book suffers by comparison because of the fundamental power structure problems and unresolved dynamics.

For sensitive readers, the book is full of blood and violence, sexual assault, deep/violent misogyny and racism, horrifying colonialism, slavery, rough language. Despite the aforementioned issues, it really is wonderfully well written and the world building is original with an impressively intricate magical system.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public or home library, buddy read, or possibly as an SF/Fantasy book club selection. (*LOTS* of meaty discussion material here).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Making Pottery without a Kiln: Happy Little Projects to Make for Your Home

 

Making Pottery without a Kiln is a tutorial and instruction guide for pottery techniques with projects by multi crafter and content creator Daniela Schmidt-Kohl. Originally published in German in 2023, this English language translation is due out 14th May 2025 from Fox Chapel.  It's 144 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

The book follows a logical layout. The instructions presuppose no previous experience on the reader's part.  The book begins with an introduction which covers tools and supplies. It includes recipes and definitions for everything from surface embellishments, to sourcing and preparing clay.

The tutorials are arranged by seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each of the projects include complete instructions, supplies lists, and numerous full color photos. Readers of most levels will find useful information and tips. The projects all use air drying clays (and modelling clay) and no kiln firing is needed. There are small gift tags, decorative objects, small table items (like a cute coffee tray), and other giftables. The projects utilize rolling pins, surface embossers, cookie cutters, etc.. so for the most part, there are no full size templates included.

Really lovely job. 

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
 

Dover Pocketbook Collection: Cross-Stitch Flowers: Classic Patterns, Checklists, Space for Notes

Cross-Stitch Flowers is a classic and well-curated collection of historical floral cross-stitch by Gerda Bengtsson. The graphs were originally published in Danish in the 70s; this reformat and re-release is part of Dover's Heirloom Crafts series,. It's 64 pages and is available in paperback format. 

This collection includes a number of whole-cross one page patterns mostly wildflowers (brambles, sloe, dandelion, etc), but also some nostalgic garden flowers (poppies, violets, and pansies). The charts include a color printed graph (just full color, there are no symbols included) along with a general color coded key with color names (and no specific brands/color numbers mentioned). They're easily recognizable and with a surprising amount of detail for smaller graphs (circa 70x70 stitches). 

They would make nice hostess gifts, or for readers who want to learn how to do cross stitch, maybe as a gift bundled with a handful of floss and some evenweave cloth. 

Like all of Dover's art and craft books, they're out there fighting the good fight to document and bring these important historical crafts to a new generation of readers.

Four stars. It would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, for gift giving, and for maker's groups and shared studio spaces. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales - Emily Wilde #3

 

 

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales is the third book in this delightful historical cozy fantasy by Heather Fawcett. Released 16th Jan 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This is a historical academic fantasy with light romance elements set in Edwardian England and is so beautifully written that the descriptive prose is occasionally breathtaking. The titular protagonist, Dr. Emily Wilde, is a prickly strong-willed academic who is performing field studies to categorize and understand the fae (dryadology). This often lands her and her colleagues in dangerous situations, though she usually manages to extricate herself using her prodigious knowledge and sheer will (and cleverness). She finds it easier to confine herself to codifying the unspoken rules which govern the fair folk than to understand the same with her fellow humans. 

There is (naturally) an element of slow-burn romance in the form of an former frenemy (now firmly in the romantic lead role, and her betrothed), the exasperating (but devilishly handsome) Dr. Wendell Brambleby, well-born (he's royalty in exile), charming, and infuriatingly indolent. It's marketed as a YA selection, so there are some smouldering kisses, but nothing outré or explicit.

For fans of Katherine Arden, Natasha Pulley, Cat Rambo, and Catherynne Valente, this book will recall the wonderful feelings from those authors' books. It's not derivative in any way, but it *is* magical. Dr. Wilde is refreshingly forward thinking and the book more or less simply ignores the inconvenient proscriptions against women being unchaperoned and engaging in academic careers on a somewhat level playing field with their male colleagues. It's delightfully peppered throughout with academic notations, referencing (and lampooning) non-existent literature. The footnotes elevate the whole to a *chef's kiss* other level.

The unabridged audiobook format has a run time of 11 hours 43 minutes and is expertly narrated by series narrators Ell Potter, and Michael Dodds. They both have eminently listenable voices and make a nice contrast to one another; Ms. Potter's cut glass RP accent contrasting nicely with Mr. Dodds' lower tenor Irish lilt. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Five stars. Gorgeous. It's a continuing series, and would make a great binge/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket - A Jaine Austen Mystery #20

Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket is the 20th (and final) light cozy mystery featuring freelance writer Jaine Austen and her saucy cat Prozac written by Laura Levine. Released 25th June 2024 by Kensington, it's 240 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a very very light, fun, tongue-in-cheek series with a cast of appealingly goofy characters and a high silliness factor. Perfect beach/commute reading material, it's always tongue-in-cheek and occasionally quite silly. The dialogue (and situations) are over-the-top and are more reminiscent of a Scooby Do/I Love Lucy crossover.

This episode sees Jaine agreeing to ghost write an exercise guru's memoir/guide. A closed suspect pool (a private train) and the unlamented death of the larger than life and entirely unlamented fitness personality has Jaine and Prozac (the cat) on one final ride. 

Although it's the 20th (and apparently final) episode (may Ms. Levine enjoy her retirement!!), it works perfectly well as a standalone. The returning characters' relationships have developed over the course of the series, though... and there will be some spoilers for earlier books if read out of order.

Four stars. Light, entertaining, happy and fun. It would be a great choice for public library, home use, or for a long buddy/binge read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Wood at Midwinter

The Wood at Midwinter is a beautifully written wintery short story by Susanna Clarke. Released 22nd Oct 2024 by Simon & Schuster on their Bloomsbury Press imprint, it's 64 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

Originally performed as a radio reading for the holiday season for the BBC in 2022, this reformat and re-release with illustrations by Victoria Sawdon is quietly lyrical and engaging. Full of magical realism and allegory, it's gentle and melancholy. The simple monochrome illustrations, rendered in pen & ink on watercolor paper are full of small details and movement and enhance the story charmingly. 

The unabridged audiobook format has a run time of 34 minutes and is beautifully read by the author. It's enhanced with music and sound effects. Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read. 

Four stars. The author's afterword is interesting and gives some background and inspiration for the story. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Instant Ramen Kitchen: 40+ Delicious Recipes That Go Beyond the Packet

Instant Ramen Kitchen is a monograph on the humble instant noodle with flavor packets alongside prep and taste guides curated by Peter J. Kim. Due out 9th Sept 2025 from Chronicle books, it's 248 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is not (as the author emphasizes) a cookbook. Rather it's a pretty comprehensive history (including archive photographs and materials) and background of instant noodles as well as general prep instructions and a series of templates for add-ons to elevate the oft-scorned dish to something nutritionally *better* and more balanced. 

There are a number of more or less traditional recipes included in the book. Each of them includes a background and recommended type of ramen noodle packet as a base, bullet list of ingredients, add-ons, special additions, and step-by-step cooking instructions. Ingredients are listed with imperial (American) measures and metric in parentheses (yay!). Extra tips and tricks such as making dishes vegan friendly, are included in a text footer bar with the recipes. Nutritional info is not included. 

The pictures throughout are in color and a clear and easy to understand. Serving suggestions are appealing and appropriately styled. 

The author/publishers have included a cross-referenced searchable index which includes ingredients. 

Four and a half stars. An absolute winner for everyone who loves ramen (and that must be the vast majority). It would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, and for gift giving (possibly bundled in a care package for a young person moving into dorm/new apartment). 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Impossible Creatures - Impossible Creatures #1

Impossible Creatures is the first book in a middle grade fantasy adventure by Katherine Rundell. Released 10th Sept 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Children's imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 3rd quarter 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a very well written fantasy adventure for middle grade/tween readers (Lexile HL650L). It's full of classic creatures and two young protagonists whose cross-realms worlds' ("real" world and "fantasy" world) continued existence depend on their cooperation and success. There are scary antagonists and several high stakes conflicts. 

Much of this book is darker than the average middle grade lit, and there are some genuinely traumatic scenes including deaths of characters and creatures. The two main protagonists spend a fair amount of the book running from a murderer. 

The book hype compares the writing to Pullman, and that's quite apt. It's genuinely dark in places, but always lyrical. It's probably not appropriate for the younger end of the middle grade reader audience, or for more sensitive kids.

The second book in the series, The Poisoned King, is due out in September 2025. 

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public or home library. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Strange Folk

 

Strange Folk is an Appalachian gothic paranormal fantasy (with light horror elements) by Alli Dyer.  Released 6th Aug 2024 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in 3rd quarter 2025. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a distinctly *odd* tale, full of witchy Appalachian females and more stereotypes than you can shake a jar of moonshine at. It's atmospheric, full of nebulous dread and threat, and dream(like) sequences which are cinematic (and creepy). There are few relatable actually likeable characters, and most of them are running from something including their own damaged personalities and self-created problems. 

There is some difficult/potentially triggering content, including -masses- of substance abuse (it's a central theme), sexual assault (including predatory behavior toward a minor by an adult in a position of trust), sketchy incest-lite, illegality, murder, violence, and more. There is some explicit material and the language is R-rated. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours 36 minutes and is capably read mostly by Megan Tusing (et. al.). It's heavy on regional (Appalachian) accents, but the narration encompasses generic American (California) as well, and a range of ages and both male and female voices. Sound and production quality are high throughout. 

Three stars. For readers who really enjoy fantasy magical realism in the same general genre as Alice Hoffman, Sarah Addison Allen, and Jennifer McMahon will likely get more enjoyment out of the read (3,5-4 stars). 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Make It Plant-Based! Filipino

 

Make It Plant-Based! Filipino is one of a new series of related kitchen guides with recipes, this one featuring plant based Mexican recipes developed and curated by Ria Elciario-McKeown. Due out 13th May 2025 from Hachette on their Workman Publishing imprint, it's 190 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a good basic, well organized, vegan friendly Filipino fusion cookbook. The basics and well loved recipes are represented, and the instructions are easy to understand and follow. They are arranged in chapters, thematically: breakfast & brunch, salads starters & staples, stews & soups, dinners & mains, snacks, and sweets & treats.

Ingredients will mostly be available at any large/well stocked international market/grocery store in North America. Recipes include an introduction, background info, and yields. Ingredients are provided in a bullet list, followed by step by step preparation instructions. Measurements are given in imperial (American) units with metric in parentheses (yay)!. Nutritional info is not provided. 

About 25% of the recipes include color photographs. The plated foods are professionally styled and serving suggestions are appetizing and appropriate. The author/publisher have also included pantry lists for convenience as well as a cross-referenced index. 

Four stars. Simple, but effective. It would be a nice choice for public or school library acquisition (it's a set volume, so it's worth acquiring all the volumes which are graphically similar with different themed cuisines), as well as for home use and gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

 

Seeker

 

Seeker is the first book in a Regency/Napoleonic flintlock YA fantasy series by Samuel Griffin. Released 14th May 2024, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The author's command of language and precise usage are one of the book's highlights. The characters are very well rendered; fantasy archetypes (adventurers, mentors, young orphan "chosen one", evil unscrupulous antagonists) but nevertheless well written with moderate depth and believability. It's very much written in a period style, and fans of other narratives written during the actual period (Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, etc) will feel at home. For readers who prefer modern narratives, the writing will possibly be a slog. Diligence is repaid, however, and the story as a whole is well told and satisfying.

Coming of age fantasy adventure with political context. It's definitely got gravitas. It's the first book in an announced series, and it does end on a complete but open ended story arc, however there's no announced date for release on book 2 or future volumes.

Four stars. Worth a look for fans of immersively written period coming-of-age campaign fantasy. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Twisted: Wire Jewellery Techniques and Projects

 

Twisted is an in-depth comprehensive wire wrapping and jewellery course with tutorials by artist and teacher Nadja Shields. Released 6th May 2025 by Simon & Schuster on their Bloomsbury/Herbert Press imprint, it's 240 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Like most tutorial instruction books, there's an intro followed by chapters covering tools/supplies and basic techniques including the different weaving techniques along with some very basic torchwork (basically just materials and some good safety advice and drawing a bead on wire (melting the end to form a ball)). One thing I really appreciate about the author's style is that she's encouraging without being too eager or smothering as well as giving some really valuable tips about her own working methods and the specific tools that work for her.  There's an awful lot of product placement going on in the world of how-to books and I really applaud the author for refusing to be a shill for any specific company.

The intro chapters (~20% of the page content) are followed by tutorial chapters for the (by my count) 15 projects from beginner(ish) to masterwork level.  Interspersed in these chapters are really valuable tips and tricks for working with the materials and saving frustration where possible. The projects run the gamut from earrings to pendants and everything in between including rings bracelets, clasps etc. Spelling and vernacular throughout the book are written in UK/international English, but in context won't provide any difficulties for readers from the USA.

I worked as a bench jeweler in the traditional commercial jewelry trade for over 16 years (until I went back to school to become a bioengineer at a ripe old age; it's never too late to take up another career).  Anyhow, the point is, working as a jeweler I always wanted to flex more of my creative muscles and work more with wire as a structural element.  I never got my chance as a professional working for a paycheck (I was the faceless drone re-sizing your engagement ring, or possibly repairing your necklace when you lost it down the garbage disposal *true stories*).  I have set up a bench in my workshop now and share creative space with my kid, also a budding bench jewelry artist.

I love the fact that many of these projects use forged wire as a basis.  The shaped and flattened wire structure gives the entire piece stability and solidity without losing any of the fluidity and organic-ness (it should be a word) of the woven wire. Additionally, the author's tutorials for elements incorporating stone settings for very small accents and faceted stones including a *channel setting* are amazing and creative, and worth the price of the book alone. 

Each tutorial includes a full color detailed macro shot of the finished piece, an introduction/background, and bullet list of techniques, materials and tools. Materials/wire are given with the standard wire gauge as well as the diameter and length measurements given in metric measures -and- imperial (American) units. The step-by-step instructions are clear and easy to follow.
 

This is a worthwhile book, lavishly illustrated and photographed.  Her passion for her art and her willingness to share the 'good stuff' she's learned is rare. Well worth adding to the jeweler's library. This book will age very well and remain current as the reader's skill progresses.

Five stars, really lovely. Recommended for public, school, home library/workshop, maker's spaces and shared studio spaces.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Make It Plant-Based! Mexican

 

Make It Plant-Based! Mexican is one of a new series of related kitchen guides with recipes, this one featuring plant based Mexican recipes developed and curated by Andrea Aliseda. Due out 13th May 2025 from Hachette on their Workman Publishing imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a good basic, well organized, vegan friendly Mexican cookbook. The basics and well loved recipes are represented, and the instructions are easy to understand and follow. They are arranged in chapters, thematically: starters, dinners & entrees, masa based meals, tacos tortas & tostadas, desserts & drinks, and condiments & salsas.

Ingredients will mostly be available at any large/well stocked international market/grocery store in North America. Recipes include an introduction, background info, and yields. Ingredients are provided in a bullet list, followed by step by step preparation instructions. Measurements are given in imperial (American) units with metric in parentheses (yay)!. Nutritional info is not provided. 

About 20% of the recipes include color photographs. The plated foods are professionally styled and serving suggestions are appetizing and appropriate. The author/publisher have also included pantry lists for convenience as well as a cross-referenced index. 

Four stars. Simple, but effective. It would be a nice choice for public or school library acquisition (it's a set volume, so it's worth acquiring all the volumes which are graphically similar with different themed cuisines), as well as for home use. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

 

Make It Plant-Based! Southern

Make It Plant-Based! Southern is one of a collection of recipe books covering a wide variety of cuisines, this installment with recipes developed and curated by Mehreen Karim. Due out 13th May 2025 from Hachette on their Workman Publishing imprint, it's 184 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

The author has included pantry lists (plant based veg*n friendly ingredients), and an introduction to plant based cooking. The recipes in the collection are arranged thematically: breakfast & brunch, starters & sides, dinners & mains, soups & stews, sweets & treats, and condiments & sauces. The author has included a number of really useful condiment and sauce recipes which will be useful for -any- cook, not only vegetarians.

Recipes are written with an introduction/background, ingredients in bullet lists, and step by step instructions. Ingredients are provided in imperial (American) units, with metric measurements in parentheses (yay!). Extra tips and preparation alternatives are in highlighted text boxes throughout. Most of the ingredients will be readily available at any well stocked grocery store in North America.

Visually, this series is very simple, with high contrast graphics and simple text. About 25% of the recipes are accompanied by one or more photos. Serving suggestions are attractive and appealing, and the food photos which are included are professionally styled. 

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public or secondary school library acquisition, and home use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes