The Dark Unicornby Edward WillettPublished by Endless Sky BooksReview by Toby A. Welch  $19.99 ISBN 9781989398951 I wasn’t surprised to learn that The Dark Unicorn was a finalist in the Children’s Literature category in the 1999 Saskatchewan Book Awards. This fantastical story about a young man’s quest to save the world from destruction is hard to put down! While some readers may consider this book a bit dark, I was up...

The Chorus Beneath Our Feetby Melanie SchnellPublished by Radiant PressReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$25.00 ISBN 9781998926329 Regina writer Melanie Schnell’s debut novel, While the Sun is Above Us, earned her the Saskatchewan First Book Award and The City of Regina Award at the 2013 Saskatchewan Book Awards, and I expect her recently released second novel, The Chorus Beneath Our Feet, will also garner attention, particularly for its am...

Elephants in the Roomby Betty Jane HegeratPublished by Shadowpaw PressReview by Sally Meadows$22.99 ISBN 9781998273485 The best–or at least most satisfying–single-author anthologies have a common thread woven throughout the stories. In Betty Jane Hegerat’s new short story collection Elephants in the Room, published by Shadowpaw Press, readers don’t have to dig deep to identify the connecting theme: it’s right there in the titl...

Something for the Darkby Randy LundyPublished by University of Regina PressReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$19.95 ISBN 9781779400888 I’ve reviewed four of Randy Lundy’s transcendent poetry collections, and each time I’ve come away thinking surely this is as good as he gets. Then a new title’s released … and the ceiling rises again. Something for the Dark, Lundy’s latest, follows Field Notes for the Self (2020) and Blackbird Song...

On the Hunt for William Hallett: Discovering a Forgotten Métis Leaderby Audrhea LandePublished by Your Nickel’s Worth PublishingReview by Toby A. Welch  $29.95 ISBN 9781778690525 A nearly forgotten figure from Métis history has come alive! On the Hunt for William Hallett drew me in initially because of its beautiful cover: a man galloping across the plains on horseback, a rifle in one hand, a buffalo running along...

Into the D/arkby David EliasPublished by Radiant PressReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$22.00 ISBN 9781998926381 Into the D/ark is the dream-like and aptly-titled new novel by veteran Winnipeg writer David Elias, as all is not well for blacksmith/artist Clarence; his wife, Rose; and their fire-disfigured sons in rural Manitoba circa 1963. Indeed, Rose’s best friend, Martha—who inadvertently photographs JFK’s assassination while on holi...

Flying a Gooney Bird in Canada’s North: A Bush Pilot’s Adventuresby Dorrin Wallace with Deana J DriverPublished by DriverWorks InkReview by Sally Meadows$24.95 ISBN 9781927570883 I always marvel when someone can trace the trajectory of their life’s work back to a pivotal moment rooted in childhood. For Dorrin Wallace, who built his career as a bush pilot, trainer, and aircraft maintenance engineer, that moment was when he received...

My Monster Mommyby Megan Ryan, Illustrated by Brenna SengerPublished by Meow! Pete’s PressReview by Shelley A. Leedahl$15.99 ISBN 9781069345912 The luckiest among us were read to as children, and long may that wonderful tradition continue. Giving children books as gifts—and spending quality time sharing these books with our loved ones—can lead to a lifelong love of literature. In today’s hectic technological era, I wondered if t...

First Light, Last Lightby Glen SorestadPublished by Shadowpaw PressReview by Brandon Fick$19.99 ISBN 9781998273461 First Light, Last Light is a fitting title for a poetry collection that concerns itself with the beginning and end of human life, lost and recovered memories, the rhythmic cycle of the seasons, and glimpses of natural life in the early dawn of spring or the cold, shadowy dusk of winter. Glen Sorestad, one of Saskatchewan’...

Ways to Go: Rediscovering Travel as told through Two Himalaya Adventures – 1971 and 2023Edited by Bob Henderson and Torbjørn YdegaardPublished by Your Nickel’s Worth PublishingReview by Michelle Shaw$29.95 ISBN 9781778690549 In most mountaineering exploits that I’ve read or heard about, the point always seems to be about reaching the summit – and the blood, sweat and tears involved to get there. Ways to Go explores a comple...