

Welcome to ORB’s September 2025 Issue
It’s back-to-school season, and time once again to hit the books. With the demands of classrooms, workplaces, and endless inboxes, it can...


Land of No Regrets by Sadi Muktadir
Reviewed by Ian Thomas Shaw Few novels win me over unless I can connect with the characters, the narrative, or the setting. Elegant...


Walking with Beth by Merilyn Simonds
Reviewed by Wayne Ng In Walking with Beth: Conversations with My Hundred-Year-Old Friend , Merilyn Simonds invites readers to slow down...


A Place for People Like Us by Danila Botha
Reviewed by Jerry Levy Danila Botha’s novel A Place for People Like Us portrays, often in cringe-worthy detail, just how complicated and...


Play of Shadows by Sebastien de Castell
Reviewed by Wendy Hawkin Sebastien de Castell resurrects his Greatcoats in this rollicking new fantasy series: Court of Shadows. If this...


One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
Reviewed by Gail M. Murray Canadian journalist, editor and author, Carley Fortune placed Ontario cottage country on the map with her...


June 2025 Issue of the Ottawa Review of Books
As we head into our summer break, ORB offers you our insights into a very eclectic selection of books. Topping off the list is the...


The Topography of Pain by Ivan Lesay
Reviewed by Ian Thomas Shaw Ivan Lesay’s The Topography of Pain  is a rare literary debut that weaves philosophical depth with visceral...


Dark Like Under by Alice Chadwick
Reviewed by Timothy Niedermann This debut novel by British writer Alice Chadwick covers a period of twenty-four hours—midnight to...


The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor
Reviewed by Wendy Hawkin I was sucked into the current of this unique and memorable historical novel when I heard the author read the...