Welcome to the October 2026 issue of ORB
With the temperature dropping and Halloween decorations appearing in neighbourhood yards, now is the perfect time for some leisurely reading. However, October is also a time of political significance in Canada. This is why we begin our reviews by delving into the upcoming referendum on Alberta's future with On Treason by Patrick Lennox. If you are reading this in Alberta, please vote on 19 October, and maybe peruse Lennox’s seminal work before you do. This is followed by our
On Treason by Patrick Lennox
Reviewed by Timothy Niedermann In by-gone times this book might have been characterized as a bit of a polemic. These days are different, alas. “A wake-up call” might be the most accurate description of On Treason now, for, though author Patrick Lennox’s tone often borders on alarmist, there is good reason for it—as he amply and convincingly demonstrates. The impulse for writing this book was this year’s October 19 Alberta referendum on whether that province should separate fr
Closing Ceremonies and Dying Times by Darlene Madott
Reviewed by Ann Cavlovic First off: young people, do not be put off by the title! Although this collection does indeed depict relationship losses amid other endings and grief, it is also a master class in seeing the red flags a character misses in the moment. Reading this while young might just save you from missing a few in your own life. With that out of the way, I’ll offer a more conventional start to a review. The Closing Ceremonies portion of the book is a collection of
The Given World by Melissa Harrison
Reviewed by Timothy Niedermann Lower Eodham lies in the valley of the river Welm, somewhere in rural England. It is a small, ancient village with a little church, St. Lucy’s, whose bells have long since ceased to be rung to mark the time of day. Villagers like to tell stories of the fairies that might still be hiding about from pre-Christian times, including a witch, who lives in the river disguised as a hen pike. Clare Grey lives in her family home, Alwins, an ancient Benedi
At the Freak Show by Candas Jane Dorsey
Reviewed by Robert Runté Candas Jane Dorsey made her reputation as one of the foundational feminist SF writers pushing the limits of what was possible in speculative fiction. Then, she reinvented herself as a mystery writer with the Epitome Apartments series. Now, Dorsey has pushed past genre designations to reveal herself the master of literary fiction she has always been. At the Freak Show is not a novel in the usual sense of the word; it is novel in the sense of presenting
Hexborn by JP McLean
Reviewed by Wendy Hawkin The “Mistress of Complications” returns with a meticulously plotted urban fantasy/supernatural thriller. Its hallmark, an intricate web of magical systems and relationships in a well-developed fantastical world. Yet at its heart, it’s about people we care about, how they live, love, and survive the forces of evil who would see them destroyed. In this sequel to The Never Witch, JP McLean offers an ingenious illustration of the dangers of xenophobia. Tw
ORB September 2026 Issue
It’s back to school for the Ottawa Review of Books’ team. This month, our reviewers present their insights on book that tickle their fancy. From engaging family memoir fact and fiction to stories replete with observation and self-reflection, a woman’s empowerment in an Islamic society, a journey through art and culture and finally to top-notch science fiction, there is something for everyone in this issue.
The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street by Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho
Reviewed by Wayne Ng “When people ask about my childhood, the airport is what comes to mind.” It is one of the most revealing lines in Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho’s The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street, a memoir about migration, family, and the emotional costs of living between countries. The airport becomes a powerful metaphor for the childhood Ho describes: a life shaped by departures, temporary reunions, and the uncertainty of when loved ones will return. It is where the family’
What Endures by Pauline Holdstock
Reviewed by Timothy Niedermann Whether it’s an over-excited dog, a man heading for parts unknown, or a woman looking at herself in the mirror, Pauline Holdstock holds your attention. Many of her stories start out almost mundanely: in “Dear Geoffrey,” a long-lost friend from England writes to say he is coming to visit; in “Perfect Beauty,” a woman admires herself in the mirror, proud of herself for looking young; in “Maternity Suit,” a woman starting a new job is admired for b
Under the Full and Crescent Moon by Aamir Hussain
Reviewed by Sonia Saikaley Aamir Hussain’s Under the Full and Crescent Moon takes readers into a Muslim society where women, from the Imam to the Circle of Mothers, hold most of the power. Set in the hilltop city of Medina’tul-Agham, the novel brings together an intriguing cast of characters who demonstrate what faith, family and politics mean to them. At the centre of this story is Khadija, a young woman who has lived a sheltered life with her father, the city’s leading juri
