-
-
About
UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Category Archives: Fiction
Bloodsworn: Book 1 of the Avatars of Ruin – Tej Turner
(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) Blood Sworn is a dark fantasy action-adventure set in a euro-centric secondary world. It is the first book of the Avatars of Ruin series, and it begins with Kyra running late for the males of Jalard … Continue reading
Posted in Sci-Fi/Speculative/Fantasy/Mythology
Tagged Science Fiction & Fantasy
Comments Off on Bloodsworn: Book 1 of the Avatars of Ruin – Tej Turner
My Part of Her – Javad Djavahery, Preface by Dina Nayeri, Translated by Emma Ramadan
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “For what reason did the people take to the streets to demand the Shah’s departure? I assure you that if we asked the question today, the majority of Iranians wouldn’t know how to respond. For liberty? … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Middle Eastern Literature, Political fiction, World Literature
Tagged Iran, Islamic revolution, Tudeh party
Comments Off on My Part of Her – Javad Djavahery, Preface by Dina Nayeri, Translated by Emma Ramadan
The Epistles of Jesus – Bayard Hollingsworth
(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) The Epistles of Jesus is a fictional story. It provides a theoretical approach to the question of what if we discovered that Jesus had written down his teachings himself, and those teachings had turned out to … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction
Tagged Jesus Christ, Religion
Comments Off on The Epistles of Jesus – Bayard Hollingsworth
In the Shadow of Gold: A Tale of the Lost Confederate Treasure – Michael Kenneth Smith
(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) Michael Kenneth Smith’s book, In the Shadow of Gold, is a historical thriller set during the end of the Civil War. It follows the parallel paths of a disgruntled Confederate midshipman intent on stealing the … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Historical Fiction
Tagged American Civil War
Comments Off on In the Shadow of Gold: A Tale of the Lost Confederate Treasure – Michael Kenneth Smith
No Room at the Morgue – Jean-Patrick Manchette, Translated by Alyson Waters
(reviewed by JD Jung) “They’re going to lock me up. I’m the perfect fall girl. My fingerprints are everywhere, even on the knife that belongs to me, and I got blood all over me.” Maybe another reason that this femme-fatale, … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, French Literature, Lost and almost forgotten, World Literature
Tagged French literature, noir
Comments Off on No Room at the Morgue – Jean-Patrick Manchette, Translated by Alyson Waters
The Sins of Others – Florian Schneider
(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) The Sins of Others is a historical fiction set in 1933. It tells the story of Ben Heimlich and his estranged mother, who happens to be a militant fanatic on the run. Jane Abbott, an English … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction
Tagged Bosnian war
Comments Off on The Sins of Others – Florian Schneider
The German Client: A Bacci Pagano Investigation-Bruno Morchio
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “If Germans and fascists don’t shoot us, Americans bomb us.” Private Investigator Bacci Pagano doesn’t have an easy relationship with the past. He grew up poor as his mother worked in a cigar factory and … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Italian Literature
Tagged Genoa, Italian literature, translated world literature, WWII
Comments Off on The German Client: A Bacci Pagano Investigation-Bruno Morchio
One for the Money (Cat Caliban Series Book 1) – D.B. Borton
(Reviewed by Pat Luboff) ”Suspicion is second nature to any woman who’s raised three kids.” I’m going to say something about this book that I don’t think I’ve ever said about a book: I loved every word! It gave me … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged cozy mystery, light humor
1 Comment
Root and Branch – Preston Fleming
(Reviewed by Jeyran Main) Root and Branch is a political thriller written about Rogers Zorn, who is a security contractor. He learns that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been using his companies’ discoveries in order to achieve … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Political fiction
Tagged political thriller
Comments Off on Root and Branch – Preston Fleming
The Forger’s Daughter – Bradford Morrow
(reviewed by JD Jung) “…I had an epiphany that, notwithstanding my every effort to steer my gifted daughter clear of the precincts of forgery, she possessed more of the counterfeiter’s mental and physical tools than perhaps even I did.“ Will … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged calligraphy, Edgar Allan Poe, forgery
Comments Off on The Forger’s Daughter – Bradford Morrow