Unsolicited Book Reviews

About Unsolicited Book Reviews

Unsolicited Book Reviews is a weekly podcast, hosted by author Michael David MacBride. Books are selected from things he's recently read and enjoyed. Each review is typically 3-5 minutes, and there are usually 3-5 reviews per episode. If and/or when you read the books, let him know what you think of them. Michael's webpage: https://www.michaelmacbride.com/

Publisher

Michael MacBride

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Nov 2023

Latest episode

23 Sept 2025

Latest episodes

34 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Sept 2025

   Unsolicited book review Tuesday: Richie Billing about his book Together We Rise (2025)

   Unsolicited book review Tuesday.Today's installment: Conversation with Richie Billing about his book Together We Rise (2025)Today I sit down with my friend and fellow writer Richie Billing--who's across the pond in Liverpool. Richie reached out via email, and truly I was just captured by his book from the jump. Both the inventiveness of including a score, the beauty of the maps, and, of course, the story that, while fantasy, was both prescient and timely. Here's his bio:Richie Billing gave up his job as a lawyer to pursue his passion for writing. He writes all kinds of stories, but mostly fantasy fiction. His tales often explore real-world issues, zooming in on the characters and their troubles. His short fiction has been widely published, with one story adapted for BBC radio. In March 2021 his debut novel, Pariah’s Lament, was published by indie press Of Metal and Magic Publishing. Richie also hosts the podcast The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, and his craft book on writing fantasy, A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook, has helped some writers land book deals. When not writing, Richie works as an editor and digital marketer and teaches creative writing both online and in his home city of Liverpool. Most nights you can find him up into the early hours scribbling away or watching the NBA.You can find him online at: https://richiebilling.com/ (https://richiebilling.com/) Or at his Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/RichieBilling (https://www.patreon.com/cw/RichieBilling)You can order copies through his webpage: https://richiebilling.com/books (https://richiebilling.com/books)Thanks for listening and/or watching!Your friendly intensely curious author and indie publisher!http://www.michaelmacbride.com#unsolicitedreview #bookreview #unsolicitedbookreview #macbride #books #booktok #bookstagram #fantasy #richiebilling #togetherwerise #urbanfantasy

2. 

   16 Sept 2025

   At The Wake book launch at Fine Print Bookshop (interview Michael and Francine on 9/9/2025)

   On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Michael David MacBride (that's me!) and Francine Romine MacBride sat down in front of a live audience at Fine Print Bookshop in Saline, Michigan to launch MacBride's latest novel: At The Wake. Recorded live with no edits. Enjoy! Grab a copy from Fine Print (https://fineprintbookshop.com/book/9781964354033) or anywhere you can buy books. Here's the blurb from the book: At the Wake is an unflinching exploration of family, legacy, and the long shadow cast by one man's life. Achiel Van Slyck was a man of contradictions-a war hero who took pride in his service, but also a vindictive neighbor, a volatile father, and a man whose actions shattered lives, including his own. When he murdered Clifford Ellis in 1975, the crime sent shockwaves through his family and community, leaving scars and secrets that would ripple across generations. Through a kaleidoscope of perspectives-his wife, children, siblings, and even his victims-Achiel's story unfolds in fragments, revealing a complex portrait of a man shaped by trauma, war, and a simmering rage. As each family member recounts their experiences, they grapple with the truths of their shared past, the weight of Achiel's legacy, and their own struggles to reconcile love, anger, and loss. Set against the backdrop of small-town dynamics and spanning decades, At the Wake delves into the messy, often painful process of confronting one's history. It's a tale of resilience, reflection, and the ways in which families try to move forward while bearing the imprint of the past. Michael David MacBride weaves a haunting and evocative narrative that challenges readers to ask: can we ever truly escape the shadows of our ancestors?

3. 

   17 Jun 2025

   Unsolicited Book Review: conversation with Bronson Lemer about Ricardo J Brown's Evening Crowd at Kirmser’s: A Gay Life In The 1940s (2001)

   Host Michael Macbride interviews Bronson Lemer, author, about Ricardo J Brown's *Evening Crowd at Kirmser’s*, exploring themes of queer history, memoir writing, and cultural context in the 1940s.

Who has been a guest on Unsolicited Book Reviews

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Bronson Lemer
• William D Dyer
• John Gottcent
• Traci Lambrecht

Podcast Authority Score: 19 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

38

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact Unsolicited Book Reviews

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.