618 ratings | 388 reviews | avg rating:4.24

B.J.’s Year In Books

B.J.’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at B.J.’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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B.J. Sikes’s Followers (17)

B.J.’s Bookshelves

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read (692)
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B.J.’s Friends (25)

Betsy Miller

458 books | 127 friends

Vince

794 books | 24 friends

Sharon

3,622 books | 878 friends

Intisar Khanani

963 books | 364 friends

Danielle

1,626 books | 52 friends

Marian Thorpe

258 books | 300 friends

Shweta

749 books | 23 friends

Michael Sahd

1,145 books | 2,133 friends

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B.J. Sikes

Goodreads Author

Born

in London, The United Kingdom

March 13

Website

https://bjsikeauthor.com/

Genre

Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror

Influences

Mary Robinette Kowal Colette, Jane Austen ...more

Member Since

May 2016

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/bjsikesauthor

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I am a 5'6" ape descendant who is inordinately fond of a good strong cup of tea, Doc Marten boots & fancy dress.

I write fantastical history with a modern feminist lens, a touch of heartbreak, and a little bit of steampunk.
My debut novel, The Archimedean Heart begins the Roboticist of Versailles series.
A novella that follows the events of The Archimedean Heart appears in the 2017 anthology The Clockwork Oracle. The full-length sequel, The Vitruvian Mask continues Adelaide's story.
My third full-length novel, The Cultist's Wife is a gothic horror inspired by a childhood experience.

I was also the chief editor and contributor of a triad of short story anthologies: Twelve Hours Later: 24 Tales of Myth and Mystery, Thirty Days Later, Steaming F ...more

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Combine Editions
B.J. Sikes’s books

Average rating: 3.89 · 122 ratings · 83 reviews · 9 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Cultist's Wife 3.48 avg rating — 42 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Vitruvian Mask (The Roboticist of Versailles, #2) 4.30 avg rating — 23 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Thirty Days Later: Steaming Forward: 30 Adventures in Time (The Later Series, #2) by A.J. Sikes (Editor), B.J. Sikes (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Dover Whitecliff (Editor) 3.92 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 2016 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Archimedean Heart really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 12 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Some Time Later: Fantastic Voyages Through Alternate Worlds by A.J. Sikes (Editor), B.J. Sikes (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Dover Whitecliff (Editor) 4.20 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Her Runaway Lady really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 9 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Twelve Hours Later: 24 Tales of Myth and Mystery 3.88 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Clockwork Oracle by David L. Drake, Katherine L. Morse (Goodreads Author), A.J. Sikes 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Next Stop on the #13 by Katherine L. Morse (Goodreads Author), Lillian Csernica (Goodreads Author), David L. Drake really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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B.J. Sikes's Blog

Sneak Peek: Her Runaway Lady

My latest release, Her Runaway Lady, a sapphic historical romance, releases on 1 May 2026.

Preorder it here: https://books2read.com/u/bWDKAY

Here’s a sneak peek of Chapter one, where we meet Solange, our protagonist.

Solange ran her cold fingers across the crown of the hat she was working on, its velvet soft under her fingertips. A draft rattled the millinery’s floor-to-ceiling windows and plucked at

B.J. is Currently Reading

B.J. Sikes is currently reading

Venus, Vanishing: A Novel

by Rebecca Birrell

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Apr 05, 2026 08:41PM

B.J. Sikes is currently reading

Eye of the Beholder (Magic Mirror #1)

by C.H. Clepitt (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 15, 2026 09:32PM

B.J. Sikes is currently reading

Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe

by Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Aug 17, 2024 09:19PM

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B.J.’s Recent Updates

B.J. Sikes rated a book really liked it The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Delightful little book. It was charming although it was a bit TOO charming at times. I did enjoy that the protagonist was a grumpy older woman with no patience for fools.
3 hours, 17 min ago · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
B.J. Sikes liked Duskvioletnova's review of Her Runaway Lady: "3.75/5 I’m a bit of a history nerd myself, so when I read that the setting for this book was 19th century Paris, I was definitely intrigued. The fact that it’s also a sapphic love story only made it better. Like I mentioned before, the setting of 19th" Read more of this review »
3 hours, 19 min ago · see review
B.J. Sikes liked Quinn's review of Her Runaway Lady: "Special thanks to BookSirens and author BJ Sikes for this ARC opportunity. I am happy to share my honest review. I am always eager to read sapphic romance by a new author and was so excited to be able to get my hands on this! I especially love histor" Read more of this review »
3 hours, 19 min ago · see review
B.J. Sikes and 2 other people liked Rosie Amber's review of Her Runaway Lady: "3.5 stars Her Runaway Lady is an historical sapphic romance with a hint of steampunk; all set in Paris. Nobleman’s daughter Louise-Marie refuses to be forced into marriage by her parents. Instead, she runs away, seeking work in a small Paris milliner." Read more of this review »
3 hours, 20 min ago · see review
B.J. Sikes rated a book it was amazing Masterful Microtension: The Essential Element of Powerful Fiction (The Writer's Toolbox Series) by C. S. Lakin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I have read a lot of writing craft books, including some of this author, but have never seen the topic of Microtension addressed. This important aspect in writing compelling prose was well explained without being overly theoretical. There is so much ...more
4 hours, 52 min ago · like · see review
B.J. Sikes rated a book really liked it The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Delightful little book. It was charming although it was a bit TOO charming at times. I did enjoy that the protagonist was a grumpy older woman with no patience for fools.
Apr 13, 2026 01:55PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
B.J. Sikes rated a book really liked it The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Delightful little book. It was charming although it was a bit TOO charming at times. I did enjoy that the protagonist was a grumpy older woman with no patience for fools.
Apr 12, 2026 04:27PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C.M. Waggoner <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
B.J. Sikes rated a book really liked it Can't Spell Treason Without Tea (Tomes & Tea, #1) by Rebecca Thorne (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 08, 2026 09:31PM · like
B.J. Sikes started reading Masterful Microtension: The Essential Element of Powerful Fiction (The Writer's Toolbox Series) by C. S. Lakin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 05, 2026 08:42PM · like
B.J. Sikes started reading Venus, Vanishing: A Novel by Rebecca Birrell	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 05, 2026 08:41PM · like

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Review / Write / ...: [archived] Round_6 "General, GR+ (NOT Amz)" -Done!-	53	18	Apr 27, 2023 06:04PM
Review / Write / ...: [archived] Chain_7 "Mature" -CLOSED-	117	24	May 06, 2023 07:17AM
Review / Write / ...: [archived] Chain_9 “Speculative” -Done!-	67	18	May 08, 2023 08:24AM
Review / Write / ...: [archived] Round_14 "Speculative, GR+Amz" -Done!-	29	21	May 31, 2023 10:55AM
Review Group: Group 329 18+ - Mod. Gene	180	80	Jul 18, 2023 04:31PM
Review Group: * Group 347. Out of This World - Mod. Kat	226	59	Feb 23, 2024 02:03PM

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B.J.’s Quotes

“I can imagine no greater bliss than to lie about, reading novels all day.”
― Julia Quinn, Ten Things I Love About You

tags: books

235 likes

“It's not about adding diversity for the sake of diversity, it's about subtracting homogeneity for the sake of realism.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal

tags: diversity, twitter

25 likes

“You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.”
― Colette

tags: enthusiasm, foolishness, silliness, wisdom

3939 likes

“I would say your passion, but that’s part of being headstrong. Or your conviction, but that’s related to being obstinate. Fearless, but that is a combination of both. Perhaps, then, I shall cite your love of Brussels sprouts.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, Ghost Talkers

tags: evaluation, strengths-and-weaknesses

2 likes

“Put down everything that comes into your head and then you're a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff's worth, without pity, and destroy most of it."

(Casual Chance, 1964)”
― Colette