601 ratings | 375 reviews | avg rating:4.24

B.J.’s Year In Books

B.J.’s 2025 Year in Books

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B.J. Sikes’s Followers (16)

B.J.’s Bookshelves

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historical-fiction (1)
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B.J.’s Friends (25)

Intisar Khanani

961 books | 364 friends

Sharon

3,635 books | 878 friends

Shweta

737 books | 23 friends

Vince

755 books | 24 friends

Marian Thorpe

257 books | 300 friends

Betsy Miller

450 books | 127 friends

Danielle

1,598 books | 52 friends

Ruth Heasman

5 books | 1 friend

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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 · 114 ratings · 74 reviews · 8 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) 4.33 avg rating — 24 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 Book 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
	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

Cover Reveal: Her Runaway Lady

It’s coming 1 May 2026!

Her Runaway Lady, my sapphic historical romance, is set in Paris in an alternate 19th century. If you’re read my Roboticist of Versailles books, the setting will be familiar AND there’s an Easter egg.

Check out the beautiful cover by Liz at Bookcoversbylizbe. It’s SO perfect! The silhouettes look just like the characters

Cover by Bookcoversbylizbe

Solange’s ambiti

B.J. is Currently Reading

B.J. Sikes is currently reading

Office of the Lost (Chaos and Order #1)

by J. Scott Coatsworth (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jan 17, 2026 10:41PM

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 Earl's Daughter's Debt: An Enemies to Lovers Second Chance Regency Romance (Secrets of the Season) by Kirsten MacLaren (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
It was a different plot than your standard historical romance, and I really enjoyed it. The FMC was strong and determined but still able to soften for the children in her charge and be vulnerable to the MMC despite their history. I liked that both we ...more
3 hours, 57 min ago · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Earl's Daughter's Debt by Kirsten MacLaren. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Earl's Daughter's Debt by Kirsten MacLaren <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
B.J. Sikes is now following Nicole's reviews
4 hours, 54 min ago · like
B.J. Sikes made a comment on Cover Reveal: Her Runaway Lady " Nicole wrote: "Will this lovely book be listed on Goodreads soon?" It will be on Goodreads as soon as the librarians add it. ...more "
4 hours, 55 min ago · see blog post
B.J. Sikes rated a book really liked it The Selkie's Curse: A Sapphic Pirate Fantasy (The Dagger & Tide Trilogy Book 2) by Vivien Nash (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
A sapphic pirate adventure with real heart at its center.
Jan 31, 2026 09:43PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Selkie's Curse by Vivien Nash. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Selkie's Curse by Vivien Nash <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
B.J. Sikes rated a book liked it Demon Marked (Everwood Falls #4) by Kat Kinney (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
This book has a really cute premise: a demon and a fae fall in love, there's a pet hellhound and yummy baked goods. I thought it was a romance but it reads more like a cozy fantasy mystery with a no spice romance subplot. The major issue I had was all ...more
Jan 31, 2026 08:40PM · like · see review
B.J. Sikes rated a book it was amazing Cinder House by Freya Marske (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
I devoured this book. It was so satisfying.
Jan 31, 2026 06:44PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Cinder House by Freya Marske. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Cinder House by Freya Marske <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
B.J. Sikes made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Please add Her Runaway Lady topic " p.s. Still waiting for the Amazon link. "
Jan 31, 2026 10:58AM
B.J. Sikes wants to read Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher (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
Jan 29, 2026 08:44PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
B.J. Sikes wants to read Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa (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
Jan 29, 2026 08:43PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
B.J. Sikes wants to read Ladies in Hating (Belvoir's Library #3) by Alexandra Vasti (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
Jan 29, 2026 08:42PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Ladies in Hating by Alexandra Vasti <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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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

3942 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