These magazines/websites accept book reviews on a variety of topics and genres. Apart from reviews, most of them also accept work in other genres, like fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Many pay writers, from token to pro rates. None charge a submission fee, or they have fee-free options. Here they are, in no particular order.
The Rumpus
This magazine has reading periods for ENOUGH (a
series devoted to creating a dedicated space for work by women and non-binary
people that engages with rape culture, sexual assault, and domestic violence –
reading until 30 November 2019), fiction, and poetry. They also publish
reviews, and other departments. For prose books, they want reviews between
1200-2500 words, and prefer a finished draft to a review pitch. For poetry book
reviews, they’re interested in entries for our “Last Poem I Loved”
and “Last Book of Poems I Loved” series, which should be 1500–4000
words. They look for reviews of collections from a diverse group of poets
working within a variety of aesthetics. The review should be accessible to a
general audience. They’re more interested in the reader’s experience of the
poems, subject matter, arc, and the poet’s use of craft than we are in
scholarly criticism or theory. They love reviews that address how the
collection interacts with poetic tradition, the current landscape of poetry,
and that speaks to what the collection brings to our shared discourse as
readers, writers, and citizens. Reviews are accepted year-round. Each month, they set aside $300. All eligible
contributors (feature writers and book reviewers) are able to opt in for
payment at the end of the month, and the money is divided between those who opt
in. Details here.
Barrelhouse
This is a
print and online journal featuring fiction, poetry, interviews, and essays
about music, art, and the detritus of popular culture. They are currently open
for book reviews, which are published online. Their guidelines say, “We prefer reviews that focus on recent(last two
years) small press titles—especially debuts—or upcoming titles. We are
especially keen on books that do not get reviewed in US outlets as often
as others—translated works, international releases etc. … We’re interested in
full-length or chapbook-length collections of poetry & prose. We’d be open
to memoirs, story or essay collections, even academic works. We’re most
tentative with academic titles—not because we’re not open to them—but because
they would need to be accessible to the same readership as for any text.”
They pay $50 to all contributors of their print and online issues. Details here.
Contemporary Poetry Review
They
invite submissions and take on people as critic contributors who contribute
regularly, and they pay. Contributors can choose their own schedules and
deadlines. There are no length restrictions for the poetry reviews. Those interested in being considered as a contributor can submit
3-5 poetry reviews as writing samples and a biographical note, by email or by
post. Details
here.
The Gettysburg Review
This magazine publishes fiction, essays
(including essay reviews), poetry, and visual art. They don’t publish short
reviews of recently published books. Their guidelines say, “we are interested
in more extensive assessments of new publications, reviews that offer insights
both broader and deeper than whether a given book is good, bad, or mediocre.” They
welcome unsolicited reviews so long as they take the essay-review approach –
these are usually 15-20 pages. Pay is $25/page for prose, and $2.50/line of
poetry. Online submissions are charged, but there is no fee for postal
submissions. The reading period is till 31 May 2020. Details here
and here.
Mystery Tribune
This print magazine also has an online presence, the Daily,
in which they publish nonfiction essays, stories, interviews, and reviews on
the genre of mystery and suspense. Pitches or submissions are preferred to
pieces written on spec. Unsolicited contributions to the Daily section,
if accepted, are unpaid. They also publish fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction,
art, photography, and translations in the magazine. Contributors to the print
magazine are paid an honorarium. Details here.
Tough
This is an online crime fiction journal
publishing short stories and self-contained novel excerpts, and occasional book
reviews and essays. Book reviews of 1500 words
or fewer. Their guidelines say, “We are a crime journal. Our book reviews
will reflect these interests.” Nonfiction includes
profiles of and interviews with crime writers, essays about crime writers past
and present, trends in the small press crime fiction community and other
subjects as they present themselves. Query before submitting reviews or nonfiction.
They pay $25. Details here
and here.
The Puritan
This Canadian literary magazine publishes fiction, nonfiction
– interviews, essays and reviews – and poetry from all over the world. For
reviews in the magazine their guidelines say, “We
are looking for pitches for 1500-5000 word reviews of recently released writing
in any genre (including nonfiction). We generally publish reviews of books from
small(er) Canadian publishers, but are open to other works, as well. We do not
publish reviews of chapbooks (please see blog submission guidelines below for
chapbook reviews).” For the blog their guidelines say, “As part of
our MicroLit Reviews series, The Town
Crier is also looking for 400-600 word reviews of micro press
books, chapbooks, broadsides, zines, visual poetry, digital literature
projects, and everything else weird and wonderful being made in literary
communities across North America. Microliterature is what comes out of small
(or digital) literary scenes and communities. It passes under the radar of
major publishers and literary arts media. It’s read by a small but engaged
audience and it lives close to feedback, criticism, and encouragement. The Town
Crier wants to expose how these works are made and received.”
They read year-round, and submissions sent up till 25 December 2019 will be
published in the Winter issue. However, they can only accept a limited number
of fee-free submissions per month in each category, and these fill up quickly. They
pay CAD100 per interview or review, CAD200 per
essay, CAD150 for fiction, and CAD25 per poem (or page, capped at CAD80) in the
magazine. Details here.
Rainbow Book Reviews
This is an all volunteers, non-profit site dedicated to
GLBTQ-related books, reviews, and authors who write about topics of interest to
the GLBTQ community and its allies. They are always open for guest reviews.
They also accept sample reviews from those wishing to join their review team on
a more permanent basis. Details here
(scroll down).
The Georgia Review
The editors mostly assign reviews, but they also welcome submissions from outside reviewers. They publish standard reviews (3-5 pages), book briefs (up to 2 pages), both usually focusing on only one book. They also publish essay-reviews, which almost always discuss more than one book. The essays should develop a strong thesis that not only link the books under consideration but also reaches out to comment on literature or culture beyond the texts at hand. These are 2-4 pages per book reviewed. The Georgia Review also publishes fiction, poetry, essays and visual art. Book-briefs are paid $50, essay-reviews and standard reviews are $50/page, as are all other prose submissions. Poetry pays $4/line. There is no fee for mailed submissions, and their deadline is 15 May 2020. Details here.
The Sunlight Press
This online magazine wants to “hear the ways people turn toward light and hope, whether it is through the arts, culture, spirituality, or humor, and also how they respond to the darkness and navigate unknown spaces.” They accept reviews of books, short story collections, and essay collections (750-1,000 words). They also publish poetry, personal essays, fiction, and Artists on Crafts series. They publish both new and established writers, and they pay. Details here.
87 Bedford
Apart from reviews and author interviews, this young online
literary magazine publishes fiction (micro to serial length), poetry, art,
photography, spoken-word, and other creative media. The journal’s name is
inspired by an address – Chumley’s, which was at 86
Bedford Street, Greenwich Village, New York City – a historic tavern and
former blacksmith’s shop-converted-speakeasy during the
Prohibition-era. It received frequent patronage from writers and poets of the
Lost and Beat generation, including Willa Cather, E.E.
Cummings, Theodore Dreiser, William Faulkner, Edna St. Vincent
Millay, and John Steinbeck. In 2000, it was awarded a
plaque by the Friends of Libraries USA. Pay for contributors to the
magazine is $0.01/word for short
stories, instalments of serial fiction, or book reviews,
and $10 for everything else, including reprints. They publish work on a
rolling basis and are open now for submissions. Details here.
The
Fiddlehead
This Canadian magazine publishes writing in English or
translations into English from all over the world and in a variety of styles,
including experimental genres. Apart from reviews, they publish creative
nonfiction, fiction, poetry, artwork, and occasionally other selected creative
work such as excerpts from plays. Mailed submissions are free, and accepted
year round. Online submissions will be accepted until 30 November 2019. Pay is
CAD60 per page. Details here.
Kaleidoscope
They
publish work on disability, and accept work from writers with and without
disabilities. For reviews their guidelines say, “Reviews that are substantive, timely,
powerful works about publications in the field of disability and/or the arts.
The writer’s opinion of the work being reviewed should be clear. The review
should be literary work in its own right – 5,000 words maximum each/two reviews
maximum.” They also publish poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, articles,
and visual art. Pay is $10-100. Details here.
Terrain.org
This magazine “searches for the interface—the
integration—among the built and natural environments that might be called the
soul of place. It is not definitely about urban form, nor solely about natural
landscapes. It is not precisely about human culture, nor necessarily about
ecology. It is, rather, a celebration of the symbiosis between the built and
natural environments where it exists, and an examination and discourse where it
does not.” They accept poetry, essays, fiction,
articles, artwork, videos, and other contributions. Reviews of published or
forthcoming books, CDs, magazines, community planning resource kits, websites,
movies, and other items are encouraged, as are “Recommended Reads”, in which
authors provide a list and narrative description of the books that have most
influenced their own work. No maximum word length. Details here.
Slightly Foxed
This is the literary magazine that introduces its readers to books that are no longer new and
fashionable but have lasting appeal. It is a magazine for
nonconformists, “for people who don’t want to read only what the big publishers
are hyping and the newspapers are reviewing.” They say they introduce readers
to all the great books that languish on publishers’ backlists but which often
disappear from bookshops. “Contributors are encouraged to discuss their chosen
books with passion and wit … to delight in eccentricity and to share the joys
of exploring the extraordinary, the little-known and the downright peculiar.” Articles
are 1,000-2,000 words, and are paid. Details here.
The
Copperfield Review
This is a journal of historical fiction. They publish book
reviews, poetry, short stories, interviews with historical novelists, and
nonfiction about tips for writing historical fiction or essays about writing
historical fiction. Pay is $15 for reviews and poems, $20 for fiction and
interviews, and $25 for tips on writing historical fiction. They accept work
throughout the year. Details here.
Waxwing
This literary journal promotes the tremendous cultural diversity of
contemporary American literature, alongside international voices in
translation. They have reading periods for fiction, poetry, and
nonfiction. They accept translations throughout the year (subject to a monthly Submittable
cap). For reviews, they say “Book reviews and
interviews are generally done by Waxwing contributing editors, but
unsolicited reviews and interviews are sometimes accepted and published. All
review and interview queries should be emailed to the editors”. They also
accept queries for the Music section. Details here.
Australian Book Review
They accept queries and welcome new
contributors for reviewing books and the arts (film, theatre, music, dance, art
exhibitions, festivals, etc.) as well as established ones. They have sections
on Advice for ABR Contributors, Advice for New Reviewers, and Advice for New
ABR Arts Contributors. They pay for everything they publish. Details here.
Beatdom #20
This magazine publishes annually. For their 20th
issue, apart from reviews, they want essays, interviews,
poetry, and art related to the Beat Generation. They are not looking for
fiction in this round. Pay is $50 for essays. The deadline is 1 March 2020.
Details here and here.
The Museum of Americana
This is an online literary review dedicated to fiction,
poetry, nonfiction, photography, and artwork that revives or repurposes the
old, the dying, the forgotten, or the almost entirely unknown aspects of
Americana. They want publish thrice yearly, and want work that showcases
and/or repurposes historical American culture. Book/chapbook reviews,
interviews, and music for American Songbook will be considered all year round. Submissions
of fiction, nonfiction, humor writing, poetry, and art have a reading period;
the next one is December 2019. Details here.
West Branch
This literary magazine from Bucknell University publishes
fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. For reviews their guidelines say, “Book reviews are typically arranged by assignment, and we publish
only poetry reviews. If you are interested in writing reviews, please query
with a sample. We currently pay $200 per assigned review.” Pay for poetry is
$50 and for other prose, it is up to $100. They read submissions between August
1 and April 1. Details here.
Newfound
This Austin, Texas-based magazine publishes work that explores how place shapes identity, imagination, and understanding.
They publish reviews of books, film, television, music, art, and
more “that are both timely and relevant to our audience. We like reviews that
are critical, complex, creative, and culturally-minded. Reviews should consider
at least one object of culture that has been recently published (within the
last year) or is forthcoming. Please send work that is double-spaced, 500-5000
words in length, and includes a short author bio. If you would like to review a
work listed on our reviews page or something we’ve yet to discover, send a
query along with a CV and writing sample.” There is no deadline given for
reviews. They also publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, translation,
and art. Contributors are paid $25. Details here
and here.
(Also see details of their Virtual Realities themed issue on the guidelines page – the deadline for this is 21 December 2019).
Literary
Mama
Their tagline is “Writing about the many faces of
motherhood”. Each monthly online issue features creative nonfiction,
fiction, poetry, columns, essays about writing and/or reading as anyone who
identifies as a mother, book reviews, and profiles of mother writers and
artists. They occasionally publish work by fathers. For reviews their
guidelines say, “We seek reviews exploring literary work
that reflects a wide-ranging understanding of motherhood as experienced through
multiple lenses and bodies. We review both newly-released work and older books
that we consider to be important to the genre. Please send a query first.”
Also, “Try to give us a reasoned, fair, well-balanced and supported critique of
the work, offered in a positive tone. If you include a summary, please be sure
it serves a purpose in illustrating a point or reinforcing a thesis rather
than giving away the plot. Do not attack the author; please restrict your
critique to the author’s craft, ideas, execution, arguments, etc. We publish
reviews that help us understand how a book adds to the conversation about
motherhood. If you cannot recommend a book, we prefer not to review it. We’d
like to see reviews that consider craft as well as content.” Reviews are
800-1500 words, and genres accepted are fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young
adult, etc. Details here and here.
The New York Review of Science Fiction
They want reviews of science fiction, fantasy, and horror
books. Their guidelines say, “Our credo is that we publish “reviews which
reveal the strengths and weaknesses of good books.” We tend not to publish
negative reviews, though we do publish reviews that examine with precision the
unsuccessful elements of worthwhile books. Contrawise, we do not publish
reviews which are simply gushes of unexamined praise even of the best books; we
want thoughtful reviews. We are not interested in reviewing every book published
— nor even the majority of books published; please query us beforehand if you
are interested in reviewing a specific title. We will consider well-written and
substantial reviews of books by any author, from any publisher. Reviews need
not be limited solely to one book; we encourage reviewers to compare books with
similar themes and to place individual works in context within an author’s
oeuvre and/or within the context of the field of speculative fiction as a
whole.” They also seek popular articles, essays,
parodies, studies, and thought-pieces on topics related to science fiction,
fantasy, and horror literature. For a submission to be considered for any
specific issue, they must receive the submission by the first Wednesday of the
month before the issue is to be published; they publish monthly. Payment is in
copies. Details here.
Tor.com
They are a science fiction and fantasy publisher and accept pitches for reviews, as well as for essays, think pieces, list posts, and reaction pieces in the 1,000-2,000 word range for their blog. Suggested areas of interest are: author appreciations, essays on classic or overlooked works of SF/F, SF/Fantasy in translation (international SF/F), nostalgia-driven looks at older film/TV, Manga and Anime, Internet/Geek culture, and science and technology. They have occasional calls for novels and novellas on their website. Tor is an imprint of Macmillan. All original content for blogs is paid. Details here.
Author Bio: S.
Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She is the
author of 182 Short Fiction
Publishers. She can be reached here.
