John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Slaves of Men and Gods by Jacqueline Smith

A young girl torn between two worlds must carve out a new home in Ghana after disaster strikes in Slaves of Men and Gods by Jacqueline Smith, a dramatic and original YA thriller. Digging into issues of adolescent development, gender dynamics, relatable questions of morality, traditional Ghanaian practices, and more, the target audience may be teenagers, but the themes are complex and mature, while never talking down to readers. With vivid characters and vulnerably emotional writing, this authentic tale about cultivating new roots is an engrossing and wholly unique read.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-06T09:09:16+02:00August 2nd, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Reluctant Betrayals by Claude Renaud

Reluctant Betrayals by Claude Renaud

A stunning blend of fiction and memoir, Reluctant Betrayals by Claude Renaud is a riveting plunge into the past, exposing the dangerous instability of a nation on the brink.

Working on a contract with the Ministry Information in Cambodia, young Philippe Roche lands in Phnom Penh to start his career at the bottom rung of a local magazine. The wild allures of Southeast Asia pull him in almost immediately, sending him spiraling into an exotic trap of temptation, power, control, and lust.

After being swept into the world of expats living in this powder keg of a city, including the […]

Review: The Machinery of Gravity by David Franklin

The Machinery of Gravity by David Franklin

Challenging some of the greatest minds and accepted concepts in modern physics, The Machinery of Gravity: Generalized Equivalence by David Franklin is a thought-provoking proposal of a paradigm shift in modern physics.

While this may sound like a daunting work to digest, the author does an exceptionally good job of keeping this high-level material accessible for a broad range of readers. With a disarmingly upfront style of narration, this book lays out our present understanding of physics, alongside streams of fascinating questions that seem to poke holes, or at least find loose threads, in our current conceptions of science.

At […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-03T02:26:56+02:00August 2nd, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Book Reviews|

Review: Welcome to Our Real Matrix by Tom Arant

Welcome to Our Real Matrix by Tom Arant

A proposed restructuring to how we think about and experience our perception of reality, Welcome to Our Real Matrix: One With No Escape by Tom Arant presents a powerful argument that will leave some readers questioning everything, in this eyebrow-raising, thought-provoking probe of reality.

The author makes it very clear upfront that the intended audience of this book is everyone, so he defines each technical term he uses and breaks down scientific concepts to their most simplistic foundation. The dissection of teleology, and its habit of invading discussions of the scientifically provable world, is a highlight at the front of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-02T04:05:13+02:00August 1st, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: Orpheus Rising by Lance Lee

Orpheus Rising by Lance Lee

A masterful retelling of a lesser-known myth, Orpheus Rising by Lance Lee places a striking modern lens on the timeless struggles of self-control, sacrifice, grief, and acceptance.

John is a stymied writer who shares a small house with his son, Sam, along with sharing a deep and pervasive emptiness – his wife, Sam’s mother, Madelyn, was taken too soon. However, when a mysterious self-writing book arrives at their door, one that allows them to dictate their dreams, or even bring them to life, the story opens up into a uniquely imaginative world.

After entering the realm of Sam’s imagination, they […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-17T04:03:37+02:00July 30th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Johnny Boy by John Califano

Johnny Boy by John Califano

A compelling work of fiction bearing the authentic voice of a memoir, Johnny Boy by John Califano is a visceral slice of life from a skilled, but subtle pen.

Raised in a claustrophobic home in Brooklyn, young John Caruso must navigate the sullen anger of his father, the quiet struggles of his mother, and the occasional invisibility of being the youngest in the house. His older brother and sister, Frank and Connie, are his protectors and guides, helping him see past the narrow-mindedness and violent tendencies of his father, and explore his own potential as he grows up fast.

Over […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-16T09:44:12+02:00July 28th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|

Review: Enigma Rose by S.E. Reynolds

Enigma Rose by S.E. Reynolds

Romance, tragedy, and redemption are served up alongside small-town charm in Enigma Rose by S.E. Reynolds. A slow-burning romantic thriller, this is not a standard heartbreak-to-healing love story, and leads readers through an emotional maze before reaching its dramatic end.

Tragedy strikes the mayor of Fairview, sending his seemingly perfect life into a spiral of sorrow and solitary fatherhood. His late wife, Melissa, had been his unwavering rock for years, the woman who had pulled him out of young heartbreak and whose trust fund allowed him to leap from police officer to political powerhouse.

Melissa taught him how to be […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-01-17T13:47:36+02:00July 28th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Magic in Windowland by Rupamanjari

A whimsical fling into the fantastic realm of imagination, Magic in Windowland by Rupamanjari, with illustrations by Aliaksandra Kopach, is a fun adventure about freedom and friendship. When a fog-window doodle named Pip is brought to life with the help of a generous pixie, little does he know what challenging adventures and lessons lie ahead. The illustrations are crisp and vivid, and the chosen font is engaging, while also allowing for emotional formatting of the text. The messaging is powerful but subtle, making this delightful children’s book an optimistic pleasure to read.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-07-28T07:11:50+02:00July 28th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|