John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

About John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Providing exceptional writing, editing and publishing services to hundreds of international clients, ranging from nutritional copywriting and long-form ghostwriting to substantive editing, assessment/analysis of academic texts and structural/content editing for bestselling novels.

Zombie by Clifford Benjamin

Zombie by Clifford Benjamin

An allegorical work of fiction that feels very close to home, Zombie by Clifford Benjamin is a controversial landmine of a novel, parodying deadly political villains and many of America’s recent woes. A vile, racist, and power-hungry POTUS flexes his cruelty across his people and the world in this dystopian reimagining of societal and political collapse. While the story is gripping and graphic, some of the formatting and technical details need improvement, including inconsistent capitalizations, a multitude of misspelled words, and other grammatical issues. With so many rough edges, Benjamin’s powerful and timely commentary loses a fair degree of impact, […]

2021-08-11T03:21:46+02:00August 11th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Eudora Space Kid: The Great Engine Room Takeover by David Horn

Eudora Space Kid by David Horn

A precocious little rebel with her eyes on the stars makes a name for herself in dramatic fashion in The Great Engine Room Takeover by David Horn, the first book in the Eudora Space Kid series. A fun-fueled tale of a young girl chasing down her dreams at light speed, this is an accessible and entertaining start to the series.

With a gentle bipedal wolf for a mother and an octopus-headed humanoid father, Eudora Jenkins’ family is anything but normal. She also lives on Athena, the flagship of AstroFleet, and has a very hard time staying out of trouble, meaning […]

2023-05-02T10:54:59+02:00August 10th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Vale of Darkness by T.C. Elofson

Vale of Darkness by T.C. Elofson

A newly forged legend and an uncertain leader work to overcome their own guilt and dark shadows in Vale of Darkness by T.C. Elofson, the second installment of the Waterbringer Series. Deepening this masterfully crafted world with even more lore and legend – and an even greater evil that threatens a nascent empire – the author defies stereotypes in the genre, blending cultural traditions from fantasy and historical realms alike. With lyrical precision in scene-building, and an ominous blanket of suspense over much of the prose, this richly imagined adventure is exhilarating, and delivered with a savvy pen.

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2021-08-09T05:28:55+02:00August 9th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Pandemic by Dieter Gartelman

 Pandemic: How Deadly Will It Get? by Dieter Gartelmann

A novel that strongly argues the point that reality is stranger than fiction, Pandemic by Dieter Gartelman is a fictional retelling of the pandemic still wreaking havoc around the globe, and a hypothetical fate we all may still face. Blending true history with semi-hysterical visions of the future is a storytelling gamble, but Gartelman hits the mark in this prophetic and troubling portrait of America.

Having a diverse range of protagonists provides a uniquely well-rounded perspective on the global crisis at the center of this story. Michael Thompson’s expertise in public health, his wife Dorothy’s intrepid reporting skills, John Othallo’s […]

POMSILv2 by Sheldon Charles

POMSILv2 by Sheldon Charles

A thoughtful and emotional collection of short fiction, POMSILv2 by Sheldon Charles is a captivating and unpredictable group of stories. From young lovers finding connection on a dance floor to Covid-inspired casino drama, future fiction about terraforming, and hard-hitting reflections on military legacy and PTSD, Charles once again proves his versatility in subject, mood, and execution. Some of the narration suffers from telling, rather than showing, but the pace of the stories is consistent, and the characters are cleverly crafted. With an ear for authentic emotions and an eye for both contemporary and classic themes, this collection is in turns […]

2021-08-09T02:44:38+02:00August 9th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Fading by Stephen R. Clark

Fading by Stephen R. ClarkImbued with the wisdom and patience of age, Fading by Stephen R. Clark is a tender reflection on the strange wonders and sadness of life.

This collection of more than seventy poems is a sprawling narrative woven in different poetic styles and a myriad of moods. From heartfelt recollections of childhood to observational musings on landscapes, household objects, long-held beliefs, and lost love, these pieces comprise a memoir of sorts, spanning Clark’s entire life, and capturing it in humble, unassuming verse. The poet elevates even the simplest thoughts or passing moments to sacred heights through his power of observation, and […]

2021-08-09T05:45:22+02:00August 6th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Review: Tokyo Zangyo by Michael Pronko

Tokyo Zangyo by Michael Pronko

A spectacular plunge into the dark heart pumping beneath Tokyo’s shining streets, Tokyo Zangyo by Michael Pronko is the fourth stellar installment of his Detective Hiroshi series. From the gripping opening scene that sets a deadly tone, to the breakneck investigation’s dramatic climax, this novel rarely lets up in intensity or intrigue.

Detective Hiroshi Shimizu is once again summoned to the site of a grisly mystery – a bucho businessman named Shigeru Onizuka found splattered on the pavement beneath the building where he’d done his life’s work. However, his work at Senden Infinity also included being a notorious bully and […]

Drone Adventure by Chris Mather

Drone Adventure by Chris Mather

Two young boys learn about the excitement, risks, and proper usage of their new high-tech toy in Drone Adventure by Chris Mather. With the increasing popularization of drones in recent years, this is an important read for a new generation of gadget-savvy children. Despite the occasional slant rhyme and awkward syllable count in the rhythmic flow, the writing is straightforward, educational, and engaging. The quality and cleverness of the rhymes improve as the book progresses, and despite being quite short, Mather packs in plenty of understandable and critical information for young drone users. Balancing simple illustrations with an instructive two-part […]

2021-08-04T08:43:47+02:00August 4th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|
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