John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Blending stream of consciousness, dark symbolism, and raw verse, Can’t Hold On by Samuel Ludke is a powerful collection of non-traditional poetry. Beginning from a point of personal pain, and expanding into a more general reflection on existence, redemption, violence, and salvation, this is intense and evocative poetry. The more prose-leaning pieces are particularly charged and visceral, but there is some awkwardly chosen phrasing in the poems that strays beyond poetic license. In a short collection, every piece should land clean and memorable, so while Ludke’s offering is strong, and certain pieces are especially powerful, the collection is somewhat uneven […]

Two curious young adventurers find themselves in the strange heart of a magical forest, and at the center of their own family secrets, in The Way of the River by Shan L. Spyker, the first book in the Kellandale Wood series. Despite a high-fantasy atmosphere reminiscent of Narnia and other incredible YA realms, this story remains a uniquely plotted tale, as well as deeply symbolic. The concept of nature being a source of untold power and strength, coupled with a healthy nod towards paganism and older belief systems, makes this novel impactful for a broad range of readers. The prose […]

Jenny Knipfer transports readers a century into the past with In a Grove of Maples, immersing the reader in an age of honor and struggle, resilience and religion, and survival in the face of impossible odds. Devoted lovers who are on the edge of a new life must battle forces both within and without to persevere in the brutal Wisconsin frontier. Dramatic character development and lavish descriptive language make Knipfer’s prose shine, and carry this emotionally stirring plot from start to finish. The storytelling is casual but unmistakably aged, except for a few anachronistic moments in the dialogue, and […]

Michael Cole delivers a cogent new perspective on one of the most compelling true-crime horrors in history with The Zodiac Revisited, Volume 1: The Facts of the Case. The first of three volumes that expand the analysis and hunt for the elusive Zodiac killer’s identity, Cole meticulously lays out the details of the case, along with new insights and threads of theories that he will ultimately examine in this series’ remaining volumes. For any true-crime devotee who has studied this spree of serial murders, Coles’ new catalogue of evidence and events is not only a compact and accessible summary, […]

A sharp and rhythmic collection of unfiltered poetry, Confessions of a Lonely Heart by Samuel Ludke drops knowledge and attitude in every verse. From emotional confessions, to poetic takedowns of his haters, this work feels most appropriate for a spoken-word stage, but still jumps off the page. Some of the rhymes are stretched, and most lines don’t fit a traditional meter, but these are two issues that would likely be addressed if performed live. Overall, the rough and relentless power of Ludke’s semi-autobiographical verse makes this an exhilarating collection.

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The sassy and divine superhero in a perpetual state of self-discovery returns in Athens Ophelia the Partitioner: The Diamond-Bodied Prince by Zachary Aneiress. Parading into the last year of high school, wrestling with society’s bigoted demons, and still carving out time to occasionally save the world keeps Aneiress quite busy, but untangling the spell that has been cast on his own curious heart may be the biggest challenge to date. Addressing contemporary issues all young people face, while exploring the more complex challenges of the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities, and doing it all with a fresh, unabashed attitude, this latest […]