John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A meticulously penned homage to Japanese tradition and mythology, Rise: The Liminal Chronicles by Amy Winters-Voss is a stellar achievement. Giving detail to some of the most stereotyped aspects of the island empire’s culture, and telling the story of an ex-Yakuza member from a decidedly unexpected point of view, this genre-blending novel is pulp fiction and small-town drama all at the same time. While certain plot developments are overly convenient, this unexpectedly emotional tale is compelling throughout, and the confident authorial voice makes the novel hum with authenticity. With careful character development and patient storytelling, this first installation from Winters-Voss […]

With riveting sermons of prose, Dawn Downey captures deeply private yet broadly relatable snapshots of life as a black woman in Blindsided: Essays from the Only Black Woman in the Room. From the complicated perils of language and the bloody crossroads of religion and racism, to the nexus of art and the size of one’s assigned space in the world, this is a fearless collection that is painfully relevant for today’s readers. Spilling such intimate insights through brilliant, well-drawn prose is an undertaking where most authors fail; these essays, however, are provocative, subtle, and captivating – often within the […]

With savage satire and relentless rhyme, Steve Ravencroft unravels The Last Orangutan Part II: A Brief Summary of Trump’s Second Year in Office, a poetic retelling of Donald Tump’s second year in office. Written in verse, this clever narrative is thorough and acerbic, serving as a grimly whimsical reminder of America’s dubious recent past. Maintaining such a rigid rhyme scheme for 70+ pages is a monumental task, and while there are some lines that feel a little forced, Ravencroft has an eye for detail and a penchant for parody. For a lighthearted and potentially painful walk down memory lane, […]

In The Entrepreneurial Guide: The Key Principles of Building and Growing Your Business, Dr. Srikanth Gaddam instructs those in the business world how to overcome the most common obstacles and pitfalls to help reach their industry potential. From covering aligning visions within teams and building commitment to long-term goals, to a nuanced exploration of sales tactics and graceful exit strategies, this is a comprehensive, accessible, and engaging read. The text is well-narrated and peppered with anecdotal details, but there are also numerous grammatical errors, as well as awkward syntax that requires a second reading to fully understand the meaning. […]

Shining a light on “the forgotten women and children of the Civil War,” author Ken DeHaven delivers a stirring tale of fortitude and bravery in the face of injustice with Emily: Courage Amid Shadows of the Confederacy. This visceral story of righteous rebellion captures the imagination with immersive prose and a keen attention to detail. The dialogue is occasionally heavy-handed, particularly when used as a vehicle for exposition, and some of the language choices feel too modern or colloquial, but Emily is a powerful focal point as a protagonist. DeHaven explores dark, timeless themes of America that remain painfully […]