John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Readers are lured into a gallery of gore and an exhibition of evil in The Morbid Museum by James Pack, a collection of stories that circles themes of death, loss, and darkness like a vulture. Whether exploring the psychotic logic of a serial killer or the inherent violence of humans towards those deemed lesser, these sinister stories are often disturbing, but always thought-provoking. Bouncing between genres and storytelling formats, there is a broad range in the writing, yet every story maintains an ominous edge. Some of the prose feels rushed, or inconsistently edited, particularly when it comes to syntax variation […]

Three young meta-humans are plunged into the adventure of a lifetime in The Chosen: Breaking Bonds by Michael Williams. The petty pressures of high school life are hard enough without discovering that you have powers that are only getting stronger, not to mention a new job protecting the world, but that’s precisely the case for these young heroes. Capturing the cadence and personality of YA speech, as well as the uncertainty and insecurities so common during adolescence, Williams is an undeniably authentic storyteller. A more careful edit could eliminate the grammatical errors and tangential moments of prose, as well as […]

Robert Cole begins a wildly creative and inter-dimensional new YA saga with The Last Portal: Book 1 of the Mytar Series. With a classic premise of young outsiders finding their way in a strange realm, and gradually embracing incredible powers that just might save the world, the foundation of the story isn’t entirely unique, but Cole’s execution is fantastically original, and the core characters leap off the page with energy, attitude, and personality. Exploring themes of otherness, confidence, finding your tribe, and self-acceptance, this is an easy-to-read adventure with strong messaging, quick wit, and complex protagonists who will carry […]

Readers return to the mysterious mountains of North Carolina in Beyond Mercy, the second installment of Morgan James’ thrilling Beyond Mysteries series. As this saga’s fearless protagonist makes the sleepy and superstitious town of Beyond her permanent home, it becomes clear that not every resident is happy with her arrival, nor her curiosity about the town’s tangled secrets. There is a sinister edge to this story from the start, and James masterfully maintains an eerie, threatening mood that makes it hard to put this novel down. There are some plot gaps and loose ends, as well as occasionally awkward […]