John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Giants’ Dance by J.W. Webb

The Giants' Dance by J.W. Webb

J.W. Webb invites readers back to the magical world of Ansu in The Giants’ Dance, the savagely good second installment of the Berserker Trilogy. Carrying on from the cliff-hanging conclusion of Book 1, this novel finds the heroes scattered but resilient, determined to face the mounting evil together, in this classic action-packed fantasy.

Jaren and Finvar make for an unlikely but entertaining team, as usual, as they journey to rescue Savarna in chivalric fashion. With the mythical axe Griner firmly in hand, Jaren heroically leads the pair against demons, stone giants, ghosts, and all other manner of ice realm obstacles […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-03T09:02:06+02:00January 16th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Iljjock Yoke by Anita Vaani

The Iljjock Yoke by Anita Vaani

A young cowherd’s life is turned upside-down when he’s whisked away from the 3^rd century BC to an incredible realm of the divine in The Iljjock Yoke by Anita Vaani, the first book in the Yadduk and the Gods of Seabor series.

This is an endlessly inventive novel, filled with ancient mythology, plenty of humor, plot twists, time warps, and a seemingly hapless protagonist discovering the untapped strength inside himself. After being dragged through the cosmos and arriving on Seabor, Yadduk’s eyes are opened to the bizarre lifestyles and plans of the fickle gods, who seem to hold a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-02T09:57:55+02:00January 15th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Agile a Magic Potion by Ivan Papes

Agile a Magic Potion by Ivan Papes A comprehensive, accessible, and insightful guide to agile methodology and mindset, Agile a Magic Potion by Ivan Papes is a must-read for business leaders, developers, and academics.

From the history and future of software development to globalized perspectives on agile thinking, this book is thorough and wide-ranging, supported by extensive research, clear references, well-established theories, and real-world applications. The author’s extensive experience and anecdotal additions provide an extra level of authenticity and humanity to what can often feel like an impersonal subject. The content ranges from superficial and broadly informative to incredibly in-depth and academic, which makes it relevant for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-15T06:22:47+02:00January 15th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Business Book Reviews|

Badfreaky: The Meanest Witch by Konstantinos Adamopolous, Illustrated by Leoni Katsarou

A whimsical and wickedly fun read that leaps off the page in vivid and detailed illustrations, Badfreaky: The Meanest Witch is a wildly creative new children’s book by Konstantinos Adamopolous. Tracing the tangled tale of Meanloudmouth and Badfreaky, this book plunges young readers into a magical world of nasty witches, quirky characters, daring adventures, sinister schemes, and an upside-down town in desperate need of saving. Although some of the language feels stilted or awkward, possibly due to jumbled translation, the images are mesmerizing and this smile-inducing story is an unpredictable delight.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-15T06:09:09+02:00January 15th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The New Orations: Vol. 1 by Duncan Van Etten

Displaying the flexible mind of a scholar, artist, and mystic, Duncan Van Etten has built a profoundly good first-time collection of poetry in The New Orations: Vol. 1. Moving effortlessly between poetic forms of haiku, free verse, and sonnets, and dancing between complex subjects of jealousy, hope, nature, and even the futility of art, Van Etten demonstrates a versatile style, respect for tradition, and a mastery of language. Along with the more prose-leaning pieces often resembling lyrics or spoken-word improvisation, there are poems that will pique any reader’s interest, whether you love hip-hop, Shakespeare, or Ginsberg.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-14T03:36:07+02:00January 13th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Ungodly by Braedon Riddick

Ungodly by Braedon Riddick

Author Braedon Riddick unleashes a sinister story of dread and doom with his debut novel Ungodly, a grim, spine-chilling horror show.

On a mysterious mountain in the wild parts of North Carolina, an unassuming town suffers the dark creep of horror as tragedy begins to strike in increasingly terrible ways, pushing the unprepared citizens to the brink of sanity and desperation. In this time-jumping, non-linear novel, readers are plunged into a puzzle of action from the very start, and must put the pieces together as they are introduced to the town’s various inhabitants, and victims.

Amanda, the central figure, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-29T05:43:54+02:00January 12th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Horror Book Reviews|

Review: Perspective to Pen, Edited by Ben C. Ward, Created by Robert A. Cozzi

Perspective to Pen: An Anthology, Edited by Ben C. Ward, Created by Robert A. Cozzi

The work of twelve talented poets overflows the pages of Perspective to Pen: An Anthology, created by Robert A. Cozzi and edited by Ben C. Ward. This collection touches on every imaginable angle of the human experience – abstract and symbolic musings, bold political statements, heartrending commentaries on love, and vivid personal recollections of childhood and lost memory.

Lisa Bain fearlessly explores grief and perseverance with unconventional structure and commonplace imagery in her work, while Brian Fuchs hurls powerful political demands as easily as he shares vulnerable vignettes of pain and loss. Shanika Benoit’s work resembles mantras and meditations, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-26T09:47:56+02:00January 12th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: The Greatest Hoax on Earth by Alan C. Logan

The Greatest Hoax on Earth by Alan C. Logan

Upending one of America’s most fascinating modern legends, The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can by Alan C. Logan is a revelatory historical exposé. For those who have seen the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio or read the book Catch Me If You Can, Frank Abagnale Jr. may not be a an unfamiliar figure, but as this book proves, that charming and wildly successful con man may not deserve his legacy.

It is clear that the author spent years accumulating the impressive catalogue of evidence this book presents, not to mention organizing and arranging it to deliver […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-01-25T04:25:36+02:00January 11th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Biography Book Reviews|