John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

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 […]

A collision between two uniquely edged lives – a man scarred by a violent past and a horse-loving heroine with a dangerous ex-husband – sets off in Unbroken by A. Kelly. This contemporary dual-perspective novel gives intimate access to both characters, allowing the author to deeply develop their personalities, their flaws, and the heavy baggage of their pasts, making their powerful connection all the more engaging. Despite some trite dialogue and the occasional narrative tangent that seems unnecessary, this is a steamy romance with dark corners and a slow build, proving that good things come to those who wait.

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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 […]