John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Desperate to save what remains of his family and future, a young man embarks on an epic quest beyond the mountains in Karik’s First Battle by Evan Oliver. A Nordic-inspired fellowship of five encounters many hardships along the road, whether it is natural famine, scheming jarls, or the foul oppression of a northern dragon. Overflowing with classic fantasy elements, this first installment of Oliver’s YA series is a rich tapestry of adventure, self-discovery, and brotherhood. The story moves quickly, leaving some scenes feeling rushed, but the titular battle makes for a stirring finish, leaving this rag-tag band of warriors ready […]

Mike McCoy pens an intriguing work of philosophical sci-fi with his novella Obsidian: Tales of Karanga. Depicting a world that is both ancient and contemporary, readers are introduced to tales of the Karanga and the Scragg – beings who create and beasts who destroy. Through allegorical parables and mysterious real-time encounters, the eternal relationship between peace and war is once again tested and explored. This deeply layered story feels like a knowing critique of human civilization, as well as a plea for wisdom going forward. With lyrical language and confident storytelling that enraptures like a dark fairy tale, McCoy delivers […]

E.T. Gunnarsson paints a grim picture of humanity’s self-inflicted future in Forgive Us, a dystopian thriller that will leave readers gasping, as though they too are on the toxic, Ignium-ruined surface of the Earth. Forged in the crucible of a post-apocalyptic world, this inter-generational cast of warriors, survivors, and rebels combine for a gripping slice of dark realism as they move through wastelands of the past. Mixing savvy future tech and sci-fi elements into gritty survival fiction and action-fueled road adventures, this complex, creative, and poignantly written book stands out in an increasingly crowded genre.

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Zachary Aneiress expands the wild and unpredictable adventures of a new-age deity with Athens Ophelia! In this second installment of the Athens Ophelia series, readers are plunged deeper into the supernatural, with demons on the hunt and hissing Collectors at every turn, but they’re also shown the deeply human side of this hero – insecurities, mistakes, and self-doubt. The writing style can only be described as free-form, where traditional grammar and sentence structure are occasionally abandoned. This can lend a sense of authenticity, but there are also many obvious errors that need to be addressed. The descriptive language also needs […]

Shemar Frazier delivers a grim but entertaining vision of our future in Revolution: The New World. Humanity, friendship, and trust are the last bastions of hope for a doomed and undead world where survival is threatened on all sides. Boasting an eclectic cast of young heroes, as well as a sprawling sci-fi premise with zombies, spaceships, and plot twists galore, this is pulp fiction at its finest. The writing is undeniably rough around the edges, and the time-jumping plot can be jarring, so there is a serious need for a thorough edit. However, the story also has plenty of […]