John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A relentless, breakneck adventure across time and the breadth of the galaxy, The Red Oasis by Joseph Kozak barely gives readers time to breathe between chapters. With a spiraling plot that leaps from escaping underground realms of rock people to epic space battles, warp portals, and dark sorcerers, this genre-bending adventure is packed with action. The plot is comic book-like in its energy, but there is significant room for improvement on the editing and structural side, as it’s difficult to understand the larger context of the plot, and there is little time taken for character development. While the overall plot […]

A thought-provoking tale of the future, The Astral Hacker by Brian Terenna is the dynamic first installment of the Cryptopunk Revolution series. This emotionally gripping YA thriller is ideal for tech-savvy fans of sci-fi and those who love character-driven, female-led drama. Terenna deftly explores youthful struggles of isolation, trust, independence, self-esteem, and digital friendships through the relatable eyes of a teenager surviving a century in the future. Though some of the dialogue is a bit too exposition-heavy to feel natural, the author’s creativity, social commentary, and prophetic powers are on full display, making this a strong foundation for what promises […]

Steamy, smart, and packed with drama, Taming the Legal Luvvie by Amerine Graham, the third installment of her Taming the Bad Boys series, is a delicious bit of pulp fiction. Romance has trouble staying buried for the globe-trotting elites at the center of the story, and this captivating novel has plenty of torrid tangles and double entendres for readers to savor. The characters are complex and well-developed, rather than sexy stereotypes or caricatures, and the emotional puzzles feel authentic and engaging. The writing is intensely descriptive, but there are many instances of awkward phrasing and unclear syntax, much of which […]

A wild and creative fantasy, Tindle: Rise of the Liger by Monique McMorgan weaves a unique plot of shapeshifters, CEOs, and mysterious enemies at the gates, for an action-packed and unexpectedly philosophical ride. With a keen eye towards world-building and in-depth character development, this novel has a bit of everything: old flames, family values, existential quandaries, brotherly bonds, self-reflection, conceptions of masculinity, and what unites humans together across the world. While some of the narration is a bit too simple for the subject, the twisting plot is easy to follow, and the pace doesn’t let up. All told, this original […]

A fast-paced, post-apocalyptic prophecy, Nuclear Midnight by Robert Cole is a gripping thriller, but also an accurate imagining of life if the world’s nuclear superpowers ever choose to unleash their might. A worst-case scenario tale of survival in a freshly devastated world, this novel also boasts a charming protagonist who evolves into a dauntless hero before the reader’s eyes. While the plot has a strong heart and good supporting characters, there are some details that need work, such as inconsistent colloquial speech, large drops of exposition, and inorganic dialogue. Those imperfections aside, this gritty, relentlessly unpredictable story works both as […]