John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Based on centuries-old history and filled in with some creative liberty, John the Fearless by Anastasiya Baydachenko is a brief but intriguing dive into the life and times of the Duke of Burgundy, who held power at the end of the 14th century. Part biography and part historical mural, the author examines the Duke’s tangled family tree, the idiosyncrasies that have made him a historical anomaly, and provides a glimpse into politics and power during the late Middle Ages. Baydachenko recounts the history impartially, but some of the more personal details feel out of place, and some patterns of speech […]

A mid-60s tale with a classic wild west edge, Hit Back is an action-packed and unpredictable ride, courtesy of author Jeffrey W. Tenney. Armed with authentic language straight out of a Wyoming cowboy bar, as well as a good balance between character development and gun-slinging action, it’s easy to get lost in this caper. The first-person narration gives immediacy and intimacy to the story, and Harlan’s voice is original, unpolished, and believable. An additional polish could strip away some of the unnecessary language, but overall, Hit Back is an entertaining, mystery-fueled adventure loaded with country charm.

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A gripping and emotionally naked memoir, The Places Left Unfilled by M.C. Cauley is bold and unafraid to lay bare the wounds of trauma. Exploring her adolescence, in which she was repeatedly abandoned and abused, the author gives a stirring account of her life, dissecting her own fearful heart on the page. Even as readers watch innocence slip away, it is replaced by an unexpected suit of armor – a decidedly inspiring transformation. Pushing the boundaries of societal approval, taboo themes, and the shape of morality itself, this story exposes the ways our bodies and minds react to emotional turmoil, […]

A bizarre cast of characters with a healthy dose of paranoia are forced to face an apparent apocalypse together in Surviving Crazy by Frank Crimi. With a long, character-building fuse and a whip-smart pen behind the imagery-rich writing, this novel hums with tension and possibility from the start. From doomsday preppers, moody fry cooks, and might-be Russian assassins, to mysterious damsels and an old ballplayer looking for one last shot at glory or purpose, Crimi does a remarkable job of weaving backstory into every strange scene. With secondary plot lines adding to the suspense, but never giving away the twist, […]

Author Jeffrey W. Tenney plunges readers into an unforgiving wilderness in Real Enough, a reality TV-inspired novel with more than enough alliances, betrayals, and frayed tempers to go around. The multi-perspective narrative follows the life-and-death decisions of twenty island-bound competitors, which inevitably provides a visceral peek into the darkness and desperation of human nature. Tenney writes with an almost journalistic distance, at times, so emotional descriptions and internal nuance is limited, but he still captures the tension and drama that readers may expect from a literary version of “Survivor.” Despite the occasional repetition between the narrative points of view, […]

A dark and edgy Gothic thriller that skips the cliches and hits all the right dark notes, The Empty Space is a stellar addition to author Linda Watkins’ Kate Pomeroy series. Deftly building suspense with unexpected cutaways and reflections, this plot is far from typical, blending sinister moods and deadly relationships within a linguistic dance – one that is a sincere pleasure to read. Though the dialogue is occasionally brief, giving only a slice of a scene within a swirl of narration, Watkins has a confident voice that can grip a reader’s attention, both heart and mind. With a heroine […]