John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Author George Morningstar puts a new spin on a classic sci-fi fantasy in The Traveler, sending readers on a nostalgic trip to San Francisco in the late 1960s. Though the novel starts a bit slow, the pace kicks up with mind-bending dives into quantum mechanics, brushes with cultural legends, and emotionally complex moments of connection and loss. Some of the narration and exposition feels redundant or unnecessary, but the storytelling is strong throughout. From ecstatic experiences to challenging moments of self-reflection and discovery, this novel has far more depth than your average time travel yarn, for a surprisingly rich […]

The split second before a bullet strikes expands into a generation-spanning novel in The Moment Before Dying by Marek Záhorec. This fictional memoir deals with childhood instability, wrong turns in life, the redefinition of family and the sacrifices everyone is forced to make on our spiral of survival. Boasting a narrative voice reminiscent of the “Goodfellas” voiceover, with a confident matter-of-factness that sells this gangster drama from start to finish, Tony Castello is a riveting protagonist, and far more complex than a collection of old-school mafia stereotypes. Though some of the language choices feel awkward, particularly in the dialogue, […]

Sri Lankan poet Joy Joseph Antony releases a powerful poetic debut in A Dream, An Imagination – Unfolded, a soft-spoken collection that speaks volumes. Drawing on his experiences as a refugee, these verses are saturated with visceral emotion and powerful dreams. His delicate musings expand into personal connection, finding common ground, exploring love after loss, and the search for gratitude, all addressed with playful grace and vulnerability. While some poems are structured, or rely on rhyme, many of the free-flowing pieces are brief streams of thought, or mood-soaked snapshots, creating a unique mosaic of expressive poetry.

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The trials and tribulations of high school and heartache take center stage in April’s Heart by Shilah Ferr. An intense look at the repetitive rise and fall of two seemingly star-crossed lovers, this novel will tickle notes of memory for anyone who has had, lost, or managed to hold on to their great love in life. Ferr doesn’t romanticize the tale into something unrealistic – she explores complex emotions with delicacy and grace, without diminishing her characters’ experience. Despite the choppy prose, unembellished language, and occasional reliance on romantic cliches, this is a book with strong lessons for young people […]