John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Survival of the Richest by Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV

Survival of the Richest by Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV

There are many survival guides on the market, some funny, some deadly serious, but there are certainly none like The Survival of the Richest: An Analysis of the Relationship between the Sciences of Biology, Economics, Finance, and Survivalism by Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV.

This cross between textbook, philosophy journal and survivalist guide is undeniably educational, and stirring in its intersectionality. The author brings together ideas from biology, economics, finance, survivalism, anthropology, history, and philosophy to present potentially controversial, but thought-provoking concepts.

Founded on the idea that having a greater amount of wealth increases the likelihood of being able to […]

Don’t Tear Us Apart by A Kelly

Summer Rideau’s newfound perfect life comes under fire, threatening to destroy the greatest love she’s ever known in Don’t Tear Us Apart by A Kelly, the second installment of the Summer Scipio romantic trilogy. Riveting from the start, Summer and Scipio are written as an incredible team – sexy, supportive and respectful, but also secretive in certain ways that keeps the tension humming. The author captures the complexities of human emotion remarkably well, though the narration can occasionally be too detailed. Touching on tough topics like breaches of sexual boundaries, step-child resentment, and the loss of identity within a partnership, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-08-13T03:07:01+02:00August 13th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Quando Dormo by Edward Izzi

Quando Dormo by Edward Izzi Horrific moral fantasies come to life in Quando Dormo: When I Sleep by Edward Izzi, a chilling mystery that initially seems clear, but reveals more twists than any reader expects.

When Dr. David Fazio’s waking life and moral compass is knocked askew by his employers’ demands, his unconscious appears to take over his pro-life passion, and all signs point to the good doctor’s guilt in a string of violent arsons. Wrestling with his own beliefs, along with his uncontrollable body in the dead of night, David must define the shape of his own morality and reclaim his sanity before going […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-08-12T04:51:33+02:00August 11th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

El Camino Drive by Edward Izzi

Author Edward Izzi has penned an emotionally gripping thrill in El Camino Drive, a psychological tale of stolen revenge and dead ends.

Decades after his father was murdered, Detective John Valentino has reached the end of his proverbial rope – battling depression and self-loathing, living the shell of a life, and unable to escape the demons of his past. When the violent and vengeful escape route he chooses is hijacked by someone else, he becomes the prime suspect in a string of murders, but also discovers a new reason to live.

Izzi explores ideas of grief and abandonment, substance […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-08-12T04:48:38+02:00August 11th, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Deleted Dreams by Ren Ellis

Deleted Dreams by Ren Ellis

Author Ren Ellis releases a bold and visionary novella with Deleted Dreams, a YA speculative fiction novella that delicately pulls from multiple genres and demonstrates exceptional storytelling skill. With remarkable world-building and creativity, as well as a deep focus on character depth and vulnerability, this book is electric and memorable.

Derra is an exceptional young woman torn between two worlds – The Ring of Ruins and the Ring of Radiance. She may be an Incident-stained young woman, but she is well on her way to redemption and the future she has dreamed of: becoming a Fixer to mend the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-08-31T06:21:21+02:00August 8th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Speculative Fiction Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Chronicles of the Virago Book II: The Apprentus by Michael Bialys

The Chronicles of the Virago Book II: The Apprentus by Michael Bialys

Makenna Grace Gold comes into her own as a legendary heroine in Chronicles of the Virago: The Apprentus by author Michael Bialys. With a tongue-in-cheek vein of humor running throughout, this is a powerful and endearing story of an extraordinary young woman with the fate of the world hanging in her hands.

Following his embarrassing defeat against Makenna’s awakened abilities, Malvado Seaton may be licking his wounds, but he is far from surrendering. Ms. Creante, a violent Demonesse and Seaton’s trusted killer, is desperate to regain Seaton’s trust, and is determined to exact her revenge on the young protagonist.

The […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-08-28T06:22:58+02:00August 8th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Gray Wolf (Legends of Ansu Book 1) by J.W. Webb

Gray Wolf (Legends of Ansu Book 1) by J.W. Webb

Author J.W. Webb introduces his sprawling fantasy universe with Gray Wolf, the first book in the expansive Legends of Ansu trilogy. Set before and unrelated to the events of the Crystal King trilogy, this sweeping story is a foundation stone for other pieces of this author’s swelling saga.

After losing his entire family to raiders and the fickle Sea God, Corin al Fol becomes an orphan overnight and is saved by a mysterious sorceress who hints at a path for revenge, and then disappears. Years pass and Corin finds ways to survive, falling in love with an innkeeper’s daughter and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-08-26T02:51:34+02:00August 7th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Nancy by William Kenneth Jones

Penned with precision by William Kenneth Jones and boasting a charming narrative voice, Nancy is a striking tale of adversity, faith, deep roots, loss, and resilience. The dialogue is a rich and immersive element of the story, given the heavily accented speech, and an impressive amount of historical research was clearly required to summon this corner of the world in such a believable snapshot. Aside from the poignant writing, characters are developed deeply, with room to breathe and grow; readers are not told this story, but are instead shown through clever prose, authentic relationships, and emotional turns, painting a biographical […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-08-06T08:28:10+02:00August 5th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|