John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

About John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Providing exceptional writing, editing and publishing services to hundreds of international clients, ranging from nutritional copywriting and long-form ghostwriting to substantive editing, assessment/analysis of academic texts and structural/content editing for bestselling novels.

Gold Fever by Jim Clougherty

Gold Fever by Jim Clougherty

Author Jim Clougherty pulls readers through a shadowy descent into madness, greed, and the Earth itself in Gold Fever, the first installment of his Dark Savior series. A slow-burning psychological thriller featuring dark prose, gruesome action, and visceral monsters, the spiraling plot is gritty and engrossing, albeit occasionally unpolished with some tangential or repetitive chapters. Bolstered by a unique narrative voice, this lengthy novel captures authentic dialogue well and takes time to develop secondary characters. For those readers seeking an entertaining burst of literary terror, Gold Fever delivers a gripping start to this new series.

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2020-08-04T03:43:10+02:00August 4th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Dark Twists and Surreal Turns by M.G. Spear

Dark Twists and Surreal Turns by M.G. Spear

Prepare yourself for a short and addictive dive into shadowy science and the secrets that lurk beyond our understanding in Dark Twists and Surreal Turns by M.G. Spear. Psychological horror fans will be attracted to the sharp descriptions and the ominous mood that permeate this novella, the first in the Dark Twists trilogy, but there are also interesting explorations of mood and panic disorders, and the tangled pain of mental illness. Describing a mind as it becomes unhinged, or begins to disappear entirely, is an ambitious goal, and while the prose is choppy and abrupt at times, this haunting book […]

2020-08-04T02:46:21+02:00August 4th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Ring of Azurmus by Andrew Chiniche

The Ring of Azurmus by Andrew Chiniche Andrew Chiniche shows himself to be a poet in a class all his own, displaying his storytelling whimsy, dark descriptive powers, and deep understanding of ethereal connection in his new collection, The Ring of Azurmus.

Inspired by cards of the tarot deck, and brought to life through stories that surge and fade like smoke, this poetic saga is unique, like a handwritten spell book for romance. The language is not only carefully chosen, but also playful and unpredictable: Alice is the Chalice / and the lynchpin in my search / for the Talisman. These moments of poetic grace are refreshing […]

2020-08-03T05:31:11+02:00August 3rd, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Gaze the Moon by Andrew Chiniche

Gaze the Moon by Andrew Chiniche

Using mystical imagery and plaintive language, poet Andrew Chiniche weaves a powerful experience of magick poetry in Gaze the Moon.

Centered largely on deep soul love that transcends common ideas of connection and romance, the poems vary wildly, from heartfelt and straightforward to abstract puzzles of symbolism. At times, the pieces resemble adages or mantras, such as the simple “You are the light that makes the darkness worthwhile,” but their brevity doesn’t undercut their weight. They offer the chance to take a breath, process the wisdom being shared, and ready oneself for the next impactful page.

Much of the poetry […]

2020-08-03T05:38:59+02:00August 3rd, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |

Review: Tryst by Aaron Eldritch

Tryst by Aaron Eldritch

Youthful ghost stories become all too real in Tryst, the dark and well-penned new novel by Aaron Eldritch.

While the premise of a haunted house and dark spirits that follow intrepid explorers home is hardly new, there is something sinister and refreshing about this story of lost innocence and fragile fraternity. Heavy with symbolism and marked by an authentic narrative voice reflecting the protagonists’ youth, this is a spooky coming of age tale that is authentically scary.

Greg, Zeb, Aaron, and Derik are normal young boys, getting into trouble, scaring each other with stories, and navigating the difficult waters […]

2020-08-18T02:12:12+02:00July 31st, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: , |

Caught (Sea Temptress Series Book 1) by Kimberley Cale

Caught by Kimberly Cale

Author Kimberley Cale splashes into her Sea Temptress series with Caught, a high-seas romance adventure full of swashbuckling, sun, and supernatural thrills for a perfect summer escape. Feeling slightly like a reboot of The Little Mermaid, there are plenty of well-penned exchanges and heartbreaking turns for grown-up readers. Though the writing is simple and straightforward, making this an easy read, the storytelling is still marked by surprising descriptions and an oceanic well of creativity, as well as plenty of steamy exchanges and multi-layered language. Cale delivers in this first installment of the series, offering classic romance writing, uniquely developed […]

2020-07-31T04:20:17+02:00July 31st, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Between Justice and Time by Victor P. Unda

Between Justice and Time by Victor P. Unda

Author Victor P. Unda masterfully blends genres in the tumultuous, Nazi-hunting thriller in Between Justice and Time. What begins as a young man’s childhood reflections on family and the uncertainty of growing up in the 1930s becomes a spiraling drama of survival and purpose in a war-torn world.

From a childhood in California and Chicago to young adulthood in Spain, readers watch the narrator grow up in awe of his father, the legendary Rick, and the mystique around his secretive work grows as the narrative shifts. Focusing more on Rick’s work, the novel bounces from Paris and Spain to […]

The Fat Girls Club: Hawaii Five No by Lila Johnson

Author Lila Johnson and her trio of wild and openhearted women are back in The Fat Girls Club: Hawaii Five-No, another hilarious and globe-tripping installment of this one-of-a-kind series.

Sissy, Nicki and Angela find themselves in the strange webs of love, as always, despite being on different sides of the globe, yet they can always rely on one another when the tears start to flow and the stress starts to build. From impossible choices between very different lovers to the complications of gender politics and romance in the professional world, these women navigate their troubles together with grace, humor, and […]

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