John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Preons: Alpha by Frederik T. Stevens

An expansive and daring sci-fi drama, Preons: Alpha is the first installment of a high-octane series by author Frederik T. Stevens. This endlessly creative novel is a coming-of-age story and a galactic thriller, founded on impressive world-building and complex, wounded characters, particularly David, the vengeful protagonist who fuels this violent tale. Dropping readers into this universe without an excess of exposition can feel jarring, but it also makes every detail, reference, and description important – scattered pieces to a fascinating puzzle. The narration is overly declarative at times, rather than visceral or suggestive, but the non-stop action of this cosmic […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-10-26T02:48:52+02:00October 24th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: K3+ by Erasmo Acosta with Gala Stevenson

K3+ by Erasmo Acosta with Gala Stevenson is a stunning piece of futurist sci-fi – a visionary story that proposes the shape of mankind’s destiny in the universe.

A wildly creative futuristic vision, this novel tracks the origins of the fictional Space Initiative and its first nascent steps among the stars, led by its unlikely and uncompromising leader, Federico. As an added twist, readers are also given a glimpse far into the future – a billion years – to the intergalactic evolution of the human race, with its population in the nonillions and energy-capturing megastructures placed around billions of stars.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-01T07:30:33+02:00October 24th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey

The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey is a dazzling, globe-spanning tale of two interconnected lives, bound in an unlikely way, but forever changed by the connection.

From a simple lost notebook comes an unusual storybook romance, a tale of growing up and seeing the world, of saying goodbye and remembering lost things. Luna and Lucien are the star-crossed protagonists whose lives are dissected with intimate, in-depth character studies, making their unpredictable bond a pleasure to unravel.

Lucien’s discovery of Luna’s journal, and the eventual crossing of their paths, feels like the plot of a familiar romance, but […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-10-26T07:04:49+02:00October 23rd, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

’53 on 35th by J. Conran Meyer

A charming and unique reflection on childhood, ’53 on 35th: A Silent Boomer’s Recollections by J. Conran Meyer may be set nearly 70 years in the past, but its innocent wisdom is truly timeless.

This pseudo-memoir follows the exploits of a neighborhood of young boys/Knights as they discover adventure, freedom, and the mysteries that will be revealed after “kidhood.” As the author explains, this story explores the memories we cherish and those we create, the uncertainty of our rose-colored glasses, and the seminal events that shape our view of the world.

Peppered with anachronistic bits of Americana, which gives the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-10-21T16:27:48+02:00October 23rd, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: Black River Lantern by Alex Grass

A surreal carnival of horrors, Black River Lantern by Alex Grass is a genre-spanning novel of dangerous powers, cruel fathers, and the secrets that shape our lives.

The Maravicos Carnival is a legendary institution in the town of Kayjigville, but so is the temper and ambition of Papa Maravicos, who will do anything to keep the family business thriving. After escaping from his father’s never-ending cycle of abuse and pain, Eddie Maravicos is dragged back to this torturous circus, armed with the surprising new power to read minds. It doesn’t take long for his father to capitalize on this new […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-10-23T07:13:13+02:00October 23rd, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Plagues and Princes: The Great Mortality by Thomas Schultz

Destiny-starred lives collide in Plagues and Princes: The Great Mortality, a dark historical fiction novel set in medieval England. A powerful tale of death and betrayal boasting exquisite language, unforgettable characters, and a tangled knot of a plot, author Thomas Schultz delivers a bold first piece of his new trilogy.

Thomas de Parr is a free-thinking young man in a world that crushes such spirits; he is faithful to his maker, but also insatiably curious, and dangerously independent. Surviving human history’s most horrific plague is only the beginning of this unpredictable adventure, which pits this young nobleman against the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-11-24T08:05:31+02:00October 23rd, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Make Our Country YUUUGE Again by Web Augustine

Author Web Augustine welcomes readers to the satirical pseudo-world of Cameria in Make Our Country YUUUGE Again: Laira Succupy Ganders’ Unbelievable Journey with Tunnald Drump.

Like a history book on comically strong steroids, this novel traces the decisions, actions, crimes, and cruelties of the Drump administration from before his election to the height of the 2020 pandemic. While that covers a lot of historical ground, this dark comedy works as a comprehensive, albeit cartoonish, collection of the greatest crises of the past few years. With a wild cast of eccentric (and highly recognizable) characters, this no-holds-barred critique is sharp, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-10-23T05:56:26+02:00October 22nd, 2020|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Politics Book Reviews, Satire Book Reviews|

No Romance Allowed by Kana Wu

Kana Wu carves out a new niche in the romance genre with No Romance Allowed, a lighthearted, witty, and insightful novel about the struggles of being single, and the secrets we struggle to keep. Watching a different type of relationship blossom in such a traditionally predictable scenario is refreshing, while the first-person narration gives readers carte blanche access to the protagonist’s mind in a compelling and slightly voyeuristic way. There are some stumbles in the writing, and certain passages that could be more descriptive, but these are the exception, not the rule. Boasting realistic dialogue, slow-burning suspense, and a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-10-23T03:12:36+02:00October 22nd, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|