John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

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 […]

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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