John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Capturing the root, growth and revelations of romance during a tumultuous time in history, Uri Full of Light by author Holly Sortland is a vivid cultural snapshot and a delicate exploration of personal evolution. Hannah and Uri dominate the storyline of this decade-spanning tale, which includes the awkwardness of youth, challenges to faith and family tradition, compassionate friendship and the pain of both real and vicarious loss. The language is authentic, the detailed scope of the characters’ lives is immersive, and the dialogue is both emotional and believable. While some expositional sections drag in terms of pacing, this remarkable story […]

Simple in delivery and profound in depth, Moments: This to the Next is a soothing collection of thoughtful poetry from Gary W. Burns. Addressing universal and abstract concepts, as well as cerebral truths and meditative peace, many of these poems read like koans or haikus – brief, but intended to be consumed slowly and with great consideration. Many of the messages are classic wisdom restated in a poetic tongue, but there are also unique observations buried in these off-beat verses that hit home. Though some readers may want more complexity, Burns reflects on unifying themes with a subtle touch, making […]

A dissatisfied optometrist attempts to put the fuzzy pieces of his life back together and find a new direction in Blackout: You Gotta Love Phoenix by Frank C. Senia. What begins as a “Hangover”-esque mystery develops into a real-time examination of how we spend our years, and the priceless value of taking a step back from our lives. Penned with an informal, conversational tone that often dips into stream-of-consciousness prose, the writing could certainly use some sharpening, but the main character’s reinvention of his life does keep the story interesting. The pace can feel breakneck, leaving little room for serious […]

A cross-generational tale of suffering and perseverance, The Man on the Rails is an unforgettable musing on the value of life and the prices we must often pay to survive. In a narrative exploration of cultural biases and belief structures, as well as the complex confusion of romance in times of tragedy, this story is anything but a straight line or an easy escape. As is found in Abdullaoglu’s other work, there is an engaging juxtaposition of modern knowledge, ancient cultural traditions, and intense philosophical effort. While this cerebral undercurrent can occasionally make the story feel cold – a vehicle […]

Poet Ewana Hines unfurls a mesmerizing collection of bold and fearless verse in Excerpts from an Abstract Mind. Acknowledging the long lineage of strife and sacrifice preceding her, this gathering of poems is a battle-cry and a maternal whisper, told by an inquiring mind dissecting the philosophy of existence and survival. Though some poems are more urgent than others, or reiterative, these less powerful pieces provide the space for a reader to breathe, given the intensity of the work overall. With an organic voice entirely her own, and an eye towards truth-telling, painful as it may be, Hines delivers […]