John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Strange Quantum Souls by Chris Carvell

Scholars and thinkers have been seeking the substance of the soul since time immemorial, but author Chris Carvell proposes something entirely unique in his new book Strange Quantum Souls. Blending high-level mathematics with cognitive philosophy and quantum theory, this book is a wild and challenging dive into the realm of quantum consciousness.

Carvell’s argument combines ideas of micro-black holes and a Super-Ether that feed our brains information to form our thoughts and consciousness on an instantaneous level. If that single sentence is a struggle to unpack, you’ll have a truly tangled (and thought-provoking) time comprehending the rest of this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-12-17T07:57:50+02:00July 31st, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Philosophy Book Reviews, Science Book Reviews|

Review: Sky Parlor by Stephen C. Perkins

Sky Parlor by Stephen C. Perkins

A mind-bending thrill of a novel, Sky Parlor by author Stephen C. Perkins has set an impressive new bar in the historical science fiction niche. Tracing the age-old battle between Artemis and Apollonia, and its different manifestations throughout human history (and future), the novel delivers an action-packed escape pod from reality, while also challenging readers to examine some new philosophical ideas about what it means to be human.

Like pawns in an infinitely complex board game of the gods, this wildly creative novel suggests that human beings return to this world in future lives, playing out new roles in an […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-26T08:28:18+02:00July 26th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Time Travel Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Land of Kings (The Britannia Chronicles Book 2) by Virginia Weldon

The mythology and mystery of ancient Britannia are brought vividly to life in Land of Kings, the second installment of Virginia Weldon’s Britannia Chronicles.

A decade after Regan, Valerius, Cara, and Alana’s lives first collide, peace feels like a distant dream and there are still many battles on the horizon. Regan, having honed his impressive battle skills in the gladiator pits, returns to Britannia with his freedom intact, fire in his belly and a singular goal of reuniting with the woman he loves. Meanwhile, the rebel forces of the island nation are amassing under Queen Boudicca, and Alana and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-22T10:49:51+02:00July 22nd, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fantasy Book Reviews, Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: When We Were Brave by Karla M. Jay

When We Were Brave by Karla M. Jay

The stories of World War II often focus on battlefield heroics and the history-shaping decisions made by famous leaders. However, scaling this global conflict down to a more intimate level can also be immensely valuable, which is precisely what author Karla M. Jay has done in her new work of historical fiction, When We Were Brave.

Three very different storylines grow and artfully wind together in this sometimes harrowing read: a recently emigrated family sent back to Germany, an SS officer wrestling with a crippling crisis of faith, and a young Jewish boy just beginning to understand the cruelty […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-12-02T04:21:48+02:00July 22nd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, World War II Book Reviews|

Fragile Body and the World Around Me by D. Green

An astonishing poetry collection by D. Green, Fragile Body and the World Around Me articulates the trauma and struggle of life. Processing his own chronic condition through verse and marrow-deep reflection, Green’s emotional outpouring is soul-baring and deeply moving. With visceral moments of revelation and intimacy, carefully veiled in silken words, this collection exemplifies how poetry can turn despair into beauty. Both inspiring and heart-wrenching, this slow, at times clinical examination of love, death, wholeness and purpose will resonate long after Green’s final line.

[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-19T08:42:51+02:00July 19th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

50 Dinosaur Tales by Sabrina Ricci with Garret Kruger

50 Dinosaur Tales: And 108 More Discoveries From the Golden Age of Dinos is the perfect blend of education and entertainment, as both young and old readers are invited to see the world through a very different set of eyes. Authors Sabrina Ricci and Garret Kruger bring to life some lesser-known dinosaurs from Earth’s prehistory, weaving unique facts into simple stories. At times, this book reads like Aesop’s Fables, if they had been set in the Mesozoic Era, while the post-story bullet points and reference materials give the book significant authority and impact.

[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-19T05:42:45+02:00July 19th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Tetrastatum by Tim Smith and Dr. Richard

Tetrastatum by Tim Smith and Dr. Richard

For those who think sci-fi is little more than futuristic space operas and allegorical cautionary tales, Terastatum, the new novel from Tim Smith and Dr. Richard, will certainly broaden your horizons. Inspired by the likes of other famous Richards – Feynman and Dawkins – this book is a wild and wise journey through time, space and some of the most complex fields of modern science.

The novel is founded on a truly boggling premise that there is another universe, just as massive and incalculable as the physical one, consisting of non-matter, known as a thotonic universe. Not only can […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-09-06T06:42:41+02:00July 18th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Time Travel Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels

The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels

In The Scream Behind Her Smile, author Athena Daniels takes readers into the dark heart of emotional turmoil, and into the devastating picture of a toxic marriage, but also offers a slice of hope.

The novel centers around Claire, a woman who suffered too much at too young an age, and found herself locked in a loveless marriage following the loss of a child – a marriage where psychological manipulation and dangerous games were the norm. As Claire feels control in her life spinning away, she chooses to make a change, leaving Derek and his mistress behind. However, this […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-08-22T06:11:41+02:00July 17th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|