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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.

Review: Julia’s Memories and The Interflow of Things (Amor Mundi Books 1 & 2) by Dave Dröge

Julia's Memories and The Interflow of Things

Reading a novel doesn’t always mean one should trust the narrator, and in Julia’s Memories and The Interflow of Things, an omnibus of the Amor Mundi series, this complex challenge comes to the forefront. Set in the somewhat distant future, the world has changed in many ways, but the true depth of that shift doesn’t become apparent until the critical turn of this double-stacked book.

The book begins with a long, detailed account of Julia’s life – in memoir form – from her youngest years until her present-day success as an artist in the year 2050. This section of […]

2019-01-22T10:33:17+02:00October 17th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , |
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Review: The Folly of Sweeney by Brian J. O’Sullivan

The Folly of Sweeney by Brian J. O'Sullivan

The machinations of a fractured mind can make for great literature, and in The Folly of Sweeney by Brian J. O’Sullivan, readers get a raw glimpse into a truly unusual brain. Touching on elements of the immigrant experience, mental health, alcoholism, family and self-preservation, this book may be erratic and unpredictable, but there are powerful messages lying beneath the surface of this drunken New York fairytale from a true seanchaí.

The central character of the novel, Liam, is an Irishman who now calls New York home, but he hasn’t lost the stereotypical penchant for alcohol. He is a difficult character […]

2019-01-22T10:33:47+02:00October 16th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |
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Review: Daemon Rising by John William

Daemon Rising by John William

From the opening lines of this engrossing novel, it is clear that Daemon Rising by John William is going to be a meticulously penned and immersive adventure. Relying on some classic fantasy tropes, but carving out a corner of the genre all his own, William delivers a thrilling new world in Books 1 and 2.

As is so often found in fantasy novels, two unlikely heroes find their destinies and paths intertwined, despite the seeming impossibility of any connection or kinship between them. This deep fantasy dive centers on two primary characters, Dragan and Imlod, who are being controlled by […]

2018-12-05T10:52:37+02:00October 11th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |
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Farewell to Follies by Xingu Fawcett

Farewell to Follies by Xingu Fawcett

Farewell to Follies establishes Xingu Fawcett as a formidable short story writer with a firm finger on the pulse of human nature, as well as the natural world.

These stories vary wildly in their subject matter, but the underlying themes are universal – wrestling with death, balancing nature and the city, exploring unknown places, and the long-term impact of trauma. With an artful, yet sensitive approach to these issues, the stories are both harrowing and heart-warming. Fawcett understands the dynamic nature of life, and seamlessly presents complex characters from different times, social backgrounds, and life paths.

Whether writing about Parisian […]

2018-10-15T06:38:57+02:00October 8th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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A Monk’s Tail by Kyle Spencer

A Monk's Tail by Kyle Spencer

If you’re looking for a wondrous escape into a whimsical new world, A Monk’s Tail by Kyle Spencer should sit firmly at the top of your reading list. The world-building alone in this action-packed novel makes it worthy of a read, while the unique characters will leave you hungry for a sequel.

Bow is far your typical hero, but beneath his gruff exterior is a noble and loyal protagonist with recognizable character traits, despite being a firefox. The fact that all the characters are animals makes this novel initially seem childlike, but the themes being explored by Spencer – oppression, […]

2018-10-02T10:29:41+02:00October 1st, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: |
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Review: Profit Wars by Mac Whitesides

Profit Wars by Mac Whitesides

Sometimes the near future can be far more terrifying than some far-distant dystopian hellscape, and in Profit Wars, author Mac Whitesides hits close to home with a tale set only a stone’s throw ahead of humanity’s present day.

In the year 2020, war has finally shed its façade and revealed itself as a game of profit. Victory goes to the highest bidder, particularly when you have the Global Force Protection (GFP) fighting in your corner. This massive global corporation can basically shift the tides of world power, selling its elite mercenary services for almost any cause.

Even those who […]

2019-01-22T05:41:26+02:00September 25th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: , , |
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Review: The Good Fight by Dan E. Hendrickson

The Good Fight by Dan E. Hendrickson

The Good Fight by Dan E. Hendrickson is an action-packed, deeply researched novel that keeps readers guessing until the end and will have them on the edge of their seats from the start. The ambitious scope of the story, particularly the detailed procedures of numerous government agencies and a broad cast of relatable characters, makes for an addictive read that will pull you into this bizarre and sinister mystery.

Danielle Edwards may be the female protagonist of the novel, but much of the plot is driven by the rest of her family, who control a major automotive company and run […]

2018-10-27T12:36:05+02:00September 17th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |
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Review: Freeing Linhurst: Into the Tunnels by Al Cassidy

Freeing Linhurst: Into the Tunnels by Al Cassidy

With a bold spirit and a nose for a good mystery, one ghostly adventure was never going to be enough for young Jack Alexander. In Freeing Linhurst: Into the Tunnels, author Al Cassidy breathes fresh life into his courageous characters – Jack and Celia – from the first book in the series.

Two years have passed since they first delved into the secrets of Linhurst State School and Hospital, and both have dealt with their first fantastical foray in different ways. Jack has been tormented by the memories of Linhurst, from merciless teasing at school to haunting dreams that […]

2020-05-20T05:16:45+02:00September 13th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: , |
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