John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Baumed by Chris Kassel

Baumed by Chris Kassel Whimsical, wildly creative, and laced with contemporary wisdom, Baumed by Chris Kassel is an innovative addition to Oz-inspired lore.

Dorothy awakes from her legendary time away, which her guardians suspiciously deny, saying she had been in a brief comatose state. Auntie Em and Uncle Henry insist that she never left the house, let alone Kansas, but Dorothy’s unforgettable adventure was surely more than a dream…right? Undaunted by skepticism, Dorothy employs her Emerald City lessons to expose the manipulative men and women behind the curtain in her very real world, where the consequences for her community are as dire as anything […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-06-10T15:12:53+02:00June 10th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Feisty Deeds, Edited by Carolyn Korsmeyer, Christy Matheson, Elaine Schroller and Kimberly Sullivan

A necessary fictional plunge into the annals of history’s unsung heroes, Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women is a perfectly curated collection of fearless women making their mark on the world. From charming murderesses and devoted patriots to battlefield heroines and rebellious homemakers, these tales of extraordinary women and their dangerous deeds span centuries and nations, for a well-rounded and insightful compendium of unheard voices. The distinct and polished prose of the contributing writers brings their imagined achievements to life, resulting in a captivating, thought-provoking, and undeniably inspiring collection. Transcending the tired themes of compulsory courtship and domesticity, these […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-06-10T13:48:10+02:00June 8th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Rem’s Chance by Dave J. Andrae

Rem's Chance by Dave J. Andrae

Capturing the quiet struggle of a resilient generation with scathing wit and emotional depth, Rem’s Chance by Dave J. Andrae is a sardonic portrait of a generation.

A washed-up musician plagued by worst-case-scenario thinking rediscovers an almost forgotten passion when he embarks on a quest to uncover the past. After serendipitously running into an old bandmate in the midst of a tragedy, Remy Bruxvoort is catapulted back into the memories of his rock ‘n’ roll youth with Gene and Dusty, the other members of The Bubbling Samovars.

Setting aside his daunting ambition of writing a novel, and the painful stress […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-05T17:58:36+02:00May 30th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Music Book Reviews|

Review: Base Oasis by Jack Dunsmoor

Base Oasis by Jack Dunsmoor

A compelling and lesson-laden memoir that echoes with wisdom, Base Oasis: Finding My Way Home Again! by Jack Dunsmoor is a raw and unflinching collection of essays.

From youthful confusion over his absent father and empathy for those mistreated by vicious societal systems to secret UFO sightings and casual violations of child labor laws, this is a rich and detailed memoir of a truly remarkable life. These forty essays delve into broadly relatable experiences of growing up and making mistakes, outsmarting bullies, managing mental health as an awkward teenager, lifelong struggles with self-esteem, finding a sense of belonging and purpose, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-01T17:03:21+02:00May 30th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Strange New Variations on Life by James Pryor

A compelling work of sci-fi dystopian fiction that hits satirically close to home, Strange New Variations on Life: Escape from Planet Earth (The Pystead Group Book 2) by James Pryor is an expansive and thrilling continuation of this wholly original series, which sees the ambitious Pystead pilgrims leave Earth’s unsafe seas and take to the stars, but their Martian destination is far from a welcoming sanctuary. Navigating mind-bending dualities and alternate personalities, Alice, Philip, and the rest of the crew embark on a turbulent journey into a new chapter for humanity. The prose occasionally feels unpolished and inconsistent, which can […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-29T13:07:14+02:00May 29th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: The Saga of the True: One by M.L. Frey

The Saga of the True: One by M.L. Frey

An eternally changing castle, a noble race with an immortal legacy, and sinister forces of genocidal destruction make The Saga of the True: One by M.L. Frey an inspired work of fantasy.

Five centuries ago, humanity cycled through yet another horrific collapse and were nearly eradicated by the forces of the undead arising to obliterate the living. However, it may be the last time such a rebirth is necessary, as an age-old prophecy could finally be fulfilled when the last immortal member of an alien race called the True defeats his banished brethren and returns the planet to an era […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-06-26T12:22:30+02:00May 28th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Deathless Creatures by Katie Wilson

Deathless Creatures by Katie Wilson

A heartbroken young woman with a passion for art history and an apparent inability to die is introduced to the shadowy world of immortality in Deathless Creatures by Katie Wilson, a romantic and macabre vampire thriller.

In the gloomy post-Covid world of Seattle, a tragic accident derails Sarah Woodward’s life, but a chance encounter with another loner sets her headache-wracked existence on a death-defying new course. Finding solidarity and perhaps an explanation for her isolation, the intensity of love overwhelms them both, with dangerous consequences.

From its shocking opening page to the dramatic finale, this supernatural thriller exudes a gritty […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-06-19T10:36:55+02:00May 28th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Vampires Book Reviews|

An Ocean Life by T.R. Cotwell

An Ocean Life by T.R. Cotwell Legend mixes with mortality in An Ocean Life by T.R. Cotwell, an unpredictable dive into the nuances of nature and the loyalty of the human heart.

When a perennial entrepreneur takes a vacation to Hawaii, he intends to reconnect with his family and disconnect from the world of investors and startups. However, he soon learns that the wrecking ball of his career isn’t the biggest danger in his life when he undergoes an inexplicable transformation during an early morning dive session. Using his lifetime of marine knowledge and his newfound abilities, he must find his way back to his freshly […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-22T16:57:29+02:00May 22nd, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|