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: The Water Mage by T.J. Ripley

The Water Mage by T.J. Ripley

Whimsical and contemporary, The Water Mage by T.J. Ripley is a compelling first installment of the Lord of Chaos fantasy series.

After receiving a mysterious adventure pack on his doorstep, complete with a mind-focusing ring, Eliot Johnstone, a remarkably average high school student, finds himself plunged into a high-stakes medieval world of dwarves, imps, elves, and magic. While attempting to blend into his bizarre new surroundings – two-tailed cats and all – his previously unknown skills as a wildly powerful water mage are revealed.

Trouble is brewing in the Mage Palace of the kingdom, however, as the mighty Dominus is […]

2024-05-03T14:03:51+02:00May 3rd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: The Black Wall of Silence Part I by George H. Butcher III

The Black Wall of Silence by George H. Butcher III

A searing takedown of the federal judiciary at its highest levels, The Black Wall of Silence Part 1: The Judiciary’s Immorality, Cruelty, and Arrogance About Corruption by George H. Butcher III is an impassioned argument worthy of widespread deliberation in the court of public opinion. While this first part of a longer series covers only a limited scope – the dynamic differences between judicial and police corruption, as well as the ways in which corrupt judges are protected by the Judicial Conference – it establishes an incredibly strong foundation for this four-part indictment, laid out in plain and provable terms.[…]

2024-05-30T09:12:10+02:00May 2nd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Court of Fey (The Rules of Magic Book 2) by Lance Horsman

Court of Fey by Lance Horsman

A thrilling plunge into modern magic, Court of Fey by Lance Horsman is an innovative second piece of his ambitious series, The Rules of Magic. A new queen of the Fey has been chosen, which means that Eddie Burma and his loyal clan of mages must wade into the deadly political waters of the Unseelie Court, where scheming and backstabbing are as common as breathing, and a more sinister force than normal waits in the royal wings. The ease with which Horsman incorporates the real world into a fantasy universe is artful, clever, and gritty, giving the ancient regality […]

2024-05-02T13:57:00+02:00May 2nd, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Quiet Quit and Fully Live by Matthew Hess

Quiet Quit and Fully Live by Matthew Hess

Offering a refreshing perspective on a controversial modern phenomenon, Quiet Quit and Fully Live: Take Back Your Time, Energy, and Life Through Ethical Disengagement by Matthew Hess guides readers through the psychological and behavioral steps of retaking control of one’s life and labor – the idea of doing the minimal requirements at work for maximum personal benefit. From healthy boundary setting and organizing priorities to improving time management, identifying motivations, and shaking off the mental pressures of work life, this book examines – and applauds – the recent trend that is unsurprisingly gaining popularity. With an academic but accessible tone, […]

2024-04-30T19:27:47+02:00April 30th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: The Bear & the Rose by E.K. Larson-Burnett

The Bear and the Rose by E.K. Larson-Burnett

A haunted hero risks everything to break the curse of her violent calling in The Bear & the Rose by E.K. Larson-Burnett, a lyrical masterpiece of fantasy and creativity.

In a supernaturally crafted world of animalistic tradition, magic, and the looming specter of doom from bears both living and dead, one relentless Bearslayer is determined to free her people from fear and perennial oppression. As Springtide arrives, the festivities are interrupted by the first savage attack of the year, and rather than face another season watching innocents die beside her warrior-companion Nathaire, she vows to end the beastly threat once […]

2024-05-29T11:03:14+02:00April 30th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Review: Two by Nathan Nicolau

Two by Nathan Nicolau

A pair of young strangers embark on an unconventional odyssey through Charlotte, North Carolina in Two, a quietly wise novel by Nathan Nicolau.

When Howl observes Ella reciting a passionate soliloquy to a statue in the park, he breaks out of his comfort zone to get some answers. As their day intertwines, small talk turns into big conversation, and an unlikely wander blossoms into something far more precious – an adventurous reinvention for them both. From art, philosophy, and aesthetics to books, people-watching, mental health, and overbearing mothers, the narrative weaves through myriad themes in the pair’s joint quest […]

2024-05-28T12:15:35+02:00April 29th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Flow by Fred Hilgenfeldt

Flow by Fred Hilgenfeldt

Driven by an understanding that the only universal constant is change, Flow: A Guide to Personal Transformation in Mind, Spirit and Action by Fred Hilgenfeldt is a brilliant mix of spirituality and self-improvement. Offering relatable advice on improving our fluid relationships with the world and people around us, this reflective and interactive book touches on a number of issues, such as emotional dexterity, career movement, micro-traumas, the evolution of belief, bonding, relationships, and much more. Hilgenfeldt draws on solid research, anecdotal stories, and cutting-edge studies from the realms of psychoeducation and physiology to deliver an intellectually engaging and refreshingly accessible […]

2024-04-26T16:22:59+02:00April 26th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Wild Running by Rebecca Wallick

Wild Running by Rebecca Wallick

A personal and original reflection on nature, resilience, and the indescribable bonds we form with our canine companions, Wild Running: Lessons from Dogs, Wolves, and the Natural World by Rebecca Wallick is a stunning memoir. Spinning evocative stories from deep in the Idaho forest, whether it’s trail-running beside her beloved Malamutes, facing down wolves, or defending the existential rights of long-misunderstood animals, Wallick delivers a compelling argument for sustainability, cohabitation, and healing. Peppered with jaw-dropping descriptions of ultra-running and insightful examinations of family, purpose, and the pain of limitation, this is a vulnerably expressed and deeply inspiring read.

 […]

2024-04-26T15:57:10+02:00April 26th, 2024|Categories: Editorial Reviews|
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