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.

Invasive Species by Nick Snape

Invasive Species by Nick Snape

The intrepid Delta Squad of space commandos is back in Invasive Species by Nick Snape, the sixth book in his wildly creative Weapons of Choice series. In need of recuperation after their recent tragic losses, the team descends into the Stratan system, only to find a shattered society of regressed humanity where trust is rarer than resources, and violence reigns supreme. Snape’s wholly original characters play with readers’ contemporary preconceptions about life, sentience, and the purpose of human evolution, while also delivering an action-heavy thriller that will satisfy any fan of tech-driven sci-fi. After six books, the pace and intricate […]

2023-09-11T11:29:17+02:00September 9th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Halcyon Crisis by Drew Harrison

The Halcyon Crisis by Drew Harrison

A captivating and original high-seas thriller, The Halcyon Crisis by Drew Harrison takes readers into the fascinating bowels and drama of a cruise ship as it navigates the dangers of a brazen pirate takeover. What the tech-savvy terrorists don’t expect is a skilled hostage negotiator among the ragtag cast of rebellious and entertainingly entitled travelers. Impressively capturing the energy and personalities of cruise directors, vice admirals, travel bloggers and villains alike, Harrison patiently unfurls this ransom-driven plot with masterful suspense, peppered with tongue-in-cheek narration and countless moments of clever dialogue. A conspiratorial heist like few others, this creative and compelling […]

2023-09-05T16:24:23+02:00September 5th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Half-Caste by Jerome Cranston

Half-Caste by Jerome Cranston

A profoundly insightful look into one man’s relationship to race, Half-Caste: Decidedly Brown in a Black or White World by Jerome Cranston is a reflective memoir that is both timely and deeply personal. The author fearlessly explores interracial existence through challenging stories of cruelty in childhood, the peril of international travel, and the complexity of romance when it collides with social norms. On the surface, the book may seem to be written for a mixed-ethnicity audience, but there are anecdotal gems of wisdom and experiential advice that will benefit any reader. With a unique voice and style, Cranston shows himself […]

2023-09-05T16:15:34+02:00September 5th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: An October’s Journey: Poe’s Final Gift by James McKenna

Luring readers into a carefully crafted tale of supernatural mystery, author James McKenna delivers a profoundly puckish novel in An October’s Journey: Poe’s Final Gift.

On October 1, 1849, on the occasion of his 22nd birthday, Jonathan Brandt’s party is graced and haunted by his father’s old friend “Eddy,” though the world better knows him as Edgar Allen Poe. In addition to his attendance, Poe also presents Jonathan with a macabre gift, an unbelievable story of witchcraft, and an invitation to join Poe on a nebulous (and undeniably dangerous) adventure.

Poe is trying to figure out the ending to […]

2024-04-18T12:35:39+02:00September 5th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

The Mother’s Threat by Susan Specht Oram

The Mother's Threat by Susan Specht Oram

A timely and tightly penned novel, The Mother’s Threat by Susan Specht Oram dives into the violence of political belief and the dangerous half-truths we tell the ones we love. Eager to be her own boss and launch a security services company, Violet Cleveland, the intrepid head of Outrigger Services, never expected to be defending against enemies so close to home. Each character in this intimate thriller is gritty and compelling, particularly the high-stakes operator at the center of the story. There are some grammatical issues that could use a further proofread, and the prose tends towards declarative, rather than […]

2023-09-05T11:15:43+02:00September 5th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Pondering the Mystery of Life by Audrey C. Shields

Pondering the Mystery of Life by Audrey Shields

Offering a thorough and unbiased portrait of spiritual origins and belief throughout history, Pondering the Mystery of Life by Audrey C. Shields addresses some of the greatest questions we face as human beings with consciousness and self-awareness. With an engaging tone, impressively deep research, and a stated desire for clarity and good-faith exploration, this is a unique read in the increasingly crowded genre of spiritual guidance.

Beginning with early analyses of the religious instinct to create religion as a means of putting order to chaos, and the counterpoint of seeing God as a concept, rather than an omnipotent, immortal, or […]

2023-10-18T14:04:02+02:00August 24th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Futility of Defense (A Paladin’s Journey Book 2) by Bryan Cole

Futility of Defense (A Paladin's Journey Book 2) by Bryan Cole

A dragon-bound paladin with the voice of a god in his head does battle with destiny and self-doubt in Futility of Defense by Bryan Cole, the second piece of his Paladin’s Journey saga. As the relentless war against the sea devils rages on, Krell’s spell-casting and battlefield heroics draw the attention of those who would use his unshaped potential for their own ends. Packed with engaging action and a fellowship of entertaining characters, this is a classic yet original hero’s journey laced with fresh magical rules and immersive storytelling, which is ideal for long-time fans of high fantasy, offering a […]

2023-08-23T12:24:54+02:00August 23rd, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Alpha and Omega: Awakening by Peter J.D. Woodruff

Alpha and Omega: Awakening by Peter J.D. Woodruff

A collision of realities, times, gods, and demons makes Alpha and Omega: Awakening by Peter J.D. Woodruff an eye-opening and mind-bending work of dark fantasy.

When the fabric of reality rips apart, Earth becomes a divine battlefield, and an apocalyptic hellscape of otherworldly fiends with a hunger for human flesh. As the world plunges into darkness, new heroes will be forced to rise, unlikely as their chances of victory may be, but some of the survivors feel more connected to this unearthly crisis than others.

Xavier is hearing things, seeing visions, and being called by an indescribable beacon. After meeting […]

2023-10-16T12:35:17+02:00August 22nd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |
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