John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Xenome by Vivek Pravat

A sci-fi thriller that examines if humanity would stand a chance against a hostile alien force, Xenome by Vivek Pravat is a terrifying and fast-paced ride. An intrepid biologist finds herself in the heart of a rogue experiment gone wrong, and as secrets from her own past come to light, she must uncover the key to humanity’s survival. Though some of the character development is familiar action fodder, the exposition is richly detailed for science fiction fans, and just the right amount of frightening for a post-pandemic audience willing to suspend their disbelief for an extraordinary premise. With long bursts […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-08-10T13:31:57+02:00August 10th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Remember Us by E.T. Gunnarsson

A post-apocalyptic road novel with a strong pair of protagonists in a richly described dystopia, Remember Us by E.T. Gunnarsson adds a fascinating new layer to his Odemark series.

Two years into his time on new-world Earth, Simon is ready to brave the wasteland, leap into frontier life, and see what beauty the recovering planet still holds. However, when a starship falls out of the sky, just as Simon dreamed that it would, he convinces Anna to join him on a quest to find the craft, and their relationship is entertaining from the start; Anna’s vague annoyance at his naïveté […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-08-08T17:26:16+02:00August 7th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Post-Apocalyptic Book Reviews|

Review: Legends of Earth by David Gwinn

A science fiction adventure with some downright Shakespearean twists, Legends of Earth by David Gwinn is a breathless mash-up of police procedural and space opera that is a page-turner from the first page.

When a seasoned cop is pulled into a mind-boggling new case – a woman single-handedly cutting the power and knocking over banks in broad daylight – Officer Sharpe has no idea how deep this new rabbit hole will go. He certainly doesn’t expect it to carry him to the other side of the galaxy – to a planet that seems to desperately need his help.

Tass, the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-09-29T12:01:43+02:00August 3rd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Where Martyrs Rise Snowflakes Don’t Fall by Albert M. Jabara

A fictional manifesto plumbing the lyrical depths of spirituality, the horrors of history, and the contradictions of human existence, Where Martyrs Rise Snowflakes Don’t Fall by Albert M. Jabara is a confident and belief-challenging read, offering an eye-opening blend of religious theory, philosophical narrative, poetic exploration, and historical analysis.

Yunus Nef’i is the main protagonist of this novel – a philosopher, scholar, poet, journalist, and author – who has spent his life fighting for the oppressed and overlooked, examining the faults of the world with his caustic and fearless pen. Some chapters read as a memoir, digging into Yunus’ experiences […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-09-06T16:05:17+02:00July 30th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Religious Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Murphy’s Luck 4: Jinx vs. Fate by Benjamin Laskin

A laugh-out-loud punchline of a read, Murphy’s Luck 4: Jinx vs. Fate by Benjamin Laskin continues the tongue-in-cheek tradition of this brilliantly strange series.

Murphy’s accursed reputation has spread far and wide, drawing the curious and the conspiratorial, as well as the Fed-Uppers, who would rather his jinx be kicked out of their lives forever. However, a secret society suspects that he might be their prophesied Impossible Man, and Murphy will have to use his universe of hobbies and merit badge skills to keep himself alive and find out their true intentions at Camp Orpheus. His exceptional daughter, Phaedra, is […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-07-27T14:42:34+02:00July 27th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Humor|

Memoirs of Forgotten Yesterday by Aaron Grahame

Author Aaron Grahame captures the struggle of chronic illness and the transient nature of memory in Memoirs of Forgotten Yesterday, an emotive long-form reflection on one man’s complicated life.

Bailey is a devoted son and daily visitor to his increasingly forgetful father, Harry, who is often lost in the past, and regularly confused by the present. As his condition worsens, the narrative weaves more sporadically through Harry’s fractured mind, revealing painful and defining moments of the Hargraves family. As Harry cycles through recollections of relationships, difficult betrayals, joyous arrivals, addictions, and disappointments, readers gradually reassemble the pieces of his […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-07-26T17:01:34+02:00July 26th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

The Icehouse by J.J. Richards

A gripping pastoral thriller that could easily be a movie or series, The Icehouse by J.J. Richards is a richly developed tale of a murderous specter reappearing from the past. An aging and charmingly out-of-touch detective is pushed to the edge of ethics and emotions when a dormant menace embarks on a deadly spree in the English countryside. The dense writing is deeply nuanced, packed with allusion and detail, summoning a vivid world to life, despite the ominous, slow-burning pace. There are occasional anachronistic or odd words that feel out of place in a UK setting, but overall, the novel […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-07-26T12:50:54+02:00July 24th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

For Better, For Worse by Ray Keating

Pulled into the crossfire of another deadly conflict from the past, Stephen Grant must switch collars from wedding officiant to efficient warrior to save his friends in For Better, For Worse by Ray Keating. Fueled by a furious desire for revenge, a merciless arms dealer targets the nuptial weekend of two CDM team members, but with a guest list of hardened heroes on hand, it won’t be an easy party to crash. The story hits all the notes of previous installments in the Pastor Stephen Grant series, with a typically ferocious pace, high-tension storytelling, and a spray of breathless action […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-07-25T12:29:06+02:00July 24th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|