John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A swashbuckling tale about the bonds of family and the true measure of wealth, Dream Quest by Frank C. Senia is a charming and imaginative escape. Michael and Tara are eager to explore the world, so when their grandfather shares the family’s treasure-filled legacy, the intrepid siblings can’t resist the call of adventure. However, word of their ambitions has gotten out, and where there are gold and jewels, menacing pirates are rarely far behind. From witches and curses to ancient ruins and mysterious castaways, this absorbing adventure story tracks the pair of daring navigators who will need every scrap of […]

A chilling novella born from the backstory of a tabletop game character, The Evil in the Swamp by Elizabeth Decker-Benjamin is a quick plunge into adventure horror and fantasy folklore. A young Steam Visala named Stüm Dümplin, the child of a djinn, recounts his story of the manipulative vampires and shadowy fiends that attacked his hamlet. In a world of mythical terrors and magical dangers on every side, this is one young boy’s heroic tale of hard-won lessons and bittersweet survival. Told evocatively through Decker-Benjamin’s moody first-person narration, this vampire-infected world feels acutely ominous, as if potential danger lurks with […]

A smart and saucy cold-weather mystery from Alice Kanaka, Winter Wonderach is the entertaining opening installment of the new Mavis and Hornwhistle Cosy Mysteries series. A famous author trying to escape her pressurized life lands in rural South Dakota, but it isn’t long before she’s caught up in the dramatic dynamics of small-town life. However, when a corpse turns up in Lizzy’s new house, and her knife is used as the murder weapon, the renowned writer will have to clear her name by solving the case herself, with the help of her new dog Mavis. Charming and lighthearted, but also […]

A gripping personal drama viewed through a cutting-edge political lens, Out Like a Lion by Tracy L. Thompson is a powerful novel for our troubled times. A deeply disillusioned historian falling through the cracks of the American system, and disgusted by the toxicity of contemporary politics, Jules Campbell is driven to the most extreme lengths a citizen can take in this jaw-dropping tale of existential justice. Laced with the horrific truths about political misconduct torn from current headlines, this novel is a stark warning about the direction of the United States, and a vital reminder that power must remain with […]