John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

One young man must defy the oppressive distinctions of a futuristic society in Nations of Niche, a frightening parable of the future by Micah Ingram. In this uniquely imagined dystopia, one’s class has been replaced by one’s “niche,” resulting in a chilling allegory of a restructured world, wherein humanity has reinvented ideas of purpose, labor, productivity, and the meaning of life itself. At times, the book reads more like a fable than a novel, without much emotional development of the characters, but still with a clear focus on the thematic message. The premise is strong, but the book is […]

A dystopian vision of a divided America comes pouring from the pages of The Greater Good by Seth Daniel Parker, a relentless prophecy of a novel that will make you shudder with recognition. A Job-like protagonist escapes the matrix of a mind-shattered nation to become a firebrand for the next revolution. With ominous and poignant undertones of Kafka, Orwell, Heller, John Kennedy O’Toole, and even Hunter S. Thompson, the author pulls back the curtain on a sick society, while poking fun at our unspoken and collective terrors with wit, shock, and raw storytelling power. Laced with timely social critique and […]

An engrossing remastered fairy tale from the delicate pen of author Jenny Knipfer, The Regal Pink is a well-crafted first installment of the Retold Fairy Tales series, which reimagines classic storylines. Flipping genre tropes of the damsel in distress, Diana is a rebellious and curious flower-fairy determined to free the wish-granting Daniel from the cruel clutches of his uncle. As these young protagonists chase down their own destinies, defying expectations and supporting each other’s journeys, the slippery slopes of love are seemingly impossible to avoid. With straightforward prose and a stripped-down storytelling style that moves at a fast pace, this […]

A lone wolf warrior and living legend with a rifle comes face to face with his unburied past in I See You by Benjamin J. Burton, a short but tense psychological thriller. Assigned to eliminate a deadly terrorist, a black ops American sniper discovers that the ghosts of his previous victims seem intent on ruining the covert op. With detailed military action, troubled heroes, and surprising supernatural twists, this fast-paced story is recommended for its unique mixture of paranormal horror and military thriller. A thorough edit would clear up the occasional grammatical errors and overdramatic formatting, but overall, this is […]

An alluring academic with a magical secret, and a bloodthirsty detective with centuries of life experience, collide in Witches at the Gate, a riveting mystical mystery by M Greenhill. After a coven of witches is slaughtered in modern-day Salem, a professor of the occult joins the hunt for a sinister killer, but uncovers a much larger and darker plot – one that will resurrect an ancient evil and open the gateway to Hell. Though the premise has notes of other sagas, the engaging overlap of folklore, Gothic gore, and supernatural romance makes this addictive novel an exceptional intro to […]

A reflective and raw peek into the tattered mind of a desperate academic, The Melancholy Strumpet Master by Zeb Beck is a heartfelt and carefully crafted novel about finding purpose where you never expected. Working his way through brothels, street corners, and shady upstairs rooms across Tijuana, Gilmore Crowell is trying to find his master’s thesis, but ends up discovering an enlightened new direction for his investigative passions. Addressing a broad array of themes, from research integrity, white privilege, and sexual identity to drug use, economic prejudice, and the importance of linguistic flexibility, this is an enthralling roller coaster of […]

Senseless conflict with Julu Kiatan heathens is merely the start to Embers of Wrath by Seth Halleway, a war-torn sci-fi novel chronicling the chaos that unfolds when the people of Shentonia lose faith in their petty, yet impossibly powerful deities. An exploration of blind faith, rebellion, and belief in oneself over any dogma, this nuanced and character-driven story feels timely and relatable, despite the drastic chasm of fantasy between Shentonia and our world. The world-crafting is exceptional, the plot is fast-moving, and Halleway’s descriptive language is subtle and vivid, making it a joy to get lost in this original epic.[…]