John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A gripping tale that feels ripped from today’s darkest headlines, Neil Turner’s The Secrets She Buried is a page-turning thriller with a building number of twists and surprises. Tony and Penelope are looped into a desperate woman’s case of deadly negligence in the midst of a global pandemic, but between shady hospital records and a sinister puppet master willing to kill to keep their secrets, this case is anything but open and shut. Driven by fast-paced dialogue, snap decisions, and a perpetual sense of urgency, this dark, fast-paced thriller is one of the strongest installments in the perennially entertaining Tony […]

Kenichi K. Yabusaki presents a gently powerful collection of tanka poetry in During the Pause, an unhurried examination of nature, love, politics, and the self. As the title suggests, these poems are pulled from self-reflection during pauses of the poet’s own life, from clear-eyed observations of natural beauty to stark musings on legendary works of art. The artfully structured five-line style is ideal for these savored moments of thought, allowing more flexibility than haikus, with each word carefully chosen and meticulously placed. Offering subtle wisdom and thought-provoking mysteries, this work probes unanswerable questions, but finds peace in the inquiry.[…]

A raw and unforgettable collection of poetry, A Few Moments of Honesty by Dani Solace is confessional and vulnerable, posing new questions about personal identity, and revisiting the mystery of one’s sense of purpose. Fluidly moving between challenging themes and painful recollections, the poetry flows seamlessly from traditional metered rhyme to pieces that feel crafted to be read aloud. Examining the paradoxical struggle of artists and a range of intimate crises too often left undiscussed, Solace peels back the pain of walking a divergent path, while sagely offering hope to those who follow.

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Presenting the grim future of an abandoned planet and the prodigal return of our species to its cradle, Runaway Humanity by Joshua Valentine is a savagely penned and fearless slice of dystopian science fiction, reflecting the author’s mantra at the onset, “Don’t allow human nature to take center over that of mother nature.” From the nascent colony on Mars to the brutal wasteland of our blasted homeland, the journey of Drs. Drake and Shelby Hilton is both philosophical and packed with apocalyptic action. Exposing dark corners of desperation and the resilient spirit of survival, this terrifying glimpse of our planet’s […]