John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A riveting YA ride, The Ties That Bind by Susan L. Markloff is the globe-spanning second chapter of her Human-Born Era series. After defeating Cregorous with an ominous prophecy and seizing her foretold destiny, Jen must now connect with the other Human-Born hybrids scattered around the globe. However, the US government is hot on her trail, the ultimate motives of the mysterious Agerians remain suspect, and Jen still hasn’t tapped into the full depths of her power. With fast-moving action scenes and a colorful array of heroic young characters on bumpy journeys of self-discovery, this is an endlessly creative and […]

A gritty tale of revenge, lust, and the fight for freedom, Fate by T. Kennington and C. Roth is the enrapturing second piece of their Karma and Fate Duet. Rowan and Micah are done running after finding something worth fighting for in the sultry embrace of LA, setting the stage for a traumatic face-off with their respective demons. However, Micah knows very well how dangerous her past can be for those she loves, and as the circle of retribution closes, it’s only a matter of time before more blood is spilled. Despite some awkward dialogue and plot twists that […]

The perennially empowering hero for a new generation returns for another adventure in Athens Ophelia The Partitioner: The Catalyst Lyrics by Zachary Aneiress. After years of searching, Athens has finally found his tribe, a truly eclectic team of heroes, but amassing those forces of good only seems to encourage ghosts from the past to start hunting for revenge. Watching the Guardians of the Cosmos crystallize into a more functional team, rather than Athens always battling solo, makes for a nice shift in the series, and adds valuable depth to the lineup of characters. However, there is a consistent lack of […]

A scattered gathering of memories, visions, and streams of enlightened consciousness, Welcome Home: What if I chose to live after death? by Gaspar Michel is an abstract exploration of life and death. This experimental memoir reads like a dream journal crossed with a philosophical thought experiment, adding a healthy dose of spiritual cross-examination and Christian revelation. The final thesis merges ideas of personal connection, heroic meaning, and truly believing that God will answer our prayers, for a conclusion that is both surreal and thought-provoking. That said, the reading experience is undeniably hurt by poor formatting, problematic editing, and a lack […]

A steamy tale of revenge and barely restrained desire, Her Unbreakable Protector by Alessa Kelly is a hero-filled thrill for romance readers of every kind. The practically perfect Sam may be slightly haunted by his military past, but he is a stunning Montana hunk, one who will do absolutely anything to protect the innocent, particularly when his abducted lover comes into the crosshairs. Steeped in luscious language and visceral scenes of both drama and pleasure, this book flexes between wild extremes of intensity and powerful themes of trust, passion, and self-control. The dialogue could do with more depth and authenticity, […]