John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A mysterious discovery from the past unites an unlikely pair of curious allies in Peter King and the Magic Stone by Frank C. Senia. To learn the truth about a deadly accident that ruined a town and countless lives, a young boy and a grizzled outcast must peer into the past in order to reshape their own futures. An allegorical exploration of regret, trauma, and redemption, this is a touching story of unexpected connection and compassion. The prose is straightforward, with matter-of-fact narration and blunt dialogue, which does make the story somewhat two-dimensional in its delivery, but the underlying emotions […]

Cutting boldly through the packed and redundant genre of self-help books, Not Your Mama’s Bible: A Street-Smart Self-Development Book by Pasha Tay is an uncut peek into streetwise philosophy. Without coddling or gentle affirmative touches so common to self-help, the author lays down the hard truths of social strata, dumb luck, coping mechanisms, failure, determination, and achievement for those readers who are open to a complete shift of mindset. Tay’s tone is relentlessly confident, the personal anecdotes touch on both the hilarious and the vulnerable, and the range of subject matter is impressively broad, while deeply relatable. Nailing the balance […]

A sprawling work of YA fantasy about legacy, duty, family, and courage, The Gatekeeper of Pericael by Hayley Reese Chow is an entertaining adventure through a magical jungle where the stakes couldn’t be higher. Training to be the new guardian of an ancient gate between worlds is a lot for young Porter, who would much rather be playing soccer and video games, but destiny and poor timing force him and his cousin into the battle of their lives against an evil shaman intent on enslaving the souls of innocent Earthlings. Steeped in fast-moving action and magical drama, this is an […]

A shocking story of bias and injustice perpetrated by one of the country’s largest health insurance companies, Contemptible: A surgeon’s battle for justice against insurance giant Cigna and a biased federal bench by John B Hackert, MD is an eye-opening and anger-inducing read. Densely detailing his legal battle against this manipulative healthcare giant, the book will be particularly accessible and jarring for those familiar with the health sector and the relevant legal procedures, but any American who has ever been frustrated at their insurance company will find this brief memoir relatable. While the writing could certainly be polished for awkward […]

Another perilous and entertaining adventure in The Ember Files series, Chimera and Curses is a clever and action-packed work of fantasy. Kori’s spellbinding skills have improved since her dangerous dance with the Ember Stone, but navigating the normies while keeping her growing powers in check is a challenge. When she and her Squad of Influence fly off to Costa Rica, Canada, and more in search of a rare creature of myth, their newfound status as heroes will be put to the test, particularly with shapeshifters and mind-controllers on the loose. Boasting a casual clash of real-world and magical elements, this […]

Confidently addressing the implicit flaws of humanity both past and present, Steven A. Zecola proposes radically creative solutions in Living in an Imperfect World and What To Do About It. From critiques of leadership during the Covid pandemic to fundamental failings of the Constitution and dangerous economic loopholes that need to be closed, Zecola uses anecdotal stories, personal experience, and hard data to prove his enlightening points. The myriad issues discussed here will resonate with anyone who has ever been frustrated by the US medical system, FDA regulations, taxes, our inaction on climate change, and many other societal problems. […]