John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: A Hittite and a Shaman by Naveen Sridhar

A Hittite and a Shaman by Naveen Sridhar

Plunging readers into the royal heart of one of the most epic empires in history, A Hittite and a Shaman: At Queen Nefertari’s Secret Service by Naveen Sridhar is an insightful peek into the ancient world.

The empires of Kemet and Hatti are already on the brink of war when the leader of the Hittites asks for extradition of a political rival seeking asylum in the kingdom of Ramses II. However, Ramses II was not always bold and decisive, and his wife Nefertari chooses to take the fate of peace into her own hands. Upon learning that her handmaid’s daughter […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-06-01T03:07:48+02:00May 11th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

At Trails End: Homecoming by John Strother

Capturing the cadence, charm, and soulful lessons of small-town America, At Trails End: Homecoming by John Strother is a cleverly penned homage to youthful resilience, and the epic trials of survival as new kids in a tough-as-nails Texas high school. Ink, Dusty, Smoke, and Cowboy are victims of circumstance in this compact novella, but rather than wallow in their outcast social status, they define their own version of cool in a world that doesn’t prize originality. Brimming with lessons for any reader in their formative years, as well as sage wisdom for all ages, the writing is authentic, witty, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-05-11T10:37:35+02:00May 10th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: The Weekly Economist by Ray Keating

The Weekly Economist by Ray Keating

Author and economist Ray Keating doles out a lifetime’s worth of insight in The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist, the latest non-fiction work from this prolific author.

Encouraging readers to think more like economists, regardless of experience or expertise in the field, Keating has created an accessible and comprehensive guide to concepts that regularly baffle the average person. He argues that before one can criticize or successfully navigate the world of economics, one must thoroughly understand it, and this book can certainly help that happen.

From intellectual property rights and labor unions […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-05-27T04:07:59+02:00May 9th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Finance Book Reviews|

Review: The Uncanny Redemption of Philip E. Loeser by Robert T. Krantz

The Uncanny Redemption of Philip E. Loeser by Robert T. Krantz

Honestly told and deep in its wisdom, The Uncanny Redemption of Philip E. Loeser by Robert T. Krantz is a clever slice of character-driven drama.

Phil Loeser has been bouncing from one fight to another since childhood, and while he self-identifies as a good guy who never starts a fight, he certainly knows how to finish them. When his temper and fists get him into deeper trouble than usual, unexpected sources of hope appear before him – genuine chances to turn things around, if he can only manage to keep his head on straight.

First, there is the angelic face […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-05-27T03:27:54+02:00May 6th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

No Pistol Tastes the Same by Jacob Paul Patchen

Navigating psychological battlefields and exploring the long-lasting horror of PTSD, No Pistol Tastes the Same by Jacob Paul Patchen is a visceral novel of wartime, recovery, and healing. Both a slow burn and a grenade blast, the prose spills a relentless tale of hard choices, unforgiving duty, and the depths of utter desperation, even long after the bullets stopped flying. The author sets each chapter off with a tone-setting, thought-provoking poem, then dives back into the mud of war and the mess of domestic life; this palate-cleansing twist on classic military memoirs makes the story shine even brighter. At times […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-05-06T04:42:19+02:00May 6th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Humbling and Other Poems by Robert J. Tiess

The Humbling and Other Poems by Robert J. Tiess A momentous and impressive display of carefully crafted poetry, The Humbling and Other Poems by Robert J. Tiess is a complex yet accessible collection.

Balancing experimental rhyme schemes and free verse poems with traditional patterns and melodic bursts of language, the breadth of Tiess’ technical skill is impressive. Meticulous in his meter and self-imposed structures, it is clear how much curation and editing has gone into every line of this collection. The imagery ranges from predictable and iconic to radically creative and clever, but the rhythmic flow of word choice stands out as the most exceptional element.

Broken into seven […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-06-05T12:57:00+02:00May 5th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: Heretic (The Helios Rising Trilogy Book 1) by Chris Mayne

Heretic by Chris Mayne

A dark magical adventure into the far-flung future of humanity, Heretic by Chris Mayne is a bold, creative mixture of dark fantasy and dystopian fiction.

An explosive disaster rocks the city of New Tartarus, leaving countless dead in its wake, except for one man found in the center of the blast crater with glowing runes on his body. At first glance, Arlex is nothing but a young sapien underminer, a low-level laborer, but he is also a vortex of magical phenomena, displaying more raw potential than even the most powerful priests and magick-users of the Order.

Viktor, an acolyte healer […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-05-04T08:58:04+02:00May 4th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Happiness Journal by Viet Hung

The Happiness Journal by Viet Hung

An invitation to a more elevated form of living, The Happiness Journal by Viet Hung Nguyen is a thoughtful, comprehensive, and encouraging collection for those seeking change.

Composed of more than a decade of blog posts, and curated with an intuitive flow of ideas, this collection is full of uplifting and inspiring prose. As the author states in the foreword, the purpose of this book, and the entirety of their work, is “to inspire everyone to have a positive, well-rounded, peaceful, meaningful, fulfilled, energetic, and intense life.” The subsequent essays explore the tools and pathways to achieve such a life, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-03-11T18:31:05+02:00May 3rd, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|