Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Case of the Blonde with the Bad Nose Job by Carlo Armenise

Creating an engaging and unique PI is far from an easy job for an author, but in The Case of the Blonde with the Bad Nose Job by Carlo Armenise, this genre niche gets a fresh new face with an attitude that’s hard not to love. Sam Razor is a hard-nosed private detective with something to prove, and this first case of his is a sparkling and sharply written tale that should earn this author plenty of new fans.

When Margaret, a wealthy debutante with a banged-up nose and a worried sister, is kidnapped, there are plenty of potential suspects […]

Review: Paradigm Shift by S.T.K. Chan

The fundamental struggle between good and evil is one of the most common themes of literature, typically embodied through traditional heroes and villains. Diving deeper into the philosophy of goodness and evil, however, Paradigm Shift: Future Comes from Behind by S.T.K. Chan is an evocative novel about facing the problems of the world and finding realistic avenues for positive change.

At the center of this novel is Lisa, whom readers are introduced to when she is just a frightened girl on Malta as her world crumbles around her. In the midst of war, and the capture of her father, Lisa […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-12-17T08:51:26+02:00October 28th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The King of Escape by Mark Christopher Mathis

A trifecta of dysfunctionality, addiction, and mental illness forms the backbone of Mark Christopher Mathis’ sobering young adult offering, The King of Escape.

Seventeen-year-old Nicholas Carrier is reluctantly about to embark on a cruise with his family. For most families, this would be an exciting adventure, but for Nicholas, it’s anything but. The past few years have been hell, and the thought of being confined on a cruise ship in close quarters with his annoying younger sister, Mad, while being tasked with looking after his twelve-year-old autistic brother, Jacob, is bad enough, but to be under the constant eagle […]

Marta Cheng2018-12-07T12:53:36+02:00October 26th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Awakening: Fate in Motion by Suzanne Boisvert

For anyone who loves a conspiracy-laced sci-fi thriller, The Awakening: Fate in Motion by Suzanne Boisvert is a standout new novel that will keep you satisfied from start to finish. A decidedly dark read, this book combines real-world fears, far-fetched conspiracy theories, ancient religious sects, invading aliens and government coverups in a masterful, unpredictable page-turner.

The main premise of the novel is that an ancient, evil force, Sar, long banished from Earth and awaiting a return to rule, has finally reawakened. Infiltrating the planet through the very highest halls of power, his takeover seems unobstructed, given the petty squabbles and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T10:32:04+02:00October 19th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Twilight’s Last Glory by Stephen C. Perkins

If you have ever suspected that professional sports may be slightly more engineered than people understand, Twilight’s Last Glory by Stephen Perkins is a perfect, conspiracy-laden read.

Sometime in the not-too-distant future, the shadowy powers behind American football launch a scheme to capture an even larger portion of the world’s attention. Blending organized crime, corrupt head honchos and even a touch of sci-fi and fantasy, this futuristic thriller will appeal to a wide range of readers.

The Octagonal is a secret society based in London, composed of an elite group of bankers, financiers and mystics with bizarre powers. As is […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-16T05:34:47+02:00October 18th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Speculative Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: The Outlandish and the Ego by O. Ryan Hussain

In these days of political turmoil and uncertain global peace, it can be hard to find a reason to laugh, but O. Ryan Hussain’s new novel, The Outlandish and the Ego, provides an uproarious release. In a new genre of literature the author calls “political erotica,” this novel discusses serious topics and trends in the world…without ever taking itself too seriously.

The book is cleanly divided between the sarcastic and the surreal, beginning with the Aide, a ruthless and ambitious wretch who has wriggled his way near the highest halls of power. In his endless bid to increase his own […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-07-30T15:36:10+02:00October 18th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Political Thriller Book Reviews, Satire Book Reviews|

Review: Julia’s Memories and The Interflow of Things (Amor Mundi Books 1 & 2) by Dave Dröge

Reading a novel doesn’t always mean one should trust the narrator, and in Julia’s Memories and The Interflow of Things, an omnibus of the Amor Mundi series, this complex challenge comes to the forefront. Set in the somewhat distant future, the world has changed in many ways, but the true depth of that shift doesn’t become apparent until the critical turn of this double-stacked book.

The book begins with a long, detailed account of Julia’s life – in memoir form – from her youngest years until her present-day success as an artist in the year 2050. This section of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T10:33:17+02:00October 17th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Speculative Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Folly of Sweeney by Brian J. O’Sullivan

The machinations of a fractured mind can make for great literature, and in The Folly of Sweeney by Brian J. O’Sullivan, readers get a raw glimpse into a truly unusual brain. Touching on elements of the immigrant experience, mental health, alcoholism, family and self-preservation, this book may be erratic and unpredictable, but there are powerful messages lying beneath the surface of this drunken New York fairytale from a true seanchaí.

The central character of the novel, Liam, is an Irishman who now calls New York home, but he hasn’t lost the stereotypical penchant for alcohol. He is a difficult character […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T10:33:47+02:00October 16th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|