Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Water Mage by T.J. Ripley

The Water Mage by T.J. Ripley

Whimsical and contemporary, The Water Mage by T.J. Ripley is a compelling first installment of the Lord of Chaos fantasy series.

After receiving a mysterious adventure pack on his doorstep, complete with a mind-focusing ring, Eliot Johnstone, a remarkably average high school student, finds himself plunged into a high-stakes medieval world of dwarves, imps, elves, and magic. While attempting to blend into his bizarre new surroundings – two-tailed cats and all – his previously unknown skills as a wildly powerful water mage are revealed.

Trouble is brewing in the Mage Palace of the kingdom, however, as the mighty Dominus is […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-03T14:03:51+02:00May 3rd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Black Wall of Silence Part I by George H. Butcher III

The Black Wall of Silence by George H. Butcher III

A searing takedown of the federal judiciary at its highest levels, The Black Wall of Silence Part 1: The Judiciary’s Immorality, Cruelty, and Arrogance About Corruption by George H. Butcher III is an impassioned argument worthy of widespread deliberation in the court of public opinion. While this first part of a longer series covers only a limited scope – the dynamic differences between judicial and police corruption, as well as the ways in which corrupt judges are protected by the Judicial Conference – it establishes an incredibly strong foundation for this four-part indictment, laid out in plain and provable terms.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-30T09:12:10+02:00May 2nd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Politics Book Reviews|

Review: The Bear & the Rose by E.K. Larson-Burnett

The Bear and the Rose by E.K. Larson-Burnett

A haunted hero risks everything to break the curse of her violent calling in The Bear & the Rose by E.K. Larson-Burnett, a lyrical masterpiece of fantasy and creativity.

In a supernaturally crafted world of animalistic tradition, magic, and the looming specter of doom from bears both living and dead, one relentless Bearslayer is determined to free her people from fear and perennial oppression. As Springtide arrives, the festivities are interrupted by the first savage attack of the year, and rather than face another season watching innocents die beside her warrior-companion Nathaire, she vows to end the beastly threat once […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-29T11:03:14+02:00April 30th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Two by Nathan Nicolau

Two by Nathan Nicolau

A pair of young strangers embark on an unconventional odyssey through Charlotte, North Carolina in Two, a quietly wise novel by Nathan Nicolau.

When Howl observes Ella reciting a passionate soliloquy to a statue in the park, he breaks out of his comfort zone to get some answers. As their day intertwines, small talk turns into big conversation, and an unlikely wander blossoms into something far more precious – an adventurous reinvention for them both. From art, philosophy, and aesthetics to books, people-watching, mental health, and overbearing mothers, the narrative weaves through myriad themes in the pair’s joint quest […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-28T12:15:35+02:00April 29th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Gracious Nature by Robert J. Tiess

Gracious Nature by Robert J. Tiess

A tender and timely reflection on our beloved planet, Gracious Nature: Poems on Earth and Life by Robert J. Tiess is a poetic love song to the land we so often overlook.

With an unwavering reverence for life that loyal readers will recognize, this latest collection winds from playful and self-reflective to dramatic and dire, acknowledging the awesome power and unexpected fragility of nature. Some of the pieces offer a compelling rhythm and energy, creating a sense of urgency and the raw tension of the natural world, particularly in “The Music of the Wolves” and “Overcoming.” Later sections of the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-22T13:01:07+02:00April 24th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: The Dinosaurs of Appalachia by Alex McLean

The Dinosaurs of Appalachia by Alex McLean

The Dinosaurs of Appalachia by Alex McLean is a vibrant tapestry woven from the threads of prehistoric life, scientific discovery, and the enchanting world of dinosaurs on the East Coast of the US. Through the eyes of its captivating dinosaur characters, the book invites readers on an expedition back to the Mesozoic Era, offering both a wealth of knowledge and a profound appreciation for the region’s paleontological significance.

At the forefront of this journey is Monty, the Appalachiosaurus, whose orange and red plumage and formal attire embody the grandeur and mystery of the ancient creatures that once dominated the landscape […]

Jeyran Main2024-05-16T11:26:30+02:00April 22nd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Children's Book Reviews, Science Book Reviews|

Review: Her Own War by Debra Borchert

Her Own War by Debra Borchert

The divisive tragedy of war pulls a fearless fighter from the vineyard to the front lines in Her Own War by Debra Borchert, a gripping and lyrical work of historical fiction.

A French pastoral romance and a wartime thriller, this novel begins with slow world-building and character development, giving readers a probing look into Genevieve’s community and the indomitable strength of her spirit. As the Republicans of Napoleonic France concentrate their power and turn their eyes to wider conquest, Genevieve’s tight-knit wine-growing community in the Loire Valley grows frustrated with endless wars and the burden of unfair taxation.

When a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-05-13T11:35:34+02:00April 19th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Great Being by Bill Harvey

The Great Being by Bill Harvey

An eon-spanning epically creative work of visionary alternate history, The Great Being by Bill Harvey is a sprawling parable about the powerful forces behind our interconnected existence.

After the Nothingness came into awareness of itself 14 billion years ago, it began to create energetic bodies and fantastical creatures, which spread out across the vast cosmos, but that didn’t mean they were easy to control. That’s where the Agents of Cosmic Intelligence come into play, helping to influence the course of time and the fate of entire worlds created by the great deity.

Melchizedek and Layla are sent to Prehistoric Earth […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-19T17:36:44+02:00April 18th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|