Book Reviews

The latest indie book reviews from Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Outworlds: War Torrent by Daniel P. Douglas ★★★★

The Outworlds: War Torrent by Daniel P. DouglasSet in an alternate time-line of the 24th century, humanity’s reach has extended far beyond Earth, into the deep recesses of space in search of resources, colonization, and the hope of extra-terrestrial intelligent life. Unexpectedly, all three are achieved, to some extent. On the fringe of colonization, a world is discovered with the first recorded alien settlement, known as Mokisia. Research shows that it was at one point populated by a complex reptilian race known as the Angorgal. While apparently long-extinct, signs point to these creatures having made contact with Earth long ago, to unknown ends.

In The Outworlds: War […]

2015-08-05T05:01:41+02:00July 20th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Review: The Turkish Connection: A Birth of an Assassin Novel by Rik Stone ★★★★★

The Turkish Connection: A Birth of an Assassin Novel by Rik StoneAnother job for Levent Pasha, his friend joining him as they drink by the Golden Horn of Istanbul. He is anxious, eager to get back to his son, Mehmet. Dulled by the Raki, he takes to the job, alone, sluggish. His mistakes have piled up and he is caught for the last time. His friend, back from drinks, is made a part of the plan to tie up the loose end of the fool’s life and, the next day, Mehmet is left without a father.

With no family left to rely on, Mehmet must rely on himself in the dirty, […]

2015-08-06T04:17:19+02:00July 20th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Review: I Was A Champion Then by Alfred A. Meyer

I Was A Champion Then by Alfred A. Meyer

I Was A Champion Then: Twelve Stories About Quiet Injustice, Small Rebellions and Restless Hope is a collection of essays and short stories compiled by the author’s son, Christopher Paul Meyer. A book decades in the making, Alfred Meyer had 30,000 pages of unpublished work when he died in 2012. Alfred Meyer writes eloquently about baseball, childhood wargames, lovelorn women, race and other topics that seem at once deeply American and universal. Meyer writes about big American topics; he may not have completed the Great American Novel, but the tenor of these stories suggests he was well on his way.[…]

2019-02-11T09:25:49+02:00July 13th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: , |

Review: The Dead Bank Diary by Anna Schlegel ★★★★

The Dead Bank Diary by Anna Schlegel The Dead Bank Diary by Anna Shlegel is an intense, true to life (maybe true!) look at the bank fraudsters of Russia in the 00s, at a point in history where the police and government of Moscow were deeply corrupt, and old money and new oligarchs were investing their riches in “pocket banks,” small private holdings run by provincial managers – this meant that banks could be bankrupted by one transaction from their richest customer, and bought out on debts from anyone else in a few hours, even people that had no real money, just by a little bit of […]

2019-01-22T05:56:26+02:00July 7th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Review: In the Shadow of St. Anthony by Andrew Hernon ★★★★

In the Shadow of St. Anthony by Andrew Hernon In the Shadow of St. Anthony: Being a somewhat detailed account of the coming of age of Tommy Santalesa, the neighborhood wiseass is a hybrid coming-of-age novel about being in a rock band in New York City – and a chilling horror novel.

The novel follows Tommy Santalesa, the untalented bassist of the band Fly Trap, who are on the brink of possible stardom. When Frank – his talented bandmate – is found with mysterious marks on his neck, Tommy must face this supernatural force and save his friend. The book is an impressive blend of horror, character development, period […]

2015-07-20T03:54:19+02:00July 7th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: Welcome, Reluctant Stranger! by E. Journey ★★★★★

Welcome, Reluctant Stranger! by E. JourneyWelcome, Reluctant Stranger! (Between Two Worlds Book 3), by E. Journey, is a touching story about a woman who must confront her family’s past.

Leilani Torres, a psychologist, helps people heal. But can she heal herself?

When she was only nine, Leilani, her mother, and two siblings flee their Pacific country, Costa Mora. Her father was supposed to follow them to the United States, but he never arrived and was never heard from again.

Justin Halverson is a brokenhearted computer nerd. After his girlfriend of seven years ends their relationship, he turns to booze to drown his sorrows. But he […]

2015-07-21T05:43:29+02:00July 6th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: Cry of the Firebird by Amy Kuivalainen ★★★★

Cry of the Firebird by Amy KuivalainenCry of the Firebird is the first book of The Firebird Fairytales by Amy Kuivalainen, a series that promises a fresh twist on the world’s mythologies and folklore.

Anya has always been unusual – an outcast ostracized from the people of her village and raised by her isolated grandfather, Eikki.  Burdened with strange visions, Anya’s favorite pastime is drowning her unwanted sight in a bottle of vodka.  Her downward spiral into drink and apathy soon come to a jarring halt, however, when Tuoni, the incarnate aspect of death, pays her a visit shortly after Eikki’s murder.  Her life is abruptly […]

2015-08-05T04:43:32+02:00July 6th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Review: Giuliana’s Way by Albert M. Parillo ★★★★

Giuliana's Way by Albert M. ParilloGiuliana’s Way, by Albert M. Parillo, is a delightful and moving historical fiction novel about an intelligent and gifted Italian girl.

In 1941, when Giuliana Landini was only eleven, she emigrated from Italy to the United States to live with her aunt and uncle in New Haven, Connecticut. Her grandmother and teacher in Italy thought the child was too bright to settle for a normal life in Amalfi and wanted her to have the opportunity to advance her education and opportunities.

Italy left a permanent mark on Giuliana, especially when it comes to cooking. At a young age it’s […]

2015-08-04T04:08:32+02:00July 2nd, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |
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