Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: When Elves Die by Richard Poche

When Elves Die is the debut novel of author Richard Poche. It’s a traditional medieval fantasy tale, with all the mainstays and characterizations that are expected from the dark fantasy genre.

Here we have tribal clans of elves, cruel, brutish orcs, violent martial barbarians, evil witches, pure princesses, and even vampire-like creatures called killtooths. In essence, When Elves Die is a survival tale, following a multitude of protagonists (some fleeting, some not) including Princess Carella, Zanfire the Cleric, Kelroar the Barbarian, and a veritable host of elven (or half-elven) characters. It is up to Carella and the rest of her […]

Dakota Kemp2014-11-21T11:10:43+02:00November 20th, 2014|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Divine Roosters and Angry Clowns by Frank Crimi

Divine Roosters and Angry Clowns If there’s chicklit, Divine Roosters and Angry Clowns by Frank Crimi should be put in the category of Dude Lit. This is especially true because the novel is reminiscent of “The Big Lebowski” and the Coen brothers at their most zany. Tarantino is in there as well. Talking about filmmakers is an appropriate starting point because this novel is distinctly cinematic. Not because it reads like a screenplay but because there’s a very entertaining movie in this book crying to get out.

Divine Roosters is an apocalyptic novel, but in a way it’s an old fashioned one. It harkens back […]

SPR2019-01-22T10:40:02+02:00November 18th, 2014|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Apocalyptic Fiction Book Reviews, Men's Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Home Again by Michael Kenneth Smith

Michael K Smith’s Civil War novel, Home Again, is a fantastic debut.

Zach and Luke come of age right when the nation breaks into two and both young men enlist. Zach fights for the North, while Luke joins up with the South. Even though they are on opposing sides, both young men learn valuable lessons about life, death, and war.

War is hell. The best war novels remember this and don’t idealize war. It’s hard to glorify the killing of other human beings, especially young men who haven’t had the opportunity to experience life yet, and the stories that […]

T B Markinson2022-09-21T11:31:13+02:00November 17th, 2014|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Gertrude Threshold by Christopher Brooks

TheGertrudeThreshold What would happen if it were the last day on Earth? In The Gertrude Threshold by Christopher Brooks, a scientific formula named after its creator calculates to the day the last moments of global warming: when Earth crosses that threshold, Earth will burn up taking those last human beings left, who are living in brown tubes underground, with Her.

In the novella we follow one family as they struggle through the last day. Ky, a young, good-natured boy who was born into an apocalyptic world. His grandfather Brandon: grumpy, old and waiting to die to join his wife Lilly. Brandon’s […]

Cate Baum2014-11-17T04:49:05+02:00November 17th, 2014|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Shadow of the Raven by Millie Thom

Shadow of the Raven The real-life tales of 9th-century England are brought to life in Millie Thom’s book, Shadow of the Raven, the first book in the Sons of Kings trilogy. The book mixes fact and fiction, with the two main characters in rivalling kingdoms being true-life English royal Alfred of Wessex, son of ‘Aethelwulf The Great’ and the fictional Eadwulf of Mercia (although his father King Beorthwulf was a real-life King.) These books are based on the roots of the English Kingdom, as two rival kings of Britain fight for their destiny: To defend Anglo-Saxon lands from invasion from vicious Danish raiders: […]

Cate Baum2014-11-11T08:19:23+02:00November 11th, 2014|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Becoming Generation Flux by Miles Anthony Smith

generation flux The invention of retirement and myth of life-long employment are lies that we have accepted as fact, and until recently, have held mostly true.

Becoming Generation Flux: Why Traditional Career Planning is Dead: How to be Agile, Adapt to Ambiguity, and Develop Resilience by Miles Anthony Smith is an eye-opening business book. Just the title alone is a bit terrifying. However, it’s not too shocking given the employment issues the United States has been embroiled in for half a dozen years.

In this book, the author analyzes the changes in the job market and discusses ways for people to survive. […]

T B Markinson2014-11-10T07:39:45+02:00November 10th, 2014|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Business Book Reviews|

Review: Love Triangle by Magus Tor and Carrie Lynn Weniger

Love Triangle: XX Version by Magus Tor and Carrie Lynn Weniger is a romantic comedy with a twist. Sydney and Joe are about to graduate from college and move in together. However, Sydney is shocked when Joe decides that he can no longer tolerate Sydney’s homophobia and he leaves her. Sydney is devastated.

Five years later, Sydney is still upset about losing Joe. Then she loses her job. Suddenly, Samantha Martin, the Vice President of Marketing with a cosmetic company, offers Sydney a new job the same day she was fired. Not only that, the salary is impressive and she […]

T B Markinson2014-11-06T04:03:05+02:00November 6th, 2014|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance Book Reviews|

Review: King of Dreams by Greg McLeod

King of Dreams: A Vereldan Tale by Greg McLeod is a classic example of an epic fantasy novel. There are lots of characters, plenty of drama, swords, sorcery, betrayal, love, and unlikely heroes.

Laurin the dwarf is sent on a mission by a dead king to deliver a sword called Altingal to a young man named Avellin. Bryn of Bailon wanted to live a quiet life, but when war breaks out he learns a secret that not only impacts himself but it could change the course of the war. Rhea Redbreast is a Headhunter apprentice who is seeking to avenge […]

T B Markinson2014-12-03T10:31:03+02:00November 4th, 2014|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|