Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Cathedral Murders by J.E. Morales

The Cathedral Murders by J.E. Morales

Set in Peru during the activity of the communist terrorist group Shining Path in the late 80s and early 90s, The Cathedral Murders by J.E. Morales is a remarkable historical thriller with a noir core and a searing snapshot of Peruvian society, from the poorest layers of society to the highest, giving voice to people who lived through a time of deep unrest.

In Ayacucho they call the Santa Maria Hospital “the cathedral of medicine” – the best possible place to hone your skills as a doctor or nurse outside Peru’s capital. When one of the interns Isabella finds an […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-08-14T18:42:38+02:00June 2nd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Bespoke Betrayals and Sartorial Secrets by Marc Kage

Bespoke Betrayals and Sartorial Secrets by Marc Kage

An intricate portrayal of the way work, life, and love interact with each other, set against the backdrop of industrial upheaval and social unrest, Bespoke Betrayals and Sartorial Secrets by Marc Kage is an impressive slow-burn of a novel. With the style of a literary novel and the intrigue of a thriller, Kage has achieved a remarkable blend of character nuance and suspense.

As the title suggests, the fundamental question at work in this novel is that of trust. Everyone is holding something back from everyone else, from business partners to romantic partners, or even family members, as Kage portrays […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-05-19T09:23:22+02:00May 18th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Soft & Rage by Myka Silber

Soft & Rage by Myka Silber

Compelling and compassionate, mysterious and melancholy, Soft & Rage by Myka Silber is an extraordinary set of short stories. Surefootedly spanning a dazzling array of genres and styles, the collection feels fused together by its beautiful writing, clear-eyed point of view, and profound concern with the human condition.

Although it treats many different themes and ideas, at its heart Soft & Rage is, above all else, a deep meditation on grief and loss. Viewed through the variety of lenses afforded by the range of story types, Silber comes at the issue from many different angles and is able to explore […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-08-04T09:39:32+02:00May 12th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Short Stories Book Reviews|

Review: Thank Goliath by Domenic Aversa

Thank Goliath by Domenic Aversa

A memoir spanning the author’s childhood to his later years, Thank Goliath by Domenic Aversa is both fun and tragic, emotional and entertaining. With cutting intelligence and the wisdom acquired with age, Aversa sews his memories together and offers readers the portrait of a bright, sensitive, and resilient man.

Adversity has repeatedly shown itself in Aversa’s life like a giant, which made him feel as little and unprepared as a child, but he has learned through these trials to face hardship. As in the story of David and Goliath, he has dealt with issues that seemed much larger than himself, […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-08-02T07:56:30+02:00May 11th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: Parenting with Kindness and Consequences by Barbara Frandsen

Parenting with Kindness and Consequences by Barbara Frandsen

Parenting with Kindness and Consequences by Barbara Frandsen is a fascinating, detailed guide to parenting that blends the professional and the personal into one coherent vision. With a strong emphasis on how parents can help raise independent, mature, and self-assured kids, this is a timely book, passionately written, and full of real-world, practical advice.

The title posits the fundamental juxtaposition at the heart of the book, a dichotomy that turns out to be a false one: should parents emphasize the positive but risk spoiling them, or be willing to discipline but risk being too cold and harsh? This is a […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-08-01T11:12:46+02:00May 6th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Parenting Book Reviews|

Review: Closer to Consciousness by Alexander Durig

Closer to Consciousness by Alexander Durig

Taking a deep plunge into the furthest recesses of the mind, author Alexander Durig presents a bold and expansive theory of the brain in Closer to Consciousness: The First Strong Theory of Consciousness. Like the unified Theory of Everything that astronomers and physicists so eagerly seek, a unified theory of consciousness is the holy grail for social sciences, and this well-structured tome takes a big swing in that direction.

This eye-opening read begins with an introduction to consciousness and autism, as well as modern-day neuroscience and psychiatric paradigms related to perception and the self. The sociology of autism and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-07-18T17:16:04+02:00May 4th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Psychology Book Reviews, Science Book Reviews|

Review: As Time Goes By by W. Royce Adams

As Time Goes By by W. Royce Adams

As Time Goes By by W. Royce Adams is a beautifully written, heartfelt, fictional memoir, in which the stories of a lifetime trigger profound reflections on life, love, and death. With unique irony and mastery of the written word, W. Royce Adams questions his own life and life writ large, guiding the reader through an unforgettable journey.

Looking back on his life as an almost 90-year-old man, the author can zoom into his memories in incredible detail, crystallized in time and yet very alive, with a deep sense of direction and perspective, tracing the many trails of his story from […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-07-06T11:12:33+02:00May 2nd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Eudora Space Kid: The Greatest Matchmaker in Space! by David Horn

Eudora Space Kid: The Greatest Matchmaker in Space! by David Horn

Expanding his Eudora Space Kid series with another interstellar romp, author David Horn crafts another hilarious and heartfelt adventure in The Greatest Matchmaker in Space! A wild and whimsical story set onboard the AstroLiner Athena means more adventures and mischievous plots by Eudora, a human adopted by alien parents on an intelligence-gathering mission across the stars.

Nothing gets past Eudora onboard her star-crossing home, and whether it is an impossible engineering puzzle to solve, or the personal problems of the highest-ranking man on the ship, she is ready to take on the challenge. However, inventing a foolproof scheme for falling […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-06-30T17:40:11+02:00May 1st, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction Book Reviews|