Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: A New York Haunting by C.L. Nightjar

A New York Haunting by C.L. Nightjar

A sprawling and deliciously disturbing historical thriller that begs to be savored, A New York Haunting by C.L. Nightjar unveils a guilty conscience made flesh, right on the page.

A promising young medical student named Anders becomes dangerously tangled in the thrilling intimacy of psychoanalysis through a new mentor, Dr. Schuller. Unexpectedly bound to a beautiful new patient of the doctor with a troubling pattern of behavior, Anders’ seemingly certain future is shaken by his undeniable attraction to her mysterious anguish.

Observation, interpretation, and obsession blur as her knot of mysteries deepen. Not only does she wish to become a […]

Review: The Relatives by Billy White

The Relatives by Billy White

Centuries-long family drama, lost colonies, and the ultimate Oedipal complex with Earth combine to make The Relatives by Billy White an astonishingly addictive sci-fi novel.

Three mighty starships were set to leave Earth in the middle of the 22nd century, thanks to the advanced technology developed by Nugent Graham – a premise that quickly summons echoes of Elon Musk. Now, 250 years later, one of those ships is likely lost, the other may never have gotten off Earth, and the third ship, Revelation, sits squarely at the center of this novel.

That lone ship managed to reach Graham’s Planet to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-09-16T13:08:20+02:00August 19th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Blackest Blue by Luna Wright

The Blackest Blue by Luna Wright

A classic fellowship fantasy with original twists and a dystopian mystique, The Blackest Blue by Luna Wright is an ambitious novel that tackles broad ideas of power, loyalty, and freedom. A young woman living a double life – plotting long-term revenge on a society that demands absolute subservience – seeks to expose the truth, even if it costs her everything, in this powerful piece of cautionary fiction.

Sy shines at the heart of this story, brazen and bold in her deception as an acolyte of the all-powerful Rem, deeply committed to a dark purpose instilled in her after witnessing the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-08-18T14:25:13+02:00August 18th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex by Carole P. Roman

Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex by Carole P. Roman

Heartfelt and uniquely heroic, Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex by Carole P. Roman is an electrifying opening chapter to a new superhero series. An average kid lands an impossible spot at the most exclusive high school in the world, and must overcome his own self-doubt, recognize his powers, and seize his birthright.

Fueled by the same YA fervor as Harry Potter, this superhuman high school series deals with the supernatural and superhuman, but also explores the deeply relatable issues of growing up feeling different. Regularly challenging the boundary between reality and fantasy, from the prologue onwards, this is […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-08-16T18:04:22+02:00August 16th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction Book Reviews, Superhero Book Reviews|

Review: The Reject Bench by James H. Morgan

James H. Morgan pulls back the curtain on his own high school experiences during the early 1960s in his The Reject Bench, a sensitive, authentic, and eye-opening look back. Celebrating the uncertainty of youth, and acknowledging the weight of adulthood, this is a nostalgic and vulnerable read.

Setting the internal tensions of normal teenagers against the external stress of the early 1960s, this six-year memoir is an impressive glimpse into the past, imbued with the honesty of autobiography. From playing catch with his friends and chauffeuring the family to church to SoCal free thinking and the assassination of JFK, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-09-15T11:31:44+02:00August 15th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: A Rakista’s 90s Mixtapes by Danna Rose

A Rakista's 90s Mixtapes by Danna Rose

Author Danna Rose delivers a spot-on dive into the struggle of teenage life in the Philippines with her first novel, A Rakista’s 90s Mixtapes. What begins as a youthful fling of garage band aspirations becomes the real deal, with real consequences, record deals, broken hearts, and a surprising number of dramatic twists.

Evie is like many other protagonists of heartfelt coming-of-age novels, but also incredibly unique, accurately referenced as an “odd boy.” The foundational loss of her father shapes her character in countless ways, most obviously her obsession with all things related to music. How that love and loss are […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-09-14T18:00:38+02:00August 5th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Music Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: A Disturbing Nature by Brian Lebeau

A Disturbing Nature by Brian Lebeau

A deep, character-driven mystery, A Disturbing Nature by Brian LeBeau is a patient maze of a novel, leading readers on a grim journey through suspicion, murder, and obsession.

Mo is a quiet and mysterious young man with a mind that never caught up to his impressive size, and a lifetime of taunts and tragedies that never leave him. Even as he starts a new chapter at Bryant College as a groundskeeper, where for the first time “independence is not equated with exile,” the jagged pieces of his past are impossible to leave behind. Unfortunately, new surroundings don’t mean an end […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-08-05T05:38:04+02:00August 4th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Mystery Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Dreamslayers by J.W. Webb

Dreamslayers by J.W. Webb

J.W. Webb weaves a masterful standalone fantasy with Dreamslayers, the newest installment in the expansive Legends of Ansu series. Spinning the worlds of two master warriors into a deadly orbit, this story immerses readers in an unstable world of magic, ever-changing allegiances, power struggles, and the mystical pull of destiny.

When Tulomon Caze suddenly reappears in his daughter’s life, desperate and damaged, the pair must go into hiding from a host of sinister enemies. The powerful Yanturi has eradicated their family and seized their land and possessions. This deadly coup is only the beginning, as there are other powers […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-08-01T05:24:46+02:00August 1st, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|